Bristol Palin Buys Home in Arizona

Sarah Palin's daughter takes a break from Alaska and purchases family digs right outside of Phoenix

Is Bristol Palin ditching chilly Alaska for greener pastures?

All signs point to yes (at least temporarily), after the Dancing With the Stars hoofer purchased a large home outside of Phoenix in Maricopa, Ariz. recently, E! News has confirmed.

"She bought it about a month ago," former owners Mike and Cynthia Smith tell E! News.

Palin reportedly doled out $172,000 in cash for the two-story, five-bedroom house, which is "awesome for entertaining," according to Cynthia Smith.

"It's a nice family home with a big backyard and patio. It's in a great neighborhood," Cynthia said. "I think [Bristol] will really like it there." 

So why has Bristol chosen to reside in Arizona?

While no details have been released on whether the 20-year-old mom plans to call the suburban town home permanently or if she'll use the digs as a seasonal residence, reports are circulating that Bristol may have chosen a home in Arizona because she plans to enroll in Arizona State University's famed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication for broadcasting.

—Reporting by Whitney English