We could not write a blog post quickly enough! This home went under contract in the blink of an eye.

And who’s surprised! It’s a desert oasis: shady and quiet inside with beautifully-manicured landscaping outside.

There is not enough room in this post for all of the beautiful photos, so please check out our listings page here.

This home has been updated and cared for immaculately by the same owners since 1984.

The grounds are as beautifully laid out and maintained as a Japanese garden.

The dramatic front door greets you with stunning, custom stained glass.

The kitchen, updated about 10 years ago, is well-thought out with ingenious space-saving features, deep drawers and a custom pantry that is specifically designed for easy access.

The bedrooms are roomy. The bathrooms were updated with similar space-saving features about 8 years ago.

The home owners designed a back yard pool and patio area with inviting and warm light features. You will want to spend all your time there.

Also, don’t miss the work shop and the sewing room, which are convenient for any number of uses. Solar panels = ave. $40/mo.

We are excited about our new listing in the Garfield Neighborhood. See details on our listings page.

This is historic home living with two structures on the lot, and perfect for an owner who would like to have a house mate who can help with expenses.

The front house, built in 1914, is 603 sqft and the guest house is 585 sqft.

These properties are smaller, but perfect if you live downtown, and spend more time outside the house than in. We know so many people who live downtown and talk a set-up like this.

The property was lovingly renovated in 2009, and has since been spruced up with new carpeting, external and internal painting and LED lighting. The front house, in particular, had many beautiful historic details brought back to life. The guest house was outfitted with a kitchenette and. Both got tankless water heaters, which is a must in Arizona.

Compare the cost of this property to renting in those massive buildings downtown!

The current owner used it as a rental since 2009 and would really like to see this tiny beauty go to a buyer or buyers who appreciate living in a historic home, and who could offset the monthly costs with a house mate in the guest house.

As such, she is less inclined to take an offer from a property renter or a flipper. She believes in the importance of that neighborhood connection.

If you’ve been looking for that tiny home opportunity, this might be it.

Have a look at this little video that we put together for the listing and contact us at 602-456-9388 if you have a similar property that you’d like to sell, or if you are looking for something like this for your next home..

We had another active month last month. We had two great properties that just sold, and very quickly. In both cases, the owners planned well in advance to make a move. They upgraded the homes to meet the market and they priced the homes just right, with our help.

This town home on Medlock is in a popular mid-century modern community that has maintained its historic integrity over the decades. The owners purchased this property over a year ago and quickly set about improving on elements that had been neglected. The open floor plan was a challenge, as they were considering taking out more of the wall between the kitchen and the living room. In the end, they decided that the flow of the property made more sense, as is.

We helped our clients purchase this home on west Earll back in 2011. Since that time, they updated mostly decorative elements. The kitchen, while small, had the potential to be opened up significantly. So, there came a decision point: is it worth it to upgrade the kitchen and seek a higher price? Or, should we list the home at a price where somebody else could do that work? Given that our clients were looking for a new home, it made more sense to leave the demolition to somebody else. The price was just right, as we got offers quickly, but still did not leave money on the table.

Those clients are happily settling in to a new patio home in North Central.

The lesson in this market is that you really want to plan ahead. Set your renovation and upgrade goals and work toward them at a pace that does not make the process overly-frustrating.

If you work with us to watch the market on a regular basis, we can pick just the right time to list. Call us at 602-456-9388. 

Donna Reiner, a local historian and a good friend of Get Your PHX, has written many articles over the years for the Arizona Republic and others about what came before us. We use her services when we list properties of historic significance to help us tell the stories behind the homes.

We are happy that Donna is allowing us to re-publish some of her articles on a monthly basis. If you or your business ever needs a historian, let Donna know at laydeescholar@hotmail.com.

