Nick Bastian's Blog

They call it Connect...

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:38:31 -0500

I recently returned from a great week in San Francisco attending REBarCamp and Inman's Real Estate Connect. I can't even begin to explain (although, I will try) how much I enjoyed the conferences and meeting the people. If you don't know what was going on at BarCamp or Inman Connect, click the links above or read some more about it here...

I mainly went to San Francisco to learn more about blogging, social media and their effects on my business. The "Blogger's Connect" portion of the conference sounded really interesting to me. There has been a lot of talk about how much of the really great information at these conferences is learned / shared in the "hallways." I'll have to say, I couldn't agree more. Blogging and social media are here to stay but SEO (search engine optimization) will not replace YEO: (You Engaging Others) when creating business platforms that last. I had met some of the people attending but I was seriously blown away with the friendships I made in just a few days while networking with people within our industry. Some of the top blogger's in the country were there and were having a blast right along with us rookies! :-) Of course, the Active Rain team was in full force and it was cool to meet and talk to them. I bet I spoke to Brad Andersohn for a solid hour during the AR party. Brad and I have been friends "virtually" for a long time and it was really cool to hang out with him and to hear, first hand, his passion for blogging and for helping others. An AR "all star blogger" that I met was Missy Caulk. As much as I hate to admit it, I had no idea that I would get along with Missy so well. I could tell from reading her blog that she was nice, professional and knows her area but I was really impressed with how nice she really is! This is just one of the "connections" made this past week. I seriously had dozens just like that.

One truly great example of stuff discussed in the hallways is in the video I shot of Bill Leider, Jeff Turner and Brad Carroll. If you know Jeff, you know that he knows a thing or two about social networking. :-) In the beginning of the video, they are discussing the mind set of some people in the business. The past "boom" in real estate created some who were spoiled in to thinking it was "easy" to get clients. In reality, there needs to be a long term strategy for success. Blogging is not just a "magic pill" to instantly bring buyer's to an agents office. As with any "tool," effective blogging takes work and dedication. Yes, there are many "heavy hitters" that are not blogging but what will happen when the younger generations come to expect different services. There is still a lot of success with a referral based business but the successful agent of the future will change with the times if he (or she) hasn't already.

The types of connections this past week were many. Some will last a very long time. I'm really happy to have been a part of the week and a part of the many "gatherings" before and after the events. My business will absolutely benefit from attending the conferences and meeting so many quality people from around the country.

A couple of Flickr groups with some pics from the events. SF Connect and REBarCamp

Gorgeous Gilbert Home! Pool, Single Level, RV Gate, 3 Car Garage!

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:24:26 -0500

Gilbert's Mira Vista Place is located just North of Warner between Gilbert and Lindsay Roads. Very convenient to restaurants, shopping and community amenities! This gorgeous single level home home features a beautiful pool, large 3 car garage and faces a beautiful community park! With it's outstanding Gilbert location and competitive price, what more could you want? View the area by clicking on this map of the home.

Nick Bastian | Homesource Preferred Properties | 602-803-6425

441 East Pinto Dr, Gilbert, AZ

Gorgeous Mira Vista Place in Gilbert. Great Location!

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $260,000

Year Built	1998
Sq Footage	2,105
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	7,148 sqft
HOA/Maint	$38 per month

DESCRIPTION

This is a really nice home in a great location! Split floor plan, very open kitchen, tons of beautiful tile, vaulted ceilings, faces community park, 3 car garage, RV gate, play pool, covered patio.. What more could you want? Close to restaurants, shopping etc.. Not a short sale! Easy access! More pics to come soon.. Property is also for lease at $1450 per month. owner/agent

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet
Tile floor	Family room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Stove/Oven	Laundry area - inside
Swimming pool

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nick Bastian

Homesource Preferred Properties

602-803-6425

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 18, 2008, 7:21pm PDT

More pics to come soon! For questions or to search the mls for free, just log on to www.NickBastian.com ! owner/agent

Great Mesa Location Just $150,000!

