That I hate bugs! They give me the creeps. Each week, my assistant prepares a list of Flagstaff events for the coming weekend for me to blog about. She sends it to me with her favorite picture of the week.  Here is this week's picture. Ugh! The photo relates to "Bugs at Work", an exhibit at The Arboretum at Flagstaff. I, for one, will not be going!     There are lots of other things to do in Flagstaff this weekend, from opera to politics to classic plays. There is bird-walking, art-walking, and mountain climbing. Come on up!If you'd like to buy or sell Flagstaff real estate, contact Team Heitland at RE/MAX Peak Properties.  Have a great weekend - we will! 04/03/2008

Yep, that's right. Just by doing what I consider the necessary part of my work as a Flagstaff real estate agent - knowing the market - I won a $50 gift certificate for dinner at Buster's Restaurant in Flagstaff.  Pine Knoll Village is a new 55-lot development toward the east edge of Pine Knoll Drive (which runs through the south end of the NAU campus on the west side of Flagstaff). This is near the better known (thus far) Rio Homes development. I had been meaning to pay my second visit to Pine Knoll Village (the first was several months ago, when ground was just being broken). Then, last week, I got a message from the developer, Bob Karberg, a long-time colleague in Flagstaff real estate. He offered a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to any agent who visited the Pine Knoll subdivisi... 04/03/2008

Louie isn't there anymore! On Thursday, I did my usual "what's up in Flagstaff this weekend" post and included an archive picture of Louie the Lumberjack (Mascot of Northern Arizona University) in front of the Walkup Skydome.  Well, I went to the Flagstaff Home and Garden Show on Friday and Louie had moved!  Apparently, students had vandalized Louie one too many times in his outdoor position on campus, so he has been moved inside the Skydome. This weekend, he towered over all the displays at one end of the Home and Garden Show. He apparently keeps a close eye on the court during all home basketball games, but I haven't heard that it has helped the players much. If I were from an opposing school, I'd be intimidated by that ax! 03/30/2008

 A propane leak cause an historic cabin to blow up at Fort Valley in Flagstaff, AZ.  This is certainly an eye opener for everyone who heats their homes with propane.  Right now the explosion is still being investigated but they believe that it may have been caused by a crack in the propane line.  With heavy snow and ice this winter the gas leak may have been buried under a large amount of ice.  Luckily for the renter and the home owner no one was injured in this explosion.It's a good time to have your gas lines inspected in Northern Arizona to make sure there has been no damage from our wet winter.     03/28/2008

 Over 1000 exhibitors will inspire home ideas in Flagstaff for the next three days as the Home and Garden Show occupies the Northern Arizona University Skydome. As visitors enter the Home Show, they will be greeted by NAU's mascot, Louie the Lumberjack, pictured here in front of the Walkup Skydome. Louie may not be very welcoming or homey, but, hey, it's a college campus!Click here to print an internet coupon for $2 off at the Flagstaff Home and Garden Show.I'll be at the Home Show tomorrow a.m. working the booth of the Coconino County Democrats. If you're in Flagstaff at the Home Show, look for me in the booth between 10 a.m. and noon.  Then back to work in the afternoon with yet another listing appointment!  For details on more fun things to do in Flagstaff this weekend, visit my othe... 03/27/2008

It's been a beautiful Spring week in Flagstaff. At 7000 feet, temperatures have been in the fifties and even thelow sixties at mid-day.  Winter coats are, of course, still required when the sun falls and there is still plenty of snow gracing the mountains above town. Flagstaff is a beautiful place to live!   It's also been quiet here in Flagstaff this week, with much of this college town out of town for Spring Break. But the school breaks have freed up time for home buyers also and we're seeing some more activity from first-time and move-up buyers. What we are not seeing is the traditional Flagstaff second-home buyer, who is someone from the Phoenix area looking for a place to get away from the heat and crowds in the Maricopa valley. This will be the second year in a row that Flagstaff... 03/21/2008

In my last post, I talked about the charming town of Flagstaff, located in Northern Arizona on the famous Route 66, and all it has to offer. Flagstaff is a popular summer destination for folks from Scottsdale, Phoenix and nearby cities since it is an easy 2 hour or so drive from the Valley without traffic. In today's post, I want to introduce you to a wonderful, private golf community in Flagstaff called Forest Highlands. Forest Highlands is located just off of Route 89A - minutes from downtown and about 30 miles from Sedona and its magical red rocks and cliffs. Forest Highlands AmenitiesForest Highlands is a year-round community for all ages featuring two golf courses -the Canyon course, which is ranked number one in Arizona and was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and the Mead... 03/17/2008

