Arizona Home Prices Drop, Tucson Sees Smallest Decrease

It's no longer surprising to see updates on the local real estate market as headlines in the daily paper. In fact, it's seems unusual if we don't see at least one real estate headline each morning with our cup of java. The front page of today's Arizona Daily Star reads "Arizona home prices drop for the first time in 16 years". The large black print used in the headline makes a definite impact on readers; in fact in can downright intimidate some. A drop in home prices sounds scary and can instill fear into consumers at first glance, but once you investigate and understand the nature of the real estate market you'll find it's not so bad.

First, as everyone knows, the real estate market is like everything else in life; it's cyclical. Real Estate has it's ups and downs and that's what makes the world go round. Sure prices are down right now, but that's why we call it a Buyers Market. It's the perfect time for serious buyers to jump in and get a piece of the action. According the Tucson Association of Realtors sales statistics for 2007, the average home price in Tucson for July was $268,953, down 1.73% from the 2006 sale's price of $273,717. If buyers have money for a down payment and have strong credit, they can jump in and take advantage of some great prices and available inventory. Unlike in previous years, now most Sellers do realize that they must be open to negotiation if they want to sell their home.

Not too long ago the real estate market in Tucson was quite different. We must remember that we saw huge increases in 2004 - 2005. The average sales price in August 2004 was $205,014; the average sales price in August 2005 was $265,947. Quite the sellers market! During this time period everyone was buying, including investors. New construction developments and home sellers alike saw an influx of investors snatching up properties, which in turn lowered inventory and raised prices. Now many of these investors are trying to sell, and the demand is just no longer there.

Luckily Tucson housing prices fare better then several other Arizona cities.

As this report by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight shows, Tucson saw a smaller decrease in housing prices then the entire state of Arizona, and only Flagstaff saw an increase in home prices in the last quarter. Phoenix saw the biggest change in price, with -.46% decrease in the average home price. On a positive note, Tucson, with a -.07% price decrease in the last quarter, wasn't far behind the nation's .08% increase in price. In addition Arizona did see a 2.2% increase in the home sales prices over the same period a year earlier. Both Nevada and California, who rode the "real estate wave" with Arizona in 2004 and 2005, saw larger drops in home prices. California homes are down almost 1.4% from last year, and Nevada prices are down almost 1.5%.

It's expected that home prices will increase in upcoming months, but one can never be sure what the consumers response will be to the crash of numerous mortgage lenders. Tucson's Fall and Winter climate entices many consumers to buy in the cooler season when our city is at its best. The next few months will be very telling of what the consumer's thought process is. We'll anxiously await the release of November's third quarter real estate figures a get better idea of where the real estate market is headed.

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I Wasn't MIA, But My Computer Was!

Sorry for the shortage of new entries on my blog this week. Oro Valley had a power outage on Tuesday and somehow it zapped my computer into oblivion. Luckily the techs as Comp USA were able to retrieve all my info so I could load it onto my laptop. Unfortunately it looks like my desktop computer is no more. A big thank you to the guys at Comp USA though; they were backed up but still recovered all my info and had it back to me within 48 hours!

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A Meltdown for the "McMansion"?

I noticed an interesting article in Saturday's edition of the Arizona Daily Star and I felt the need to investigate. A committee leader in the House of Representatives has proposed that mortgage interest deductions be taken away for homes larger then 3000 square feet. Republican John D. Dingell, in charge of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is drafting a "carbon tax" legislation that would deny homeowners these write offs. The reasoning behind this is that large homes, or "McMansions" consume larger amounts of energy (electricity, heating, air conditioning, construction materials etc) then smaller homes and by eliminating the deduction there will be less demand for these McMansions, in turn reducing carbon emissions.

Needless to say that this proposed legislation is causing quite a stir in the real estate world. This possible legislation is being announced at a time when some consumers are already leery of buying a home due to instability of the mortgage industry and the economy in general. The mortgage interest rate tax deduction has always been a great incentive for consumers to invest in a home, whether it be their first home or upgrading to a larger one. Eliminating the deduction will cause chaos for buyers and sellers alike. The National Association of Realtors estimates that terminating this tax deduction will result in a 4% decline in the national median house price of all homes and potentially increase the rate of foreclosures in a market that is already saturated. But this legislation will also have a strong impact on the rental market. Since market forces drive the prices of rental homes as well and owned homes, ending the tax deduction will change the prices of all housing.

