TheTucsonFoothills

what’s your pleasure, 85718 or 85750

Those are the two main zip codes that comprise the area known as the Tucson Foothills, or the Catalina Foothills, and most of the buyers I meet have a preference for one or the other. And aside from the homes that are for sale in each zip their preference is often based on the geographic and convenience features of the two areas.

85718 is more developed, with more plazas, restaurants and nearby shopping, and it’s closer to downtown and the University of Arizona. And if you’re looking for an older adobe home, or a Joesler, you are, with very few exceptions, talking about 718. Because 718 is where John Murphey and Josias Joseler first established the Catalina Foothills Estates, the very first development in the foothills in the 1930’s. 85750 came much later. And though not to everyone’s taste, 718 also has many more gated communities than 750.

But 85750 also has its charms. With its main shopping, restaurant and retail plaza at one location, at Kolb & Sunrise, it’s less developed, less busy, has less traffic and, to some, feels more natural and pristine than 718. It also has the fantastic Sabino Canyon in its backyard. And if you’re so inclined and have the means there’s nothing like the dramatic terrain and eagles nest views of the Mountain Estates at Ventana. 

But beyond that there are also price differences between the two zips with, in general, more higher priced homes in 85718.

Below is 85718, with 186 homes for sale – bordered on the north by the Catalina National Forest then Craycroft Rd on the east - River Rd on the south and 1st Ave on the west.

And 85750, with 164 homes for sale – also bordered on the north by the Catalina National Forest then Sabino Canyon and Sabino Creek on the east - River Rd on the south then Craycroft Rd on the west.

And the numbers:

85718 - 186 for sale, avg/med list $984,147/$675,000

85750 – 164 for sale, avg/med list $785,880/$555,000

85718 – 65 in contract, avg/med list $527,917/$499,000

85750 –83 in contract, avg/med list $477,980/$400,000

85718 – 102 sold since 1/1/13, avg/med sold $550,629/$422,500

85750 – 105 sold since 1/1/13, avg/med sold $417,971/$365,000

And homes in 750 sold in an average of 89 DOM while it took 102 DOM in 718. And even with fewer homes for sale 750 has more in contract and has sold as many homes as 718. And I suspect that lower prices in 750 are giving it the edge.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

26 days to contract

for 3463 E Corte Paloma Brava, in the Villages of La Paloma. Sold in 2005 for $712,000 and was smartly priced at $599,000 ($194/sf)  in March.

3463 E Corte Paloma Brava Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

Two others have sold in there this year, one in 19 days, while the other dilly-dallied for 39 days.

Popular with 2nd home owners and retirees, these are very similar to the homes I’ve mentioned in La P on the north side of Sunrise along Placita Pajaro – if they’re priced right they’re no-brainers

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

searching for a home in the Tucson Foothills

I ran this piece a few years ago and I ran across it and thought that it’s just as appropriate today, maybe even more so since there are fewer homes for sale, so I ran a new search and updated the numbers and here it is again.

There are 391 single family homes for sale in the foothills and with that many homes you’d think you would find plenty to choose from.

OK, let's look at a hypothetical buyer looking for a home in the Tucson Foothills with a price range of $750,000 to $900,000.

At $750,000 to $900,000 there are 31 homes for sale, more than plenty, really too too many. Absolutely, so let’s start entering your preferences in the search and see what we come up with.
- let’s start with the key criteria, bedrooms and baths,
- 4 bedrooms & 3 or more baths, bingo, that narrows it down to a much more manageable
16  homes
- and you’d like somewhere between 3000 to 4000 sq ft - no prob, 15 homes. Nice.
- you want about an acre, let's say .80 or more – 13 winners
- and in District 16 schools - OK, 10 homes, Perfect!
- (or, you don’t care whether it’s District 16 or not but you do want to be in 85718 zip, that  leaves 6 homes)
- and you only want single story, yes of course-  7 really great homes to choose from
- and you don’t want an older home, nothing built before 2000 – aha – OK, that’s 2 to choose from.
- or, alternatively, you’d like an older home, a burnt adobe from 60’s or 70’s. In that case we’re done, there’s just 1 to choose from. Let’s write it up.

And we didn't even get into the style or whether it’s in a gated or non-gated area, city or mountain views, and other typical buyer preferences. And of course, you want to get a good deal too. Geez,

It happens every time. Once you start breaking down all the homes for sale in the Foothills, which run the gamut from under $200k to over $7 mil, you end up with too few, not too many, to choose from.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

need a Skylight or Skylight repair

Desert Living, Inc., owned and operated in Tucson by Brent Olson since 1977, specializes in skylight installation, replacement, leak detection, and repair. Desert Living, Inc. offers installation of skylight products that are designed to perform well in the desert climate of Tucson. Products include acrylic, glass, and tubular skylights. These can be fixed, manual, or electric operable and can be accessorized with manual, electric, or solar powered blinds.

