July Festivals and Events in the Phoenix Area

The Phoenix area and its surrounding communities host lots of annual festival and special events.  Here are just a few, for a full list and detailed information, visit phoenix.about.com.

Latin Rhythms Festival
Live music, wine tasting, food sampling at Kokopelli Winery & Bistro. Downtown Chandler.  July 18 – 20

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Free Concerts
July 6, 13 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. in Scottsdale. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a variety of music. Train and carousel rides are available throughout all concerts for a small charge.

Monsoon Madness
July 12 in Queen Creek. Inflatable bounce-houses, water slides, dunk tank, the Queen Creek Mud Pit, and more. 

Starry Safari Friday Nights at the Phoenix Zoo
Select zoo trails will be open as will gift shop and snack bar. Animal encounters, water play activities, carousel rides and more. Bikes and boats available to rent.

Summer Concert
July 12, 19, 26 All concerts are free and start at 7 p.m. Held at Kierland Commons Plaza.

Summer Splash Festival
July 19 Family-friendly day of water-related activities, with water slides, dunk tanks and cyber maze water tag. Aqua-Tots will be on hand to give free tot swimming lessons. There will also be arcade games, food and entertainment. Free admission. Historic Downtown Chandler.

Win a Dream Home from Taylor Morrison

Enter to win your dream home at tmdreamhomegiveaway.com inspired by the recently unveiled Innovations Dream Home at Disneyland in Anaheim, the contest is sponsored by Taylor Morrison, a homebuilder with numerous communities in Arizona, Florida and throughout the Southwest.  The winner will choose a Taylor Morrison home in one of the builder’s communities and participate in the design and selection of high-tech amenities.  Registration in online through August 20.

Downtown Living in Phoenix! Stunning 3 Level Corner Townhouse $585,000

DOWNTOWN LIVING! Sleek & Contemporary 3 Level Corner Townhouse. 1st level spacious office & half bath. 2nd level living room, dining room, fireplace, kitchen, half bath & 2 balconies. 3rd level 2 master suites each with walk-in closets & balconies plus full size laundry. Kitchen features granite tile counters, SS appliances and high-end gas range. Designer window treatments and ceiling fans in all rooms. Hardwood floors on 2nd level and plush carpet on 3rd. 2 car garage. Community pool and gym. 1 block to light rail and walking distance to all that downtown has to offer! Minutes to airport, seconds to I-10. Pet friendly neighborhood. Don’t wait – this one won’t last!

More info and pics.

June Festival and Events in the Phoenix Area

The Phoenix area and its surrounding communities host lots of annual festival and special events.  Here are just a few during the month of June, for a full list and detailed information, visit phoenix.about.com.

Big Boys and Their Toys
Classic cars, collector cars, RV and off-road, boats and sports cars, and lots of other toys at the Phoenix Convention Center.   June 14, 15, 16 .

Firebird International Raceway Summer Spectacular
Robosaurus makes his only Arizona Appearance. Jet Cars, Funny Cars, fireworks. 
June 21.

Grand Canyon State Games
Olympic-style competition in judo, weight training, baton twirling, table tennis and more. 
June 19-22.

Jazz in the Garden
Friday evenings starting at 7 p.m. Enjoy listening to a variety of jazz styles under starry skies on the Garden’s beautiful Ullman Terrace. Gourmet picnic dinners, bar, wine tasting for an additional charge. Desert Botanical Gardens. Tickets must be purchased. Ticket price includes admission to the garden.
Every Friday evening in June .

Miss Arizona Pageant
During the last week of June you can see some of the brightest and most talented young ladies in the state compete for the Miss Arizona crown. The winner will get to represent Arizona at the Miss America Pageant. June 19 – 21.

Starry Safari Friday Nights at the Phoenix Zoo
Select zoo trails will be open as will gift shop and snack bar. Animal encounters, water play activities, carousel rides and more. Bikes and boats available to rent. Every Friday night in June .

Check Commute Costs Before Buying

When you’re stuck in traffic, you have time to think.  Should I have left home earlier?  How bad will my commute be in five years?  Would life be easier and cheaper if I found a job someplace the roads aren’t as crowded and the homes aren’t so expensive.

These are all things you should consider when buying a new home.  Always do a trial commute during rush hour before you make an offer on a home.  Time the ride and estimate your gas consumption.  If you’re thinking about taking public transportation, price out the weekly expense.

As you size up neighborhoods, take the time to figure out whee you will worship, buy groceries, go to the movies, enroll the kids in dance class or pick p an extra gallon of milk.  Is bus or rail service available, even if only as a backup for days when your car is in the shop?  Will your children be able to ride bicycles to the pool, or does a six-lane highway make that too dangerous?

