Get Your PHX - A Whole New Way to Experience Phoenix
  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact
Get Your PHX - A Whole New Way to Experience Phoenix
Home
Our Blog
About Us
Contact
  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact
Life, Market Analysis

Homes Homes Homes

Market trends are upon us again! Try to contain your excitement.

Our Friend Cynthia Lujan from Old Republic Title was nice enough to send us new stats on the current market.

Between November and December supply was is once again on a downward trend for all price ranges. The strongest decline in supply is for homes under $100,000. Sales rates look better between$200,000 and $400,000 while above $400,000 demand is still a problem.  Demand from owner occupiers remains subdued due to strict underwriting standards for “jumbo” loans, but cash buyers including landlords and other investors are quickly snapping up a large part of whatever comes onto the market.

The supply from foreclosures continues to fall with more pending foreclosures getting resolved by short sales. Lenders are receiving fewer homes into REO inventory as a higher percentage of trustee sales result in a sale to a third party. Despite public perception to the contrary, price per sq. ft. has gone up  in the past year. (Do we hear that on the national news? Noooo!)

The strongest recent movement is for the price range below $100,000, where price per sq. ft. hit bottom in February and is now up nearly 7% over the last 12 months. With supply on a downward trend again we anticipate that the peak spring season will find most buyers frustrated by a lack of choice and fierce competition from other buyers.

So what does this mean for you? Buy now!

The inventory of houses between $100,000- 200,000 are down 46.6% and sales prices are now 6.9% higher than last year. Homes from 200,000-400,000 numbers aren’t as dramatic, with supply down 26% and prices up .3%. As all we all learned in our 10th Grade Economics class, as supply grows more limited, demand will drive prices up.

Need help finding a home? Call me today at 602-456-9388

January 5, 2012by phxAdmin
Events General, Life

Have a Very Light Rail New Year!

Another year of great downtown growth and CenPho Memories will all come together in grand celebrations this weekend.

So if you’re hopping downtown for the evening there are great events going on all night.

You know, a great standard is The Clarendon Hotel. The rooftop is always a great place to ring in the new year. I may be there. Not certain yet.

CityScape’s skate rink is still open! It’s only $10 from 3pm- 1am for unlimited skating and portion of the night’s proceeds benefit Phoenix Parks Foundation. There of course will be a midnight fireworks show and complimentary champagne toast for the 21+ crowd.

Of course, there’s always the fiesta Bowl Block Party, where several thousand of you find yourselves ever year. Tickets to the block party are $20.00 and can be purchased at the entrance gates to the Fiesta Bowl Block Party.

George & Dragon, that wily British pub in Midtown (4240 N. Central Ave.), will be doubling up their new years; celebrating the New Year once at 5 p.m. (12am in the UK)  and then again at midnight here in AZ! It’s a free party, and a bloody good time.

If you’re trying to keep it classy, The Paisley Violin on Grand will be serving a delicious four-course dinner and smooth Jazz the entire evening.

And the best part is, you don’t need to be behind the wheel for any of it. The Light Rail will be offering a safe way to get to and from all your favorite New Years destinations. So ring in the New Year right and stay safe this weekend!

December 30, 2011by phxAdmin
Life

A Greener Phoenix

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.

December 16, 2011by phxAdmin
Life, Public Policy

New Mortgage News

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 17th, 2011 are subject to the REDUCED loan limits of $271,050 for Maricopa County – And yet another change FHA Case numbers assigned November 18th, 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?

December 7, 2011by phxAdmin
Life, Public Policy

Tumbleweed Youth Center gets a New Home

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.

November 30, 2011by phxAdmin
Life

Gooble Up the Giving!

If you’re planning on donating a turkey this year, you can donate at any of these locations.  

  • United Food Bank (East Valley )November 21-23: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Donate at any Fry’s Food Store location by adding your donation amount to your grocery bill. A donation of $2.50 will provide enough food for 17 meals. A donation of $10 will provide enough food for 70 meals.
  • Lee Lee International Supermarket is hosting a holiday food drive at all three Arizona locations until Tuesday to benefit two Arizona food banks. Donations from the Chandler location will go to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix, which is most in need of beans (canned or dried), canned fruit and vegetables, canned soups, stews, chili and pasta, cereal, diapers, juice, peanut butter, rice and tuna (canned or vacuum packed).

St. Mary’s food bank has a few different locations available to donate:

  • They will be collecting food donations at 31st and Thomas until Thursday 8am to 5pm at the Thomas and 31st Location, as well as
  • St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is collecting cash and turkeys 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at The Stockyards Restaurant, 5009 E. Washington St., Phoenix. The Stockyards Restaurant, Valley of the Sun United Way, Rock Springs Pies, The Celebrity Theater and the Arizona Centennial Chopper will sponsor the drive.

Don’t have time to drop one off? There are plenty of online options for giving.

  • Try Buy-A-Bird online! buyabird.org is an online shopping site where you can buy stuffed animal birds which directly donates to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Thanksgiving Drive
  • The Real Gift Foundation’s 12th annual Thanksgiving Dinner Drive is taking place now.They plan to deliver 3,650 pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinners to homeless children (and their families) who attend more than 70 public schools throughout Maricopa County. In order to deliver the dinners, The Real Gift Foundation needs to raise more than $80,000. Just $25 dollars will feed a family of six. To donate, visit www.therealgift.org or call (602) 482-5800

Donate today and give back to your community for the holidays.

November 23, 2011by phxAdmin
Life

Think Local for Your Holiday

This Friday the 25th is not only  Black Friday and/or the day to fully commit to your post turkey food coma. It  is the beginning of Buy Local Week! Local First wants to encourage you to bring your holiday spending to great local businesses for unique gifts and community support. You can visit the website to see special deals from local business from November 25th to December 4th.

