One thing Arizona homeowners don't need to worry about

Both Arizona and Florida are considered retirement hot spots for snowbirds, and I've spoken with many home buyers that have had a difficult time trying to decide between the two. Here's one reason to choose Arizona!


It looks like East and Gulf coast homeowners are seeing increases in insurance premiums as insurers boost rates in fear of climate change and it's impact on hurricanes. The average cost of homeowners insurance in Arizona was was $635 in 2005; in Florida it was $1,083. Florida homeowners insurance has risen between 20% to 100% since 2004. Ouch!

Read about insurers raising rates over climate change fears

Read more!

Poll shows fewer people plan on buying homes

According to a poll conducted by the Associated Press-AOL Money & Finance, a growing number of Americans are stressed about the current state of the real estate market, and it's impacting their decisions about real estate purchases. Not at all surprising when we see that gasoline and food costs are continuing to climb, forcing many homeowners to make some cold hard decisions about what they can and can't afford.

Almost sixty percent of those polled in this survey said they definitely won't be buying a home in the next two years. More then a quarter of the homeowners polled said they worry their home will lose value over the next two years, and one in seven mortgage holders are afraid they won't be able to make their mortgage payments on time over the next six months. These statistics are pretty overwhelming but they say what everyone already knows; people are unsure and scared of what the future holds. Moving to a new home is a luxury for many, and with gasoline prices starting over $3 a gallon, it's a luxury that more people are putting on the back burner.

As everyone knows, real estate markets vary by area. Yes Arizona is seeing some tough times right now, but it's not as bad here as it is in much of the country. Though the average sales price in Tucson was down about 1% from February to March, home sales increased 26% over the same period. We're still seeing a high number of foreclosures; one in 264 Arizona homes received foreclosure notices in February. Many of those were investors that bought with the intention of "flipping" the property, financed most of the home's purchase price and are now stuck with an extra mortgage they can't afford. Some were borrowers that just bit off more then they could chew. Whatever the reason, the large number of foreclosures are slowing down the rest of the local real estate market. Until the inventory of foreclosure homes begins to shrink, Tucson's resale market will continue to drag behind what it once was.

Right now most of my clients are buyers searching for second homes, hoping to find a place they can eventually retire in. These individuals don't need to sell in order to buy, which is the perfect situation to be in. There's great inventory out here right now, with just over 2000 homes available in NW Tucson alone. It's a great time to take advantage of our local market and buy while many home sellers are willing to negotiate any deal they can in order to sell. Deals are out here if your persistent, and buyers are in the driver's seat

Read more!

What will they think of next?

Fresh out of today's Tucson headlines, check out the latest foreclosures in the comfort of a chauffeured bus! Creative minds hard at work.....

A local Tucson real estate group figured it's time to kick this sluggish housing market in the butt by starting their own "Foreclosure Home Tour". The Pepper Group Diversified Real Estate Co. is hoping that the tours will motivate buyers by showing them some of the great deals that are available. The tour provides a real mix of properties, from major fixer uppers to move in ready upscale homes.

According to the news article these types of tours are popping up all over the nation in an attempt to jump start the stalled real estate market.

Read more about the foreclosure bus tour

Read more!

Tucson home price declines not as significant as some

The latest report by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) shows Arizona home prices are dropping fast. Arizona saw a 1.21% decrease in home prices in the fourth quarter of 2007, and home values dropped an average of 2.4% for the entire year.

While Phoenix was hit hard, Tucson saw better numbers. The Phoenix metro area suffered priced declines of 1.8% for the fourth quarter and 3.42% for the year. Tucson home values saw a small increase of .31% for Q42007, and a minimal decrease of only .01% for the year. When you compare these numbers to each of the cities appreciation over the last five years, the decreases are really insignificant. Phoenix saw 82.76% appreciation and Tucson saw 71.65% appreciation since 2002. The national average for appreciation over the last five years was only 41%, so Arizona as a whole is way ahead of the game.

