If you have never seen the show…it is just what it sounds like. A cupcake baking competition. Not just plain ol’ cupcakes either. The four cupcakes they created were:

• Orange Olive Oil and Rosewater Cupcake
• Peach-Berry Shortcake Cupcake
• Orange-Scented Chocolate Campfire Cake
• Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Cupcake

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If you do not know…the Willo Historic district is located in the Central Phoenix area. To get a little more information and the history of the community, you can check out this link. If you go to home tour…then View 2010 Willo Home Tour Pictures…you will see pictures of folks checking out this one-of-a-kind FABULOUS home that was featured on that tour.

I helped these special clients purchase this home…and I remember clearly the day we first found this home. We were SO IMPRESSED. We especially loved the sliding glass wall….now you see it…

Now…you don’t!

or…from the outside coming in…now you see it…

now you don’t…

This is just one of the many features of the fabulous home. There is also a guest house that the current homeowners have put a lot of work into…SO NICE! (the guests may never leave!)

PLUS…it has a garage…something not every home in the downtown area can boast. My clients had it built…and IT is even special…(for a garage)!  ;)

There are DOZENS of things to love about this special home. Take a look at the MLS listing and give me a call. I would be proud to show it to you!

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me at Adele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!  Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it is THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

ATTENTION AGENTS…Is your Real Estate Career or Company taking you where you want to go?
Need MORE business?  Need MORE leads?  What has your company done for you lately?
Ask Me Why… I joined eXp Realty.

Clear clutter away from rooms, clutter make the rooms look smaller and of course the buyer will think that the rooms are small too. The kitchen counters should be clutter free also.  furniture that is not used put in storage.   Move your furniture around in your home, sometimes the dining room become the office.   Potential buyers need to see each room has a purpose.

Rent furniture or accessories to fill in empty spaces.  Most furniture will show wear  and tear you may want to rent some newer looking furniture, you can also rent accent pieces like vase, dishes and more.

I am not a “Verrado Real Estate Specialist”. I sold several homes when the community was first starting…and recently sold a couple more in the last few months…but I sell homes in many other parts of the Valley. I think that is what gives me the ability to look at this community objectively. Many agents “live and work” in the neighborhood…but do not have any idea what the competition is outside their community. I sell homes in a variety of neighborhoods…so I am able to see the pros and cons of each area.

Having said that…I think Verrado might be a good choice for many of my clients.

It has been a long time in the making…and definitely has seen the ups and downs like the rest of the Metro Phoenix real estate market…but I have to say…it is pretty cool.

You will find everything from affordable entry level homes to hillside luxury homes in the community. There are resale as well as new build options.

One of the things my last clients liked is that there are number of parks in the community. Most homes are within two blocks of a park. And they have a GREAT number of homes with front porches. If you are from the Eastern United States you likely think…so what? Well.. Metro Phoenix area homes typically do not have porches. Most outdoor living is done in the backyard. So this is unique to the area. In fact, the only other area I can readily think of that has as many “friendly” front porches are the downtown Phoenix historic districts.

The other BIG draw to the community is that it is right up next to the White Tank Mountains. Not only are the views awesome…but within minutes you can be hiking in some of the most beautiful Arizona Deserts you have ever seen. Verrado offers six miles of pathways throughout the community connecting neighborhoods to one another. An additional 15 miles of trails into the White Tank Mountains can be found within the community.

Like to golf? Well…there is a daily-fee course that winds through Verrado’s foothills. The Raven is an 18-hole championship course…right in your own backyard!

Last time I was there we had lunch at the Verrado Grille. It was good service and good food…and we were seated in a friendly bar with views of the mountains. Not bad…

There is literally a “Main Street”…with a drugstore, market, wine store…and pretty much everything else you might need for day to day life. Of course…a mile or so down the I-10 freeway you will find all of the modern stores….like Wal-Mart and so on. But if you need to mail a package, fill a prescription or get some milk…no need to leave the community!

Of course there are schools as well! Verrado boasts exceptional learning for grades K-12.

So…if you are looking for a “Mayberry” like community…with all the amenities of the city…let me show you what Verrado has to offer!

