John Karadsheh
As snow blankets much of the country this time of year, Arizona beckons visitors with sunshine and the promise of pickleball, gorgeous desert hikes, and stunning sunsets. In fact, over 40 million people visited Arizona last year with over 12 million passengers flying through Sky Harbor between January-March of 2023.
Many of our visitors decide to put permanent or part time roots in the Valley often without much knowledge about the area. Here are few things that we think are important to know before buying a winter home in Arizona.
1. THE VALLEY OF THE SUN IS MASSIVE
Maricopa County is over 9,200 square miles, comprised of 27 towns and cities, and has about 4.5 million residents. Our county is physically larger than the states of Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and has a larger population than 24 of the states in the country.
That means if you are coming to the Phoenix area to look for a home, you have a lot of choices! Get to know the Valley and spend some time in each of the quadrants of the county. The desert looks different in the West Valley compared to the East Valley. There are different amenities in each of the cities, different vibes, and different housing prices, too.
2. WHAT IS YOUR DESERT DREAM?
As you think about buying a home in Arizona, think about how you want to spend your time while you are here. Do you want an active community with hiking clubs and pickleball leagues? Do you want to regularly attend professional sporting events? Are you planning to golf several times a week? Are you simply looking for a sunny lounge chair? Knowing how you want to spend your time in the sunshine will help you figure out where you should live to meet both your goals and your budget.
3. THE SUNNY SPOT
Often winter visitors only spend a few days selecting their winter home and they don’t always realize that a home’s orientation and architecture can impact their daily dose of sunshine. While most year-round residents are not keen on a west backyard in the summers, winter residents may find a west or south facing backyard to be the ideal orientation.
4. CAREFULLY EVALUATE CONDITION
If you are planning to live here just a few months out of the year, definitely consider the condition of the home (not just the cosmetic details). The Arizona summer sun is hard on paint, roofs, HVACs, window seals, irrigation lines, and more. Select a home that has been well-maintained so that you don’t spend your entire vacation time waiting for repair crews.
5. UNDERSTAND THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Is the home you are considering lock and leave? Will you need to have regular landscape maintenance, pool maintenance, and a property manager? Do you have a friend or neighbor who can check on the property after a summer storm? Some homes are more self-contained while others are high maintenance – know which one you are buying and get good guidance from your Realtor, your home inspector, and even your future neighbors.
Getting away from the cold weather and escaping to the Arizona sunshine is amazing. We have so many clients who go back and forth between their primary homes and their Arizona homes. Their lives are twice as much fun with two homes, two sets of friends, and two sets of hobbies. And by the way, more than half of those clients are still working. Winter homes are not just for retirees anymore! Don’t be afraid to take the plunge… a more vibrant life is waiting for you right here in the Valley of the Sun!
John is the Designated Broker of KOR Properties and has been a Multi-Million Dollar producing agent for over 21 years. He is an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and serves on the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) Rules & Policies Committee, ARMLS Appeals Committee, and the West and Southeast Realtors of the Valley Professional Standards Committee.
Natascha is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer and Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR). She is the Founder of Mesa Food Truck Fridays, a Member and Past-Chair of the City of Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board, and on the Board of Directors of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.