Finding Phoenix Neighborhoods: December 2006

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Old Stone Ranch: Get In While You Can

There are few new home communities in the Valley that are still selling homes at a steady clip. Most of them are lacking in at least one area: location, size of home for the money, neighborhood character, and finally decent lot size. One Chandler community has it all and the steady sales prove it.

Old Stone Ranch by Shea Homes first garnered interest in the East Valley because of the proposed lakes and water feature. There are lake communities in the East Valley (hardly any in the West Valley) but they are "older" neighborhoods, generally built prior to 1995. The water features are nearly finished at Old Stone Ranch and I have to say they are pretty stunning, especially at night with the mood lighting. There is a lovely veranda for picnicing that is right on the water and near the nice playground.

Further enhancing the character is white fencing around Old Stone Circle and how each home on the main drag is required to have green grass in the front yard. It really makes the neighborhood stand out from the Beige Syndrome most Phoenix neighbhoods succumb to. Some of the home elevations (how the home looks on the outside) are your typical Southwest adobe look but the majority have stone veneers that lend more to an East Coast feel.

The location is Lindsay and Ocotillo, right on the edge of Gilbert and Chandler. 2 miles away is the huge new San Tan shopping center with new restaurants and movie theatre. The 202 freeway is right next to the shopping center. Sure, Old Stone Ranch is currently surrounded by agriculture but that means the most money can be earned in appreciation now, not five years down the road.

Speaking of time, they are still selling Phase 2 in the most of the 4 different communities. Which means you can still get in a good prices and see some nice appreciation. The homes range from 1700 sq feet up to 4000+. The prices start in the $350s and go up to the $600s. Luckily with that amount of money, you also find big lots and nicely designed floorplans.

Is this a family friendly neighborhood? Since it is still fairly new, I can't have a definitive answer. Luckily I have two clients moving there and a third friend who is already in their house. Based on those three families, I would say it's going to be a wonderfully family friendly neighborhood and I plan on spending a lot of time there. :)

By the way, please don't walk into any new home builder office unrepresented. Whether you use me or another new home expert, please use a realtor when purchasing a new home. The sales agent is not there to protect your interests, their client is the builder not you. Most of them are very nice people but you are not signing their paycheck. Enough said.

Labels: AZ neighborhoods, chandler real estate, gilbert real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 9:06 PM
1 comments

The Stombergs are stoked!

Hooray for us! We just accepted a (cash) offer on the Stombergs home AND were able to find them a fabulous new home with only 2 days of looking! They close on the both homes in January and I am so excited for them! Congrats you guys!

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 9:03 PM
0 comments

Monday, December 18, 2006

Nov. Housing Market in the Valley Held Steady

From the Arizona Republic:

Metropolitan Phoenix's housing market continues to show a steady pulse, with prices for existing homes edging up less than 1 percent in November to $259,000. 5,040 homes sold in November, up from the 4,985 sales recorded in October 2006, according to the latest housing report from the Arizona Real Estate Center at ASU. Last year, nearly 7,200 homes sold in November. "Instead of being overactive, or no pulse, it's running at a normal pulse," said Jay Butler, who heads the Real Estate Center. "It's a good, strong pulse. It's just not the pulse people like." Butler added that sales and prices are much more sustainable than those recorded in 2005. Sellers have been able to get about the same price for their homes for the past several months. Prices varied throughout the Valley, with Scottsdale showing a median resale price increase of 5.9 percent from November 2005 to November 2006, while Goodyear saw prices drop 11.9 percent over last year.

For the full article click here.

Labels: phoenix real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 7:46 PM
0 comments

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Is Gilbert the Utopia of the East Valley?

Recently, I've been hearing from prospective buyers and one of the more popular questions is "What's the deal with Gilbert? Is it really that great?" which translates to "Is it really worth the extra cash to buy a house in Gilbert?" To which I have to respond "Quite Frankly, Yes."

If you have a family, will have a family, or think someday it would be nice to sell to a family, then Gilbert is a great place to invest. For brevity, here's my Top 5 List:

Schools in Arizona are generally crappy. There's no getting around that. I welcome comments from people who say differently. But the fact is that the Gilbert school disctrict is in the top 3 in the valley making it less crappy then most. When you throw in that all of the really good charter schools are in Gilbert, you make a case for the best area for schools. Which is hands down, priority one for families. And resale value.
It's pretty. Most people like to see green grass, green trees and pretty flowers. Gilbert generally delivers that across the board. Now, that makes the HOA and property taxes pretty hefty but again, it matters in resale value.
Low crime. Like some of the lowest in the state per capita. Huge, to those that live here and those that want to sell here.
Shopping. Does it matter to me that Target, the postal store, the bank, Fry's (with Child Care), Home Depot, restaurants, movies, and soon a new Mall, are all within 5 minutes of me. You better believe it!! When I have a baby-sitting swap for only 1 hour, it's the difference between a nice afternoon and crappy one.
Numero Uno reason that Gilbert's great - the people are nice. Friendly people are attracted to areas where other friendly people live. My house is right next to the park and my boys are extra social. So I've met a lot of new friends. Sure, there are some snobs. But for the most part, people are really friendly and open to making new friends. That means a lot to me.

