So Easter is just around the corner and holidays always make me a bit nostalgic.  Watching children with the Easter egg hunts brings me back to the inventive hunts I used to do for my kids, and even going back to my own.One of the things that was a clear memory of my 10 year old self and beyond was, we always got a new spring outfit for Easter.  A pretty dress, maybe a hat, maybe a skirt set.Maybe that's why I feel that echoing tug to Amazon now - hah!But my mother always felt, and still does, that Easter signifies new beginnings, change, hope -- looking forward.I thought that was a good mantra for my personal life and real estate career right now.Forget (or put away) 2020 and 2021 and focus on what's ahead.I want more get-togethers with my client friends.I want to do more for the commu... 04/11/2022

Spring is trying hard to stay in Tucson now.  It seems a little colder this year, the weather flip flopping between the 80's and the 40's.  I'm carrying a coat in the car just in case.But with the return of the 80's, nature's beauty is popping up all over as well.  Yesterday I had the good fortune to run across some "Pooh-isms", favorite verses and sayings that have been attributed to Winnie the Pooh and his shenanigans.Here's a fitting one: “Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” - Winnie The PoohI've got those acquaintances popping up in my yard right now - can't complain.  The pop of color just makes you smile.If you haven't been to Tucson, you'd be amazed at what color the desert can bring.  Thinking about taking a trip - let me know, I'll share some recommendations.  T... 04/06/2022

I'm looking at the last six months from today, April 5, 2022.At the time of writing this blog posting, 893 homes are for sale within Tucson, Oro Valley, Tucson, and Vail.You can imagine the competition for these homes.We are all familiar, I'm certain, with the phrase, Cash is King.  It certainly can be in today's market.Just for kicks, I checked the percentage for those that sold in the past 6 months...cash.  Out of 8514 sales, 2377 were cash.   That's 28% of homes sold - sold cash.  49% sold with Conventional loans.  12% sold with FHA loans. So although cash can make a lovely offer, critical negotiating can help those needing financial options for their real estate transactions.Are you financing and looking for a home in Tucson, Oro Valley, Tucson or Vail?  I'm ready to help.  It takes... 04/05/2022

April is Earth Month. (Re-useable shopping bags)Tucson Water shared tips to honor the Earth every day: Reduce paper waste by eliminating printing hard copies & using online bill pay Recycle old, unused, or broken computers, tablets, phones, and more at stores, manufacturers, and local governments Save water by using it efficiently Shop local vendors and businesses     In addition, Pima County Wastewater Reclamation is offering up to $400 in Vouchers to Reduce Air PollutionTurn in your old gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment and receive vouchers of up to $400 to purchase new electric, battery or manual landscape devices.More info: 520-273-9898www.pima.gov/HealthyAir or CutPollution@pima.govIn honor of Earth Month, I have a few wishes.I wish phone books were no longer made and dist... 04/01/2022

Yes, those are Pelicans in Tucson.  A rare sight indeed.  The photographer captured these resting fowl taking a break from their journey at Arthur Pack Park, where many of today's photos were taken.  For the sake of trivia, a group of Pelicans are called a pod.  But if they are fishing as a group, a fleet!  They can also be called a pouch, scoop or squadron.One of my friends and former clients is an avid birdwatcher, helping increase the known and sited birds in Tucson by over 70 specimens!   I recently enjoyed a zoom meeting shared by him, and he invited me to blog and pass the word about the many birdwatching opportunities in the Tucson area.  John has photographed many in his NW Tucson back yard, Arthur Pack Regional Park, Reid Park, El Rio Preserve in North Marana, as well as nearby... 03/30/2022

I received one of those spam emails last week and happened to skim:  a few things resonated.  It talked about the many choices our prospects and clients have when choosing a real estate professional to sell / list their home.It was selling a calling service. This one promised 9 phone calls in 2 weeks.   Now I don't know about YOU, but I hate spam calls.  With. A. Vengeance.  At the end of 2020, the Association of Real Estate License Law officials estimated over 3 MILLION active real estate licensees in the US.This begs the question - when you are looking to choose an agent for the very first time - WHAT is your criteria?  Did you know that, according to this email, 83% of you choose the first agent you meet?There are some choices out there for you!68% of sellers who used a real estate a... 03/28/2022

Yes, we are looking.  Looking and looking!  If you are looking too, you might want to sign up for an email search to catch accurate new listings.  Here's the current search engine results for Horse Ranches and Properties in NW Tucson and Marana, AZI currently have been working for two parties for some time, one in the under $450K range.  They need to have a single family home and 2 acres for sure.I have another that would like to be in the same area, wishing for horse facilities as well, 5 acres or more.  They can go up to the mid 700K range, depending upon details of home.Are you thinking of selling your horse property or ranch?  With the few sales under 900K that have taken place in the past 6 months, (39 total to date) it's been a challenging search for those people dreaming of a few... 03/23/2022

