As the summer begins to tease us with signs of fading out–the sky is overcast and the rain is supposed to continue for the next week or so, I find myself thinking about the end of the year. Specifically, I think about how the older realtors always talk about the “slow months” –November through January.

Now, I’m no old hand, but I’m not that new and I can tell you that last Halloween through New Year’s was all work for me in the real estate business.

As the story goes, people stop buying or selling houses because the holidays just creep up on them and they get distracted. The common wisdom says that the market slows down after the summer and then maybe you may be able to negotiate a better deal during the holidays and Christmas. But that has not been the case the last two years.

If you look at previous years (see below), you will see that this is generally true; especially around Thanksgiving. In the first chart below you will see the last nine years. Some of them drop off drastically, but come back around February. In the second chart you will see 2004 and 2005 compared to 2010 and 2011. In ’10 and ’11 there was a little drop around November, but then we just picked right up again.

In other words, don’t assume that the end of the year is going to be slow!

The take away?

First: Don’t assume the end of the year is going to be slow. Whether you are selling or buying, take advantage of the active market.

Second, it’s been hectic the last two years. We have every reason to believe it’s going to be hectic this year, too.

And by the way, if you’re thinking to short sale, you’re running out of time if you want to avoid the tax repercussions of selling your home short. Please see this article and learn how the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows you to avoid paying taxes on mortgage debt forgiven by your lender. This act runs out at the end of this year.

Which is better:

The freedom of a condo? Or the land value of a house? You’ve found the area where you want to live. You have your financing arranged. But, you are stuck.

[Image:davecito]

This week and next I’ll be sharing some ideas to help you sort it all out by comparing the pro’s and con’s of each option. Today, I’m going to focus on the bonus features of a detached, residential house. (If you’re leaving toward a condo, you’ll want to read this, though, as you’ll get advice, too, since I’ll be comparing the two options.)

1.   The land Will Never Go Away

90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.”
~ Andrew Carnegie

Let’s face it. Buildings fall down.

But unless you live on an island in the Mississippi, your land will probably not go away.

This is a drawback for condominiums. Although many are built to last, some have been thrown up so quickly in recent years, they may not last 30 years.

Ask yourself this question:

Which is more important to me at this time in my life: being free from yard and home maintenance or buying something that I will have 20 years from now?”

[image: PrimeImageMedia.com]

2.   No Shared Walls

In a condo development, you may hear your neighbors. If you are the kind of person who does not like to see the same neighbors almost every day in close proximity, you may consider a house.

You can build a privacy wall or grow bushes around your home. Your back yard can be a fantastic get-away.

Ask yourself this question:

Do I enjoy the sense of community that I can have by sharing a common living area. Or, do I prefer more space that I can call just my own?”

How much more are you willing to pay for that luxury?

3.  Greater Flexibility to Improve and Remodel

Most condominiums, if built with block construction, give you some flexibility to re-arrange inside. You may be able to remove some walls and expand rooms.

However, once you start talking about windows, balconies, and patios, the restrictions begin to pile on.

If you have a house, you can go crazy repainting, adding features, and personalizing your home.

However, you must still adhere to city code for things like wall height and that massive Trojan Horse water slide you are planning to build in the back yard.

Get to know and love these two links:

City of Phoenix Historic Preservation

City of Phoenix Residential Building Permits

4.  Your Property Value is Tied to the Success of Neighbors

In a condominium, all owners pay into a fund that maintains the common property, including landscaping and insurance for things that owners share, such as walls and a roof.

In a house, you don’t have to pay these monthly assessments. But, then again, you have very little power over your neighbor, who has decided to park a massive pink RV between your two homes.

Or, if your neighbors don’t take crime prevention seriously, will your neighborhood likely improve or decline?

Ask yourself this question:

Am I willing to spend the time volunteering with the neighborhood association in order to protect my property value?”

Hint: You will want to ask a similar question for condos.

5.  Keeping Up Appearances

People often talk about keeping up appearances in the negative, as if it is all about superficiality.

But in a neighborhood, keeping the street looking good has a very direct impact on your property value.

If you are inclined toward a condominium because you don’t have to mow the lawn, consider this:

• The Average HOA Assessment = $200/month
• Average gardener = $100/month

6.  Other Things to Consider with Houses

Growth potential tends to be higher.

Condo boards politics can be tricky.

Houses are more adaptable for growing a family.

Always meet the neighbors before you buy, as part of your inspection period.

