Phoenix Arizona Waterfront Homes

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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Waterfront Homes and communities that allow boating

Waterfront communities with a community pool

Let’s face it, it can be nearly an impossible task to live in Arizona and not grave the relief that a private pool in your backyard can offer.  When it’s 110 degrees outside, you will be convinced it is a must-have.  Even when your Phoenix home is a second or vacation home used mainly during the winter months, pools are an attractive addition to any backyard.  But there may be reasons why you should forgo that luxury and let your community HOA manage that responsibility.

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Charter schools provide an alternative to traditional public schools

One of the many, but very important items on the checklist of things to do for a family relocating to the Phoenix area is researching schools.  Which school is the best school in the area we want to live? Which district is the best? Do they have extra-curricular activities? And the questions go on and on.  These families will also have to add another question that they may not have considered previously, “What about charter schools?” Read the rest of this entry

Arizona Jobs Bill – HB 2001 will lower business property taxes, targets jobs creation

Arizona is open for business with business property tax cuts and targeted incentives aimed at job creation.  That’s the purpose and strategy behind HB 2001 that was signed into law last month.  That’s what the sponsors want you to remember.   What they didn’t tell you is what will happen to residential property taxes.  Buried deep in the 214 page bill is a change to the tax treatment of residential property.  And in this bill what they didn’t tell you will cost you.  How so? Read on.

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 Granite – An Elegant Natural Stone Upgrade

Granite counter tops in Phoenix homes are always considered an upgrade and a distinguishing characteristic in any kitchen. The Arizona Regional MLS has recently made “granite countertops” a searchable field for those buyers where granite kitchen counter tops are a “must have”.  While buyers and sellers alike will attest to the natural beauty of granite, the facts behind this natural igneous upgrade are sometimes unknown. 

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Maricopa County Tax Bills Arrived – Some Happy, Some Not

The motivation for this article comes from all the recent news about taxes, and some buyers who say interesting things like “The property values have gone down, so the taxes better be lower!”   With that I thought it was the right time to dig in and get to the bottom of this sensitive topic.   I’m glad I did because there are some interesting facts of which I was unaware.  Read on and find out what is myth, what is reality,  and discover some unknown facts.

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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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