For more info see the web site > DesertlivingTucson.com or contact Brent at 520-907-2072 for a free estimate. I know Brent personally and heartily recommend him.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

well, at least now we can blame it on the weather

Blizzard Warning for the mountains, snow in Tucson tonight

 

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your cozy foothills log cabin

tis the season for the Golf Villas at Ventana

They’re very popular with the 2nd home, winter getaway crowd, and it’s not surprising.
They’re nicely done, easy care, low maintenance, relatively inexpensive, and with lots of options for recreation right at your fingertips. They surround the golf course in Ventana Country Club where there’s a heated pool & spa just for the golf villas and the Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club offers golf, tennis, pool/spa, a fitness center and dining. All in a gorgeous setting.

Right now there are 7 for sale from $370,000 to $499,000, and as of today, 1 in contract at $549,000, but just 1 sold in the last 6 months - which might cause you to be wary and wonder why, if they’re so popular, they aren’t selling better. But the golf villas, which sell almost exclusively from January to June, are probably the most seasonal single family home sales in the Foothills.

For example, 11 golf villas sold in 2012 - 9 of them sold from January 27th to June 4th, plus 1 in early July and 1 in October.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Ventana Canyon home

if you’re a foodie,

and you haven’t been there yet, I highly recommend the new mega Whole Foods store at River & Craycroft. It opened about 10 days ago, and since it’s a little off the beaten path I thought you may not have come across it yet. If not, it’s well worth the trip. You can’t miss it, it’s on the north side of River across from that incredibly ugly QT gas station.

And now AJ’s has some competition.

River/Craycroft Whole Foods

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

Sunday mornings at St. Phillips Plaza

there’s a really nice farmers market worth checking out. (also on Saturday)

Having just finished my morning bike ride along the Rillito I was on my bike and couldn’t get in amongst all the stalls. But there’s a lot of good stuff, a good deal of it food related – fresh local produce and meats, honey, herbs/spices, bakers and candle stick makers, and like that – and it draws a good crowd. And if you’re up for breakfast/brunch or lunch you can get a table on the patio at Union Public House (free plug) and observe the goings-on with a bloody mary in hand.

and there’s usually some live music

It’s one of the many nice things about being in this part of the foothills.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

we got a little rain this afternoon, how ‘bout you

That’s the wash along the west side of my house

 

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to find your Tucson Foothills home

Parlez-vous français?

A survey released Monday showed that the six-year slide in U.S. housing prices, coupled with the rising value of some foreign currencies and continued instability in Europe, is fueling a property-buying binge in the U.S. by wealthy foreigners.

From Nick Timiraos @ WSJ.com

Read all about it > Foreign Purchases of U.S. Homes Rise Strongly

SOLD, a real contemporary

4905 N Camino Antonio sold today for $1,262,500 ($277/sf) off a $1,500,000 list price.
It also sold in July 2008 for $1,350,000. And given the economic havoc since then, I’d say the sellers did very well today. But they were selling something that’s in very short supply here in the foothills – a real contemporary. And while there are fewer buyers for contemporaries, when a buyer does come along there’s usually very little, if anything, to choose from. (listed by Long Realty) And, coincidentally, Zillow’s most recent Zestimate was $1,258,600. Do we think that had anything to do with the sale price.

This is one of a set of triplets, three virtually identical homes - same architect, builder,size, style, materials and amenities, you name it - that were designed by Don Kornberg and built in 2007 as spec homes along Camino Antonio.

The first one at 4919 N Camino Antonio hit the market in June 06 for $1,795,000 (prior to being completed) and sold lickety-split in April 07 for $1,715,000. So they started off with a bang.

But the second – at 4911 N Camino Antonio -  also listed in June 06 (also prior to being completed) wasn’t quite as lucky. It debuted at $1,695,000, and since it didn’t sell at that price they raised to $1,775,000. But even that didn’t do it. And so it lolled around on the market until February 09 when it was reduced to $1,375,000 and sold for a disappointing $1,050,000. (I wrote about it at the time – sold, for a song)

A similar fate befell today’s sale at 4905 N Camino Antonio. Except that even though it came along a little later than the others it has now sold twice. It was completed and listed in April 07 for $1,795,000 (of course) and by May 08 it had only dropped to $1,645,000, but with two big specs on their hands they caved and accepted an offer of $1,350,000 and it closed in July 08.
Just in the nick of time, well, for the seller anyway.

Here are the sold listings for all three > 4919, 4911 and 4905 Camino Antonio < see if you can tell them apart. And aside from the falling market, maybe that was the problem. Do you really want to spend a $$million something for a clone of the house across the street.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

something for everyone

Just listed, a total fix up in Coronado  Foothills Estates – 1972 built/2200 sf/slump block construction/3 Beds/2 Baths/2 car – listing says; Home needs complete remodel, but priced accordingly. $200,000 ($90/sf) - 6501 N Longfellow Drive Tucson, AZ 85718 (by Long Realty)

And first time on the market in Hacienda del Sol Estates 5101 N Avenida De Castilla Tucson, AZ 85718 is in contract after 4 and a half months listed at $1,495,000 ($295/sf) (by Long Realty)

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

 

what’s a view worth

In NYC where they’re in seriously short supply they’re worth a lot.
In this article, Putting Price Tags on Views of Central Park, WSJ.com reports that apartment buildings fronting Central Park command more than double the price of apartments in surrounding neighborhoods. Which doesn’t surprise me.

I lived in NYC for many years and finding an apartment with a little bit of open sky and a view of almost anything was a bonanza that came with eternal bragging rights. But being on Central Park is like being in heaven.

