Phoenix Arizona Waterfront Homes

Riverview Park in Mesa is Impressive

Does it make sense to take children to the park in Phoenix when its 105 degrees?  Only if there’s a splash pad!   That was the temperature when the picture to the right was taken at Riverview Park in Mesa.  That didn’t seem to bother the children playing in the water and the parents who didn’t need to work about their safety as they would in a regular pool. Riverview is one of many parks in the Phoenix area that use splash pads to help Phoenicians endure the summer heat.  In fact, the splash pad, open 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. is just one of the many attractions in this highly rated  public park in Mesa.  To find out what other features make this a top public park and probably the best park in Mesa, read on. Read the rest of this entry

Termites and Phoenix Homes

At some point in the inspection process, a diligent buyer will need to have a termite inspection, also known as a Wood-Destroying Organism or Insect Inspection.  This typically is done at the same time as the general home inspection.  Many inspectors are also licensed to perform termite inspections which adds about $55 to the general home inspection cost. While the most common termite in Arizona is not as destructive as those found in other parts of the country, a thorough inspection is a wise choice in order to protect an asset as valuable as a home. Read the rest of this entry

Or you can wait for a Phoenix Monsoon storm to find out!

The recent string of Monsoon storms has demonstrated the power of mother nature and the destructive effects of high winds that accompany those storms. The result of the Monsoon storm that came through Phoenix on the last day of August left over 55,000 residents without power, closed highways, and snapped power lines. Over an inch of rain fell in some parts of the valley.  Rain in Phoenix is always welcome, but this  came at a price.  A common site in many valley neighborhoods was fallen trees. If one of these trees falls on a wall, who is responsible to repair the wall?

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Determining if a Phoenix lake community allows boating

One of the most frequently asked questions I recieve is “Does this lake community allow boating?”  The second most frequent question is “How big is the lake?”  We’re going to answer both of these questions.  Previously, I’ve attempted to make a list of lakes where boating, kayaking, and canoeing are permitted and which lakes are larger and more conducive to boating.     I’m going to share some tools with you so that you can answer these questions.

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Starting your Phoenix area waterfront home search

Not all Phoenix waterfront property is created the same.  Some residential lakes provide ample room for pontoon boats and kayaks, while others have been characterized merely as canals. So do all lake subdivisions allow boating? Do some lakes allow fishing while others do not? And what about the water quality, do all lakes receive water from the same source? Which Phoenix cities have the most lake subdivisions and waterfront homes? If you are curious about any of these questions, read on.

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What is a Community Facilities District?

A community facilities district is a special taxing district that allows the financing of the installation, operation and maintenance of public improvements such as roads, water and sewer facilities, flood control and drainage projects.  Many well-known communities in Scottsdale, Goodyear, Surprise, Peoria, Buckeye and Mesa have utilized CFD’s to finance the installation and maintenance of infrastructure for specific communities. The bonds associated with the CFD’s become the responsibility of the property owners who benefit from the infrastructure improvements.   How can you find out if your property is located in a CFD? And if it is, what are the taxes for the CFD?

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Figuring out Phoenix and surrounding city addresses

Yes, an address is the unique identifier for a location within a city, and should let everyone know exactly where you live, but how useful is it?  How are addresses determined and what do they mean? Most addresses include a north/south/east/west coordinate.   North, south, east or west of what? Are all addresses based on one central coordinate in downtown Phoenix, or does each city have their own coordinate sytem?  How much  do we really rely upon an address to arrive at a destination?  If you know the answers, congratulations; if not then  read on.

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Overview of Mesa Waterfront Property

Mesa has a variety of lake communities; ranging from newer waterfront condos in Superstition Lakes to active adult waterfront homes in Leisure World.  Dobson Ranch is the largest lake community in Mesa located next to the Dobson Ranch municipal golf course.  Dobson Ranch waterfront townhouses and condos can be found in developments such as The Landings, Water Works, and Lake Park Development.

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Christmas lights light up lake communities

Christmas time in lake communities takes on an added dimension.  In addtion to the he annual ritual of displaying holiday lights in the front yard,  waterfront lots can decorate the backyards which can be seen from quite a distance.   Some lake communities even schedule a boat parade to show off decorated boats. Some communities such as Val Vista Lakes and The Islands in Gilbert make the boat parade an annual event.

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WaterWorks Condominiums in Mesa, Az.

It would be a stretch to classify Water Works as a lake community but the water features in the middle of the complex do provide a soothing atmosphere to the condominiums. There are just over 200 condos that were built between 1982 and 1985, with either 1 or 2 bedroom floor plans. The development is located east of Dobson Rd. on Baseline in Mesa.   The complex also features a community pool, and is just around the pool from the Dobson Ranch Golf Course.

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