Nick Bastian's Blog

New Tradition at an Old Tempe Favorite

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:13:40 -0700

Tempe’s Front Porch is a cool new place located in a tried and true Tempe, AZ favorite. Operating as kind of a second establishment at the famous Monti’s La Casa Vieja Steakhouse, Tempe’s Front Porch looks to serve a younger, more hip crowd that is also a very big part of Tempe’s Mill Avenue District. The grand opening of the TFP was yesterday and people seem to love the concept and the new food and drink additions.

Old meets new at Tempe’s Front Porch:
While Monti’s has been serving steaks, burgers, seafood and their Roman bread for decades, a completely different dining and bar experience is found on Tempe’s Front Porch, the separate outdoor dining destination at the Casa Vieja. Outside on the porch you’ll find a much more contemporary and urban menu. Try some Ahi Tuna Ceviche, Chorizo Deviled Eggs, Kobe Beef Sliders, bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates, short rib street tacos and more. They have a daily happy hour from 4-7pm with 5 for $5.00 food specials that are pretty tough to beat.

Like many of the watering holes along Mill Avenue, it’s pretty easy to find a cold beverage. At Tempe’s Front Porch, they have 13 different beers on tap, an extensive wine list, some great margaritas and specialty cocktails and a large whiskey menu that is pretty darn impressive.

Locals and tourists alike know Monti’s La Casa Vieja for it’s rich history, great food and completely unique atmosphere. While the unique dining experience has been around for decades, the Porch’s new urban dining and drinking experience are a welcome addition to the Mill Avenue crowd.

Tempe’s Front Porch is 2000 square feet of outdoor dining and bar space that seats up to 130 people, has table top seating along with large comfortable couches and chairs, multiple fire pits, a misting system, televisions and a nice view of Tempe Beach Park. Monti’s and TFP have ample parking AND are located very close to the Mill Avenue light rail station, so it is convenient for anyone to get to.

Take a look at the photos in the slideshow above to see the space and the menus. Get more information and updates about Tempe’s Front Porch by checking them out at Tempesfrontporch.com or by following them on Twitter at @TempePorch. They can also be reached at 480-967-7594 and are located at 100 S Mill Avenue in Tempe. ( at Rio Salado ) Just north of the Mill Avenue light rail station.

Cheers!

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Beautiful Lyons Gate Home For Sale

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:21:13 -0800

Lyons Gate is a really nice community in Gilbert, AZ. I like the location, close to freeways, the San Tan Mall, restaurants, shops, a great dog park and all of the conveniences people love about the area.

While many great homes are located in Gilbert, in today’s world of foreclosures and fix and flips, it is hard to find a home that has been lovingly cared for by its original owner. With the very low inventory of homes for sale, it has been rare to find really nice homes on the market. That may sound strange but, we just don’t have a ton of choices in the current market environment here in the south east valley.

For someone not interested in the uncertainty of a short sale or bank-owned home, this gorgeous, one-owner home at 1873 South Colt Drive in Gilbert could be exactly what you are looking for. Here, you will find a very clean, highly upgraded home that will be a great fit for anyone wanting to live in this great location.

Features and upgrades: 1873 South Colt Drive -

Three bedrooms with two full baths
1742 Square Feet of living space
Gorgeous tile and beautiful wood flooring
Huge kitchen with Cherry cabinets and 4 1/2” crown-molding
Beautiful Granite countertops in kitchen
Breakfast bar
Beautiful wood blinds and custom window treatments
Nicely upgraded fans, lighting and faucets
Pre-wired for security and surround sound
R/O and Water Softener system
Decorative screened security door
2 Car Garage with custom built cabinets and overhead storage racks
Covered patio
Gorgeous brick pavers in beautiful back yard
Professionally landscaped
Awesome floor plan

Neighborhood information: Lyon’s Gate

Beautiful open spaces
Playgrounds
Community pools
Basketball courts
Picnic areas
Tot lots
Easy freeway access
Close to the San Tan Mall
Dog park nearby
Close to MANY restaurants, shops etc.

This really is a gorgeous home, one that has been nicely upgraded and well maintained by the original owner. If you would like to see or learn more about this great opportunity to live in Lyon’s Gate, please contact Nick Bastian at Realty Executives.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

25th Annual Willo Tour

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:27:44 -0800

It’s easy to find people who love the Willo Historic District in Phoenix. And for good reason. Charming homes, great location and a lifestyle that fits people from many different walks of life. These are some of the reasons why the annual Willo Historic District Home Tour attracts thousands of people each year.

Many come to see historic properties that are nothing like the cookie cutter tiled roof, stucco exterior of some of our AZ neighborhoods.

For about $15.00, people flock to this self guided tour of Willo so they can peak inside these beautiful homes while walking the tree lined streets of this downtown Phoenix neighborhood.

This year’s Willo tour will showcase approximately a dozen homes. In addition to touring the homes, the Willo street fair will have food, music and so much more. Heck, even the people watching is worth the price of admission. It’s a really great way to spend a Sunday.

The next Willo Home Tour is Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Time: Tour open 10am-4pm ( pick up will call tickets starting at 9am)

Place: Willo! - McDowell to Thomas – 1st Ave to 7th Ave

Tickets: You can BUY TICKETS for $15.00 before the tour ( + $1.82 Eventbrite fee ) Last year, they were $18.00 on the day of tour so it’s a good idea to get them now. Ticket / Will Call are located at 3rd Avenue and Monte Vista. If you buy tickets online, you can pick them up at Will Call. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID to get your wristband, brochure and tour map.

Parking: Free parking is available at the Arizona Central Credit Union located at 2020 North Central Avenue. - 1st Ave and Holly.

Do you want to get there the easy way? TAKE LIGHT RAIL: Seriously, why would you try to find a place to park when thousands of other people are looking for a spot, too?

As we have said many times before, the light rail is a great way to get to and from the Willo Home Tour.

The proceeds from the tour benefit the Willo neighborhood, the park and the overall community. This is an huge volunteer effort that ultimately benefits Willo and the surrounding areas.