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Mention the name John F. Long to old timers, and the first thing they probably mention is Maryvale.  But it is known to only a few long-time residents of Coronado neighborhood that John F. Long designed homes exist there.  What?  Yes, one of the first, if not the first formally planned infill project in the city of Phoenix in the late 1970s consisted of 15 homes designed by John F. Long being placed on long-standing empty lots in what is now a designated historic residential district. ­

It began in the mid-1970s, when the need for neighborhood revitalization within a city’s inner core swept the nation. White flight or in Phoenix’s case, suburban flight, reduced concern and care for older homes. And those who remained in the inner city were part of an aging and poorer population.

Former Mayor John Driggs spearheaded a group which eventually led to the creation of a Neighborhood Housing Services site selection committee. The pilot site, selected in September 1975, encompassed McDowell Road to Virginia and 7^th to 16^th Streets. While most of the homes within these boundaries dated from the early 1920s and 1930s, it also included lots that had always been empty.

Fourteen financial institutions plus the City of Phoenix, along with a fledging non-profit, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), aimed to upgrade this central Phoenix neighborhood. NHS intended to provide a means of neighborhood preservation by offering home improvement loans to owners whose homes in the selected area were in “early stages of deterioration.”

But Mr. Driggs had another idea.  As an executive of Western Savings and Loan Association, he persuaded the institution to purchase often weedy 21 lots in the project site.  He then persuaded John F. Long to be the builder. Driggs’ argument was “new homes on vacant lots could ease central blight.”

Long began construction of the first six homes using two of his long standing designs: The Challenger and The Champion. The former was a two-bedroom model and the latter had three-bedrooms. Only one of these was constructed in the first phase.

Long managed to “fit” his prefabricated homes on odd-shaped lots that were often smaller than those found in Maryvale. However, he was definitely not happy when he had to reduce at least one house by four inches so it would fit the required setbacks. Perhaps that was the primary reason that Long did not continue this type of project beyond his original commitment to John Driggs and Western Savings.

From the 30 applicants, a drawing was conducted May 30, 1978. Six buyers were selected.  Seven more homes were then started for fall occupancy. All total, John F. Long and Western Savings and Loan completed the construction of fifteen homes in the Coronado neighborhood.

Photos by Donna Reiner.

Have you noticed how the Coronado Neighborhood has been really popping recently? Whether its the active neighborhood associations or the Front Porch Concerts, people are gravitating to this part of town.

This 3br/2ba, 1,544sf home is on the  market for $349,900 and we expect it to go quickly with such tight inventory.

Check out our listing page, here.

The Coronado Neighborhood is close enough to downtown and transportation that its convenient, but it is far enough away that its still quite. The restaurants that have popped up along 7th St from McDowell to Indian School include impressive vegetarian options and a whole array of different culinary traditions.

The park in the neighborhood has a pool and lots of space to play, and there are even hidden gems, like the art ally at 13th and about Palm. This is where people have lined the alley with fun and kitschy pieces of art in an alley between the homes. Its one of those things that you don’t know is there until you know its there!

You may feel the same way when you see this listing. It’s a 1925 Santa Fe-style home that is charming and unassuming from the front. But, inside, the owners have added some impressive features. The high-tech smart fan and smart lock technology are convenient and can even save money.

The home had updates in both 2014 and 2016, with new bathrooms, recessed LED lights and low-E windows. The master suite is large, with a walk-in closet and plenty of light.

The lot is large in back and ready for entertaining. You can easily imagine hosting a garden party under the long patio lights, which have been hung from properly-set, large posts. Maybe you’ll host the next Front Porch Concert, but in your perfect back yard.

Don’t miss this one on your tour this weekend.

We can’t help but trumpet the home that we just sold. You can have a look at the historic description that we did of the home in this article from earlier this year.

This is a unique home in Phoenix, in a neighborhood that you would not know is there, almost unless you just stumble on it. Homes of this nature are often on the market longer, just given their price point. What we have found, as well, is that many people who are seeking out larger homes like this are accustomed to open floor plans, which were not a thing when this home was built.

People seeking historic properties seem to come in two varieties: those who are comfortable with the older, smaller kitchens and formal, separated dining rooms; and those who can’t figure out why none of the homes they are looking at have great rooms. In this case, the buyer intends to open up the kitchen in to the dining room.

