Phoenix Arizona Waterfront Homes

New REO lot comes on the market in Santan Lakeside Estates

Lot 17 on the west side of the ski lake at Santan Lakeside Estates just came on the market  the last week of February bringing the total lots for sale to 3. The other available lots are 3 and 17.   Many water ski enthusiasts and owners will be watching this specific  transaction as it will aid in determining the current market value of a Phoenix valley water ski lot.  So how did they set the list price for this ski lake lot at $340,000?  My opinon? You have to go back to 2009 when lot 13, previously a bank owned lot was initially listed for $480K.  After periodic price reductions that are consistent with bank owned property, the list price eventually reached $399K,  an offer for $340K was accepted and closed in August 2009.  When that is the only comparable sale, it makes sense to use it!  Getting back to lot 17;  a couple of early offers were received within days of  being listed, but considered too low by the bank.  Time will tell as the ski season approaches and the bank watches the days on market increase , and  periodically considers price reductions.

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Hospitals Keeping Up With Growing East Valley

The typical growth pattern in Phoenix Arizona is the following: the residential homes are constructed, the developers watch the population increase  until the critical number to sustain grocery stores and retail establishments is reached.  Then we cross our fingers and hope that  road construction catches up.  A  longer leadtime but very important infrastructure component is the addition of hospitals to meet the healthcare demands of the growing community.   The east valley has seen the addition of 4 major hospitals open their doors to the public  in the last 4 years.  The Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, pictured above opened in June 2006, Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa opened July 2007, Banner Gateway in Gilbert opened Sept. 2007, and Banner Ironwood in Pinal County is scheduled to open in November of 2010, even though construction was finished Fall of 2009.

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Upscale Chandler Lake Community Offers Range of Home Options

The newest  Chandler lake community is Fulton Ranch with a range of contemporary home designs that range from Cachet Homes 1,386 sq.ft. condominiums in Serenity Shores up to custom built luxury waterfront homes in The Island at Fulton Ranch. In between, the other Fulton communities include Aegean Cove, Mediterranean, Gallery, and Caribbean that occupy over 520 acres in south Chandler.  Students in Fulton Ranch attend Ira A. Fulton elementary, Bogle Jr. High, and Hamilton High School in the  highly rated Chandler school district.  The property that is now Fulton Ranch was once owned by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which raised cotton for the fiber necessary for tires. Fulton Ranch is also close to the many semi-conductor industries such as Intel, Microchip Technology, and Freescale Semiconductor which collectively employ over 12,000 workers in the Chandler area.

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Are you ready for what lies ahead on the Short Sale Path?

One of the most confusing and frustrating types of real estate sales is the short sale transaction.   Having helped  owners that have a financial hardship and negative equity sell their home and also assisted  buyers in the purchase of short sales, I felt it would be beneficial to highlight  some different facets of Phoenix area short sales.  Here are two simple facts that will help a buyer become more prepared and successful when considering a waterfront short sale or any type of short sale purchase.

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Chandler Waterfront Properties and Lake Community Homes at Pecos Ranch

The Pecos Ranch  lake community in Chandler Arizona,  just south of the 202 freeway, was developed in the early 1990’s, with approximately 120 waterfront residential homes. Mature landscaping including tall pine trees, lakes, a community pool and tennis courts,  and a nearby city park all  make Pecos Ranch an attractive setting for families.

Pecos Ranch is in the Chandler School District. Students attend Ann Marie Jacobsen elementary school, Bogle Jr. High, and Hamilton High School.  Access to the freeway could not be any closer, with the 202 freeway entrance just around the corner,  making the commute to the greater Phoenix area very reasonable.  Pecos Ranch is less than three miles from the Chandler Fashion Mall, and less than 4 miles away from Intel and other semi-conductor companies.

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Ocotillo Residents Enjoy Awesome Waterfront and Golf Course Views

Some of the best views from lakeside  homes in Chandler may be the result of a balanced blend of lakefront property bordered by  lush greens and fairways of well maintained golf courses. This is definitely the case for Ocotillo homes in subdivisions such as Crown Point, The Island at Ocotillo, The Vistas at Ocotillo among others.

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Ventana Lakes Community Spans Two Cities and Two Zip Codes

Ventana Lakes lake community is the only community that I know of  in the Phoenix valley that is part of two cities, Peoria and Sun City, and covered by two zip codes, 85373 and 85382.  Those residents that live west of 107 Ave. are in Sun City 85373, while the Ventana Lakes residents on the east of 107th Ave. are part of Peoria 85382.  Regardless of the city or zip code, all belong to the Ventana  Lakes Property Owners Association. Ventana Lakes , situated on 480 acres, has been recognized as the “Adult Community for the Young-at-Heart”.

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Severe thunderstorms bring needed rain but cause flooding

It  is almost pointless to talk to someone in July when the temperature is 110 degrees about what happens in Phoenix when it rains. You want to point out how planned communities have drainage plans and retention basins, etc.   The situation in the summer  may be that no precipitation has been seen for months, so they wonder why you’re even bringing it up. Well, the last couple of day we’ve been drenched and now those plans and preparation are very much needed and appreciated.  Meteorologists are even saying that we may see as much rainfall in this 5 day period as we saw all of last year!  Yesterday there was even a tornado warning,  and many roads have been closed because of  flooding.  The picture above is not a lake water feature for a subdivision.  It may be for the time being, but actually it is a retention basin with grass in the community common area that accumualtes the runoff from storms such as the one we are having that has dumped over 3″ inches of rain in a 24 hour period in some parts of they valley.

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Phoenix Lakeside Property Offers Views and Amenities

Phoenix lake community condos and townhouses are appealing because of the waterfront property views, low maintenance and community amenities such as a community pool and spa.  This is especially attractive to Canadians and those from the mid-west with harsh winters that want more moderate weather with a turn key vacation or second home.  No yardwork or maintenance to worry about, just bring your suitcase and front door key.

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Scottsdale Waterfront Residences Condominiums on Camelback

Known for setting the standard of luxurious urban living in the heart of Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences are located near the intersection of Camelback and Scottdale Roads.  The waterfront designation is due to the location next to the historic Arizona Canal.  The SRP canal was completed in 1885 and facilitated the founding of many valley communities. In 1888, Major Winfield Scott purchased 640 acres next to the canal and Scottdale Arizona was born.  The real attraction to these luxury Scottsdale condominiums is the urban living atmosphere and proximity to dining, entertainment, shopping and everything within a close commute. The Scottdale Fashion Square, the largest shopping mall in Arizona with approximately 2 million square feet of retail is just across the street.

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