2214 E Stone Stable Drive

Tucson has been a popular place for "Snow Birds" since Vacationing to warmer places as has been popular.

Many people would also come to the area for physical ailments and to bask in the Arizona sunshine.

Consequently many developments have emerged over the years, and Aged Restricted Communities became popular in the 1960's in Tucson.

Casitas De Castilian is one of those communities.

Situated in the Northwest part of Tucson, the complex of Townhomes were built out of Adobe Brick.

The Townhomes have also been painted white and have mature vegetation and grassy areas surrounding the whole complex. All the Townhomes in general are very private, with square footage's ranging from 800 for a one bedroom to 1600 square foot. They also have Community Facilities such as two large Pools, Tennis Courts and Recreation Center. Situated on the Oracle Road corridor, they are very convenient both to Shopping, Medical Facilities and the Tucson Mall, with all types of Restaurants close by.

Many of the Townhomes have been updated nicely from the 1960's but still maintain the charm and construction quality of the past.

We have just listed a great updated Townhome in the community that has two bedrooms, two baths, maple cabinets, tile counter tops, new carpet, and exposed Adobe brick walls in the living room for character. The backyard patio also has a electric awning that extend to give great shade in the summer months, for the master bedroom, and also the living room. Creeping fig on the back wall of the patio also gives charm to the Townhome.

If you are looking for a peaceful but convenient place for a winter home or for a full time residence then I would consider Casitas  De Castilian as a place for you to "hang your hat."

Sabino Vista Hills  and the Galinda 1 subdivision are a located in the Northeast, just a few minutes from River Road and Tanque Verde, and close the the Park Mall. Many homes in the neighborhood have panoramic views of the Catalina Foothills. 

It is a very sought after neighborhood because of its magnificent Catalina mountain vistas

The area also offers easy access to the Foothills or to the city, and also medical facilites such as Tucson Medical Center, also St Joseph's Hospital, and El Dorado a short commute away. 

The location in the popular Fruchthendler Elementary School district makes it an ideal choice for those looking for a highly performing elementary school in the Tucson area.

It is hard to find a community in Tucson that has so much to offer, and yet is so affordable. Homes in the Sabino Vista Hills area are usually listed for sale starting in the mid $300s up to the $800,000's

Currently, we have a great ranch home that will be going on the market in January which is going to be priced under Appraised Value and has been tastefully remodeled.

It also has a swimming pool and panoramic mountain views.

Click here for a full description and pictures.

                                                    Tucson All Souls Procession, a Tucson Tradition.

The All Souls Procession is perhaps one of the most inclusive,authentic, and important public ceremonies in North America today. The Tucson All Souls procession was started in 1990 by local artist Susan Johnson with a ritualistic performance piece. Susan at the time was grieving the passing of her father. It is inspired by the  Mexico's Dia de los Muertos holiday, and  Johnson felt she should honor her father's life in celebration and creativity. The performance was very well received and the procession has now grown into the event that it is today with the addition of many local artists.

There are now over 20,000 participants on the streets of downtown Tucson for a two-mile long human-powered procession that ends in the finalizing action of burning a large urn filled with the hopes, offerings and wishes of the public for those who have passed. Teh event takes m,ore thatn six months to prepare with myriads of installation art, altars, performers, and creatives of all kinds  top this amazing event.

The All Souls Procession, and now the entire All Souls Weekend, is a celebration and mourning of the lives of our loved ones who have passed.

Many Mouths One Stomach a non-profit arts collective based in Tucson, AZ,  organizes the  body for the Procession. It also serves as the vehicle for working artists to get togheter, create, and inspire the public through Festal Culture.

"Festal Culture"  is the expression and fulfillment of core human needs through public celebration, ceremony, and ritual. The All Souls Procession is an event that was created to serve the public need to mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of Death, through their ancestors, loved ones, and the living.

The Procession is a sanctuary for community members from all walks of life to express their grief and loss in a celebration of creative energy and a rejoicing of living.

It will be an interesting event for those of you that live in Tucson or are visiting the area for a local event

Another great day in Tucson Arizona

Sabino Vista tastefully updated Home for Sale

Beautifully updated, private location with expansive Catalina Foothills Mountain Views from this Ranch style Tucson Home in Sabino Vista. Attention to detail abounds with new Schuler Cherry Kitchen Cabinets and  a gorgeous custom imported mexican tile backspash. The inside of hte home is bright, open, airy and warm. To complete the kitchen there are stainless steel appliances,  granite counter tops, and a huge island.

The living room has great views of the Catalina Mountain range, and a cozy redone fireplace.

The Master Suite is oversized and features separate tub and shower wtih dual closets

The secondary bedrooms are oversized and show attention to detail in every way.

