Arizona Retirement Home

desperatehills · Feb 25, 2017

Ok, not exactly a hunting topic, but what else is a guy to do this time of the year other than apply, train, and prepare for next season. My wife and I are planning on buying a home in Arizona so we can snow bird when we retire in 3 years.

Since we will mostly be there from November to April we are looking at lower elevation places. We liked Payson, Sedona, and Flagstaff but those places are not much warmer than Oregon this time of the year.

My wife rides horses so we may buy a place that is on a acre or two. Since we will only be there part time we also are considering a smaller place, maybe in a golf community that has a good boarding facility near by.

Since we wont be working we don't need to be in Phoenix. We have been searching on Zillow. We have been looking in New River, Cave Creek, Apatche Junction, and Queens Creek areas.

Any suggestions for a outdoor couple in there mid fifties that hunt, fish, golf, and basically enjoy the outdoors? Our budget is 300k or less so keep that in mind. Thanks for the help, even if its where NOT to live.

bonecollector777 · Feb 25, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Feb-25-17 AT 01:46PM (MST)[p]Some nice places with lower elevations that you're still close to some hunting would be Safford/thatcher. There's some nice golfing communities near Tucson. Payson is generally warmer than the higher elevation places but it is very expensive to live there and it still does snow and get cold. San tan valley is nice. Don't live in Globe. Prescott is nice but still a little cold in winter. Gold canyon is nice and on the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area.

bojangles · Feb 25, 2017

i don't think you're gonna find what you're looking for for 300k. golf, riding, hunting?

I think for that price you may have to drive to golf.

I'd look at deer creek, it's a small village with horse priviledges (sp?) 15 minutes south of payson. not too hot, not too cold, nearby hunting, riding, 45 min, from the metropolis, not too expensive, fishing for trout is 1 hour, fishing for bass is 30 minutes away, mule deer and elk in the back yard. Golf in payson, legit golf in Phoenix, but why on earth would you chase a ball around when you could hunt and fish?

Ed · Feb 26, 2017

Green Valley would meet your needs. Golf, archery deer, rifle deer, javelina.

Bob92057 · Feb 26, 2017

Any information on the ShowLow area? Wife and I have been eScouting for future retirement also...

goinhuntn · Feb 26, 2017

Look at Lake Havasu City!! Water sports, fishing, boating, skiing.
If you have an atv the desert is great for exploring. Golf courses there also. Good hunting nearby & quail & dove hunting in the desert.

HullinPhx · Feb 27, 2017

All great suggestions so far, I would look at Wickenburg!

John

Gator · Feb 27, 2017

The Showlow area is nice, 4 season weather, close to NM,UT,Colo still only a 1 1/2 hr to phx. So if hunt those states it a shorter drive.
House prices are still pretty good, land is cheaper then Sedona and such
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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bonecollector777 · Feb 27, 2017

Show low is nice and I live 30 miles west in Heber but if you're going to be down here only in winter it's gonna be just like where you're coming from. Cold, windy and snowy from nov-March.

desperatehills · Feb 27, 2017

Thanks for the input so far. My eyes are blurry from looking at Zillow. So far the San Tan area is looking good. I found several houses that would work. I couldn't find the deer creek area below Payson, maybe there are no places for sale in there. I will need to drive out to Wickenburg and look around. There is a good stable there and we have friends in Salome. The few houses I clicked on were not to exciting and golf is certainly better back towards Phoenix. We hadn't really considered Lake Havasu, I think we are looking for desert within 2 hours of forest. All your input has been a big help, Thanks

brian390 · Feb 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Feb-27-17 AT 03:23PM (MST)[p]You might look at the Camp Verde area also. The temps are a little cooler than Phoenix but its still warm. It's in the desert but right at the base of the mountains next to the forests. It has to be cheaper than Sedona and has horse properties. There is a golf course but I'm not sure how many of them. I would rather live in Camp Verde than Wickenburg if it were me.

