It generally runs $50 per door, but can be much higher (remember we are in the desert). 

Being in the middle of the desert, there's always room to build, and that keeps housing prices affordable, whereas in California that's simply not the case, especially if you live closer to the coast.If I was going to provide one thing that really separates this market (Phoenix) from California, it's that there's way more cash-flow to be had.

But I could also leave it open for now until about 3 months of hot desert weather has passed, at which point at which point I expect the hot desert sun and metal rods to have dissipated all the water, then put the cap on.

Oddly, the residential cost of electricity in Vegas and other western desert metro areas is comparatively low ... which makes adding onsite solar a comparatively weaker economic option. 

I'd rather be in the desert southwest, but I'm kind of addicted to paychecks....Our plan is to relocate to the ABQ area in 3-4 years.

Diana Wickler broker-owner of Desert Cities Realtors  feel free to use my name

It makes me nervous buying in the desert, can you find long term renters there?

This place is located in the desert southwest, thus I will be lucky to rent it for four months out of the year, thus it will mostly be short term (one or two months at a time).

So I'm in the Palm desert area and looking to find funding for purchase price+rehab/holding/closing of this project coming up.

I'm keeping busy in the desert but if you are interested in potentially partnering on some development opportunities up that way please feel free to reach out.