“A variety of homes from Tudor to Spanish Revival - Bungalow to Ranch style homes dating from the 1920's through the 1940's will be on tour.” – Willo Home Tour

Check out the Willo Home Tour on Twitter and on Facebook for the latest information, as well.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Agents And Sellers Should Check Data

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:59:39 -0800

I have had a few interesting discussions with buyers and with local agents in the past about the fact that not all data in the mls should be looked at as being 100% true or accurate. No, I’m not going to get in to the whole Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com thing, I’m talking about agent entered data. Things like rooms sizes can be a hot button for some and school districts can be another.

Schools… Here in Tempe, we certainly get a lot of people searching for specific schools. While the very most popular school search comes from students and parents looking for homes near Arizona State University. Obviously, we have many other schools in Tempe and we do get people looking at specific areas so they can enroll their children in other schools. Several web sites exist to show which school districts are located within our city and the information is available with just a few clicks of a button for anyone that has a basic understanding of how to surf the web. Unfortunately, when some agents are gathering data for their mls input sheets, they often look to the mls for information gathered from other agents working in the area instead of verifying it themselves. Here’s where it can get fun…

In Tempe, they announced the closing of a middle school in 2011. This past week, I ran comps for an out of state seller looking to sell his condo in Tempe. The results were interesting…

As I began looking at the mls sheets for all seven of the pending and recently closed units in this complex, I noticed that ALL of them ( there are no current active listings ) list McKemy as the middle school yet, McKemy Middle School has been closed.

Granted, not all of the different firms that represented sellers in this neighborhood are located in Tempe and, maybe they don’t read the paper, but this brings up an interesting discussion.

Check your data:

This is a text book example of how easy it is for an agent to just look in the mls and see what other homes in the area list as the neighborhood schools. It’s easier than actually verifying the information via the school district web sites, right? It certainly takes less time.

If the agent isn’t going to check the data, should the seller? I mean, you send your mls sheets to the seller, right? Don’t you think most of them would want correct data?

As you can see, the Tempe Elementary School map does not currently list McKemy as a school. ** Please note: this info can change, and there have been discussions about future uses for this closed school. if you see this in the future, let us help you verify the current info if you would like*

Certainly, we all make mistakes as no one is perfect. What I found odd here is the fat that seven different listing agents have the school information wrong. One of the pending sales is listed with an agent that was recently named “REALTOR of the year” by one of our local associations, another was listed by “one of the nations leading short sale teams” with a large staff of people working their files. I’m pretty sure that selling real estate in Tempe is similar to places all around the country. How are you checking your data? Do you use another agents information or do you check it yourself?

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Another Amazing Tempe Location - Regatta Pointe

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 06:14:18 -0800

If you are looking for a second to none location in Tempe, it is pretty hard to beat Regatta Pointe.

Regatta Pointe is surrounded by some of Tempe’s finest attractions and is located just west of Mill Avenue on the south side of the famed Tempe Town Lake. Within minutes, residents can enjoy the Mill Avenue District, Tempe Beach Park, the Tempe Center for the Arts, the Phoenix zoo, Sky Harbor International Airport, a leisurely hike up Hayden Butte and so much more.

Regatta Pointe is also just a few minutes away from Arizona State University.

This complex was built in 2002 - 2003 and was one of the early entrants into Tempe’s luxury condo market. There are 136 condominiums at Regatta Point within multiple buildings which have different mailing addresses. It can get a bit confusing to find a home here if you don’t pay attention to building numbers and the specific addresses. The northern most building at 425 W Rio Salado has some amazing lake, mountain and city views. (The two eastern and western buildings make up the bulk of the units.) Along the south side of property, facing 1st Street, there are some really cool live / work spaces with commercial space on the ground floor and living space above. All of the units have one or two car garages.

Some Of The Regatta Pointe features include:

Swimming Pool and Hot Tub
Fitness Center and Clubhouse
Picnic Area with Barbecue
Close To Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park
Beautiful Landscaping
Close to METRO light rail
Elevators
Gated Access
Assigned Parking
Bike Racks and Storage area

If you would like to visit any of the homes in the Mill Avenue District, or would like more information about the area, please feel free to call Nick Bastian at realty Executives. Nick can be reached at 602-803-6425.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe Ready For Another BIG Party

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 05:46:30 -0800

So, it’s almost party time in Tempe, AZ where the annual Tempe Block Party is always a sure bet for people looking to bring in the New Year while having a ton of fun.

A few changes are in store for the party this year. Unlike recent years, Mill Avenue will NOT be blocked off and partiers will not have to pay to get to the Mill Avenue District.

As always, there will be live music, dancing, a Family Fun Zone, fireworks and much, much more happening the entire night. At midnight and at 9pm, there will be a fireworks display. The 9pm fireworks will allow families and kids to enjoy bringing in the New Year.

The Family Fun Zone will include Emcees, DJs, music, dancing, interactive games and a ton of great entertainment from 6-9pm at 7th Street and Mill. Live local music begins at 9:30PM and will continue until past midnight.

Where: Mill Avenue District - Tempe, AZ
When: Monday, December 31, 2010
What Time: 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. ( or later! )

Bars, bars and more bars will be open for New Year’s Eve. Many will have their own parties and cover charge so check with your favorite place if you need specifics. One of thebiggest parties on Mill is sure to be the one where Handlebar Tempe and Canteen Modern Tequila Bar are teaming up with Fat Tuesday for a giant block party of their own. Madness will ensue, for sure. Some of the details they have posted are as follows:

$15 for VIP pre-paid ticket (includes entrance through VIP line and re-entry to block party until midnight)
VIP Fast Pass will be $40 the day of the event
7 bars, 5 DJs and 2 stages

Transportation and parking for the Tempe block party is easy. Just hop on the light rail and head to Mill Avenue! You can use one of the FREE park and ride lots and then purchase an all day pass to ride for just $3.50.

The map below will show the general area of the Tempe Block Party on Mill Avenue along with some of our favorite places along the light rail line to try. Just click on the link directly below the map to see the entire light rail line. If you want to make a whole night of the Tempe Block Party, you may want to look for a hotel near the light rail, just to be safe. :)

View Light Rail Drinks in a larger map

*Make sure you are aware of the METRO hours of operation during the holiday season. Here is what they have posted on their site as of 12/21/12:

On New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31:
-Valley Metro light rail will operate a weekday schedule with extended hours until 2 a.m. to accommodate event crowds.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe Getting Wild

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 06:20:14 -0800

With the constant buzz around the Mill Avenue District and the tens of thousands of ASU students in downtown Tempe, things seem to stay pretty active. Of course, we love our Sun Devil football team and are always looking to cram even more excitement in to the area. Apparently, Buffalo Wild Wings wants to try and capture some of that excitement as they have purchased the naming rights to what had been the Insight Bowl here at Sun Devil Stadium.

The 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will feature the TCU Horned Frogs and the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Kickoff for the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will be 8:15 PM MST, the game will be shown on ESPN.

Without a doubt, there will be plenty to do for Horned Frogs and Spartans traveling to the BWW Bowl. Mill Avenue has all that a traveling football fan could want or need without having to worry about being up to their waist in snow.

For fans traveling to the game, our light rail line is sure to be a big hit. For sure, there is plenty to do near Sun Devil Stadium and traveling to Tempe from Sky Harbor Airport is a breeze. A free shuttle will take Bowl fans from Sky Harbor to the light rail station at 44th Street and Washington. From there, Sun Devil Stadium is just a short distance. Your light rail pass costs just $3.50 and is good for unlimited use for the transit day. ( more info below )

A few ideas to consider for football fans heading to the Valley of the Sun would be to stay at a hotel near the light rail line and to learn how to use our Phoenix light rail system. If you do those two things, you might not even need to rent a car. Of course, there are many things to do while you are in town for the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Heck, if you are a Buffalo Wild Wings fan, you are in luck as there is a BWW right across from the stadium that will be hosting a tailgating party in their parking lot on game day. 705 S Rural Road, just north of University. ( close to a light rail station ) See the map below.

Sun Devil Stadium reflection at BWW Tempe

If staying nearby, it is easy for travelers to find some holiday cheer anywhere along the 20 mile light rail route. The maps below will help with finding a hotel or with finding a fun place to grab a beer, a cup of coffee or more. Of course, any football fan traveling to Tempe should be sure to follow RailLife on Twitter and to check out their Facebook page for more area information. Welcome to Tempe - we promise to help you learn more about having fun in our great town.

View Hotels near light rail in a larger map

Our “holiday cheer” map features a bunch of our favorite places along the line. For just $3.50, Insight Bowl fans can purchase an all day light rail pass to any of these destinations. Who knows… After you see how much fun it is around here, you might want to stay a while! :)

View Light Rail Drinks in a larger map

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

ASU Heads To San francisco

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:42:14 -0800

After a somewhat controversial start in becoming the head coach of the ASU football team, coach Todd Graham came in and did what many of the fans and boosters wanted. He beat UofA in one heck of a game down in Tucson. While a couple of wins slipped through the cracks, most people look at the year as a turning point in to a new era. The team seems to have much more discipline and focus and the term “In Todd We Trust” has been thrown around Tempe quite often.

Now that the regular season is over, the Sun Devils will play Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at 2pm ( our time ) on December 29th in San Francisco. The game will be shown on ESPN2. See more info on the ASU vs Navy bowl game on the Kraft bowl site or the official ASU Bowl Game info page at theSunDevils.com for tickets and details.

Here, coach Graham talks about heading to San Francisco to finish out the season with a win against Navy.

There was a rough stretch of 4 games when ASU played nationally ranked Oregon (4), UCLA(17), Oregon St(13) and USC for 4 losses in a row but the team finished with two regular season wins in a row. Beating UofA is always icing on the cake. The ASU football schedule for next year includes some tough matchups of division champions including a trip to Texas Stadium to play Notre Dame. For sure, the team should be fun to watch…

Game 1. W ASU 63 – NAU 6

Game 2. W ASU 45 – Illinois 14

Game 3. L ASU 20 – Missouri 24

Game 4. W ASU 37 – Utah 7

Game 5. W ASU 27 – Cal 17

Game 6. W ASU 51 – Colorado 17

Game 7. L ASU 21 – Oregon 43

Game 8. L ASU 43 – UCLA 45

Game 9. L ASU 26 – Oregon St 36

Game 10. L ASU 17 – USC 38

Game 11. W ASU 46 – Washington St 7

Game 12. W ASU 41 - UofA 34

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

New Entertainment District Coming To Mesa

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:03:59 -0800

So, if you hear “Entertainment District" in the news, what is the first thing you think of? For many, it has been bars and restaurants. In Mesa, they seem to be trying to make the point that they are “open for business” contrary to what many have thought of in the past.

Last week, the Mesa City Council unanimously voted in favor of creating the Downtown Mesa Entertainment District.

AZCentral ran an article titled “Mesa to pursue nightlife district” telling us that downtown entertainment district is basically a tool created by a new law that says cities can designate up to 1 square mile as an entertainment district where a state-imposed 300-foot buffer between schools and churches and bars / nightclubs would no longer apply.

From what I have heard, Mesa is targeting areas roughly bounded by Extension and Mesa Drive to the East and West and parts of University to Broadway on the North and South as being part of an entertainment or nightlife district. Call it what you want, this is just another in a long list of great moves by Mayor Smith and his people in a city that so many people had / have written off for dead. Oh yeah, all of the areas being discussed are right in the heart of where the Mesa light rail extension is going to be carrying passengers in a few short years. Can you say… “Economic development?!?”

“The Downtown Mesa Entertainment District is proposed to be approximately .75 square miles, or roughly 485 acres. It focuses on the urban core of downtown Mesa, includes the current light rail corridor, commercial areas and areas where development and/or greater densities are being encouraged.” City of Mesa

Mayor Smith has talked about the fact that many would-be businesses have passed on downtown Mesa as a destination to set up shop because they feared an environment where a liquor license would be impossible to obtain. This perception of the area is slowly fading and designations like this entertainment district will continue to help change the environment.

