Considering a Short Sale? Arizona Short Sales
A homeowner can consider a short sale as one of their options to enable them to sell their home when the homeowner will not have enough proceeds or money to payoff the mortgage and closing costs. Long story short—homeowner is “upside down” in their house and the lender must take a loss on the mortgage if they approve the sale. An experienced realtor can provide you with an accurate market analysis on your home to determine the estimated sales price based on your local market & the condition of your home. If you obtain an accurate payoff from your lender that includes any fees that may have accumulated, the realtor can also provide you with a “net” sheet to give you an idea of home much you might be “short” after the sale of your home.
The short sale process is not easy nor is the rules clear as to who will qualify. Please seek advice from a real estate attorney & a CPA to determine financially if a short sale is right for your financial & legal situation. H.R. 3648, The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 was enacted on Dec 20th to provide tax relief for certain short sale situations.
Call your lender & request the short sale package. Determine who will be your contact with the mortgage company and if they have the power to approve the short sale. You will also need to give your realtor written authorization permission to discuss these issues with your bank contact. With this package, submit a very sad letter. The lender needs to shed a tear or at least understand why you are now in this position.
You will basically need to requalify for the loan. You will have to provide information regarding your income, bank statements, investments & other assets.
If the bank is indicating that you qualify for the short sale, move forward with the sale of your home. Disclose in the purchase contract that the successful closing of the escrow will be contingent upon the banks acceptance of the short sale. Please call RE/MAX Desert Showcase for more information 623-979-8888.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Short Sale? Not clear & simple....
Speed Cameras, Road Cameras & Road Closures in AZ
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - The speed-enforcement cameras on Loop 101 through Scottsdale will keep flashing after today.
Scottsdale and the Arizona Department of Public Safety last week extended their agreement to operate the photo enforcement program up to Feb. 29, or until the cameras are affected by carpool-lane construction on Loop 101. The agreement had been scheduled to expire today.
DPS Director Roger Vanderpool requested the extension until Feb. 29 or until construction renders the cameras inoperative, whichever comes first.
Speeders shouldn't get their hopes up, however.
Construction on the camera-equipped portion of Loop 101 isn't scheduled to start until after February, Timothy Tait, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation, said Friday.
The company could shift its sensors embedded in the roadway when construction crews shift the freeway lanes to create a work zone, ATS spokesman Josh Weiss said Friday.
The company would need permission from ADOT to do the work, but it could move its sensors when the agency temporarily closes the stretch of Loop 101 for construction crews, Weiss said.
ADOT closed parts of Loop 101 three times this fall to allow crews to re-stripe lanes and move equipment into place. The $47.5 million construction project will add high-occupancy-vehicle lanes in the Loop 101 median between Loop 202 on the south and the Pima Road/Princess Drive exit on the north.
The entire project is to be completed in late 2008.
Crews so far have been working on the southern end of the 15-mile project, between Loop 202 and the Via Linda exit. All six photo-enforcement cameras lie farther north, on the stretch running from Shea Boulevard to Scottsdale Road.
Four of the cameras are in the carpool-lane project area.
Scottsdale contracted this year with American Traffic Solutions to run the photo-enforcement program on city streets and Loop 101. The city in turn agreed with DPS that the state agency would be responsible for enforcing and administering the program on Loop 101.
Jane Larson, The Arizona Republic, Dec. 31, 2007 12:00 AM
Sunday, December 30, 2007
New Home Community in Glendale, AZ-Reserve at Eagle Heights
Last major project in Arrowhead area in Glendale, AZ-44-acre area designed for residential
Development of a 44-acre residential community in Arrowhead will cap two decades of housing construction in north Glendale's prestigious neighborhood.
The Reserve at Eagle Heights, on the northwestern corner of 75th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane, will fill the last significant chunk of residential land in Arrowhead's constellation of high-end communities.
These communities, in Arrowhead Ranch and Arrowhead Lakes, have helped bolster the West Valley's image as a prime location for upscale homes and luxury living.
The new Arrowhead Ranch neighborhood, developed by Scottsdale-based Western Pacific Properties, will feature 84 single-story homes with open floor plans and Spanish architecture.
Homes will range from 2,700 to 3,700 square feet with architectural styles that include Spanish Colonial, Spanish Mission and Spanish Hacienda.
The Reserve at Eagle Heights will offer four floor plans with three elevations, providing prospective residents with a dozen layout options.
"We're very excited for this community to come on board," said Sage Lentz, president of Western Pacific Properties. He said the floor plans will give owners and visitors a strong sense of arrival, with entryway dome features and wall niches in which to display art. "These things will really set the house off," Lentz said.
Homeowners also can choose such special options as home theaters, putting greens and negative-edge pools.
Western Pacific Properties sought the Arrowhead lot because the development would blend in with the surrounding high-end communities.
Then there is the proximity to Glendale's new sports and entertainment district, centered on Glendale Arena and Cardinals Stadium.
"The location is exceptional," Lentz said. "You're close to the 101, you've got tremendous amenities in the area and very good school districts. Those are the things we look for when doing infill projects."
Arrowhead, named for the citrus ranch that once dominated the 7-square-mile area, has emerged as one of the Valley's most affluent communities. In fact, a 2001 survey indicated that the area's 85308 ZIP code had more millionaires (1,011) than any other in the Valley.
Although housing activity in Arrowhead began in the mid- 1980s, it wasn't until the early to mid-1990s that the area became known as a hot spot with high-dollar homes, said Jon Froke, Glendale planning manager.
"Since Arrowhead put Glendale on the map about 15 years ago, it has made a significant impact on the landscape," he said. "Indirectly, I think it even led to our ability to land Glendale Arena and Cardinals Stadium."
