I don't care for guns myself. But I feel the way you do. I always feel safer knowing that there are responsible people packing even if I'm not into guns all that much.
Reason #5 it's getting too crowded. I love Prescott but I don't know if I can handle so many people anymore. As for firearms. It warms my heart when my roofing salesmen shows me his gun. If 10% of the people (responsible gun owners) always carried you would know that you live in a safe place. Having said that. There was a shoot out between some bikers out in Chino Valley a mile away from where I lived about 10 years ago or so. But that isn't common.
To commercialized and over grown these days. I had a paper route as a kid and delivered down Whiskey Row and up Summit to the Pioneers home and down Park Ave. Talking 50's and 60's when it really was a wonderful place to grow up. Just another tourist trap today I would imagine. Left it many years ago.
Thanks for contributing. I wish I could have seen it back then. I arrived in 2002. Growing from 13,000 to 48,000 people yes, there have been changes - even in the 20 years since I arrived. But you might be surprised at some things that haven't changed. I had a paper route in the 70s - developed great discipline at a young age!
I think that's happened to most small towns, at least the ones that didn't up and die. These places all evolved from fairly self-sufficient towns to an economic environment based on tourism and retiree cash inflow. The charm disappears when the chain stores and restaurants move in, a giant shift to healthcare, scads more realtors and lawyers. Looking back, maybe the first hint was when they built the Sandy's burger place across from City Park.
“Commercialized and overgrown” Well of course, things change over 60/70 years….. 60/70 years before you had a paper route, Arizona wasn’t even a state.. I bet early settlers back then would complain about your paper route being “commercialized and overgrown”. It’s all perspective. You can’t control population growth so just carry on and be happy.
GREAT video and thanks for sharing! I first visited Prescott in 1979 when I visited friends who moved there from CA. a decade earlier. I LOVED my visits with them and in later years, I was considering a move to Prescott but decided that in my retirement, a move there had more cons than pros for me. But with that said, it IS a wonderful place for a visit! 😎
@DougCeleste thanks for the comment. I doubt Prescott would have been on my radar at all if my parents hadn't retired here after years searching for the right spot. My first visit would have been circa 2001(?). You're right, it's not the end-all, gotta-move-there location for everyone, but it is worth a visit at least. Cheers!
@@azkiltedrealtor Thanks for your reply, Your comments about Prescott were well-balanced for anyone considering a move there. They should first visit and meet with a realtor of their choice to see if they feel any good vibes about moving there. Even though I will never live there, I LOVE visiting there! I was hoping to visit an acquaintance in Prescott Valley but sadly, he passed away several years ago and I am guessing that his wife moved away. Prescott is one of my most favorite Arizona cities along with Flagstaff and I look forward to being back in the state someday visiting both cities. Cheers also to you from Albuquerque! 😎
Prescott valley is out of control with growth. Politicians and or city employees on the take. Sad they are ruining a beautiful area for the all mighty dollar. Prescott’s previous mayor was selling Prescott out but was voted out. Now he wants to get back into city politics, no doubt to continue to make cash on building on every vacant area around Prescott. Roads are a mess with potholes and have increased traffic. Noisy low flying air traffic is now the norm. Residents need to vote out those who want to make the area into the next Phoenix.
What really started the downfall of what once a beautiful town is when a reporter from a California magazine was in Prescott and wrote a glowing article on this small rustic Arizona mountain town. The California's with pockets full of money started flowing in and driving up home prices that the locals couldn't compete with. I was in the military when this started and my brother sold his home in Forbing Park and moved to some land he bought between Prescott and Prescott Valley which was growing by leaps and bounds also. I miss the Prescott of the 60s and 70s, but I'll never go back there. Let's call it Paradise Lost.
What a well-written comment, from the heart JP. I have thought of moving to the area, but maybe I'd be better off just visiting a few times, not during tourist season!
@@NFL1976 Still a great place to live. But, yes, it is getting crowded. I remember when you could drive down the highway at 70 mph. No way you could do that now!
Have to admit I learned only recently that Arizona has the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world...2.6 million acres. Sometimes video research pays off! 😎
I love Prescott and I am conservative and 2A supporter . As you travel around Prescott you will notice an unusual number of Churches and gun stores . Another thing you should notice is how friendly EVERYONE is here. Unfortunately for me I can not move there because of family ties , I simply can't leave my family behind.
I never really thought about the number of churches - probably because I was raised in a small town where they seemed to be clustered together. As for the gun stores, I'd say Prescott residents in general stay loyal to the mom-and-pop shops. And though the bigger sporting goods stores have begun to move in, they haven't (yet) forced the smaller vendors out of business.
We looked at Prescott as a retirement city but at the welcome center the guy said to us welcome to God's little piece of heaven and then added all the people from MN that had moved there. My wife said we are out of here even though I had hotel reservations for 2 nights.