More To Come:

Places like Monsterland, a horror-themed restaurant and BAR in downtown Mesa and the nearby Desert Eagle Brewing Company are currently bringing in new dollars just like any growing downtown environment would hope to do. As new businesses head to Mesa to follow all of the college students that will soon be living there, it will be hard not to see some significant changes.

To be sure, there are several challenges and the area is far from perfect, but the decision makers in Mesa appear to be calling some savvy shots that are being heard far and wide.

For now, prices seem VERY reasonable in the downtown Mesa area. Check out the list of available properties near the future Mesa light rail extension below.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Gorgeous Optimist Park Remodel in Tempe

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:36:50 -0800

In Tempe, people often talk about the “aging housing stock” and the fact that it is hard ( or very expensive ) to find newer homes in the area. The fact that Tempe is basically landlocked is certainly one of the main reasons you don’t see many new housing developments. While we have a ton of awesome neighborhoods, there is currently a cool trend happening where people take the time, effort and resources to update their homes. I love it when we have the opportunity to showcase properties that have been remodeled in the Tempe area.

A Prime Example:

Optimist Park was built in the 70’s and is in a great location near restaurants, freeways, parks, shopping schools and more. Take a look at these photos from 1963 East Harvard Drive in Optimist Park. The home has recently been remodeled by adding new tile, new cabinets, granite counters, new doors and hardware, new sinks, lighting, base boards, fresh paint, plumbing fixtures, toilets, vanities, disposal, garage door, front and rear landscaping and more. Whew, that’s a LOT of updating. The floor plan was even changed a bit to add a beautiful kitchen island, open up the living area and to expand the bathroom so that double sinks could be installed.

If you have been looking for a nicely updated home in an Awesome Tempe location, take a look at 1963 E Harvard. The map below will show the location and give you a better feel for some of what the area has to offer. We think you’ll like it…

View Optimist Park Neighborhood Tempe AZ in a larger map

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Local Movement Alive and Well in Phoenix

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 07:59:46 -0800

My friend Kimber Lanning is one of the founders of Local First Arizona. Local First does an amazing job in helping people learn more about the benefits of shopping locally in our communities. In fact, Kimber often tells people to “keep your money where your home is.”

The annual Local First Arizona Fall Festival is this weekend in Phoenix and that’s good news for thousands of Local First fans around town.

The Certified Local First Fall Festival is all day family friendly fun for all ages. Thousands will flock to Portland Parkway near the light rail station at Central and Roosevelt to enjoy some of the Valley's best food, live music, fun and games, unique shopping, and the chance to learn more about the awesome “local movement” that is so important to our cities and our state.

This year, they have moved the festival to Portland Parkway in Downtown Phoenix, right next to the Roosevelt/Central light rail station! If you have not had a chance to take the light rail to downtown Phoenix for an event, you should do yourself a favor and hop on the bandwagon this Saturday to do so. The light rail map below will help get there, the easy way.

View Phoenix Valley METRO Light Rail Map in a larger map

While at the festival you can enjoy the $10 beer & wine garden, $1 food samples (larger portions also available for purchase) and tons of free activities for all ages. Can you say, “bounce house and rock climbing wall”?!?! There will also be a batting cage, craft booths, face painting and a ton of other cool stuff.

Take a look at the list of the local vendors, breweries, wineries, bands, & sponsors shown on their Fall Festival page for even more information.

Local First Arizona Fall Festival:

When: Saturday, November 10th, 2012

What Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Where: Portland Parkway, (just west of the Roosevelt/Central light rail station)

Why: Because it’s the coolest local festival of the year!

Watch and listen to the video below as Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona and Rick DeGraw from SCF Arizona talk about the event and about the importance of shopping local.

We often hear Kimber talk about the economic, cultural and environmental benefits of shopping local. Come to this year’s Fall Festival to learn more and to support a great organization.

From Kimber: "Saturday Nov 10th- 10 AM to 4 PM- seriously the best we've ever done. 75 vendors, TONS of great food, beers, wines, fun stuff for kids, live music- this is THE festival not to miss!! Come celebrate Arizona with us!”

I hope to see you there.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Another Awesome Tempe Location

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:21:26 -0700

Tempe Village is a an awesome, gated community located near Ray and Priest, just East of I-10.

Residents love the super convenient location and lifestyle of Tempe Village for many reasons. They love being just minutes from shopping, many awesome restaurants, great freeway access, Sky Harbor International Airport, major job centers and many outdoor activities like hiking, biking etc. Yes, some awesome mountain bike trails are just west of the freeway and just minutes from home.

Tempe Village is made up of 120 lots built from 2007 – 2011 with homes of approximately 2366 square feet on average.

The majority of the homes in Tempe Village are 2 story homes with 2-car garages, most do not have swimming pools which is rare for Arizona where pools are so common.

If you have looked around very much, you probably know that it is hard to fine “newer” construction in the city as it is mostly landlocked and mostly built-out.

While the older homes can be great, many people are attracted to Tempe Village for the newer style, the easy to care for yards, nice community park and the peace of mind that comes with living in a gated community. Busy professionals, ASU employees, families, empty nesters can all typically agree that living in Tempe Village offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a very active yet convenient lifestyle.

View Nick Bastian's Home search map in a larger map

With only 120 lots built in Tempe Village, there isn’t always something available for sale. Please feel free to contact us to be notified of any homes for sale in this beautiful community.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Want More Active Rain Points? Dizzle Is The Shizzle!

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:55:20 -0700

Without a doubt, Active Rain has built an amazing community and resource for the real estate industry. One of the draws has been the interaction and the POINTS. C’mon, you know you love the points, right?

I’m pretty sure I wrote my first Active Rain blog post in 2007. Surely, it was an amazing piece of work. After all, every beginning blogger knows their new post is something the whole world has been dying to read, right?