Good views are worth a lot here in the  foothills as well. But not double. Depending on the  views, I’d say they’re worth a 10% to 40% premium vs the same property without a view.

That’s my guesstimate. What do you think,

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

a recommendation

For garage door sales, service and installation try Signal Doors

A home inspector I use recommended them. So I used them and they were terrific.
They showed up on time, were courteous, analyzed the repair needed, quoted a fair price and did the work quickly and expertly. They’re pros.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

a quiet day in the foothills

Not much goin on and nothing to report. But I have a home inspection today and another tomorrow to keep me busy. So I’m not complaining, Back Soon

had enough of the same old, same old

well step right this way

that’s 8,316 sf to brighten your day, for $825,000

5110 E Calle Barril Tucson, AZ 85718
(Listed by Long Realty)

compromise, compromise

6374 N Skyline Ridge Drive in Pinnacle Ridge sold today for $550,000 ($155/sf) -  the 2nd cheapest sale - on a $$/sf basis - of any home ever sold in Pinnacle Ridge. And it’s a good thing too, since 6374 sits adjacent to Skyline Drive on one side and to the entry/exit gate on the other. And let’s face it, being next to the road is not high on anyone’s wish list. Not anyone I know anyway. But if you get it for a really great price, and maybe even get a house that you  couldn’t afford otherwise, then for some people it’s a worthwhile compromise.

6374 N Skyline Ridge Drive Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Catalina Foothills home

a history of the Catalina Foothills

Here’s a good read for a cold, wet Sunday morning – it is here in sunny Tucson -  about the founding and development of the Catalina Foothills Estates by John Murphey in the 1920’s.  

From the Catalina Foothills Association web site;

In the 1920s, John Murphey, a young Tucson builder, began purchasing property north of River Road. Slowly accumulating land, Catalina Foothills Estates gradually took shape.

The development was for ten planned subdivisions, with large lots, often three acres or more. All lots were planned for maximum privacy, making utmost use of the existing desert vegetation and natural terrain and for the preservation of wildlife. In addition to other smaller purchases, in 1928 Murphey bought a 7,000-acre tract of land north of River Road between Oracle Road and Sabino Canyon in a federal land auction.

After the stock market crash the following year, Murphey sought to sell some of this land to an Arizona banker for $10 per acre. The banker refused the offer on the grounds that the land was “worthless.” continue reading  > History of the Catalina Foothills Association

If you’re thinking about buying a home in the Catalina Foothills Estates there’s lots of useful information on the Catalina Foothills Association site

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Catalina Foothills home

Real estate agents who look out for their client’s best interests instead of their own

Believe it or not it happens. There are plenty of good agents who look out for their client’s best interests. I know, because I know more than a few of them.

From the Chicago Tribune

Sometimes, real estate agents just say 'no'

Real estate agents should never talk clients into buying a property. But every so often, they talk their folks out of buying one.

Perhaps the would-be buyers don't realize the place is in a tough neighborhood. Maybe the price is just too high for the area. Or possibly the client isn't giving enough thought to the resale value several years down the road.

Whatever the reason, it's not always about the money.

"It's not about the sale to me," says Joan Patterson, of Keller Williams Realty in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. "It's about integrity. I want my clients happy so I can sleep at night."

_____________________________________________________________________

When we start working together I usually tell my clients not to be surprised if I end up 
pointing out more negative issues about the homes we see than positive ones. And that’s what usually happens. And that’s a good thing. 

Because a lot of my clients come here from somewhere else and they don’t know much about the foothills or about homes in the foothills and what it’s like living in the desert. And they depend on me to guide them through it. And I do my best to do that.

A client recently sent me list of 18 homes they picked out online that they thought looked like possibilities. And I went through it and advised them against more than half of them right off the bat, because of a variety of issues. And these are usually things that can’t be fixed, like a not so good location or being the most expensive, or nearly so, house on the block. Or even a west facing backyard. And, often, when I tell someone from Chicago or Minneapolis what happens with a west facing backyard in the late afternoon in the summer, they look at me like, OK, you’re kidding right, what’s the punch line.

No punch line, not yet anyway. That comes at about at 5:30 PM in July when you’re trying to enjoy your beautiful west facing backyard and the sun is broiling you to a crisp.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

what do you get for $700,000 in the Tucson Foothills

Well it depends on what you want, on the location, the lot, the views and the condition, style and amenities of the house. And more. But what you always get are choices.

A recent sale in Pinnacle Ridge went for exactly $700,00, $157/sf, for a 2001 built 4,446 sf house on just under half an acre. With a pool/spa, 4 Bedrooms/3.5 Baths and a 4 car garage.

It was listed by CNN Realty Services, LLC.

Just a couple of miles southeast of Pinnacle, 5230 N Salida Del Sol Drive sold recently for $681,500, $209/sf, for a 1998 built, 3268 sf house on 1.56 acres. With a pool, 3 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths and a 3 car garage.

Listed by Long Realty

And almost dead-center between the two, in Skyline CC, 7077 N Mission Hill Lane sold for $705,000, $160/sf, for a 1981 built, 4413 sf house on 5.88 acres. With a pool/spa, 4 Bedroom/3 Baths and a 3 car garage – smack dab at the top of Skyline CC and rubbing elbows with the Coronado National Forest.  