Although this report shows that the real estate market as a whole is suffering, Tucson fairs on the better end. Tucson is a destination city that draws in large numbers of new residents each year. Local homeowners that purchased before 2003 and plan to hold on to their homes for awhile should still see a large amount of appreciation (as long as they didn't max out that equity!) For those that bought during the real estate boom of 2003-2006 and had planned on selling in the next year or so, think again if you want a profit. 2008 is going to be a tough year for real estate, in Arizona as well as the rest of the nation. If you don't have to sell in the next year or so, DON'T! If you're patient and can ride out the wave you and your pocketbook will be much happier!

See the full OFHEO report regarding widespread house declines in Q42007

Read more!

Foreclosure rescuers; the latest scam

As if it's not bad enough that so many people are faced with the thought of losing their homes right now, it's even worse to hear that there are phony "bail out" companies taking advantage of homeowners that are trying to avoid foreclosure. Unfortunately "foreclosure rescuers" are popping up everywhere, preying on homeowners when they're at their weakest.


Foreclosure Rescue Management is the latest addition to these scam groups that trick needy homeowners into signing away their most precious asset. These companies approach struggling homeowners and tell them they can help them to avoid foreclosure by refinancing their debt. All homeowners need to do is sign over their home's title for a year while the company cleans up the debt. Problem is that during the year these companies sell the titles to buyers who in turn demand high rent from the original owners. When they can't afford to pay it, they receive eviction notices. Once homeowners have fallen for the scam it's almost impossible to get out.

It's really a shame that these companies are thriving right now, but what should we expect. In Cleveland over 20 mortgage fraud companies opened last year alone. Currently there are twelve states fighting back with new anti-fraud laws. Unfortunately Arizona is not yet on the list. Nothing worse then these bottom feeders in my opinion...

Read more about foreclosure scams

States fighting back against foreclosure fraud

Read more!

The problem with polybutylene pipes

I was out showing property the other day and came across a home that was in the process of having it's polybutylene pipes removed. Luckily the listing information had mentioned these repairs were being made so I had the opportunity to tell my clients about polybutylene before we entered the house.


If you're not familiar with polybutylene pipes, you're probably haven't lived in any of the Southwestern states. Polybutylene was a very popular type of plastic resin piping that was used for home plumbing systems in the "Sun Belt" states between 1978 and 1995. It was the material of choice in those days because it was cheap and easy to install. Problem is that several different factors can cause the pipes and their fittings to burst, in turn flooding your home and potentially causing mold. Chlorine and other chemicals in the water supply are the biggest contributors because they're known to cause the pipes to deteriorate, eventually causing leaks. Bad installation is another contributing factor.

Unfortunately there's not quick fix for a home that has polybutylene; the only remedy is to replace the pipes. It's really not a matter of "if" these pipes will burst, it's more a matter of when. Besides being expensive it's just a big hassle because plumbing companies must cut holes in various walls of your home to get access to the bad pipes. Estimates say that polybutylene pipes exist in anywhere from 6 to 10 million homes. I guess it's not hard to figure out that there are a lot of homes in the Tucson area that have polybutylene pipes. These homes tend to sit on the market longer because most buyers don't want to deal with them. Having a home inspection prior to buying is no guarantee that you'll know if the home has polybutylene pipes; some home inspectors have difficulty identifying them. You're best bet is to contact a local plumbing company that specializes in polybutylene replacement.

There are several sites that provide great information about polybutylene pipes

Everything you want to know about polybutylene (I'm not promoting the plumbing company, just their informative site!)

What you should know about polybutylene

Read more!

Rancho Sahuarita; a community with lots to offer!

Just helped a client purchase a new home down in Rancho Sahuarita and I thought I'd make a note about the community for those of you that aren't familiar with the area.