Kenneth “Ken” Clark
REALTOR(r)
At Your Service!
HomeSmart
(602) 561-5881
Ken@GetYourPHX.com

 

From the “In Case You Had Not Already Heard” department….

This news is a few days old, but I wanted to touch on it because this says a lot about all of the work y’all have been doing to emphasize supporting local.

The Arizona Capitol Times spoke with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton about it:

 

Not only is the city following a policy that provides for prudent and efficient investment, but provides additional funds for consumer and small-business loans in the local economy.”

Another reason for the city’s investment is to hopefully get a higher rate of return on some of Phoenix’s other investments. This move isn’t a totally unique one as several cities around the country have been implementing plans like this to manage their money in the fallout from the financial crisis.

It sounds like a novel idea and it stimulates and benefits the local economy, so why aren’t their reports of a high number of states and cities implementing such a plan? Says the Capitol Times…

Investing money in local banks isn’t easy. State law requires that the city’s bank deposits be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to prevent it from losing taxpayer money if the bank fails. The maximum federal insurance on low-risk investments that the city might utilize, such as a certificate of deposit, is $250,000. That could require the city to work with many banks if it hopes to invest anywhere near $50 million locally.

For these reasons, Phoenix mostly invests in U.S. government securities.

Jeff Dewitt, the City of Phoenix Finance Director said the city probably can’t invest more in local banks likely could not invest more in local banks given FDIC insurance limits. The East Valley Tribune also reported that Phoenix has a team of in-house investment managers who oversee its deposits and ensure that city funds are protected while earning the highest yield possible. Dewitt said the city is inviting local banks to submit applications with their investment pitches. He said proposals must be completely FDIC-insured or collateralized and offer a higher rate of return than U.S. Treasury notes.

As Local First so wonderfully reminds us,

The flow of these dollars will recirculate throughout the local economy, creating jobs and securing a strong economic future for our community. If you are a locally-owned and operated bank or credit union: Phoenix’s Finance Department will be accepting applications from local banks that have an interest in providing CDs and other FDIC-insured products to the city.  Local banks can contact the city’s Finance Department at 602-262-7166 for more information or to submit an application.”

Thank you to Wayne Rainey of monOrchid for hosting the June Get Your PHX. Special thanks to Michael Popescu of MojoTree for bringing the Pichuberries and to Dwayne Allen and Danielle Leoni of Rum Bar for contributing their brand new recipe for the Pichuberry Punch. Many folks walked out of this last event wondering where they could get that drink again. (I know I did.) Drop by and try this new drink at Rum Bar.

Thank you also to Jonathan and Erin Carroll of the Song Bird Tea and Coffee House for contributing to the food, the prizes and sharing their new space with us and to Troy Benjamin for his food creations using Pichuberries. Troy, I think you have a new calling.

This July 19th we are celebrating 180° Degree Automotive, which just celebrated its grand opening a brand new shop at 545 W Mariposa.

See the Facebook invite page here.

180° Automotive is a unique venture, started in another location in the Melrose District in 2009 by Bogi Lateiner, a former law student – turned celebrity mechanic. Bogi garnered a lot of attention in recent years because she is a female mechanic, business owner and all-around great lady. She has also managed to fit in time to co-star in the Velocity Channel’s auto-repair “MacGyver-like” problem-solving show “All Girls Garage.”

But as if that were not enough, we are dedicating this event to celebrate four other inspiring women business owners in CenPho. Why are we celebrating these five women? Because each and every one of them not only inspires us, but has also grown their respective businesses during the recession.

Heidi Abrahamson — Heidi is a recognized jewelry designer who has shown all over the United States and in Europe. Her jewelry is, as she says, “modern architecture for the body.” Heidi and her husband, Doug, own Phoenix Metro Retro just off 7th Ave and Hazelwood. Heidi recently got nation-wide attention for the cat hair jewelry that she created with Kate Benjamin.

Kate Benjamin — Kate is best known for Modern Cat Design, a newsletter, website and source for chique accessories and furniture for the modern cat and their people. In 2009, Kate launched Moderncat Studio, a line of modern cat products that includes handcrafted toys, beds and scratchers that are all carefully tested by Kate’s nine felines at their Phoenix, Ariz., home. Some of Kate’s chic creations were recently featured in an annual design episode of CBS Sunday Morning.