Listed by Long Realty

There are many ways to spend $700,000 in the foothills. Choose carefully, and choose well.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

is it finally, actually, really, honestly, truly, no kidding, time to buy a house, is it

Over at SmartMoney.com , WSJ.com & Forbes they seem to think so,

SmartMoney By Quentin Fottrell
Time for Home Buyers to Go Long
Though real estate prices are barely budging, experts say this may be a good time to buy a house. But only for those willing to stay put.

WSJ.com By JACK HOUGH
It's Time to Buy That House

U.S. house prices have plunged by nearly a third since 2006, and homeownership rates are falling at the fastest pace since the Great Depression.

The good news? Two key measures now suggest it's an excellent time to buy a house, either to live in for the long term or for investment income (but not for a quick flip).

Forbes.com By John E. Girouard
Buy That Dream House Now Or Wait Until Prices Fall Further?
Is it time to buy that house we always wanted, or should we wait until prices fall further?

As a financial planner, I’m often asked that question and it frustrates me to hear otherwise rational people talking about home ownership the way a speculator might talk about the price of gold. Nobody needs gold, but everyone needs a place to live.

 What do you think,

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

Campbell Cliffs

Designed by renowned architect Les Wallach of Line and Space and completed in 2004 after seven years in development,

Campbell Cliffs is a magnificent 25,000 sf home on 20 acres of lush high Sonoran desert adjacent to the Coronado National Forest in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson Arizona.

Some key features,

7 Bedrooms

7 Baths + 4 half Baths,
 

6 Car garage, 2 elevators, pool, staff quarters,

 

spa, weight room/aerobics room, steam room, sauna, tennis court,

 

gun/archery range, wine cellar, entertainment center,

 

hobby room, workshop, basketball court, as featured in Integrated Practice in Architecture , The New 100 Houses x 100 Architects , 21st Century House , Contemporary Villas
and many more publications dedicated to design and architecture.

Campbell Cliffs is offered at $15,900,000.
See it all -

The listing,
7474 N Catalina Ridge Drive Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Russ Lyon Sotheby's Int Realty) 

The web site,
Campbell Cliffs.com

And now, of course, The movie,

 

I had a leisurely tour of Campbell Cliffs last week and it is simply an amazing home in a magical setting, going way beyond what can be conveyed in words and pictures.

Please contact me for further information regarding Campbell Cliffs
John Schneider
johnschneiders@gmail.com
520 271-4164

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

back soon

Hi, I'm out of town for a few days and will return early next week. JS

right now in the Tucson Foothills there are 9 homes in contract listed at a $$$million+

and 5 of them are in Pima Canyon.
Why is that, why so many in PC and so few, or none at all, in all the other luxury gated communities in the Foothills.  (the other 4 in contract are in; 1 in Cat 10, 1 at the Summit, 1 in Finisterra and 1 in the Canyons)

Two years ago - when it looked as if the worst of the economic collapse was behind us and Pima Canyon sales were also beating the pants off every other Foothills community,  I asked the same question, Why Pima Canyon, and tried to answer it.  see > Why Pima Canyon < and if anything, I think it’s even more true today.

and looking back to the early days of PC > Pima Canyon gave Tucson a boost

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

mountain lion encounter

I received the following email from a trusted resident of the old foothills area;

There was a mountain lion encounter off of Calle Del Cielo and Calle La Cima.
A small dog was attacked. Please take all precautions when letting small pets and children outside. Do not leave them unattended. If walking, either pick them up or keep them close as possible. Make loud noises, make yourself look big and move slowly towards a safe area.

UPDATE – FALSE ALARM,  ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS NOW INDICATE THAT THE MOUNTAIN LION IS ACTUALLY A BOBCAT.

A RARELY SEEN MID CENTURY MODERN

just listed at 4820 E Salida Del Sol Place,
$995,000($220/sf)/4513 sf/1.83 acres/4 Beds-4 Baths/2 Car

See it here> 4820 E Salida Del Sol Place Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

yet another scam to watch out for

The following email, warning of this latest scam, comes courtesy of a Shadow Hills resident;

We received an unusual message on our answering machine yesterday from "Michael Turner from UPS delivery".  He said that UPS had a package to deliver to us, but we needed to call an 800 number and provide some information to UPS before it could be delivered.  When my husband called the number (1-876-429-4727) Turner was insistent he provide him with ID before they would deliver the package.  Naturally, he did not get any ID information.  Instead we called the sheriff's office who confirmed that this is a scam.  A call to the 800 number, which is in Jamaica, results in all kinds of charges on your phone bill.  Our phone company agreed to remove the charges.

The rest of the story...this morning Michael Turner called again my husband hung up on him.  He immediately called again and when I answered he insisted he had to talk to my husband, that there was a package to deliver, blah, blah blah.  I told him the call was a scam and that we would call the police and hung up.  He immediately called a third time and angrily said he had to talk to my husband.  I told him we had called the police and hung up.  He has not called again.

After the fact, I googled the phone number and found that it is from Jamaica.  I will remember to do that in the future for suspicious numbers.