Rancho Sahuarita is a master planned community about 20 minutes South of Tucson off Interstate 19. Though Rancho Sahuarita consists of only about 3800 homes right now, the community should have about 11,000 when it's complete. Rancho Sahuarita is a popular choice with homebuyers for several reasons. Homes are generally less expensive then you'd find closer to Tucson, so you get more bang for your buck. Buyers can easily find a new construction, 4 bedroom/ 2 bath, 2000 sqft home priced in the high $100's or low $200's, so it's a really appealing area for growing families. Builders include Richmond American, Pulte, DR Horton and KB Homes. Most homes are two story and the yards are very small, but there's really no need for a big back yard with all the community amenities.

Rancho Sahuarita prides itself on the incredible number of amenities they offer in the community, hence their slogan "It's all in your backyard." This is one of the features that really attracts families and active adults. Besides the endless number of paved walking/running paths, there's an incredible fitness center with all the latest state of the art equipment, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball, and dance and aerobic studios. There are four pools located at the main clubhouse, including a lap pool and three "kiddie" pools with water slides and a water train. There's also several smaller neighborhood centers with pools scattered throughout the community. In the main clubhouse you'll find a sports bar with a billiard table and a big screen TV, which residents can reserve for private gatherings. One of the most popular features is the huge lake that's situated in the center of the community. The lake's a popular meeting place for neighbors and is used for fishing, sail boating and even a triathlon each Spring. There are a million other amenities that Rancho Sahuarita offers its residents; there's just too much to list so here's a link to the community's site.

Safari Trail at Rancho Sahuarita

Lake at Rancho Sahuarita

Though Rancho Sahuarita is located a bit South of Tucson, it's still a great location for those working at several of Tucson's largest employers, including Raytheon, University of Arizona and Davis Monthan Air Force Base. Since it's right off I-19, most driving will be on the interstate so it makes for an easy commute. This area was once considered a little isolated from services like shopping, but there's been a lot of growth, and a new Fry's Marketplace recently opened. There's more growth planned, with a new urgent care center and other retail development in the works.

To get more information about Rancho Sahuarita visit here.

Read more!

Check out the SAHBA 2008 Parade of Homes

I think everyone would agree it's just plain fun to look at other people's homes, but it's even more fun when the homes you're looking at are million dollar homes with all the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos. That's why my friend and I decided to check out the 2008 SAHBA Parade of Homes in Marana yesterday. The Parade of Homes is basically seven custom homes built by several of Tucson's finest builders, each displaying some of the latest concepts in home design, construction and energy savings.

The high end homes included in the Parade of Homes are all for sale and range in price from 1.5 to 2.1 million. There are several different home designs including Tuscan and Southwest Contemporary, and all are distinctly interesting and unique in their own way. I think visitors enjoy seeing these exclusive homes (that most could never afford) and taking some of the ideas to use in their own homes. It's hard not to look at all the professional decorating and landscape and not want it in your own home. There were some "interesting" design concepts that were a little odd to me, but it's all personal taste. One thing I was really confused about was the number of televisions in each home; I swear each property had at least five flat screens mounted on one wall or another. Who needs that many TV's, especially in the bathroom? I know it's just part of the show, but can we say overkill?


My personal taste drew me to the Tuscan style home built by Bauer Homes and the Old European design by JD Raney Construction (pictures of the Bauer home are above). Still there were a lot of neat features in most of the homes. I have to say if I had 1.5 million burning a hole in my pocket I don't think I would buy any of these homes, but I might build one using some of the ideas I saw. Another concept that I noticed in three of the home models was this "coffee station", which is actually located right off the master bedroom as you head into the master bath (picture below). This is one idea I would skip; it makes me feel like I'm staying in a hotel.

If you have the opportunity I would highly recommend visiting the 2008 SAHBA Parade of Homes before it ends on February 17. To see the Parade of Homes you head out to Dove Mountain and follow the signs to the designated parking area where you'll be shuttled to the home site area. Visitors pay admission here; the cost is $12 for adults, $10 for Seniors and kids under five are free

Read more!

Sluggish Tucson housing market means great home builder incentives

Recently I've been working a lot with clients interested in new construction, and it's amazing to see the impact that the sluggish housing market is having on local home builders.


