Discouraged A Little? There's Gold In Them Thar Hills. And It's Still True Today! - 01/31/10 10:53 PM

It wasn't farming that settled the American West.  It was mining.  The lure of wealth in the form of precious metals like gold (and later, silver) enticed men from the east to leave home and family and make their way west to California.
They called 'em the '49ers.  The year was 1849, and  American football wouldn't be invented for another twenty years. 
It had taken a year for the news of the California gold rush to make its way back east, and the result was a stampede of humanity.
If you're a real estate agent in the west, the roots … (48 comments)

Speechless Sunday: Red Rock Canyon Near The Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum - 01/31/10 04:44 AM

Sedona's not the only place in Arizona with red rocks.  This little canyon is hidden away in a wash next to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.  I could hear tourists talking in the parking lot above me, but they couldn't see me, and had no idea of the beautiful canyon below them.  The setting sun lit up the saguaros above.
___________________ 
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.
NMLS #223495SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Mortgage Bankers, Not Brokers!Offices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, AZ, and Albuquerque, NM.
Call me on my Blackberry  (520) 349-9090
photos copyright Mike in Tucson
… (26 comments)

God Paints The Prettiest Sunsets In Arizona! - 01/30/10 10:07 PM

I know I'll get a lot of flak for saying "Arizona"... 
Hawaii has spectacular sunsets.  The Florida Keys are nothing to sneeze at.  But when it comes to the end of day, I'd rather be in Arizona than anywhere else on earth!
I took this photo just before the sun dropped below the mountains to the west.  Our grandkids in New Jersey have gotten nearly a foot of snow this afternoon, and this one's for them.
___________________ 
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.
NMLS #223495SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Mortgage Bankers, Not Brokers!Offices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, … (21 comments)

Silly Saturday Night Post: Can You Make A Saguaro By Twisting Balloons? - 01/30/10 09:52 PM
Hiking down a wash south of the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum (it's a zoo) this afternoon, I came across two of the strangest saguaros I've ever seen.
I'll tell you about the Whale Tail saguaro in a moment, but this one on the right was my favorite of the day.
It looks like someone twisted a saguaro out of one of those long balloons that kids love.
My Darlin' says the one on the left reminds her of Mickey Mouse.  I see a family hugging each other. 

Now about the whale tail...
You can't make this stuff up with Photoshop! 
Doesn't the … (10 comments)

Fulfilling Today's Objectives: Tucson Roadrunner Camo - 01/30/10 07:43 AM

He doesn't look anything like his cartoon counterpart.  He doesn't say "Meep Meep!"  Instead of running away, he follows the coyote around from time to time, knowing that the coyote is likely to stir up a meal or two.
This roadrunner is totally aware of his surroundings, and knows how to hide in plain sight in order to accomplish his dual objectives:  survival and a meal.
Funny thing:  those are my two objectives this morning!
___________________ 
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.
NMLS #223495SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Mortgage Bankers, Not Brokers!Offices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, AZ, … (12 comments)

Hot Air Balloon: Re/Max Struts Its Stuff In Tucson, AZ! - 01/29/10 06:58 AM

Always, always carry a camera!  It's my mantra, and it's served me well in the past two years!  I was driving to work, and saw the Re/Max balloon over 22nd Street in Tucson, near "A" Mountain.
I found the nearest parking lot, jumped out and nearly got run over.  Never mind; I got the shots!

The "A" on Signal Hill, also known as "A" Mountain, is for the University of Arizona.  It makes for a great Re/Max photo, doesn't it?
I'm wonder if that's Dan Grammar, Active Rain Re/Max agent, up in the balloon?!
___________________ 
I'm Mike in Tucson, … (18 comments)

Deficiency Judgements: Can The Bank Do That? - 01/28/10 09:36 AM
"We're so upside down on our mortgage that it will take us ten years to break even." 
The Foreclosure Scenario
The homeowner on the phone was calling me to see how soon after a foreclosure they could hope to qualify to buy a home. 
"We're thinking about letting the bank keep the house, and renting until we're able to buy.  We think it makes good financial sense, because our mortgage payment is $1,830. and we can rent a nicer house for $500. a month less than that!"
"That's like a $6,000 raise," the homeowner continued.  "Even if it takes us … (22 comments)