So beware of "Michael Turner from UPS delivery".

a little bobcat nap between showings

this guy was snoring away on the window sill of a house in Pima Canyon I was showing

 

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

still looking for a few good Joeslers

A couple of weeks ago I posted an announcement about the Arizona Opera
League’s 2012 Home Tour >  looking for a few good Joeslers

Well, the truth is, we’re still looking. So if you meant to respond, but didn’t get around to it, here’s the information again to help you get started. Thank you

__________________________________________________________________

Announcing the Arizona Opera League’s 38th Annual Home Tour 
                              Featuring Historic Homes of Josias Joesler

The state of Arizona is celebrating its centennial year in 2012 and in celebration
The Opera League will be offering the historic homes of Josias Joesler on this year’s tour.
Featuring four homes on each Saturday.

Dates: Saturday, March 17, 2012
             Saturday, March 24, 2012
_________________________________________________________________

So we’re looking for Joesler owners who would like to participate.
And while March may seem like a long way off, there’s much to be done before then.
Tucson Lifestyle covers the event in the March edition with an article and beautiful photographs of the featured homes. And given the lead time required, the homes must be selected by October in order to be photographed in November, in preparation for the March edition. So there’s not a moment to waste.

If you own a Joesler and would like to participate, and please do,

Please contact;
John Schneider- johnschneiders@gmail.com/520 271-4164
or
Vikie Hariton- Chair Home Tour – vhariton@earthlink.net
or
Jean Cooper- President Arizona Opera League – jeansaralee@msn.com

Having done this many times before, the AZ Opera League is very accomplished at producing this event. They are professionals, and if you participate, you and your property will be treated with the utmost respect, care and consideration. It will also be a lot of fun.
_________________________________________________________________

Along with the tour and magazine coverage there will be a cocktail get together and dinner along with a silent auction at one of the Joesler homes.

A brochure listing the homes, sponsors and general information is sent to about 3000 homes.

Posters are placed in businesses throughout Tucson

The Arizona Daily Star will run an article in the  Home Section the weekend before

And more,

We  look forward to your participation. Thank you.
The Arizona Opera League of Tucson

www.azopera.org

(almost) half off

Up in Skyline Country Club 4910 E Oakmont Drive, an early David Tyson design,
sold for $750,000 in 05 and is now available  for $399,000. And with some haggling, who knows, you may get it for half off. And apparently it’s not a short sale or a foreclosure – someone is just biting the bullet, and biting hard.

(this shot, as well as the one below, is from the 2005 listing)

and here’s the current listing, with the current pictures, enjoy.
4910 E Oakmont Drive , Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

update; OOPS! it’s already in contract

thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

idle hands …

since there’s nothing much happening in real estate, and I’ve been spending more time on the internet than I am working, here are a few articles I came across that you may enjoy,

Why Software Is Eating The World
Six decades into the computer revolution, four decades since the invention of the microprocessor, and two decades into the rise of the modern Internet, all of the technology required to transform industries through software finally works and can be widely delivered at global scale.

Forget the Market. Buy a House
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 400 points today, and many market experts predicting more volatility ahead, some advisers are recommending their clients put some of their cash to another use: To buy that house or summer home at the shore.

Linkage in Income, Home Prices Shifts
Home prices in some of the nation's hardest-hit metro areas have fallen far below pre-bubble levels, stirring concerns that properties in those markets are undervalued.

In a recent analysis, real-estate firm Zillow Inc. studied the correlation between home prices and annual incomes over the 15-year period that ended in 2000, before home prices began to surge.

Merrill Lynch Wants To Foreclose On Burt Reynolds' $9 Million Florida Home
Sad news for Burt Reynolds: the legendary actor is facing a foreclosure action on his Florida home after failing to make mortgage payments for more than a year, according to the Telegraph

American Idiots: How Washington is destroying the economy
The root of our current problem is that there are no grownups in positions of serious power in Washington. I've never felt this way before -- and I've written business stories for more than 40 years, and about national finances for more than 20.

Woman Loses Long Foreclosure Fight
Patsy Campbell, a Florida woman who had drawn out the battle to save her house from foreclosure for more than 25 years, has finally lost her home.

Banks Ease Stance on Short Sales
These days it is even starting to dawn on long-reluctant banks that there is value in short sales, which promise higher returns than foreclosures (not to mention the benefit of keeping a house from abandonment).

Wealthy Chinese Buyers Are Snapping Up Luxury Apartments In Manhattan
Much like Americans look to China for the toys in their Happy Meals, Chinese businesspeople are looking more and more to the U.S., and specifically New York, for their luxury real estate purchases, according to The New York Times.

This Guy Is Making Tons Of Money Selling New York City Trash

Cubes! Get yer garbage cubes here! Filled with 100% authentic New York City rubbish, freshly picked from the streets.

thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

looking for a few good Joeslers

                      Announcing the Arizona Opera League’s 38th Annual Home Tour 
                              Featuring Historic Homes of Josias Joesler

The state of Arizona is celebrating its centennial year in 2012 and in celebration
The Opera League will be offering the historic homes of Josias Joesler on this year’s tour. Featuring four homes on each Saturday.