The Commerce Department on Thursday reported that in 2007 new construction was down 25% from the previous year. That's the biggest drop in 27 years. In December alone construction fell by over 14% nationwide. As I've visited various new home sites in Tucson, it's easy to see the local impact. Many big name builders are laying off employees left and right, or consolidating home site offices to save money. On several occasions I've found that new builder home sites are cutting back the days and hours they're open to save money.

I've also noticed that several builders are desperate to sell. Certain areas in Tucson will always be stronger price wise, and certain builders aren't as flexible with pricing as others, but in certain areas there are great deals to be found. This week I've visited Rancho Sahuarita and found some incredible incentives with several builders. One builder site in particular is offering prices about $100K lower then what they were in 2005. For those of you that aren't familiar with Rancho Sahuarita, it's a master planned community about 20 minutes South of Tucson. It's really a great little community with tree lined streets, several clubhouses, pools, a huge fitness center and lots of other amenities. At one time the community felt somewhat isolated, but the addition of several new retail sites has helped the area tremendously. Home prices in Rancho Sahuarita tend to be lower then Tucson because of it's distance from the city. It's a straight shot North on I-19 into Tucson, so for those that work in Central, South or West Tucson, Rancho Sahuarita is pretty convenient location to live. The area is now saturated with homes for sale; the slow housing market has increased inventory and availability in Tucson so fewer people are considering Sahuarita.

As we all know, when the real estate market is hot, people will buy homes every and anywhere they can find them. When the market slows and there's a bigger inventory, areas that may be a little more isolated begin to struggle. That's when we see the great incentives and deals to draw buyers in.

Read more!

Arizona home inspectors rank higher then most states

Good news for Arizona home buyers! It looks like Arizona ranks third among states with home inspection laws, which means our laws regulating home inspections is much stricter then most states.

Each year the American Society of Home Inspectors ranks states based on their home inspection regulation laws. Ranking is based on criteria including experience, education, code of ethics and several other factors.

View the full report at the ASHI's position statement for Regulation of Home Inspectors

Although Arizona ranks high on this list, home buyers still need to be careful when selecting a home inspector. Arizona home inspectors aren't required to carry Error and Omissions insurance, liability or worker's compensation. Our state only requires that inspectors carry a $25K bond annually, which costs the inspector about $300 a year. E&O insurance costs about $3000 a year, so if your inspector has it, it's a good bet that he's experienced and has a good client base to support his fees. Protect yourself by making sure you find a home inspector that has E&O insurance, liability, worker's comp and a money back guarantee.

Experienced real estate agents have worked with a variety of home inspectors and may have their favorites, but it's wise to investigate a number of inspection companies rather then relying on a referral from you agent. You want an inspector that's going to be firm and point out every and any possible issue with your future home. Once you know what problems exist, what you do with the information lies in your hands.

Find a ASHI home inspector

What your home inspection should cover

Read more!

Tucson homeowners like their fake grass

A few weeks ago the Arizona Daily Star ran an article about the growing popularity of artificial grass with Tucson homeowners. Though the price can be expensive, many homeowners are incorporating small areas of synthetic grass into their landscape because it's easy to maintain and requires no watering.

If you're not familiar with Tucson or the rest of the Southwestern United States, you might be surprised to find that we don't have lush green lawns like homeowners in the Midwest or East Coast. The brutally hot sun and lack of water make it practically impossible to have real grass in Tucson. That's why homeowners in the desert Southwest generally use gravel and drought tolerant plants in their landscape. It's easy to maintain; just lead drip lines to your plants and turn on the timer. Incorporating artificial grass can add to the aesthetic appeal and make a desert yard more interesting. And, dogs love to roll around in it! It's pricey to have it installed; prices run between $7-10 per square foot depending on the type of grass you choose. Most types of synthetic grass last about 15 years, and the only maintenance required is spraying it off with a water hose. Make sure you really check out different variations; I've noticed some that look like the old fashioned "astro turf" and others that look like real grass. It's better to spend a little more and be happy with the end result.

