Walkscore.com Homepage

One of my personal criteria when looking for a home is a walkable neighborhood.  WalkScore.com is a great resource if you are looking for a neighborhood you can walk.  WalkScore.com gives information about all of the stores, restaurants, parks, libraries, and other services available within walking distance of a certain address.  For instance, the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in New York City gets 100 out of 100 or “Walkers’ Paradise” as a score, whereas, the house in which I grew up in rural Michigan gets a 0 out of 100 or “Car Dependent” as a score.  There are many levels of walkability to choose from.  I would not want to live in New York City, but I do enjoy being able to walk to the store or a restaurant and Arizona has quite a range of walkable neighborhoods throughout.

Tucson, Arizona has an average walk score of 55 out of 100 or “Somewhat Walkable.”  Tucson’s Top 10% of walkable neighborhoods score an 85 out of 100 or “Very Walkable.”  That number is good enough for me.  The intersection of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street scores a “Very Walkable” 89 out of 100.  This gives an urban feel without living in New York City.

Flagstaff, Arizona has an average walk score of 49 out of 100 or “Car Dependant.”  Flagstaff’s top 10% of walkable neighborhoods score a 92 out of 100 or “Walker’s Paradise.”  Another good number.  The intersection of Humphrey’s and Cherry scores a “Very Walkable” 86 out of 100.  You could walk to most anything.

Phoenix, Arizona has an average walk score of 55 out of 100 or “Somewhat Walkable.”  Phoenix’s top 10% of walkable neighborhoods score an 82 out of 100 or “Very Walkable.”  Phoenix would be a little more car dependent at best than Tucson or Flagstaff but you can still find walkable neighborhoods.  The intersection of McDowell and Seventh Street scores a “Very Walkable” 78 out of 100.  Better yet, the intersection of Mill and University in Tempe scores a “Walker’s Paradise” 97 out of 100 and despite Phoenix’s “Car Dependant” reputation that is one of the best numbers I was able to find in Arizona.  Now that is very nice!

If you like walking as much as I do, check out WalkScore.com before you decide which Arizona Real Estate is right for you.

There’s more to learning about a new city than just identifying the major attractions. No matter how many times I’ve been to a certain part of town there’s always one question that throws me for a loop. “Where should we eat?” This is when my brain turns off and I’m left to respond with the only immediately visible dining choice, which is usually something like Wienerschnitzel. Frustrated, I often respond with a vacuous “Uh…” So, I’m making it a point to become familiar with dining choices in Tucson, for now, arranged by intersection(give or take 100 yards).

The intersection of Euclid and University is at the East side of the West University Historic District just West of the University of Arizona Main Gate.  This neighborhood is full of University of Arizona students and very vibrant.  If you happen to find yourself looking at Tucson Real Estate near the intersection of North Euclid Avenue and East University Boulevard, there are many choices when some one asks the question, “Where should we eat?”

NorthWest: University of Arizona Visitor Center (I know you can’t eat here, but it is a good landmark and may be interesting to you)

East: Main Gate Square (broken down, somewhat, below)

NorthEast: Johnny Rockets, Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream, La Salsa, Pei Wei, Pita Pit, Kababeque, Gentle Ben’s Brewing Company (at Tyndall)

SouthEast: The Auld Dubliner, Starbucks (Surprise!), Geronimo Shops and Restaurants (several places to choose from here), Frog & Firkin, No Anchovies

North Side of University between Tyndall and Park: Chipotle, Which Wich (and behind Which Wich there are several other choices including: The Cereal Boxx and Paradise Bakery)

South Side of University between Tyndall and Park: Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins, Silver Mine Subs, Fuku Sushi, Espresso Art Cafe, The Fat Greek

These are some of the choices available to you if you find yourself ready for a break from the search for your perfect Arizona Real Estate near Euclid & University.  Enjoy!

One of the best things a person can do with one’s Arizona Real Estate is to landscape with low water use plants. Not only will this improve the property and help keep the water bill low, it will also help protect our most precious natural resource, WATER.

One of my favorite things to plant that helps to make a nice green background on my fence is vines. There are not as many low water use vines as other plants but there are a few out there that I really like. Whenever I look for plants for my yard, there are a few criteria besides the low water usage that I want. These criteria include low litter, few or no thorns, usually able to live in direct sunlight, moderate to fast growing, and evergreen or semi-evergreen. Here are some of my favorites:

• Grape Ivy (Cissus Trifoliata) is a moderate growing, low water use and low litter vine native to the southwest US and Mexico. It is hardy to 20 degrees and can tolerate full sun to shade. This semi-evergreen vine can provide an interesting effect if allowed to climb in trees.
• Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia Violacea) is a fast growing, low water use and low litter vine that is native to Australia. It is hardy to 20 degrees and can tolerate full sun to partial sun. This evergreen vine has purple clusters of flowers that bloom from winter to spring and needs well-drained soil.
• Yellow Orchid Vine (Mascagnia Macroptera) is a moderate growing, low water use vine that has seasonal litter and is native to Mexico. Recently reclassified as Callaeum Macropterum this vine is hardy to 22 degrees and can tolerate full sun. It is semi-evergreen and has yellow clusters of flowers in late spring to early summer. If you prefer purple flowers try Mascagnia Lilacina.
• Baja Passion Vine (Passiflora Foetida v. Longipedunculata) is a moderate growing, low water use and low litter vine that is native to Baja California. The Baja Passion Vine likes full sun, it is hardy to 25 degrees, semi-evergreen and has white and purple flowers in the summer that attract Gulf Fritillary Butterflies. The flowers on this vine are some of the most interesting you will ever see.
• Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea Ricasoliana) is a moderate growing, low water use and semi-evergreen vine that is native to South Africa and has seasonal litter. It is hardy to 25 degrees, can tolerate full sun to partial shade and has showy pink clusters of flowers in the late summer to fall.