Dates: Saturday, March 17, 2012
            Saturday, March 24, 2012
_________________________________________________________________

So we’re looking for Joesler owners who would like to participate.
And while March may seem like a long way off, there’s much to be done before then. Tucson Lifestyle covers the event in the March edition with an article and beautiful photographs of the featured homes. And given the lead time required, the homes must be selected by October in order to be photographed in November, in preparation for the March edition. So there’s not a moment to waste.

If you own a Joesler and would like to participate,

Please contact;
John Schneider- johnschneiders@gmail.com/520 271-4164
Vikie Hariton- Chair Home Tour – vhariton@earthlink.net
Jean Cooper- President Arizona Opera League – jeansaralee@msn.com

Having done this 37 times before, the Opera League is very accomplished at producing this event. They are professionals, and if you participate, you and your property will be treated with the utmost respect, care and consideration.
It will also be a lot of fun.
_________________________________________________________________

Along with the tour and magazine coverage there will be a cocktail get together and dinner along with a silent auction at one of the Joesler homes.

A brochure listing the homes, sponsors and general information is sent to about 3000 homes.

Posters are placed in businesses throughout Tucson

The Arizona Daily Star will run an article in the  Home Section the weekend before

And more,

We  look forward to your participation. Thank you.
The Arizona Opera League of Tucson

www.azopera.org

keeping it cool

If you live in Tucson you have to have a really good AC guy. It’s a must. I’ve been through four or five different heating/air conditioning companies in the ten years I’ve been here and I was never satisfied with any of them - if it wasn’t one thing it was another.  Finding someone you can depend on to show up on schedule, to do good work and to not rip you off by overcharging or fixing things that aren’t broken is apparently, based on my experience anyway, a pretty tall order.

But I finally found someone. Last year a builder I know recommended Marcos Air.
He said he’d been using them for years for new installations as well as for repairs and maintenance, and he heartily recommended them. And now I’ve been using Marcos for about 18 months and they’ve been terrific. And the other day they installed a new 16 seer AC/furnace system for me. And they did a great job, and they did it on time, on schedule and at a price that was way below the competition. And best of all they really care about doing a great job for their customers.
And I heartily recommend them.

Marcos Air- 520 889-2407

thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

not even Joesler can escape the grim realities of the market

A 1950 built Joesler at 4320 N Alvernon Way is now down to $1,000,000 ($236/sf)

That’s after starting out in December 08 at $1,495,000 and being on and off the market, but mostly on, ever since. The last line in the listing agents description says it all-  ‘More character than words can describe’

4320 N Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85718 (4223 sf on 3.36 acres)
(listed by Long Realty) 

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

is this the rainiest monsoon ever, or what

 

monsoon season

Yesterday’s big storm blew out the electricity to a lot of homes all over Tucson.
I had a home inspection scheduled for this morning at a house in the foothills and it was one of the victims of the storm. No electric.

And as I driving over there I was thinking, who knows, maybe TEP’ll get the electric up and running in time. But then as I got closer I saw an electric pole that had been fried from what looked like a direct hit from lightning. And the crews were there working on it but I didn’t hold out much hope.

But about two hours later the electricity came back on and we were able to get it all done. And now as I look out the window it looks like another storm is headed our way.

improve your odds

there’s a new listing at 2290 E Placita Sin Muerte – (street without death)
(listed by Keller Williams Southern Ariz)

looks like a helluva good fixer upper

6954 N Gleneagles Place in Skyline CC sold today for $520,000 ($144/sf) off a $595,000 list price. That’s for 3611 sf, single story – no steps, burnt adobe construction on 1 acre high up in Skyline- good bones/terrific location/needs updating -  with drop dead views

6954 N Gleneagles Place Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

Foothills' Gallery Row faces foreclosure

From the Arizona Star
By Dale Quinn 

Gallery Row, a prominent Tucson shopping center that features arts, crafts and a locally owned restaurant, is facing foreclosure.

Borrower Gallery Row LP, which owns the property on East Skyline Drive near North Campbell Avenue, received notice that it was delinquent on a $5.9 million loan recorded in September 2006.

An auction has been scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Pima County Courthouse, 110 W. Congress St., according to documents filed with the Pima County Recorder's Office.

Read all about it > Foothills' Gallery Row faces foreclosure

(DEAN KNUTH / ARIZONA DAILY STAR)

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

a classic burnt adobe goes to contract

Up in Cat 9 - 6856 N Solaz Cuarto, on the market since October and listed at $899,000 ($252/sf) went to contract today.

It was purchased in 2004 for $679,000 and remodeled throughout, including a pretty spectacular new high end kitchen.

 

I have no idea what it went for, but if you’re looking for a beautifully updated classic burnt adobe, well located and with views, they are few and far between. So they don’t come cheap.

6856 N Solaz Cuarto Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by long Realty)

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Tucson Foothills home

the changing face of Camino Escuela

Built in 2006 as a spec home, 4907 N Camino Escuela sold for $1,371,150 in 06, then for $1,250,000 in 2008 and it was listed yesterday for $1,149,000.

That’s it under construction with the new black roof,

The street, Camino Escuela, is home to some of the oldest estates, some of them Joesler estates, in the foothills. And many of them are, or were, on larger tracts of land-  5, 10 and more acres. Cmo Escuela is also one of the few remaining dirt roads in the Foothills. The long time residents like it that way, original old foothills style, and it keeps the looky lous away.

