Pigmy Owl Home for Christmas
December 24, 2008
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Pigmy Owl Home for Christmas
It has been a difficult week to focus on Tucson Real Estate. I’ve been trying for two days (a week) to get the Tucson MLS Statistics report of November posted here. It will wait a couple more days.
If you want to read Tucson MLS Statistics on Christmas Day you might want to consider therapy. I did, it helped, some : )
Anyway, it was this past Sunday afternoon we were walking by this saguaro cactus when Barbara saw something poke it’s head out of a hole near the top. It was just a quick glimpse and as fast as it appeared it was gone. About an hour later we walked by it again and this time the little owl was catching a few rays of sun and not at all concerned that I was pointing a camera and snapping images.
He is unaware of a recession, I’m sure he got a good deal on his saguaro condo. I call it a condo because the owner of the cactus takes care of all maintenance issues with the cactus. He is quite happy to be in his home for the holidays.
I think he has a santa hat (a teeny tiny one) that doubles as a bed at night.
You can see his little eyes at the full size image on Flickr.
Post Tags: pigmy owl , saguaro cactus , Tucson Real Estate
Downtown Tucson on a Saturday Morning
December 22, 2008
.jpg "Pima County Courthouse")
Pima County Courthouse
I don’t go to downtown Tucson very often. You can count on one hand the number of times in the past 9 years I’ve been downtown (okay, I just checked and it might take one and a half hands). I’ve driven through it, but to park, get out of my car and “be downtown”. . .
This past Saturday I joined a few others from the Tucson Photography Meetup Group for a morning photo walk. We meet outside the Joel D. Valdez main library.
I didn’t know parking was free on weekends. I didn’t know a lot about downtown Tucson, I still don’t. But I do know enough to know I want to go back down there again.
I know the parks, library, and architecture of downtown Tucson is facinating.
I know that Saturday morning is a great time to take a walk down town with your camera, your dog, or your family. Maybe all of them at the same time.
I didn’t know there was a website called Downtown Tucson or that they had a parking map.
If you haven’t ventured downtown because of the traffic, or no place to park, because it just seemed like it was too far to drive, then you might want to test those assumptions. If you thought all you would find down there were government buildings and nothing of interest I can assure you that isn’t the case.
If you are a photographer and you haven’t been down town, I would suggest you grab your gear and get down there some weekend morning. There is a lot of great image material for your camera.
I’m glad I took the time to do the photo walk down town. If you have a camera and want to learn more about how to take great images then I would suggest you join the Tucson Photography Meetup Group. It is a great place to learn more about photography and Roger D is a wealth of information and he is very willing to share it with others.
Post Tags: downtown tucson , joel d valdez main library , pima county courthouse , tucson photography meetup group
NPR StoryCorps in Tucson
December 21, 2008
NPR StoryCorps Mobile Unit in Tucson
The StoryCorps Mobile unit has been in Tucson since November 30 and leaves today. But it is only a holiday break. It will be back in town from January 5 to 17. The mission of StoryCorps is to record interviews of Americans about themselves or other through a recorded conversation.
It is a wonderful opportunity for families to record memorable moments of their past and when they are done they receive a CD of their story for a $25 donation to the project. Even more their story becomes a part of the project recorded and archieved for all history.
You can read more about this project at:
Plan now to make history and be a part of it. Make a reservation if possible and plan now for what story you will share with the rest of the world.
Post Tags: NPR StoryCorps , StoryCorps Tucson
That’s Not What We Meant
December 20, 2008
Klingon Empire
I don’t think what I said is what you thought I said and it certainly isn’t what I meant. At least that’s not what I thought was going to be thought when I said it.
This is probably what is being said around the National Association of Realtors headquarters these days. The “Best laid plans of mice and men. . .” seems to apply in the current situation with a pause last week in pending contracts all across the country.
Why? Because:
In the letter to FHFA, NAR shared three potential implementation procedures for a federal buy-down plan:
- TARP would fund the payment of points at the individual level.
- The Federal Home Loan Banks would raise funds by selling below-market-rate loans to the Treasury Department for them to make the 4.5 percent interest rates available to lenders.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would purchase mortgages at the 4.5 percent interest rate but pay lenders the market rate.
The idea being this would help stimulate Buyers to enter the market as well has help some people be able to refinance and avoid foreclosure or going into short sales.
The result of the letter
“the news threw a wrench into the marketplace — making some shoppers reluctant to commit to purchase without guaranteed access to 4.5 percent mortgage money. In some cases, it stalled deals that were ready to go.” From the Arizona Daily Star- Business Section Kenneth Harney
It did appear to have a “Pausing Effect” on the number of contract being submitted by buyers, even here in Tucson.
“These are times that try men’s souls”, sorry ladies for this old quote. It is a fitting statement for the result of an intended purpose having the exact opposite effect, even if for a short period of time.
Will there be a 4.5% 30 year fixed interest rate?