Christine Cassano — Christine is an artist and designer, who has taken the medium of concrete to a new level (come see the front counter at 180° Automotive). We know Christine because she is the inspiration behind the Phoenistivus Market publicity designs. Christine has taken up residence next to the 180° “compound”, where her work can be seen. Christine is one of those behind-the-scenes champions who helps drive the energy and connections in the business community in CenPho.

Tracy Perkins — Of Strawberry Hedgehog has proven that you CAN make vegan, plant-based bath products, which are attractive to men and women, alike. Further, Tracy has proven that these products are attractive to national retailers, such as Whole Foods.  Tracy also works out of the 180° Automotive neighborhood, where she makes her soaps in small batches by hand.

July 2012 Get Your PHX
Thursday, July 19th at 5:30
180° Automotive
545 W Mariposa St.,
Phoenix AZ 85013  Map it

In a June 5, 2012 letter to Mayor Greg Stanton, Phoenix’s Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) recommended the language for the Solid Waste Collection Ordinance be updated from “The City does not provide” to “The City may provide” waste and recycling services to commercial, industrial and multifamily customers.

“We believe updating this ordinance is congruent with achieving the Environmental Quality Commission’s goal to help city leaders identify environmental issues and advise the City Council on opportunities to protect Phoenix’s natural and urban environment.” ~ Kate Gallego (Chair) and Jessica Catlin (Member)

The most common complaint the EQC hears from Phoenix residents is that they have insufficient access to recycling services. The letter to Mayor Stanton goes on to say:

“Phoenix should have the flexibility to study whether the Public Works Department can meet these customers’ needs by expanding its popular recycling program.”

The EQC letter include goes on to suggest that:

• Allowing Phoenix to explore service options that might result in innovative partnerships with the private sector. This might help expand service and lower rates for solid waste and recycling services.
• An expanded recycling program may help the city simultaneously create a new revenue stream and achieve its diversion goals.
• Removing the barrier to explore this service provision is one significant but simple step Phoenix can take in its efforts to become a more sustainable city.

Why hasn’t Phoenix had a recycle presence in these areas?  

In my quest to answer that question, I found out that obstacles to having recycling bins at multi-family housing units is not the same as reasons some people cite for why it won’t work.

For example, in 2006, The Arizona Republic reported, “Valley cities say they don’t offer recycling to apartments and condos because those residents won’t take advantage of the service. They also fear that contamination (regular garbage mixed with recyclables) would be too high because of the anonymity that shared trash bins offer. They also say there is simply no demand.”

Another interesting tidbit from the article:

Terry Feinberg, president of the Arizona Multihousing Association, said recycling won’t work at apartment complexes because scavengers would rummage through containers. He also said existing dumpster corrals are difficult to enlarge to make room for separate recycling bins.

“Even on new construction, the extra space required can lead to elimination of parking spaces, which can put the property out of zoning compliance,” Feinberg said.

If the state was serious about requiring multihousing to recycle, Feinberg said, officials would offer financial incentives to the industry or allow complexes to retrofit and waive code penalties.

That was in 2006. Where are we now in handling these situations?

“I can’t speak to why Phoenix has not been in the business of recycling in the past, but here is what i do know. Residents and businesses want better service, and other cities across the country have much more robust programs, so there must be a way to meet this need. Changing the language allows our city to explore those possibilities.”

~ Jessica  Catlin, Phoenix Environmental Quality Commision

Now that’s what I’m talking about: Proactive, forward-leaning momentum. Enough talk about change. Be the change. 

—The EQC plays a leadership role on a number of environmental topics, including greener neighborhoods, renewable and solar energy projects, land use policies, air and water quality, sustainable building codes, urban heat island, recycling initiatives, climate action plan goals, the Phoenix General Plan, and other key city efforts.—

Devour Phoenix and Waste Not are joining forces together with local restaurants to raise money for hungry Phoenix children, July 17th – 31^st.

Devour Phoenix members will use local food producers such as Scheriener’s Sausage, Crooked Sky Farms, Chili Acres, Schnepf Farms, MJ Bread, The Meat Shop, Seacat Farms, Desert Blossom Honey, Queen Creek Olive Mill, McClendon’s Select,High Spirits Gin to raise funds for Waste Not.

Devour Phoenix is a city-wide, non-profit coalition of selected, independent restaurants operating under the umbrella of Local First Arizona. Waste Not works behind-the-scenes to rescue cooked, perishable foods that would otherwise go to waste and through a logistical marvel they get nourishment to those who need it most.