As we all know, the impact of this legislation if passed, will vary among families. We assume that most homeowners already know about the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID), and that they itemize their tax returns in order to get it. But how many homeowners actually take advantage of this benefit? I found some interesting information regarding this from the Joint Tax Committee. Below is a chart that provides data on exactly who takes advantage of the MID.

Benefits of the Mortgage Interest Deduction

The first column shows the fraction of itemized tax returns arranged by income group. Those in the lower bracket itemize very little while those in the higher itemize almost 94% of the time. The second column shows the fraction that use the Mortgage Interest Deduction benefit. Makes sense; if you don't itemize then you can't use the MID. The third column shows taxpayers' savings by group, as a result of the mortgage tax deduction, and the last column shows what percent of the taxpayers' total savings can be attributed to each group. Easy to see that those in the higher income bracket (and most likely the owners of bigger homes) will be effected the most by a termination of the Mortgage Interest Rate Deduction. Or will they? When you look at the following chart, you'll see that those homeowners in the higher bracket attribute less of their wealth to their primary residence.

Home Ownership and Wealth

When reviewing both charts it's interesting to see that though most of the of wealth for the lower bracket is in the form of housing, the Mortgage Interest Deduction is rarely used. It seems that those in the higher brackets attribute their wealth to areas other then their homes, which can leave them less effected by this potential tax change.

It will be interesting to see if the carbon tax legislation ever makes it passed the proposal stage. Similar proposals has been made in the past but never brought about because the deduction is so popular with taxpayers and it has strong support from the real estate, banking and construction industries. In the meantime I myself won't get too upset. We will most likely see nothing come out of this; the story will disappear (hopefully) into the recycle bin with the rest of last weeks news headlines. Just one more temporary stressor in the real estate world!

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Mortgage Industry Job Fair

It seems like each morning I look at the newspaper the business headlines are discussing more turmoil in the Mortgage industry. Last week First Magnus Financial closed its doors and laid off most of it's 5,500 employees nationwide. Of those, 700 were employed in the Tucson location, and all of these employees are currently looking for jobs. Each day it seems that another mortgage company has either closed its doors or it's wholesale mortgage unit. Even the heavy hitters are struggling. Just today the Arizona Daily Star reported that the nation's largest mortgage lender, Countrywide Financial, began laying off employees this week. We know that Countrywide has been struggling recently but it seems to be going from bad to worse. As Countrywide tries to survive the rocky credit crunch before the nation, Bank of America Corp made a $2 billion investment in the company to keep them afloat.

Luckily there could be some good news for those employees of First Magnus and other local mortgage companies that lost their jobs. A job fair aimed at unemployed mortgage workers is scheduled for Friday, August 24th at the Sheraton Hotel and Suites. The event is sponsored by Stewart Tile and Trust, the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women and the Southern Arizona Mortgage Lender Association. More then 50 companies will be involved in this job fair, and employees can interview for loan officers, processors, coordinators and underwriters. First Magnus will hold it's own job fair for former employees on Monday, August 27 at the La Paloma Resort and Spa.

It's evident that there is a lot of community support for those employees that have lost their jobs due to the mortgage debacle. Hopefully the majority of those attending the job fair will walk away newly employed!

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Tucson Wildlife; Always Exciting!

It's amazing the different wildlife you'll see on a typical day in Tucson. Just going out for a walk in the early morning gives you the opportunity to see so many different types of native animals. The local wildlife really seem to like our backyard in particular. Every year we have at least one family of quail living in a planter, and we currently have a rabbit making its home in another. Our yard also attracts lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. We have a LOT of landscape plants and a couple of waterfalls so the environment seems to attract all the desert critters, good and bad. This past Fourth of July we were walking home from viewing fireworks and spotted something running out of our courtyard. As we got closer we counted 14, YES 14 javalinas racing away after quenching their thirst in our front pond. Javelinas can be very aggressive, especially when they are with their young. Needless to say I now keep our courtyard gate closed!