There is plenty on tap in Flagstaff this weekend, even though Spring Break begins tonight at Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff Unified School District.  This is the time of year when Flagstaff's location and climate offer incredible variation. The forest trails in our lower elevations have dried and the temperatures are moderate, so hikers have a perfect time. In the mountains, the Arizona Snowbowl has a wonderful base for skiers and the temperatures make morning skiing still very enjoyable. Drop down forty minutes through beautiful Oak Creek Canyon and you'll find WARM temperatures for hiking or horseback riding in Sedona, AZ. The only downside is that my favorite restaurant, Horsemen Lodge, is closed for Spring Break (starting Sunday, for 8 days). Tomorrow, the Democratic Prec... 03/14/2008

Considering relocating to Flagstaff, AZ?  If you are into an active lifestyle or you want to kick back and relax in a beautiful location, Flagstaff is the place to be.  In the summer you will find sunshine every day with an occasional afternoon shower, just enough to cool things down with the fresh scent of pine trees.  There are summer activities from hiking, biking, fishing, ATV's, golfing, and summer picnics.  There is always the Friday night Art Walk in our charming downtown area.Winter sports abound in Flagstaff, down hill and cross country skiing, and snow mobiles are just a few.  There is a wide array of ongoing activities at the NAU campus, Theatrikos, and Lowell Observatory.  If you love the mountain fresh air and water, beautiful pine trees and a bright blue sky, Flagstaff may... 03/10/2008

I keep hearing that the smaller volume of sales will drive the amateur agents out of the real estate business. Is this happening in your market?  Not in mine. Here are the numbers of members of our Board and MLS, from February 2008 compared to February 2007, according to Friday's Northern Arizona Association of Realtors® newsletter:I heard at the RE/MAX Convention that the number of national members has gone from 1.4 million to 1.3 million, and the speaker projected it would go to one million before starting to rise again. NAR raised its fees - I guess they need to cover costs with the reduced membership! As far as I'm concerned, it's too easy, and too inexpensive, to be a Realtor®. Half the agents who are members of our MLS didn't record a sale last year. Yet, they can go out and try t... 03/08/2008

It's going to be another wonderful weekend in Flagstaff, with great sunny weather.  Bring a jacket and enjoy many great Flagstaff things to do, starting tonight.  While I've been attending the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas (see my posts here for the last several days), my mortgage blogging partner has been keeping our clients and other blog readers up-to-date on developments in the home loan market.To learn about the new FHA mortgage limits, and how they apply in Coconino County, to Flagstaff real estate, read Liz Fontanini's post entitled New FHA Mortgage Limits Announced. Once the details of this shake down to mortgage investors and the word of available limits gets out, this piece of the Federal Stimulus Package should give a boost to Flagstaff homes in the $400,0... 03/07/2008

Yes, this Flagstaff real estate agent did the 3 mile ("5K") Walk for the Cure this a.m. - I even ran up some stairs instead of using the escalator. I even made it on time to the 9 a.m. General Session on the last day of the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention.  The General Session featured two fine speakers - one an economic consultant and one a renowned motivational speaker. The first fellow would have been much more engaging if he had had some slides. As it was, he was a "talking head."  I'll tell you more in a later post because after the Susan G. Komen walk this a.m., it's now past time for bed.My afternoon was filled, starting at 12:30 p.m. with a session on sales building with two top agents - one of whom I've seen before at Star Power events. The other is a highly successful Pho... 03/06/2008

Another beautiful day in Las Vegas -- mostly spent inside attending the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention, but I did get in my morning walk and still made the General Session starting at 8:30. Ok, I was there at 8:40. I've listened to NPR's Marketplace (the previous day's edition) each of the past two mornings while doing this city walk. I don't normally listen to my IPOD while walking in the forest at home in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona, but here it is a perfect way to pass the walking time. It's a good way to know what the public is hearing about the real estate market and economic news in general. Even arriving 10 minutes late, I caught the gist of Mr. Buckingham's motivating speech, which was: Make the most of your life and your career by working on your STRENGTHS, not your weak... 03/05/2008

I recently took a continuing education class covering the current status of the FHA. The Instructor, Nikki Turner, is a prominent Mortgage Officer with Wallick & Volk in Flagstaff. What is listed below is a paper she wrote for the class. With Nikki's permission I have reproduced the article in it's entity. I hope you get as much out of this presentation as I did.Jim Tress, ABRRuss Lyon Realty Company of Flagstaff  FHA the New Subprime, written by Nikki TurnerIn previous decades the mortgage industry followed the plain vanilla, one-price fits all approach.  If you qualified for a 30 year loan, the rate was the same for you as for the next applicant, regardless of your credit history.  In effect, interest rates were cross-subsidized.  People with the best credit paid a little more in orde... 03/05/2008