Read more!

With Tucson rain comes problems for homeowner

The entire Tucson area was completely saturated with rain this past weekend, and though this will result in an abundance of colorful wild flowers in Spring, it can also create some annoying problems for homeowners.

The first thing I notice in my home after several days of rainy weather in Tucson is the bugs. Suddenly I find crickets everywhere, sneaking in through ceiling air vents or through my garage. I understand that heavy rains force them to find a safe, dry environment, but they can move into my neighbors house. Termites also become a big problem when Tucson sees excessive rain. Arizona termites aren't as aggressive as you might find in more humid climates, but they can be a pain if you don't control them. Usually homeowners will see termites pop up during our summer monsoon season, but the December rains we've been seeing are sure to bring them out of hiding. Just in the last few days I've noticed a larger then normal number of pest control companies treating homes.

Yet another problem homeowners are seeing right now are roof leaks. Only after heavy rains do we find those aggravating little leaks that we usually miss due to our mostly dry climate. Just today I had a neighbor tell me they noticed a leak after this weekend's rains and they were in need a roofing company referral. Unfortunately the company I referred is already backed up until mid January with other roofing jobs. That's one problem I encounter a lot when trying to schedule roof inspections or repairs for clients in the summer. Tucson monsoons can delay roofing repairs for weeks if not months depending on the amount of rain we get.

One problem that many new to Tucson don't expect to find is mold. Although it's not directly related to rain per se, excessive moisture is known to cause mold in Arizona homes. Mold can drift inside from the outdoors and grow on wood, carpet and paper if left untreated . Musty smells and water damage can be signs of mold, but it's best to have a professional inspection if you think you might have a mold problem. Luckily we have the Arizona Mold Dog that can sniff out mold in a flash! To find out more about mold in the home check out the Mold Information Sheet provided by the Arizona Dept of Health Services.

None of these problems are all that significant; it's a matter of catching them in time. Homeowners just need to keep their eyes open and fix the little issues before they become big and expensive.

Read more!

A wise investment for those with college students

Quite a few of my clients have been parents of University of Arizona college students, looking for housing options other then what's found on the campus itself. When you look at the cost of attending U of A, it runs about $2600 (Spring 2008) for seven credit hours if you're a resident. If you're a non-resident the price jumps to $8200. Ouch! When you think about adding housing costs to that total, it can be downright depressing for some parents. The cost of housing on campus can easily add up to more then the tuition, and apartments located around the university will run a minimum of $500 monthly for approximately 500 square feet of living space.

When you start to evaluate what you'll be spending over a four year period for dorm or apartment costs, it's easy to see why some parents decide to invest in a home for their children to live in while they complete their education. Below is a chart of some of the double occupancy resident halls costs; for the full list of fees visit 2007-2008 Resident Hall Rates

Looking at the chart you'll see that even the least expensive housing costs about $4200 for both Fall and Spring semesters. Parking permit costs start at about $300 annually. The full list of attendance costs can really be overwhelming.

Many parents and students I've worked with decided that instead of throwing money away in temporary housing, they'd invest in a Tucson property, gain equity while it appreciates, and teach their kids about buying and financing a home. Most buy homes with 3-4 bedrooms and find a few room mates to chip in on rent and expenses. Although the real estate market is in a slump everywhere, Tucson's housing market remains stronger then most because we're a destination city. We continue to grow rapidly due to the influx of retirees and college students. Our city also draws in a large number of workers that relocate here to work at any one of Tucson's top employers including Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson Unified School District, Honeywell Aerospace and Carondelet Health Network. This constant growth brings more home buyers to Tucson, and resulted in a 68% increase in home prices since 2000. Home inventory in Central Tucson is high right now, with over 1000 properties available. It's a great time to take advantage of competitive pricing and sellers that are willing to negotiate!

Read more!

