Our friend Jeanie Bolger, Sr. Loan Officer at Nova Home Loans sent us over some valuable information we thought we’d share with you on steps to pay off debt collection.

We all know that in tough economic times it can be hard to make ends meet. If your bills have gone to collection is can severely affect your credit score. You can improve your credit score by deleting collection accounts. When banks have trouble collecting payment from debtors, they hire a debt collector (those are the people who call you at home or at work). When you pay off your debt, it’s important to work with the collector to pay off your loan and improve your credit score. And you have many options.

Your best case scenario is to have the account deleted from your credit report in exchange for payment. You will need to request the removal through a pay for delete letter to the collector offering a settlement payment if the collector deletes the account from your credit reports. You can also contact them by phone, but you’ll want the agreement in writing before taking action. Most collectors will want payment in full rather than the settlement payment, but will delete the account when full payment is collected.

If you cannot have the entry completely removed, offer a settlement payment to have it updated as “Paid in full”. Another option is to have the Account marked “Paid. Settled.” This will not boost your credit as much as a “Paid in Full” would, but may be your only option if you are unable to pay in full.

Make sure your keep a record of all your conversations, agreements, and proof of payment. Monitor your credit report to make sure the collector updates the account as paid. If the collector does not update the account, dispute the account with the credit bureau, providing proof of payment if necessary. The only unacceptable scenario is to pay the collection without having having fact reflected in your credit report.

Of course, always consult your CPA, tax attorney or whomever you trust like that.

Stay Tuned for more from Jeannie Bolger, Sr. Loan Officer – Nova Home Loans.

Downtown Phoenix is a flourishing community full of life and diversity. Why wouldn’t’ you want to live there?

Our friend Anna moved here only a few months ago from Chicago and I was lucky enough to help her find the home she wanted.

I’m so glad I could help find her a home that she and her fiance could love! If your looking for a new home in Phoenix, call me today at 604-456-9388

Though your evergreens are glistening in your living rooms now, in a few days when the presents have been unwrapped and the decorations put back into storage, you’ll be left with the eternal question of Christmas. What do I do with this tree?

Well, the City of Phoenix has joined forces with to Z Equipment Rental & Sales to offer a free drop of location for your lightly used trees.

Christmas tree drop-off locations, by area:

• North Phoenix: Deer Valley Park, Utopia Road and 19th Avenue
• Paradise Valley Park, 40th Street, south of Union Hills Drive
• Sereno Park, Sweetwater Avenue and 56th Street
• Cactus Park, 3800 W. Cactus Road
• Mountain View Park, Peoria and Seventh avenues.
• Central, West, East Phoenix: Marivue Park, Osborn Road and 59th Avenue
• Washington Park, Maryland and 23rd avenues
• Madison Park, Glenrosa Avenue and 16th Street
• Los Olivos Park, Devonshire Avenue and 28th Street
• Desert West Park, Encanto Boulevard and 67th Avenue.
• South Phoenix: El Reposo Park, Alta Vista Road and Seventh Street
• Mountain Vista Park, 50th Street, north of Ray Road
• Cesar Chavez Park, 35th Avenue and Baseline Road
• Desert Foothills Park, Desert Foothills and Chandler Boulevard.

Trees must be stripped of their Christmas spirit, aka decorations, and dropped off between Dec 26th and January 8th.   Trees will be recycled and turned into mulch for city parks. (tree-cycling)

For more information, call 602-262-7251 or visit phoenix.gov/publicworks.

No, we’re not talking about your lovely Christmas trees.

Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus recently installed solar panels on the roof of  the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. These new solar panels are the first of their kind at the Downtown campus. The project cost approximately $815,000 and includes 322 panels which will produce 122,335-kilowatt hours of energy, not to mention are super cool. This is just one of many ways in which the schools plan to two conserve 20 megawatts of power every year by 2014.

And Why not? Sun is Arizona’s most bountiful resource. Those of you who have driven past the VA, Couldn’t help but notice their energy efficient parking structure. This past august, Duke Energy Renewables, purchased the Ajo Solar Project, in Pima County and The Bagdad Solar Project, located in Yavapai County, which collectively generate 20MW every year. More recently , Big Wigs from Greater Phoenix Economic Council  met with Senators Kyl and McCain in a lobbying effort for the growing industry. All just pieces in the bigger solar powered future of Arizona.  What does that mean for you? Recently, APS announced that customers could expect a 21% decrease in their bills thanks to their renewable energy programs, like partnering with Duke Energy Renewable.

ASU will of course be reaping in these benefits along with federal and state tax credits. The Downtown solar panels are just one of many ways in which the schools plan to conserve 20 megawatts of power every year by 2014.

