Gladden Farms in Marana, AZ – Hints of Real Estate Recovery in Market Statistics for May -  July 2011 84 Homes in Gladden Farms are the focus of this month's market analysis for the Marana neighborhood, just minutes north of Tucson, AZ.  Inventory is down from April, when 128 homes were actively listed.  That’s good news for the home sellers in this area, and hints at Real Estate Recovery for this area. 21 homes are currently ACTIVE and for sale in Marana (Tucson) AZ.  Of those ACTIVE, 8 of the 21 are NEW CONSTRUCTION Currently there are 8 homes ACTIVE CAPA - meaning the owners would like a better offer and are still accepting contract offers 15 homes are ACTIVE contingent with accepted contracts and are going through Escrow 6 are PENDING close of escrow, with all contingencies fulfille... 07/29/2011

Just a quick note, most of Marana is eligible for the USDA residential mortgage financing program that enables low to moderate income buyers to qualify for 100% plus mortgage financing.  Depending on the home value, buyers who qualify can get enough to cover the purchase price plus most closing costs. Rates are very competitive with conventional loans. Alternatively there is the Pima County Industrial Development Bond program that requires a very low down payment and the interest rate is a little lower than conventional loans.  In fact, the authority recently reduced their rates.  Like all mortgage programs, this program needs to be reviewed carefully to see if it best suits a buyer's goals.  in this case, there is the potential for a recapture tax if the property is sold within certain... 07/28/2011

Homes for Sale in the Marana School District Before you know it, it's going to be back to school time.  Marana is located about 16 miles NW of downtown Tucson and encompasses 550 square miles.  It is one of the largest school districts in Arizona. The Marana Unified School District begins their 2011-2012 School Year on August 8, 2011.  If you're looking for a home in the Marana School District - you've no time to waste! You can search for Marana Homes for Sale here. You can get information on the new 2011-2012 school calendar and schedule times here.  Big changes are ahead - Marana High School starts their day at 8:55 a.m.! If you need to see a boundary map for the different schools in the Marana Unified School District - you can find the links here. No matter your needs, call a neighbo... 07/05/2011

Your Marana Resource "Encyclopedia" at a Click! Moving to NW Tucson or the Marana Area and have questions about where to find information, things to do, or need public resources and utilty information? Look no further! I've tried to compile as many resources for the Marana area as I could for the residents and prospective home owners in this area of the Tucson metropolitan area.   Area Resources Town of Marana     City Hall, Employment, Government, Ordinances, Minutes Local Marana Business Directory     Business, Restaurants, Services, Reviews Marana Unified School District     Area Schools, Contact Information, Lunch Program Marana Hotel and Motel Guide     Planning a visit? Marana Map     Google your way around the area! Marana Weather    Up to the minute Weather Guide Marana Photogra... 06/24/2011

Rock n Java and Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed - Things to do in Marana, AZ Great coffee and Comedy - it hardly gets any better!  Rock n Java is a Marana coffeehouse, located at 7555 Twin Peaks Rd., Marana, AZ (just east of the intersection of Coachline Rd. & Twin Peaks Rd.)  They sponsor events and parties in their back meeting room, with local musicians, school groups, and now every third Friday, the Tucson improv group known as "Not Burnt Out, Just Unscrewed".  It's a cozy little coffee house with WiFi, pastries, smoothies and Italian sodas.  They are open 7 days a week and you can see their menus and hours on their Rock n Java website. Last night we took the teenagers and ourselves out for a family night of free entertainment, got ourselves a few sodas, treats and chips, and settled d... 06/18/2011

Real Estate Really Ought to be "Fun" I love real estate.  I find it fascinating.  The people are diverse and interesting.  I can go on and on with my lists.  But imagine, for instance, working with the home-buyer: First of all - I'm caught up in YOUR excitement.  Together we've found a home that you love, you can afford, and we're moving forward into escrow.  This is just pretty amazing to me, and one of the biggest joys of my job. Sure, I get paid for it - but does a professional golfer/bowler/gambler/athlete apologize for loving what they do, along with the fact that it brings them a living?  How about the food critic, the singer, the dancer... So many professions, so many choices.  I made a choice to become a real estate agent because...well, I love looking at houses!  I love helping... 06/15/2011

The Wondrous Art of Marana, AZ When I was "out and about" this week in Marana, my eye was caught by the little bits of ART here and there in the growing community of Marana, AZ.  Here's a sampling of just a few bright spots found by my camera!This first photo shows a lovely mosaic sign for the Marana Parks and Rec. This sculpture is found at the southeast corner of the City Hall lot, entitled "Panorama".  It was completed by Susan Furini Driving along Silverbell, approaching the newer Crossroads at Silverbell District Park at Marana, I noticed every placard was unique.     This is one of my favorites - a "word sculpture" adorning the entrance to the Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library.  It's called "Wondrous" and is a folded panel of galvanized steel.  At night it lights up with intense co... 06/12/2011