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:07:27 -0500

Nick Bastian | Homesource Preferred Properties | 602-803-6425

10427 East Arcadia Ave, Mesa, AZ

Great East Mesa Location

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $150,000

Year Built	1998
Sq Footage	1,302
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	6,042 sqft
HOA/Maint	$38 per month

DESCRIPTION

Wow! This is a great East Valley location. large corner lot, nice floorplan that is open, light and bright. You will love the beautifully tiled floors and large open kitchen with tons of cabinet space. This location is also convenient to schools, tons of new development and the new 202 freeway loop. Please come and take a look!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Stove/Oven

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nick Bastian

Homesource Preferred Properties

602-803-6425

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 17, 2008, 7:51am PDT

More luxury coming to Gilbert

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:05:37 -0500

Recently, Via Homes announced a new luxury project where houses in the development will start at about 5,000 square feet and cost in the neighborhood of $1.5 million. The Enclave at Bella Via has some interesting timing in the market. At a time when IndyMac halts lending,Fannie Mae gets tougher lending policies and the market in general appears to be telling us that Gilbert homes, priced upwards of a million bucks, might be a tough sell. With just 10 lots available, they anticipate being able to finde their niche. Many of us know that Gilbert is a great community. In fact, the entire south east area of Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert that is near by have gone and are going through a ton of changes. I have talked about the potential for the Gateway area in the past and still feel like there is some real potential and growth coming to this part of town which is not all that far from this new development by Via Homes.

A few short years ago, million dollar homes were selling like crazy in this area near Higley and Guadalupe Roads. For example, a near by Circle G community, in the first 7 months of 2005 had these two sales..

Property Type: Residential Status: Sold
Subject Property
#	ML#	COE Date	Address	Built	Fe Code	SqFt	List Price	LP/ SF	Sale Price	SP/ SF	ADOM	CDOM
1	2233318	6/03/2005	3714 E Pinon WAY Gilbert	2002	64.5FRDXPSO3GS	5250	$1,299,900	$248	$1,200,000	$229	134	134
2	2263794	5/31/2005	3661 E PINON CT Gilbert	1998	63.5FRDXPSQO4+G	6833	$1,300,000	$190	$1,300,000	$190	40	40
Average						6,041	$1,299,950		$1,250,000		87	87
Number of Properties: 2
( Average SalePrice / Average SqFt ) : ( 1250000 / 6041 ) = $ 206.92

This year, the same subdivision shows the 2 most recent sales as..

Property Type: Residential Status: Sold
Subject Property
#	ML#	COE Date	Address	Built	Fe Code	SqFt	List Price	LP/ SF	Sale Price	SP/ SF	ADOM	CDOM
1	2773515	5/30/2008	3753 E Olive AVE Gilbert	1996	53FRDXPSO3G	3605	$639,000	$177	$618,000	$171	311	310
2	2915369	3/07/2008	3713 E ASPEN CT Gilbert	2004	54.5RXQO4+G	5238	$879,900	$168	$850,000	$162	13	181
Average						4,421	$759,450		$734,000		162	246
Number of Properties: 2
( Average SalePrice / Average SqFt ) : ( 734000 / 4421 ) = $ 166.03

The competition for nice, big homes in Gilbert is fierce. While Via Homes says they like being close to the hospital, many of us know that there have been a few hospitals/medical facilities pop up in this growing region recently. In fact, the San Tan area, with close proximity to the freeway (at Val Vista) boasts a really nice new hospital with some really great homes close by. Heck, in that area, you can find a Gorgeous Gilbert Home on a large 1.25 acre irrigated lot for about a third of the price. :-) Yep, slightly different product but checking the area, you will quickly find that many of the "million dollar" subdivisions are now flashing the "blue light special" sign. Who knows, it might finally be time to go shopping! :-)

For a free MLS search of the homes in our area, check out www.NickBastian.com

$6 Billion and my .02 Cents

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:08:38 -0500

As we get closer to December when the new light rail trains begin to carry passengers in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, we are seeing a lot more media coverage. A few weeks ago, there was a story in the AZ Republic talking about the development along the 20 mile route and the amount of public and private development created since 2004. The figure; SIX Billion dollars.

According to the article.. "The price tag includes projects already completed, developments under construction and announced projects within a half-mile radius of the line that officials from those cities say will likely come to fruition, according to Ben Limmer, a Metro light rail planner." They also had a breakdown (as provided by Metro) that mentioned the following. (yes, we know the real estate market is different today than it was a few years ago)

$6 billion Total value of public and private investment in transit oriented projects along the light-rail line since 2004.
15,000 Approximate number of residential units that are planned, under construction or already completed along light rail since 2004.
7 million square feet Amount of commercial space that is planned, under construction or completed close to light rail since 2004.
1800 Approximate number of hotel rooms that are planned, under construction or completed along the line.