I don’t know what is happening currently in the Klingon Empire but in our time space continuum, I wouldn’t expect to see that anymore than an envoy of Klingon’s landing to buy Florida Condos.
Take me to your Lender
Post Tags: federal home loan banks , klingon empire , national association of realtors , time space continuum
Tucson Listing Strategy for 2009
December 19, 2008
It isn’t too early to discuss the Tucson Real Estate Market for 2009. I’ve heard a lot of agents recommending to their clients to hold of on listing their homes until spring when it is expected the Tucson market will “pick-up”.
Do Not Enter When Flooded
It isn’t just Tucson agents that have been giving this advise. I hear it all across the country from real estate professionals planning for 2009 and trying to advise clients of the best time to put their home on the market.
Now I know this goes against conventional wisdom, but I think the best time to put your home on the market for 2009 is as soon as you are ready. If your home is ready to list the first of the year then I suggest you not wait till the spring.
Why?
I’ve been reading reports lately about how many people are holding off listing their home till the market picks up and sale prices have started to rebound. If/when that happens there is going to be another surge of listings flooding the market in the spring.
Buyers with low interest rates on loans and high inventories of homes on the market are going to be very picky again. I know sellers thinks buyers are only making low ball offers. That isn’t true. There are plenty of low ball offers out there and they are the ones which become the topic of stories like “You wouldn’t believe the offer we just got” or “They offered $100,000 less than asking and we are only asking $110,000″.
It is better to list your home before the inventories rise and there is a lot more competition.
What about all the foreclosures and short sales?
Aren’t these driving down the prices and buyers are all looking for those bargains? Some buyers are looking for those “bargains” but not as many as you might think.
- Many buyers don’t want to take 6 months to try and purchase a home, have a home inspection file mounds of paper work and wait and wait and wait, not to mention no seller property disclosure statement and many being sold “As Is”.
- Many buyers know that a short sale or foreclosed properties have a high probability of deferred maintenance.
- Many buyers want to know when they have their inspection and request repairs there is an owner that will actually respond and make repairs requested.
What Most Buyers Want
- There are a lot of buyer that want a home that has an owner that has kept the property maintained.
- They want to know they are working with a person that lives in the home and knows about the home.
- They want to see a Seller Property Disclosure Statement to learn about the home from those who have owned and lived in the home.
- They want to see a home that is lived in, well kept, and shows like a model.
What is Ready
Look at the what most buyers want list. This is where you can shine. You can have all these things done and present your home like a model ready to move in. The other day I said “The stars shine the brightest the darker the night“.
With a lot of homes on the market as short sales, foreclosures and many with maintenance issues a home that is well maintained, and ready to show is going to stand out from the rest.
This is why I think NOW is the time to get your home ready if you intend to list it and right after the first of the year get it on the market.
Pictures, Pictures, Pictures
Bright Colorful Tucson Home
Great Photos of your home are a MUST. This is one of the reasons we spend so much time photographing our listings. It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve been a photographer for over 30 years. Photography is my hobby and I’ve done it professionally from time to time as well. Photography is more than just my hobby, it is my passion. I think anyone ready this blog and seeing the photo blogs I have will already recognize this.
Along with Great Photos, a great web presence is also important. Just so happens I also build websites and blogs for all our listings. I wrote “Using the Web to Market Tucson Real Estate” back in November. The stars shine the brightest the darker the night.
When to list your home is a personal decision. But if you are waiting till the spring thinking that will be a better time you might want to do more research. And if you have one of those homes that already looks like a model. . .
Post Tags: Tucson Real Estate
The Only Thing Frozen In Tucson are the Daiquaris
December 18, 2008
Heat, Age and Tucson
Winter is for Barbecues
I’ve lived in Tucson now for almost 10 years. It was August of 1999. In just a few months I will have my “native” status. Those 10 years have gone by quickly and now I’m pretty much a full fledged desert rat. This means when it gets below 60 degrees “IT IS COLD”. Cold is a relative term. I’ve always been “Nordic” by blood type. The cold feels good, the heat is too hot. But time and age have shifted this, not to mention the addition of a blood pressure med which seems to lower my body temp by 10 degrees. But again I digress. . .
This topic came to mind from two different sources.
The Cold Snap In the Midwest
I have family and friends in Minnesota and Iowa. It is cold there. Pipes are frozen, cars won’t start and it is COLD. High’s in the minus 0 range are COLD. I used to live there I know what that cold is like.
The New McDonald’s AC Stuck
I’ve been going to a new McDonald’s close to my house, less than 3 mi. but they have a problem. The air conditioning has been stuck on since they opened. When you walk in from an outside temp of 57 to an inside temp of 50 and the AC is running, it is cold. There have been heating techs there on several occasions but to no avail. They were there again this morning, it was a little better. But it was cold.
