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Thinking about making Arizona your new home? You’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the AZ Relocate Podcast Show, where we unpack everything you need to know about relocating to the Grand Canyon State—whether you're moving from out of state or just looking for a new neighborhood in the Valley.
Hosted by Steve Ness, a local Arizona Realtor with deep roots in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix’s 85028 zip code, this podcast is your go-to relocation guide. Each episode is packed with insider tips, lifestyle insights, and expert interviews that make your move smarter, smoother, and way more exciting.
Discover the best neighborhoods, learn what Arizona living is really like, get real estate advice from the ground, and hear real stories from people who made the move. From hiking trails to housing trends, school zones to sunsets—we cover it all.
New episodes weekly.
Relocation made real. Welcome home.
Welcome to the deep dive. Today we're, diving into Phoenix, Arizona, exploring that, you know, blend of community life and city appeal.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's a really interesting mix.
Speaker 1:And we've got some great source material observations, interviews Mhmm. From a local resident there so it's a real boots on the ground perspective.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It gives it that authentic feel.
Speaker 1:Our mission really is to pull out the key insights, maybe some surprising facts, the things that make Phoenix and spots like Roadrunner Park so attractive.
Speaker 2:Right. To residents, but also maybe people thinking of moving there?
Speaker 1:Yeah. And how a place like that park kinda reflects the whole city's lifestyle.
Speaker 2:It's pretty amazing how one park can do that, act as a sort of microcosm. Roadrunner Park, I mean, it's not just grass. It's a real hub. Uh-huh. Super convenient too right near Tatum and the 51 Freeway.
Speaker 1:And it sounds like it has a ton of stuff going on, not just fields. Right?
Speaker 2:Oh, definitely. There's the farmer's market, which is huge. Mhmm. Sports fields, tennis courts, pools.
Speaker 1:Pools too.
Speaker 2:Nice. Yeah. And it's very dog friendly. There's even a little duck pond where you actually see people fishing.
Speaker 1:Fishing? Yeah. Park pond.
Speaker 2:Yep. And just, you know, lots of people walking, strollers, dogs, picnic spots everywhere. It feels very active, community focused.
Speaker 1:Sounds like the kind of place you could spend a whole Saturday.
Speaker 2:Totally. And a big part of that, especially on Saturdays, is the youth sports scene. Like, I nine Sports. They run programs there.
Speaker 1:I nine Sports. What do they offer?
Speaker 2:Pretty much everything you can think of. Baseball, soccer, flag football
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:T ball, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, even lacrosse usually in the mornings.
Speaker 1:Wow. That's lot. What age range are we talking?
Speaker 2:It's broad. Starts at three, goes all the way up to 14.
Speaker 1:Three to 14.
Speaker 2:And they structure it as a seven week program. Mostly Saturdays, but some Sundays too.
Speaker 1:You you mentioned they move indoors in summer. Smart given the Phoenix heat.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Keeps the kids playing year round. The cost is pretty reasonable too. Starts around a $139 if you register early. Goes up to maybe a $199 later.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But what's really cool, I think, is the buddy requests thing.
Speaker 1:Buddy requests? What's that?
Speaker 2:Kids can ask to be on the same team as their friends. So you get these teams sticking together, sometimes for years.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's great for building connections, like real community building from a young age.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It really fosters that sense of belonging.
Speaker 1:Okay. So speaking of community magnets
Speaker 2:Mhmm. Let's talk about the Farmer's Market at Roadrunner Park. Sounds like it's a big deal. It absolutely is. It's actually the longest running farmer's market in Phoenix.
Speaker 2:The oldest one.
Speaker 1:Really? The oldest. Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And you can see why it's lasted. You've got vendors like Noble Bread.
Speaker 1:Noble Bread. What's their specialty?
Speaker 2:Well, sourdough is their best seller. Yeah. But they're smart about it. They offer two kinds.
Speaker 1:Two kinds of sourdough.
Speaker 2:Yeah. One's the traditional natural 11 type, you know, really tangy.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But they also do a softer yeast based one, more like a regular sandwich bread for people who prefer that, plus rolls, buns, pastries.
Speaker 1:Options.