Because of the area's success, Froke considers development on the last substantial parcel an important milestone.
Maura J. Halpern, Arizona Business Gazette, Jun. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
For your protection, take an experienced realtor with you on the first visit to any new home community. The builder pays the commission and it does not impact the price that you can negotiate for the home. Call RE/MAX Desert Showcase today at 623-979-8888 to see this beautiful, luxury community.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
'RE/MAX is the No. 1 Real Estate Franchise'
Entrepreneur Rankings
Magazine: 'RE/MAX is the No. 1 Real Estate Franchise'
RE/MAX is the nation's No. 1 real estate franchise - and the No. 10 franchise overall - according to Entrepreneur magazine's 29th Annual Franchise 500 survey.
The survey appears in the January 2008 issue and on the magazine's Web site.
7-Eleven beat out Subway to capture the top position overall. Subway, which had ranked No. 1 for the past seven years, came in at No. 2, with Dunkin' Donuts at No. 3.
RE/MAX has a long, successful history in the survey. It ranked No. 11 overall a year ago, No. 8 in 2006, No. 10 in 2005 and No. 19 in 2004.
Among real estate franchises, RE/MAX ranks No. 1 for the eighth time in the past nine years. The closest competitor - ERA - came in a long way back, at No. 43.
RE/MAX ranks No. 1 overall in the Low-Cost Franchises category. It finished No. 2 last year.
Additionally, RE/MAX tops all real estate competitors at No. 7 on the Global Franchises list and No. 10 among Fastest Growing Franchises.
All companies in the rankings are judged by the same criteria, the most important being financial strength and stability, size and growth rate. Also considered: number of years in business, length of time franchising, startup costs, litigation, percentage of terminations and financing options.
The factors are plugged into a Franchise 500 formula, with each eligible company receiving a cumulative score.
Copyright © 2007 RE/MAX International RE/MAX Desert Showcase rocks Peoria, Glendale & Litchfield Park, Arizona!
Operation RE/MAX Boosted by New Government Initiative
Southwest Region Offices: 168
Southwest Region Associates: 4,263
Operation RE/MAX is among various programs in the private sector that will be affected by a dramatic new partnership announced at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Defense. The $35 million program will assist military spouses in pursuing educational opportunities that will lead them to rewarding careers. The three-year pilot program will begin in January 2008, in 18 military installations in eight states. Operation RE/MAX, which was launched in August 2006, assists military spouses in starting careers in real estate, ranging from office support staff to real estate agents. More than 1,000 RE/MAX offices across the United States have enrolled in the program, and hundreds of military spouses have obtained employment at RE/MAX offices. Those individuals, and future enrollees, will be eligible for financial assistance via the new initiative. Contact Operation RE/MAX to see how you can get involved! http://www.operationremax.com/ http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/ for additional information in the Luke AFB, AZ area or career information.
Friday, December 21, 2007
RE/MAX Hosts Luxury Home Expert Course
RE/MAX Hosts Luxury Home Expert Course at RE/MAX Desert Showcase (via RSN)
Register by Dec. 26 for 'Luxury Home Expert' Course
The RE/MAX Satellite Network has made it easier than ever to start earning credit toward the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Expert (CLHMS) designation. Register by Dec. 26 for "Luxury Home Expert" class, which airs Jan. 9 and 10 at 11 a.m. ET.
This two-day, 13-hour course satisfies educational requirements for the CLHMS designation.
This valuable designation helps position you as an expert in the luxury home market, and gives you the knowledge you need to be the agent of choice for affluent buyers and sellers.
The instructor is REAL Trends co-founder Laurie Moore-Moore. She wrote the book "Rich Buyer, Rich Seller! The Real Estate Agent's Guide to Marketing Luxury Homes."
Register online at remax.com or with the form on page 41 of the December/January/ February RE/MAX University Catalog.
Prior to registering, Associates should check with the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, which confers the designation, to see if their transactions meet performance criteria.
This professional designation is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Association of Realtors.
Copyright © 2007 RE/MAX International Inc. 12/20/07
Thursday, December 20, 2007
New Year's Eve at Westgate In Glendale, AZ
Voodoo Daddy to rock Westgate on New Year's Eve in Glendale, AZ
There'll be a swingin' time on New Year's Eve at Westgate City Center in Glendale, AZ. Organizers expect 10,000 people to pack the shopping and entertainment center for Westgate Rocks New Years Eve.
"More people know we are out here now," says Jeff Hecht, marketing director for Ellman Co., who manages the outdoor entertainment center. "Westgate is a household name now. Last year, we had only been open for a month and a half when we held the block party."
WaterDance Plaza will be transformed into a giant dance floor and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will serve up hot swing hits like Go Daddy Go. You can even enjoy a chilly martini courtesy of a 23-foot martini luge.
Also appearing will be Times Square personality the Naked Cowboy.
"He's an icon, appearing in music videos and commercials. He runs around Times Square in boxers and a cowboy hat singing songs. We're really excited to have him because we like to think of this as 'Times Square in the Desert,' " says Hecht.
The 21-and-over event runs from 5 p.m. through 2 a.m., and tickets, at $20, are available at www.westgateaz.com.
For the ultra-hip, there are three VIP lounges as well, with prices ranging from $125 to $200.
And even if you are under 21, you can still have fun - all of the restaurants and shops in Westgate will still be open.
Michael Senft The Arizona Republic Dec. 12, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Bidwill Business Park near Westgate in Glendale, AZ
Bidwill business park near Westgate in Glendale could generate big numbers
The Bidwill family's planned business park just south of University of Phoenix Stadium would generate $2.6 billion a year and create nearly 23,000 direct and indirect jobs after completion, according to an economic impact report by Valley economist Elliott Pollack.
cbd101, the NFL family's $1.2 billion office, retail and residential district, also would produce a total of $2.1 billion and nearly 20,000 direct and indirect jobs over the course of its decade-long build out along Loop 101 at Bethany Home Road in Glendale.