This year was also exciting as we had a bobcat family make their home in our back side yard. Our planter was dense with Rosemary plants and other assorted vegetation so it made the perfect cover for their little den. Considering we had some extremely heavy rains, and they stayed under cover through the storms, I'm assuming that Rosemary plant is some strong stuff! Anyway, it was really difficult to get close to them; mommy was very protective and would growl fiercely when we came into view. I did get this picture out my back window as mommy was nursing in the early morning. The picture isn't very clear but there are 3 babies, and they were ADORABLE! Our morning entertainment consisted of peaking out the windows and watching the kittens as they explored the world. At one point they wanted to try out their climbing skills so they would claw their way up our stucco chimney. It was a very sad day when they learned to climb up and over the wall and disappear into the desert forever.

As I said before we always have quail in the yard. Usually they lay their eggs somewhere elevated off the ground so that predators can't reach them. This Spring a family of eggs were located in a potted plant on our patio. We watched daily as mommy quail sat on her nest, guarding her young from pack rats, snakes and other birds. When they finally did hatch, they weren't around very long. We saw them trotting down the street, single file as they looked for another home.

The "bad" critters I mentioned include a few pests that I could not get pictures of because they seem to only lurk at night. Packs rats can be a problem, as they leave little holes all over in a nicely landscaped front yard, spitting dirt onto clean sidewalks as the dig furiously. Still I'm an animal lover and they are cute, so I generally let them slide. Black Widows on the other hand, I dispose of as soon as I spot them. Black Widows love our yard for the same reason as the "nice" critters do, the waterfalls have lots of stone crevices for hiding. It's always a good reason to have a trusting relationship with a local exterminating company!

As you can see the desert is an exciting place full of interesting animals if you know where to look!

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Tucson Real Estate Then and Now

As Tucson celebrated it's 232nd birthday on Monday I began to think about how much growth the city has experienced in past years. In 1997 the population of Tucson was about 600,000; now it's over 1 million. The city has spread itself out in every direction, looking for new places to build and develop. The Tucson real estate market has followed that growth, and prices have changed drastically in the last several years. This is why I thought it might be interesting to research the real estate numbers from years past and see how they stack up against today's market. I decided that a ten year span of time might offer some interesting results, so I'm comparing data from the Tucson Real Estate market of 1997 to the first quarter of 2007. Many of the 1997 statistics are an average for the entire year, so the comparison won't be totally accurate as I only have 2007 stats up to July, but it's still exciting to see the progress and growth that the Tucson real estate market has seen in the last ten years.

Below is a comparison of the 1997 and 2007 Average Sale Price for a Single Family Residence, divided by area, in Tucson -

It's amazing to see how prices have changed in the last 10 years. When I think of 1997 I feel like it was just a few years ago. That must be my middle age mind failing me! In 1997 the Tucson average sales price of a single family home was $185,335. The 2007 first quarter average sales price for a Tucson home was $270,460. That's a 46% increase over the last ten years. As you can see in the chart above, several areas in Tucson saw a price increase of over 100%, with only two outlying areas showing lower prices gains. Darn them for bringing down the average! The areas with significant price increases have seen major growth in the last ten years, and new construction has played a big role in these areas. However, Central Tucson always sees a steady price increase as it consists a lot of housing that's close to the University of Arizona. These neighborhoods are a favorite for students who will pay a pretty penny to be close to campus.

Now to look at the national average of home sale prices for the same time period. The 1997 national average sales price for a single family home was $156,000, compared to the first quarter 2007 national average sales price of $260,300. That's a 67% increase in the national average sales price over 10 years. Though the average sales price for a Tucson home is currently higher then the national average, we haven't seen an increase over the last ten years that matches the national average.

Average Days On Market

Although right now it feels like homes are "sitting" forever, the average Days On Market is currently about 65 in Tucson, but homes are still selling quicker then in 1997! The average market time of a single family residence in 1997 was 77 days. Maybe those crazy interest rates of 1997 were scaring consumers away; as the rate for a 30 year fixed conventional loan was a little over 7% (Ouch!). Yet today some are frustrated over the current 6.23% average interest rate for the same loan.