Dove Mountain - Buying a New Home in Marana, AZ Are you interested in buying a home in Dove Mountain, Marana, AZ? Dove Mountain is a complex community nestled in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains to the northwest of Tucson, in Marana, AZ. From I-10 and Tangerine, go west.  At the top of the hill, go north on Dove Mountain Blvd.  Subdivisions branch from east and west, and gated access populate most of the residential areas as you drive further into the master-planned community. It is a diverse neighborhood with several subdivisions -- gated, luxury, retirement, and general homes with all pricing indexes. Surrounding these homes, four golf courses sprawl throughout the region adding verdant greens with mountain vista backdrops. Golfers can enjoy gorgeous greens and fairways of eve... 06/10/2011

A "Country" Find in Rural Marana - The Sky Rider Cafe Yesterday my daughter and I got up early to get a bike ride in before the temps rose too high.  Our destination was the nearby Marana Airport, 5.8 miles away.  They have a little restaurant there called the Sky Rider Cafe. (Every bike trip is better with a place to go TO!) The airport is one of those little municipal ones with the Cesnas and locally owned 2 and 3 seaters taking off.  We did have some jets practice out of there once, and the Blimp always "bunks" there during the Golf Classic.  It's a fun place to sit and eat and watch the planes touch and go.  The waitresses know most everyone by name and you have a bit of a feeling of going back in time. History, Airplane photos,  and Murals cover the walls, and the whole place is do... 06/07/2011

Did You Know Facts - Butterflies in Arizona (See the two of them in flight?) Did you know the collective name for a grouping of butterflies is called a "Kaleidoscope"? (can you find three?) Did you know butterflies taste with their feet and when they land on a plant?  They instantly taste if they have found what they were searching for. (I never get tired of the beauty of the Monarch Butterfly) Did you know that many butterflies only live an average of 2-14 days after emerging?  That's a short flight plan! There are many stories that circulate about why they are called Butterflies.  The most common belief seems to be that the name derived from Flutterby. The Tohono O'odham Indians, native to areas around Tucson and Pima/Pinal/Maricopa counties in Arizona, were previously known as the Pa... 06/02/2011

I recently hosted a small get together for fellow Arizona Active Rain members and Cara Marcelle Mancuso, a Tucson Realtor® with Tierra Antigua Realty, drove two hours to join us. She presented me with this beautiful hand painted "doodads" box.   Cara Marcelle Mancuso       It has a prized spot on our media shelf for all to view.   Thanks, Cara -  I wish I was 1/2 as talented as you,    I'll call you the next time I'm heading down to Tucson.     06/01/2011

Do You Have the H-O-A-a-a-a Blues?! My husband and I live in Gladden Farms, a master-planned community in Marana, just North of Tucson along I-10.  It's an area hard hit by the recession and for a time, over 40 properties listed for sale (about 50%) were a distressed sale.  But that's a different subject I've covered in a lot of blogs extolling the values of buying NOW, and I mean NOW, in a lovely community where the prices will raise in time. The reason why I know they will raise is three-fold. 1.  Real estate is cyclical - what goes down must come up, and so forth.  History and statistics show us this. 2.  New construction is booming in the area and with people, will finally come the retail and shopping and improvements this area so badly needs.  Yes, "If you build it, they will come"... 05/23/2011

Gladden Farms in Marana - Pretty as a Picture I've been living in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ for four years now, and I've watched the prices skyrocket, and then watched them plummet with distressed sales, too many homes on the market, and loss of local businesses due to the recession. With spring, new construction has been blossoming and the area has started to experience a rise in home values, optimism for a Fry's Superstore, Walgreens, and other such businesses that have been rumored since this master-planned community's inception. Currently there are 21 homes for sale in Gladden Farms, ranging from $100,000 to $239,800 at an average of $83.00 a square foot.  That's a lot of house for the money. There's a cross section of new construction, resale, short sale, and REO bank-owned propert... 05/18/2011

Marana, Arizona is home to a few sprawling active adult communities such as SaddleBrooke and Sun City Vistoso yet it is also home to smaller, and highly sought-after, communities such as Heritage Highlands at Dove Mountain. The options for active adult living here are endless! For those in search of an intimate sized gated community, Heritage Highlands fits the bill perfectly. With just 1,297 homes, the community offers a friendly neighborhood feel yet still features a wealth of exciting amenities and a vibrant social lifestyle. Dove Mountain is a large master planned community and Heritage Highlands is the exclusive 55+ portion of Dove Mountain. Just 25 miles northwest of Tucson in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, the location is set away from the hustle and bustle offering pr... 05/17/2011