Glendale leaders' efforts to lure the Arizona Cardinals stadium, concert and hockey arena and the expanding Westgate City Center have helped the city net the 4.6 million-square-foot office project, said Pollack.
"This represents the continuation of really what is happening in Glendale, AZ through conscious choices they have made," said Pollack, "They have changed the face of Glendale, and that will mean more upscale development but also more (employment) choices for citizens on the west side and more tax revenue to meet their needs."
Construction alone will dump $16.8 million in sales-tax revenue into Glendale coffers, with the city getting another $10.1 million each year after completion.
Blueprints for cbd101, which stands for "central business district," call for 2.6 million square feet of office space with as many as a dozen large corporate buildings along Loop 101; a 36-story tower with residential, office and hotel space; shops, restaurants and a farmers market; three stand-alone hotels; more than 900 residential units; and an organic farm.
Tim Bidwill said he was struck by the fact that the economic impact of February's Super Bowl, estimated at more than $400 million, pales in comparison to the $2.6 billion annual output of the project.
According to recent estimates by the Maricopa Association of Governments, the office jobs-to-population in Glendale was one-fifth of the countywide average. cbd101 and other nearby office projects would change that, creating jobs and reducing commutes for West Valley residents, said project consultant Michael Rushman.
"The project draws from a huge West Valley labor force, which disporportionately drives enormous distances to get to their jobs," he said. "If employers locate 25 miles closer to workers' homes, they will snag them."
Residents from the Pendergast Estates county island, which abuts cbd101, have voiced concerns that the 77-acre project would bring more congestion to their streets.
But Rushman said the development team has abandoned plans to connect Pendergast streets to major arterial roads, preserving neighborhood cul-de-sacs.
The city's Planning Commission is expected to review the project on Jan. 3, with the City Council taking it up on Jan. 22.
Scott Wong ,The Arizona Republic ,Dec. 14, 2007 03:18 PM
Canadians snap up Arizona homes
Canadians snap up Arizona homes
CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) - Two hours after his flight landed in Phoenix, Calgary resident Doug Farley already was cruising the city's vast stuccoed suburbs in search of the one attraction Canadians can't seem to get enough of these days, cheap homes.
There are thousands of them here: almost new, unoccupied and dropping in value. The mortgage meltdown, combined with a surging Canadian currency, has Farley - and many of his countrymen - dreaming of winter golf on grass that's always green.
"My dollar's the same as your dollar, finally," Farley said, grinning as he peered through a pool fence at a sparsely populated condominium complex in Chandler, a Phoenix suburb.
For moderate-income Canadians like Farley, the race is on to take advantage of the "loonie," which in September reached parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976. Many are combing the Internet for anxious American home sellers and looking with an investor's eye at the condos they rented while on vacation in sunbelt states.
"Now it's more than just the snowbird coming down and staying in a condo. It's people looking for business opportunity," said Frank Nero, president of the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development arm in south Florida.
Canadian condo-builder Solterra Group of Companies also is riding the surge in the Canadian economy as it plans to snatch large chunks of land in Las Vegas. Michael Bosa, the company's vice president for development and acquisition, said the loonie has bolstered his company's bids.
Now's the time to buy, he said. Alberta, a three-and-a-half-hour flight from Phoenix, is experiencing a modern-day gold rush from booming work in its vast oil sands.
"Fifteen of my friends are on buying trips down here, and we're all cheap," Sirockman said. He brought his family to Scottsdale this month while he submitted a lowball all-cash offer for a three-bedroom home.
"I don't want to take advantage of a guy who's having trouble in the market and is losing his shorts," Sirockman said. "But I have no problem with a guy from California who bought on spec and has five houses in Arizona and never lived in them."
Single family homes and condos in the Phoenix metro area now sit an average of 99 days before getting sold. That's three times the wait for homes and four times the wait for condos compared with two years ago, according to the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service.
The market has shifted totally in the buyer's favor, especially those offering cash, said Jeff Russell of Alberta. Last month, Russell snapped up a patio home next to a golf course in Scottsdale with a $299,000 check. It was listed at $463,000.
"I was actually going to come down here and buy a seven-series BMW because cars are ridiculously cheap here," he said. "But I discovered that, forget cars, houses are on deep discount. I could never get anything on a golf course as nice in Canada for this type of money."
Real estate agents in Phoenix, especially those with Canadian ties, are hustling to reach potential buyers up north while the American housing market and the U.S. dollar continue to slump.
"When I take them to a brand new subdivision, and for $210,000 can get them four bedrooms, 2,000 square feet, all appliances, brand new, that's something they haven't been able to buy in Canada for 10 or 15 years. In my opinion, everyone should be buying now."
"When (the Canadian dollar) hit a dollar ten, it really created a real buzz for Canadians, not only those looking to buy second homes but we're also seeing it from buying purely from an investment standpoint," Dziedzic said.
As he searched for his new winter home, Farley kept an eye out for condos near a pool. When it got cold in Calgary, that's where his family would be.
"I just want the ability to go outside, you know, the ability to go for a walk," Farley said. He left for Calgary with a few strong choices, but he didn't bid on anything.
Sirockman also returned to Canada without a house after the owner of the Scottsdale home turned down his offer. No worries. Sirockman told the seller there were a thousand other homes like his on the market, and someone was going to deal.
As he was about to get on the flight back to Edmonton, Sirockman called his friends, and they told him it's 28 below zero back home.