If you are familiar with my blog you'll see that I include a comparison for 2005,2006 and 2007 in my monthly Tucson real estate sales statistics. In the future I'll occasionally include a comparison of past Tucson real estate sales from the prior decade just to see where we are headed. I'm keeping it light hearted and fun as there are already too many "no so fun" real estate statistics out there right now.

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More Mortgage Woes

Yet another mortgage lender has announced that they are pulling out of the lending industry. Capital One Financial Corporation announced today that they are halting residential mortgage operations at it's wholesale mortgage banking unit, GreenPoint Mortgage, immediately. The reasoning is recent and continuing developments in in the mortgage industry have reduced profitability for the company. Although GreenPoint will immediately stop making loan commitments, they will honor all current loan commitments.

Also cutting costs is Countrywide Financial, announcing today that they are laying off employees involved in loan originations. They layoffs are of employees in the Full Spectrum Lending Unit, which deals with Alt-A loans, or mortgages that are between prime and sub prime loans in which borrowers aren't required to documents income. Ironically less then two weeks Countrywide was hiring more loan officers from rival mortgage companies that were forced to close down.

It's going to be interesting to see how the mortgage industry's woes will affect the consumer and their decision to purchase or sell real estate. Let's keep our fingers crossed for those that are in home loan limbo right now!

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Happy Birthday Tucson!

Tucson Arizona is celebrating the BIG 232 today! Yes Tucson is officially two hundred and thirty two years old today (but we still don't look a day past 230!) and there's lots of celebrating going on.

It's hard to believe that Tucson was formally founded in 1775, about a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed! Tucson has a very long and exciting history that began with Hohokam Indians inhabiting the area at the first of the century. After suddenly vanishing, they were replaced by Pima and Tohono O'odham tribes. Then on August 20 1775 a Spanish explorer, Hugo O'Conner, established the site for San Agustin de Tucson, which is now known as Tucson. Nicknamed the "Old Pueblo" for a walled presidio that provided protection for travelers and residents, Tucson is the oldest continually inhabited settlement in the United states. And the rest is history. What began as a Native American farming community has grown and developed into a metropolis of over 1 million people.

Still today Tucson continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace. According to an analysis of 2006 US Census Bureau estimates , the city of Tucson ranked 32 in a list of the biggest cities in the nation, with a population increase of 6.5% since 2000. Affordable housing and a high quality life are just a few reasons that so many relocate to Tucson each year. Fine cultural offerings, unique restaurants, world famous resorts and golf courses and an array of outdoor recreational activities make Tucson an exciting community that earned the city a position as one of the top 50 cities in the US. Happy Birthday Tucson!

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New Oro Valley Arts Blog!

Just wanted to announce that I have created a new Blog that provides information about Oro Valley Arizona's great appreciation and dedication to the local arts! Oro Valley is one of the state's leaders in public arts projects, as 1 percent of every new commercial construction budget is designated for the purchase of public art. As fast as Oro Valley continues to grow, that means a lot of new art! There are amazing works throughout Oro Valley, but they can be difficult to locate if you're not familiar with the area. The Oro Valley Arts Blog is my attempt to make this easier for viewers by posting articles about the various pieces of artwork in Oro Valley and providing directions to each piece. I'm currently working to create an Oro Valley map that points to each piece of artwork so that readers can print a copy of the map and begin their art tour of Oro Valley. The Oro Valley Arts Blog will also include information about upcoming events in the art community, so make sure you check it regularly to see what new and exciting things are coming up. As always, feel free to post comments if you like, but most of all just enjoy!

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Another Tucson Lender Closes it's Doors

An unconfirmed memo was just released stating that Pinnacle Mortgage in Tucson closed it's doors at 1pm today. Another unfortunate turn of events for the Tucson loan market, as it's the second Tucson based lender in two days to close it's doors. Once I have more information or I find out this is true I'll post more. Read more!

End of First Magnus Has Widespread Effect on Tucson Community

The sudden halt of business for First Magnus in Tucson is having a significant impact on the Tucson community. As reported by the Arizona Daily Star, the majority of the company's local employees, about 700, will lose their jobs in the Tucson area, and local real estate agents and would-be home buyers are frantic to find new funding. Worse yet, the community will lose a major contributer as First Magnus has been a strong sponsor to Tucson arts, sports and community groups. For six consecutive years First Magnus has been the primary sponsor of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race, the city's largest participatory event with over 8,000 cyclists. First Magnus has also pledged $25,000 to sponsor upcoming events for UAPresents , the performing arts presenter at the University of Arizona. The company has been a visible contributor to University of Arizona athletics, and was sponsoring this weekend's Lute Olsen All-Star Classic , a fundraising and basketball exhibition.