While that is a lot of cabbage, it is important to note (also mentioned in the article) that much of this development is in areas that would have built even without light rail. However, there is no doubt that many projects have been put in the works because of their proximity to the line. You see, rail is more appealing to many because it is more tangible than say, a bus route. ie: The stops create more opportunity to build community, to build small business etc.
The timing for light rail in Arizona couldn't get much better. As gas prices continue to climb, people are embracing public transportation more than ever. While the "cost" of the 20 mile system has been reported as $1.4 Billion, there are many factors to consider when evaluating future expansion and success of the overall project. Time will tell how many people will ride, how many will be occasional users and how many will use it as an effective way to get to school and work every day. Following the project a little more closely than the average person, I have been amazed at the amount of work, planning and design that has gone in to bringing light rail to Arizona. I get the feeling that many people believe someone throws down a few tracks, buys a few "electric buses" and bam, we have a new transportation system. This just isn't the case.. Come December though, I bet Metro hopes to make everything look "easy."

Below is a pic of the new stop near Chase Field. How cool to be able to get to a baseball game so easily. Actually, the Suns play just on the other side of this stop as well! Other places of interest along the line include ASU, the Mill Avenue District, Central Avenue in Phoenix, several museums etc. etc.. Yep, times are a changin' in the valley. Come on along for the ride..

To Live, work and play, our great city is hard to beat! Tempe is very centrally located with easy access to light rail, our freeway systems and to the airport. Here, you will find some amazing housing opportunities, a great arts community, wonderful restaurants, great schools, lot's of different jobs, enthusiastic sports fans and a wonderful lifestyle in an amazingly convenient location that is close to many of the things our great state has to offer.

If you have any questions about the community of Tempe Arizona, please feel free to visit our web site at http://www.nickbastian.com/ or feel free to call us at 602-803-6425 or toll free at 1-888-343-6425.

Tempe Bargain at $92.5 Million?

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:23:26 -0500

I was a little surprised that SunCor decided to sell one of their two office towers at Hayden Ferry Lakeside to New York based Sumitomo corp. While some of the projects in and around the Mill Avenue District have been delayed, canceled or had different "financing issues" come up, the Hayden Ferry project is one that seems to have it all. Great location, great views, easy access to freeways, the airport and the upcoming light rail line etc.. The project is a wonderful mix of commercial and residential uses. The commercial building that has been sold has a decent tenant in Smith Barney. Several other high profile tenants include KPMG, MetLife and the new corporate offices of Fidelity National Title. Fidelity decided to lease the entire 11th floor, leaving the posh 24th / Camelback location for this awesome area. Believe me, the management group at Fidelity knows a thing or two about real estate. The $92.5 million price tag is a lot of money but given the demand for the area, the growth and excitement surrounding the Mill Avenue District and the future developments that SunCor has talked about in the area, this might end up being a great deal for all involved. These "New Yorker's" are not exactly new to town. In fact, they recently sold out of the Phelps Dodge Tower in Phoenix prior to picking up this trophy property along the Tempe Town Lake. If you haven't seen these buildings, they are worth a look. The following pic is one I took in the lobby of the Hayden Ferry building. The lobby was designed with a really cool nautical theme where you feel like you are looking through the hull of a ship. :-)

The lifestyle along Tempe Town lake and in and around the Mill Avenue District is changing drastically. This is a growing, vibrant community with excellent access to amenities..

To Live, work and play, our great city is hard to beat! Tempe is very centrally located with easy access to our freeway systems and to the airport. Here, you will find some amazing housing opportunities, a great arts community, wonderful restaurants, great schools, lot's of different jobs, enthusiastic sports fans and a wonderful lifestyle in an amazingly convenient location that is close to many of the things our great state has to offer.

Hey Nick, Why do you blog?