"That's what I'm flying into," he said with a sigh. "I brought a big down-filled jacket with me. I'm looking like an idiot getting onto the plane."
The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2007 12:00 PM
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Superstition Mountain AZ: Family dog is the master of this custom guesthouse
Superstition Mountain AZ: Family dog is the master of this custom guesthouse in Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in the Gold Canyon area
It wouldn't be bad if "being in the doghouse" meant staying at Jude and Bud Thurston's. Their doghouse is a 2,300-square-foot retreat. Designed as the home-away-from-home for their 2-year-old Doberman pinscher Ice and a dog-sitter while the couple are out of town, it serves as the guesthouse the rest of the year.
The guest quarters are in a separate building on their property at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in the Gold Canyon area. The Thurstons worked with designer Beth McGehee of Studio B, Scottsdale, to ensure that the interior of the guesthouse, which was built by Montara Homes in Superstition Mountain, matched that of the 5,288-square-foot main house.
The guesthouse started out small.
"We were just going to do a little studio," Jude Thurston said. But her husband suggested making the structure large enough to accommodate a pool table. Soon a bedroom, ideal for visiting children and grandchildren, was added. "It just grew."
The guesthouse has three patios, as well as a playground for Ice. The Thurstons bought the adjoining lot and constructed a large dog run that is bordered by a decorative block fence. Featuring grass and sandy areas, the area contains a ramada where the humans can relax while Ice plays. Sometimes Doc, a Labrador retriever, and other friends join him.
The dog run is a short distance from the guesthouse, which is essentially one big room, with a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and powder room on the side. The great room, which measures roughly 26 by 44 feet, features an impressive 20-foot-high beamed and planked ceiling and cement-tile floors that are stained brown. The walls, done in a rich gold, were painted to look like Venetian plaster. As such, Jude Thurston said, they are more dog-friendly than if they had been finished in the labor-intensive faux painting process.
The great room is divided into two parts. One half serves as the living area, with a comfy couch and leather club chairs facing the cantera-stone fireplace. Built-in bookcases, a large-screen television and a one-of-a-kind sofa table, built from parts of an old oxen yoke, complete the setting.
The other half of the room houses the pool table. The couple's grandchildren enjoy challenging Bud Thurston, and there's ample elbow room for everyone to play, so much so that a table-tennis table can be squeezed into the space if the living area's chairs are moved a few feet.
The adjoining kitchen, although small, has a cook in mind with its six-burner, professional-style GE Monogram stove, bottom-freezer refrigerator, cream-colored cabinets and built-in wine holder. There's a breakfast nook at the side; its built-in cushioned bench seating provides lots of room. On the breakfast bar, a decorative red and green glazed lamp, which matches the gold, green and red tiled backsplash, lends a homey look.
The bedroom, which has picture-window views of the Superstition Mountains, features a bed covered in a red and gold duvet and matching pillows. There's a comfy leather love seat at the foot of the bed. Ice has a bed at the side.
Jude Thurston said that she furnished the guesthouse primarily with pieces the couple already owned. Some pieces were rescued from storage; others are furnishings that their children gave back after borrowing them for a while. Still others are "finds" from Valley stores, Internet sites and shops visited while on trips to other cities.
One "find" was a wood computer table that Thurston converted into a powder-room vanity. She decorated the front with a gathered curtain to hide the plumbing and topped it with a glass vessel sink.
Another "find" was a pair of gold-colored glass lamps that sport black lampshades. They fit perfectly into the Old World look of the bedroom.
"I'm frugal," said Thurston, who enjoys a good deal when she finds one. "The lamps are Martha Stewart (Everyday) from Kmart."
Source AZ Republic
Wickenburg AZ. Horsing around in Wickenburg
Horsing around in Wickenburg AZ
WICKENBURG - Jeanie Tazioli and Lew Sowards' home is like a museum of collectibles. Hummel figurines dating from the 1920s and 1930s decorate an antique cabinet. Western gear, from 100-year-old riatas to an antique Remington rifle, hangs on the walls. A menagerie of life-size metal animal statues grabs attention in the yard. See pictures of this cool Wickenburg horse property
The couple dubbed their 6,000-square-foot home, which sits on 18 acres at the edge of town, the L.J. Ranch. But its nickname is "Horse of a Different Color," after their collection of five distinctly colored horses that roam the adjacent pasture.
The home is one of five on today's Wickenburg Tour of Homes. The event, which benefits the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, also offers a holiday market with craft booths and sales of cookbooks, baked goods, jewelry and more.
Tazioli, who had a mineral and rock collection as a child, isn't exclusive in her collecting. All types of things interest her. She's found some items at art fairs and others at antiques shops and estate sales. Still others came from friends.
"I like to look at my stuff," she said.
She has stories about every item. Like the hornet's nest, sans the stinging insects, that rests on a pot shelf in the great room.
"Who would take the time to take it out of a tree and paint it?" she said. Nevertheless, she did. "I've had it for at least 40 years."
It joins other natural items that include a grouping of 8-inch-tall rustic chairs made of twigs hung on the wall and dried vegetation.
Divided into several seating areas, the great room also houses collections of African spears that Tazioli got from a friend, Native American handicrafts (including a painted elk skin) and Western artwork.
Her favorite item is a painting of a horse that she bought at an Illinois art fair. She took one look at it and bought it on the spot.
"The artist said, 'I've never sold anything that fast. What was the attraction?' I said, 'The horse has five legs.' He said, 'I need to buy that back,' " she said.
The painting hangs on the great-room wall, surrounded by other paintings of horses.