Warmth & Beauty In Green Valley, Arizona! Bring Your Camera! - 01/27/10 11:28 PM


Can you believe this is a January landscape? 
Mining is just another part of the landscape in Arizona, and it's one of the state's major employers.  The terraces above are part of the Sierrita Mine, located just west of the town of Green Valley, AZ. 
To the east of Green Valley is one of the most beautiful parts of the Coronado National Forest, the Santa Rita Mountain Range.
It includes my favorite hiking area, the Mount Wrightson Wilderness. I can get there in 35 minutes from my home.
Located less than 40 miles from Mexico, the Mt. Wrightson … (23 comments)

1/27/2010: Quick Mortgage Market Overview - 01/27/10 06:24 AM
 Interest rates:  Up, Down, or Flat?  I'm betting on flat, but that could change with market volatility.
Consumer Confidence numbers out yesterday were a little more optimistic than expected, and the stock market liked that.  It doesn't mean we're out of the woods by any measure ~ just that sentiment in the country is a little less dour than the experts thought it might be.  There's a fine line between cynicism and optimism.
This morning on Bloomberg:  Fed May Take Chance End to Debt Purchases Won’t Hurt Housing. Fat chance!  Bernanke's in a tight spot, caught between the perceived need for … (8 comments)

1/26/2010: Quick Mortgage Market Overview for Tucson and Arizona - 01/26/10 10:05 AM
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Up, down, or flat?  At the moment, rates are flat, as the market waits for the Fed's pronouncement on rates tomorrow at 2:15 EST.
The Federal Reserve is meeting today and tomorrow.  Its December 16th press release included the following:
The anticipated expiration dates for the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility remain set at June 30, 2010, for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed securities and March 31, 2010, for loans backed by all other types of collateral.
What that means, absent an infusion of new money by Congress to continue buying Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), is … (4 comments)

For Newbies Only: Balance Your Active Rain Experience For Success - 01/26/10 04:55 AM

We've passed the 172,000 mark in AR membership, and I've noticed an interesting phenomonon with new Active Rain members that I don't remember seeing in the past.  It's a self-isolation of members who still post to their AR blog, but who have stopped commenting regularly on others' posts.
AR Principle:  Imitate Success
How do I know that?  I check your Points Summary from time to time to see what's successful, reasoning that if something's working for you, maybe it will work for me too.  I'm always looking for what works, and here's what I've found:
 The most Active Rainers invite others … (88 comments)

Hiking Sabino Canyon In Tucson, AZ: A View Through The Clouds - 01/24/10 11:44 PM

Clouds from this week's major winter storm hung low over the valley at the foot of the Rincon Mountains to the east of the city of Tucson.  I was hiking somewhere near Sabino Canyon when the clouds parted, allowing me to see the valley floor below.
I thought you might like to share the view.  Notice the bird sitting atop the saguaro in the center of the photo; he posed just long enough for me to capture his portrait.
___________________ 
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage lender.
NMLS #223495 SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llcOffices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, AZ, … (18 comments)

Snow In Tucson: All the View, None of the Mess! - 01/23/10 11:50 PM

When the snow falls in Tucson, as it did this week, it wreaths the city with a white ring, laying on the mountain ranges that surround us.  The snow line is usually around 4,500 feet, with the valley and the lower Tucson Mountains getting rain.  We love the rain!
Valley dwellers get to enjoy all the beauty of the surrounding snowcapped mountains without any of the inconvenience of actually having to deal with the snow.

These homes in Hidden Valley, near Tucson's Sabino Canyon, are a perfect example.  While Thursday's storm laid a couple of feet of snow on … (21 comments)

FHA Loans - Some rumors are now reality - Important information about FHA mortgage changes !!! - 01/22/10 05:42 AM
In my humble opinion, Jeff Belonger is the most articulate FHA blogger on Active Rain.  When he posts something, you can rely on the information.  He's done his homework!
Mike in Tucson
Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):
 
FHA Loan rumors now become a reality – So what happened?
 

