Tucson Real Estate Statistics for April, 2011 - 05/31/11 01:28 PM
Tucson Real Estate Statistics for April, 2011
April was a good month for Tucson. Sales activity was up over the previous month and most statistical categories saw improvement. More importantly, there is a greater sense of optimism from agents, buyers, and sellers.
Key Statistics for April, 2011
The Average Sales Price for April was $173,981.
The number of properties under contract is 2610. That is a 21% increase over the month of March.
There were 1396 newly listed properties during the month.
Total number of active listings is 6269.
Last six months key statistics in graphical form
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My Grandfather was a Hero - 05/31/11 12:54 AM
My Grandfather was a Hero
For Memorial Day I thought I would share the shortened version of the story of my Grandfather with my kids along with some of my own personal memories.
Loren Spencer Tyler was born in Fort Thomas, Arizona on July 30, 1922. He grew up on his father's dairy farm and was the oldest of eight children. His early years were spent working on the dairy farm, attending school, going to church and playing with his uncle Verl, who was only a year older. In school he played basketball and football and was involved in … (4 comments)
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Memorial Day: Family, Food, and remembering Grandpa - 05/30/11 12:22 AM
Memorial Day: Family, Food, and remembering Grandpa
For Memorial Day weekend my cousins came into town to visit. We spent yesterday at the pool with them and some friends. This is my son, Josh learning that he can swim by himself is he's got a noodle.
My younger son, Jacob, spent most of his time mooching off of anyone with food. He realized that he really, really likes watermelon.
After a late night of games, we went to church this morning, played some more games, and then had a big BBQ. Nothing like steak, ribs, ranch mashed potatoes … (0 comments)
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My Favorite Landscape Photographs - 05/28/11 05:54 PM
My Favorite Landscape Photographs
For the past six years my passion for photography has grown tremendously. For the first decade of our marriage, my wife was always the photographer of the family. On a vacation to Hawaii and somewhere between photographing dolphins and the Na-Pali coastline I had assumed virtually all camera duties. I read articles and books about photography constantly trying to learn something new. My Christmas and birthday gift requests all became photography related. All my kids' sports activities now have a team photographer. And my vacations became filled with photographing my favorite locations. The … (8 comments)
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Oceanfront Property in Arizona - 05/27/11 11:13 PM
Oceanfront Property in Arizona
Rocky Point, Mexico sits just 45 minutes south of the Arizona border so it's not exactly in Arizona but it's close. About 4 hours southwest of Tucson and 4 hours south of Phoenix is Arizona's closest beach. This small fishing village/beach getaway is actually named Puerto Peñasco. The "Gringos" call it Rocky Point and for good reason. At low tide it's very rocky. The tide here actually has the second largest fluctuation in the world. Most of the area has sandy beaches at high tide, while low tide reveals all the … (4 comments)
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Real Estate Reality Shows need More Reality! - 05/26/11 12:38 AM
Real Estate Reality Shows need More Reality!
While showing a client today we started talking about these Reality shows on TV about real estate. I haven't watched one in a while. Two years ago I had heel surgery which put me on bedrest for over a month. During that time I got extremely familiar with the Real Estate Reality Shows. We talked about the fixup shows where the buyer gets a great deal, fixes up the property and cashes in. The amount of money they make is always bloated and the number never includes taxes. Some shows didn't even … (1 comments)
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6 Simple Steps to Better Photos - 05/23/11 12:18 AM
6 Simple Steps to Better Photos
The biggest mistake is thinking you need a bigger, better, more expensive camera. "I need more megapixels", "I wish I had a new camera", and "I could take better pictures if I had that lens" are statements that are made way too often. I have seen some amazing and beautiful pictures that were taken with the simplest of cameras.
First, take pictures during "Golden Hour". This is the easiest way to get better photos. Golden Hour is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. During this time the … (10 comments)
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Nightmare of a Deal - 05/21/11 12:52 AM
Nightmare of a Deal
The worst transaction I have ever been involved in started out alright. A buyer had called me off some Internet advertising. He was moving to Tucson from a small town down south. He started looking more in the middle of Tucson and slowly moved south to the farthest reaches of where I feel comfortable showing. The area he settled on was about a 45-50 minute drive from my office and about an hour from my home. I showed him quite a few homes and made a few offers. He finally got a contract on the house … (3 comments)
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My favorite short hikes in East Tucson - 05/17/11 05:59 PM
Self portrait of me at sunset on the Douglas Spring Trail
My favorite short hikes in East Tucson
I spend a lot of time hiking on the east side of Tucson. Why? Because that's where I live and it's the most beautiful part of Tucson. Most days all I have time for is a short hike. My schedule is busy and my beautiful wife isn't too happy if I'm gone all the time. Here are five of my favorite short hikes.
