Buying or Selling in The Bluffs at Dove Mountain, Marana? When I think about the scenic beauty the Tucson area has to offer homeowners, one of the first communities to come to mind is the Bluffs at Dove Mountain in Marana.  Slightly elevated, homeowners often get a city AND mountain view, and the preserve area surrounding the lots is available in this lovely neighborhood of 122 homes.Looking at the Bluffs at Dove Mountain and what the market is currently doing there, I see that there are seven homes for sale.  I've held open houses at one of them, and the back yard is divine...following the ravine down to city views.  It went back on the market this holiday season and is still looking for its new owner.  The address is 13068 N Pier Mountain Road and is listed by an agent in my office, O... 01/10/2015

Time to Recycle Your 2014 Christmas Trees in Gladden Farms!   On January 12, 2015 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., please feel free to bring your Christmas trees to the asphalt bumpout directly opposite of the Gladden Farms Home Owners Association office on 12375 N Heritage Park Drive. Northwest Landscaping has generously agreed to chip them for the residents of Gladden Farms. Be sure all of the decorations have been removed, including the tree stand! Be early so you don't miss them! However, don't drop them off BEFORE 6 a.m.  (The winds might take them) Do not bring artificial trees.  :)   01/07/2015

Marana 2014 Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting Don't miss Marana's Saturday 2014 Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting.  In addition to plenty of live entertainment, treats, Mr. and Mrs. Clause, balloon glow, and more, the Town has enlisted the services of almost a dozen local food trucks and vendors.   Food trucks include: Bella’s Gelato Shop, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Fire Engine Dogs, Haus of Brats, Jay’s Kettle Corn (hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, sodas), Marana Heritage Conservancy (kettle corn), Mona’s Fry Bread, POPPED Artisan Popcorn, Road Running Wood Fired Pizza, Wednesday Nights (meatball sliders), Zany Beaver. Extra special this year is a music-backed Christmas tree lighting.  From Sunday, December 7, 2014 through the season, the sounds of the season set t... 12/04/2014

Gladden Farms Marana Market Update    So what's going on in Gladden Farms, just five minutes off Interstate 10 North of Tucson, AZ at the Tangerine exit? Well, Thanksgiving for one!  Happy Thanksgiving Marana!! For the sake of this report, I'm going to include the communities of Gladden Farms and Rancho Marana, since they are just across the street from one another. Yes, sales have been a bit slow in this area as of late:  There have been 76 closings over the past 6 months, with 15 in the past 60 days.  As of 11/24/2014, there have been only two closings in November. (11/24/2014)  Five have gone under contract this month, however, with a total of 14 in all currently in escrow.  Of those 14, 5 are also new construction. Only two homes have sold at over $250,000 in the past six months, so... 11/25/2014

Marana Neighborhoods - What's the Update? For the Week ending Nov 12, the average listing price in the following neighborhoods around Marana, AZ was:      Neighborhood                                                 Avg. listing PriceHeritage Highlands At Dove Mountain     $287,126     San Lucas     $179,898      The Preserve At Dove Mountain     $348,424      Skyranch     $351,467     Tangerine Crossing     $293,361  Continental Reserve     $247,450                                                            Sales have been slower for November, resulting in more inventory for buyers to peruse! Looking for your Marana, AZ dream home?  Call me - I work black Friday!       11/22/2014

Hey Marana - Do You Need a Tune Up??  Call Village Automotive, Inc. Meet Paul Frederick, owner of Village Automotive, Inc. Whether you are looking for a local oil change or need a complete auto restoration, Paul provides quality repairs & service at a reasonable price. Mr. Frederick has over 38 years as an ASE Certified Master Technician.  He is trained in and uses the, I latest diagnostic equipment to repair your car, saving both time and money! Village Automotive, Inc of Marana is close to I-10, just off the Marana exit. They accept most credit cards. Most makes and models of import and domestic cars, light trucks and classic cars are welcome at Village Automotive, Inc.In addition, most repairs are guaranteed for one year or 12,000 miles. Some of the services provided include: *AIR CO... 11/15/2014

  San Lucas Fall Festival on Saturday, November 1, 2014   With the return to cooler temperatures, (predicted this weekend), activities pick up in the Arizona desert!  Looking for things to do in Marana this weekend -- enjoy a fall array of events including food trucks and jumping castles -- just 10 minutes north of Continental Ranch along 1-10. If you are not familiar with the community of San Lucas....San Lucas sits near the western base of the Tortolita Mountains in Northern Marana.  Take the Marana exit 236 and follow the signs east of Interstate 10 to all kinds of fun! Hope to see you there!  2-6 PM, San Lucas Community Park in Marana, AZ 10/29/2014