And even though this home is on more than an acre, it was built to be pretty cozy with its three neighbors, going so far as sharing a common driveway.  
And had the real estate market not crapped out I’m sure that more homes would have been built up along Escuela.

4907 N Camino Escuela Tucson, AZ 85718
(listed by Long Realty)

looking for a recommendation

I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for a company that does state of the art electronic home automation, including audio/video & home theatre

I appreciate it, thank you
JS

uh oh

From the Arizona Daily Star;

The Catalina Foothills, an area synonymous with growth and prestige for the past 70 years, is losing residents.

It was one of just three Pima County communities to show population declines in the 2010 census, along with the southeast-side neighborhood of Littletown and the old mining town of Ajo.

The Foothills, where household income approaches twice the norm in Pima County, lost nearly 3,000 people from 2010 to a population of 50,796, U.S. census figures show. It is the first time since the area was developed in the 1930s that it lost population, said David Taylor, a retired planner and longtime demographer who happens to live in the Foothills.

For as long as anyone can remember, the Foothills has been considered one of the most desirable places in Pima County to live. The average sales price for a home there runs about $375,000 today.

First developed in the 1930s by pioneer developer John Murphey, the Foothills has long proven attractive in part simply because it lies literally in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains, right next to the Coronado National Forest. It's also drawn many people because of its own rolling hills and ridges and because of the many large-lot subdivisions, particularly in older areas, that left plenty of natural open space.

Will Pew, a lifelong Foothills resident and president of a neighborhood association there, said he wasn't troubled at the reported population decline in the Catalina Foothills.

"Having grown up here, I don't necessarily think more people is a good thing. In the past, it felt like there was more wide open space here, and I'm not against people moving in, but it has not necessarily improved the quality of life here," said Pew, who is president of the Catalina Foothills Association, which was founded in 1956 to represent an area that was developed by pioneer builder Murphey.

____________________________________________________________________

I’m a former city kid – I grew up in NYC, lived in LA for a while and for 20+ years in Chicago – and have only been in the Foothills for 10 years now and, despite being a Realtor, I’m with Will Pew on this one. From what I’ve seen I also don’t think more people has necessarily improved the quality of life here in the Foothills. Amongst other things it has of course led to more development, and a fair amount of that development has changed the character of the old Foothills, and not for the better. With homes squeezed in on marginal lots, often by the side of the road, and has led to the breakup and subsequent over-development of many of the original Joesler estates. The 5 and 10 acre estates that lent breathing room to the old foothills. And gave it the feeling of openness, space, character and charm that Joesler and Murphey had the foresight to create.

On a more positive note I am very appreciative, and I think many residents are, that retail development in the Foothills has not been allowed to run rampant. And has been largely limited to the corners of Kolb & Sunrise, Swan & Sunrise, Campbell & Skyline and Campbell & River.

But read all about it> Foothills area sees 1st drop in population

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

the best laid plans

5527 N Camino Real was designed and built by renowned architect David Tyson to be his own home in the foothills. But it didn’t work out that way. Instead, it ended up going to foreclosure along with two adjacent spec homes he built in 2007 along the north end of Camino Real. And very sadly, it was also his last hurrah. David Tyson died in October 2008 while all three homes, his last three, were still for sale and slipping into mr lenders grubby hands.  

Meanwhile 5527 ended up selling as foreclosure in June 09 for the bargain price of $895,000. And if you’re a Tyson fan, or just looking for something more stylish & contemporary than your average southwestern,  you’re in luck. Because 5527 is now for sale again, this time for $935,000 ($198/sf) - as a result of a corporate relocation, I’m told.

5527 N Camino Real Tucson, AZ 85718

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

Pinnacle Ridge is waking up

A few weeks ago I mentioned that 4 optimistic home owners had recently listed their homes for sale in Pinnacle Ridge – bringing the total to 6 for sale. And they’d done so despite the fact that there were no homes in contract at the time and that it had been almost 5 months since the last sale. (more to choose from or more competition)

But since then two homes have gone to contract and 3 more have been listed.
So there are 7 for sale  - 2 in contract – and 3 sales in the last 6

Pinnacle Ridge today

Before the bust Pinnacle Ridge was wildly popular, and for good reason.
Great foothills location, great foothills location, gated, family friendly, all newer homes built since 2001, and did I mention great foothills location. And at a price, until things got out of hand, that many upper middle class families could handle.
And that’s all still true today, and so I don’t doubt that Pinnacle Ridge will soon be wildly popular again.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

conveniently located on Craycroft Rd

If you head north on Craycroft from Sunrise, on the east side of the street just north of Cimarron there’s that stretch of road where those mini cul-de-sacs were developed a few years ago. You know the ones I mean, they’re just below Pinchot Rd - see the map below where I’ve marked them off in red with yellow arrows at each cul-de-sac.

I’ve passed there countless times during and after the development and wondered ‘what could they possibly be doing’. I couldn’t believe that that land, that fronts directly onto Craycroft, was being developed as residential building sites. No way, couldn’t be. Well yes, could be and is. That is exactly what’s been done - 10 or 11 building lots fronting Craycroft Rd.