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me at Adele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!  Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it is THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

ATTENTION AGENTS…Is your Real Estate Career or Company taking you where you want to go?
Need MORE business?  Need MORE leads?  What has your company done for you lately?
Ask Me Why… I joined eXp Realty

I have had my eye on this project for a long while. I have sold many homes in the downtown historic areas…and this place has been the talk of nearby neighbors for some time.

The property has been tied up in Mortgages Ltd.’s financial problems for the past few years. Original lender, Desert Hills Bank, filed to foreclose in 2007.  Mortgages Ltd. took over with a $65 million financing deal.  Chateau on Central had been stalled since  June 2008 when Mortgages Ltd. was forced into bankruptcy by its creditors and investors.

Enter Wisconsin-based MSI West Investments. They paid $7 million for the 21 homes with elevators and rooftop terraces. If you do the math…this is about $350,000 per unit.

The units range from roughly 5100 square feet to over 8000 square feet.

I have to say I am impressed with the concept…and the views.

It’s rare to find highly modern, highly upgraded space in the Central Corridor. But what makes this place especially unique is the zoning. The lower two levels can be used as commercial space. It would make a wonderful artist studio or something like that.

The charming original exterior gives no hint of the modern interior you will find. Including a private elevator in each unit!

The on sight sales team is knowledgeable and friendly. I shot a quick video while I was touring….take a look…

If you are looking for upscale urban living…I would love to take you downtown to tour this unique project!

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me at Adele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!  Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it it THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

ATTENTION AGENTS…Is your Real Estate Career or Company taking you where you want to go?
Need MORE business?  Need MORE leads?  What has your company done for you lately?
Ask Me Why… I joined eXp Realty

We had an UNBELIEVABLE hail storm here in October 2010. I wanted to post this video as part of this blog to give you an idea just what I am talking about…(not my video personally…but shared on YouTube).

Since then our area has been overrun with people from all over the United States trying to cash in on repairing the damage. I am absolutely sure that a large percentage of these folks are honest hard working people with good intentions. What worries me however is if you choose a contractor from Ohio (or where ever) to repair your roof…and you find it is leaking NEXT October…who are you going to call?

From what I have been able to understand from clients and friends, these people are partnering with local contractors. OK. So a contractor here hires ten guys from out-of -town to bid jobs and oversee the work. I have to wonder about the quality control aspect. I would hate to have all of that vicarious liability.

You can go here to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors to see if they have any reports of interest. You can also go to the Better Business Bureauand see what you can discover. This is the LEAST I would suggest prior to entering into a contract for repairs.

Then another thought occurred to me. In my personal experience (and this is the same with many others I have spoke with) if your repairs are over a certain amount, typically $10,000, your checks will be made payable to you AND your mortgage company. I suppose this is reasonable.

It’s likely a pain…but you will have to get the mortgage company to endorse the check prior to getting repairs started.  Not the end of the world…but what about this scenario?

What if you are behind in payments? What if you are in the middle of negotiating a loan modification or a short sale. Will the banks willingly release the insurance claim money to you by endorsing the check?

Better yet what if a foreclosure is scheduled and the money is enough to catch up your payments? Is it OK if people use the money for that rather than the repairs?

Our insurance company is issuing two different payments. The first is the replacement value less depreciation. In our case that is roughly half. The second payment is for the recovered depreciation. It is a learning curve for me…and I am sure your insurance agent can better explain it…but I know that we will receive the balance of the claim amount after we provide receipts showing the work has been completed.

I have heard many stories from my “peeps” about their personal experiences. But I am very curious to see how this plays out with folks who are in the process of losing their home…or maybe doing a loan modification.

Anyone out there have any thoughts. I would love to hear your personal experience. But I am really writing this to give folks a “heads UP” to researching your contractors and making sure they will be there later to stand behind their work.

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me atAdele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!  Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it is THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

Located off the 101 and Indian Bend in Scottsdale the Talking Stick Resort is a great place for vacationers and local alike.

I was there on a Wednesday and it was semi-busy…which is fine when you are there to gamble. There were plenty of open tables and slots. I am not much of a gambler, as I like a return for my money… but I did go through $20 in short order! This ROULETTE like game was super popular.