For purists among historic advocates, this is heresy. Oddly enough, we have been hearing clients recently talking about how the great room concept is less appealing. They don’t want to have to keep their kitchen spotless in the off-chance that somebody drops by. So, perhaps we are seeing a swing back toward the days of smaller kitchens and separate dining.

This may be especially true as people seem to be more comfortable living in smaller homes and condos.

Either way, we are ready. We’ve seen it all.

If you are thinking to sell a unique home like this, please contact us at 602-456-9388.

This cute 2br/2ba, 1,283sf home in Wilshire Park is a great starter home with a huge back yard and room to grow. This home is a great value at $232,900.

This was the second home that we put on the market since the last Clark Report came out. (May was busy!)

The owners have maintained it beautifully, and have recently updated flooring and tub glazing (with 5-year warranty).

The home will convey with the extra freezer and the Kitchen Aid barbecue. The neighborhood is sought-after, due to its proximity to downtown and transportation. Yet, it is secluded enough to be quiet and peaceful.

Learn more on our listings page.

If you are interested in this property, another property or if you are thinking to sell a property, please call us at 602-456-9388.

If you’ve not seen this listing in the Medlock Historic Neighborhood, we hope you don’t feel that you’ve missed the big news.

May was big for our team. Just after our last newsletter, we brought on two new listings. Just missed it!

This massive home is an outlier in Central Phoenix, with six bedrooms and four baths and a two-car garage on a sizable lot. This is a home with room to grow. You will feel like you are in the north country, with all of the dense trees and private landscaping.

All this for $510,000!

Every room benefits from the soft light filtered through the trees outside. The Palo Baracho tree in the front ads an exotic touch. To top it off, this home is in the Medlock Historic Neighborhood, close to shopping, light rail and entertainment.

The home is priced well below the market, as the owner knows that you will probably want to make updates. With homes flying off the market, this is your chance to get a HUGE home in Central Phoenix, to customize to your liking.

See more on our listing page here.

If you have a historic home that you would like to sell, or buy, please give us a call at 602-456-9388.

We’ve issued a new price –down to $435,000– for this beautiful downtown town home –2br/2.5ba, 1,664sf with a 2-car garage. No parking headaches for you downtown if you live here!

This property represents downtown living in a rare and roomy town home, in the thick of all the fun. You can live about 200 yards from the Gold Spot Market, 1/8th mile from light rail, and a quick hop away from all of the entertainment, education and shopping downtown.

Have a look at our listings page for more information and lots of beautiful photos.

Please also see the video that we produced to give you a tour of the home at this link.

All this with a garage and quick access to the freeways. This town home was built in 2015 with added extras, chosen by the owner: upgraded floors and kitchen features.

So, if you love the historic neighborhoods and that front porch experience, but don’t want the historic home maintenance, this property is for you.

This home is priced competitively with the almost identical (but slightly smaller) MetroWest town homes nearing completion around the corner at 2nd Ave and McKinley. Have a look at this link for the story I did on that new development.

With everything happening downtown, you won’t want to miss this.

Michelle Conley, the quieter and more dignified half of the Get Your PHX team, has just a price reduction on her  listing in North Central Phoenix, to $584,900.

This 4br/4ba home has a den and a roomy guest house. It has one of the coolest back yards we’ve ever seen, on an expansive 10,698sf lot.

Check out the beautiful, state-of -the art kitchen with breakfast bar, granite counter tops, high end appliances, pantry, and complete with wine cooler. All bathrooms have been updated to perfection.

The guest house is large and is perfect for your in-laws or college student, with a security system with cameras and hard wired Ethernet.

The backyard is an entertainers delight complete with built in BBQ, outdoor speakers and fans. Full size washer and dryer in main home and guest house convey with the property. This property has been totally updated and is a fantastic family home! Schedule your private showing today!

You can see all of the photos and details for this new listing in North Central at Michelle’s special listing page.