Northern Phoenix is also good and close to the freeway for quick and easy travel. You have Lake Pleasant, hunting, horse properties, and golf all close by.

I wouldn't live in Safford if it were me. There is good coues hunting close to there but it's too much out in the middle of nothing for me.

South of Payson is ok. It's close to hunting and lakes.

goinhuntn · Feb 27, 2017

Havasu is 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Flagstaff & Prescott is a little closer. The Hualapie Mountains out of Kingman are an hour away & are nice for a day get away. Lots of beautiful places in Arizona.

bonecollector777 · Feb 28, 2017

Alot of better places than lake Havasu. That would be way down on my list if I could choose to live anywhere in AZ.

ASUCoues · Mar 3, 2017

Sahuarita

HogBone · Mar 3, 2017

I'm in a similar position to the guy who made this post. I don't mind a little cold in the winter though and Prescott looks like an appealing location.

How is the overall hunting/game situation in the prescott national forest?

desperatehills · Mar 3, 2017

>Sahuarita

I found a beautiful place that the wife would love for under 300k. 5 acres with a arena. We were not thinking that we wanted to be that far south but it deserves a closer look.

Forepaw · Mar 5, 2017

Hey bonecollector777, just curious, what is it that you see as a problem with Globe? I don't live there, don't even live in AZ for that matter, just curious as to where the cons outweigh the pros for that small city.

Thanks.

forepaw

bonecollector777 · Mar 5, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-17 AT 01:27AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-17 AT 01:26?AM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-17 AT 01:22?AM (MST)

My Grandpa lives in Globe and just the overall feel of the city is dirty to me. My grandpa has said the past 15 years crime rates have gone way up. Looking online says Globe has the third highest crime rate in AZ per capita.I feel like I'm in South Tucson. The way the town is set up is terrible. It takes you an hour to drive across the city (8 miles) due to an insane amount of stoplights. And as petty as it is I think it's one of the ugliest places on the planet. And other than desert deer and quail you're a long ways from any good hunting.

andygrand · Mar 6, 2017

Sahaurita or that area would be my choice also. Great opportunities down south. Tons of mule deer, coues deer, bears, fishing. Not too far from elk country and you avoid some of the big city hassles you get further north!

msolocam · Mar 6, 2017

Stay outta Prescott. Not good for anything...lol. I was borned and raised here in Prescott. It's a fantastic area. Getting a little big, 100k in the Prescott, Prescott valley and chino valley area now but still has a small town feel. Everything you need and want. Hunting, little light on fishing, golf, great horse stuff, riding, tons on national forest close. Can be hunting elk or desert bucks in less than an hour. My thoughts would be a little on the cold side for someone wanting to snowbird but it's about perfect for someone wanting to make it a year round home. Not too hot and not too cold.

Happy Hunting

Abiggerfish2fry · Mar 7, 2017

Well i live in Marana and it is not that bad there but hot as heck! i also own a home in florence which i just put on the market last week! if i was going to retire in Arizona and i was moving there from another state i would look at show low or springfield or flagstaff if you wanted to stay out of the heat! I plan on moving back to utah this summer because its to dang hot here!

Forepaw · Mar 7, 2017

Ok thanks, good to know. Not much that can be done about the layout, as it basically grew out of a 19th century mining town, but the crime and etc. might be partially due to all the social programs that have sprung up over the past few years. Boss at my first job told me it was a good place to live, but not worth a damn to work. He left there and moved to Prescott. This was about 1979, so it has gone downhill since then.

forepaw

AZ4life · Mar 15, 2017

I am from Kingman, and am a home builder, so I'm as biased as they come, but it is a great retirement place. 3500 elevation, has great all year weather, mountains nearby and game animals literally out the door. Easy drive to Flag and Vegas. Real Estate prices are good as well. 65% of our sales are relocating retirees.

desperatehills · Mar 15, 2017

I like kingman for location, its just a little to high for winter only living. It would be great if I was there year round. As for the easy drive to flagstaff. The road may be straight and not that long, but holy cow does that stretch have some potholes! Towing my trailer through there last year I about lost some fillings. I hit one so big it was two miles before I was sure I was OK.

glassitup22 · Apr 26, 2017

I would look at Camp Verde also.It has everything you are looking for, I have lived here for 35 years.

Jerry · May 4, 2017

I lived in Flagstaff from '93--'07 & was in many places all over Az. hunting & fishing. Best places I found for what you are looking for would be : Payson or Prescott. I liked them both. Flagstaff does get snow & cold in the wnter. Some wind too. Do not go to Lake Havasu City-- hotter than hell there! Kingman is another hot spot ! Show Low is a bit small as I recall. Do not get too far out in the pines--- fires can be a monster . E Mail me if I can be of further help: [email protected]
I now live in Ft Collins, Co. My wife of 40 years died 4 years ago, & my new wife wanted to stay here. Case closed there. Enjoy every day-- could be a lot later than you think. You will love Az weather in either Payson or Prescott, gets a little colder in Payson, but no big deal. Best Wishes, Jerry Gold

desperatehills · Jan 12, 2018

Hello all, hope the new year finds you well. I wanted to touch back on this topic mostly to say thanks and let you know where we are landing. Last June we bought a house in Maricopa. We picked Maricopa not for its location but for the type of house we good get. We bought a beautiful home with a pool for half what it would cost back home. We have been renting the house out as a vacation rental and doing well. Well enough that we wont get to stay in our own house when we come down for the RMEF elk camp. I doubt we will ever live in it now, likely keep it as a vacation rental. We are now thinking Wickenburg. Our budget has gone up a little and it seems like a great horse community. If anyone has pros or cons concerning Wickenburg we would love to hear it. Thanks again

brian390 · Jan 12, 2018

Wickenburg sounds like a pretty good choice for what you're looking for. Either Wickenburg or the New River area sound the best to me for what you're looking for. Both places get hot and thats what you're looking for. If you choose New River you would be closer to unit 21 which has coues and mule deer which is a positive.

I've only driven through Wickenburg and it's a pretty small town which most would see as a benefit. If you move there you would have desert mule deer hunting right next to you. You should try hunting the desert bucks in the rut with a bow.

Good luck on wherever you choose.

caelkhnter · Jan 13, 2018

I agree with the Prescott and Wickenburg suggestions. Another truly "lower elevation" palce to consider, Apache Junction. It is right at the base of the Superstitions. You could hunt Coues and Javelina a stone's throw from wherever you live there. You can go glass Dessert Big Horn Sheep with a very short drive. Canyon Lake, is pretty and very close. Lot's of typical golf opportunities there as well.

dcervantez · Jan 14, 2018

Maybe look into Wittman. It's in the northwest valley right by Lake Pleasant. Most of it is yet to be developed, but you could get acreage for really cheap then build on it. Like 5 acres for $30k or something like that. Food for thought.

Gator · Jan 15, 2018

Prescott if you are going to be on that side of the state would be my choice. I like Payson better.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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huntazido · Jan 15, 2018

As a 54 year old native, Payson would be my choice. 4 seasons, close hunting and fishing, near desert and higher elevation mountains, 75 minutes from phx and not nearly as many people as say Prescott/Prescott valley.

Only draw back I hear are expensive homes and they have water issues (not enough).

desperatehills · Jan 16, 2018

I like Payson. If I was going to be a full time resident I would consider it. Since I am only going to be there during the winter months I am taking it off the list. We like Apatche Junction as well but from what we saw, Wickenburg is more horse friendly and a hour and a half closer to home. I have never been to Prescott. We will drive up there and look around one day on our March trip. I was thinking it was to high in elevation but don't truly know.