Ann Chafoulias

My Arizona Love Story: Love Where You Live!

No matter where you’re located or where your destination is, moving homes can be scary. It can be simply moving to a different street or a different neighborhood. Moving homes can be incredibly daunting, with plenty of time scoping out new areas to hang out in, new schools, new walking routes – you name it, it’ll be new. 

But moving states? That’s a really scary move. I moved from Minnesota to Arizona. It was the best decision because Phoenix, Arizona has always felt like my soul city. This blog will be all about moving from the cold Midwest to this hidden gem in the desert heat. 

Arizona Farmer's Market in Phoenix
Featured here: Ann in the Farmer’s Market

Arizona has always felt like home.

I used to live here when I was younger. I attended college at ASU, and it was, quite frankly, fabulous. 

So, naturally, when I was at a crossroads in my life, I thought to myself about where I was happiest. The answer came instantly. However, I practiced caution because you can often view a home from your past with rose-tinted glasses. So, I wanted to make sure that Arizona was still just as fabulous through the eyes of a grown-up woman. Arizona was a hit once more. I fell in love once again.

There is a sense of familiarity here.

Going to college here has its perks. I was already familiar with the nightlife and tourist destinations, and it was easy to make friends. There are a lot of transplants in Arizona! All I had to do was wear my Minnesota hat to the farmer’s market, and I made instant friends with other midwesterners. It honestly feels like the Midwest in the desert, and I love it. 

My home was an instant hit.

I’m living in the same home I moved into from the Midwest. Finding the perfect home for you is honestly like finding THAT wedding dress – it fits like a glove, shines throughout, and instantly yours. There’s not a connection like it. That was me and this home – I knew that this was where I was meant to be. My house was by no means perfect when I moved in. It needed a lot of repairs and updating. But, it overlooks downtown, and at nighttime, all the lights glow from the city of Phoenix. Outside my window, I have mountain views. It’s pretty magical. 

Ann's pool overlooking a beautiful Arizona sunset

I got used to the Arizona heat.

I didn’t find it that hard to adjust to the heat here. There are days when it is frustratingly hot, and I am so irritated. But then I remember that my worst day here is still better than my best days back in Minnesota. That’s a liberating feeling, knowing that where I live now is truly where I am supposed to be. 

I have a secret to my positivity.

I practice gratitude every day. I know what a special place Arizona is because I’m not from here originally. I keep myself physically fit to truly enjoy what Arizona has to offer. That helps my mental health and wellbeing too.

I wake up every day grateful. Before my feet even hit my bedroom floor, I’m thankful that I get to live in Arizona. And to be honest, that sets my day up right from the very beginning. 

Ann Chafoulias standing on the edge of Arizona's gorgeous Sedona mountains with a friend

Love Where You Live 

Moving from Minnesota to Arizona has been the journey of a lifetime! I love where I live so much that I became a real estate agent to help others find their dream home here. In fact, “love where you live” became my tagline! I even had a logo designed to tell the story you’ve read in this blog post. The pines symbolize my home in Minnesota and the mountains symbolize my new home in Arizona. 

This logo represents the journey of moving from cold to warm, and each time I look at it, I remember how lucky I am to help you love where you live, too!

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