If there is one theme, it is horses. The decor includes a rawhide horse statue, wrapped wire horse sculptures and a bronze horse statue. Outside, life-size weathered metal sculptures of horses join other yard art, including a circus elephant and giraffes. And, of course, there are the real horses: the Argentine Thoroughbred, Arabian mustang and others sharing the pasture and the 10-stall barn.
Tazioli enjoys spending time with the horses, all rescues and some with health problems, such as cancer.
She also likes her laid-back lifestyle.
"This is very peaceful, no stress," she said.
When she and Sowards, who used to live in the Valley, decided to move to Wickenburg and build a home, they opted for livable, comfortable styling and an open floor plan. Having had separate formal living areas and family rooms before, they chose the great room because it was more conducive to family gatherings and entertaining.
"This is a used house," Tazioli said. "We entertain a lot. We have parties every five or six weeks for 30 people or more." And they get lots of guests.
"We are booked until March. Our company (even) brings company."
The kitchen, which contains an island, custom-designed alder cabinets, wall ovens and a custom vent hood that has a rock facade, is a perfect gathering space. It opens to the entryway, which contains a built-in hutch that showcases Tazioli's collection of glassware.
The adjacent formal dining area features an ornate Italian chandelier and antique furniture, including a serving cart that is topped by a collection of old Nippon porcelain. Artwork by Jon Reich, who is deceased and had been a friend of Tazioli's, lends color and interest to the walls.
The master bedroom, done in blues and yellows, features a closet anyone would love to have.
"It's 26 feet long," Tazioli said. "I'm a clotheshorse. When we were building the house, the carpenters called this room 'the alley.' They couldn't figure out what it was."
In the next several years, she and Sowards hope to add 1,000 square feet to the house and turn the three-car garage into a game room.
The Wickenburg tour features four other homes, including a mountainside home that sits on 11 acres.
Source: Az Republic
Scottsdale: Making 'your home one with the landscape'
Scottsdale: Making 'your home one with the landscape'
Horizontal planes reach out to the vegetation. Cantilevers, some as long as 42 feet, draw the eye from the house to the desert, from the desert to the house.
Glass walls and large windows dissolve the space between inside and outside, framing high-desert and mountain views, rock and cactus vignettes, and wide panoramas. Clerestories offer glimpses of vistas.
"No matter what space you're in, you have this affinity to nature," says David, an architect and developer, whose design/development/construction company, Optima, built Optima CamelView Village in Scottsdale and Optima Biltmore condos in Phoenix.
The home, called Sterling Ridge, sits on open desert in Desert Mountain, in northeast Scottsdale.
Inside, the 11,800-square-foot space shows off exposed steel beams and a contemporary interior. Yet the space invites you to relax and is comfortable for living, entertaining and even for their dog, Nala.
The home's materials create the connection with nature. The soft terra-cotta color of the 12-inch-thick concrete walls blends with the landscape. The walls, made from sand taken from the property, resemble stone, with variations in shading and texture. The concrete can be light or dark, smooth or rough, with aggregate showing through.
The differences and imperfections only enhance the home, David says.
"I think concrete really fits the desert," he says. "It allows you to do things you can't do with brick or stone," such as long, narrow panoramic windows.
Other organic materials offer texture and contrast, and serve as an interior landscape. Structural steel beams, painted in terra-cotta orange, offer a warm alternative to the coldness of gray steel. Cutout designs in the steel contrast with the material's firmness. Polished brown concrete floors provide an inexpensive yet decorative alternative to marble or stone flooring. Elsewhere, planks of Brazilian walnut line floors and ceilings.
Color is key to the decor, with the artwork, furnishings and materials making confident statements. "I like bold colors," says David, who divides his time between the Valley and Chicago, where his home is made of bright yellow steel.
He learned to love color while taking painting classes in college. At Sterling Ridge, in the entryway, a massive sculpture made by Frank Stella contrasts with the home's angles.
In most homes, the media room feels like an enclosed box, with no windows and a dark decor. Not here. Instead, a collection of nine of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe prints, all in bright colors, span two walls, adding interest, along with a 28-foot, bright red leather sofa that forms a semicircle in front of the large-screen TV.
A series of 22 pieces, by Joan Miró, lend color and repetition to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. Floor-to-ceiling Miró paintings offer inspiration in David's office, which is adjacent to the master bedroom. The Hoveys are serious art collectors - pieces by sculptors Donald Judd and Alexander Calder and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein can be found throughout the house.
Stair railings are painted grass green; the risers are teal blue. Outside, bright orange cushions adorn the chaise longues. Orange is David's favorite color.
Nearly every room features furniture made by acclaimed woodworker George Nakashima, who died in 1990. The pieces, including tables and benches, are constructed of wood planks, usually tree trunks that have been cut lengthwise. Eileen's office, which is set into the hillside, features a Nakashima desk.
In this home full of surprises, the master bedroom seems to float above the other rooms. A sliding wall, akin to a Japanese shoji screen, shields the bedroom from the office. A garden terrace, a rooftop structure featuring low-water-use plants and visible from the secondary bedrooms, helps cool the rooms below. The guest quarters feel secluded and special, with an entry a floor above the other rooms.
Outside, a 35-foot-long fire grate crosses the deck and sends up 8-inch flames to warm chilly winter nights spent looking at the stars or desert. In the backyard, a negative-edge pool wraps around.
A series of black boxes - actually solar panels sandwiched between glass plates - shade the deck. Generating 13,000 watts of solar energy, they repeat the building's modular shape. "Most people look at the panels and don't realize they're solar panels," David says. He incorporates solar energy in each project he designs and builds.
The house, completed three years ago, also served as a test site for several design aspects he used at CamelView, he says.
"That's what the desert does to you," he says. "It gets you to try natural materials . . . and inspires you to make your home one with the landscape."