As a newbie blogger on Active Rain, I got comments, interaction and validity for my awesome work. Had I been on my own blog with no audience and with no traffic, that masterpiece may have been missed by the masses!

While points are a draw for some people, let’s face it, the “google juice” is far more important. In fact, points don’t pay the bills, leads do.

Check Out Dizzle:

Like Active Rain, Dizzle has a points system for using the site. Like Active Rain, the points are not necessarily the icing on the cake.

I’m not an SEO expert, but I have checked out Dizzle. Here are a few reasons why YOU should, too.

Increase web site exposure:
Get more Likes
Get more Links
Get more +1s
Increase your social graph…

See the video below for an example of what some people are saying about your “social graph.” You might be familiar with some of the people in the video…

Why would you want to increase links, likes, and +1s for your site? Well, that’s probably a whole new blog post waiting to happen. If you write your own blog or if you blog primarily on Active Rain, you probably want your content to be found. Add a link to Dizzle, request a like or a +1 from the real estate community and see what happens.

I’ve written a few blog posts and built a few web pages recently where I asked for some Dizzle love. Without a doubt, I have seen an increase in traffic from some of that interaction.

if you want to learn a little more, check out this great Dizzle blog post. After that, head over to Dizzle yourself and start getting your content and your AR posts more love.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Another Gorgeous Camelot Village Home For Sale

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:13:32 -0700

6722 South Martin Lane Tempe, AZ 85283 - Coming soon

Don’t miss this gorgeous home in the wonderful South Tempe neighborhood of Camelot Village.

Camelot Village is located just west of the 101 freeway and just east of the well known intersection of McClintock and Guadalupe Roads where a TON of great restaurants and shopping are just a short walk, drive or bike ride away. There is also a nice neighborhood park known as Stroud Park where you will find BBQ grills, a children’s play area, basketball court, soccer field and more. Directly south of the park is an amazing walking / biking trail that stretches for miles through south Tempe.

Features: 6722 S Martin Lane

Five Bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Two Car Garage

3078 Square Feet

Swimming Pool

Large Lot ( 1/4+ acres )

2 Car garage

Beehive Fireplace

Built in BBQ

Bay Window

No HOA – Awesome community with “voluntary HOA”

The map below will show the location of Camelot Village and will show you some of the great features of the community.

View Camelot Corner Tempe AZ in a larger map

This beautiful home sits on a 1/4+ acre lot, with a large grass area, beehive fireplace in back yard, built-in BBQ and so much more. Inside, you will love the large room sizes, the ceramic tile flooring, huge master suite, large pantry, gorgeous fireplace, wet bar, living room, family room, dining room and so much more.

For south Tempe living, it is hard to beat the location, affordability and lifestyle found in Camelot Village. Take a look today, this opportunity may be gone tomorrow.

If you would like more information about this gorgeous home at 6722 S Martin Lane in Camelot Village, please call Nick Bastian at Realty Executives.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Honor Pat Tillman in Tempe This Weekend

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:42:37 -0700

Pat Tillman was one of the most incredible athletes to wear Maroon and Gold. Tens of thousands of people proudly participate in Pat’s Run each year to honor this fallen soldier. Pat Tillman was tragically killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, and he defines a true American hero.

The 8th annual Pat’s Run at Sun Devil Stadium will be held this Saturday, April 21st 2012. The following information will get you to the event on time and will help you get there without as many parking hassles.

Pat’s Run:

Date and Time

Saturday, April 21, 2012
6:00 a.m. Expo and Kids Corner Open
7:00 a.m. Race Chair Start
7:05 a.m. 4.2 Mile Walk/Run Start
9:30 a.m. Pat’s Run Kids Run Start – .42 mile

Location

Sun Devil Stadium, Arizona State University Campus
Corner of Rio Salado Parkway and Packard Drive
(219 Packard Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85281)

Fees

Please register early as space is limited and Pat’s Run registration will sell out!

4.2 mile run/walk
$35 Early Entry Fee (November 11, 2011 – February 29, 2012)
$42 Entry Fee (March 1 – April 13, 2012)
$50 Race-week registration, if available (April 18 – 20, 2012)

.42 mile Kids Run (children 12 and under)
$5 Kids Run Registration Fee (November 11, 2011 – April 13, 2012)
$10 Kids Run Race-week registration (April 18-20, 2012)

Complete race information can be found on the Pat’s Run web site.

For convenience, you might want to take the METRO light rail line to Pat’s Run, there are two Tempe stations close to the starting line. The stations are probably 3/4 of a mile ( APPROXIMATELY ) from the stating line. Depending on where you park at ASU, the walk from the parking lot wouldn’t be much different. If you use the METRO park and ride lots, they are free and an all day light rail pass is just $3.50. Don’t forget to purchase your pass!

The map below shows the approximate route for Pat’s Run and it shows where the two closest light rail stations are located. (You can also print a copy of the route.)

You can also use this map of the light rail line and the park and ride locations.

View Pat's Run in a larger map

I’m looking forward to Pat’s Run and hope to see you there!

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

ASU Spring Practice Open To Public

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:20:05 -0700

So, ASU has a new coach and the word on the street is that they have much more discipline and a better work ethic. We are hearing good things about coach Graham and his first shot at Spring ball with the Devils.

If you want to get a look at the team, the ASU football spring practices are held at the Kajikawa practice fields in Tempe and are open to the public. Just don’t bring cameras or cell phones, they are not allowed.

Here is a schedule of the remaining spring practice dates.

March 27: 4-6 p.m.
March 29: 4-6 p.m.
March 31: 9-11 a.m. (Sun Devil Stadium).
April 3: 4-6 p.m.
April 4: 6:45-8:45 p.m.
April 5: 4-6 p.m.
April 10: 4-6 p.m.
April 12: 4-6 p.m.
April 14: 9-11 a.m. (Sun Devil Stadium).
April 17: 4-6 p.m.
April 19: 4-6 p.m.
April 21: Spring game, 1 p.m. (Sun Devil Stadium).