This plan must have been hatched during the boom and then put on hold during the bust. But when the dust settles and builders start swinging their hammers again, are we going to see houses sprouting up along that strip of Craycroft.

I’d have thought builders and investors, having lost their shirts on houses they built by the side of the road, had learned their lesson. But maybe not. Over the last few years I’ve written often about the homes, usually specs, that were built by the side of the road  – I call them road kill – and how absolutely miserably they fared in the marketplace. No one wanted them. Why, because people don’t want to live by the side of a busy road. duh (for more of my posts re; road kill, plug road kill into the search box on the upper right)

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

let it snow

No surprise, but Lowes, Ace & Home Depot were sold out of pipe insulation by the time I got there. So I used some of those floaty pool tubes that I had laying around.
Works just as well. I hope.

I got off easy just having to wait til about 1 o’clock to get my water back. And with no burst pipes. Others weren’t so lucky.

do you have water this morning, I don’t

Statement issued from Tucson Water on outages

TUCSON - Tucson Water has issued a statement about overnight water outages.
Overnight temperatures are affecting water service throughout the Tucson Water service area. According to Fernando Molina, Public Information Officer for Tucson Water, the extreme cold has caused electronic control instrumentation at various reservoir and booster sites to malfunction, automatically shutting down pumps. Over 1000 businesses and residences have been impacted throughout the early morning hours, as work crews are being sent out to reset electronic control systems to re-establish water service to affected areas. Areas affected as of 4:30 a.m. include Corona de Tucson, Diamond Bell Ranch.

Molina stated that the outages have kept crews busy all night, but so far none of the incidents have been the result of frozen water pipes at any Tucson Water facilities. While freezing temperatures have not frozen any Tucson Water pipes, it is possible that home plumbing may be affected by frozen or burst water lines. Customers can call 791-4133 to report water outages. However, this emergency phone number will not be fully staffed until 6:00 a.m. when regular shift employees arrive at work.”
_____________________________________________________________________

I’m in the old foothills and my water is out. How about you?

___________________________________________________________________

UPDATE;
Both the Long Realty office at Sunrise & Hacienda del Sol and the 900 E River Rd office are without water.

the way it used to be in the Tucson Foothills

About two weeks ago I listed a very special and unique property here in the foothills. Now I know you hear that all the time, special and unique, yeah sure, but this one really is. It’s a 1941 Joesler that sits on 14.7 acres in the old Tucson foothills.

The Joesler is a 2600 sf burnt adobe that’s in vintage 1941 condition, with a very nice walled in yard and pool, and 14.7 acres of beautiful, untouched natural desert.  And thanks to a conservation easement written into the deed, none of those 14.7 acres can be split or developed. Ever.

And from 1941 to today it's been just a two owner home. The first owners had it built by Joesler in 41 and used it as a vacation home until they sold it in 1951 to the family that still owns it.

 

As you might guess, when I took the listing I was concerned about finding that very special buyer who would not only appreciate this property for what it is, but also be willing to maintain it as it is, with no hope of ever profiting from it by developing or splitting the land.

But, and this is really a coincidence, at the same time I was also working with a couple from Europe who were looking for a Joesler here in the foothills. But this one is smaller than what they wanted, and aside from whether or not the house and setting would work for them, with the tight restrictions imposed by the easement, it was easy to imagine that they might take a pass.

But after talking to them about it and putting up a bunch of pictures and aerial maps, etc., one of them flew in to spend the day with me. And we walked the land and examined the house pretty carefully and also scrutinized the easement and everything else I could get my hands on that had to do with the property.  And after a lot of looking and weighing and talking, we wrote an offer. And the offer was accepted.

So happily for all, this little corner of the foothills will continue to be the way it used to be, thanks to the people who truly appreciate it for what it is.

see thefoothillsToday.com
to find your Foothills home

pitch in on a Tucson Foothills issue

I may be a little late with this, and I apologize for that, but I’ve been crazy busy,

From Will Pew,
District 16 resident and parent
President - Catalina Foothills Association
www.CatalinaFoothillsAssociation.org

Dear neighbor,

Please go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cfsdbus/ and sign the petition asking the CFSD school board to remove the maintenance facility from the proposed new bus bus depot and to address ingress/egress in a manner which is not dependent upon an easement from the Junior League. 

Nowhere in the 2009 bond which voters approved for improvements to the bus facility was a maintenance facility mentioned.  This use is inconsistent with the surrounding properties and does not conform to Pima County Zoning or Pima County's Comprehensive Plan.  If it were any entity other than a school district this use would not be allowed at that site.  It is without question that the drivers deserve more adequate facilities and that is what we, the voters, approved. 

Please take one or two minutes to sign the petition and, as important, forward it to your friends and neighbors (especially those living in district 16) asking them to sign the petition as well (district 16 runs all the way to Sabino Canyon, and is north of River Rd.).  Please note that the website we used to host this petition will ask for a donation after you sign it, your signature will count whether you donate or not, feel free to x-out after signing. 

I sincerely appreciate your time and support.  The school board will be discussing this tomorrow evening (December 14th) at 6:30 pm at CFSD High School.

Thank you!

Will Pew