area info

Welcome To The Valley of the SUN!
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO LIVE!

ESTIMATED POPULATION IN ARIZONA: 5,743,843
ESTIMATED POPULATION IN METRO PHOENIX: 3,456,219
PROJECTED NEW RESIDENTS BY 2020: 1,598,871

As Arizona's largest metropolitan area and the nation's sixth largest city in terms of population, Phoenix is known for its weather with more than 300 days of sunshine on average per year. Winter, fall and spring offer mild temperatures, perfect for a round of golf at one of the area's more than 200 courses or a hike through South Mountain Park, one of the Valley's many mountain preserves.

The Valley of the Sun is also a diverse land where people from different cultures make their home. Native Americans were the area's first residents and the Gila River Indian community and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community border the metro area today. Some of the canals still in use were based on those established ` by the Hohokam people. Authentic Mexican cuisine, and celebrations such as Cinco de Mayo are just a couple of the benefits of having a large Hispanic population. And of course, when the weather gets blustery in other cold-weather states, the Valley becomes home for what are affectionately called "snowbirds," otherwise known as part-time residents who come to Arizona during the winter to take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather.

Before the Valley came to be, there were individual Cities that grew together. Settlers established places such as Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale and each region became known for its individual character.

The Valley grew on the strength of its five C's - Cotton, Citrus, Climate, Cattle and Copper. As the area expanded, industries of old were replaced by Tourism, High- Tech manufacturing, Trade and Financial services. Firms flocked to the Valley as the region became known for its favorable business climate and affordable housing choices ranging from single-family homes to downtown condominiums.

And the Valley of the Sun is an exciting place to live.

Although a relatively new team, the Arizona Diamondbacks took the World Series pennant in 2001. The Phoenix Suns basketball team plays in downtown Phoenix's "purple palace," America West Arena, which was recently renamed US-Airways Center. There is a brand new stadium area in Glendale which will hopefully improve our Cardinals game.

Recreational opportunities abound in the Valley from hiking local mountain preserve trails to saddling up a horse and riding into a spectacular Arizona sunset. Golf is legendary in the Valley with major tournaments such as the Phoenix Open played here every year.

The Phoenix Symphony features music director Hermann Michael and a variety of offerings in classical, pops and family series. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts major shows as well as its own collection with hundreds of pieces covering more than 160,000 square feet. The Heard Museum is internationally known for its collection of Native American art and its mission of celebrating the living culture of native peoples.

The State of Real Estate

The Valley of the Sun is one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas. With this dynamic growth has come a diverse housing market with options to fit every budget and lifestyle. Newcomers can find multi million-dollar custom homes built against rugged mountainsides or overlooking lush golf courses in the North and Northeast Valley, including Paradise Valley, Carefree and Scottsdale. Retirement communities are especially popular in the Northwest and Southeast Valley as are mobile home villages in the far East Valley. Even contemporary lofts are now available in downtown Phoenix, along with unique homes in historic neighborhoods. Prospective home buyers can easily spend time touring model homes across metro Phoenix while renters will find both basic and resort-style apartments valley wide.

Newcomers preferring to live in a rental community will find they're not alone. In fact, about one in three Arizona citizens live in such communities, according to Mark Hayden, executive vice president of the Arizona Multi housing Association (AMA). This is no surprise, considering the lure of upscale amenities and maintenance- free living. Additionally, apartment renting enables newcomers to "get the lay of the land" if they're unsure how long they'll be in metro Phoenix or which part of the Valley they want to put down roots in. Newcomers will discover that nearly every metro Phoenix apartment community has at least one swimming pool and many have clubhouses with exercise equipment. "Other places in the country don't have as extensive as outdoor activities". Some properties have even put in sandy beaches and on site convenience stores while gated communities and providing concierge services also have become popular.

Retirement Living

Metro Phoenix has long been considered and ideal retirement spot - and for many good reasons. There's the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, sun-filled days, spectacular sunsets, bountiful recreational opportunities and a host of facilities, services and housing options tailored to retirees and their needs. For example, metro Phoenix has more than 190 of the state's 300 golf courses, according to the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. Health care facilities are plentiful across the Valley as are senior centers, with the City of Phoenix alone offering 19. Equally abundant are money-saving offers provided by local businesses for those age 65 and older along with rewarding volunteer opportunities.

At Work In Arizona

If you're in the market for a job, chances are metro Phoenix has one to fit your occupational interests. "Phoenix is one of the largest metro areas in the country and has a level of economic diversity that you would find in most any large city," said Dan Anderson, administrator of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Research Administration.

While many people first associate metro Phoenix with the tourism and high technology industries, Anderson said the Valley of the Sun has become economically broad- based, with wholesale trade, finance, construction, retail trade, and services among other important employment sectors.

Reflecting this diversity are major employers ranging from manufacturers, hospitals and discount stores to financial services, airlines and grocery stores. Impressively, many of these offer the nation's most desirable workplaces and Phoenix has always been attractive to major employers. While thousands work for these notable businesses, still others find metro Phoenix ideal for starting their own businesses. Among the reasons for this are reasonable tax rates, a high quality of local government and a favorable transportation system, according to Gail Howard, economic development and constituent outreach director at Arizona State University. "We're a rapidly-growing market and we have a stable, cost-effective environment for starting a business. That’s a good combination," she said.

Home to the state capitol, county seat and numerous federal agencies along with Arizona State University, Luke Air Force Base and a host of municipal and tribal governments, metro Phoenix also offers public sector opportunities.

What about the future? Phoenix-Mesa metro area employment will increase from more than 1.5 million to over 2 million, according to the DES Occupational Forecast for 1998-2008. This translates to an annual increase of 3.7 percent and nearly 94,000 openings each year.

As for the occupations with the greatest number of expected openings, the DES puts the following at the top of the list for the Phoenix-Mesa metro area: cashiers; telemarketers, door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors and other related workers; waiters and waitresses; general managers and top executives; fast food preparation and service workers; and office and administrative support supervisors and managers.

In terms of growth rates, five of the Phoenix-Mesa metro area's 15 fastest-growing occupations are computer related, according to DES, with annual average growth rates ranging from about 8.5 percent to nearly 14 percent. Other fast-growing occupations include bill and account collectors; loan counselors and officers; and credit analysts. Annual average growth rates for these occupations are about 8.5 percent to 9 percent. In 2002 there were about 40000 Realtors in Arizona, in 2006 that number has increased to above 70000! Real Estate has had a huge impact on the local economy, especially during 2005 when appreciation of homes reached 40% or more annually. Things have cooled down somewhat and we look forward to a stable year in 2006.