Continental Ranch is a sprawling master-planned community in Marana, Arizona just 15 miles northwest of Tucson. Within this large community is the Del Webb neighborhood of Continental Ranch Sunflower. With 967 homes, the Del Webb portion of Continental Ranch offers an intimate setting for Arizona retirees in search of a private active adult golf course community. The location is within minutes from downtown Tucson and within two hours of Phoenix. Continental Ranch Del Webb was built between 1998 and 2002. Today buyers can choose from a nice selection of resale homes priced from the mid $100’s to the high $200’s. When built as new construction there were ten unique single-family ranch floor plans to choose from sized from 1,100 to almost 2,000 square feet. The Del Webb designed homes all... 05/11/2011

Concert in the Park Series - Things to Do in Marana, AZThe town of Marana would like to invite you to enjoy our yearly Music in the Park Series.  It's presented by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance group, every second Saturday at the new park, Crossroads at Silverbell, located at 7548 Silverbell Road N., Marana AzThe best thing - it's free!The second best thing - the scenery!The third - well let's just say it's a win-win all around!Concerts start at 7 p.m. and run from May 14th through Mid October.The lineup includes:Key Ingredients of African SoulRailbirdzThe Soul ProprietorsLast Call GirlsThe GrindHeather O Day Music will range from Jazz to country, R & B, Original Hits, blues, Rockabilly, Folk, Reggae, Soul -plenty of variety for the whole family to enjoy.Don't forget t... 05/06/2011

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ - July Market Statistics - Homes for Sale (Pulled out from accidental archives - was originally published July 2010) A market capsule of 76 homes as of July, 8, 2010.  This is an update from my June Market Statistics on June 13, 2010 and what has transpired since then.80 listings on the market52 active homes for sale in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ (available)4 are pending (just waiting to close)4 are active capa (would accept a higher offer)11 are active contingent (have contracts, awaiting on contingencies such as inspection, appraisal, financing)9 have sold since June 13, 2010 17 of all of these statistics are new sales5 sold11 active1 pending Builders in Gladden Farms, Marana AZ include:Pulte, Lennar, Miramonte, Hillcraft, Richmond AmericanGladden Farms, Maran... 05/02/2011

Communities Take Root - Help Marana, AZ "Win" an Orchard! Dreyer's is running a fantastic little contest called Communities Take Root.  Winners will receive an acre of a fruit orchard, provided by the Dreyer's Brand as well as the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. One of the "neighborhoods" nominated is the Manana Community Food Bank. The Marana Heritage Farm, adjacent to Gladden Farms in Marana, is an educational and demonstration farm whose mission is to find long term solutions to hunger. It's a place for volunteers and workers to help raise food for the local food bank. If the one acre orchard were to be placed in Marana, the harvest would provide produce for the Child Nutrition Program through Summer Meals and Kids Club.  The Heritage Farm plans to use demonstrations and hold talks o... 04/28/2011

Marana - Tucson, AZ's Northern Neighbor Marana is located just minutes north of Tucson - easily accessed by the Interstate 10, slashing diagonally through town. In 1990 the population of Marana was about 2200.  Today figures soar to beyond 120,000 residents.  It also sprawls over more than 120 sq. miles, so there are many facets to this community. I went to a Pima County Growth meeting this week and big things are still in the works within this area. Residents, I'm sure, are familiar with the Cortaro Crossings area with its WalMart and Kohl's shopping anchors, as well as a variety of other retail shops and businesses.  Restaurants have popped all over with choices ranging from familiar chains to locally-owned eateries offering Asian, Mexican, Yogurt and more. The jewel in the area is th... 04/22/2011

Buying 3 and 4 Bedroom Homes for Sale in San Lucas, Marana, AZ San Lucas is a very attractive little community along Interstate 10, about ten minutes north of Tucson/Marana town proper.  The community has a lovely backdrop of the Tortolita Mountains and is minutes from the Marana Town Hall and Municipal area, almost completed Marana Health Center, and some limited shopping and restaurant choices. The area is ripe for growth, and in fact, many of the homes for sale in the area are new construction.  If you are interested in a new construction home, it is always wise to have buyer representation, because on-site agents work for the builder.  If you'd like more information on a new construction home in the Marana area, please give me a call.This post, however, is focused on your buying pow... 04/18/2011