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:48:45 -0500

So, what is with this blogging thing, anyway? I began blogging about a year and a half ago. VERY slowly at first but it has picked up (slightly)as I learn more of the benefits for myself and for my clients. Yes, my clients. You see, I have never been a "writer." (many will attest to that) BUT, for the past 15" years, I have been a REALTOR. It is in my blood, it is what I do. Currently, the percentage of agents that have a blog is very small but I promise you, that percentage has begun to change. My clients benefit from my real estate endeavors in several ways. The more successful I have become, the more people I meet. The more people I meet, the better chance they will be interested in what I have to offer. Everything we do is geared towards providing the best information possible to customers, clients and consumers. Blogs help people get to know me, they help with search engine optimization and they help drive traffic to our web sites. It is easy to sit back and rely on the "old school" way of doing things but, it makes more sense (to me) to change with the times. Heck, many of our clients have no idea what a blog is.. That's ok too. We still rely on many other forms of communication and try to keep in frequent contact with them. Blogging just seems to create more opportunities to reach modern consumers. Everything is "Googled" these days.

In addition to the benefits of my business, I have made many friends while blogging. Some have been through the AZ Real Estate Blogging Network and others from reading other blogs, participating in social networks etc. I have met some great people and have learned a lot. Of course, I have a TON more to learn but it is time invested in my business. For me and for many business owners, blogging can be a great way to reach a whole new audience.

So.. I hope you don't mind if I occasionally ramble on, write about some of my favorite neighborhoods, talk about a house or two and just share part of my real estate endeavours.. One great thing about a blog is that you can click away if bored. :-) I hope you will stick around and maybe even check back from time to time..

If you care to follow along with some of my other ramblings, you can find me occasionally writing things on the following blogs as well. "Just Call Nick!" (.com) , Rail Life's blog , AZ Real Estate Blogging Network.. In fact, I posted a very similar article on our AZREBN blog recently but thought it might be fun to add it here as well. Thanks for stopping by to check it out! :-)

Gorgeous Gilbert Home on a large 1.25 Acre, Irrigated Lot!

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:16:01 -0500

Nick Bastian | Homesource Preferred Properties | 602-803-6425

2134 East Azalea Drive, Gilbert, AZ

Gorgeous Gilbert home on a large 1.25 Acre Irrigated lot.

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $550,000

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	2,648
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	54,252 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Don't miss this absolutely Gorgeous home on a beautiful 1.25 Acre irrigated lot with spectacular landscaping and an amazing pool! Great location, minutes from the 202 and tons of restaurants/shopping etc. Some of the great features include; Split floor plan, gorgeous fans/lighting, 10' ceilings tons of 20' diagonal set tile, Granite counter tops, plenty of storage and cabinet space, built in entertainment center, heated pool with waterfall, gas fire pit, raised patio are with flagstone paths/steps, large 3-Car Garage etc! PERFECT for entertaining with open floor plan and meticulous landscaping in the back. There is also approx. 13K SF of informal grass area (perfect for horse, shop or?) Even more pics, info and a map at www.2134azalea.com

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	High/Vaulted ceiling
Walk-in closet	Tile floor	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard
Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Irrigation Available

Horse Privileges

Very private

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nick Bastian

Homesource Preferred Properties

602-803-6425

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 19, 2008, 8:03pm PDT

Tempe property values and a good Transit System..

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:47:38 -0500

We all know that location is a big part of determining a properties "value." In today's paper, there is an article titled "Chandler may expand bus route from Tempe." Part of the article says.. "According to a transportation study released earlier this year, more than 60,000 people travel between central Chandler and Tempe every day for school, business, shopping or dining"

With gas at four bucks a gallon, many commuters are taking the bus or even biking to work. In communities where this is possible, I believe you will see much higher appreciation, in the near term than other parts of the valley. Back in December of 06' I mentioned my belief that with "the struggles and inventory issues of Queen Creek, Maricopa and some of the outlying areas, there may be a shift to properties with easier access to more centralized locations." Heck, way back then, gas was much more affordable too..

Tempe is well positioned to take advantage of peoples desire to be close to work, shopping, restaurants, sporting activities and the conveniences of life without having to spend a fortune getting there.

Our bus systems have been expanded with express routes running through the city. We have big buses, small buses and medium sized buses, the choice is yours.. There will be more changes soon to hook up to the new Light Rail routes. Next weeks meetings for the Tempe South Transit Study will discuss the future additions of more options through South Tempe. All of these changes should make it easier for people to get around if they choose not to drive a car. Given that, one would think property values in Tempe should do well as it is just another one of the many great benefits this city has to offer.