My first two favorite short hikes are located inside Saguaro National Park East. The Douglas Spring Trail begins … (4 comments)
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Sabino Canyon, Tucson's Retreat from the Heat - 05/16/11 04:07 PM
Sabino Canyon, Tucson's Retreat from the Heat
Sabino Canyon is located in the Catalina Mountains on the north side of Tucson, Arizona. It is a heavily visited park with many swimming holes amongst the rich desert and creekside vegetation. Tucsonans have long visited the canyon to enjoy a picnic, view wildlife, hike on the many trails, see the amazing views, and cool off in one of the many pools of water.
Directions: From Tanque Verde Road, go north on Sabino Canyon Road for just over 4 miles to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Here you will find a large … (1 comments)
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6 Inexpensive, Easy Fixes to Better Curb Appeal - 05/16/11 11:17 AM
Kristine Ginsberg of Morris County, New Jersey has put together a very good list of easy things to do to make any home look better and attract buyers. Kristine is the owner of Elite Staging and Redesign.
Via Kristine Ginsberg (Morris County, NJ: Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC):
6 Inexpensive, Easy Fixes to Better Curb Appeal
1. A home's front door should be the focal point that draws buyers in. Paint it in a brighter shade that contrasts, yet compliments your home's façade. This is a cost effective way to make a big impact on your home's exterior. Complete the look with a … (4 comments)
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Tucson's Secret Hideaway: Madera Canyon - 05/15/11 04:20 PM
Tucson's Secret Hideaway: Madera Canyon
Located about an hour south of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Canyon is one of the area's most beautiful canyons. Wildlife abounds along the seasonal stream. Quaint cabins and B & Bs welcome visitors. And trails spread across the mountainside. Madera Canyon is truly a beautiful oasis overlooking the southwestern desert.
Directions: From Tucson, take I-19 south to Continental Road. Go east on Continental Road to Whitehouse Canyon Road. Go east and then south about 11 miles to Madera Canyon.
Madera Canyon is beautiful just about anytime of … (2 comments)
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The Best Lakes in Arizona - 05/14/11 08:41 PM
The Best Lakes in Arizona
I took a trip to Canyon Lake yesterday for a great day of waterskiing. The weather was fantastic, the water was mostly smooth, and even though it had been three years I still was able to tear it up. I even had people on the Canyon Lake tour boat taking pictures of me. Today, I am paying the price as this old body feels pain in all the areas I haven't used in those three years.
I have spent a good part of my life waterskiing and boating the many lakes in … (2 comments)
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Volunteering turns into business! - 05/13/11 12:21 AM
Volunteering turns into business!
This year my son joined the volleyball team at high school. Volleyball in our area is not the crowd getter that football and basketball are. When it comes to high school sports certain ones get a lot of money while others get a little and others get almost nothing. Volleyball gets almost nothing. It relies on volunteers for the most part. And who does the volunteering? The parents of course. When I heard the only photographs they had from the previous years were primarily from parents' point and shoot cameras I volunteered to shoot the … (6 comments)
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The Basics of Buying a Home - 05/12/11 02:09 PM
The Basics of Buying a Home
The first step in Buying a Home would be to talk to a lender, be it a bank, mortgage broker, or mortgage company. They will first take some simple information over the phone and determine approximately what the maximum would be that they could lend to you. They will then set up a time with you for a formal application. This will include running a credit check. The lender will match your information to different programs that are available. Different lenders do have different programs and they do charge different rates. Needless … (2 comments)
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It's getting better! - 05/11/11 12:15 PM
It's Getting Better!
I've read more than my share of statistics and reports. I've looked at the raw numbers and a multitude of graphs put out by our local MLS. Much of the information is positive, but some of it is still negative. I'll I want to know is if it's getting better yet.
I have come to care less about anything I hear in the media. Most are the equivalent of false prophets. It's just unfortunate that the public gives them so much heed.
What I care about most is the general feeling from … (5 comments)
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Priorities getting trampled on? - 05/10/11 04:43 PM
Priorities getting trampled on?
Over the years I've closed on many deals simply by being flexible. I often work late or on a Saturday. I've even shown a vacant home at 1am in the morning. As agents we try our best to be available and to work with our clients but everyone has limits. I think the problem occurs when we are not upfront about those limits.