Welcome JBraun Salon Spa to Continental Ranch, NW Tucson and Marana I recently had an opportunity to check out a new business serving NW Tucson & Marana, Twin Peaks and Continental Ranch neighborhoods!.  Welcome J.Braun Salon Spa! J.Braun Salon Spa is a full service spa and hair facility, located conveniently close to Safeway, at the corners of Silverbell and Twin Peaks Roads.  It's pretty amazing what they offer -- hair services, massage, skin care, manicures, pedicures, spray tans, waxing...and they're working on body wraps as well. Marana Chamber of Commerce members welcome J.Braun Salon Spa as well to the communities in NW Tucson and Marana, Twin Peaks and Continental Ranch.   09/30/2014

Two Homes.  Two Neighborhoods.  Marana Homes for Sale Two homes.  Two neighborhoods. Fifteen minutes apart, both built in the last four years, situated in pride-of-ownership communities with HOA. Looking for a roomy home?  Do you want a pool?  Do you want unobstructed Mountain Views? How about the security of a gated community? Proximity to the freeway? Commute can make a big difference in desirability.  Access to amenities is another.  There are so many choices when searching for your dream home.  Take a moment to compare these two homes, relatively similar, but vastly different in price.  Which appeals to you?  Want to see more?  Call to arrange a viewing.  Click here for links to MLS photos and details: 12739 N Greenberry Drive in Gladden Farms, Marana 11454 N Adobe Village Place in ... 09/26/2014

Desert Sunsets - Arizona's Gift to its Inhabitants The Sonoran Desert-Scape shares a wild beautyUntamed by man, the sunrise shouts her glory Wild, riotous color washes the desert floorSaguaros reach to the heavens in responseImagine relaxing each evening to the sounds of birdlife and nature gathering for nightfall Rugged mountains embrace the desert belowImagine the serenityEnvision the escapism your own backyard can offerA natural kind of peace can be your very own The desert beckons Reach out Live it Own it These views and more can be enjoyed at this beautiful home for sale in gated Skyranch, Marana AZ. You can view more details and information here.   Photos taken by Leslie Banfied 07/21/2014

Marana's SkyRanch - Gated, Convenient, Home Styles for Everyone  Located just south and also just west of the intersection of Thornydale and Tangerine Roads in Marana, AZ, Skyranch is a great neighborhood to explore when looking for your new home in Marana, AZ. There's something for everyone - surrounded by natural preserve desert and mountain vistas, homeowners can choose from Custom Adobes, two story Santa Fe's, New construction and existing Green Meritage homes, bungalows, ...a fantastical mix of beautiful residences.  List prices currently range from $255,000 to $525,000. Coming up in the next two weeks, I'll be offering two new listings for folks looking for Homes for Sale in SkyRanch, Marana.  One is a two story, over 3000 square feet with a loft and an office and gorgeous unobstr... 07/17/2014

Does It Matter What Month You List Your Home for Sale in Gladden Farms? The master-planned communities of Gladden Farms and Rancho Marana are located about 5 minutes off Tangerine Farms Road and I-10, in NW Marana. I did a little fact checking, and came up with the professional opinion in answering my question, "Does It Matter What Month You List Your Home for Sale in Gladden Farms?"  "No, in Gladden Farms and Rancho Marana, Marana, AZ -- it does NOT much matter what month you list your home for sale."  It mostly matters to YOU! Why, you ask? Here's the number breakdown: January through June are 2014 January sales                   6 February Sales                5 March Sales                     8 April Sales                       10 May Sales                         6 June            ... 06/18/2014

Marana Concerts in the Park 2014 Marana Concerts in the Park began the first Saturday in May and will continue into October at Crossroads at Silverbell Park. The concerts feature an emphasis on a wide variety of music including country, bluegrass,  flamenco and more.  Free to the public, folks are invited to come on out to see some great local performers. July 4 offers the country group:  The Greg Spivey Band.  Enjoy a mix of older & newer country, with a little bit of a rock and roll edge. In August, Navajo pianist Larry Redhouse leads the Larry Redhouse Trio,  a “contemporary jazz trio.”  Music includes, funk, Latin,  jazz standards, and even a bit of reggae. On September 6 Tesoro will take the stage. The band boasts a “unique sound” that incorporates flamenco fusion with rock, blues... 06/16/2014

FREE Things to do in Marana: Dove Mountain Day in the Park Supporting the Marana Food Bank, the Dove Mountian Homeowner Executive Advisory Committees and area merchants have joined together to bring the Dove Mountain Day in the Park about for the residents of Dove Mountain! The event begins at 2 in the afternoon, and concludes with a special movie in the park, "The Great and Powerful Oz" Come out for fun, food, music, people watching, and more.  We hope to see you there - stop by our Long Realty booth for water!!! Bring your canned, dry, and non-perishable food items to donate to the Marana Food bank - every item, and every $$ helps! Take the first left turn into the lower Dove Mountain neighborhoods off Dove Mountain Blvd and follow the crowds!! Hope to see you there!  Betty Covey, Les... 05/16/2014