Sorry you had that experience. That seems like an odd statement to make at a welcome center. I think Prescott is a nice place, but I think it's better to be up-front about the pros and cons (no place is perfect) and let each person decide for themself. Also - and I learned this during my cruise director days - you've got to learn about your guests first, then curate a unique experience. There's a lot to experience in Prescott, but not everything is for everyone!
Just curious because I'm not understanding what part of the welcome center guy said that would make you not want to stay there? Confused a little on the comment. Just looking for clarification
@@donnaw4910 - We were moving from Chicago and wanted there to be diversity in the population. His comments turned my wife off to spending the weekend there so we left town.
I gave Prescott a try for the second half or 2023. I grew to hate it. Excessive pollen causes nasal congestion. Lack of amenities. No major book store chains. No decent military surplus stores. No Audi dealer. No exotic car dealers. The mall is dead. Lots of super loud uncorked cars driving around and the police do nothing. Forest fires. The library has been taken over by street urchins. Maybe the worst thing is that there are FAR too many special events taking place downtown which cause heavy traffic and serve to increase the population as visitors discover Prescott.
Barnes & Noble, if I remember, was one of the first major retailers to leave Gateway Mall. Thankfully, we've got Peregrine Books downtown on Cortez. I hear you re: pollen - the junipers get me every year, and I was never one to suffer from allergies. As far as exotic car dealers: though Prescott has grown, population density and demographics are probably not what they would need to be to justify a dealership, or we would probably have one. You're right - it's a challenge for the city to balance events that promote tourism with the fact that there are few "alternate routes" to carry the traffic when the downtown streets are blocked.
@@azkiltedrealtor I've been to Peregrine Books. Not going to cut it, lol. A lot of people love Prescott due to low crime, nice weather, etc. It's just too small for me.
We would love to retire in Prescott and have been looking for the past 3 years but the housing market/ prices insane! We are conservatives so we would fit right in, but again housing prices are insane for what you get for your money: (old houses that have never been updated 600k to 700k asking price.
Thanks for the contribution! The state of the Prescott area housing market certainly depends upon your perspective. Many feel it is expensive; but on the other hand, people moving here from major metropolitan areas or high-tax, higher cost-of-living states are amazed at how much more they can get for their money. Homes unquestionably do sell for a premium in desirable neighborhoods - even those in need of TLC. However, there are still very nice homes in popular subdivisions. Good news: sellers are becoming much more realistic with pricing...the Pandemic did push prices to the max. You definitely saw the results of that in the past 3 years. But conditions for buyers are improving daily. I hope you don't give up!
@@azkiltedrealtor Thank you! Nope, we're not ones to give up:) That's good to know about the market is getting better. We will keep an eye on it and plan to travel there either this fall or next year. Everything about the Prescott and Prescott Valley area we love we're just kind of waiting to see what the housing market is going to do so that it fits a little bit more within our budget. Thanks for the insight and the videos. They really do help people like us make the best choices when it comes to our final landing place in retirement.
@@azkiltedrealtor "Many feel it is expensive; but on the other hand, people moving here from major metropolitan areas or high-tax, higher cost-of-living states are amazed at how much more they can get for their money." Those are the only people who are amazed at how much more they can get for their money. People from everywhere else are shocked at how expensive homes are in Prescott. The market is expected to stay elevated for a couple more years.
@@Unit_104 absolutely correct. Prescott's median home price as of July was $632.933, significantly higher than the US median price of $412,300 (35% less). But it still sounds like a steal when you compare it to California's median (and still rising) home price of $904,210!
@@azkiltedrealtor Yes, so I imagine that a disproportionate number of buyers are Californians cashing out on their insanely over-valued CA homes and leaving for greener pastures.
You're doing it the right way - the same way my parents did. Visit first, decide what part of town appeals to you, be patient, find the right home and you won't be disapointed...!
Flag flying pick up truck? Wow, loved the tone with which that was said. That's why he needs to stay in San Francisco. If California was open carry crime wouldn't be the issue it is.
My wife and I are looking at Prescott for retirement in a year or two after my son graduates high school next year. Moving from flat Texas and wanting Mountain views, no humidity.
My parents came to Prescott after living in Dallas for many years, and then Friendswood, south of Houston. We had lived for a time near Bozeman, MT and Salt Lake City, so loved mountainous terrain - even though we were originally from southeastern New England, right on the Atlantic coast. Prescott, at it's mile-high elevation, has the dry, low-humidity climate but not the extreme desert heat. Four mild seasons; and though the terrain is not as dramatic as the Rockies or Utah's Wasatch range, the ponderosa-covered slopes of the Bradshaw Mountains and the naked granite of Thumb Butte, Granite Mountain and the Dells are both scenic and accessible. The topography varies widely within a small area, so you can "choose your views."
