Laurie's Blog

Still a good time to buy a home

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:24:28 -0600

Even in today's Tucson Real Estate economy, it is still a good time to buy a home, whether new construction or resale homes. For potential buyers with good credit and some down payment money, some real estate agents say the next six to eight months could present a unique window of opportunity. Interest rates are at historic lows (last weeek the national ave. was 5.1% for 30-yr. fixed rated and 4.85% for 15 yr fixed rate) Also, home prices continue to decline. According to statistics, the home prices in Tucson are close to what they were in 2004.

For more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market go to http://www.TuconRealEstateHomesForSale.com

Tucson Homes for Sale South

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:33:53 -0600

17180 S Sienna Bluffs, Corona de Tucson, AZ 85641

Gorgeous 2 story with 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. 2998 sf.
Kitchen has corian counters, large island & lots of cabinet space.
Large Master bedroom. Master bath has separate tub & shower.
Oak banister leads you up to the 4 bedrooms w/ 1 bedroom downstairs.
Fireplace in family room & formal dining area.
Does not back up to other homes.
Subdivision has a huge grassy park, ramadas, basketball courts and a soon to be built Rec center.

For more information call

Laurie Hassey

Long Realty

(520) 404-4663

Tucson Real Estate Homes for Sale - 1010 E Camino Aurelia, Corona de Tucson, AZ 85641

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:37:00 -0600

1010 E Camino Aurelia, Corona de Tucson, AZ 85641

$300,000

A custom A-frame log cabin in Tucson!

2bd, 1ba, 6 car garage on 15 private acres.
Floor to ceiling windows,
1bd & loft upstairs and 1bd, ba down.
Has a large bonus room that can be converted to a bedroom & bath (sink already installed).
Enter now through the backstairs but can easily be paved to the front.
Knotty pine and hardwood floors.
Amazing views of city lights at night and gorgeous mountain views during the day.

For more information call

Laurie Hassey

Long Realty

(520) 404-4663

9284 E Corte Arroyo Antiguo, Tucson, AZ 85710

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:15:02 -0600

9284 E Corte Arroyo Antiguo, Tucson, AZ 85710

$215,000

Tucson Real Estate

Move in ready!

Kitchen, dining & hallways have custom concrete floors.

Kitchen looks into huge Great Room with upgraded carpeting.

3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1524 sq ft.
The backyard is landscaped with 7 Bamboo trees that surround the property
Gas stove in kitchen
Washer, dryer & refrigerator stay.
Wood blinds stay and decorator paint throughout.
East wall has been extended 2 courses high and is HOA approved.
Ask about new financing options w/FHA

For more information call:

Laurie Hassey

Long Realty

(520) 404-4663

TUCSON REAL ESTATE HOME FOR SALE EAST 9284 E Corte Arroyo Antiguo, Tucson, AZ 85710

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:36:13 -0600

9284 E Corte Arroyo Antiguo, Tucson, AZ 85710

$215,000

Tucson Real Estate

Move in ready!

Kitchen, dining & hallways have custom concrete floors.

Kitchen looks into huge Great Room with upgraded carpeting.

3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1524 sq ft.
The backyard is landscaped with 7 Bamboo trees that surround the property
Gas stove in kitchen
Washer, dryer & refrigerator stay.
Wood blinds stay and decorator paint throughout.
East wall has been extended 2 courses high and is HOA approved.
Ask about new financing options w/FHA

For more information call:

Laurie Hassey

Long Realty

(520) 404-4663

Tucson Real Estate Home/Cabin for Sale in Vail

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:35:01 -0600

11401 E Camino Aurelia Corona de Tucson, AZ 85641

Custom built
Engineered log home
2400 sq ft plus basement with outside entrance on 5.26 fenced acre
Massive stone fireplace
beam ceiling ( like a national park lodge )
All amenities, central heat and air
Double pane windows
70 foot wrap around porch with hot tub
Sunset's
city lights and mountain views to die for
RV pad
space for horse facility with water and electric plus two lighted out buildings.