These are five of my favorite low water use vines that can add beauty and value to your Arizona Real Estate with minimal additional water costs.

One thing I learned while working at the title/escrow company was the fact that there are no stupid questions. Even the most seasoned escrow officer would ask a question if there was any doubt. It was indicated that the only stupid thing would be not to ask the question. Not asking a question puts unnecessary risk into any transaction. It is always best to ask even if you “think” you know the answer to the question.

I have a great group of people who I trust that I will ask when I need a second set of eyes on a problem. Different people see things from different perspectives. With my title and escrow background I can see that there could be issues if a person has financial problems and is attempting to sell a property. I always check to see if taxes are current and if there are any liens on the property. These are things that can complicate a transaction. There is nothing wrong with not knowing the answer to a question. In fact it would be impossible to know everything. What is important is to know how to obtain information if needed. I am lucky in that my time at the title/escrow company gave me many other contacts of whom I can ask more technical property questions. I don’t know all of the answers but I know where to find them.

There will always be questions when purchasing or selling Tucson Real Estate. If you ever have a question regarding a transaction that you are involved in don’t be afraid to ask. If one person doesn’t know the answer to your question ask somebody else. Eventually you will find the answer you need and save yourself possible problems in the future.

Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona and although everyone has different viewpoints on this subject, to me Tucson is a great Arizona city!  Tucson has great hiking, it is very bicycle-friendly, dog-friendly, and environmentally-friendly.  The history of Tucson is compelling, dating back to 1775, and Tucson celebrates that history.  Tucson feels like a small town in many ways, yet has all of the things a person would look for in a big city.

The purpose of this blog is mainly to focus on Arizona Real Estate.  All of the things that make a community livable go into making its real estate more valuable.  This blog will focus on all of those things.

Andrew Johnson
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 1, 2008 04:40 PM

Two of metro Phoenix’s largest residential brokerage firms have merged with the purchase by HomeSmart Real Estate of competitor Dan Schwartz Realty Inc.

The sale price was undisclosed.

Combined, the companies have about 3,400 licensed real estate agents, said Matt Widdows, president and chief executive officer of HomeSmart.

All of Dan Schwartz’s 1,650 agents have the option of transferring their contracts to HomeSmart by the end of the year, Widdows said.

In terms of size, the acquisition puts HomeSmart in the same realm as Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, West USA Realty and other household names in the local brokerage industry.

HomeSmart had about 1,750 agents before the acquisition, Widdows said.

The transaction should not affect home listings being handled by agents with either business, officials with both companies said.

Combined, agents with the two companies have about 2,300 home listings.

Both Widdows and Dan Schwartz President Duane Fouts said the sale was not prompted by the current housing slump, which has seen home sales and values plummet.

“They pursued us for quite some time, and we decided to entertain their offer,” said Fouts, who joined Dan Schwartz in 1988.

Dan Schwartz Realty was founded in 1976. Fouts became a principal in the company in 1994 and 100 percent owner of the business in 2001, he said.

Before being bought, the company had an office in Phoenix, Glendale and Tempe.

The Glendale and Tempe offices are closing as a result of the acquisition. HomeSmart will move its corporate headquarters from its current location near Missouri Avenue and 16th Street to Dan Schwartz’s Phoenix office near 19th and Northern avenues.

HomeSmart, which opened in 2000, also has an office in Glendale, Mesa and Scottsdale, and plans to open an office in Gilbert this year, Widdows said.

It also has a franchisee in Prescott and in southern California, he said.

Dan Schwartz agents will have until the end of the year to move their contracts to another brokerage firm, according to Widdows and Fouts.

The Phoenix Gay Pride Parade kicks off tomorrow, Saturday 12 April 2008, at 11am. The parade moves north on Third Street between Thomas and Indian School and includes floats, walking contingents and cars who support or represent churches, political organizations, bars, radio stations etc. The parade can be a fun learning experience for parents who wish to expose their children to diversity. The parade is free for all.

The Phoenix Gay Pride Event takes place in the Steele Indian School Park from noon until 9pm on Saturday and Sunday, 12 & 13 April 2008, and includes entertainment such as dancing, drag shows and headliners such as Expose and Sheena Easton. The entry fee is $25 for a weekend pass or (I believe) $15 per day. (This is vague and may require more research if you are interested.)

For more information go to: phoenixpride.org

Go paperless, help the environment and APS will donate to the TREE Fund.