Many local real estate and mortgage professionals don't expect this event to have a long lasting affect on the housing market as there are plenty of other lending sources available to provide loans. Still it will be more difficult for some Tucson home buyers to get loans. Those borrowers that plan on putting 10 to 20% down and getting fixed rates will have a better chance of getting the financing they are looking for, while those borrowers with less cash down may have more problems. The next few weeks will reveal a lot about how consumers are being effected and the impact it will have on Tucson's Real Estate market.

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Local Tucson Lender Halts Funding

As a result of the collapse of the secondary mortgage market, the Arizona Daily Star reported Tucson based mortgage lender First Magnus announced that they will no longer be accepting loan applications or funding loans as of Thursday morning. The retail arm of the company, Great Southwest, hopes to stay in business by brokering loans elsewhere. Unlike American Home Mortgage, who's downfall was attributed in large part to sub prime loans, First Magnus reported that sub prime loans were only a small part of their business. No other specific details were given as to reasoning behind the fall. This now all too common turn of events in the mortgage industry leaves numerous home buyers stranded and unsure of what their loan status is, as well as displacing a large number of the company's employees.

First Magnus in the past had described itself as one of the "largest privately held mortgage banking operations" in the country, lending to in all 50 states. In 2006 the company claimed more then 5,000 employees in 350 offices and it funded over $30 billion. The Arizona Daily Star reported that Magnus Funding ranked 61st in the Star's latest survey of Southern Arizona's 200 biggest employers, reporting more then 800 employees.

These past several weeks in the mortgage industry have caused a widespread panic throughout the nation. Other local Tucson lenders appear to be strong and have no fears of what the future market holds. Still the real estate market continues to be slow as consumers wonder what's in store. Is the explosive media attention to blame for this fear? I think to a certain degree yes. The on going focus on "everything negative" by the media has a strong influence on the consumers perceptions and choices. Still, those buyers that have strong financial backing have the perfect opportunity to use the slowing market to their benefit. It's just a matter of getting out into the market and taking advantage of what's out there.

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July 2007 Tucson Real Estate Sales Statistics at a Glance

Here's the breakdown for the Tucson Residential Sales Statistics for July 2007. As you'll see on the chart, sales prices have decreased slightly after a steady increase over past months. The average home sales prices decreased by 1.73% from $273,717 in July 2006 to $268,983 in July 2007.

Tucson Average Residential Sales Price - July 2007

Active listings dropped to 8,692, down 2.94% compared to July 2006's number of 8,955.

New listings dropped to 2,766, down 3.52% compared to July 2006 number's of 2,867.

Pending contracts were up 63.18% to 1,777 , compared to 1,089 pending contracts in July 2006.

Average Days on Market have increased to 65, up one day over June's DOM of 64. This number if never truly reflective of the actual days a listing is on the market but it can still be used as a gauge of what the market is like. Tucson's summer heat also tends to slow buyers down as they are reluctant to venture out.

Tucson Average Days on Market - July 2007

While all areas in Tucson saw a decrease in the number of homes sold, Northwest Tucson again saw a higher number of homes sold then the rest of the city.

Number of Listings Sold by Area - July 2007

Northwest Tucson, including Oro Valley and Marana, sold 2,081 listings and saw a 3.59% decrease in homes sales compared to July 2006. Northwest Tucson also saw the highest number of active listings, with 2,539, a 8.36% increase over the number of listings in NW Tucson for June 2007. The average DOM for homes in NW Tucson was 72, down 1 day from June 2007.

Central Tucson saw the second highest number of homes sold with 1,377, down 8.69% from July 2006. Central Tucson also has the second highest number of active listings, with 1,085, down 5.2% from June 2007.