Important factors for second home buyers

Just after the holidays is about the time I begin to receive massive inquiries from people looking for vacation/second homes in Tucson. It's not surprising that their interest peaks about this time of year; most of them are living in cold, wet climates and see Tucson's dry, mild temperatures as perfect for rejuvenation and relaxation. Whether you're looking for the haven you plan to retire in or a home where you'll spend your vacations, it's important to think about what features and amenities are important to you now as well as in the future.

Finding the "perfect" second home is no easy task, especially when you need to think about what your future wants and needs may be to ensure you make a wise investment. Although our personal tastes may change with time, we're generally drawn to communities that fit our lifestyle. Some of the most important factors to consider when buying a second home include -

Cost of living - It's amazing to see the difference in cost of living between cities. This difference can have a major impact on how much you enjoy your time in your new home. Make sure you review the cost of living to see if you can afford to live there while enjoying the lifestyle you planned so long for. Check out a cost of living calculator to see what you'll be paying in Tucson.

Weather - This is one area where Tucson stands out. We see 325 days of sunshine a year; who wouldn't love that? Still Tucson does see some hot weather that might not appeal to everyone. Even if you only plan on living in your second home part time, it's important to think about what the weather is like throughout the year. In the Midwest you'll see the occasional tornado and flood, and in Florida you might be prone to hurricanes. Besides being scary and inconvenient, these weather forces also impact your insurance costs.

Health care - If you're searching for the home you plan to retire in, access to adequate health care could be one of your top priorities. It's important to know if there are good hospitals, clinics, specialists and dentists in the area you plan to live, so research is key to ensuring you'll be close to the facilities you may need. The American Hospital Directory lists all Tucson hospitals and their locations.

Outdoor Activities - Are you the outdoorsy type that enjoys walking and hiking, or spending the weekend at the lake on your boat? It's important to ask yourself what your favorite outdoor activities are so that you buy a home that's close to what you love to do. In Tucson you can hike in one of our desert's beautiful canyons, coast on endless bike routes and paths, or spend the day playing a round on any one of Tucson's championship golf courses. During the winter you can even find skiing on Mount Lemmon. But you won't find any lakes close by! Before you buy, find out if the activities you love are close by so you can continue to enjoy them for years to come.

Active Social Life - If you enjoy having an active social life it's important to look at homes in communities that promote social bonds and togetherness. Active Adult communities are great for meeting and socializing with neighbors that share similar interests by participating in various clubs and organizations. It's also important to have easy access to amenities like restaurants, entertainment and shopping so you'll have more activities to share with your new friends.

Property Tax Rates - Property tax rates vary from city to city and state to state, and it's an important factor to consider before you buy.

Covenants - These rules and restrictions are passed on to buyers when they purchase a property, but you can obtain a copy before you decide to buy. They're common in almost every Tucson community, so it's a good idea to review the bylaws beforehand to see if there are any rules you don't feel you can follow. If you don't like the rules then cross that community off your list and move on.

Safety - This is one of the most important factors to consider when you're searching for your home. Too often buyers fall in love with a home and jump into the purchase without finding out anything about the neighborhood. Researching local crime stats helps you to know if you'll feel safe and comfortable in your new community, and it's also a predictor of future appreciation and resale potential for the home.

These are just a few of the things to consider when you're beginning your vacation/second home search. The all important first step is to think about what you enjoy in life and then find a place where you can live and continue to enjoy it. The rest is just some investigation, most of which can be done on a computer in the comfort of your own home!

Read more!

Strong builder incentives does not a good home make

First let me start off this post by saying I'm not a KHov hater! The information I found was strictly by accident; I got a laugh out of it so I figured I'd share it. Anyway, one of the local Tucson home builders, K Hovnanian, has been advertising a promotion called "Homes for Heroes", which offers a 3% discount to military veterans. I haven't been by the "K Hov" home site lately so I googled them to get more information, and was surprised by the search results that came up for this builder.