The 2012 ASU football season will be here before you know it. Grab some season tickets, it’s always a lot of fun to go to the games…

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Area Spotlight: SW Campus at ASU

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:00:02 -0700

Homes near ASU seem to be popular for many people. As Dr. Crow continues his quest to make ASU into a 50 Million student University, it seems like housing choices near campus continue to shrink as demand continues to rise. While we have several cool neighborhoods surrounding campus, I thought I’d talk about some of the areas to the South West of ASU.

While Maple-Ash and Mitchell Park seem to always get a lot of attention, you have neighborhoods like Gililland, Clark Park, Marilyn Ann and the Holdeman Neighborhood that deserve some lovin’ as well.

The Google map below shows where some of these neighborhoods are located near the SW portion of campus.

View Tempe Neighborhoods and Homes For Sale in a larger map

This map shows examples of home activity in the area. Poke around, it won’t hurt a bit!

For more information on other Tempe Neighborhoods or if you would like to see any of the homes for sale near ASU, please call Nick Bastian at Realty Executives.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Villagio in Tempe Heating Up

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:21:53 -0700

Wowza, home sales in Villagio have really heated up recently and prices seem to be jumping. As of today, there were two active listings along with 21 properties under contract. Recently, I’ve seen several multiple offer situations in Villagio.

If you are not familiar with Villagio, it is a very nice Tempe community of over 700 homes built by DR Horton in 2007. This gated community has 2 swimming pools and is located minutes from ASU, Tempe Marketplace, Mesa Riverview, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and so much more.

Villagio consists of floor plans ranging from 2 bedroom 2 bath to 4 bedroom 3.5 bath units. Each home at Villagio has its own private garage.

Soon, Villagio will be neighbors with “Wrigleyville West” which is where the Chicago Cubs will play their Spring Training games. Yes… Location, Location, Location.

Popular with ASU students, investors and young professionals, this area always seems to be of interest to owners and renters alike.

The map below will give you an idea of where Villagio is located and it’s proximity to two freeways..

View Tempe Neighborhoods and Homes For Sale in a larger map

For more information about homes in Villagio or any other Tempe homes for sale, please call Nick Bastian at Realty Executives. Nick can be reached at 602-803-NICK ( 6425 )

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Aloha Fest - Another Fun Family-Friendly Event in Tempe

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:00:13 -0800

This weekend brings another cool event to Tempe Beach Park, the Arizona Aloha Festival. Tens of thousands of people will head to the festival for good food, music, shopping and fun. This family-friendly event will give you a great taste of the islands, don’t miss it.

The photo below is one I shot at a previous Aloha Festival.

The AZ Aloha Festival provides awareness and education about Hawaiian and other South Pacific Islander culture and heritage. But, there is so much more! This FREE festival is fun for people of all ages and demographics. Great food, amazing culture, amazing arts and crafts and so much more. Each year, my family and I look forward to attending the Arizona Aloha Festival. My kids love the Hawaiian shaved ice, the dancers and all of the unique crafts, etc. I always enjoy the food, the atmosphere and the entire experience. It is one of our favorite family-friendly events at Tempe Beach Park.

Just like any of the events at Tempe Town Lake, getting to the Arizona Aloha Festival is easy. Just hop on the METRO light rail and head to the Mill Avenue Station. While some kids ride for free, there are reduced fares available for ages 6-18. ( 5 and under are always free ) The reduced fares are $1.75 for an all day pass. For most of us, and all day light rail pass is $3.50 and can be purchased at any station. You can use any of the FREE park and ride lots along the line and then head to the Mill Avenue Station to get to the Aloha Festival. The map below shows the area of the Tempe light rail station closest to the Arizona Aloha Festival at Tempe Town Lake.

View Phoenix Valley METRO Light Rail in a larger map

Feeling lucky? Enter to win one of two Hawaiian vacations! Raffle tickets are just $5.00 and you can get complete details on the AZ Aloha Festival web site. There will be a drawing for the lucky winner(s) on Sunday the 11th at 4:00pm.

What: Arizona Aloha Festival

Where: Tempe Beach Park

When: March 10th and 11th from 10am – 5:00pm

Why: For fun and to celebrate Hawaiian and other South Pacific Islander culture.

The 2012 Arizona Aloha Festival is a “don’t miss” event. Maybe we will see you there!

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe Elections Coming Up - Please Vote

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 07:16:03 -0800

If you live in Tempe, I hope you are aware of the election coming up on Tuesday, March 13th. As residents, REALTORS and business owners in our community, it is important that we elect people that not only love the community but have the leadership skills and business experience to ensure Tempe remains a great city and that we continue to improve upon the quality of life we love and expect.

In the race for Mayor I hope you will join me in voting for Michael Monti on the 13th. I have followed this campaign very closely and have attended several meetings with all three of the candidates. I have no doubt that Mr. Monti is the clear choice when comparing the qualifications of who is best for our neighborhoods, schools, business owners and all aspects of our city. Below is an article written by our current mayor and a city council member that are VERY familiar with the qualifications for the job of mayor. I think it’s very important to have the support of the business community and of people that understand how Tempe works.

Monti Is The Right Choice For Tempe
By Mayor Hugh Hallman and Councilwoman Onnie Shekerjian

Arizona Restaurant Hall of Fame inductee and Monti’s La Casa Vieja owner Michael Monti is unquestionably the right person to be Tempe’s next Mayor.

We convey this not to denigrate someone who has served on the Tempe City Council with us for years. We appreciate Mark Mitchell’s service. We do so because having watched Mark and Michael Monti in action we believe Monti to be the better choice.

Why?

First, leadership. Michael Monti owns and leads a Tempe landmark. He employs 100 people. He must balance a budget every day. Such business acumen would be a powerful addition to the Tempe City Council.

