Need a change?? Want a gun friendly place with 4-seasons and good economy?

[AZretired]

With internet anyone can evaluate a place to move. The problem is when a place gets *discovered* everyone moves there. The population in AZ is now 7M. The population in NM is now 2M and it's about the same size as AZ.

Here in NM we have fantastic weather!
The scenery, sights, history, food are unparalleled.
There are negative factors in play.[/QUOTE]

I lived in NM for 30 years during my LE career (Alamogordo, Grants, Albuquerque) and I still call it home. Since I retired I've lived most of the time in Arizona (Show Low & Chandler) but the last few years we've split our time with Michigan. This will be our last summer in Michigan and we will move permanently to Casa Grande, AZ. Taxes are better for retirees in AZ. NM is one of a few states that tax Social Security income. So I'll live in AZ and visit NM during the State Fair.

For the OP don't forget about J&G Sales - Great place!!

 

[AZretired]

Since 1978 the population of NM has gone from 1.5 million or so to 2 million. During the same period AZ population has trippled, mostly in the valley.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Here in NM we have fantastic weather!
Taxes are better for retirees in AZ. NM is one of a few states that tax Social Security income. So I'll live in AZ and visit NM during the State Fair.

Not much that's not taxed in NM.
They tax my SS and my Military Retirement.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Here in NM we have fantastic weather!
Taxes are better for retirees in AZ. NM is one of a few states that tax Social Security income. So I'll live in AZ and visit NM during the State Fair.

Not much that's not taxed in NM.
They tax my SS and my Military Retirement.

Income taxes are just part of the equation. There's property tax also. If one has a 400K house and the property tax is 1.5% you're looking at 6K a year. That's pretty common around here. Sales tax on a new 35K vehicle, that's 3K and change here.

The cost to buy a lot and build a house just about anywhere in NM except ABQ or Santa Fe would be half of what it is here. That's a pretty big difference.

AZ is being over run with people from CA. That's not to say it isn't desirable now but what's it going to be like in 10 years? We spent 2 winters there recently and I swear I thought I was in LA when I got anywhere near Phoenix.

Of course people have different perceptions of where they live and if you came from the east coast it might look pretty nice. My problem is I lived in Mesa for 4 years (71-75) and worked all over the state. To me AZ looks like CA now.

 

[ladder13]

Current conditions in the northeast

 

[jtcarm]

I'd probably love either one vs Texas these days. Especially getting away from Bermuda grass, which I'm very allergic to.

But moving would be a tough sell to my better half.

The Trans-Pecos is about the only part of Texas I'd consider moving to these days, but there's not much I could do for a living out there.

 

[jtcarm]

Quote:
Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER
There are plenty of "Cookie Cutter" tract homes going in around the area for sure. But as I mentioned unless they find a new source for water there will eventually be a moratorium on building.

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It is amazing that it took millions of years for earth to develop with the water resources it has (lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.etc.etc.) and mankind in it's wisdom will deplete it in less than 2,000 years.

With the worldwide water shortages we will soon (next 100 years) drain the oceans and desalinate the water for human consumption. (already happening in some area's around the world). In the not to distant future wars will be fought over water and food supplies...

I will be long gone and will not see the destruction of the earth by it's own population but I will leave knowing it's gonna happen. [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33][emoji33]

There's been wars waged over food & water since humans have been on earth. Animals have their own as well.

For almost as long, people including "scientists" have been predicting the end of humanity due to overpopulation, etc. Hasn't happened yet.

Take a look at some of the predictions from the first Earth Day in 1970:

18 spectacularly wrong apocalyptic predictions made around the time of the first Earth Day in 1970, expect more this year - AEI

 

[thomasinaz]

There's a doughnut shop in Prescott Valley that makes some the best old school doughnuts in AZ. And of course J&G in Prescott, and all those wonderful statues in Courthouse Square...

 

[Doug M.]

Been looking at the area for retirement as it is almost certain that Washington will be ruined and unlivable before I am actually able to retire with full benefits (6 years, 5 months, and 11 days, but who's counting?). We have to factor in warm enough but not too hot (snow does not bother me all that much, but the abysmal plowing here leaves the little bit of flurries we get completely out of control); medical care access for us; relatively few buzztails at altitude, cost of living, etc. The S/E is a no go due to the humidity; spent too long in this high desert area to tolerate that again. I figure we would want to be outside of town with a less zoning BS to deal with so we can build a place that is essentially a shed for the RV.

 

[chaparrito]

With internet anyone can evaluate a place to move. The problem is when a place gets *discovered* everyone moves there. The population in AZ is now 7M. The population in NM is now 2M and it's about the same size as AZ.

Here in NM we have fantastic weather!
The scenery, sights, history, food are unparalleled.
There are negative factors in play.[/QUOTE]

I have family and very deep multigenerational ties in both states. We've been here far longer than the U.S. has. Both states are over 50 percent public land. NM has the advantage though. With less than half the population of AZ and about 10 percent more private land, property values are much more affordable, Santa Fe (and increasingly Taos) being the exception. Unless you have very deep pockets or like to clean hotel rooms for a living and have a large extended family to work and help pay the eye-watering rent, forget Sedona. Estimates vary, but most realtors will tell you the median home value hovers around a half million dollars. Add an acre or two and pretty soon you're talking real money.