K Hov is currently building homes in Oro Valley and Vail, and is a popular builder due to their competitive pricing. The Somerset Canyon community in Oro Valley is nearly complete, and they've began building in the Torreno community as well. The incentives being offered on some of the homes are great; I know one individual that backed out of an existing contract with another builder to buy a K Hov inventory home because the deal was so good (a little crazy IMHO). So I was surprised when I googled K Hov and found some of the first web results to be individual sites protesting the builder. As a real estate agent I'm familiar with the various builder's reputations, but seeing some of these sites made me laugh. In the top three search results I found http://www.khovsucks.com/ , which appears to be an aggravated K Hov home buyer that's lashing out at the world. It doesn't have a lot of substance but it's kind of funny so I would advise checking it out anyway.

The second site I found in my K Hov search results was a consumer resource site called Not-KHOV.com , and it's goal is to warn potential buyers about K Hov construction and business practices. There's some interesting info on this site as well.

My goal here is not to bad mouth K Hov, but to advise home buyers to really check out a home builder before they sign on the dotted line. Sometimes builder incentives seem like they're too good to pass up, and builders count on people seeing their beautifully decorated models and buying emotionally. Just remember that no matter who the home builder is, there's a good chance that at least a few buyers are going to have some problems with their homes. You can't expect perfection, that's why home builders offer warranties on their products (although sometimes those warranties are pretty worthless). I found a site called Homeowners for Better Building , and it provides some nifty info about different home builders and consumer complaints against them. It might give you some idea of builder reputations, but take the information with a grain of salt. The best way to find out who's reliable is to ask around. Most homeowners know who the best builders are in their town, and real estate agents should know this information as well.

Read more!

Tucson vs Albuquerque; the comparison continues

Last week I made a "brief" comparison between Tucson and Albuquerque. Nothing too detailed, but I noted that I would add more specific information so here it is. This time I'm focusing more on the city stats and next week I'll discuss the housing market so that individuals trying to decide between the two will have a better idea of what they'll find in each city.


Tucson and Albuquerque are really very similar when you compare the two cities. Each year Money Magazine rates US cities and provides some great statistics, so I'm including some of these in chart form since it's usually the easiest way to make a quick comparison.

The first chart compares stats like population, taxes and job growth -

The second chart compares quality of life -

A comparison of leisure and culture (as you'll notice Tucson has more bars, due in large part to their popularity with University of Arizona students)-

Finally a comparison of weather -

As you can see both cities share a lot of similarities. Although Tucson is bigger and has more amenities, our median family income is about $10,000 less then Albuquerque. Still our taxes and auto insurance are lower then theirs!

Next week I'll compare the housing market between both Tucson and Albuquerque. For more information about each of these cities visit the city stat snapshots for both Tucson and Albuquerque at Money Magazine.

Read more!

Tucson real estate; it's a buyers market!

Tucson's real estate market slowdown made front page news this morning in the Arizona Daily Star. The article discussed Tucson's current housing market , the advantages that home buyers have and the disadvantages that home sellers face as a result of our market slowdown. Tucson's real estate boom in 2004 and 2005 brought increased home sales to areas NW, SE , SW and South of the city, but these communities (Gladden Farms, Vail, Sahaurita) are now saturated with homes that just aren't selling due to availability of more properties closer to the city. On top of that the resale market is struggling to compete with new home builders that have excessive inventory and rock bottom prices.

The increased amount of home inventory had led to a steady increase for Tucson homes' Days on Market. Below is a map courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star, that shows the average days on market for a Tucson home per area.

Average DOM per area in Tucson

It's a frustrating time for Tucson home sellers that hope to sell quickly and take advantage of the market slowdown. The average days on market for a Tucson home is 73 days, with areas like NW Tucson seeing an average of 84 days because of the high number of homes currently listed. As of September Northwest Tucson had over 2400 homes listed for sale, twice the number of homes listed in Central Tucson, and more then three times the number of other areas.

