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Get out and get cycling

October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

My husband Rick is a cyclist.  He heads out early every weekend and rides for several hours, many times getting 70+ miles in during the ride. That isn’t exactly my idea of fun, but for him, he loves it.  I am the one with the cruiser.  I am more likely to stop and take a photo along the ride to catch my breath.  Luckily we live in Scottsdale and we are both in great shape for going on a ride.

Scottsdale is being awarded the Gold Designation from The League of American Bicyclists.  There are only 14 Gold Designated cities in the country, and the highest level of Platinum has been given to only 3 cities.

So why is Scottsdale so bike friendly; with 112 miles of bike routes, 124 miles of bike lanes, and my favorite, the 119 miles of paved bike paths as well as 218 miles of unpaved trails, is it any wonder that Scottsdale is a bicyclist’s paradise.  Whatever your preference!

So with cooler weather here, hop on your bike and explore the area!

Filed Under: Things to do in Arizona Tagged With: ,

Exciting Changes

September 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Greetings,

We want to take a moment to share some exciting news with you regarding our real estate business. Our brokerage, John Hall & Associates, has been acquired by one of the largest real estate agencies in the southwest; Realty ONE Group.

Realty ONE Group has experienced exceptional growth with their state-of-the-art technology and professional office facilities. They have retained the exceptional leadership from John Hall & Associates; combining innovation with experience! 

We have physically moved to an office around the corner from our homes. In doing so we have opted to get new phone numbers and fax number.   We will be turning off the old toll free number in a couple of weeks.  The home/office and cell numbers you currently have will remain the same.   We have also abbreviated our email addresses.   (The old ones will work indefinitely.)  Our main website is undergoing remodeling so please be patient while we make it even better.  (We already were on Google’s first page….which is quite an accomplishment in the geek world.)

Thank you for your patience and understanding of this change.  We think it is a really good one. John Hall & Associates has a reputation since 1974 for outstanding service, integrity and professionalism.  Realty ONE brings us the technology to maintain our standing in today’s high tech world.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact us!

Filed Under: General Real Estate

Should I keep/extend my Home Warranty Service?

July 20, 2011 By 1 Comment

My favorite answer – Yes, No, Maybe

Yes - a home warranty service is another insurance policy on your home. If something breaks getting it repaired/replaced for a fixed cost is a ‘good thing’ . Not having an unexpected bill for getting your garage door fixed, AC repaired, hot water heater replaced… and it is nice to know you have someone to call when something quits on you.

No - You have a new home, just built and all of the appliances are warranted from the manufacturer, the house is still covered by the builders warranty.  Everything in the home is still covered, so no need to get an additional plan.   If this is you… a good idea is to contact the AC manufacturer to see if you can extend the purchase warranty.

Maybe - Your house is not brand new, but you realize the appliances/AC is older but you are going to upgrade and remodel.  If you are looking to put in a larger AC unit than is the minimum size requirement, or upgrade your appliances, then maybe getting/renewing your home warranty isn’t the best option.

So should you get/renew/keep your home warranty service… yes, no, maybe

Filed Under: Arizona Active Adult Communities, General Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

How much do I need to put down on my home loan?

May 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For conventional financing that answer is going to be: it depends. With great credit as little as 5% down has you in a conventional loan. With mediocre credit, 10%. But to eliminate the mortgage insurance you still need 20% down. Sometimes, with a bit more down, you may be able to get a better rate. Having a lender who will talk to you and find out what your needs are and presents different options is the best thing. Robyn Robertson from Suburban Mortgage (480-355-8106) talks to me in this video about different types of conventional loans and what is available today in the ever changing world of home lending.

Filed Under: Loans, Lending & Credit Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Westbrook Village, a lush oasis in the desert

May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

1WestbrookVillage So many people in Arizona come from some other state.  Most of those states have a much greater annual rain levels that we do,  and so they are accustomed to greener, lusher environments.  Coming to the desert can be a bit of a shock.  With that said, there are some communities that are greener, and more lush than others.  The Active Adult community of Westbrook Village is one of those communities.2WestbrookVillage

The two 18 hole golf courses wind thru the community with green fairways coming right up to the edge of the properties.  There are 2 restaurants, 2 club houses with lots of activities and Westbrook Village is one of the few communities with  condos, patio homes and single family homes too.

3WestbrookVillageThe location is great too.  Just off the 101 Freeway in Peoria, it can’t be beat for getting to town, seeing one of the sports teams, or the airport.

So consider checking out the 55+ community of Westbrook Village!

 

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Click on “See All Listings” to view the homes currently for sale in Westbrook Village

Filed Under: Arizona Active Adult Communities, Westbrook Village Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The home buying process, the loan and what you should know

May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Once you have found the house and had your offer accepted there is a lot that needs to be completed. If you get all your paperwork into the lender in advance that is one less thing that needs to be done in the first week.

Filed Under: Loans, Lending & Credit Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

West Valley–303 freeway opening up

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Connectivity is always a concern when choosing a location for your home.  Living in a 55+ community, your not looking at how long it takes to get to work, commuting being a thing of the past.  But easy access to the city, airport, and other things going on in the greater Valley of the Sun is always a good thing.

The 303 loop section from I17 connecting down to Bell Road is opening this week!

This makes access to Trilogy at Vistancia, Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Arizona Traditions, Corta Bella and more much nicer.

Now hop on the 303 and head north for freeway access to I17.  It comes in just south of Carefree Highway, making for faster access to the north and down to the rest of the city.

Filed Under: Arizona Traditions, Corta Bella, Misc Stuff, Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Trilogy at Vistancia Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Find out what you qualify for before house shopping

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I sat down with Robyn Robertson from Suburban Mortgage today. (480-355-8106) We talked about how just over the phone in a quick conversation she could estimate what you should be able to qualify for in a loan. But before you head out and get serious, be sure to get all the documentation to her to confirm the numbers, and get the Pre-Qual form filled out. It not only helps when submitting your offer, but also makes the first week of the contract process easier with lending requirements already taken care of.

Filed Under: Loans, Lending & Credit Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Introduction on how to use the home search feature on our websites

April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This video will give you a basic tutorial of the home search feature on our websites.

 

Filed Under: Arizona Active Adult Communities Tagged With: , , , , , ,

a House, a Home, a Community

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are lots of ‘houses’ on the market, and until you move in and make it yours it’s not a home… But a community is something special.

A community is where people come together. It may be because of where you live, what you like to do, things you are interested in and more.

This week I experienced community in my neighborhood. One of my neighbors had a serious accident. She is currently in the neurology ward at the hospital. Her family has come to town to sit by her side while she heals; and our neighborhood has come together to take care of feeding the family. It is a simple thing, providing a meal for others; it wasn’t just one person stepping up or volunteering to help. Everyone who knows her is helping.

Finding a house is easy. Having community is something that you have to participate in to have.

Filed Under: Arizona Active Adult Communities Tagged With: ,
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