When I got my license sixteen years ago I decided that I wouldn't work Sundays. That would be my one day off during the week to spend with my family. However, … (5 comments)
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Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona - 05/09/11 02:48 PM
Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona
Saguaro National Park is divided into two seperate locations on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. Each side has it's own visitor center. The Saguaro National Park Rincon District is located at the base of the Rincon Mountains on the east side of Tucson. The Saguaro National Park Tucson Mountain District is located in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains on the west side of Tucson. Saguaro National Park has a total of over 90,000 acres. It is fantastic place for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, viewing wildlife and enjoying an incredible sunset. It is … (4 comments)
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The Best Park in Tucson - 05/08/11 04:21 AM
The Best Park in Tucson
I have lived in Tucson, Arizona for a total of thirty two years. I'm not sure if there is a park in this town that I have not been to. Most parks here are average with a few soccer fields, a kids' play area, and a baseball diamond or two. Most have quite a few trees. A few even have lakes. In spite of not having any sports fields or play areas, the best park in Tucson has much more.
Agua Caliente park is the best park in Tucson. It is … (1 comments)
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Where did all my repeat business go? - 05/07/11 12:29 PM
Where did all my repeat business go?
Past clients have always been the bread and butter of a long and prosperous career in real estate. After my tenth year in the business past clients were my primary source of new business and things were going good. Repeat business was consistent and required no prospecting. I loved it. Then the real estate boom happened. 2004 was good. 2005 was crazy good. Anyone that could fog a mirror could get a $200,000 loan on a house. Price a listing $10,000 more than the highest comparable sale and you would have 3 … (6 comments)
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Light Trails on Mount Lemmon - 05/06/11 04:16 PM
Light Trails on Mount Lemmon
Light Trails can be some of the most fun things to photograph. On a recent trip up to Mount Lemmon, located in the Catalina Mountains on the north side of Tucson, I decided to pull over and take some pictures of some Light Trails with the Tucson city lights in the distance. The sun had just set so there was still just a touch of color in the sky.
Mount Lemmon is a common getaway for Tucsonans. A forty-five minute drive in the summer time can take one from 100 degree weather … (3 comments)
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Aravaipa Canyon: Kind of like Zions National Park minus the crowds - 05/04/11 01:24 AM
Aravaipa Canyon: Kind of like Zions National Park minus the crowds
I have lived in Tucson for 32 out of my 37 years. So I was quite surprized when someone asked me if I'd ever been to Aravaipa Canyon and I had never even heard of the place. He told me that it was a lot like Zions minus the crowds and only about an hour and a half away. My adventurous side took over and I found myself planning a trip there that afternoon.
To go here, permits are required. They let no more than 50 people in … (4 comments)
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Space Day at The Pima Air and Space Museum - 05/03/11 12:30 PM
The Pima Air and Space Museum is located Southeast of Tucson at 6000 E. Valencia Road. It is one of the museums of its kind in the world. The Pima Air and Space Museum has over 300 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts. They even have John F. Kennedy's Air Force One, a B-29 Superfortress, and an SR-71 Blackbird.
The Pima Air and Space Museum also offers tours of the Davis Monthan Air Force Base Boneyard.
This Friday, May 6th, 2011, is Space Day at The Pima Air and Space Museum. All activities at the museum are free with a … (2 comments)
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Obsessed with Points - 05/02/11 11:58 AM
I am obsessed with points. I am quite new to ActiveRain, but I already find myself logging in daily. I first check my point total and then my local rank. Not sure if this is healthy but it sure is fun. The ActiveRain creators were truly in a genius mindset to create a system that is so addicting. I actually get mad with myself for not getting more points each day.
The great thing about being obsessed with points is that it is a healthy addiction. I have already seen some results, as my addiction pushes me to check where … (8 comments)
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How to photograph Lightning! - 05/01/11 11:08 PM
How to photograph Lightning!
My favorite subject to photograph is lightning. In the last few weeks I’ve had several people ask me how to photograph lightning. I figured I would write a blog about how to photograph Lightning. Lightning can be somewhat difficult to shoot. Finding the right spot is key, waiting for the right conditions can be trying, and one needs to have the right gear. Capturing the image of something so powerful, dangerous, and beautiful is exhilarating and nothing short of awesome.
The best way to start is to scout out locations. In the shot on this page, I … (5 comments)
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