The article in the Daily Star includes some great maps that provide Tucson real estate statistics by area; make sure you check them out. Find out more about Tucson's current real estate market Now may be the best time to buy a house

Read more!

Basements a growing demand in Tucson and Phoenix

It seems that basements are becoming a popular request with some Arizona home buyers, and a Phoenix builder is offering this option to meet the growing demand. Scottsdale-based Maracay Homes has been building homes with basements in Phoenix for about four years, and they started offering basement homes in Rancho Sahuarita last year. Home buyers that request the basement option are usually from parts of the country where basements are standard, like the Midwest and Northeast. The cost of a basement option is high; between $80K to $100K on top of the base home price. Why so expensive? If you've ever tried to plant anything in the Arizona soil then you'll understand why; the ground is full of caliche and rock, making it impossible to dig. It can literally take an hour to dig a one foot deep hole, depending on what the soil is like in your yard. That's why landscape companies are so popular in Arizona; they've got the right kind of tools to take care of the job.

I'm originally from the Midwest and I was never very partial to basements myself. Too many flashbacks to my family hovering under the stairway as the tornado sirens sounded, me with a box of RITZ crackers and my dad with a transistor radio....

Find our more about Tucson homes being built with basements

Read more!

Just being Philosophical / The Importance of Good Neighbors

Just a note regarding my personal thoughts on the importance of being happy in your neighborhood. I organize parties and events for my own neighborhood and this weekend we had a community BBQ in front of our house. As we all relaxed while enjoying our conversations in the cool Tucson temperatures, I realized how much I value my neighbors. It also made me think about the many homeowners that underestimate the importance of getting to know their neighbors. So many just go on with their daily activities, not waving to "Bob" next door as they pull out of their driveway each morning. They don't realize the impact a good "community relationship" can have for them personally or when it comes time to sell their home.

When you ask someone to list the five things that are most important to them in choosing the right home, living in a "good neighborhood" is usually on that list. What's considered a "good neighborhood" is all relative. Some families feel that a community with lots of children and top rated schools makes a good neighborhood. Others feel that having a home located close to restaurants and shopping in downtown Tucson makes a good neighborhood. I think it all depends on your current stage in life. Before I was an emotional buyer and it was all about the pretty kitchen and mountain views, but now that I've been in my home awhile it's become about so much more. Now I look for the potential to build relationships with those living in my community.

This weekend gave my neighbors and I the chance to sit down and discuss what's new in our lives. I really enjoyed hearing about Ralph's newest grandson and Bob and Sue's next trip. My husband and I have created a lot of special bonds and many of our neighbors feel like family to us. I mention this to various friends or clients and most are amazed that we like to spend time with our neighbors. Many comment "It must be nice to like your neighbors" or "I wish my neighborhood was like yours". I take it for granted now, but I think that our close knit community draws some home buyers in for this very reason. It's as simple as a resident waving to a potential buyer as he drives by or a buyer seeing neighbors casually chatting in their front yard. Whatever "it" is, it's enough for a potential buyer to say "Wow, this seems like a nice neighborhood. This is where I want to live."

Now I know there are lots of neighborhoods that aren't the friendliest and you can't change who your neighbors are. There are some people that just may not want to be friendly. But you can smile and wave when you see them. Maybe all it takes to create a friendly neighborhood is someone willing to break the ice.

Read more!

Moving to Tucson? Food prices higher here then national average

If you currently live in Tucson then you already know this fact, but if you don't and are thinking about moving to Tucson, it's important to know that food costs are higher in Arizona. According to a study done by the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation, our state's food prices have increased about 15% over the last nine months. One reason is the high transportation costs for food products like eggs and beef that need to be transferred in to Arizona. When comparing the costs of sixteen basic grocery items like eggs, white bread and pork chops, Arizona's prices were about $6 more then the national average.

For more info on the Tucson food cost comparison visit AZ's "marketbasket" is $5.87 higher then U.S. average



For more information about Tucson food costs and a grocery store price comparison visit Tucson Foodies

Read more!