Speaker 2:Oh, and they have this jalapeno cheddar sourdough that people apparently rave about.
Speaker 1:Okay. Jalapeno cheddar sourdough. You have my attention. That sounds amazing.
Speaker 2:Doesn't it?
Speaker 1:But okay. Moving on. If you want something really, like, eye opening you mentioned Kenny's honey.
Speaker 2:Oh, Kenny. Yeah. Talk to him about honey. It it kinda changes how you think about it.
Speaker 1:How so?
Speaker 2:Well, first, he's a big believer that local raw honey helps with allergies. His theory is it helps you cut out corn syrup, which messes things up.
Speaker 1:Interesting take. Cutting out corn syrup.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And that leads to his main point, this raw versus local idea.
Speaker 1:Raw versus local. What does he mean?
Speaker 2:He insists that raw matters more. Like, he'd take raw honey from Canada or Mexico over a local honey that's been processed, you know, cooked, filtered, pasteurized.
Speaker 1:So processed local honey is less good.
Speaker 2:In his view. Yeah. He says the real magic is when it's both raw and local, but raw is the absolute key.
Speaker 1:That really flips the script. I was at local was the most important thing for honey.
Speaker 2:Me too before hearing this. And he talks about flavors from different flowers, cactus, mesquite, alfalfa, clover, all that.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:But he stresses that any raw honey is beneficial. And get this, raw honey has to crystallize.
Speaker 1:It has to. Thought that meant it went bad.
Speaker 2:Nope. He says it never goes bad. It actually gets better with time. Takes like three to five years to fully crystallize.
Speaker 1:Seriously. Three to five years.
Speaker 2:Yeah. He even has clients from France and Romania who want the fully crystallized aged stuff. Says you can warm it up to make it liquid again, but many like it solid.
Speaker 1:Wow. Mind blown. Yeah. What else? Does he eat a lot of it himself?
Speaker 2:He says he eats about half a jar a day
Speaker 1:Half a jar.
Speaker 2:For fifteen years. And he claims he has zero cravings for soda, pizza, candy. Nothing like that.
Speaker 1:Maybe there's something to it.
Speaker 2:He even suggests making a healthy candy bar in a jar, just honey mixed with pecans and maybe some chocolate drops or raisins.
Speaker 1:Okay. I like that idea. A healthier treat. And he mentioned wildflower honey.
Speaker 2:Yeah. As a good general blend. Said it's about half glucose, half fructose, and potentially good for diabetics. You learn so much talking directly to these vendors.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. From sweet to savory, J and H grass fed beef. What's their story?
Speaker 2:Right. J and H. Their whole focus is natural. No steroids, no hormones. Grass fed, grass finished.
Speaker 1:Grass finished? Okay. Important distinction.
Speaker 2:And they dry age the beef for fourteen days before cutting. Makes a huge difference in flavor and tenderness.
Speaker 1:Fourteen days. Wow. What kind of products do they have?
Speaker 2:A really wide range. Beef, obviously, steaks, roasts, ground beef, breakfast sausage, chorizo, even organ meats.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But also chicken, turkey, lamb, and they partner with Alaskan Pride for fish.
Speaker 1:So where does it all come from?
Speaker 2:It's proper farm to table. The main ranch is huge. 70,000 acres in Bloody Basin. They rent it from the Forest Service.
Speaker 1:70,000 acres.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Lambs from Williams, Arizona. Chicken and turkey from Paulden, Arizona, and the fish, well, Alaska.
Speaker 1:Got it. Do they have a best seller? What's popular?
Speaker 2:The tenderloin filet mignon. It goes for about $39.50 a pound, which usually gets you two steaks. People clearly value that quality and the natural approach.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You can see that trend. People wanna know where their food comes from.
Speaker 2:Definitely. And sticking with that healthy natural theme, sunny side greens?
Speaker 1:Microgreens.
Speaker 2:Right? Tiny plants, big impact. Exactly. He described them as just small versions of the full grown plant, but nutritionally, they can have four to 40 times more nutrient.
Speaker 1:40 times? That's incredible.