What do you think? What is the AZ utopia?

Labels: AZ neighborhoods, family neighborhoods, gilbert real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 10:17 PM
2 comments

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Time to buy? Time to wait?

While this is a pretty constant question when acquaintences find out I'm in real estate, recently it has become more intense. People are noticing that houses are staying on the market a "long" time and prices are coming down to what we now consider more "reasonable". But there is a serious fear that the market isn't done going down and buyers could lose money.

I'm going on a limb and am going to say It's Time to Buy. Reasons include: In the last seven days I have had more buyer inquiries than in the last 2 months. I know this market turns on a dime, people stopped buying all at once and I think they're going to start buying all at once too. Secondly, many of you know that the CA market, especially Southern California can have a huge influence on our Phoenix market. Well, start reading the San Diego Real Estate blogs and you'll see that they have noticed more serious buyers as well. One good example is Kris Berg, from San Diego Castles.

Now, I realize I could easily be wrong. But real estate is all about timing. And I think if you're going to buy in the next 12 months, your best prices and your most desperate sellers are out there right now.

If you are a first time home buyer, now is even better. The interest rates are at a 15 month low. I have a Maricopa/Pinal country first time buyer program that is amazing! You can get your 3% down payment and your closings costs handed to you for free IF you are a first time buyer and you make less than $65k annually. Call me today for more info on that.

Labels: phoenix real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 3:38 PM
0 comments

What is Family Real Estate Anyway??

Like most families, our day begins with breakfast. Of course, dodging flying oatmeal isn’t an issue for most families. For us, it’s an almost daily occurrence. As breakfast ends and the boys are let loose on the backyard, I find myself grateful for several aspects of my home. I love that it’s only three steps from the high chair to the sink. I love how the back door opens to the kitchen tile instead of the living room carpet -- boys tend to track in stuff like mud, grass, and the occasional creepy crawly thing. The list goes on…

These aspects directly affect our everyday lifestyle. I have found that when my clients keep their family lifestyle in mind, without getting distracted by the model furniture or the gourmet appliances, they are able to find their perfect home. The best part is the lack of buyer’s remorse.

Isn’t that the worst feeling? You’ve gone through this stressful and expensive endeavor of buying a new home. You are finally done and settle in. Well, you try to, but you realize there is absolutely no storage for your three teenagers’ sports equipment. Or you wake up the first night to the baby crying because the air conditioner is right outside her window.

Instead of chancing that lack of sleep, take the time to think about what is crucial in your day-to-day life. Is it the walk in the morning before the kids are up that keeps you sane? A community with walking trails would probably mean a lot. Does the constant pounding of a basketball drive you mad? You might need a community court around the corner instead of a garage hoop.

Even families without children can benefit from keeping their family lifestyle in the forefront. I’ll use my newlywed friends as an example. They just bought the cutest little puppy. He reminds me a lot of my toddler. They both drool, both of them have trouble stopping before hitting the screen door, and don’t even get me started on the bladder issues. My friends and their puppy make a very sweet family. While looking for a home for them, we had certain criteria in mind: proximity to a dog park, tile floors to stay cool, and a safe backyard. An added bonus, a closet door that securely shuts to keep Fluffy away from the shoes.

These are just a few examples of how family lifestyle real estate can help your home hunt become enjoyable and more satisfying in the end. House hunting itself can be overwhelming and confusing. By keeping your day to day lifestyle in mind, you can easily find a home that feels like you, with or without the oatmeal. Duck!

Labels: az real estate, family neighborhoods, family real estate, phoenix real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 2:15 PM
3 comments

Monday, December 11, 2006

We are craving community...

Sometimes I feel like the internet is the best invention for "waste of time". For three days I had my new nephew in my home which increased my herd of little boys to three. For three days I didn't check my email, post comments anywhere, or even turn on the computer. Can you believe it? When was the last time you spent 72 hours in your home without turning on the computer? Having a little one that eats every two hours, around the clock, will do that to you.

When I took a breath on Saturday morning for the first time, I initially felt proud of all that I had accomplished by not spending 2-3 hours a day on the computer. Then, I realized that I also had not had an adult conversation and might have forgotten how to talk in complete sentences. This wasn't good since I had to meet a new client in a matter of minutes.

As I eased back into computer-land, it hit me strongly that the internet community is another avenue for a sense of community in our lives. I love having virtual friends that I can get to know on my own time and in my own way, I'm also constantly wondering about the fact that they don't really know me, they know virtual me.

I think as a society we are craving social connection. That's how I found my passion for this niche, Family Real Estate and finding Family Friendly Neighborhoods. I can find anyone a good house. But can I find them a neighborhood where they'll actually know their neighbors, where their kids can play outside the way we did growing up? Can I find them a community they can be invested in and that will invest in them? I sure hope so. Because a virtual community can't hold your baby for a minute so you can pee alone.

Labels: family real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 4:24 PM
2 comments