A Bloomin' Colorful Walk Through Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ Took a nice walk through Gladden Farms this morning.  Spring is definintely in bloom! I love the blooming trees, although if I had one, I'd want it on the edge of my property! Lantana is EVERYWHERE in Tucson and Marana!  I like when it starts cross-pollinating and one bush is several colors! Gladden Farms keeps their public walkways and greenbelts in good order.  The landscapers have an un-ending job trimming, weeding, repairing, mowing... Yard maintenance is strictly monitored by an HOA that provides many opportunities for community involvement and fun, as well as making sure community guidelines are kept. Gladden Farms is an area of homes built 2005 and later.  Currently, Lennar, Richmond American, Meritage, and KB Homes have ... 05/16/2014

There's a Diamondback in My Garage! It's not one of these hardy players: And the unusual Rattlesnake Bridge on Broadway Avenue in Tucson, AZ wouldn't quite fit:   Yep - there he is!!! Scary to say I was putting a broom away standing only a foot from this young guy.  My first thought was, "Do I call 9-11"? Well, no, someone said call the fire department. So, I looked online and since 2009, our Northwest Fire Department does not answer snake calls. If I was in Rural Metro district, they would come out.  No such luck. So then I looked for snake removal companies, called one, and left a message. Well -- they are either busy or rude - no call back. Today a contractor I know is coming with a snake loop thing, but my husband tried outing him with a pool cue last night and now he's hiding. Not ... 05/14/2014

Gladden Farms Market Update - May 2014 In the past six months, 115 re-sale and new construction homes have hit the Gladden Farms, Rancho Marana, and Solana markets in NW Marana off I-10. Currently, 48 are active homes for sale in Marana.  Thirteen of those were built in 2013/2014 and are new construction.  Fifteen are two story.  The average list price for the active homes for sale is $98.94, and this includes ten distressed properties.  Prices range from $132,900 to $299,000.  Homes have been for sale for an average of 72 days.  At the end of  February I'd run a report and at that time, Active listings were averaging $96.68 per square foot.  Days on market at that time were 51. Of the 48 listings, 24 of them are listed for over $100 a square foot.  In homes over 2450 square feet in siz... 05/04/2014

Beautiful Open House In SkyRanch, Marana AZ Today, May 4, 2014 I love the gated neighborhood of Skyranch, located just south and also just west of the intersection of Thornydale and Tangerine Roads in Marana, AZ. There's something for everyone - two stories, one story Meritage homes, Adobes, bungalows, custom homes...a nice mix of beautiful residences all surrounded by natural desert settings and mountain ranges in two directions.  List prices range from $250,000 to $650,000. Today's open house runs from 1-4 p.m. and the gates will be open.  There are several homes in the area for sale, but I have to tell you, mine is something special.  Originally selling for over $600,000 -- this 2268 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bath home is attractively priced at $349,000. Some of the important feature... 05/04/2014

The Coffee News in Marana, AZ I had the pleasure to meet Leeann Herriman of the Coffee News in Marana, AZ this year at one of the many events affiliated with the Marana Chamber of Commerce.  (That's her on the far left) Leeann is in charge of the Marana division of The Coffee News.  The Coffee News is a weekly publication delivered to local businesses in a geographic area.  According to studies, folks actually "absorb" more advertising messages before or during eating! You'll find The Coffee News at many local eateries to take full advantage of this fact. What's nice about The Coffee News is that its an easy, entertaining read.  It generally includes unusual news stories, jokes, trivia, horoscopes, and more. It's all good news! If you are not familiar with this orange-ish little circula... 03/05/2014

2014 NW Market Statistics in Gladden Farms & Rancho Marana Communities Here’s a market snapshot for the first two months of 2014 out in Gladden Farms and Rancho Marana, off I-10 and Tangerine Road.  It includes listings from Gladden Farms, Rancho Marana, Farm Field Five, and Solana. Since January 1, 2014, there are 66 properties: Active, Active Contingent, Active Capa, Pending and Sold.  Of these, 15 are New Construction.  KB homes is also moving into the area and have plans to break ground soon on over 60 home sites. For this report, let’s look at the re-sale properties. 13 are short sale 4 are foreclosed upon, or REO, which is really down from my last quarterly report down from the three month period prior to end of January 2014 when there were 19. Six properties closed since the fir... 02/24/2014