We have just started March and while temperatures in the Valley have been amazing, summer's heat is not too far off. With that said, have you considered finding a retreat in a cooler climate? Have you considered Flagstaff? Flagstaff is located approximately 130 miles north of Phoenix and Scottsdale and is a quick two hour drive up I-17 without traffic. Since the altitude in Flagstaff is 7,000 feet, temperatures during the summer are typically 20+  degrees cooler than the Valley - allowing you to enjoy plenty of outdoor pursuits. For those of you unfamiliar with Flagstaff, it is located on the historic Route 66 and is home to Northern Arizona University and Mount Humphrey's, the tallest peak in Arizona. The historic downtown of Flagstaff is utterly charming and retains the flavor of the ... 03/04/2008

I'm attending the RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas. Today, I went to a breakout session on blogging and learned nothing new, but got some reminders. Here is one: take your camera everywhere!  I knew that, but somehow I've gotten lazy about it. So, post-convention resolution: take my camera everywhere. (This blurry picture taken from my phone is what happens when I don't follow this rule.)One of today's presenters was Linda Davis of Gales Ferry CT. She did an excellent job explaining the value of our "social network" here on Active Rain.  Thank you, Linda. Desiree Daniels -- all the way from New Jersey -- approached me prior to the panel session, having seen my post yesterday saying I'd be here in Vegas for the RE/MAX Convention. Desiree invited me to Diablo on the Strip for ... 03/03/2008

Here's a picture of my drive tomorrow.I'm off to the RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas. Hope I learn a lot! I really do go to these things to learn and usually come back dazed and tired from learning. The party-part does not entice me. What attracts me to these out-of-town meeings is the opportunity to "network" with top agents from around the country (and the world!) and learn what they are doing to buy and sell real estate.I've been to other franchise conventions, but after 4 years, plus, with RE/MAX, I've not been. Since it's so close this year, and CRS was so far -- the one I usually do this time of year -- I decided to give it a try.I'll write a few notes each day to let you know how it's going. My first session tomorrow is about blogging -- I'll be surprised if I find o... 03/02/2008

Elegance in Flagstaff, Arizona. Magnificent Estate Style Home. Incredible mountain home site has mountain and lake views right in the middle of Continental Country Club. Across from Aspen Valley Golf Course..a total of .75 acres. GREAT HOME FOR ENTERTAINING, hugh Great Room, The Master Suite has his and hers closets and sinks, master bath (Jacuzzi tub, garden tub, steam shower & sauna), kitchenette & sitting room. There are three other master bedrooms that have private baths as well. This home has a room for a large craft/sewing are or kids play area. Library/Office has Alder paneling, book shelves, ladder and secret room. Large formal dining, Gourmet Kitchen w/redwood cabinets. 2 Fischer & Pakel dishwashers, Viking Range, 2 Decor Warming Drawers, Viking Oven & Microwave, Kitchen Aid Co... 02/21/2008

I hesitate to say there is a downside to living in Flagstaff, AZ. That's how much I love the place. But yesterday, even I had my doubts. Here's why.In a weak moment sometime ago, we agreed to take care of the grandkids while our daughter and son-in-law go away for a week to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Then, they told us that instead of going in May, when their anniversary actually is, they were going to Hawaii this February. Oh. The only problem with that is that they live in Iowa. Ok, love conquers all. We planned ahead -- the kids don't leave until tomorrow a.m. and our itinerary had us arriving at 1:30 p.m. yesterday. Then a Flagstaff winter storm intervened. Two inches on the ground when we arose at 5:30 a.m. to head toward the 16-seater prop flight scheduled to leave Flagstaf... 02/15/2008

Flagstaff is a little blue island in Arizona. (Actually, Tucson is a bigger blue island and much of the Phoenix area has turned purple in recent years -- a combination of Republican red and Democrat blue.) The Democrats in Flagstaff like to act-up and this weekend we were in full swing. Friday night, I attended a house-party fundraiser for a great young woman, Sara Presler-Hoefle, who is running in our non-partisan election for Flagstaff mayor this Spring. There are five candidates in the race, so there will be a primary in March and the top two will go to the final election in May. Sara represents the strong young energy of Flagstaff and hopefully will show well in the primary. Saturday morning was the annual Democratic Party Tamale Sale. Four hours of networking around information boo... 02/11/2008