I have a listing appointment in 2 hours in Goodyear, AZ..

The seller has told me that another agent was there and told them to list for $269,900. I've run a CMA. No comparable house has sold for over $250,000. We are in a declining market. I've got to tell the sellers that they should list for just under $250,000 and that I won't do it for 5%.

I feel pretty good about it. I have a killer presentation package that will show them that NO one has EVER received the $269,900 price in that subdivision of almost 700 homes.

I hope to show that my experience and performance show that I perform. That he should measure the other agent's credibility against mine.

Wish me luck, I'll post what happens after I get back.

Jordin Sparks is the newest American Idol.

After a breathtaking season of cheering and voting (and voting and voting), Jordin Sparks has shown the talent and energy and poise to win the 2007 American Idol championship. We have been excited to watch as Jordin just got better and better as the season has gone on.

We are especially happy as Jordin Sparks mother is with Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners in Glendale, Az. We offer our congratulations and best wishes to this amazingly talented 17-year old wonder.

On American Idol, I'm encouraging everyone to vote for Jordin Sparks, daughter of a Keller Williams agent here in Glendale, AZ.

Everyone in Keller Williams is very proud of Jordin and her tremendous success and we vote early and often.

If you'd be kind enough, support Jordin as she is from the 'Real Estate Family!' and she is also doing a fantastic job on American Idol.

I did an OPEN HOUSE yesterday in Goodyear, Az for 5 hours and got 1 visitor.

While I was prepared for more than 1 visitor, I did take my laptop and got a lot of work done that would have kept my working late into the night otherwise.

The 1 visitor I got was especially noteworthy. I had been looking at my watch and I was going to leave at 3 p.m. Then I thought maybe I'll leave 20 min early since no one had come by. This visitor arrived at precisely 3 p.m.

I would have missed them if I had left earlier. They weren't ready to buy, have a condo lease until Nov-Dec. But they want a house like the one I was showing and in the same school district. I now have them signed up to give them house by e-mail in their area of interest. I'll send them a few to see, than followup and fine tune our search, meanwhile its up to me to show them that I care, that I'm competent, and that we can be an effective team in finding that house.

I'm sure glad I didn't leave early. Actually I stayed around another hour!

If you're from Arizona, you're going to be missing our colorful oleanders because they are dying from a bacterium and there is NO cure.

If you don't know, oleanders are a shrub that grows in the no-freeze zones. It has poisoness sap (Hey, it grows in Arizona so it has either poison or stickers) and white, pink or red flowers. Give them any water at all and they will grow to 20' tall and make a windbreak or privacy hedge between neighbors. Ignore them for a couple of years and you'll have to go after them with a chainsaw.

An incurable bacterium (probably from California, no further comment) is already killing plants in the north central Phoenix area. It is expected that the death of this hardy plant while spread throughout Arizona.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0520Oleander0520.html

With our 2008 Superbowl yet to happen, Arizona is making a presentation today for the 2011 Superbowl.

Arizona is not favored in this race as the other two major contenders, Dallas and Indianapolis will each have a new stadium between now and 2011. The Superbowl committee has leaned toward new stadiums in the past.

Regardless, Arizona has a wonderfull stadium and we have a chance to show what we can do in less than 9 months.

I'm from Maryland, transplanted to the Phoenix area in 1975. I've grown to love the food of the southwest. Almost anything is better with some green chili on it.

I am struggling with a Spanish language class but that just helps, it doesn't solve the problem of working with Spanish only clients.

On my listings, I hang a rider that says, in Spanish, if you want to deal in Spanish, call Hilda at xxxxxxx. Hilda is a Spanish speaker and she works with these referred clients, giving me a 25% referral.

I don't lose the client, the client gets great service, and Hilda likes the referrals.

Well, they gave us a good run for the money and pepped up the lives of many Phoenix fans but they eventually lost the series 4-2 to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs certainly deserved to win the final game they played the whole game and hit a series of baskets that further lifted them to an outstanding second half.

Oh well, there's always next year. Thanks SUNS, we enjoyed the playoffs.

In the West Valley of the Phoenix area we have had a few identity crises.

The City of Litchfield Park has been havings fits when a crime is reported as being in Litchfield Park of being committed by a resident of Litchfield Park. The problem, if it really is a problem, is that many people have the zip code assigned to Litchfield Park but do not live in the actual city limits. The local power utility has been collecting sales taxes for the City of Litchfield Park even though the residences are in unincorporated land.

Now the City of Tolleson, AZ, another west valley municipality is complaining because their zip code covers 20 square miles and the city only covers 6 square miles. They feel that the quality of life within their city (city limits) would show more attractively if the city outsiders were discounted.

Times are tough.

Desert Whisper Master Planned Community has plans for development at the northwest corner of 363rd Av & Indian School Rd.

Submitted in Phase III plans are 320 acres to include 946 residential lots, a neifgborhood park, a community parke with swimming pool, soccer and softball fields and basketball courts. Also included is a trail system and a K-8 school.

This leaves about 640 acres in other plans.