The Spirit of Arizona Blog Series:  Tombstone, Arizona The scrappy town of Tombstone, known as "The Town Too Tough To Die", is one of the best preserved representations of our 1880 western heritage with its original buildings from that era, not to mention the many artifacts that can be found throughout the area's museums.  A visit to this Historical American Landmark, is a step back into time.  Walking the dusty streets you'll follow in the footsteps of Western legends like Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Virgil, Johnny Ringo and Ike Clanton who roamed them more than 130 years ago.  In fact, during your visit you will mingle with their feisty spirits embodied in the performers who re-enact the gun battle that put Tombstone on the map.  Tombstone was founded in 1877 by a prospector named Ed Sc... 11/14/2010

The Spirit of Arizona Blog Series:  Reid Park Zoo Take a walk on the wild side at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona.  With a vast range of animals that include an African Lion, Dwarf Caiman, and Malayan Tiger to mention but a few of the hundreds of animals that call Reid Park home: Meet The Animals African Lion African Spotted-Necked Otter Aldabra Tortoise Andean Bear Aviary Baird's tapir Capybara Chilean flamingo Dwarf Caiman Elephant Giant Anteater Giraffe Grevy's Zebra Jaguar Lar Gibbon Lion-Tail Macaque Llama Macaw Malayan Sun Bear Malayan Tiger Mandrill Marabou Stork Ostrich Polar Bear Visayan Warty Pig Reid Park Zoo's mission is "to encourage human commitment to the conservation of biological diversity and to provide educational and fun experiences for visitors of all ages."  ... 11/09/2010

October resembled a roller coaster with both ups and downs for the greater Green Valley Real Estate market.  As is typical for this time of the year, the number of active listings skyrocketed from 766 in September to 833 in October while during the same time period the average listing price dropped to $224,795 from $240,356 in September.  A glimmer of hope lies in the average selling price which has shown signs of recovery since January. AVERAGE SELLING PRICE BY MONTH FOR 2010: JANUARY 2010 $160,589 FEBRUARY 2010 $164,601 MARCH 2010 $158,559 APRIL 2010 $164,599 MAY 2010 $162,135 JUNE 2010 $165,334 JULY 2010 $167,056 AUGUST 2010 $167,884 SEPTEMBER 2010 $167,543 OCTOBER 2010 $168,547 The breakdown for the active residential listings as of October 31, 2010 were as follows: GREEN VALLEY (in... 11/09/2010

The Spirit of Arizona Blog Series:  Saguaro National Park  They stand majestically and silently at attention, silhouetted in the setting sun like some alien form of life with extended arms sprouting every which way.  Their height is remarkable when one considers they grow at the rate of about an inch a year.  Imagine the stories they would tell, if only they could, of what they have seen over their 150 average year life span.   Taking all of this into account, the Saguaro National Park is a magical place where in addition to the Giant Saguaro, are about 1,162 other species of plants ranging from desert vegetation such as cacti, ocotillo, and creosote in the lower elevations all the way to Ponderosa Pine, Oak and Douglas-fir trees in the upper elevations of the Rincon Mountains.  The Rin... 10/30/2010

At the Southern most tip of the famous retirement community of Green Valley Arizona, you will find Canoa Ranch real estate.  Its ideal location includes access to big-city entertainment from within a Southwestern paradise that offers hiking, biking, bird watching and much more.  In Canoa Ranch an active lifestyle is not just an advertising buzz word but rather a way of life for those who have chosen to retire in this picturesque community. The community is built around the Canoa Ranch Golf Club, which was named as one of Golf Digest's "New Favorites" in Arizona.   This challenging course is a great example of how the Southwestern desert can be transformed into a golfer's paradise without destroying the beauty of the native land.   Both the course and community boast dramatic elevation ... 10/30/2010

Canoa Ranch is a new home 55+ community located within the master-planned Green Valley Recreation center. Green Valley offers residents access to a staggering 13 amenity centers, 8 golf courses and a long list of social activities. Located just south of Tucson, Arizona, Green Valley is a massive conglomerate of 55+ communities by various developers, one of which is Canoa Ranch built by Meritage Homes. The one dozen plus communities that make up Green Valley each allow all residents access to their amenities and social activities offering a unique concept in active adult Arizona living. The Conoa Ranch community is the newest addition to the Green Valley Recreation complex and such it’s amenity center is also the latest and greatest in the collection of 13 amenity centers. It features an... 10/24/2010

