ARIZONA REAL ESTATE BLOGGING NETWORK

             Don't be left out in the cold!  

   

CHANDLER ARIZONA – NEWEST (and LARGEST?) MANSION

CHANDLER ARIZONA – NEWEST (and LARGEST?) MANSION

At 22,000 square feet, that’s a half an acre of house! 

This Oakwood Hills home will have 10,000 square feet of entertainment space including a billiard room, bar and lounge, a basketball court and showroom garages.  (Lane Bailey do you know this guy?) 

The yard is “going to have a real resort feel…fire coming out of waterfalls.”  There’ll be an 80 foot slide, some place in the one-half acre pool, and eight waterfalls.  How about a 400 to 500 square foot grotto?  A cave in the yard?  

Oh, did I mention the bowling alley?

Ed Hibbert, owner of Ocotillo Construction said, “If there’s a bigger house in Chandler, no one knows about it.”  

"It’s hidden away somewhere. In 25 or 30 years of building, I’ve never built a house this big.” 

I'm thinking this home isn't going to be hidden away anywhere... 

Being built on a $2 million piece of property, construction of the home will cost about $5 million and be completed in October 2009. 

James, who likes “to keep a low profile”, calls the location of his new home “a real hidden gem” and the “nicest neighborhood he’s ever been through."  James is 38, single and plans to entertain guests, in what sounds like the perfect place to do so.  (BTW, James is comparing his soon to be neighborhood to places like Malibu and Beverly Hills.) 

You can read the complete article in the East Valley Tribune. 

  
Oakwood Hills is a gated community near Chandler that boasts some of the priciest homes in the Valley. The lots circle an artificial pond, complete with an island and a flock of Canadian geese.  

Oakwood Hills is home to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and the former home of country singer Waylon Jennings.

Doreen McPherson

480.820.6688

HomeSmart International

Local Blogging Networking Group Starts

 

Our very own Candace Robinson, is starting a local networking group for bloggers, right here in the Valley of the Sun, AKA Metro Phoenix Arizona!  This group will be for all levels of experience, from ‘what's a blog?' to page one on Google. 

Candace, known for going all out on her ventures, has an all star cast lined up for the first meeting.  Our speakers will be: Paul (they jacked my post again) Slaybaugh, Teri (The Lady in Red) Ellis, Shailesh (The Arizona Mortgage Guru) Ghimire, and a Mystery (not to me) Guest named "TBD".  In addition, Jay (The Phoenix Real Estate Guy) Thompson (and we're hoping a future speaker) will be there, along with Nick (see me on TV) Bastian and more. 

This group is more than REALTORS® and Mortgage professionals, if you are a Home Inspector, Appraiser, in the Title business, in fact if you are any type of Real Estate Professional, you are invited to join us. 

Candace says, "For me blogging has become a major part of my business and success for my future. I have so much yet to learn and still learning on a daily basis, thus the reason to start a network, that will help me ‘Reach My Dreams While Helping Others Reach Theirs'!"

"Reach Your Dreams While Helping Others Reach Theirs!", just happens to be the motto Candace has chosen for the group.  Fitting, since her desire and goal for the group is for all of us to help each other learn and grow. 

We will be meeting will be at 9:00 AM, Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Paradise Bakery (yummy) located at the San Tan Village Mall in Gilbert Arizona.  For further details and directions click here.

Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, no matter where you are, if you are a Real Estate Professional in Arizona, please join us.  All are welcome!  Toby, that means your dad, too!

First time buyer, investor or moving up, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a home in the Valley of the Sun including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. 

Doreen McPherson

REALTOR^®   CNE^TM

480.820.6688 Direct

Arizona Real Estate Professional

SMART MOVE? I'D SAY SO.

In an email to agents, dated March 18, 2008, HomeSmart International announced the acquisition of Dan Schwartz Realty, Inc. 

I have looked at the Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune websites, and I'm not finding any articles regarding this.  I think this is big news and it doesn't surprise me to see the company growing. 

This is just part of what the email said:

In support of this ongoing philosophy, HomeSmart is very proud to announce the acquisition of Dan Schwartz Realty Inc., a company with more than 30 years of heritage built around integrity and a commitment to its Agents, its Clients, and the Community.  Since 1976, Dan Schwartz Realty has established itself as one of the Valley's largest and most respected real estate brokerages, with over 1,600 agents.  With this acquisition, HomeSmart will be home to more than 3,300 agents, making it the largest real estate brokerage serving the Southwest, and one of the largest real estate companies in the nation. (Emphasis added)

The email states both companies ‘share the core values of combining real estate expertise with groundbreaking technology and quality customer service', ‘we are in a superior position to address the diverse needs of our agents and our clients', and that ‘our agents and clients will have access to an array of support services and resources unparalleled in the industry'.

It goes on to say this will not change HomeSmart, but is meant ‘strengthen our business model and allow HomeSmart to continue to expand in a market where most of the industry is facing downsizing'.

Just in case you are wondering, I am excited about this.  Our company already does things differently.  Visit one of our offices - you will be met in the lobby by a virtual receptionist - on a large wall mounted screen.  A real person, located at the main office, greets you through a video connection.  Each office location has computers, conference space, copy and fax equipment.  Per the email, the plan is to open more offices in the Valley, which will make it even easier for our clients to work with us.  (current offices are in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Glendale)      

HomeSmart Real Estate opened in January of 2000 with two agents, by 2007 there were 1700 agents.  In addition to offices here in Phoenix, the company has Franchises outside the Phoenix area, in Arizona and California.  I believe there will be continued growth in the franchise area.  (the Phoenix Metro area is part of the original company.)