Wow... I just talked about some rumors that have been floating around for months about FHA loans. Let me make something clear. They are rumors to me until they are officially stated through HUD/FHA. And … (7 comments)

A Day At The Beach, Tucson Roadrunner Style - 01/19/10 06:19 AM

Okay, so Arizona doesn't have much beachfront.  Not yet, anyhow...
The chilly (45 degree) early morning air had this roadrunner sunning herself just to warm up! Turning her back to the rising sun, she exposes her dark undercoat to soak up the rays.
It's an important part of her morning ritual, since breakfast can fight back!  Here's the menu:
rattlesnake scorpion tarantula lizard She's got to be all limber and warmed up to survive her meal!  Not to worry, though.  Lunch will be served on the golf course. 
It's a good life here in Tucson.  Plan to visit soon!
___________________ 
… (34 comments)

Please Welcome My Friends John & Sheila Casserly To Active Rain! - 01/18/10 09:06 PM
The Active Rain Real Estate Network has been growing by leaps and bounds in spite of the difficult market we've experienced in this last year.  Just this weekend, we passed the 171,000 mark in membership!
I'm pleased to introduce you to two new Rainers, John & Sheila Casserly.  I met them just this afternoon when I called John to find out if he has financing for Manufactured Housing.  (I can't do these loans through my own channels, and I needed someone I could trust to refer out my clients.)  Turns out that he does, and I'll be referring him business!
It's … (13 comments)

Tucson's King Canyon Trail: Bloom Where You're Planted? It's A Little Tough Right Now, Isn't It? - 01/16/10 11:53 PM

I was hiking very early Friday morning in King Canyon, in the Tucson Mountains.  The view on the right is looking up the cayon to the east toward the rising sun.
Parking in the lot just north of the entrance to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum (it's a zoo ~ one of the ten best in the world) I clicked "start" on the GPS on my Blackberry and walked up the King Canyon Trail for a mile, to the place where the King Canyon Trail crosses the arroyo you see on the right.  From that point, I hiked back to … (43 comments)

Warmth And Beauty In The Southwest: Tucson, Arizona In January - 01/08/10 10:57 PM

While most of the nation was enveloped in record cold this January 8th, Tucson enjoyed a high of 70 degrees, and I took this photo at four in the afternoon near my Starbucks hangout at Country Club and Speedway.
Sunset fell as I was ascending "A" Mountain to capture the westerly view seen below, looking toward Cat Mountain in the Tucson Mountains.  The time difference between the two photos is less than two hours.

The light here in Tucson is different somehow from what I've experienced elsewhere in the United States, and the beauty of the landscape (whether in … (37 comments)

Great Day For This Lender On Virtual ReBarCamp! - 01/04/10 10:52 PM

Thank you, Tucson Kent!
My phone rang at 7:10 or thereabouts, and it was my friend Kent Simpson on the other end.
"Are you going to be ReBarCamping today?"
I hadn't planned on it.  I think I'd relegated the event to real estate agents, since most of what's written on Active Rain (that I've read) has been written by REALTORs.
I figured I'd better check it out, and boy, am I glad I did!  Mike Mueller's session on FaceBook was an eye-opener.  I'm not all that savvy when it comes to FaceBook, but the session (and another later in the … (29 comments)

ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group Announce Streamline of Guidelines - 01/03/10 08:35 PM
 
If you're a subscriber to my blog (and even if you're not) I encourage you to join the Photo Blogger Group.  Images are essential to the business of Real Estate, and if you're going to do something, Grandma used to say, you might as well learn to do it right!  We have some great contributors to the ActiveRainPhotoBlogger group, and some dedicated moderators.
Special thanks to William Johnson and Debi Boucher for kicking this off and shepherding its progress. 
Join Up!!
 
Via San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates):
There have been … (12 comments)

Light, Bud? - 01/01/10 09:05 PM

Okay, this may be a little silly, but I just couldn't resist. 
Need a light, Bud?
___________________
I'm often asked what kind of camera I use, and I have to say it's not the camera that makes a good photo.  It's not the photographer either, in my humble opinion.  It's the subject.  Put your mind in a place where you're more interested in capturing a particular subject, and you'll take better photos.  Learn how to use the camera you have; don't be fooled into thinking that if only you could afford a better camera...
My camera is a relative … (42 comments)

Once In A Blue Moon: Happy New Year! - 01/01/10 02:36 PM

New Year's Day 2010 ~ Last night marked the last "Blue Moon" on New Year's Eve for the next nineteen years.  I had planned to capture it before turning in, but the best laid plans...
This morning I woke at 6:45, grabbed the camera, and set off to capture that same Blue Moon before it disappeared over the western horizon.  As dawn broke, I was at the edge of Saguaro National Park and took this shot to share with you on the first day of the New Year.
Thanks for stopping by my blog; I expect that this will be … (88 comments)

 
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Mike Jones

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Tucson, AZ

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SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171)

Address: 2840 E Skyline Dr, Suite #230, Tucson, AZ, 85718

Office Phone: (520) 344-6943

Cell Phone: (520) 349-9090

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