If you have any questions about the community of Tempe Arizona, please feel free to visit our web site at http://www.nickbastian.com/ or feel free to call us at 602-803-6425 or toll free at 1-888-343-6425.

Gardening - a new "trend" in residential real estate?

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:50:24 -0500

Funny how some topics tend to pop up in abundance every once in a while. For me, the topic of gardening has been raised by more than a few people lately. Recently, I spoke with some friends in Scottsdale that have been growing vegetables, herbs etc in their back yard. With the rising price of fruits and vegetables, it seems like they are probably not alone. The reasons for gardening can be many. From saving a few bucks to enjoying a hobby to doing your part in "saving the earth." My uncle is president of a local gardening club so I occasionally get to talk to him about what the "green thumbed" people are up to. A few days ago, I read a post by my friend, Chuck Willman titled "How Does Your Garden Grow" where I was introduced to a web site called MyFolia. This site appears to have a ton of good information about gardening that might be of interest to a lot of people.

The most fun gardening story as of late is my three boy's and their new fascination with gardening. I have enclosed a short video of them sharing in the excitement of our new garden with grandma. You see, my oldest boy saw some corn seeds at a store with my wife. This set off a series of discussions which ended up with me taking him to Home Depot to buy some soil and plants for our new gardening experiment. You know, it has been fun. I don't have the greenest of thumbs but I do love to watch the boys play in the yard. Maybe the boys are already good at spotting new real estate trends.. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, you know :-)

One of the comments on Chuck's post mentioned that someone was surprised things would grow here. If anyone wants to give it a try, we have all kinds of great properties available in Tempe. There are some great, established neighborhoods with large, irrigated lots where you could have your own little "farm." If interested in Tempe real estate.. "Just Call Nick!"

The Mom Song! Happy Mothers Day to all Moms!!

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:11:44 -0500

Today is a perfect day to share this video with every mom you might know. Along with the video, I want to send out a big, I LOVE YOU to my mom, and to my beautiful wife. There are many special moms in all of our lives so feel free to forward this to family and friends, it is sure to bring a smile to their face!

Pre-Paying H.O.A transfer fees? Another effect of the market..

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:01:17 -0500

For the last several months, we have been warning sellers that their association "may" ask to be paid BEFORE they will release their disclosure package and escrow statements to the title company. Traditionally, these fees have always been paid at closing. Some companies now want a partial payment, some more. When the title company attempts to order the escrow statement and disclosure package for the buyer, they are being told that either the entire amounts for disclosure and/or transfer fees or a portion thereof must be paid up front. The seller may either pay by credit card or e-check. This has the potential to delay the forwarding of the disclosure packages to the perspective buyers. In addition, in the case of a short sale or bank owned property, the title companies are having difficulties getting the seller to pay upfront. In some rare cases of bank owned or short sales, the banks will not allow the payment at all. So, seller's need to know that this could happen so that it will not be such a shock when we receive that dreaded call from the title company to request the payment up front.

This is just another effect of changing times in the market place. These poor associations must feel it isn't fair for them to have to provide this information if there is a chance they won't collect their ever rising fees. Doesn't seem too long ago that normal transfer fees were about $50.00. With charges of $300-$400.00 ( and more) for providing this information, one would think this is a pretty darn good source of revenue for them.

I'm Nick Bastian. I sell real estate in Tempe and the east valley. If you have any questions about our communities or would like housing information, contract help or a market evaluation, please feel free to visit our web site at http://www.nickbastian.com/ or feel free to call me at 602-803-6425.

The "wine train" is coming to AZ..