The following is from the HomeSmart International website:

OUR COMPANY

At HomeSmart, we take pride in making the home buying and selling process a little easier. With a commitment to ongoing education for our Agents, and the support and service they can rely on to do business, our Clients have bought and sold over 22,000 properties since 2002.

OUR MISSION

To provide a solid foundation for success through innovative technologies, continuing support, and a standard of excellence that encourages growth within business, relationships and the community.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We care about the needs of our Agents, and are committed to being a leader in the Real Estate industry. We strive to provide cutting edge tools, professional meeting and working environments, and efficiencies that empower our Agents to deliver the most effective services available to our Clients.

04.06.08 Edit: Here is a link to a short article that appeared in the Republic April 2, 2008.  (Thank you to Nick Bastian for the link)

If you have any questions about Phoenix Metro area Real Estate, please contact me and I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

Doreen McPherson REALTOR^®   CNE^TM

480.820.6688 Direct

HAS THE PHOENIX ARIZONA HOME MARKET HIT THE BOTTOM?

According to an article in the East Valley Tribune this morning, we may be very close, if not actually, at the bottom of  the market. 

Local housing analyst, R.L. Brown, who tracks new home permits for his market newsletter, said “We’re seeing really tremendous bargains in housing---better than we’ve seen in this marketplace for perhaps even a decade”. 

Brown also said, new home prices have started to stabilize and return to an affordable level. 

Pending sales of existing homes have increased, as shown in this graphic from RL Brown Housing Reports. 

The article ends pointing out we have some issues to deal with in the Phoenix market, one of them, the oversupply of homes in the valley. 

We still have a way to go, but I am glad to see more people will be able to afford a home now, compared to the market a couple of years ago. 

Read the entire article here. 

First time buyer, investor or moving up, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a home in the Valley of the Sun including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. 

Doreen McPherson

REALTOR^®   CNE™

480.820.6688 Direct

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6 on Sale Through Sunday January 27, 2008

I do not, as of yet, own a digital camera. BUT, I am definitely going to buy one. Soon. As soon as I decide which one. (and stick with my decision)

So, in preparation for that event, I purchased Adobe^® Photoshop^® Elements 6.

It is currently sold at the Costco store for $79.99, and with a coupon for $30.00 off,

I purchased this product for $49.99. (+ tax, of course)

If, like many Costco members, you did not receive the coupon book in the mail, you may go directly to Costco.com and purchase Adobe^® Photoshop^® Elements 6 with OnOne^® Essential 2 for $49.99. (+ tax, of course)

What is OnOne^® Essential 2? I’m wondering if I am better off going with the online purchase???

Or, is it possible it is disguised as a green sticker on the front of my box that says:

‘Includes

Bonus

Training Software

Tips & tricks to put

the finishing touch

on your photos’

Does anyone know what OnOne^® Essential 2 is?

Just in case you are wondering, Candace made this cool banner for Desiree with this software.

Remember, this ends 1-27-2008!

I hope this info is helpful to some of my fellow Rainers.

Have a great day.

Growing into the New Year!

I was going to log off to head out the door and noticed...

and since I am clueless about how to mark this with lines and arrows, this is what I am pointing out...

Have a safe and Happy New Year!  

The Untimely Death of a Cell Phone

I have a cell phone that, by technological standards, must be over thousands years old.

The way I figure it, techno years are a little like dog years, except one day equals one techno year. So, that makes my phone very old because I originally purchased it in July of 2004.

The only reason it stopped working is because I dropped it one time too many. But, it didn’t stop working when I dropped it. I tried to get my brother to glue it, but that never happened.

One evening I looked at it and thought to myself ‘I really need to get the numbers from this phone before it dies’. Evidently it didn’t like me talking like that. It died the next day.

             My phone.

Now I am trying to figure out what phone to buy next. Do I stay with my current provider or do I switch? How much should I spend? What do I really need?

Oh, I really would love to get the phone for free.

                                                What do you all suggest I consider?                  

Oh, if you don't hear from me for a while...

Next I'll be looking for a Tablet PC and a Camera! 

Moving to Phoenix Arizona? Beware

This mornings East Valley Tribune has an article about how to avoid shady moving companies and what to do if you think you may have fallen prey to unscrupulous movers. 

It's a look at one consumer and her unfortunate, but, not so unusual experience with an interstate moving company that tried to hold her furniture for ransom. 

The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures operates a program to counter such scams, but many consumers moving to Arizona from other states don't know about it and simply pay the inflated bill to get their furniture back, said Dennis Ehrhart, deputy director of the department.
"We only see the tip of the iceberg," he said, adding that such scams are becoming increasingly common.
"I've been with the department for 18 years, and prior to the last three years, I don't remember any of these cases. In the past three years, we've had about 90."

See the complete article to find out how ADWM handles this type of situation and saved this particular consumer $5,200.00. 

I have friends who have had serious problems with moving and storage companies, so my suggestion to all is to check carefully before you make a final decision on a moving company.

Thanks for reading and have a great week. 

Arizona Dept. of Weights and Measures - Moving Information - both inter and intra state

Protect Your Move USDOT site

ECLIPSE

Eclipse

There is a Lunar Eclipse taking place right now.  It will be visible to many of us. 

You will find a viewers guide on YAHOO.  Viewer's Guide: Tuesday Morning's Lunar Eclipse   It has a list times and what to expect. 

This is going to last a while, so you will have a chance to see part of it if you are able to go out soon.      

Hope you get a chance to enjoy it, if you happen to be awake right now.