Due to a healthy rainfall in the month of September, not to mention a very active Monsoon season, everywhere you look you can see the "green" in Green Valley.   I am enjoying being surround by a very lush desert...a rather unusual sight in the great Southwest.  About the only thing not growing in Green Valley at the moment are home sales which dipped slightly to 40 in September as compared to 44 in the month of August.  The average selling price remained relatively steady at $167,543 with the previous month's $167,884, but continues to lag behind the average selling price of $181,028 for the same time period last year.  The number of active listings were 766, and the average listing price in September was $240,356 as compared to $245,863 in August.  The breakdown for the active resident... 10/23/2010

Two of the buyers that I am currently working with are clients of mine who each bought a house though me less than a year ago.  This is the first time in my relatively short real estate career I have had anyone come back and say they bought the wrong house...and it has happened twice in the last month. It has made me wonder how such a costly mistake could be made and what advice I should give to buyers to help prevent it from happening again.  First and foremost I would tell anyone thinking about purchasing a home to sit down and create a list of must haves in their new home.  Secondly,  prioritize that list in two ways--things that are cosmetic and therefore can be changed and those items that cannot be changed or "fixed'.  For instance, you "must" have granite counter tops.  Of cours... 10/04/2010

The Spirit of Arizona Blog Series:   Tubac, Arizona One of my favorite memories of yearly trips to Green Valley, Arizona to visit my parents was the trek to Tubac.   My mom, my sons and I would always make the time for a day in Tubac where I would always find one special art piece in order to take a bit of the Southwest back with me to my home in California.   The charming spirit of this quaint town, surrounded by scenic high desert vistas, was always the highlight of my trip but never once did I imagine that I would one day call Tubac home.   And today, I still feel that same kinship with the unique artists' colony whose whose streets are lined with art galleries and one of a kind stores.   Established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio (fort), today working artists' studios surround the g... 09/26/2010

A question I am often asked by my sellers is what should I disclose about my home to potential buyers?  My answer is always the same, disclose every material fact that you have knowledge of to a potential buyer.  Taking it one step further beyond the material facts, for instance, if there are rumors about something going on in the area then let the Golden Rule be your guide:  If it is something you would want to know as a buyer, then your buyer probably wants to know it as well--in essence, treat your buyers the way you want to be treated.  Material Facts: A material fact is something which might: influence a buyer's decision to purchase the property, negatively impact the buyer's decision, or alter the price and terms a buyer is willing to pay. All known material facts should be disclo... 09/23/2010

I realize this isn't a great market for Sellers but the good news is that homes are selling when they are priced right for the market and the Seller is clear on their motives for selling as well as their bottom line.  This past week I had THREE of my high-end (all in the $325,000-$400,000 price range) listings go under contract.  The Sellers in all 3 cases paid attention to the market comps, competitively priced their homes, and didn't hesitate to make the deals work, all the while keeping in mind what they needed from the transaction.  Most importantly, they all walked away feeling like WINNERS! A good negotiation is one where both parties walk away feeling like they've "won".  "Won" can mean different things to different Sellers-- to one Seller it may mean getting rid of a home--perio... 09/11/2010

Thanks to a very active Monsoon season we can see where Green Valley got the "green" in its name!  Everywhere there is lush green vegetation including the lovely Santa Ritas, which look like they have a green velvet layer on them.  After a big dip in sales in the month of July as compared to July 2009, August rebounded with 44 homes sold as compared to 42 homes sold in August 2009.  The average selling price held steady at $167,884 with the previous month's $167,056, but continues to lag behind the average selling price of $180,000 for the same time period last year.   The number of active listings remained relatively stable at 778, and the average listing price in August was $245,863 as compared to $246,850 in July.  The breakdown for the active residential listings as of August 31, 20... 09/11/2010

  There is a magical place in the heart of Green Valley that I recently discovered during a listing appointment.  The thing is, I had driven by it countless times while traveling up and down Camino Encanto and while I had noticed the sign "Arid Garden", I never gave it a second thought.  During the listing appointment, as the Seller was pointing out the features of their home, they proudly mentioned that in their backyard was a gate that opened to the Arid Garden.  Eager to show me, we stepped through the gate and I was transported into a place of rare beauty with lush landscaping lining the winding paths full of plantings of every size, shape and color.  It filled me with a feeling of peace and wonder that something so beautiful could exist in an otherwise dry desert area.  Curious to ... 09/06/2010

