What changes when you trade Lake Michigan for the Sonoran Desert: taxes, how closings work, where to live and how to land well, from a broker who relocated here himself.
Greater Phoenix gives Chicago movers a major metro, with a large airport, pro sports, major hospitals and universities, plus sunshine most of the year and no snow to shovel. Nonstop flights from O’Hare and Midway make trips back easy, and both the Cubs and the White Sox hold spring training here every February and March.
The tradeoff is summer. From June through September, highs regularly top 100 degrees, and the summer monsoon brings dust storms and sudden rain. Most people handle it the way Chicagoans handle January: plan around it, then enjoy the rest of the year.
Planning a move from Chicago? We answer the same business day.
Talk to the BrokerCensus data analyzed in February 2026 put Illinois at the highest effective property tax rate in the country, about 1.79%, and Arizona near the lowest, about 0.43%. On a similar home, the yearly bill is a fraction of what you pay now.
Illinois taxes income at a flat 4.95%. Arizona’s flat rate is 2.5%, about half.
Arizona has no state real estate transfer tax when you buy or sell. Chicago sales carry state, county and city transfer taxes, so budget for those on the home you’re leaving.
Many Arizona neighborhoods have an HOA. Dues and rules vary widely, so we pull the budget, the rules and any transfer fees during your inspection period.
Your big utility bill moves from winter heating to summer cooling. Ask for a year of electric bills on any home you’re serious about.
Your Illinois agent handles the Chicago sale. We line up the Arizona purchase around that closing date, so you aren’t carrying two homes longer than you have to.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by Construction Coverage (February 2026); Illinois and Arizona state income tax rates for 2026. Figures are for orientation; your tax advisor can run your own numbers.
Escrow, not attorneys. In Chicago, attorneys usually handle each side of a sale. In Arizona, a title and escrow company closes the deal, and most buyers never hire an attorney.
A standard contract and a firm inspection window. Offers use the Arizona REALTORS® purchase contract, with an inspection period, commonly ten days, to inspect the home, review the seller’s disclosures and negotiate repairs.
Desert homes need desert inspections. Have the air conditioning, roof and any pool checked by specialists, and ask about a termite inspection. Look at where the sun hits the house; west-facing rooms run hot in summer.
Walkable and established. Arcadia in central Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale, with restaurants nearby and older homes on larger lots.
Schools and newer homes. Chandler and Gilbert in the East Valley, with master-planned neighborhoods and well-regarded school districts.
Golf, space and privacy. North Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, where homes sit on larger lots near the mountains.
Value and new construction. Goodyear and Buckeye in the West Valley, where newer homes cost less than in the East Valley.
Cooler summers. Sedona and the Verde Valley, about two hours north at higher elevation, run noticeably cooler than Phoenix.
Many Chicago movers lease for six to twelve months while they learn the Valley. We represent renters too, and you’ll never owe us anything for it. When you’re ready to buy, the same broker helps you do it. And if you buy before you move, we can lease and manage the home until you arrive.
For most households, taxes are lower. Arizona’s income tax rate is about half of Illinois’, and property tax rates run far lower. Home prices and rents depend on the neighborhood in both metros, so compare specific homes rather than averages.
Very hot. Highs regularly top 100 degrees from June through September, and the summer monsoon brings dust storms and sudden rain. Homes, cars and daily routines are built around it, and the other eight months are mild and sunny.
No. A title and escrow company closes the sale, and most buyers never hire an attorney. You can still bring one in if you want a second set of eyes.
Both train in Greater Phoenix every February and March: the Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa and the White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.
Our brokerage is licensed in Arizona, not Illinois, so your Chicago sale stays with an Illinois agent. We coordinate the Arizona side around that closing date.
Many people do. Leasing for six to twelve months lets you learn the Valley’s neighborhoods and summers before you commit. We represent renters too, and you’ll never owe us anything for it.
Talk with our designated broker, Olivier “Ollie” Lessing Barré, about timing, neighborhoods and whether to rent or buy first. 20+ years in real estate.