VALLEY OF THE SUN

Many members of homeowner associations (HOA's) across the greater Phoenix metro area are being impacted by the economic downturn.

Some HOA's are facing collection issues and possible bankruptcy, as well as being heavily impacted by a reduction in the collection of HOA fees, cash flow problems and community disrepair challenges.

With delinquency rates of HOA fees at an all-time high, it’s important to know the issues that your community may be facing, and what solutions you can provide.

Members and boards of HOA's are invited to attend an event that will examine current HOA financial challenges.

Who? ~ A panel of attorneys will address these issues and will open up the concerns for a group discussion. The event is being sponsored by the Leadership Centre, in partnership with the cities of Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek and Fountain Hills

When? ~ Wednesday, March 25, 2009 from 6:00-8:30 pm

Where? ~ The Zane Gray room at the Queen Creek Library, 21802 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, Arizona

Cost? ~ FREE!

Chandler Homes ~ Gilbert Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes

1 Southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Warner Road and Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) for carpool lane construction. Traffic will use frontage road. 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 23)

2 Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between US 60 (Superstition Freeway) and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) for carpool lane construction. 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 23)

3 Scottsdale Road closed in both directions at Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) for freeway widening project. Loop 202 ramps at Scottsdale Road also closed. Use alternate routes, including McClintock Drive. 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 23)

4 Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed overnight between Guadalupe Road and US 60 (Superstition Freeway) for sign work. Traffic will use frontage road. 11 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday (March 21)

5 Southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) narrowed to two lanes overnight between Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and University Drive for carpool lane construction. 11 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday (March 21

Have a Terrific Weekend!

Phoenix Homes ~ Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes

Following is a graphic illustration of the current real estate market conditions in the greater Phoenix area. Data was compiled and provided by the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS), which encompasses the entire Valley of the Sun, including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and Phoenix, Arizona.

If you look carefully at the above graphs, you will clearly see some very positive indicators. And if you have any doubt about our changing market conditions, take a look at the "Months Inventory" in Feb 2008 compared to Feb 2009 ~ almost a 50% reduction!

Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes - Phoenix Homes

This is a question that was posted by a prospective home buyer on Trulia this evening. On the surface, it seems like a harmless enough question. And apparently a few others had that same thought, as within minutes a couple of real estate agents weighed in and posted answers to the buyer.

I was shocked when I read their answers, as the agents literally named and described areas and zip codes that they deemed to be "good" neighborhoods. What those agents did - probably without a clue - was walk all over federal fair housing laws like they were a pair of old worn out shoes! Check out HUD Fair Housing Laws and Presidential Executive Orders.

A friend of mine said, "those agents [that just flagrantly and publicly violated fair housing laws, in writing, on a national real estate site], should go ahead and mail their licenses back to the Department of Real Estate and save the Department the trouble of having to hunt them down!"

Following is a synopsis of my posted response to the buyer's question, the subject line of this post.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The problem in attempting to answer your question is in defining what you mean by "good" neighborhoods. I don't mean to sound flippant or disrespectful, but 'good' to one person can just as easily be 'bad' to another.

If you're asking about which neighborhoods or zip codes have a higher crime rate than others, or perhaps information on registered sex offenders, there are sources for researching that type of information. One particular resource that's a joint effort of the Arizona Department of Real Estate and the Arizona Association of REALTORS® that provides a wealth of information on real estate related issues in Arizona, including the foregoing topics, is called the Buyer Advisory. I would invite you to access and print it out for future reference.

To continue with my point about 'good' or 'bad' assessments of any given area(s), a neighborhood with lots of families and happy, playful children can be heaven for some folks, but hell for others. A neighborhood with a preponderance of a certain ethnic background or religious persuasion can be quite appealing to some people, but quite aversive to others. A neighborhood with lots of families can be quite uncomfortable for some singles. I could go on and on with examples like this, but do you see what I mean?

You should also know that those of us on this forum that are licensed real estate agents or brokers are obligated to adhere to a myriad of federal, state and local laws. Some of those include fair housing, steering and redlining, but rather than giving you a long dissertation about those complex issues, I'll just say that there are certain things about which we simply cannot advise you. It just depends on your exact question, concern or request.

So if you would like to pose some more specific questions here, please feel free to contact me privately, and I'll do my utmost to assist you in accomplishing your objectives while at the same time maintaining our legal and ethical boundaries.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For you real estate agents reading this who don't understand what I'm talking about, PLEASE do yourself and your clients a huge favor and take a good, strong refresher course on Fair Housing Laws before you find yourself in more hot water than you can survive, and before you're forced to make the biggest involuntary contribution you can imagine to the 'fair housing enforcement fund'!

Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes - Phoenix Homes

1 Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Guadalupe Road and US 60 for overhead sign work. Northbound Loop 101 ramps to US 60 closed. 11:30 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday (March 14)

2 Eastbound I-10 narrowed to one lane between Litchfield and Dysart roads for widening project. Eastbound I-10 off-ramp at 107th Avenue also closed. 11:30 p.m. Friday to 9:30 a.m. Saturday (March 14)

3 Southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) off-ramp at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard closed for widening project. Southbound frontage road closed between Bell Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 16)

4 Eastbound I-10 off-ramp and westbound on-ramp at Queen Creek Road (SR 347) closed for resurfacing. Use interchanges at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard or Riggs Road. 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Sunday (March 15)

5 Eastbound Loop 202 off-ramp at McClintock Drive closed for widening project. Use exit at Scottsdale Road. 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Sunday (March 15)

6 Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) right two lanes closed overnight between McClintock Drive and Rural Road for widening project. Westbound US 60 on-ramp at McClintock Drive and off-ramp at Rural Road closed. 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 16)

Have a Safe and Happy Weekend!

Phoenix Homes ~ Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes