would like feedback from people who work in LA, but chose to live in Phoenix, due to high cost of living.?

Question

Would like answers from people are are currently doing this and /or have done this. pros and cons...thank you

Ok, lets say, a person with a family gets a agreat job offer but it is in LA downtown....as nice as the salary could be... from a housing standpoint...you'd never get ahead....Great salary...crackerbox house for almost a million bucks, that doesnt even include the taxes. But you buy a house in Phoenix, the mortage is now more than half what is was in So CA and you have a nice house too. So the person with the super job in LA makes enough money...to fly into work a few days and maybe telecommutes a couple of days...work with me here. I know I have heard of people who do this.

Answer 1

I have seen examples of this in people with very "high end" jobs or those who have very "portable" jobs (like sales managers who don't really need to be in a specific place - just need to be in touch with their sales force by email and phone). I have met two people who do this in my occasional flights for business or pleasure on Southwest Airlines. Also the in flight magazine has stories about people like this.

Southwest Airlines has a lot of flights in and out of Phoenix and services several LA Area airports. You can quickly gain awards and higher status on here (eventually you can get a 1 year companion pass if you fly a lot).

So in theory, it would be possible to fly in on Monday or Tuesday, stay in town at a hotel for a few days, and fly back Thursday for a long weekend.

Of course, it is not all about how large a house you can buy. Won't this take a toll on your family? Will your employer work with you or will the lack of relocation cause problems? Phoenix is hotter than hades for several months out of the year.

You might weigh flying in and out of Phoenix with other options like 1) working in Phoenix and living there, 2) working in LA and commuting in from a more affordable location (rail service continues to expand into Downtown LA), or 3) working in LA and getting a postage stamp house for a million (while asking for a big raise to pay for it).

Best of luck in your deliberations!

Answer 2

Phoenix is 400 miles from LA...I doubt many people commute. If you are looking for cheaper housing, you are probably talking about an area known as the Inland Empire, in Riverside County.

Answer 3

How on earth do you commute between Phoenix and LA?