To answer the question posed in your title, consider exactly the same house on exactly the same sized lot except that one lot with the house is in Malibu, CA and the other lot with the house is in the middle of the desert.

This area here is desert land and it seems that one season is more drastic every year (either ice, wind, or rain), but it's manageable when you're aware and proactive.I'll see you around and good luck with the weather.

Sometimes as part of a mobilization (Desert Storm, IFOR, Iraqi Freedom) but often just on orders, often called ADT (active duty for training).

My friend was telling me he was renting a few blocks away from Desert Edge (close to 500S 500 E) a 2/1 for $650, and 4 blocks away a new class A building renting 1 Bdrms for $1,150.

LV’s biggest water problem is that decades old agreement allowing CA to siphon off Lake Mead while southern Californians continue to waste tons of water on fancy green lawns in a desert climate.

You’d like that home to be able to be sold in any area of California including mild coastline communities and dry/hot desert cities.

Asking "which is better" is sort of like asking which desert it better: ice cream or pie? 

Phoenix has a hot desert climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters.

Yes, I am looking into Joshua tree and palm desert area to see if I can find something with decent returns

In the story, there's a deserted six-story apartment building that is in condemned condition.