Source AZ Republic
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Working With An Experienced Real Estate Agent
Working With An Experienced Real Estate Agent
Not all Realtors are created equal. That is why RE/MAX Desert Showcase hand picks the cream of the crop. Proven experience and success, excellent client testimonials, agents that continue to expand their real estate education and certification and technology savvy. When it comes to Phoenix AZ residential and commercial real estate, you can be sure the metro Phoenix RE/MAX Desert Showcase real estate agents will provide you with the complete services you need and the outcome you expect. Otherwise, you may end up with this:
It's A Great Day In Real Estate! How can we help you today:-)
Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a RE/MAX REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. Our services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. for your convenience, we also provide listings by email. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
Selling a Phoenix area home. Our Phoenix real estate expertise and many effective marketing programs will give you the exposure and edge you need to sell your home quickly for top dollar.
Selling your Phoenix home shouldn't be a stressful ordeal. Making the smart move of choosing a RE/MAX Desert Showcase REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your investment in your home pays off. Our services and experience allow you to focus on your move while We manage your home sale from our initial consultation to the closing deal, and beyond. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
Phoenix Commercial Property
RE/MAX Desert Showcase has the power to help bring investors together! RE/MAX commercial real estate professionals are specially trained in the commercial and investment properties markets can help you choose the investment that is most appropriate for you.
Through the use of targeted advertising, industry-leading technology, creative marketing materials, and one of the largest referral networks in the real estate industry, our RE/MAX Phoenix Commercial Agents are committed to helping you maximize your commercial property portfolio.
RE/MAX Collection of Phoenix Fine Homes and Estates
Buying a Phoenix luxury home is a unique real estate experience requiring special tools and skills. RE/MAX Collection of Phoenix Fine Homes and Estates professionals understand that luxury homebuyers are looking for a home reminiscent of their own signature style. Selling your Phoenix luxury property or finding one that suits your needs can be a time consuming process, and time is often a luxury most of our clients don't have. Through our access to a global referral network and a keen understanding of the luxury real estate market, we help bring more luxury home buyers and sellers together.
Returning Clients. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve you and hope you take advantage of the valuable resources we provide. Come back to visit often!
Our business ties us strongly to our valued clients and our goal is to continue to extend you a level of service and attention that is not dependant on whether you are prepared to do a transaction. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and have designed our site to provide you, as a homeowner, valuable resources that can assist you in your goals, hobbies, and living.
We consider the Phoenix, Maricopa County community an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you our enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods that encompass it. we pride ourselves on providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with you. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss how we can best assist you with your real estate needs.
It's A Great Day In Real Estate! How can we help you today:-)
Holiday Fun Game
Holiday Fun Game
Need a break from your busy work day. Stressed out from holiday shopping. Take a break and play a game
Did you know buying a selling a home can cause stress as well. But with the metro Phoenix RE/MAX Desert Showcase Team of highly experienced real estate agents, your stress can be down graded to down right fun! Contact us today so we can rid you of the stress and make your real estate buying or selling experience something to write home about!
Phoenix MLS Home Listings. Search Free Phoenix MLS Homes for sale in: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sun City, Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, Buckeye, Avondale, Tempe, Chandler, and Mesa, Wickenburg Arizona. REMAX
Monday, December 10, 2007
Working With Your RE/MAX Real Estate Agent
Working With Your Phoenix RE/MAX Real Estate Agent
Selecting the right real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home is essential to a smooth transaction. For the best possible experience, you should consider a professional's background, personality and responsiveness.
Here are some tips to help you choose and work with your real estate agent.
How to choose a real estate agent
- When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, consumers who do their homework can save thousands of dollars and experience a smooth financial and physical transition. So don't waste time and resources - decide what's most important to you, and then find a professional who specializes in that area. Are you buying or selling a loft? A condo? A rural property? Raw land? An investment property? Perhaps cost is your main concern. Or timing. Whatever you decide, a RE/MAX Associate can help you.
- Ask friends and family members for referrals. Someone you know and trust may have a RE/MAX agent in mind to help you meet your real estate goals.
- If you've already determined where you'd like to live, drive through neighborhoods in the area and survey them for Realtor yard signs. Seeing the same name pop up on signs time after time may indicate that the agent is a specialist in the area. If you're thinking about selling, monitor the signs in your own neighborhood.
- Moving far away? Right here on remax.com, you can begin to meet and greet RE/MAX agents from all around the world who can offer the same great expertise and service. Consider services they offer, additional certifications, any specialties, languages they speak. You'll find the right professional to meet your real estate needs no matter where your home search takes you.
- Pay attention to credentials. This will help you determine areas of expertise. You may be interested in these designations: ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), CRP (Certified Relocation Professional), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). There are dozens of designations pursued for continuing education, so identify one or more that fit your needs.
What to ask in the interview
- If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would establish a price. Request a Comparative Market Analysis, also called a CMA, which shows the market value of similar homes in the area that are for sale or have recently sold.
- If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would market your property. Understand that some agents may prefer to first tour your property and then put together a comprehensive customized marketing plan to present at a later meeting. But if he or she can't suggest a single strategy when asked, you might consider interviewing other candidates..
- Ask the real estate agent how often you should expect to hear from him or her. Know how and when you will communicate to avoid unrealistic expectations. Pay attention to office hours and whether you'll be invited to stay in touch via a cell phone or e-mail.
- Ask how long the real estate agent has been licensed and how many buyers and sellers he or she has helped. While time is not the most important factor, it may demonstrate experience.
- Ask about designations. Interest in continuing education is a strong indicator of motivation and professionalism.
- Pay attention to the agent's listening skills. Does he or she cut you off before you've finished a sentence? There's nothing worse than looking at houses you have no interest in because the real estate agent has not listened carefully to your needs, or having your home on the market too long because it's priced incorrectly and the wrong buyers are being targeted.
