"London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady." In 1968, when London replaced its bridge, the city of Havasu purchased it for $2.5 million. It was taken apart and reassembled at its current location where it spans from Lake Havasu to Thompson Lake. It cost $7 million to put the bridge back together.
If you are looking for a place where diversity literally spans the galaxy, then Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is the place for you. Second only to Sedona for UFO buffs, New Age enthusiasts, and artisans, Lake Havasu is an open and accepting city where anything goes as long... as you don't litter. Despite the openness of the community, living here is not for the timid. While winter temperatures tend to run in the balmy 80-degree range, summer temperatures can rise to more than 120 degrees. Don't believe people when they point out that it's a dry heat. When it's 120 degrees outside, it's just plain hot.
Moving to Lake Havasu City
If possible, don't move in summer. The temperatures can be dangerously hot, and this is especially true for someone not acclimated to the area. Bring lots of sunscreen and drink water constantly. Beyond that, moving here is a cinch. You will need to fill out a basic rental application, provide proof of income, and there will be a credit check. Toss in a few references for yourself and the adult members of the family to make it go a bit faster. If you have a pet, it would be nice if your previous landlord spoke well of little fluffy, but this is such a dog-friendly place that it is usually not an issue. You may also be required to provide proof of citizenship, depending on which way the Supreme Court rules on the contested ID law.
What Will it Cost?
A whole lot less than you thought it would. If you are from either coast, you will be kicking yourself for not moving here years ago. It might seem a tad high if you are from the Midwest or Deep South, but you can get a great place with three bedrooms and a pool for what a studio would cost you in most cities. If you don't need a lot of space, you might be able to find an all-bills-paid executive suite. That would be nice because you are going to be using your air conditioner a lot -- the heater, not so much.
Neighborhoods
The neighborhoods of Lake Havasu City seem to all have one thing in common -- high vacancy rates. This means that, no matter what the quoted rent is, you have to opportunity to offer less. The worse that can happen is the landlord says no.
Acoma: This is a nice family-friendly neighborhood that fortunately has quite a large number of vacancies. Now, if you are single, this might not be such a great deal for you because most of the people who live in this neighborhood are married. You can find some really great places here though, and it's a nice place to live. It's quiet and friendly, with good schools. $$$$$
Palo Verde: In this part of the city, you will find a haven for doctors, executives, and lawyer types. It's family friendly, but there are plenty of singles living here as well. Nearly a quarter of the properties here are empty, so try to negotiate a lower rent. You are in a great location, and you have a short commute time at roughly 30 minutes. $$$$$
Oro Grande: This is a middle-of-the-road neighborhood, with a great deal of diversity among the residents. Many occupations are represented, but upper-level professionals dominate. This is an area popular with college graduates looking for a nice place to live while they pay off their annoying student loans. $$$$
Sunny Ridge: City workers, teachers, and other assorted proper types inhabit this area. Many police officers live here with their families, so the neighborhood is extra safe. The area is popular, but the building rate is outpacing population growth, so there are plenty of vacant places with some really nice amenities. This is a great place to land if you relocate to Lake Havasu City. You can get a very nice apartment for a great price and a generally short commute. It's a renter's market, so take advantage of it. $$$$
Saratoga Avenue: This area is the jumping-off point for a number of professionals. You can find a great place here, negotiate the already reasonable rate even lower, and use the extra money to pay off student loans. At least that is the thinking of many young professionals who move here. It's also a great place to start a family. It's clean, quiet, and safe, with friendly people and great schools. $$$$
City Center: This is a popular place for retirees and professionals alike. You will find many young families here along with teachers, mid-level executives and IT people. $$$
Havasupai: This is the principal area for families in Lake Havasu City. Married couples with two or more children make up the largest percentage of the local residents, and that isn't surprising since the schools here are highly rated. Pets are also popular here, and in most cases, you can take both the kids and dogs to the several great parks. Most of the places are around 20 to 25 years old and have been remodeled at least once since they were built. The amenities will vary widely from building to building, so be sure to check them out before committing to a place. It's a great place to raise the little urchins while enjoying the Arizona sun. $$
Kiowa Avenue: This area is favored by retirees who moved here to escape the winters in places with a lot of snow and ice. There are almost as many vacant places as rented ones so feel free to negotiate. $
Living in Lake Havasu City
Know Thy Neighbor
Welcome to an odd form of Arizonanian utopia. If you are not the tolerant, live-and-let-live sort of person, you should seriously reconsider moving here. This is probably one of the most open and tolerant places in the entire nation. You get everyone here, from people hunting aliens -- the kind from another planet -- to people who channel dolphins to Jedi Knights; they are all here, and that is just the local city leaders!
This is also a great place to live if you are an artist. Artists are heavily represented here, and there are several art associations, writers enclaves, and so forth in the immediate area. If you can't find one that suits you, then you are free to start your own and soon someone will join. With a population of over 55,000, you would expect that you could just be anonymous. That isn't likely to happen here. People want to know their neighbors; they want to be friends with everyone. There is a definite small-town vibe working here.
Play Time
If you like water sports, swimming, hiking, and biking, then you are going to love it here. During the peak of summer, the water is perfect, and you can hike all year long on the various trails. Just be sure you prepare adequately for the weather.
Festivals and activities play a huge part in this community, and there are dozens every month. There are several community guides, and everything is published in the local newspaper. There are so many that the city actually puts out a top-25 list of activities, and it has more than 60 items on it!
You Won't Go Hungry in Havasu
There are a few places you need to check out when you get a chance. The Bagel Bin on Mesquite is a great little place that makes their bagels fresh daily. This is a local hangout that is very popular. It's the perfect place to be seen. You are going to need something to drink, so pay a visit to the Keva Juice bar on McCulloch -- outstanding and healthy juices and sherberts.
