"Thank you Shelley Wood for helping me sell my first house to purchase my bigger, better, and full of views second house! If anyone needs a realtor with compassion and commitment she is the one!! Hopefully I will stick in this one for a while but if not Shelley will certainly get a call!" I hope you enjoy it for many years, Cheyanne!

Saying that Phoenix is too hot is like saying Denver is too cold. Only, it's less true. Phoenix is frickin' hot for 4 months of the year. BUT, for the other 8 months, Phoenix enjoys MILD weather. The Denver flipside is -10 to +10 degree coldwaves in Winter and on/off weather Spring and Fall. As I write this, in February, the low was 43(F) when I woke up and today's high will be 65(F) - and it's been that way since about November! Maybe it will push its way up to 79(F) or down to 40(F)...but that's about it. And hail? 10 minutes of pea-sized hail had everyone exclaiming early in 2021. So don't tell me Phoenix is too frickin' hot. If it gets too bad, you can drive 2 hours to Flagstaff where it is way cooler (mountains and skiing there, too).

Phoenix has enjoyed a reputation for being a town of bland comsumer offerings. But, just like Denver, a renaissance of local and small business pride has brought a flourishing restaurant/pub culture that emphasizes fresh, homegrown ingredients and unique styling. Also, several top museums draw visitors from around the world including: The Museum of Musical Instruments; Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (reviews); Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center; The Heard Museum and Legoland Discovery Center to name a few. They also have major national sports teams, spring training, musical offerings, botanical gardens and a massive horse show every Spring!

Also, if you love an outdoor-centered lifetyle,

True, Arizona is an open-carry state. If you want to walk around with a gun in your hand, you can do that. But, if you prefer to shop at Neiman Marcus or practice ballroom dancing, Phoenix has that too!

And, YES, there is a vibrant cowboy culture that gives Phoenix a true Western flavor. Speaking of horses, the Phoenix area is a destination of choice for horse lovers of all varieties. To quote one resident: "If you really want to be where it's at in the American horse world, you have to be in Phoenix." For example, Arabian horse lovers hold huge competition, dressing their glorious horses to the nines and striding in their jodphurs, English style. See video taken at this year's Arabian show. My client's horse came in 2nd in the Hunter Pleasure category...poetry in motion. See video: 2021 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show - "Hunter Pleasure"