- Ask the real estate agent what his or her fee structure is. Does he or she require a percentage of the sales price or work for a flat fee? Will the agent be paid another way?
- If you are unsatisfied with a prospect's plans or personality, thank him or her for taking the time to meet with you and repeat the process with another real estate agent. It can be time-consuming, but it's worthwhile.
Once you've found the right real estate agent to represent you, hold up your end of the relationship. There are simple things you can do to help your real estate agent get you the best deal.
How to work with your real estate agent
- If you are selling, create an information sheet that lists your home's features and best qualities, especially those you know best that others might overlook. Give this to your real estate agent, who may be able to use the information in marketing materials or when talking with potential buyers.
- When selling, talk to the real estate agent about cosmetic improvements. Your home may need fresh paint or new carpet. (Make sure you choose neutral colors.)
- If selling, keep it clean. Eliminate cobwebs and dust. Keep the bathroom counters and mirrors wiped down. Vacuum and sweep daily during the selling process.
- If buying, be clear about what you want. Make a list of your priorities numbered 1 through 10 and give it to your real estate agent. You can always revise the list, but give your real estate agent something concrete so that he or she can research available listings more efficiently.
Food for thought
- Office environment can say a lot about a businessperson. Is it clean and organized? Do the office hours make it easily accessible? Are staff members pleasant and helpful?
- Your real estate agent is an authority you hire to help you make the right decisions, but you have the final word.
- Hiring a Realtor will give you the best advantage. Although many practitioners work part time,
RE/MAX Associates are industry professionals who can provide their complete attention and expertise. This gives you an enormous advantage. - Your residence is likely to be the biggest single investment you'll ever make. Buy and sell wisely.
- Remember that home values fluctuate with the economy.
Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888
As Your RE/MAX Phoenix AZ Real Estate Agents, We Will:
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Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.
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Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.
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Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
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Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
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Robust Online Marketing
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Beer Pong. How To Play Beer Pong Video
Beer Pong. How To Play Beer Pong
Beer pong (also called Beirut, Ruit, Lob pong or Scud) is a drinking game in which players throw a ping pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in one of several cups of beer on the other end. The game is a spinoff of the original game, beer pong (paddles), said to have been created at Dartmouth College. The game typically consists of two two-player teams, one on each side of a table, and a number of cups set up on each side. The rules vary widely, though usually there are the same number of plastic cups - six, ten or 15 plastic cups - arranged in a triangle on each side. The number of players on a team can vary as well, from one to three or more. NEVER DRINK and DRIVE and ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY
When a ball lands in a cup, the defending team must consume that cup's beer. The game is won by eliminating all the other team's cups before one's own cups are eliminated. The losing team must then consume all the beer remaining in the winning team's cups. The order of play varies - both players on one team shoot, then both players on the other team, or players on opposite teams can alternate back and forth.
Although the preceding guidelines are common, the rules may be subject to a wide variety of modifications and additions that often vary based on the area of the country, the state, or even the house in which a particular game is played.
Today, beer pong is played at a multitude of North American colleges and universities. The game is also played at high school house parties.
The most common modern version of the game is played without paddles and has a murkier beginning. The Daily Princetonian, the student newspaper of Princeton University, attributed the naming of the paddle-less game where balls are thrown into cups to the early 1980s at Bucknell University or Lehigh University
Source and info: See full rules at Wikipedia
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wine Drinkers More Likely to Live Longer, Study Finds
Wine Drinkers More Likely to Live Longer, Study Finds
Three-decade study found moderate wine drinkers lived longer than drinkers of other types of alcohol
Wine drinkers are healthier than drinkers of beer and spirits, according to new research conducted on men living in Finland. That's not too much of a surprise considering the lifestyles associated with each of the beverage types, but the study also suggested that moderate consumption of wine may contribute to a better, longer life.
Over the course of the nearly three-decade study, wine drinkers had a lower mortality rate than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages. The study, published in the February 2007 issue of the Journals of Gerontology, sought to determine if one's drinking habits affected longevity when measured over a long period of time.
The study was led by Timo Strandberg, a researcher at the University of Oulu, Finland. His subjects, all male residents of Finland, were all born between 1919 and 1934 and all had health checkups at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki during the 1960s and 1970s. The men had their alcohol intake recorded during these examinations and were asked how they felt about their health. All of the men also had "leading positions" in private companies, which the scientists concluded came with some of the highest incomes in Finland (although exact amounts were not made available).
"This setting," the study authors wrote, "offers a clearer test for the effects of alcoholic beverages because the influence of social class on beverage preference is decreased."
By tracking down the men in 1974 and repeating the exam of them in 1985 and again in 2000, the scientists hoped to determine if alcohol consumption is related to both the quality--as well as the length--of life.
At the first examination, in 1974, 2,468 men reported if they preferred wine, beer or spirits, or if they didn't drink, or if they had no particular favorite alcoholic beverage. By the time of the second stage of the study, in 1985, only 1,369 men were available to be reassessed. Some dropped out of the study, some changed alcohol habits and 93 of the men had died. There was another examination in 2000, and by the time of the final calculations, in 2002, the scientists were left with a pool of 1,127 men who consumed an average of three drinks a day or less, and who also did not change their drinking preferences over the course of the study.
"Preference of wine was associated with decreased mortality when compared with preference for beer or spirits over a follow-up of 29 years," the scientists reported. Wine drinkers had a 34 percent lower rate of mortality, when compared to spirits drinkers, and beer drinkers had a 9 percent lower rate compared to spirits drinkers.