The last quarter of the year brings so much to look forward to - from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve and everything in between. The joy of driving from mall to mall, hosting extravagant dinners, planning for epic parties...then cleaning up after the extravagant dinners and parties are over. Buying or selling a house is THE LAST thing on most people's to-do list. So how do we as Realtors keep that pipeline as full as our ever growing bellies? Pivot is the name of the gameTo keep that white board full from October through December one must completely change the way they do business. The best way to explain this is via bullet point so here we go... Change the conversation - To sellers, let them know that although the value of their home decreases slightly, it still may be a great time to se... 11/02/2021

Team culture - It took us 5 years of trial and error to get this right and it took almost as long to realize that it is THE MOST important aspect of a successful team. In the beginning we thought it was crucial to focus on production and the good old BOTTOM LINE. We pushed for excellence, drive and never-ending escrows with the intention of keeping that white board full. Despite our efforts, we always fell short. People were upset and no one stayed on the team for more than a year. What were we doing wrong? The answer to our problems was easy.When we reorganized in July of 2020, we decided to start from scratch - wipe the slate clean. Tanner, Rebecca and I sat down and had a candid conversation about what our perfect team looked like then worked backwards to develop a program built on t... 10/27/2021

So here's the scoop...We get asked every single day, NAY - multiple times a day. "Where is the market heading" or "Is the market slowing down." Its been the question on everyone's mind for what seems to be since the pandemic started. Up until very recently our short answer was "no" its not slowing down at all, in fact its getting harder and harder to buy a house in the Tucson market. A little backstoryTucson has long been a hidden gem of a city. Residents have always enjoyed a relaxed quality of life with higher than national average wages and lower than national average home prices. What a wining combination, right? That coupled with a colorful and diverse community, nationally recognized cuisine, stellar weather, the most beautiful desert in the world and a wealth of activities to ent... 10/26/2021

Hello Tucson residents, transplants, visitors and those of you wanting to know more about our amazing city! We are the Signature Group at Realty Executives - more specifically, I'm Jason, one of the managing partners of this top-notch team (the guy in the middle of Mount Crushmore for reference). Rebecca Crane, the accountability master, is to my right and Tanner Herbert, the numbers guy, is to my left! Together we coach and train our real estate agents to be the very best for the many buyers, sellers and investors we have the honor of representing in Southern Arizona! Yes, this is our very first blog post so I figured I'd lay the groundwork, introduce myself and give you a little insight on what we hope to use this platform for! Will there be market information? Of course. Will there b... 10/25/2021

Immediately upon entry, you'll grasp that this home is a cut above.  The merit is in the details: Welcoming great room with over-sized quartz island, customizable pendant lighting, gourmet kitchen, and upgraded features wherever your eye takes you. Smart home with automated phone app, whole house filtration, interior and exterior entertainment system, hard-scape flooring throughout -- designed to reduce allergens and chemicals in your living environment Screened in patio area with Travertine tile that expands the living area: Lower the remote screens to bring the outside in, open up the wall of sliders, and sit back and enjoy the fireplace insert, television, or just listen to the sounds of nature. Add to that the Ecosmart heated pool and spa with lighted fire pit - and you've got a pri... 08/02/2021

Here's a fantastic opportunity to buy LIKE NEW !  Listed by Long Realty, Tucson, AZCara Mancuso and Betty Covey, Your Golden Girls of Long Realty520-909-2988 or 520-270-3781Lovely DR Horton home newly up to view, don't delay in Marana AZ's  limited-inventory real estate market.Imagine your new home with a desirable Corner lot in newer neighborhood, located at 11761 W Tom Henry Way, Marana AZThis 3 bed, 2 bath home sits on .17 acre lot backing common area.More details include: DR Horton Smart home with Open floor plan, high ceilings and fans. Kitchen has gorgeous granite island, walk in pantry, stainless steel appliances, Tile throughout main living areas.  Roomy owners suite with walk in, double sinks, shower and closet.  Garage has side door to the yard, upgraded larger garage doors, p... 05/26/2021