The increase in Pending Contracts from July 2007 to July 2006 shows that buyers are actively in the Tucson real estate market to purchase homes. Although issues regarding the ability for some to obtain loans continues to wreak havoc on the real estate market across the country, those that are financially ready are taking advantage of lower homes prices and the sellers willingness to negotiate.

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Economic Development Finally Catching up with Oro Valley Population Growth

Oro Valley is slated for massive economic development in upcoming years as large retail centers are moving in to accommodate the town's continued rapid growth. Over 2 million square feet of space is currently designated among three main retail centers in the Oro Valley area, providing more variety for consumers and more sales tax revenue for the town's government. Although Oro Valley is just 6 miles North of Tucson, this planned development is welcome news for residents that want to shop locally rather then head into the city for more retail and dining options then are currently available. Oro Valley, made up of nearly 45,000 people, is not isolated by any means. Several grocery stores, including Safeway, Fry's, and Trader Joes, are located in Oro Valley, as is Target, Pier One, Home Depot, Pet Smart and Office Max. Still, retail shops and restaurants are limited compared to much of the city. All of these new retail centers are located off Tucson/Oro Valley's main North/South thoroughfare Oracle Rd, which provides easy access to those coming from the Catalina area (North) or the rest of Tucson (South).

Currently near completion is the Oracle Crossings Center, 260,000 square feet of space where tenants include Kohl's Department Store, Sprouts Farmers Market and Sedona Patio and Leather. Restaurant's include Carrabba's Italian Grill and Peter Piper Pizza.

Just up the road is Steam Pump Village, about 300,000 square feet, targeting home decor and furnishings. Current tenants are Studio C by California Design Center, Carpet One Floor & Home and Chili's Grill and Bar, while future tenants include Sunset Interiors & Design Studio, Steinway Piano Gallery and an outdoor amphitheater. Also under construction is a Wingate Inn, with completion scheduled for early 2008.

The largest of the new developments is Oro Valley Marketplace, which will consist of nearly 800,000 square feet of space. With Phase One expected to open in September 2008, tenants will include Cost Plus World Market, Linens' n Things, DSW Shoes, Best Buy and CineMark movie theaters. Restaurants will include Keg Steakhouse & Bar, BJ's Restaurant and Brewery and Olive Garden.

Other smaller centers are also planned, with most consisting of a mix of retail and office space. Springhill Suites by Marriott is slated to begin construction in October in the Mercado del Rio Center, just one block west of Oracle Rd. Springhill as well as Wingate Inn will offer great lodging alternatives from Oro Valley's pricier resort Hilton El Conquistador .

Although there is frusturation from many Oro Valley residents regarding a Wal-Mart Supercenter being an anchor store for the Oro Valley Marketplace Center, the overall consensus is that retail growth and development is welcome in the town. Oro Valley residents are excited about having more choices so close by, and all the opportunities that come with the development.

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Torino Ristorante is Oro Valley Favorite

Unfortunately Oro Valley isn't known for having great restaurants, but there are a few if you know where to look. Torino Ristorante Italiano is one that has a well deserved reputation in the community. Originally known as Cafe Torino, this tiny restaurant started out serving coffee and pastries in the morning and dinner at night with a maximum of 10 tables. As their reputation and business increased in the community, the owners purchased a larger space in the same retail center, and designated that as the new dinner restaurant while keeping the original space for breakfast and lunch.

Torino Ristorante is owned and operated by a family from Torino Italy, so as you can imagine all the recipes taste about as authentic as you can get. The restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, with dimmed accent lighting and muted walls with watercolor murals like you might find in a Tuscan restaurant. A small open bar is located at the back of the dining area, but seats might be hard to come by as Mike packs 'em in with his a reputation for being the best bartender in NW Tucson. On some nights there is live jazz, but there is generally soft jazz music in the background. Dress is semi casual, although almost anything goes. During the winter months and on weekends you will want to make reservations as they get very busy. Anyway, on to the food!

Whenever we dine Italian we always like to start with calamari. It's our favorite and if it's good then the rest of the meal tends to be good as well. Torino makes a great calamari, the batter is light and crisp with no taste of oil, just freshness. It's served with marinara sauce on the side, but I enjoy the calamari as is; it's just too good to cover the flavor. Squeeze on a little lemon and I'm good to go. The Bruschetta is also very good, and we've heard great things about other appetizers, but we've yet to try anything different yet. Always saving room for dessert!