It's all relative right, well, I have been here 5 years now, love it. No, not a great place for the young for sure, great for the people who made their money someplace else and are getting ready to retire. Yes, sadly, if you are a native, renting and don't have a higher paying job, you will continue to struggle with increasing rent costs or purchasing a house. If you are a property owner, you are going to benefit from the influx of refugees from CA.... and the money they will bring with them. So, both good and bad. Also, not true regarding firearms, although I'm not an "open carry" fan, and carry concealed, I see open carry firearms on a weekly basis. However, it's refreshing to know that so many people concealed carry here!
Thanks for your insightful comments! There is an influx from CA, but this week I've got clients from Georgia and NY...and don't forget the "refugees" from the Phoenix heat. People moving north from the valley make up a large percentage of those coming to town. As you say, there's good and bad. As for open carry, I know plenty of gun owners but don't seem to see many firearms when I'm out and about. I do open carry myself, but it's just a knife in my sock! LOL
That can be an issue. I definitely use more lip balm - year round! And I know people who moisturize frequently. Still, we have a bit more moisture up here than down in the desert, and it sure beats high humidity!
I’ve been prepping for three years to move to Prescott, but the wages just aren’t enough. I’m looking at a 50% pay cut to enter into a similar job to what I’m in now. Do they actually want anyone to run the city or not? They need to raise the pay for public employees or the services will continue to suffer. Looks like I’m waiting another 25+ years until retirement.
I think you're right in that the city hasn't yet struck a good balance between the need for services and the need for adequate compensation. No doubt other cities that have experienced decades of rapid growth grapple with the same issue. Hospitality and service industry workers encounter a related problem: a need for their labor but a reluctance to build affordable housing. I have noticed an increase in the number of apartments being built in the past few years, so hopefully things are moving in the right direction.
Thanks for your post. I checked out Sisters, OR and was surprised to see the similarities. I just might plan a visit to attend their rodeo next year...cheers!
One of my favorite parts is the extreamist politics you overhear in bars and restaurants here. From progressive blue hairs to the most rightwing people you will ever meet yet we usually get along. More personal strife has to do with interpersonal rivalries than politics. "I still miss Tina but Jims with her now" type vibe. Its a town where like 40% of addresses have firearms had a fun factory and more gun stores than bars and churches but averages a homicide a year.
Thanks for your question! Quoting an online source: "Subsidized housing is a broad term that can include low-income housing, and both are types of affordable housing." Generally, when I speak of "affordable housing" I am referring to housing that is attainable by someone bringing home an entry level salary. In Pescott, we fall short of meeting the demand for moderately priced homes and multi-family dwellings - though I have noticed what appears to be an increase in apartment construction.
Living in Prescott just 2 years ago I would often see people carrying guns while walking around the courthouse. So I would dispute your assertion about not seeing open carry of guns.
Arizona in general I’ve seen some people carry firearms on there hip and most of them still carry but it is concealed. Most of them are nice and friendly and I don’t carry firearms myself but I respect and appreciate there constitutional right to do so, as well if anything happens there is a good chance of someone who can neutralize the situation. If it bothers you to see Americans armed then go to a blue state and live in a “Gun Free Zone” then you will have second thoughts about it.
@@CodyAyars I appreciate your comment. I find people here are, for the most part, tolerant and respectful. Those who come to town expecting to be made uncomfortable, usually are. That said, I've always enjoyed living just a little bit outside my comfort zone! 😎
Ca. is about to follow the gun control plan of the third Reich with registration of ALL firearms and 'voluntary surrender in the interest of justice' to follow. (this from a friend of mine in the state senate) SB1160 .We will not comply. We will MOVE first. Amend your video please.
LMAO.. You don't see guns in Prescott. This guy has obviously never stood. Next to me in circle K. Down by the hospital. I openly carry a pistol everywhere around Prescott. I also keep a shotgun. In the back window of my truck. As far as available jobs in Prescott. That's a joke in itself. Well, I will say you are correct about the smoke. Forest service does lots of controlled burns. To the point that the Prescott National forest. Looks like shit nothing but scarred burnt areas. Unattractive and ugly. Oh yea, you did forget one thing. Yes, the town is very conservative. Along with being extremely corrupt. Don't move to Prescott at all.
@@joevarga5982 On the other hand, before the self-checkouts went in, the chief complaint was that there were never enough cashiers on duty. Can't win either way!
It has to be corrupt if it’s full of conservatives. And a bunch of feeling tough people walking around to intimidate others or just scared of their own shadow.
Yes. Many people get along fine at sea level, but not at altitude. Older people are often on supplemental oxygen, even at sea level. Prescott is not for them.
Within the first 5 to 6 seconds its because of people like you. So you chose to push out the locals and try make it your own?!?.and make into a cheaper Sedona! Just say that. Unfortunately it makes to much sense. But they won't see it in front of there eyes.