About Ahwatukee's Ahwatukee Foothills

It's peak golf season in Arizona right now and typically, it's quite expensive. If you're coming down for a visit, or know someone in the area, pass this along.

Prices are down and there are good discounts. There was a recent article in the Arizona Republic about a gentleman who was able to play the Arizona Biltmore course for $55. That's better than 50% off regular rates!

Go to golfnow.com to see discounted tee times. There are lots of economy busters. Check out some of these:

• I saw 50-60% discounts at The Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler (Troon managed course and a really nice restaurant - Bernard's)
• One of my favorites (Foothills Club West in Ahwatukee) has rounds for only $29.99!
• The Ahwatukee Country Club has rounds discounted for 25%. Play this course on a Friday and then go inside for their Midwest style Friday Fish Fry in the club!
• The Phoenician courses in Scottsdale was 25% off. (Not as great a deal, but a stellar course and hanging out in the hotel afterwards is almost as good as the golf!)
• And oh, by the way, if you know of someone who is interested in buying a home on one of our gorgeous Phoenix Golf Courses, just give us a call!

Sonia and Dean Carver

United Brokers Group, Agent/Owners

#1 Team - Over 125 Homes Sold in the last 12 months

Carver Home Team Founders

Million Dollar Guild Member

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

Certified Short Sale Consultant

Bank of America Preferred REO Broker

Email: sonia@carverht.com

O: 480.318.0619

M: 480.612.1048

F: 480.760.2371

Coventry Tempe, Warner Ranch, Warner Ranch Estates, Tuscany, Estate La Colina, Ocotillo, Foothills Club West, Canyon Verde, Black Rock Canyon, Candlewood, Camelot Canyon, Crimson Canyon, Canyon Reserve, Cabrillo Canyon, Richmond Heights, Summerhill, Montana Vista, Tapestry Canyon, Sanctuary, Ahwatukee Equestrian, Ahwatukee Custom, Circle G Ranches, Corona Del Sol Estates, Buena Vista Ranchos, Fulton Ranch, DC Ranch, Scottsdale Ranch, and Mountain Park Ranch

In 1979 the price of gasoline skyrocketed to $0.86 per gallon. Americans were worried the price would approach $1.00 per gallon and began frantically looking for ways to cut fuel costs. The Carter administration launched a plan to assist homebuyers in buying and revamping homes to make them more energy efficient. This plan was spearheaded with the Green Mortgage. Over the years as the public adjusted to higher energy costs, the Green Mortgage became less popular.

Today, we are again experiencing record fuel costs and many Americans beginning to think Green again. The Green Mortgage is being taken off the shelf and dusted off. It may be just the ticket for real estate buyers today.

What is a Green Mortgage?

Green mortgages actually come in a couple of different formats. Officially these loans are classified as either Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) or Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIMs).

An Energy Efficient Mortgage essentially allows you to purchase a home that is already energy efficient - even if the price of that home is larger than you would normally qualify for under your debt-to-income ratio. Energy Improvement Mortgages, on the other hand, allow you to take out a larger loan to make energy efficient repairs and improvements to a house that is not currently rated as energy efficient.

The main benefit of both of these mortgages is that they help you to qualify for a larger loan amount and help make it possible for you to live in a better, more energy-efficient home. The basic principle behind this type of financing is that the money you save from the more efficient home will offset the larger mortgage payments.

Qualifying for a Green Mortgage

To qualify for a green mortgage, you typically need to have a Home Energy Rating conducted. This rating provides the lender with an Energy Savings Value, which is the estimated monthly energy savings and the value of the energy efficiency measures.

Depending on your unique circumstances, you may qualify for a conventional, FHA, or even a VA green mortgage. Each type of loan is designed to fit specific situations and, therefore, each loan has specific requirements that must be met.

You can learn more about the differences between conventional, FHA, and VA green mortgages at the Energy Star website. And for more details about green mortgages in general, visit the HUD website.

Whether you're looking to add energy-efficient improvements to your current home or want to purchase a new energy-efficient house, green mortgages offer benefits that are definitely worth looking into.

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South Mountain Inspiration

Ahwatukee Foothills' own Mary Lou Stewart has an artist's exhibit at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Her exhibit is titled Paintings and Assemblages. She creates dioramas and paintings of quirky subjects that interest her. She collects objects during her daily South Mountain hikes and includes them in her pieces. Her three dimensional artworks are colorful and fascinating to see. Arizona artist, Mary Lou Stewart, has lived in Arizona since 1979, and has taught in the community college system for ten years, currently in the fine art department at Chandler Gilbert Community College. Her background in fine art embraced drawing and composition, and sculptural form.

Mary Lou has collected small items from her travels throughout her life, always attracted to the minute forms of nature, which inspired her painting career and resulted in an abundant amount of work. However, as a creative expressionist, she felt the linear quality of painting was limiting. She began a transition from the paintings and began to explore construction and assemblage. Soon she was incorporating small bones, shells and odd collectibles from her travels into dioramas that slowly grew from small boxes to larger structures. With the combination of her paintings, her sculptural assemblages began to take shape and balance the world for her creativity. Mary Lou Stewart is also a member of the Chandler Arts Commission.

Her work is on display at the Chandler Center for the Arts Exhibition Hall from August 8th through September 13th, 2008.

Exhibition Hall Hours:

Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturdays: Noon-5pm
Admission is Free