I've ventured to try a few different entrees on my visits to Torino, and all have been terrific. The lasagna is always my favorite because it's a simple dish with a clean and rich combination of flavors. Ribbons of pasta and ground sausage are covered in the perfect blend of marinara and bechamel sauce, which is great for me as I tend to favor white cream sauces. The portion is not too big which is good because the dish is so rich. The Veal Osso Buco is also excellent, with tender meat that falls right off the bone. My husband's favorite dish is the Pasta Gorgonzola, and I have to admit it is incredible. I don't like anything that tastes similar to Bleu Cheese, but the creamy rich sauce and the slight bite from the Gorgonzola over fettuccine is perfection.

If you can make it to dessert I would go for the chocolate gelato. This creamy gelato is rich to begin with, but is then rolled in crushed chocolate which makes the flavor even more intense. Not enough chocolate? Well chocolate sauce is drizzled over the gelato, so it's about as chocolaty as you can get. My old stand by dessert is the tiramisu which is is quite good, but not the best I've had.

Torino has a great selection of Italian wines as well as a martini menu. If you are just looking for a beer or mixed drink they can do that too.

Service is very good in general, but on occasion it's been spotty. My husband and I like to enjoy our wine before dinner, so we tend to go when the restaurant is a little busier and the meal can be spaced out. If it's a slow night the service will be quick and you'll be done before you know what happened.

Overall you can't go wrong with dining at Torino Ristorante. Great food, great service and the perfect location in Oro Valley makes it the local hot spot that's not to be missed!

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Who Says the Desert Isn't Pretty?

First time visitors to Tucson are always surprised when they arrive and see how beautiful the desert really is. I must admit when I was on my way to Tucson for the first time I was expecting to see a dry, desolate land with tumbleweeds blowing across the roadway. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more surprised. Though Tucson is located in the Sonoran Desert, it's beauty is breathtaking.

During the driest parts of the year you'll see plants like brittle bush or ocotillo ornamented with bright yellow or orange blooms. Even native cactus thrive and beautify the dry desert scape. And once the monsoon rains move in, there's an endless rainbow of color. From July thru August you'll see Texas Rangers and Salvias blooming from the abundance of summer rains. It's a great time to watch hummingbirds and butterflies as they move from one meal to the next. If Tucson is lucky enough to have substantial winter rains, you will see a bumper crop of gorgeous wildflowers in March, April and May. So if you plan on visiting Tucson for the first time, be prepared for the unexpected beauty and color that the desert has to offer!

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No Slow Down for Tucson Luxury Housing Market

Though Tucson's housing market has seen a slow down in the last six months, resale and new construction luxury homes priced above 1 million continue to sell at a strong rate. From May thru the beginning of August, 59 homes within the Tucson area sold that were priced at 1 million dollars or more. The majority of these homes are located in North and Northwest Tucson, consist of home sizes ranging from 2500 to 8000 square feet, and are on 1 to 10 acres of land. The average days on market for these luxury homes was 104, compared to 62 days on market for home priced just under 1 million. A $4.95 million home sale, located in Saguaro Ranch, set the record as the highest home sales price in Tucson.

What draws luxury buyers to the Tucson housing market? Tucson's natural beauty and serenity are two big reasons. Many of these properties are surrounded by towering saguaros, the relaxing calm of the desert and are close to one of the many mountain ranges in the area. All this provides amazing sunsets and a sense of tranquility that's hard to beat.

Another reason more luxury home buyers are choosing to make Tucson home is the availability of fine dining, exclusive resorts, golf and upscale retail. As more stores such as Louis Vuitton and Armani make their way into Tucson, more luxury home buyers see Tucson as a city that meets their needs.

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When Desert Critters Come A Callin....

