Before You Move
🧭 Before you move
Planning a move to Arizona — comparing areas, costs and the paperwork ahead.
What this stage is about
Questions people ask most
- Should I rent first or buy right away when moving to Phoenix?
- Which Phoenix-area cities suit a family with a commute to Chandler or Tempe?
- How do I compare school districts before choosing where to live?
- What does a family typically spend per month living in the Phoenix area?
- What are the rules for shipping household goods and a car into the United States?
- Which visa lets me work in Arizona, and where do I start the application?
- What taxes will I pay as an Arizona resident — income, sales and property?
- How hot does Phoenix really get, and when is the best time of year to arrive?
- I want to bring my family to Phoenix for a month before deciding — what are my housing options?
- Compare Arcadia, Gilbert and Chandler for a family moving from abroad.
Trusted sources for this stage
Official and reference pages SEEKael has verified. Links are checked automatically; the date shows the last check.
Housing
- Officialhousing.az.govArizona Department of Housing — Landlord & Tenant ↗
Publishes the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and tenant/landlord rights information (deposits, notices, repairs, evictions), plus affordable-housing and housing-assistance programs.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
- Officialhud.govU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ↗
Fair housing rights and how to report discrimination, HUD-approved housing counselling agencies, home-buying guides and FHA loan basics.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Mediaazcentral.comThe Arizona Republic / azcentral ↗
Arizona's largest newspaper: local news, real estate and housing market coverage, business and politics. Time-sensitive; some articles are behind a paywall.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- SEEKael guideseekael.comSEEKael — Phoenix neighborhood living guides ↗
Our guides to eight Phoenix-metro neighbourhoods (Arcadia, Downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Paradise Valley, Glendale): walkability, schools, climate, median prices, property tax and rental yield notes for cross-border buyers.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- SEEKael guideseekael.comSEEKael — Phoenix homes for sale ↗
Current listings on SEEKael, filterable by city, neighbourhood, price, bedrooms and property type, with six-language descriptions.
checked Sep 12, 2026
Education & schools
- Officialazed.govArizona Department of Education ↗
State education agency: public school system overview, district and charter school information, enrollment rights, open enrollment, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) and school accountability.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
- Officialazreportcards.azed.govArizona School Report Cards ↗
Official state report cards for every public school and district: letter grades, test results, enrollment, demographics and attendance — the primary source for comparing schools.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialasbcs.az.govArizona State Board for Charter Schools ↗
The authoriser of Arizona charter schools: how charters work, a searchable list of charter schools and their status, and how enrollment differs from district schools.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialsusd.orgScottsdale Unified School District ↗
Public schools serving Scottsdale and parts of Phoenix and Paradise Valley: school boundaries, enrollment and open enrollment, calendars and programs.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialmpsaz.orgMesa Public Schools ↗
One of Arizona's largest districts: school finder by address, enrollment requirements, calendars and programs across Mesa.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialcusd80.comChandler Unified School District ↗
Public schools for Chandler and parts of Gilbert and Queen Creek: boundaries, enrollment, calendars and academic programs.
checked Sep 12, 2026
Cost of living
- Officialcensus.govU.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts: Arizona ↗
Official population, housing, income, education and business statistics for Arizona (and, via the same tool, for counties and cities), including median household income and median home value.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
- Officialbls.govBureau of Labor Statistics — Arizona ↗
Arizona labour market and price data: unemployment rate, employment by industry, average wages by occupation and the Phoenix-area Consumer Price Index.
checked Sep 12, 2026
Moving & shipping
- Officialcbp.govU.S. Customs and Border Protection ↗
Entering the United States: what you can bring, duty-free household goods for people moving, declaring currency, Global Entry and the I-94 arrival record.
checked Sep 12, 2026
Immigration & visas
- Officialuscis.govU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ↗
Immigration benefits inside the United States: green cards, work authorisation, change/extension of status, naturalisation, case status and forms. The authoritative source for anything immigration-related after arrival.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialuscis.govUSCIS — Working in the United States ↗
Overview of temporary and permanent work visa categories (H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, EB categories), who qualifies and how employers petition.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialuscis.govUSCIS — Green Card ↗
Permanent residence: eligibility categories (family, employment, investment, special programs), the application process, processing times and what a green card holder must do to keep status.
checked Sep 12, 2026
- Officialtravel.state.govU.S. Department of State — Visas ↗
Visas issued abroad: visitor and immigrant visa types, the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA, interview scheduling at embassies and consulates, and the visa bulletin.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
Taxes
- Officialazdor.govArizona Department of Revenue ↗
State tax authority. Individual income tax, transaction privilege tax (Arizona's sales tax, "TPT"), property tax overview, forms, e-filing (AZTaxes) and residency rules for people who move into the state part-way through the year.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
- Officialazdor.govArizona Department of Revenue — Individuals ↗
Individual income tax section: who must file, part-year and non-resident filing, filing deadlines, payment options, refunds and the state tax credits available to residents.
checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually
Weather & heat
- Officialweather.govNational Weather Service — Phoenix ↗
Forecasts and warnings for the Phoenix area: excessive heat warnings, monsoon storms and dust, flood watches, and climate summaries by month.
checked Sep 12, 2026