Wine drinkers were also in better health at the end of the study and had performed better on mental health tests. However, wine drinkers also tended to exercise more and smoke less, which leaves the researchers still with the possibility that wine is simply one piece of the happy, long-life puzzle, as opposed to a deciding factor.
"Is it the drinker rather than drink characteristics, as healthier men preferred wine?" asked Strandberg of the results. "That is what is important. The same applies for differences between beer and spirit drinkers," he added. "Spirit preferrers may lead a more dangerous life, with more risk factors, and all hidden aspects may not be culled in an epidemiologic study."
WineSpectator.com Jacob Gaffney
If you are interested in a list of local Phoenix metro area wine bars or if you would like to take advantage of the fantastic buyer's market for buyers, investors or renters in Peoria, Glendale & Phoenix, AZ, please call RE/MAX Desert Showcase 623-979-8888 to be connected to one of our outstanding agents!
Local wine bars on City Search:
Enotria, Scottsdale, Az
Sportsman Fine Wines Phoenix & Peoria, AZ Locations
Postino Phoenix, AZ
Park Wines, Litchfield Park, AZ
Su Vino Winery
Scottsdale's First Winery
7035 E. Main Street, Suite 110
Scottsdale, AZ
Meritage Steakhouse
Where fine wines meet Prime aged steaks
5350 E Marriott Dr
Phoenix, AZ
Tapino Wine Bar
Hip, relaxed, outdoor wine lounge
7000 E Shea Blvd Ste 1010
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Gaslight Inn
5747 W Glendale Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301
Kazimierz World Wine Bar
7137 E Stetson Dr
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3220
Epicurean Wine
7101 E Thunderbird Rd #101A
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Armitage Wine Bar Lounge & Cafe
20751 N Pima Rd, Ste 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Vino 100
30835 N Cave Creek Rd #125
Phoenix, AZ 85331
The Wine List Wine Shoppe & Lounge
14870 N Northsight Blvd Ste 109
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Uncorked
16427 N Scottsdale Rd Ste 130
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Cheuvront
1326 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1719
Sweet O Wine & Chocolate Lounge
Westgate
9380 W Westgate Blvd Ste D101
Glendale, AZ 85305
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Lighter Side Of Christmas Video
The Lighter Side Of Christmas
Monday, December 3, 2007
Networking Fund Raiser for Breast Cancer
Mixer to Raise Funds for RE/MAX Broker’s Wife with Cancer
Peoria, Arizona – RE/MAX Desert Showcase will host a Fund Raising Mixer for its Designated Broker’s wife on Thursday, December 6, 2007. Judy Lyles, wife of Ed Lyles, recently underwent surgery for breast cancer. In an effort to help defray the medical expenses, local residents and business people are encouraged to attend the mixer.
The event will be held at El Toro Bravo from 5-8 pm. El Toro Bravo is located near the Peoria Sports Complex, directly across from the Harkins Theaters. Organizers are asking for a minimum $10 donation. The restaurant is donating free appetizers and offering drink specials.
”All proceeds from this mixer will go toward Judy Lyles’ medical bills and future recovery costs,” Mike Foulds from RE/MAX Desert Showcase said. “Judy had surgery on November 13th and the doctors are concerned, but hopeful that chemotherapy will get rid of the cancer currently risking Judy’s health.”
“RE/MAX is a major supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,” Foulds continues. “Breast cancer is an insidious disease. I’m sure we all know someone who has been affected by cancer. We hope our friends in the community will step up and help a family in need.”
For more information on this important fund raising event please call the RE/MAX Desert Showcase office at 623-979-8888 or Mike Foulds directly at (602) 316-9220.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Arizona's first Margaritaville opens in Glendale
Arizona's first Margaritaville opens in Glendale, AZ
Jimmy Buffett's first Margaritaville Café in Arizona is officially open in true Parrothead fashion, with Pink Cadillac Margaritas, Volcano Nachos, clowns on stilts and colorfully dressed employees dancing to It's Five O'clock Somewhere.
Developers, local dignitaries and members of the media gathered to welcome the latest addition to Westgate City Center, the Glendale entertainment and dining district at Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue.
The two-story 20,000-square-foot restaurant features three bars, an airplane hanging from the ceiling, fishing boat booths and a gift shop. It sells everything from shirts and sandals to mini surf boards.
Perhaps the coolest feature is the sprawling ceiling. On it, an artist has painted a pirate's map of the West Coast with one minor variation: Glendale, AZ is a coastal city just off the New Arizona Reef.
The usually laidback Parrotheads wasted no time making their way to the restaurant.
"The creativity of everything they're doing is amazing," said Debbie Zinn, who was planning to order the Volcano Nachos and Buffett's signature Land Shark "loaded" with a drop of tequila. "It's a nice escape, the food is wonderful and the service is great."
For her husband, Matt, Glendale represents the fourth Margaritaville he's visited. And while the Las Vegas location boasts a faux waterfall and volcano, the restaurant chain has been improving with each new site.
"As they get more and more experienced, they add to their (tropical-island) theme," he said.
The restaurant is spread out over two floors, with patio and balcony seating overlooking Westgate's Jobing.com Arena and water fountain. At 5 p.m. each day, the $6 million WaterDance fountain shoots water synched to a set of Buffett mainstays such as It's Five O'clock Somewhere and Margaritaville, for which the restaurant chain is named.
For some West Valley residents, the opening of Margaritaville means a piece of paradise is now just a short drive away.
Margaritaville Café is located at 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Suite E109, Glendale. For information, call (623) 772-0066 or visit www.margaritaville.com.
Scott Wong, The Arizona Republic
To buy or lease a condo or home near Westgate in sunny Glendale, AZ, please contact RE/MAX Desert Showcase at 623-979-8888.