For years, I’ve been bringing downtown friends together to meet and greet and build community. The Get Your PHX events have helped me pursue my passion for promoting local businesses, sustainable living and historic preservation. This weeks Phoestivus will not only act as the grand culmination of a year of great events, but a celebration of all the things I love in this city.

My new video is below, is available on my Facebook and soon permanently on the website.

The video outlines my philosophy –the Get Your PHX Method, why I plan community events downtown and how that helps me find the best house for you.

Choosing an agent is a very personal decision. I hope this video helps you understand why I do what I do.

The Get Your PHX Method

Now I want to learn why you do what you do.

Please give me call 602-456-9388 and we can get started today.

This time of year means a lot of energy consumption. Between all of the electronic games you give your kids and Christmas decorations, there will be spikes in energy bills across the city. (Especially if I can get a hold of one of those Kinect things. I’m gonna dance my tushie off.)

But one organization is here to help. The City of Phoenix is offering huge cash incentives to make your home more energy efficient.

The Energize Phoenix Program is offering energy-efficient improvements to neighborhoods along the light rail downtown.  Energize Phoenix has been fortunate to call on an established base of private-sector contractors experienced in energy efficiency work and programs. Not only will the program will provide cost-effective energy upgrades, but when you choose to update old, energy sucking appliances, they will shell out the cash to match the rebate that comes with energy saving production, all in the name of reducing energy consumption.

In 2010 the program was awarded 25 Million from the Better Building Program. Energize Phoenix aimed to upgrade 2,000 homes and 30 million square feet of business space. That’s right. This money will go towards commercial, residential, and industrial space all along the 10 mile “Green Rail”. The program hopes to reduce energy use in homes by 30% and commercially by 18% by 2013. And their well on their way.

On Wednesday, Energize Phoenix announced new territories, expanding their effort from Central and Missouri Avenues to Washington and 44^th Streets. According to an Energize Phoenix representative, Phoenix is  “presented with a unique opportunity to become more green’ by making homes and businesses more energy efficient through the Energize Phoenix program. Downtown Phoenix is an ideal area for Energize Phoenix because the homes and businesses are among the oldest building stock in the city, which often translates to less efficient buildings.”

Of course this effort isn’t just in the name good doing and green living. It’s for research! Over the next few years, they hope to “evaluate energy savings of Energize Phoenix through macro statistical analysis of all projects and individual case studies of select projects.” That sounds science-y, right? It just means, they’re going to find out what works. Energize Phoenix is also, at its core, an effort to raise awareness and turn the green corridor into a mass energy saving community. 

Good news on the Home loan front. President Barack Obama has signed HR 2112! Oh, you don’t know what that means? Trust me it’s exciting.

Here, let me quote you!!

FHA maximum Loan Limits effective October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012 – Mortgagee Letter 2011-39

 FHA Loan Limits that were in effect from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, as announced in ML 10-40, shall apply for case numbers assigned from November 18, 2011 through December 31, 2011 – Maricopa County $346,250

 FHA Loan Limits with case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 will remain the same as those that were in effect from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 – Maricopa County $346,250

 FHA Loan limits with case numbers assigned before November 18, 2011 are subject to the LOWER limits that were in effect from October 1, 2011 through November 17, 2011 (some exceptions apply) – Maricopa County $271,050

So what does all of that mean?

Moral of the story is:  FHA Case #’s assigned Jan 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 maximum loan limit for Maricopa County was $346,250 –

Case numbers assigned October 1, 2011 thru November 17^th, 2011 are subject to the REDUCED loan limits of $271,050 for Maricopa County – And yet another change FHA Case numbers assigned November 18^th, 2011 thru December 31, 2011 will jump back up to $346,250

Basically, you can borrow more under FHA….

Don’t you love how long it took them to say what I said in seven words?

Stay Tuned for more FHA changes.  Please call Jeannie Bolger, Sr. Loan Officer – Nova Home Loans if you have questions. 

Exciting Right?

Its that time of year again, when Christmas decorations come out of dusty boxes and you can really tell who’s in the holiday spirit. We separate the meek from the jolly. Downtown leader Jim McPherson is organizing an effort to decorate Central Ave where the City can’t due to budget restrictions.

This weekend marks the 25th  APS Fiesta of Light Electric Light Parade here in Phoenix. In lieu of a lovely post-Thanksgiving snowfall, this long standing tradition announces the true beginning of the Christmas season downtown.

The parade start its march at 7pm this Saturday on Central Avenue at Montebello heading south, or you can catch the official judging tonight starting at 5. Does anyone know the official criteria for float judging? Is it based on lumens?

In addition to lighting up the night, APS will once again collect canned goods along the parade route for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank. And of course Santa will be there, taking suggestions from good little girls and boys and keeping everything jolly.