Looking for a dining experience? You can find it here. Everything from coffee shops to find dining.. And of course no casino would be complete without the ever popular buffet!

They also have a unique poker room.  From their web site:

“Poker Room

Open 24 hours

Seeking to satisfy your appetite while partaking in a lively game of poker? No problem. The Poker Room boasts table-side dining with an assortment of American and Asian dishes.

Fill up and go all in!
Join us in the Poker Room every Monday for your favorite card game and our $10 Prime Rib dinner special. 5:00pm to 11:00pm, for seated poker player”

Looking for some entertainment? This resort has that as well. Dueling pianos on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for Air Supply and Beatlemania LIVE in December. You can check out the entertainment schedule here.

Guest have access to a beautiful pool area with awesome mountain views, cabanas and poolside bars.

All in all it is a very nice place. One thing I will mention however, is that they do NOT have a non-smoking area for gambling and it was pretty thick with smoke. I was really surprised about this given it is a new facility and smoking is becoming less and less tolerated. I can see this being a deterrent for some people wanting to spend much time there. Given it was not real busy when I visited…I can only imagine how it is on a Saturday night.

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me at Adele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL! Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it it THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

Since we have had a declining home values of over 50% in many areas…saving a couple of hundred dollars in taxes is at least something!

Here in Arizona, homeowners are taxed through a formula based on two factors: property valuations set by the assessor and tax rates set by dozens of municipalities and other tax jurisdictions including counties, cities, school districts, community-college districts and other special districts

Those jurisdictions determine the actual tax for any given home.

A home that is inside a certain parks district, as an example, may pay higher taxes than an identical home nearby that lies outside district lines. The tax bill is a composite of the taxes assessed by those many different districts.

Other factors can also push a tax bill higher such as local bond issues or voter-approved school-funding increases called budget overrides. These are put in place through ballot initiatives that voters pass.

So…bottom line…you may or may not see YOUR tax bill go down…but at least the assessments are beginning to be more in line with values.

If you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate need please give me a call at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL! Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! If you save even one home as a favorite, you will be prompted to enter contact information. If you do this…YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like. It is THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS!!

What’s different about these homes? Well…the list is long:

1. 100% Energy Star Qualified and MORE…as much as 500% MORE. Estimated 80% home energy savings (lighting, heating, cooling and water)

2. ECHO Solar Electric/Thermal System produces up to 10,000 kWh energy offset annually. A typical home consumes 20,000 kWh annually…A 50% SAVINGS!

3. High Performance Wall System…3X more efficient than a standard wall

4. Air Sealed Home and Attic. Meritage High Performance Home has a semi air conditioned attic with a SUMMER temperature of 80 F. A typical home attic here in the Phoenix, AZ area has a summer temperature greater than 160 F.

5. Energy Efficient Lighting using CFL and/or LED lighting.

6. High Performance Heating and Cooling.

7. Water Conservation. Efficient plumbing fixtures as well as weather sensing irrigation reduce water consumption.

8. Improved Air Quality using low VOC (volatile organic compounds) carpets, paints and finishes.

9. High Performance Windows.

I have been through MANY new home subdivisions over the course of my years selling homes…and I have never been moved to favor any one particular over another. And I would still make sure my clients were exposed to all of the builders in the area and price range in which they were interested . BUT…I would encourage them to make sure and visit this subdivision with me before making a decision! I LOVE GREEN!

It is a really small subdivision they took over from another builder who went out of business…so there are not many lots…and homes are going QUICKLY! Here is a picture of the subdivision map. I think they have sold NINE homes already…and their grand opening is not until next weekend! They only have about fifty-eight lots it appears…so buyers will have to jump in if they want to be a part of this.

Another thing I liked about this experience with my client is the sales rep. Brandye is REALLY high energy…and willing to help in any way she can!

Take a look at this video to see all of the GREEN features in this GREAT Community!

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you want more information about this subdivision please give me a call at 602-504-3898.

If you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate need please give me a call at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!   Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! If you save even one home as a favorite, you will be prompted to enter contact information. If you do this…YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like. It is THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS!!