We all know that shopping locally not only supports community, but boosts local economy, and weeks like these are a great reminder that you can choose local everyday.

But your Local spending doesn’t have to wait until this Friday. If you’re planning to have your thanksgiving out, why not eat at a local restaurant? There are a ton of locally-owned restaurants that are offering specials. This year Avanti, on E. Thomas Road, is offering a 4-course prix-fixe meal with an Italian twist, and classic thanksgiving pies or pumpkin Cheesecake . One of our favorites, El Chorro, will be serving up the classic Thanksgiving dinner. Not to worry, the sticky buns will be available for dessert. La Piccola Cucina, is having a great thanksgiving feast featuring an incredible desert that is getting a lot of attention. It is a spiced poached pear over cannoli filling in a deep red wine sauce. Who could say no?

When you’re done with dinner, visit the Local First site for Holiday Tips to help you spend locally this season. They’re even sponsoring a Holiday shift contest. E-mail  Erica@localfirstaz.com with a list of ways you’re shifting your holiday spending, and you will be entered to win a great prize from a local business.

Remember to spend you holiday with the community you love and support local businesses this season. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

November 22, 2011by phxAdmin
Life

Winter Home Trends

Christmas has come early! Statistics and Graphs galore! If you’re looking for a home here in Phoenix, here is a trend that you might want to know about.

As a general rule, fewer  people buy houses between October and February. With the beautiful winter weather here in the valley, you would think sales would rise. But, most home buyers move in the late spring and summer in order to change schools. So, what does that mean for real estate agents….other than that we should probably go out and get second jobs waiting tables or pre-stocking for Black Friday?

What does it mean for you? Well, it’s great news if you’re a soon to be home buyer. As you can see by the graphs, sales per month is down between October and February while the monthly supply stays relatively the same. Aren’t graphs amazing?

Continue for more witty comments, below the graphs.

So, follow me here. If the sales per month are down and the inventory stays largely the same that is great for you if you are a buyer. It means that sellers are more desperate to sell. Not only are you going to have a greater selection, you might have an opportunity to negotiate the price!

So, get out into the beautiful weather and buy! If  you have any questions I’d be happy to help, just give me a call 602-456-9388

November 18, 2011by phxAdmin
Life

Pheed a Family this Week at Get Your PHX

It’s that time of year again, when dreams of turkey and starches fill our daydreams and the pressures of dieting float away with the autumn breeze.  The St. Mary’s Food Bank has  guaranteed those turkey dreams for struggling families around the valley for more than four decades.

Last year, St. Mary’s needed six thousand turkeys and that number is only expected to grow. With 16% of the population falling under the poverty line, and turkey donations down this year, and the food bank is worried that for the first time in 45 years, they may not be able to meet their demands.  St. Mary’s is hosting “Super Saturday” Turkey Drive on from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19th in hopes of closing the turkey gap. The drive will expand to 16 locations around the Valley and in Flagstaff for what will be “an unprecedented need for the 2011 holiday season,” according to the food bank.

This Thursday is our November Get Your PHX Event at Steele Indian School Dog Park. In addition to your adorable pooch, we ask that you bring 5 dollars to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank Turkey Drive. With your help, we can give families all over the family a meal to be thankful for.

This is totally informal, but we will get your contribution directly over to St. Mary’s the next day.

To learn more about ways to give, visit the St. Mary’s Food Bank Website 

November 16, 2011by phxAdmin
Events GYP

November Get Your PHX-Indian School Dog Park

At the November Get Your PHX we get to celebrate a whole list of new beginnings. We will visit the new dog park at Steele Indian School Park, learn about new plans for our largest CenPho public park and hear about how the downtown Margaret T. Hance Park is being re-imagined.

Our fine sponsors for this event will be Wag n’ Wash and Noble Beast. In addition to the food and libations, our sponsors will have goodies for your pooch! Please certain to visit with them when you come. We can’t do it without them!

So, we will have three fun and informative presentations for you.

Tom Byrne, Landscape Architect with the Parks and Recreations Deparment, will tell us about the evolution of CenPho’s first dog park.

Bryan Flanigan, Indian School Park Manager with the Parks and Recreation Department, will tell us about the history, future and planned renovations to the old Indian School buildings at the park.

Our own Kate Kunberger will give us a presentation on the very newsworthy plans for changes to Margaret T. Hance park, downtown.

We are also proud to announce that long-time park advocate Councilman Tom Simplot will join us for this event, too.

Further, this will be an interactive show and your opinions count.

The event will be broken in to two parts. We hope that you will join us with your pooch at 5:30 for some playtime at the park.

At about 6:00, we will begin the program at a ramada directly to the west of the dog park. Feel free to bring your dog over on a leash.

Keep an eye on our Facebook Fan Page for updates. As you know, there are always surprises.

November Get Your PHX
Thursday, November 17th from 5:30 to 7:30.
300 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013 Map here

NOTE: We suggest you enter the park through the 7th St entrance which is immediately north of the VA hospital property.


November 11, 2011by phxAdmin
Page 5 of 9« First...«4567»...Last »

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Categories

  • Art
  • Blogroll
  • Design
  • Editor's choice
  • Events General
  • Events GYP
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • First Time Home Buyer
  • Homes
  • Life
  • Light Rail
  • Live
  • Market Analysis
  • NeighborhoodVideos
  • Phoenix News
  • Photography
  • Photoshootings
  • Profiles
  • Public Policy
  • Renovation
  • Renting
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Sustainable Living
  • Tips
  • Uncategorized



© 2015 copyright GET YOUR PHX ® // All rights reserved // Privacy Policy