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:22:37 -0500

This December, when the light rail trains begin to connect Phoenix to Tempe and Mesa, riders will have all kinds of new entertainment options. Several of these options will have to do with grapes, as in wine bars! Although the Mill Avenue District hasn't ever been considered a wine lover's paradise, I can think of four wine bars that will be a short distance from the light rail stop at third and Mill. Of these four spots, only one is currently pouring wine but they do it really well. Cafe Boa is a long time Mill Avenue favorite and has recently won the 2007 "Award of Excellence" from The Wine Spectator for their "complete and well rounded wine list." If you haven't been there, you really are missing out! Later this year, PurVine will open in the new and exciting Centerpoint project that is in the heart of the district. I recently toured Centerpoint with the developer and was quite impressed with the entire project! (much more on their project later) PurVine will be an amazing place for wine lovers! In fact, I read that they will be a "fully functioning winery, minus the vineyard. The $1 million facility is split into thirds, with an intimate tasting room in front, a cooler stocked with barrels of aging wine in the center and a warehouse of 20 large metal tanks in the back." These same developers are also the ones that will develop the famous Hayden Flour Mill located just a few blocks away. Guess what, I've heard that it will also have a wine bar! Just a block North of there is the amazing community of Hayden Ferry Lakeside. SunCor development has done a remarkable job with this project that consists of top-notch residential and prime commercial space. In fact, there have been people give up the posh 24th St / Camelback address to move their operations to Hayden Ferry for it's amazing views and wonderful freeway and airport access. Last but not least, of my four Tempe examples will be located at Hayden Ferry within the existing "Romancing the Bean" space. From what I understand, they will add a wine bar for residents and business people to enjoy after a hard day at the office. I spoke with the owner and it sounds like the plans are in the works, it just might take a little bit of time. I'll have to drag myself back over there for lunch again soon to see if I can get an update.

Now, don't think Tempe is the only ones with grapes galore.. Phoenix will have a wine bar inside of the posh new "Hotel Monroe" called The Vault. Opening soon, I understand this chic and newly renovated boutique hotel will be a transformation of an old 1930's bank building and the old vault from the basement has been saved to be part of the bar. Another hot spot is Portland's Restaurant and Wine Bar which is located near the Central / Roosevelt light rail stop. I tried to meet a friend at Portland's for lunch yesterday at 12:30. Apparently, we were not the only ones in the area as we were told it would be a 45 minute wait! (Some kind of special event that particular day) I'll have to try it again another time.

So.. There you have a bunch of new places to try. Once light rail is in, it will be a pretty convenient way to get from downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe. Be safe, have fun and get ready to enjoy the new lifestyle that is coming to our downtown.. Cheers!

btw.. If you are interested in the housing options near any of these places, I have a list of some of them on our "Light Rail" site. You can also find more information on the Rail Life blog where I am a contributing writer. Take a look!

If you have any questions about the community of Tempe Arizona, please feel free to visit our web site at http://www.nickbastian.com/ or feel free to call us at 602-803-6425.

ASU Select a seat this Saturday!

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:16:00 -0500

I am loving this time of year! The Diamondback's are off to a good start, the Sun's are beginning their playoff games and we get an early look at the Devil's this weekend! If you are an ASU football fan, come check out the annual "Spring Game" beginning at approximately 12:30. (Gates open at 11:30) This is also an opportunity for fans to select their seats for the upcoming season. You are a Sun Devil fan, right?

Last year was pretty exciting under their new head coach, Dennis Erickson. It will be interesting to see where the team can go now that they have a full recruiting year under their belts. ASU has some exciting players returning from last year's impressive team. They should be fun to watch!

I'm Nick Bastian. I sell real estate in Tempe and the east valley. If you have any questions about our communities or would like housing information, please feel free to visit our web site at http://www.nickbastian.com/ or feel free to call me at 602-803-6425.

Villas at Alta Mesa - Gorgeous Gated Community

Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:14:15 -0500

Nick Bastian | Homesource Preferred Properties | 602-803-6425

5216 East Ivyglen Street, Mesa, AZ

Gorgeous Alta Mesa - Gated Community

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $240,000

Year Built	2002
Sq Footage	1,806
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	7,788 sqft
HOA/Maint	$106 per month

DESCRIPTION

Excellent location, for this wonderful gated community of single story residences. This gorgeous home sits on a large corner lot facing a greenbelt which is next to the community pool! Enjoy all that the beautiful Alta Mesa area has to offer. Some of the many great features of the home include; tons of ceramic tile, vaulted ceilings, large - island kitchen, tons of cabinet space, separate living and family rooms, recently replaced a/c unit (summer 07'), gas stub for BBQ grill in backyard etc.- Easy access to the 202 and 60 freeways, convenient to several golf courses including the beautiful Alta Mesa Country Club, excellent floor plan, great home for full or part time residence! Priced right, great features, great location. Please call us today for a private tour of this gorgeous home and neighborhood!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Stove/Oven	Laundry area - inside	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Swimming pool(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Nick Bastian

Homesource Preferred Properties

602-803-6425

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 3, 2008, 11:58am PDT