Paulden (Prescott, Chino Valley, Page: insurance, house, buying)

[chaparrito]

Just killing time on a Sunday morning with Google Earth and Zillow. Looks to me like there are some real bargains in nicely built homes on acreage in Paulden.

Anyone care to comment?

How windy is it? What's the downside if you don't need to commute, or even if you do?

[BriansPerspective]

Paulden is pretty far out - about 45 minutes north of Prescott. If living in semi-seclusion is a plus, then Paulden is great. The downsides are primarily:

1) the distance from shopping and restaurants, and
2) the lack of a fire department. You can buy into the Chino Fire department, but it's probably twice the cost that you would pay in Chino Valley. Also, your home insurance will be a lot higher, because of the distance to the fire station. If you buy in Paulden, and you do not buy into the Chino Fire department, then your house will burn to the ground if it catches on fire. The only time the fire department will show up is if there is someone caught inside, or if the fire is likely to spread.

Yes, it is windy, but no more so than Chino Valley.

One positive is that there is plenty of water. Paulden is sitting on top of an ocean of fresh water.

[chaparrito]

What about ambulance/ EMS services? Bad place to have a heart attack it sounds like.

[wretched wrench]

Originally Posted by chaparrito

What about ambulance/ EMS services? Bad place to have a heart attack it sounds like.

Home Page | Life Line Ambulance serves Paulden.

[chaparrito]

Originally Posted by BriansPerspective

Paulden is pretty far out - about 45 minutes north of Prescott. If living in semi-seclusion is a plus, then Paulden is great. The downsides are primarily:

1) the distance from shopping and restaurants, and
2) the lack of a fire department. You can buy into the Chino Fire department, but it's probably twice the cost that you would pay in Chino Valley. Also, your home insurance will be a lot higher, because of the distance to the fire station. If you buy in Paulden, and you do not buy into the Chino Fire department, then your house will burn to the ground if it catches on fire. The only time the fire department will show up is if there is someone caught inside, or if the fire is likely to spread.

Yes, it is windy, but no more so than Chino Valley.

One positive is that there is plenty of water. Paulden is sitting on top of an ocean of fresh water.

I clipped this from the CVFD website, it looks reasonable, depending of course on what they pay in Chino.

Property owners outside the boundaries of Chino Valley Fire District may apply for a fire protection contract. Contracts are renewable year to year. The fee for a fire protection contract is equal to the amount which would be paid if the applicant's property was located in and taxable by the District at the District's then current tax rate, plus an administrative fee of $50. Please call the Administration office at 928-636-2442 for complete details.

Wonder what the denizens of Chino pay for their fire district?

[ElizaTeal]

Originally Posted by BriansPerspective

Paulden is pretty far out - about 45 minutes north of Prescott. If living in semi-seclusion is a plus, then Paulden is great. The downsides are primarily:

1) the distance from shopping and restaurants, and
2) the lack of a fire department. You can buy into the Chino Fire department, but it's probably twice the cost that you would pay in Chino Valley. Also, your home insurance will be a lot higher, because of the distance to the fire station. If you buy in Paulden, and you do not buy into the Chino Fire department, then your house will burn to the ground if it catches on fire. The only time the fire department will show up is if there is someone caught inside, or if the fire is likely to spread.

Yes, it is windy, but no more so than Chino Valley.

One positive is that there is plenty of water. Paulden is sitting on top of an ocean of fresh water.

Wow, I thought my zipcode was EIEIO. In Paulden's defence, they do get those great UFO sightings.

[wretched wrench]

Originally Posted by BriansPerspective

One positive is that there is plenty of water. Paulden is sitting on top of an ocean of fresh water.

Fresh, but not always safe to drink, bathe in, or even water vegetables. Some Paulden water will even kill vegetables. Lots of Paulden people haul water in.

https://www.google.com/search?q=paul...x-a&channel=sb

Either buy property with a well that tests safe, or plan on a big gamble. One property can have good water, and an adjacent property can have bad water.

[chaparrito]

It's hard to filter water quality reports... lots of them are put out by people selling either water, or filter systems. I have a well now, and wouldn't even think of buying property without first having the water tested.

[BriansPerspective]

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

Fresh, but not always safe to drink, bathe in, or even water vegetables. Some Paulden water will even kill vegetables. Lots of Paulden people haul water in.

https://www.google.com/search?q=paul...x-a&channel=sb

Either buy property with a well that tests safe, or plan on a big gamble. One property can have good water, and an adjacent property can have bad water.

Very interesting. I read the June 2006 study (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/Eva...Z_HC062606.pdf) at the top of your google search link. Unfortunately, the sample size of four wells (three within a half-mile of each other and the other two miles away) is such a meager sample size to be scientifically meaningless. The study did not even bother to list the individual well test results. It merely listed the min/max values. E.g., the arsenic ranged from zero to 3,400 micrograms/liter. Results of 0, 0, 0, 3,400 would be very different from 0, 3,400, 3,400, 3,400, but we will never know.

In any case, it is certainly advisable to have a well test done for the well you might be drinking out of!

[funflyer99]

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

Fresh, but not always safe to drink, bathe in, or even water vegetables. Some Paulden water will even kill vegetables. Lots of Paulden people haul water in.

https://www.google.com/search?q=paul...x-a&channel=sb

Either buy property with a well that tests safe, or plan on a big gamble. One property can have good water, and an adjacent property can have bad water.

Testing well water only tells you what's in it at the time of the test. As water tables rise and fall, metal, mineral and bacteria levels change so unless you test several times a year, you never know what you're drinking. I use a water distiller and enjoy safe pure water without testing.