Events like these are what make the downtown Phoenix community great. According to Jim McPherson, “Celebrating milestones and occasions helps to build community. Many residents, neighborhoods, arts and cultural institutions, businesses, and city officials are all working to foster that sense of community as more and more people move downtown and tourists visit our city.” Jim is just one of a group of people working to decorate Central Avenue for the season to help promote patronage and general Christmas cheer. Over time, Central Avenue became the primary place to hold such major parades and holiday events. According to Jim, the Central Avenue decorations that have gone up this year were first installed in 2002. But the holiday’s don’t just end with lights. CityScape has installed an ice rink and Christmas tree downtown for everyone to enjoy.

Not only is it a time for visitors to see our developing downtown, but the community comes together to celebrate a wonderful holiday season around their favorite local businesses.

As Phoenix’s downtown economy grows into a true metropolitan epicenter, we in turn deal with the downsides of big cities, like the homeless populations. There are several local organizations working with the community to  overcome this issue. The Tumbleweed Youth Center, near the downtown ASU Campus, had been providing a safe environment for homeless or displaced youth in Phoenix for decades. But when a growing homeless population met an impending foreclosure, the center was forced to look for a new location that would meet their needs on a budget.

The center is almost completely run on federal and state grants, with community donations making ends meet.

Dick Geasland, Tumbleweeds’ Executive Director, says that the center focuses their efforts on “building trust” between teens and young adults and a system that they may feel has failed them. The center offers emergency housing for ages 12-18, as well as basics, like food and showers, for 18-26 year olds.

According to Geasland,  “Our case managers are more like detectives” as their job entails way more that helping kids stay on track. The center works to help youth obtain original identification, birth certificates or state IDs, which is often lost or never created, as well as connect them with health care providers for a healthy future. The Street outreach street works with current youth center tenants as well as the surrounding community to locate local homeless teens and offer aid, such as hygiene bags and non-perishable foods.

Tumbleweeds got in contact with a former landlord who was able to find and renovate a space to meet their needs and their budget. The new center, located on 16th and McDowell, is almost twice the size of their old facility and includes a 2,500 square foot store front.

Need some screen printing done? Look no further. The center’s store front doubles as a screen printing shop as well as hands on business training and employment for center youth. Geasland also hopes to open part of the center as a performance space to introduce the center to art as well as theater and performance management.

Now, I know what your thinking. “A great non-profit helping out Downtown Phoenix?! How can we help?” Clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, and bottled water can be dropped off at the center which is located at 1419 N. 3rd Street, Suite 102 in Phoenix. You can also visit their website for the most currently list of needs as well as to donate funds.

I’m thrilled and honored to be listing 90 West Virginia, historically the Fairhope School.

This 4,183 square foot Spanish Revival home is THE flagship Willo Neighborhood property, sitting on just about 3/4 of an acre. There is no other parcel of this size in Willo, as this home was once the Fairhope School.

This recently-renovated 4-bedroom, 3.5 bath property includes a guest house, pool and incredible features, which you must see to believe.

Owning this property is like owning a piece of Phoenix history.  Built in 1930, the Fairhope school was a private academy for young ladies. It was billed as a modern marvel because it had the amenities to actually heat lunches for the children to eat.

In 1949, the school was remodeled in to a bed and breakfast called the Yum Yum Tree. It stayed that way until the 1970s when it was traded to a local attorney named Neal Roberts. Who is Neal Roberts you might ask? Well, this is where the history gets truly amazing.

He was one of the individuals implicated in the famous assassination of Arizona Republic journalist, Don Bolles at the Clarendon Hotel in June of 1976. Roberts owned the property and lived and worked there.

Sad history, yes, but this is the stuff that lovers of historic homes live for.

Later still, there were attempts to make it a bed and breakfast again. In fact, you can still see it listed on Trip Advisor.

The current owner and his wife lived at the Yum Yum tree for a short time in the early 1990s. So inspired by the history of the building and their memories, they bought the property and renovated it in 2008 with the help of well-known Phoenix Architect, Jerry Cook. Their work earned them the 2009 Phoenix New Times “Best Historic Renovation” honor.

I will have more “before and after” photos for you soon. For now, enjoy the “now” photos, below.

This is the kind of property that a true lover of history and architecture will naturally seek out. Viewings of this home are by appointment only. Please contact me at 602-456-9388 for more information.

Some features include: solar panels, bamboo flooring & tankless water heaters, fully restored 1950’s O’keefe & Merritt stove, Paperstone counters, walk-in pantry and an 800-bottle wine room.

Beautiful glassed gate doors attach structures to make one seamless property.

The veranda is classic Spanish Revival.

How did the know this was my dream kitchen?

Now, kids, repeat after me, "O'Keefe & Merritt stove."

They put the "master" in bathroom.

Naturally-lit master bedroom.

This is living!

The way a Phoenix pool SHOULD look.