 QUAIL CREEK RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB ...   A great place to call Home...   A great place to live and live it up    We feel very fortunate to have found Quail Creek.  Quail Creek is an Active Adult Age-Restricted Gated Community for those seeking a Golf Resort Lifestyle.  Quail Creek has a beautiful Golf Court with three-Nine Hole Courses and they are not easy... they are very changeling.  There is a Golf Pro and a Pro Shop.  There are several Golf Groups; a Ladies 9-Hole Group, a Ladies 18-Hole Group, a Men's 9-Hold Group called the "Desert Duffers," a Men's 18 Hole Group and a Couples Group as well.  There are 6 Tennis Courts with a very active and fun Tennis Group.  There is a Fitness Center with several Exercise Groups.  There are so many amenities and activities, l... 09/01/2010

The term "aging in place" means living where you have lived for many years or living in a non-healthcare environment and and using products, services and conveniences that enable you stay in your home as circumstances change.   It is estimated that some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their life in the place where they celebrate their 65th birthday. Rather than moving into an Assisted Living community, a rapidly growing choice of many seniors is to have modifications made to their homes to cope with fading eyesight and restrictions of movement.  Studies have shown that elders remaining in their own home live healthier, safer and happier lives.  The Aging In Place home modification movement is helping today's aging population to remain in their own homes by creating modifications that p... 08/14/2010

While July brought spectacular Monsoon activity to the Green Valley, Arizona area, it was a less than stellar selling month.  In fact, at 34 homes sold in July 2010, this was nearly 1/2 the 56 sold in July 2009.  On a more positive note, the average sales price showed a slight increase over last month:  $167,056 as compared to $165,334 but continues to lag behind the average selling price of $183,801 for the same time period last year.  The number of active listings remained relatively stable at 785, and the average listing price in July was $246,850 as compared to $248,810 in June.  The breakdown for the active residential listings as of July 31, 2010 were as follows: GREEN VALLEY (includes Quail Creek & surrounding subdivisions) 580 SAHUARITA (includes subdivisions N of Duval Mine Roa... 08/06/2010

The Community Performing Arts Center, located in Green Valley, Arizona, offers a first class entertainment venue.  Owned by Pima County it is operated by the Community Performing Arts Center Foundation.  A magnificent, comfortable setting, a knowledgeable staff and superb entertainment create the gratifying experience that audiences and performers enjoy when they visit the “Jewel of the Desert” at the Community Performing Arts Center. Don't miss out on the superb entertainment line-up for the 2010-2010 Performing Arts season.  Purchase your season tickets by Friday, August 20, 2010 and receive a complimentary VIP package. Green Valley, Arizona's Performing Arts Center is just one of countless reasons people love calling Green Valley home.  Interested in finding out more about this one ... 07/31/2010

I was born and raised in California and for the first 50 years of my life called it home.  Never dreaming that a land just one state away would capture my heart with its range of places, people, and things to see and do as vast as the Grand Canyon.  In 1993, when my two sons were 9 and 11, we, and my youngest brother, embarked on a journey that began at the Arizona/Mexico border and continued across the entire state of Arizona.  We made several stops along the way, including the Painted Desert, Sedona and a memorable train ride to the Grand Canyon where my sons' eyes became as round as saucers when 3 masked men brought it to a rather unexpected and thoroughly entertaining stop.  It was truly amazing to experience the diversity of Arizona with the convertible top down, ranging  from the ... 07/24/2010

You've decided you want to take advantage of the great deals that are out there in the Green Valley AZ real estate market.  Here's a handy checklist for you to use as you embark on your home buying adventure: First, figure out how much you can afford and the amount of your down payment.  Most lenders want a minimum of 20% down but there are definitely exceptions for those of you with a stellar credit rating.   If you are planning to finance your new home, get preapproved for a mortgage.  Bring that preapproval with you when you meet with your real estate agent.  Take some time to figure out what you want and need in a home.  Your checklist of desired features should include, # of bedrooms, bathrooms, garages and whether you need a den.  How important is the age of the home to you?  Do y... 07/19/2010

It is no secret that a well staged home will usually sell faster and for more money than one that hasn't been staged.  However, staging your home doesn't have to require a hefty investment.  In fact, your best resource could be your agent since they know what sells homes and what turns Buyers away.  That's why I always do a walkthtrough with my Sellers to show them things that I think should be changed to make their home more Buyer friendly and offer tips that will give it the Buyer WOW factor.  I've learned it is a fine line I walk when doing this with my Sellers--many don't understand why a Buyer won't love their home as much as they do.   Simply put, they won't.  They want a home that has been depersonalized to the extent that they can envision themselves in the space.  Not an easy t... 07/17/2010