The Secondary bathrrom has been tastefully and beautiully remodeled with Mexican Tile and Mexican tile sink.

The backyard is very private and extends well beyond the back wall & opens to an unobstructed panorama view of lethe Catalina Mountains. Enjoy the pool area  in complete and quiet privacy. This home is also located in the Fruchthendler Elementary School area. Enjoy!

 Sabino Canyon and its Hiking Trails
 
Sabino Canyon is situated in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range in the Coronado National Forest. It is a joy to hike, but in the Summer months you have to go pretty early to beat the sun.

There are a variety of trails in Sabino Canyon, and some people choose to walk along the road that goes up in the canyon. The road meanders across Sabino Creek and there are nine bridges. The road route has the most amazing views of the creek, the riparian vegetation, stunning Saguaros on the canyon walls, and towering rock formations which are dotted all around in the Santa Catalina Mountain range. The trails vary in length and elevation, but go from around 2800 ft to 3300 ft above sea level and to about 9.2 miles in length. 

In the spring there is an abundance of water in Sabino Creek and many people go swimming, however the rest of the year the water is lower as the Creek is not a fresh spring, but a waterway for the winter melt off of the mountain snow.People are advised not the drink the water.

Bikers are allowed before 9am in the morning in Sabino Canyon, but after that the road is for walkers and the trolley bus. 

 For those that would like to walk part of the way, but not the full 3.8 miles up to the top of the Canyon and back, there is a trolley bus that will take you back.

For an overview of Sabino Canyon and its desert flora, you can ride the trolley both ways.

There is no excuse for not getting out there in the beautiful desert sunshine!

Eddie and a few friends, Carl Aune, and builder Bryan Ayers decided to do a 10 mile hike of Sabino Canyon starting at five in the morning last weekend.

For those of you no accustomed to being up at five, this is pretty standard especially in the Summer months here!

They took some beautiful photos along the way, and met some desert critters too.

 
The phonline hike is a more difficult hike in Sabino Canyon. It rises up far above the desert below and gives you spectacular views of Tucson and the surrounding area. The path is good, and there is variety along the way. Some areas are steep, but there are level areas where you can recompose yourself.

The trail zig zags down the mountain at the top of the trail and joins the road for the journey back. There are bathrooms along the road stops, so be advised to make sure that you relieve yourself before the hike!

Desert critters are a common experience to see on the trails, and in the Winter months, you also see Deer early in the morning.

Eddie, Carl and Bryan were really close to this Rattlesnake who happened to be mature. Rattlesnakes don't like us either, so if you keep a wide berth the will not usually bother you.

If you are planning a visit this Winter to Tucson, Arizona give us a call .....we hike in Sabino Canyon every day during the Winter months and would love to show you around!

From our recent press release:

"Tucson is still experiencing a significant increase in buyer activity,  as we head into the Fall/Winter Season.
The amount of active Tucson Home listings on the market was 6,095. This is a decrease of 25% from the same time last year in August 2008.
There were also a total of 957 closings in August 2009,
When compared to the same time last year, the sales figured are up by 6%.
Tucson home inventory on the market is also showing a decrease which appears to be reinforcing the latest trend for Tucson.
In August this figure was  6.4, a significant decrease from  9.0 in August 2008.
However, the median price of sold homes was $162,500 for the month of August 2009, which has reduced 12% from August 2008.
It is therefore a great time to purchase a home as Tucson prices are very affordable, inventory is coming down and home prices appear to be stabilising.
New home builders are offering great incentives for you to buy before the first time home buyers tax credit runs out on November 30th 2009.
New property sales are up 52% from the same time last year in August of 2008.
The inventory of homes has reduced in the Foothills. 85718 now has around 8 months of inventory compared to a few months ago when the inventory was over 12 months.
85750 still has 11 months of inventory, but this has also reduced from 13 months several months ago. the most significant drop in inventory is in the 85749 Zip Code where three months ago there was over 24 months of inventory. This has now reduced to 10 months, which although still high, is showing signs of improvement.
Many Zip Codes now have a less than six month inventory, a good sign for an improving market.
However many lenders still see the whole of Arizona in a depreciating market, and Tucson often gets evaluated with the Phoenix market as one area. Our statistics are quite different.
Interest rates are still very low for FHA and Conventional Loans and this week were hovering around 5%. There are still strict qualifications for Jumbo Loans, but they are out there and at great rates. Fixed Rates can be obtained for 5.5% for less than $500,000 and then 5.75% over $500,000.
The Tucson Real Estate Market  is experiencing a significant increase in Buyer activity, something that we will be watching into the usually busier Fall/Winter Season.
Remember Tucson homes must be closed before the cut off date of November 30th 2009 to get the tax credit."