Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate

As I lay awake early this morning, enthralled with the majestic power of a desert thunderstorm, my thoughts wandered to work. As always. Anyone familiar with our state knows that we have been experiencing drought conditions for a while now, so the sights and sounds of an honest to goodness Monsoon rainstorm are always welcome. Just seeing those heavy, ominous clouds rolling into Scottsdale from the northeast over the McDowell Mountains is an exhilarating experience. Of course, that childlike awe is a short lived experience for a Realtor. Thoughts drift inexorably to the roofs above our clients' heads.

Curled up shingles, unprotected foam, improperly laid tile: these are the hobgoblins of anyone wishing to stay dry inside their home. With the desert sun brutalizing asphalt shingles and the protective coating of flat roofing systems for the majority of the year, the lifespan of the average local roof can be drastically affected. The worst part is that we get so little rain outside of the late summer Monsoon, that many roofing problems go undetected until the heavy rains befall us. Securing the services of a reputable roofer during this period is challenging. And by challenging, I mean CHALLENGING. As in, you have a better chance of shaking hands with the Pope on Easter, challenging.

I recommend that all Valley residents take a quick lap around the house, checking the ceiling and walls for discoloration. If you have access to crawlspace, shine a flashlight around to look for water staining on wood beams and trusses. Standing outside of your home, look for blown off shingles or misaligned tiles. While the ideal time to have the roof looked over was prior to the rainy season, there is still time to prevent damage from getting worse.

So today, I have a few more tasks to add to an already crowded itinerary. I'll be squeezing in a tour of my listings to look for any telltale signs of roof leakage, and contacting my recent buyers who are experiencing the Monsoon season for the very first time in their new homes. I've got a pot of coffee brewing. My roofer is on speed dial. And soon I will be off to see what Mother Nature has wrought.

Staring out my office window to see what 115 degrees physically looks like, my thoughts can't help but turn to cooler endeavors. With monsoon season officially upon us in the Valley of the Sun, we Scottsdale residents are greeted with the promise of the lion's share of our annual rainfall and the eventual death knell of summer. Fall can best be described in the desert as post-summer or pre-winter. A quick 1-hour jaunt up north, though, holds the allure of cool temperatures and full fledged Autumn. This year, however, while the leaves will be as spectacular as ever, and the breeze that hits our faces a crisp 75 degrees, there will be a little something missing.

Young's Farm was established in 1946 in Dewey, AZ. It's 300 acres were privately farmed for an abundance of crops and used to raise all manner of animals. In the early 1980s, the family opened the farm to the public. For 30 years, the people of Dewey, nearby Prescott Valley and fall seekers from the Valley would make the pilgrimage to an annual pumpkin festival. Other events were held at the farm as well, but the pumpkin festival was iconic. I made the trek personally most years, and was always rewarded with great food, fun and my own personal Great Pumpkin (blatant copyright infringement). There had been rumblings the last few years about water rights issues with the town. Developers wanted the land desperately, and apparently, the local powers that be were inclined to agree with the "onwards and upwards" crowd. The family eventually yielded, and held it's final festival in 2006. The farm has since closed, and the family took its pursuits to Oregon. The last two years, I was fortunate enough to have a family of my own with whom to share the experience. My son, Jack, was thoroughly mesmerized by the fiddle players, man-sized turkey drumsticks, and of course, the never-ending pumpkins. So fairwell, Young's Farm. You took a little bit of Arizona with you when you left.

For Scottsdale AZ Real Estate and more local information please visit me at www.RayandPaul.com

The Grand Canyon is one of the most jaw-dropping sights on earth. People come from around the world to see our big hole in the ground, only to find that it is an even bigger hole than they ever imagined. It is a bit of a tradition for just about anyone who has lived in the Valley of the Sun for any period of time that you take first time visitors to hike Camelback Mountain, see the red rocks in Sedona, and penultimately to our state moniker's namesake (for all of you scoring at home, that would be The Grand Canyon State). Sometimes it can feel less like a tradition than a burden. Other times, it can feel less like a burden than a trip to the dentist. Not your standard DDS accredited dentist, mind you. More like Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors. That is until you actually get there, and step out of the car. The nuisance of the trip, stopping for lunch at Bunhuggers in Flagstaff for the umpteenth time (though saying that name never gets old), the $20 to get into the park which brings your yearly total up to roughly six grand ... it all melts away when you get that first magnificent view of the canyon.

Years ago, long before I entered this profession, my mother's aunt and uncle came to visit us from Mars, PA. Yes, you read that right, Mars, PA. To my knowledge, they had never left the state of Pennsylvania before this epic road trip. Their first priority upon hitting town was an immediate trip to the canyon. It was already mid afternoon, and would take a good four hours to make the drive, so my mother suggested we put it off until morning. Undeterred, they wanted to leave right now until my mother stopped them in their tracks by mentioning that it would be too dark to see anything by the time they got there. After several seconds of silence, Uncle Pete, clearly not grasping the sheer enormity of what he was to see, blurted out, "Don't they light it up?"

It is much like showing property to someone who is new to the area on those days when you are just not feeling it. You grimace about the thought of pointing out the same landmarks, telling the same jokes, looking at the same houses, setting up your appointments. All while making sure that you are "on" from the minute you greet your client to the time you drop them off. Any malaise falls away, however, once the appointment starts and you are in your element: showing off the community you love. Sometimes I think of Pete when I pick up a first timer from the airport. Just glancing their changes in expression as we drive through town, I can see that this is not the cactus and tumbleweed community that was expected. Or maybe they knew it would be nice, but not quite this nice. Suppressing a grin, I have to restrain myself from mentioning how beautiful it is when they light it up.

For Scottsdale AZ Real Estate, please visit me at www.RayandPaul.com

McCormick Ranch is Scottsdale's first, and arguably greatest, master planned community. Incorporated in 1972, McCormick Ranch was developed in phases to become what it is now today. Known for two championship 18-hole golf courses, more than 25 miles of bicycle paths, public tennis courts, 130 acres of man-made lakes, it is the greenery which makes it famous. With available land not as abundant as it once was, it is highly unlikely that the Valley will see another community as devoted to ammenities. These ammenities are not just for show either as the lake system and greenbelt (Camelback Walk) was designed as a water drainage system. In conjunction with the Indian Bend Wash, it is equipped to handle a 100-year flood. For all of the terrific ammenities, the annual planned development fee is a mere $185 per household.

Homes in McCormick Ranch were primarily constructed from the early 1970s through the mid 1980s, with scattered in-fill construction. Development began along the southern boundary at Indian Bend Road and progressed northward incrementally to Shea Boulevard. It is bound on the west by Scottsdale Road and 92nd St on the east. One fill-in condominium development is currently under way.

Home prices range from the low $200,000s for a small condo to multi-million dollar properties on acre or waterfront lots. There are two high school districts with McCormick Ranch. Residents south of Via de Ventura Rd are in the Saguaro High School District, while those north of Via de Ventura are included in the Chaparral High School District.

There are 3 resorts in McCormick Ranch: The Millenium Resort Scottsdale McCormick Ranch, The Radison Resort and Spa, and the Scottsdale Conference Center Resort.

Public Parks include the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Rotary Park, Mountain View Park, and several smaller neighborhood parks.

For additional McCormick Ranch information, please visit me at Scottsdale AZ Real Estate.

Paul Slaybaugh

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