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ARIZONA RELOCATION - What are your "must haves?"

This article was sent to me by a friend in the mortgage industry. It's not an article specifically about relocation, but an interesting look at what people are considering must have features in their homes. The survey was conducted by AVID Ratings Co.,which conducts an annual survey of home-buyer preferences. CEO Paul Cardis says these are 10 "must have" features in new homes. This survey is not focused specifically on Phoenix / Scottsdale, Arizona relocation. Rather, it is a Nationwide survey and here are the direct quotes:

1. Large Kitchens, With an Island
"If you're going to spend design dollars in a home , spend them where people want them -- spend them in the kitchen," Cardis said. Granite countertops are a must for move-up buyers and buyers of custom homes, but for others "they are on the bubble," Cardis said.

2. Energy-Efficient Appliances, High-Efficiency Insulation and High Window Efficiency
Among the "green" features touted in real estate, these are the ones home buyers value most, he said. While large windows had been a major draw, energy concerns are giving customers pause on those, he said. The use of recycled or synthetic materials is only borderline desirable.

3. Home Office/Study
People would much rather have this space rather than, say, a formal dining room. "People are feeling like they can dine out again and so the dining room has become tradable," Cardis said. And the home theater may also be headed for the scrap heap, a casualty of the "shift from boom to correction," Cardis said.

4. Main-Floor Master Suite
This is a must feature for empty-nesters and certain other buyers, and appears to be getting more popular in general, he said. That could help explain why demand for upstairs laundries is declining after several years of popularity gains.

5. Outdoor Living Room
The popularity of outdoor spaces continues to grow, even in Canada, Cardis said. And the idea of an outdoor room is even more popular than an outdoor cooking area, meaning people are willing to spend more time outside.

6. Ceiling Fans
(I would consider this one to be specific to Phoenix / Scottsdale Arizona relocation :-)

7. Master Suite Soaker Tubs
Whirlpools are still desirable for many home buyers, Cardis said, but "they clearly went down a notch," in the latest survey. Oversize showers with seating areas are also moving up in popularity.

8. Stone and Brick Exteriors
Stucco and vinyl don't make the cut. (ouch, this one hurts and could aimed specifically at Phoenix / Scottsdale Arizona relocation.)

9. Community Landscaping, With Walking Paths and Playgrounds
Forget about golf courses, swimming pools and clubhouses. Buyers in large planned developments prefer hiking among lush greenery.

In my opinion, people relocating to Phoenix / Scottsdale -- and those relocating across town -- do tend to have some differences in home preferences. Most of my relocation clients have tended to be a little wealthier because they were corporate executives being relocated. My out of state relocations have not been as concerned about items number two, six, and nine. However, they've usually expressed an interest in numbers one, three, four, and the opposite of nine (because they prefer golf course communities). Additionally, most prefer a three car garage.

My clients who have relocated across town are almost always interested in items number one, two, six, nine, and ten with little or no care for items four, five, and seven.

Arizona Relocation

QUESTION: What do these famous people have in common? I'll give you one guess ... but you may be surprised at the answer.

ANSWER: Each of them, at some time in their lives, experienced and struggled with mental illness.

Here are some facts you may not realize about mental illness in our country:

• One out of five American families has a relative with a mental illness.
• Mental illness typically strikes young people in their most productive years, from age 16 to 25.
• Families from all walks of life are affected, regardless of age, race, income, religion, or education.
• Mental illness devastates families and ill persons. Family life is often disrupted for all members of the family.

For a number of years now, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) has hosted an annual walk to raise money and awareness about this debilitating disease. This year, thousands of concerned citizens in nearly 80 communities across the country will walk on Sunday, March 28, in an effort to raise money and awareness about America's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness. Will you join us?

LOCAL EVENT

Location: Tempe Town Lake/Beach Park, Tempe, AZ
Date: March 28, 2010
Distance: 5 K
Check-in: 12 p.m.
Start Time: 1 p.m.
Website: www.namiaz.org

For more information about this event, please contact Leila Pleasant at 602-244-8166 or lpleasant@namiaz.org.

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Thinking of buying or selling a home in the Phoenix area - or know someone who is?

This is the PERFECT climate for move-up buyers. Find out how we can help make the buying or selling process simple, stress-free, and enjoyable. Feel free to contact me by phone 602-595-8900 or email me.

Search here for homes in the Phoenix area.

You can also visit our website for more information on Phoenix and the surrounding areas and download my First-Time Homebuyers' e-book.

Phoenix Property Shoppe

Today signage was changed and banners hung on the midtown Phoenix high rise condo building that was until today known as Century Plaza. The new name is One Lexington Place.

Last week the financially crippled high rise community was sold by its construction lender, M&I Bank to Canadian company, Macdonald Development Corporation. We Know Urban Realty expects the remaining 130 condominiums to go back on the market soon (evidenced by the brand new banners announcing "new ownership" and "reduced priced" condos).

Over the last year, investors had approached our company asking for help in determining sales values of the condos. Most investors we talked to were looking to offer two bedroom condos at the high $100k range and one bedroom condos at the mid $100k range. We have yet to see at what price Macdonald will offer the units. Stay tuned....

Will Daly, Broker
We Know Urban Realty
(480) 510-8755
Will@WeKnowUrban.com

Mark your calendar for the Moon Valley Community Garage Sale on March 6

Every year, residents of Phoenix's Moon Valley neighborhood look forward to the great community-building event known as the Moon Valley Community Garage Sale. Seriously ... I know because I live in Moon Valley ... we all look forward to cleaning out our garages and getting quality recycled furniture, clothing, and collectibles into the hands of people who can really use and appreciate it.

Our neighbors Kathie and Dan are really pumped about this year's sale - they invited Gary and me over to see how neatly they've already got all their sale items organized. Sure ... we'll have ours just as organized by the time March 6 rolls around. Besides cleaning out the garage, I think my favorite part of this big community sale is the opportunity to greet and chat with all of our great neighbors. That's got to be one of the absolutely best parts about living in Moon Valley - the people!

Folks from all over the Metro Phoenix Valley eagerly mark their calendars for this once-a-year event that takes place at individual homes throughout the Moon Valley neighborhood. So mark YOUR calendar and come on over to Moon Valley. You'll be glad you did.

DETAILS

Moon Valley Community Garage Sale
Saturday, March 6, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Taking place at individual homes throughout the Moon Valley neighborhood

Here's a map of the general Moon Valley area:

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Thinking of buying or selling a home in the Phoenix area - or know someone who is?

This is the PERFECT climate for move-up buyers. Find out how we can help make the buying or selling process simple, stress-free, and enjoyable. Feel free to contact me by phone 602-595-8900 or email me.

Search here for homes in the Phoenix area.

You can also visit our website for more information on Phoenix and the surrounding areas and download my First-Time Homebuyers' e-book.

Phoenix Property Shoppe

PHOENIX REAL ESTATE FOR SALE: DESERT VIEW. When searching for a new home in Phoenix, you want the most up to date information possible. That is why we offer all active listings on the MLS with daily updates! Home ownership is a goal most Americans strive for. With the tax credit extended, interest rates low, and prices for homes at a record low, now is the time to get into your dream home!

ACCURATE REALTY GROUP provides free, no obligation access to current active listings on the MLS, with daily updates, so you are never looking at outdated information. With thousands of homes available, you are sure to find something that fits your lifestyle and family's needs.

When you are looking for a new house, location is important. Residents of Phoenix enjoy diverse amenities, which could include golf communities, city light views, mountain views, gated communities, homes with pools or community pools, hiking trails, and bike paths.

Phoenix has so much to offer, including treasured parks, highly rated schools, world famous shopping, fine dining, theaters, art galleries, sports arenas, renowned medical facilities, the light rail, and Sky Harbor Airport.

Take the first step! If you are interested in Phoenix homes, just click on any of the underlined/highlighted key words to view the most current active real estate listings available. Whether you are a first time home buyer, a seasoned investor, or stepping up to a larger home, one call to ACCURATE REALTY GROUP will get you qualified for a loan through a reputable lender and the in depth information a discerning buyer deserves to make an educated decision on a new home!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PHOENIX REAL ESTATE GO TO:

www.accuraterealtygroup.com

Photos courtesy of ARMLS