$550,000
Beds: 2
Baths: 2 (2 0 0 0) (FTHQ)
Sq Ft 2402
Lot Size: 5.260ac

For more information go to: www.tucsonrealestatehomesforsale.com

or to http://www.tucsonrealestatehomesforsale.com/blog/index.php

Laurie Hassey

Long Realty

Top 2% of Realtors Nationwide

(520) 404-4663 laurieh@longrealty.com

North Tucson Real Estate Home for Sale $475,000

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:10:38 -0600

Tucson Real Estate Home for Sale

4984 N Louis River Way, Tucson, AZ 85718

Previous Model Home by DR Horton w/3 car garage & $95,000 of upgrades.

3 bdroom + den
Gourmet island kitchen w/Travertine floors
Double ovens
tile contrtops
Hickory cabinets.
Master has bay window
travertine tile surround in shower w/sep tub
Home has SMART SYSTEM controls
Surround sound
Professionally landscaped back & front
Extd cov'd patio that looks out to a great mountain views behind hm

For more inforamation go to: www.tucsonrealestatehomesforsale.com

Laurie Hassey

Tucson Long Realty

(520) 404-4663

Santa better have more in his bag than the proposed 4.5% rate

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:34:36 -0600

Santa better have more in his bag than the proposed 4.5% rate if he wants to save the housing industry?....

Realtors are desperately pushing the 4.5% Rate in hopes it will be the long awaited and much needed shot in the arm the industry needs.

This is the plan to have the Treasury buy home loans from Fannie and Freddie if the loans are given at 4.5 percent interest rates.

Apparently the incoming administration's economic team is considering the idea, but wants to go further because the proposal wouldn't really do much to help the foreclosure crisis.

Mortgage rates have been dropping all week. They're now somewhere just below 5 percent, in fact pushing toward that 4.5 on their own. Which mortgage brokers I'm talking to say that has been both good and bad. It has opened the floodgates on refis, yet, customers that have locked their rate are mad that they aren't getting the lowest rate.

Does that mean that borrowers in danger of foreclosure are suddenly getting saved? I would ever so eruditely surmise: nope. I recently got a look at a report on residential mortgage backed securities from a company that specializes in assessing risk.

Among the many astonishing charts was one that shows the top 10 home value declines for subprime loans with losses over the past year. States with some of the highest foreclosure rates, like Michigan, California, Ohio and Massachusetts, showed the steepest value declines in homes, which is of course not surprising given that foreclosure sales drive all home prices down.

So the bulk of the borrowers in trouble have not only no equity in their homes, but really severe negative equity, like 30-50 percent less than the purchase price. Those borrowers can't refi, no matter how low the interest rates. And while 4.5 percent interest rate loans may help spur buying, it's not going to help the troubled borrowers to sell, because they won't be able to get enough in the sale to pay off the mortgage. Short sales are a possibility, but they are tricky and can take a long time to work out with the bank.

I'm not saying 4.5 percent won't help, but there definitely needs to be more in Santa's bag if he's going to find anyone living at the bottom of the chimney.

Laurie Hassey

Top 2% of Realtors Nationwide www.tucsonrealestatehomesforsale.com

Restaurant adventures in Tucson

Laurie Hassey (Long Realty) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:56:17 -0600

If you're looking to experiment with enjoyable new places to eat in Tucson, I've got a recommendation for you. The place is called "Aqui con el Nene". This is a casual open air corner "soft-shell Taco stand" on the North/West corner of Wetmore and Ruthrauff. I don't ever condone patronizing those places, however, I talked to many trust-worthy sources and many trustworthy people will vouch for this Tucson corner stand. The people I asked work for Bank of America and can't afford to get sick so they will only go to a restaurant if it is clean and the food is at a high level.

This corner restaurant is clean and run well. They purchase lean healthy meats and provide a clean condoment stand for toppings.

They're specialty is soft-shell carne (beef) and pollo (chicken) tacos. A Carne Asada Soft-Shell Taco runs $1.50. A man that eats his fair share should be able to knock-out 3 and his wallet won't feel a hit.

Seating is outdoors so if you're going to give this place a shot, pick a day with nice weather.

I hope you give this place a chance. If you do, please let me know what you thought.

Laurie Hassey

Realtor - Long Realty