Archive for January, 2009
TERRAVITA
The home I have listed is a 2,762 sf Aurora model located on the 7th Fairway of the golf course. In addition, there are unobstructed views of Black Mountain. The home is owned by the original owner. There are 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms as well as a den. There are custom built-in cabinets in the living room, den, master bedroom and second bedroom that convey with the home. There’s a flagstone patio and a wonderful has beehive fireplace perfect for entertaining. In addition, there’s a private heated spa.
The home is offered at $675,000, which is a great price for the location. Feel free to contact me should you want to view this amazing home in a very desirable community.
TORREON
It’s a little rainy up here in the White Mountains of Arizona. There is still bits of snow here and there in Show Low. Skiing is great in Pinetop at Sunrise. We’re heading off to snowshoe. If you are looking for a terrific place to have a summer home out of the heat of the Valley during the dog days of summer, there are lots of deals to be had here in Torreon. There will be a bank auction in Holbrook and I know of at least three of the cabins in Cardinal Landing that are going up for auction. This is the perfect opportunity to get into a great community at an amazing price.
Don’t forget, if you are looking for a full time residence, some of these may qualify for an FHA loan — $271, 050. FHA seems to be the loan of choice lately and if you can use this type of program, you can get into an amazing community.
Torreon is a premier golf community in Show Low. Right off Highway 260/60, it’s about 3 hours northeast of the valley. There’s a fitness center, pro-shop, two beautifiul golf courses, family center, tennis, restaurant, horseback riding, lots of places to ride quads and hike. In addition, it’s only 30 minutes from Sunrise. There are some great restaurants as well.
I’d be more than happy to send information along….just email me!
TORREON IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA
Torreon is an amazing community located in Show Low, Arizona. For those of us valley dwellers who love the smell of pine trees in the summer and the ability to drive 3 hours north and east to escape the heat in the summer and ski in the winter, it is all that and more. We purchased in Torreon 2 1/2 years ago. At that time, the market was still strong albiet you could see how things were slowing down.
I just saw a sale in Cardinal Landing where have our home — same model on the market for $26k less than we paid. This is disturbing for me, but if you’re looking for a wonderful home in a spectacular development there are many good deals out there. Torreon is not the only development, but it sure is one of the nicest. There are so many amenities and truly it is one of the few developments totally surrounded by pine trees….
If you’re a Midwesterner and you love the change of seasons without the extreme bitter cold, this is an area you should consider. A lot of people go to Flagstaff, however, I find the ride up I17 is brutal and not nearly as beautiful as the roads to Show Low. In addition, there are far more reasonably priced homes in the White Mountain area and there are no issues with shortage of water resources….one of the many reasons we chose this particular area.
I spend a good deal of time up there and am dedicated to making your real estate buying experience pleasureable. If you’re looking for a second home getaway, I’d be happy to show you around my little piece of heaven.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FORECAST
2009 is going to be a challenge as realtors continue
to try to lure people back into the market of buying homes within a marketplace where homes prices are at their such low prices. The National Association of Realtors is spending a significant amount of time in Washington with political leaders discussing how to stimulate the home buying market and get the economy back on track. While home buying is not the only factor, it is certainly a large part of the motor that keeps this country moving forward.
Personally, I have a few things popping. I do believe that when people feel that the market is stabilizing they will move forward with their home buying/selling plans. If you are able to do it, this is actually a great time to buy considering the low mortgage rate levels and the availability of homes which are more than priced to sell.
In addition, if you’re thinking about refinancing, call your lender or click into one of my links as these are proven lenders in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is not advisable, however, if you are not saving more than $100 per month and/or getting yourself out of an ARM.
It’s a little hairy out there, but stay positive and move forward. If you put your mind to something with confidence you can make it happen! Happy 2009……
SNOWY CHICAGO — GLAD TO LIVE IN ARIZONA
I was born and raised in Chicago. We moved to Phoenix in
1997. I am visiting my sister and am watching the snow fall. I love this weather because I’ve always been the type to bake and what better weather to bake than winter in the Midwest. I can honestly say that I love a gloomy day in Arizona. There’s something warm and cozy about a home that smells of fresh baked goods.
I drove for the first time in rush hour traffic in the snow yesterday in probably 10 years. It’s like riding a bike….I just drive slower!
Chicago’s a great city. I miss the Midwest values or at least what I remember were the Midwest values. There are a lot of Midwest transplants in Arizona and it’s always fun to meet people who have lived in this part of the country. They are truly salt of the earth.
I think I’ll go take a few pictures, so when it’s 110 degrees in Phoenix, I can look at the beautiful blanket of snow!
2009 REAL ESTATE FORECAST
As the new year rolls in so does the hesitation. According to
a Fox News report, existing home sales in December are expected to be lower than anticipated. It seems that people are still leary of jumping in. Even with favorable mortgage rates and good deals to be had, we’re still seeing cold feet when it comes to real estate purchases. People are just nervous that the price will go down more and why should they buy if there’s a chance that it will go lower.
This is a real predicament and one that is hard to ignore. I would advise people to be cautious about the neighborhood they are buying in. Remember these numbers are nationwide and while we’ve all felt the crunch, there are certain areas in the country that are definitely faring worse than others.
I still say if you can take advantage of the low mortgage rates along with the reasonable price points and you love the home, you should take the risk. I’m an optimist and believe things will get better. This is a correction that was long overdue in light of the escalating increases in value and “easy money”.
REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
Follow this link to a newsletter that my broker puts
out. Good information for the New Year and moving forward. It helps to be informed.
In addition, our brokerage supports Love House, a not-for-profit organization that helps children aging out of Child Protective Services at the age of 18. Maureen is an advocate for several girls to help them manuever their life once the State of Arizona has turned them loose. It’s amazing how many of these children do not have the skills to operate. This is where Maureen comes in. In addition, you can make a dollar for dollar tax deductibe donation to her cause.
BUYERS MARKET
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has survived the
holidays, and the year; and it’s been quite a year. Well, now it’s time to move ahead. I’ve noticed that my phone is ringing more. It seems that people are starting to gain confidence in the market. It will take time, however, I’m hopeful that we will see a light at the end of this tunnel.
Should you be thinking about buying and/or selling and it make sense, perhaps you should contact someone to help you. Home prices are down significantly from a couple of years ago and mortgage rates are very favorable. Don’t miss the boat on this one. I’d be happy to help anyone in the Phoenix metropolitan area or the White Mountains of Arizona.