Maybe it's my imagination, but this has been one wet monsoon season for Tucson, and I've seen the critters to prove it! Tucson recorded 5.22 inches of rain for the month of July, and that's still only the sixth wettest July since records have been kept. Throughout the year most Tucsonans will see the occasional cricket or earwig (yes that really is an insect) scurrying across their floor, but when heavy rains make their way into the area, it's an insect free for all. On more then one occasion I've contemplated wearing a breathing mask for my morning run the day after a heavy rain so that I can breathe without inhaling a termite cloud. Understandably, desert natives like roaches, ants and scorpions head for higher and drier land when the ground gets saturated. Monsoon rains also increase termite activity. Local pest control companies have had a 20% increase in business as heavy rains flush insects from the desert floor. This is a good reason to have regular pest control treatments; it's better to take preventative measures before they become a problem. Also make sure to eliminate cracks around doors so that insects don't have a way in. And remember, these little critters are native to the desert and here to stay; just bear with them!

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On the Prowl

As I sat in my backyard enjoying my lone cup of java this morning I noticed our friendly neighborhood bobcat was making his (or maybe her) rounds. Actually once he saw me he decided to take a header right off the wall.

After you have lived in Arizona for awhile you begin to take these sightings for granted, but I thought I might post for those that aren't acquainted with Arizona wildlife. Most animals you run across in Tucson will avoid you with their life. You'll see bobcats and coyotes running across the road in front of traffic, or see a pack of javelinas cruising in one of the many Tucson washes for food. In some neighborhoods you can even spot a mountain lion or two lounging around a homeowners pool.

These critters generally run if they see or smell a human within 50 feet, so there's not a lot to worry about. They're actually fun to watch if they are going about their daily activities and don't know you're observing. A mama bobcat gave birth to three kittens in our back yard last year, and it was exciting to watch them grow and develop (through the windows of our home of course!) Still, it's always better to keep your distance from the animals you encounter. Wild animals generally fear humans, so by nature they will run from or confront a perceived threat. Mama bobcat was very unfriendly as she was protecting her young at all costs. Needless to say our back yard was off limits for about three months!

A general rule is avoid the desert wildlife as much as possible. Also remember that feeding any animals, including birds, draws larger predators. In the past I fed quail, which in turn drew the bobcats and hawks to the neighborhood. Now if I'm in the mood to see wildlife I visit the Desert Museum and see them in their native environment.

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Protecting Your Home From Monsoon Storms

As anyone living in Tucson can already tell you, the 2007 Monsoon season has struck with avengence. The season began July 8th with not much to-do, but mother nature has decided that she's let Tucsonans off easy the last few years and now she's trying to make her point! During the last two weeks Tucson residents have been submerged in heavy rains and practically blown away by micro bursts that have erupted in our city. A large number of Tucson homeowners have reported roof damage, flooding in their homes, loss of electricity, trees blown down in their yards, and some have even been stranded on top of their vehicles in the flooded roadways.

Though the monsoon season brings spectacular lightening displays and gorgeous sunsets, Tucson homeowners must take extra precautions to protect themselves and minimize damage to their homes that these fierce storms can cause. Here's a list of things you can do to protect your most expensive possesion from being ravaged by a Tucson Monsoon!

Roofing - If possible, climb onto your roof and inspect all seams, flashing and penetrations. If you have a tile roof it's wise to hire a professional roofing company to inspect as they are familiar with tile roofs and no how to avoid damaging tiles. Inspect and repair your roof in late Spring so that issues can be addressed before roofing companies become back logged in June and July. As roof leaks can become problematic quickly, take care of the "little issues" early and you'll save time as well as money.

Lighting - Most homeowners forget that lightening can cause severe property damage in an instant. New generations of surge protectors can prevent computers and other electronic equipment from being zapped by a lightening bolt.

Doors - Inspect all exterior doors before the rains begin! If you see gaps around doors, heavy rains can blow in and cause damage. Monsoon rains also drive in many of the desert creatures that like our dry Arizona climate. Just last night I found a "friendly" little scorpion had forged his way into my home thru the garage in search of a dry bed to sleep. Seal your doors early to prevent these guests from visiting you!

Trim Your Landscape - Though most newcomers expect a dry and desolate desert when visit Tucson for the first time, they're always surprised to find we have so many lush, green trees! Tucson homeowners should protect their trees from strong winds by "thinning out" the tops so that the wind can pass thru without causing damage. Many Tucson trees become top heavy because they are watered regularly. Occasionally trimming your trees and shrubs will keep them healthy and safe during summer storm.

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