Believe it or not, 1 in 4 Phoenix children go to bed hungry. “By teaming up, [Devour Phoenix and Waste Not] hope to feed 100,000 people in the Phoenix area,” said journalist Danielle Verbrigghe in a  recent Phoenix Business Journal article.

“This is one pick up in my ride along. We picked up another 48 gallons of milk, 160 pounds of meat and about 300 pounds of bread, pastries and dry food,” said  Devour Phoenix Coordinator, Margaree Bigler.

“It was incredible. They are an amazing organization and the restaurants are happy to collaborate for such a great cause. I went on a ride along with one of the trucks and the sheer quantity of food rescued was incredible. It’s a very efficient operation– food is picked up and distributed the same day. The effects are immediate. ”

Check out this 3-minute video and see how every $1 of Devour Phoenix and Waste Not fundraiser will go to feed hungry Phoenix children.

You heard the scoop here first: on June 14, 2012, nine days from today, Changing Hands Bookstore may officially be confirmed as a tenant of the former Beef Eaters Restaurant on 3rd Ave. and Camelback!

My fingers have been crossed since 2000 that this would happen (which explains this cramp I get sometimes, when the original Changing Hands on Mill Ave. in Tempe closed (the picture above is from their Mill Ave. bookmark). Ever since that first location closed, the only real estate for the bookstore has been the one on McClintock and Guadalupe, where the original bookstore expanded to back in 1998.

Maybe this time…?

I’m very hopeful. What a great thing Changing Hands would do for Phoenix with a location here! Co-owner/general manager, Cindy Dach, has done a wonderful, extraordinary job with her independent bookstore and was recognized early this year in an article by The Huffington Post  for being one of the main reasons there is such optimism in the Independent Bookstore Industry.

The Beef Eaters building is unique. As the website photos and home page describes it, it’s “Beef Eaters Restaurant in Phoenix Arizona is a rambling Arizona style adobe and heavy timber building with oak paneled walls, pitched beam ceilings, black leather booths, high wing-back chairs and linen table service. Trips to London added rare English art to its decor.

Beef Eaters Restaurant features two connected grand dining rooms and a cocktail-dining lounge. It has 4 private party and banquet rooms serving from 10 to 300, plus a quaint wine cellar table for 10. It has two bars, 4 fireplaces, 3 shaded patios and a large porte cochere drive entrance.

It opened in 1961 at 300 W. Camelback and was closed shortly before the passing of its 88-year-old owner & founder, Jay Newton, in 2006. Although the restaurant closed six years ago, its full website remains, floating like a ghost on the Internet.

In January of this year, Niki D’Andrea wrote about the history of Beef Eaters in an excellent Phoenix Magazine 2-page article called, “Steak. Out.”  Apparently, Jay Newton was a former sheep rancher in Utah who named his restaurant after a common nickname for Yeoman Warders (guards) at the Tower of London.

According to an April 14, 2012 Phoenix New Times article, the current real estate owner of the building had an offer from  Jon Kitchell and Lorenzo Perez of Venue Projects (they also helped develop Windsor and Churn in Phoenix) and both sides have 60 days to make a decision before it’s a done deal.

Is it June 14th, yet?

(Yeah, go ahead. Say it. “Phoenix and Historic Preservation are oxymorons.” Did you get it out of your system? Ok. Thanks. Proceed.)

In keeping with the National Preservation Month’s May theme—“Discover America’s Hidden Gems”—past and present Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission members will share their favorite Phoenix memories and “hidden gems”.

Nine Phoenix resident commission members, from at least one of the following categories—registered architect, real estate professional, archeologist, and historian—serve on the commission for a three-year term. The newest member is Tazmine Khatri Loomans (“but you can call me, Taz”), architect, writer and advocate for sustainable building practices. Her first committee meeting was May 21, but I know she’ll have plenty to contribute to the celebration! (For more info on Taz, check out her excellent ‘city. sustained.’ Phoenix-based blog, Blooming Rock.)

Maybe we’ll hear something along the lines of discoveries in 2010’s excellent coffee-table book, “Midcentury Marvels: Commercial Architecture of Phoenix, 1945 -1975” co-written by The Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and Ryden Architecture, Inc.

The Phoenix Historic Preservation Office writes books!? And they do a lot more, working to protect and enhance historic neighborhoods, buildings, and sites. They work closely with the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission, to identify designate districts and properties that are eligible for a listing on the Phoenix Historic Property Register.