It’s easy to underestimate your total transportation budget when you househunt on a quiet Sunday afternoon.  And misjudging your travel needs can derail your after-purchase budget.

Source:  Elizabeth Razzi, The Arizona Republic 6-8-08

Rent a Vacation Home and Save

High fuel costs and a shaky economy aren’t causing all travelers to cancel their summer vacations, but they are prompting people to look for ways to stretch their dollars.

One way of getting more for your money: hit the Internet to find a vacation rental instead of a hotel room, gaining space and possibly saving a couple of bucks. 

Renters have a variety of sites to consider when looking for a rental: Zonder.com, VRBO.com, CyberRentals.com and craigslist.org.

Here are three ways travelers can ensure they’re getting the best rental:

• Ask for more photos. While many of these Internet listing sites offer several photos of the property, you may want to ask for more of them 
• Ask specific questions. Ask the owner for recommendations of nearby supermarkets, where to get breakfast, the proximity to area attractions or any other features you’re interested in 
• Do more investigating. Web tools such as Zillow.com can give you an idea of the property’s value, and Google Earth can help confirm the area’s surroundings. 
• Know what is included. Some rentals provide necessities such as linens, others don’t. Know exactly what is provided so you’re not caught off guard when you arrive.

Full Article

Source: Amy Hoak, The Wall Street Journal, 5/25/08

From Hotels to Your Home ~ Fine Furniture and Accessories

Looking for designer quality on a dime?  Then head to the IRCA Hotel Services showroom and warehouse where you can comb the aisles for some of the best furniture bargains in town.

You can find everything from tissue boxes, flat-screen TVs, comforters, drapes, carpets, mattresses and headboards to lamps and framed artwork.  All from the hallways, suites and lobbies of luxury resorts, such as the Bellagio in Vegas or Marriott’s Camelback Inn Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Paradise Valley.

What: IRCA Hotel Services
Where: 2620 E Greenway Road, Phoenix 602-787-8478; 1360 W. Southern Ave., Mesa 480-615-7200
When: Hours for both locations are 9am to 6pm Mondays and Saturdays and 9am to 8pm Tuesdays through Fridays.

Source: Susan Felt, The Arizona Republic 5/24/08

New Financing Guidelines for Anyone with 4 or More Financed Properties

Effective August 1, 2008 Freddie Mac will NO longer allow financing where a borrower owns more than 4 financed properties, the previous number of properties allowed by Freddie/Fannie was 10.  This is a significant change and will impact anyone who has 4 or more financed properties.

If you or someone you know owns more than 4 properties (including primary residence, 2nd home and investment properties) it is important to immediately consider the following:

 1. If you own more than 4 financed properties and any of your loans are on an adjustable rate you have a 30-45 day window to get those loans refinanced to a 30 or 15 year loan.  If you do not do this now you will be stuck with an adjustable rate loan indefinitely.  If the terms on your adjustable rate are not good then you need to refinance now.

2. If you are looking to purchase a property you need to do it now!  If you already own 4 or more properties and are looking to purchase a new one and wait you will find it much more difficult to obtain financing and will most likely encounter higher rates and greater down payment requirements for using a bank that does not follow Freddie Mac and Fannie Maes guidelines.  

These new guidelines will have a huge impact on many of us as we build our investment portfolios.  If you have any questions, need to refinance or buy a property before the deadline, contact me right away at Maria@SolerEnergyProperties.com or 602-366-5073.

Krispy Kreme is Back in Arizona!

After a long hiatus, Krisy Kreme reopened its store on Superstitions Springs Blvd. in Mesa.  Bring on those hot, glazed doughnuts!

Arriving at a Price for your Home

The Washington Post recently had some tips on how to price a home if you’re selling:

• Don’t base the price on what you paid or what your neighbor got a few years ago.
• Do examine the pries of homes for sale in your neighborhood, as well as the prices of comparable homes that have sold in the past three to six months.
• Don’t pick a real estate agent because he or she suggested the highest list price.
• Do pick a real estate agent who offers a thoughtful explanation for the price he or she is suggesting
• Don’t go overboard with remodeling.
• Do make minor improvements so your home is in as good or better shape than the competition.
• Don’t set your price based on emotional attachments.
• Do ask your real estate agent to reasses the price every few weeks to make sure your asking price is in sync with the market.
• Don’t be stubborn.  If weeks go by without any offers, the price most likely does not reflect the value of the home.  It’s time to consider cutting the price.
• Do be patient.  You might have to wait longer for buyers to pull money together know that lenders have toughened their standards.

These are great tips that will put you in the right mindset to get your house sold.  If you’d like to discuss any of these or are just wondering what your house may be worth, contact me by email at Maria@SolerEnergyProperties.com or call me at 602-366-5073.