Second, ideas. Have you followed his campaign? We like to think we have run thoughtful campaigns for office here in Tempe. Well, Michael Monti may have eclipsed us. From innovative ideas like harnessing our community’s great volunteerism to aid neighborhoods and seniors, to banning texting while driving to organizing a public beach at Town Lake through private not public contributions, Michael Monti has put forth a bold agenda to, as he says,”take Tempe from good to great.”

Third, achievement. Monti owns the anchor of Mill Avenue. When you think about it, being a restaurant owner is pretty good training to be a mayor. You have to listen to customers and get it right or you’ll go out of business. Well, Michael and his family have been getting it right for 55 years. He helped found Local First Arizona, an important business group dedicated to supporting home grown entrepreneurs. He’s been endorsed by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. And his induction as the youngest member ever voted into the Arizona Restaurant Hall of Fame speaks volumes, as does his noble commitment to historic preservation.

When a candidate is this compelling, it causes one to respectfully decline support for those we have served with in favor of those we believe can serve Tempe better.

We believe Michael Monti is that person. But don’t just take our word for it. Compare Michael Monti and Mark Mitchell yourself. A quick review of Michael can be had at www.monti4mayor.com. We think you will conclude, as we have, that there is only one choice that has the ability and the ideas to enhance your quality of life.

Learn a little more about Michael Monti in the video below.

A partial list of Arizona leaders and organizations supporting Michael Monti include:

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman
Tempe Council Member Onnie Shekerjian
Barry Goldwater Jr.
Tempe Democrat and Former Council Member Barbara Sherman
Tempe’s first elected Mayor, Rudy Campbell
The Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery
Congressman David Schweikert
Former Tempe City Council Member ‘Hut’ Hutson
Former State Rep. Laura Knaperek
Tempe Democrat Carl Hayden
Former Tempe Councilman Joseph Lewis
Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane

Below, you will find some photos from the campaign trail. Take a look. Tempe needs strong leadership, we do not need a career politician, we don’t need outdated ideas. I strongly urge you to get out and vote for Michael Monti for mayor of Tempe.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe LOVES The Great Arizona Beer Festival

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:08:34 -0800

The 2012 Great Arizona Beer Festival is coming back Tempe Beach Park THIS Saturday, March 3rd. To get your Great Arizona Beer Festival Tickets. Of course, you must be 21 years old to enter the beer festival, no exceptions.

Tickets are currently $45.00 and they go up to $50.00 after Friday.

According to the Great AZ Beer Fest site: “VIP tickets include 24 sampling tickets for craft beer or wine (VIP area only), sampling mug, entry to "The VIP Experience” private seating area with catered food from Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, lounge and casino tables, VIP Only restrooms, early admittance (1pm), a free event t-shirt* and a gift bag.” Currently VIP tickets are $85.00 but they go up to $90.00 after Friday.

If you like beer, you will LOVE this fun event. Great food and music will be plentiful, as well. Once again, the Great AZ Beer Fest will be featuring OVER 200 BEERS on the shore of Tempe Town Lake! When attending the beer festival, don’t forget to pace yourself and enjoy some of the great food and entertainment while enjoying your day. Trust me.

For the latest information about festival, follow GreatAZBeerFest on Twitter or check out the Great AZ Beer Fest Facebook page.

As with any event at Tempe Beach we recommend taking the METRO light rail. It’s quick and easy and parking is a snap. Just hop at any one of the FREE park and ride lots and head to the Mill Avenue Light Rail Station. From there, it’s just a block north to the lake! Remember to buy an all day pass for the METRO, it is just $3.50!

On the light rail map below, you can see the Mill Avenue Station Tickets for the event are non-refundable, rain or shine. The good thing about rain and beer festivals? Shorter lines. :)

View Light Rail Drinks in a larger map

You can pre-purchase general admission tickets to the Great Arizona Beer Festival at several local venues. The following places are close to the Mill Avenue District for those of you that are looking for convenient places along the line to grab tickets before the weekend.

Dave's Electric Brewpub - 502 S College Ave, Tempe, AZ (480) 967-5353

Robbie Fox's Public House - 640 S Mill Ave, Suite 105, Tempe, AZ

**Please remember to drink responsibly and to NEVER drink and drive. After all, you want to see what’s in store for next year!**

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

FREE Trolley Takes Fans To Spring Training In Tempe

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:29:50 -0800

In Arizona, spring brings some serious spring training action to town. If you are a baseball fan in Tempe you can catch a ride to the action at Tempe Diablo Stadium via a FREE shuttle service courtesy of the Angels Spring Training Trolley.

Here’s the scoop…

Tempe is introducing the free Angels Baseball Spring Training Trolley, which will transport baseball fans to Tempe Diablo Stadium for each Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim home game. Beginning March 6 and continuing through April 1 on game days, fans will be picked up and dropped off at two locations in Tempe, the Mill Avenue District and Tempe Marketplace.

The trolley will circulate between the Mill Avenue District and the stadium every 20 minutes from 11am until 30 minutes after the game on game days. Pick-Up/ Drop-Off at: Mill Avenue Stop – Northwest Corner of Mill Avenue and 5th Street (in front of Lotions & Potions) Look for the 'Trolley Stop' Sign.

Personally, I’m looking forward to catching the shuttle and avoiding the parking hassles at the stadium. Well, I’m also looking forward to some baseball, a couple of hotdogs and maybe a frosty beverage, as well.

See you there.

*Flickr Photo by CWaterhouse*

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe REALTORS Invited To Meet Mayoral Candidate Michael Monti

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:30:21 -0800

Please join us for the Tempe Business Forum featuring Tempe Mayoral Candidate Michael Monti and Tempe City Council Candidate Dick Forman as we discuss the future of Tempe from a business owner’s perspective. Michael and Dick both understand that real estate agents are entrepreneurs and are interested in talking to them about their desires to continue to improve our neighborhoods.

As a business man, Michael Monti has employed hundreds of people and has been a very active participant in the community. Michael is also the co-founder of Local First! Arizona giving him a great feel for what business owners want and need to be successful.

In the city council race, Dick Foreman’s credentials and experience are more than impressive. Another community leader and consensus builder, he will impress you with his extensive qualifications.