To qualify as a Historic Property in Phoenix, a property has to be at least 50 years old or have achieved an exceptional level of significance in the past 50 years.

“Significance” can mean one or more of these things: that the property is connected to events have contributed to wide patterns in the Phoenix history; that it is associated with significant people from Phoenix history; that it has, or is likely to in the future, provide information that will be helpful to increasing our understanding of Phoenix history or pre-history; and/or that the construction of the property clearly represents a specific type, period, or method; or it represents the work of an artistic master.

National Historic Preservation Month Celebration
6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 29
Encanto Clubhouse
2605 N. 15th Ave.

Dog Lovers Unite!

If your and your pooch have been begging (pun intended) for an escape from your usual routine, The Hance Park Steering Committee has recently recommended that the redesign of Hance Park include an off-leash dog park facility. You may remember in early March when plans for a temporary dog park at Margaret T Hance Park were approved. There are currently two locations being scouted for a permanent dog park.

So as you and your pooch start to enjoy the dog days of summer (teehee), think about how dog parks provide a safe, friendly, positive community experience for their users. Not only would this neighborhood addition be a welcome fun spot for, you know, Spot!, but would be an asset to the community at large in the form of a safe, well lit park where neighbors can meet.

Community involvement is just as important as the park itself.  So if you are licking your chops for a dog park  (seriously, I can’t stop) you’re invited to attend the Parks Board hearing on Thursday, April 26^th at 5:00p @ PHX City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson.

We also encourage you to write an email of support to the following:

Our councilman:  Councilman Nowakowski at (602) 262-7492 or council.district.7@phoenix.gov

The Chair of the Parks Subcommittee: Councilman Simplot at (602) 262-7447 or council.district.4@phoenix.gov

Phoenix Actiing Parks Director: Jim Burke at james.burke@phoenix.gov or (602) 262-4986

Chair of the Parks Board:  Delia Ortega-Nowakowski at deliao-n@cox.net

SAMPLE copy for email:

I am a homeowner that resides in the downtown neighborhood (you can add your neighborhood here).

I encourage the Parks Board to move forward with the identified temporary location for a dog park in Hance Park between 3^rd & 5^th Avenues.

I believe this dog park will bring a much needed new energy to Hance Park, attract park users, while giving property owners a new amenity to tout for the area.  In addition, this new park use will attract responsible dog owners to Hance Park, giving more eyes on the park in deterring crime and the transient population, while building community.  The dog park will also increase safety for dogs, and non-dog owners as well.

Please move forward on this ideal location for a new downtown dog park and thank you for supporting this new park amenity downtown.

—Thanks to Kate Kunberger for tipping us off to this little treat.

You have to give it to them. Despite upcoming triple digit temperatures, the Phoenix Bike Community never stops peddling.

And why would they? All Valley Metro buses are equipped with bike racks and the city is finally expanding bike lanes to help support this very green form of travel.

And I have to say finally! I remember about 12 years ago I tried to ride my bike to work from the Willo neighborhood to downtown. I was certain every morning that I was going to die. The drivers would buzz me as if to say, “yeah, buddy, we’re gonna enforce this here no-ride zone.”

Anyway, in Celebration of the city’s growing bike scene, Twenty-five top local graphic designers will show their original bicycle-themed poster artwork for Third Friday festivities and through the month of April by appointment all leading up to Pedal Craft.

The one night event will feature lots of bikes, plenty of beer, and a bike themed poster show highlighting Phoenix bike culture. Throughout Phoenix, bicyclists, walkers, and pedicab riders will be visiting downtown Phoenix restaurants that have installed bike racks and are offering special menu discounts for PEDAL CRAFT PHX participants. Those bike racks were created in part by SideWalk Phoenix, a newly formed advocacy group for walkable, bikeable, and livable communities, will display a dozen one-of-a-kind bicycle racks designed by local artists and metal sculptors.

SideWalk Phoenix will be raising awareness and funds at Pedal Craft to create a temporary infill “pop-up” park at the quarter-acre Ro2 Lot at 1005 North Second Street. According to Pedal Craft Co-organizer, Jim McPherson,  “Fun, community-minded events like PEDAL CRAFT PHX help to raise awareness and, knock on wood, support for much needed bicycle transportation initiatives in the Valley.”

These are great community organizations and members working together for the great phoenix area. I’m inspired every time I see a new project like this come together.

THIS, my friends, is why people are flocking to Phoenix.