Snowbirds come to Tucson to get out of the cold. They don’t stay long or come back to places where it is Cold. Remember cold is relative to each individual. World Traveler used to think 80 was cold. She would sit on the couch with blankets over her and a sweater on if it was 80 in the house. Now she is a golden gopher and coming home for Christmas break. It has been much colder than 80 in Minneapolis lately. We haven’t turned on the heat in the house yet. (World Traveler is in Minn : )
Getting to the Point: Heat Age and Tucson
Before I moved here I would come down a couple of times a year to visit my parent who have lived here since retirement. One of those visits had a huge impact because of the timing of events.
During the years of ministry in Des Moines, Iowa I would from time to time do services at various nursing homes. It was winter and cold. There were a lot of people in wheelchairs, some using walkers, others with canes. We went around the room and most told their age and where they were from etc.
The next day I was on a plane to Tucson. The next day I went up to the volleyball courts and there was a group of people there playing volleyball. They were glad to see a fresh face and went around introducing themselves and bragging about how old they were and still playing volleyball.
Many of them were older than the people in the nursing home from two days before.
It’s the heat or the lack of cold
Dad In His Golf Cart
It isn’t so much the heat. It is the lack of cold. It allows all of us to be far more active than we could be if it was cold. We can walk almost everyday without winter coats. The activity level of Tucson residents during the winter is higher than during the summer when we dodge from car to store and back home again staying out of the heat.
This time of year we are having outdoor patio parties, barbecues and get togethers. Hiking, biking, photo walks, etc. Just about anything you can do outside we are doing here in Tucson during the winter when others are trying to stay warm, thaw out pipes and jump their cars.
We don’t shovel snow and risk heart attacks because it is the only activity in an otherwise sedentary lifestyle.
The lack of cold is one of the key reasons Tucson real estate has faired better than many other parts of the country. The lack of cold makes Tucson a very desireable place to be in winter. The lack of cold does keep the body fitter and more flexible. I notice it, so does my Dad who is now heading toward his 90’s and still very active.
Post Tags: desert rat , frozen daiquiris , Snowbirds , Tucson
The Hole in the Bottom of the Boat
December 17, 2008
Yesterday’s post Free Lunch Loans and The Economy of Greed ended on a rather gruesome mental picture of the body expelling waste. Didn’t mean to leave it there and didn’t realize the impact of that mental image till I was rereading it in preparation for this post continuing the last point on the hole in the bottom of the boat. My apologies for anyone with a cold.
The Economy has a Cold
An Economic Cold
This might be the best way to describe it. The cold came from over exposure due to the hole in the bottom of the boat. The housing industry is where the cold was caught as outlined yesterday. Now the hole is being sealed up, but it isn’t government that is doing the work.
The hole in the bottom of the boat is being sealed slowly by natural healing process. There are a lot of homes on the market from short sales and foreclosures. Mixed in there are people that need to buy or sell a home due to their life circumstances. The qualified buyers are the ones that are in the best position. They have the money to put down on a home, they have the best interest rates seen in decades and the lowest asking prices in 5 years.
Sellers, it isn’t all bad news here either.
Yes, if your home is in short sale or foreclosure it is a difficult time. If there are a lot of homes in the market in your neighborhood which are in this situation it does make it more difficult for you as a seller.
When the Night is the darkest the Stars shine brighter
Have you ever heard this saying before. It applies to the Tucson Real Estate market today. Price your home for the market, and make it look like a model. It is competing against a lot of homes that have been left fall into disrepair. Many people that are in short sale or foreclosure simply do not have the funds to keep the property maintained.
Make your home standout among all the other homes on the market will make a significant difference. There are buyers in the market and there will be more in the coming months. If you are thinking about putting your home on the market then start getting it ready now.
What is happening now in Tucson and just about every other city in the nation is the cutting back on spending and tightening of belts financially. It is also a time to learn how to save and escape the economy of greed and consumerism.
It is going to take time for the hole in the bottom of the boat to be closed up. It consists of foreclosed and short sale properties. Home values are dropping because of this hole. But these are not the only contributors to the hole in the boat. The economy of greed was fueled by speculators and sellers themselves seeking a fast buck and easy money.
The hole in the bottom of the boat was also created by buyers who were willing to purchase homes with no money down and no way to pay for the mortgage. The assumption was “We will get an interest only loan, make the minimum payments and when the loan changes we will have sold the home for a profit before we have to start paying interest.“ This entire shell game was based on a false assumption that home values would always continue to rise.
There never was any evidence to support this assumption and the economy of greed was built on the premise of “Don’t be caught standing when the music stops because there aren’t any good chair in which to sit.”
The low interest rates for mortgages is helping heal the hole. First time home buyers which have saved for their down payment and closing costs are healing the hole in the boat. The financial industry tightening lending practices are also contributing to healing the hole in the boat. It is to everyone’s and every institutions benefit to heal the hole in the bottom of the boat.
The leak started in housing, it will be the first closed to make an economic recovery possible and sustainable.
Post Tags: housing industry , Tucson Real Estate