Dick has been a tireless advocate for Tempe schools, businesses and the taxpayer. – Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman

Endorsements for Foreman and Monti have come from many residents, business leaders, current and past politicians, as well as from the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

Please join hosts and long time Tempe business owners Nick Bastian and Beth Roth as we bring Mr. Monti and Mr. Foreman to the Tempe Business Forum.

Potential topics of discussion will be: Economic development, improving our neighborhoods, transportation issues, the future of Tempe, and much more.

What: Tempe Business Forum
When: Tuesday, March 6th
What Time: 5 PM – 6:30 PM
Where: 1400 E. Southern Ave. Tempe AZ 85282
Who: Tempe residents and business owners

Tempe Business Owners For Monti

As almost anyone in Tempe knows, Michael Monti is the owner of the iconic Monti’s La Casa Vieja in downtown Tempe. Not everyone knows that the intersection where Monti’s building sits has some very interesting real estate related trivia. Come talk to Micheal about the unique real estate knowledge he has about his property and hear about his extensive dealings with city planning, zoning and other real estate related issues. Having earned a law degree and having taken the necessary classes to obtain a real estate license, Michael relates to our industry very well. If you live, work or play in Tempe, the Tempe Business Forum will be a great way to meet and greet two great candidates.

Tempe residents and business owners know that being different is not enough in today’s economy. We need people who are willing to work hard to bring our community together and to continue moving forward as we face tough economic decisions. Tempe needs leadership and Tempe is a place where the real estate community can come together to continue to build upon the great character that our neighborhoods provide. Please join us March 6th to talk with the candidates and to learn more about how we can all be a part of the future of our great city.

Find and RSVP to the Tempe Business Forum on Facebook: Please share with agents in your office.

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Tempe Talking Transit - Again

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:40:06 -0800

More than any other city in Arizona that I can think of, Tempe loves it’s transit system. From the bus system to the Orbit neighborhood circulators to the very popular light rail system, tens of thousands of people move through Tempe neighborhoods each day via public transportation.

While a thriving public transit system has some very clear benefits, they do not come without costs. Budget cuts, economic pressures and changing business environments can all play a part in the services provided.

There have been many studies over the past few years concerning the viability of the Tempe transit systems. Our residents can be very passionate about what should and should not be cut and how much fares are raised for these public services. Does the Tempe Streetcar make $ense? Will people pay to ride the Orbit system? Thankfully, there are public forums where you can get information about these issues. Take a look at the information below and and participate in the process.

Tempe to host public meetings about transit system

Tempe residents are encouraged to attend public meetings to learn more about potential changes to the Local and Express Bus Systems and the Orbit neighborhood circulator, including a potential Orbit fare. The purpose of these meetings is to get input from passengers on potential changes that may occur in July 2012.

These meetings are part of a three-year public involvement process to develop the service changes necessary to help address a forecasted budget deficit due to the slowing economy. The Tempe transit system is funded primarily by a half cent sales tax, which has dramatically decreased causing Tempe to reevaluate the transit system in order to reduce costs.

Tempe values its transit riders and strives to provide the highest quality and most cost effective transit service to the community. Oversight of these funds require regular evaluation of the transit system performance to ensure resources are properly allocated to deliver an equitable, cost-effective and fiscally sustainable transit program that works for our whole community.

Transit service proposals will be available for comment from Feb. 25 through March 29 at www.tempe.gov/tim

Public meetings will be held:

Feb. 25 at 9 a.m., Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe

Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.. Tempe Transportation Center Don Cassano Community Room, 200 E. Fifth St., Tempe

March 1 at 6 p.m.. Tempe History Museum. 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe

For information call (480) 858-2350 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!

Gorgeous Home in Twelve Oaks

Nick Bastian Tempe Real Estate Agent (Realty Executives) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:41:02 -0800

The Twelve Oaks area in Chandler offers location and lifestyle options that many people seem to love. Kyrene schools, easy freeway access, close to jobs ( Intel etc ) restaurants, shops and an awesome community park that is Mountain View Park. Check out this cool home at 821 South Terrace Court in Chandler, AZ.

Nick Bastian | Realty Executives | (480) 463-4514

821 S Terrace Ct, Chandler, AZ

Gorgeous Home in Twelve Oaks

5BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $260,000

Year Built	1993
Sq Footage	2,548
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	7,719 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Excellent Twelve Oaks Chandler location! http://nickbastian.com/821-terrace-chandler-az/
Very short distance to the beautiful Mountain View Park, minutes from Intel, great location!
This gorgeous home sits on a large corner lot and has been well cared for. The wonderful floor plan allows much flexibility with a great use of space. Downstairs you will find a large island kitchen, separate living and family rooms, a beautiful fireplace, one bedroom and a full bath. Upstairs you have a great loft space along with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The large master suite has double sinks, a large walk in closet and a separate tub and shower.Beautiful tiled floors in much of the downstairs space. The living / dining rooms have beautiful wood flooring. The large kitchen opens nicely to the family room where there is a fireplace as well as a large sliding glass door taking you out to the large covered patio. No HOA. Not a short sale or bank owned!
Call Nick Bastian today to view this gorgeous home. Nick can be reached at 480-463-4514

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Large Cul-de-sac lot

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Gorgeous Chandler Home	Large Family Room
Fireplace in Family Room	Kitchen and Family Room
	Island Kitchen
Large Living / Dining	Formal Dining
Huge Master bath	Huge Master Bedroom
Downstairs Bathroom	Awesome Neighborhood Park
Beautiful Park!
Tiled entry
bedroom / office	Bedroom 5

Contact info:

Nick Bastian

Realty Executives

(480) 463-4514

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 11, 2012, 4:14am PST

Nick Bastian is a Tempe real estate agent specializing in the South East Valley and can be reached at 602-803-6425

Nick also writes a "hyper-local" blog about the communities, events, businesses and homes near light rail in Phoenix, Tempe and in Mesa.
Follow Nick on Twitter and on Google+!