Tucson, AZ Community and Real Estate InformationTucson is a big bustling city found in the state of Arizona. The city plays a significant role as the primary business and commercial center in the southern region. You’ll find various home types and styles in this area, including apartments, condominiums, luxury subdivisions, and suburban neighborhoods. It will be quite a task for you to find a home that best suits your taste and expectations in this place. That is why we are here to help you find the perfect house for you here in Tucson. In this city, real estate for sale measures between 640 - 25,000 sqft with 1-11 baths and 1-9 bedroom layouts. The average sale price of properties is $252,465, a median listing price of $265,000, and a median per square feet of $150, experience living i... 05/16/2021

Sahuarita, AZ Community and Real Estate InformationSahuarita is a well-developed mid-size city that is 15 miles south of Tucson. This lovely city has a total of 29,041 population and 10,255 households in the neighborhood with a family-oriented environment, perfect for families of all ages. Sahuarita offers a unique lifestyle for its residents, experience the well-blended rural and modern life that this city offers. Properties for sale in Sahuarita have an amazing open concept floor plan with flexible style options available for you and your family to customize. Home size ranges from 750-5,078 sqft, with 2-5 baths and 2-6 bedroom layouts. The average sale price in this city is $221,726, with a median listing price of $250,000 and a median price per square foot of $119. Living in Sahuarit... 05/16/2021

Green Valley, AZ Community and Real Estate InformationGreen Valley, Az is a community found along the western side of the Santa Cruz River. It rests at the base of the striking Santa Rita Mountain Range in Southern Arizona's Santa Cruz Valley. According to Where to Retire and New Choices for Retirement magazines, Green Valley is among the best places for retirees looking for an active lifestyle to settle. Homes for sale in this town are priced reasonably, with an average sale price of $222,047, a Median Listing price of $240,000, and a Median Price per Square Feet of $148. Home size sits between 378 - 3,475 sqft with typical 2- 4 bedroom layout. Residential houses in Green Valley were built from the late 1900s to recent 2013. Enjoy a cooler climate here than in Phoenix or Tucson, with a... 05/16/2021

Arivaca, AZ Community and Real Estate InformationArivaca is an exceptional rural community that offers only the best Arizonian quality living. It is about 60 miles south of Tucson with a very authentic small-town feel. Homes in Arivaca comprise large home acreage sites and ranch estates widely known for their expansive spaces and natural panoramic view. Properties for sale in this town are fairly priced, with many of them priced below the state average. The average sales price in this place is $153,500, a median listing price of $204,000, and a median price per square foot of $100. Home size is between 1,300 - 2, 881 sqft, with 2-4 bedroom capacity. Arivaca also has large plots of land waiting for developments. If you would like help checking out the available properties for sale in Ari... 05/16/2021

12901 N Fox Hollow Drive, Marana, AZ 85653 3/2 Home for SaleListed by Long Realty, Cara Mancuso Associate Broker 520-909-2988Check out this innovative floor plan built by Meritage homes to help insure energy efficient living!The home offers 1675 square feet with a split 3-bedroom, 2 bath plan.  You enter an open area that consists of living and dining area, plus open-wall room that can double as den, office, or formal dining room!Hardscape flooring helps with cleaning AND pets, with new carpeting in bedrooms.  Add to that, new HVAC in 2020, newer microwave and disposal, fresh exterior paint, and a bit of touch up here and there inside as well!Enjoy extended pavers and barbecue stub outside.Call for an appointment to view today.  Yours for $249,900  01/08/2021

I've appreciated my phone this December.  Horse lovers from out of state and within are on the hunt for the perfect property, and I've been happy to help.Each one is so unique and different, and especially when you can't view the property immediately yourself, I'm happy to go and share the land and buildings with you virtually.To start, here's a link that will show you all of the current ACTIVE horse properties available in the greater Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley and Vail areas of our city.  Some have facilities, some do not, but they all are zoned for horses.  The search includes both manufactured AND stick built properties from $100 grand to over three million.  Truly something for everyone.A word of caution, however.  I've had some clients looking for over a year.  There are multiple ... 12/14/2020

Listed by Long Realty, Betty Covey Listing AgentSingle Story Home Available in The Villages, Dove Mountain, MaranaCombined SqFt:    1,502  3 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms on .12 acreSeller will put closet in Den on buyers request. Turn key home features open floor plan with great room and fireplace. Enjoy a beautiful private backyard with a lovely fountain feature. The covered porch with extended brick pavers lend an oasis feel to this private retreat.  All pots and yard art stay.   In addition, newer Air Conditioner & central heater have transferable 10 yr warranty. Replaced 1/20, water heater 9/20 and exterior totally repainted last year. Garage has the 4' extension for those large vehicles and trucks.  You truly have to see this incredible home with pride of ownership.  Close to the new... 12/02/2020