For a limited time, when you switch from a paper APS bill to an electronic bill, you’ll not only save a tree but contribute to helping the environment in other ways.  Between March 1 and June 1, 2008, APS will donate $1 to the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund for every customer who switches from receiving papaer bills and instead opts to receive a monthly electronic bill.  The TREE Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing professional tree care and propert urban forestry through funding research and arboriculture educational programs (www.treefund.org).  Other advantages of turning off your paper bill and switching to electronic billing are:

• E-mail notifications when your bill is ready to view
• Online access to your statements and account and usage history
• Reduced possibility of mail fraud and identity theft

Go to aps.com and select “Go Paperless” on the home page, then log in to turn your paper bill off.

The information above is from APS’s March-April 2008 Arizona Lifestyle Newsletter.

Modern take on ancients

Sue Doerfler
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 29, 2008 12:00 AM

Take a Tour

It’s only 35 years old, but its past is steeped in ancient history.

The Boulder House, one of the three homes featured Sunday during the Cave Creek Museum’s Homes Through Time Tour, is nestled among an outcropping of granite boulders that possibly were used by ancient Native Americans as a solar observatory.

The rocks rise 20 to 30 feet and form many of the home’s exterior and interior walls.

“It looks like these boulders are just hanging,” said Rick Cibik, general manager of Fort McDowell Adventures, the tourism division of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, which owns the 4,500-square-foot house.

Glass windows fit into the crevices between the boulders and provide cropped views of the desert beyond. Look closely at the boulders and you can see petroglyphs, including circles and spirals, that mark the seasonal changes.

The 10-acre site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, also is known for its rare bas-relief petroglyphs.

The tribe bought the home three years ago from original owners Bill and Sunnie Empie.

Southwestern architect Charles Johnson required several years to design the house and three more to construct it. The house was completed in 1983.

The home borrows on Frank Lloyd Wright’s principle of organic construction, in which a building appears to be one with its setting. The home is hidden in the rocks, and driving by, you’d never know it was there.

The entryway is sandwiched between boulders, disguising the small front door. Open it and enter a massive great room that features 20-foot ceilings lined with wood planks and vigas.

The interior has a Southwestern bent with a leather sofa and chairs and a sculptural, stuccoed floor-level fireplace. The copper and iron coffee table resembles a drum; a kiva ladder, with a folded Native American rug across one of the rungs, decorates the side of a boulder wall.

The adjacent dining room features a beehive fireplace, set back-to-back with the one in the great room. The centerpiece of the space is a rustic wood dining table, flanked by wood benches and chairs upholstered in a Southwestern-style fabric.

The small, compact kitchen features a tile mural backsplash and tile counters in earth tones. Stainless-steel appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Dacor double ovens, offer a contemporary twist.

The master bedroom is perched at the top of the house, 23 steps up from the kitchen. A contrast of old and new, it features a fireplace used hundreds of years ago by ancient Native Americans as well as a heavy wood-frame bed that is centered in the room.

The bathroom has dual vanities and a step-down shower that doubles as a jetted tub.

The guest-room wing, off the dining room, contains two bedrooms, a guest bathroom and a powder room. Its long hallway features a wet bar, which contains the only boulder that was moved on the site during the home’s construction, said Cibik, of Fort McDowell Adventures. With its flat top, it makes an ideal tray stand.

Throughout the house hangs Native American artwork, including pieces done by members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Other homes on tour

The tour includes two other homes:

• The Hunt home, on the site of an old cavalry remount station. The property features old structures as well as a main house that was inspired by hacienda living. Rich woodworking, antique furnishings and architectural details abound.

• The Hoss home, an environmentally friendly home with passive solar features, gray-water recycling and other environmentally sensitive features.

One of the most interesting things I learned was from one of the owners who told me that the “Metro” in the name refers to the meter measurement as in “Pizza by the Meter”. They do have some great looking wood fire baked pizza by the meter here but I would like to concentrate my attention on the rest of the amazing menu.

All meals are accompanied by a great seasoned roasted pita and dipping sauce. On my first visit I had the Cheese Ravioli with Four Cheese Sauce and fell in love. Here are some of the favorites with me and my friends:

• Cheese Ravioli choice of sauce
• Penne alla Vodka pasta in tomato sauce with bacon, fresh basil cream and vodka
• Pollo Parmigiana breaded chicken breast, marinara, mozzarella and parmesan cheese
• Cannoli Siciliani

There are many more dishes to choose from including a large selection of Soup, Salads, Antipastis, Pastas, Pizzas, Crostones and yes, Dolcis.

Pizza A Metro is located on the NorthEast corner of Thomas Road and 24th Avenue on the far east side of the Circle K center. THIS IS A VERY MODEST LOOKING LOCATION SO DON’T BE FOOLED! The exact address is: 2336 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85015 Telephone: 602-262-9999 Fax: 602-257-2338 You may call or fax ahead for take-out orders.

Pizza A Metro is open for business Monday – Thursday 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM Friday & Saturday 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM Closed Sunday

Do not forget to try Pizza A Metro for a delicious break in your search for Central Phoenix Real Estate.