Speaker 2:Plus, great flavor. Their top seller is a spicy mix, radish, mustard, arugula. Packs a real punch nutritionally and taste wise.
Speaker 1:Interesting. Okay. How about drinks? Gloria's juice box. Sounds fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And apparently, they're really well known. Got voted best in the valley, featured in Phoenix Magazine.
Speaker 1:Oh, nice. What kind of juices?
Speaker 2:Four main flavors, strawberry guava, passion fruit guava, watermelon guava, and peach passion fruit. Very vibrant.
Speaker 1:Guava seems to be a theme.
Speaker 2:It does. And the cool thing is how versatile they are. Drink them straight, obviously. But also use them as mixers and smoothies, make slushies, popsicles.
Speaker 1:Popsicles. Good idea.
Speaker 2:Or freeze them into ice cubes for sparkling water, wine, tea, lemonade. Really creative uses.
Speaker 1:They have names for drink pairings too. Right?
Speaker 2:They do. Peach passion fruit is the fun day sundae. Good with vodka, tequila, rum. Watermelon guava is the liquid jolly rancher.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Liquid Jolly Rancher.
Speaker 2:Passion fruit guava is great for mimosas or mocktails. And strawberry guava, that's tequila's best friend. Think margaritas, duck tiris.
Speaker 1:Tequila's best friend. I like that.
Speaker 2:And she suggested freezing it till it's slushy, then adding tagine seasoning, like your own little personal party in a cup.
Speaker 1:Oh, tagine on a fruit slushie. That sounds amazing for a hot day.
Speaker 2:Right. And then rounding up the market tour, there's Little Mama's products, soaps.
Speaker 1:Handmade soaps?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Scratch made soaps and shaving soaps by Sue. She says they lather well, aren't drying, and smell really good.
Speaker 1:But what makes them special? Any key ingredients?
Speaker 2:Well, for some of her most popular ones, she uses tallow.
Speaker 1:Tallow, like animal fat.
Speaker 2:Exactly. She explained it's chemically similar to our skin, so it's really soothing and moisturizing.
Speaker 1:Interesting.
Speaker 2:But she's mindful of preferences. She also makes a whole line of vegan soaps. No milk, no honey, no tallow. So options for everyone.
Speaker 1:That's smart. Catering to different people.
Speaker 2:And she's been at the specific market for twenty three years. It's her only market.
Speaker 1:Twenty three years. That's real dedication. It speaks volumes about that market community.
Speaker 2:It really does. It shows the loyalty, the connection people feel there.
Speaker 1:So if we kinda zoom out from the market Mhmm. All these vendors, Noble Bread, Kenny's Honey, J and H Beef, Glorious Sue, They really paint a picture, don't they?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Of that entrepreneurial spirit, the focus on quality, local stuff, health, it feels very Phoenix.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Which brings us to the broader picture why Phoenix itself is appealing, especially for people thinking about relocating.
Speaker 2:Right. Moving beyond the park. Often, for people looking at warmer states, the comparison boils down to Arizona versus Florida. Maybe Tennessee gets a look in sometimes.
Speaker 1:And a big plus for Arizona is usually the heat. Right. But specifically the dry heat.
Speaker 2:Exactly. That's the key difference.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:People often find it much more comfortable than Florida's humidity, especially older folks. Sometimes it helps with aches and pains.
Speaker 1:That's a significant quality of life factor.
Speaker 2:Huge. And then there's the sheer amount of sunshine over 300 days a year.
Speaker 1:Which means?
Speaker 2:Year round golf.
Speaker 1:Of course.
Speaker 2:And yeah, people hear a 105 degrees in summer and flinch. But because it's dry, it's different. You don't feel sticky and drained in the same way.
Speaker 1:More bearable than it sounds.
Speaker 2:Kinda. Yeah. And here's a tip for golfers. Summer green fees drop way down. Plus, the courses are less crowded, so you can zip around in maybe two, three hours.
Speaker 1:Ah, a summer perk then.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Now navigating the area
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:They call it Valley. Right? Phoenix Metro?
Speaker 2:Yep. The Valley. Includes Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Peoria, Surprise. It's sprawling.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:But getting around is pretty manageable. Good freeway system, the I 10, the 60, the 101 Loop, 202 Loop, I 17, the 51, they connect everything pretty well.
Speaker 1:And if you need a break from the heat?
Speaker 2:You can escape up north, Flagstaff, Prescott, mountain towns, cooler temps, maybe around 70 degrees in summer, nice change of scenery.
Speaker 1:Good to have options and airports.
Speaker 2:Three main ones, Phoenix Sky Harbor, the big international one, Mesa Gateway, which is popular with snowbirds.
Speaker 1:The winter visitors.
Speaker 2:Right. And Scottsdale Airport, mostly for private jets. So well connected.
Speaker 1:Okay. The big question for movers. Real estate. Where to live? What does it cost?
Speaker 1:Sounds like a mixed bag.
Speaker 2:Very mixed. You can almost picture a heat map with these red spots where homes are over $2,000,000.
Speaker 1:Like Paradise Valley PV.
Speaker 2:Exactly. That's like the sixth wealthiest community in The US. Yeah. Lots of old money. Average sale price is maybe $4,500,000 now.
Speaker 1:Woah. Okay. So that's one end. What about more accessible options?
Speaker 2:Yeah. There are areas with really good value around Paradise Village, Stone Creek area, especially in your golf courses. You can find condos maybe in the $350 range.
Speaker 1:350 k. That sounds more doable. Good for snowbirds maybe.
Speaker 2:Perfect for snowbirds. Still close to everything. Maybe fifteen minutes from the airport attractions. It's a good balance.
Speaker 1:And location within the valley matters a lot too. Right? Like that Tatum border.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah. Tatum Boulevard is basically the line between Scottsdale East and Phoenix West. And generally, property values tend to climb faster just east of the 51 Freeway.
Speaker 1:Why is that? Closer to Scottsdale.
Speaker 2:Proximity to Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Exactly. It pulls values up.
Speaker 1:And the markets move fast overall.
Speaker 2:Incredibly fast. Homes that were maybe $350,000 just a few years ago, now they're easily 600,000, $700,000. Wow. And houses that were maybe a million or now multimillion, big jumps. Shows the demand.
Speaker 1:Definitely. So besides housing and climate, what about lifestyle stuff, things to do?
Speaker 2:Oh, tons. Phoenix hosts major events. The waste management opened the big golf tournament.
Speaker 1:By the TPC.
Speaker 2:Barrett Jackson Car Auction, huge equestrian shows. Those draw big crowds.
Speaker 1:Okay. And more everyday stuff.
Speaker 2:Well, you have areas like Gainey Ranch, which is high end residential, popular. Homes maybe $1 to $2. Uh-huh. And then there's Old Town Scottsdale.
Speaker 1:Yes. The playground.
Speaker 2:Pretty much. Big tourist spot, but locals love it too. Bars, boutiques, art galleries, and just awesome restaurants. Really vibrant. Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And it's only like a fifteen minute drive from where our source lives near Roadrunner Park.
Speaker 1:So it's all quite accessible.
Speaker 2:Very.
Speaker 1:Okay. So wrapping this all together.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:What's the takeaway for you, the listener, when you connect that local experience like Roadrunner Park?
Speaker 2:With its farmers market, the sports, the community feel.
Speaker 1:To the broader Phoenix lifestyle.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:The climate, the housing, the activities. What picture emerges?
Speaker 2:I think it shows how these local hubs really embody the city's character. That entrepreneurial energy we saw at the market, the health focus, the strong sense of community.
Speaker 1:Right. It's not just abstract. You see it in action at places like the park.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So whether you're actually thinking of moving or maybe you're just interested in how cities work, how communities form
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Phoenix offers this interesting mix. Practical pluses like the dry heat and housing options combined with real quality of life, the community, the food, things to do.
Speaker 1:It's a compelling package.
Speaker 2:Oh,
Speaker 1:definitely. Which leads to maybe a final thought for you to chew on. How much do these small local spots, the park, the market, the specific vendors with their passions. Yeah. How much do they really define the character of a whole metro area?
Speaker 2:Yeah. And what does that tell you about the kinds of places you might look for or appreciate wherever you happen to be? What makes a place feel like home?