What's Up With the Arizona Housing Market?

Read more about it here!

Home Prices!

Finally a bottom for home prices! Read here!

Winners of the Photo Contest "Why I Love Arizona"

Check out the article here!

Later Life Living Options Presentation

I will be giving a presentation with an Expert Panel including Margaret Roberts, Sherri Gillette, and Brett J. Stein on Later Life Living Options. Come and learn answers to many questions like
- Will I be able to afford the care I need?
- How can I start planning now for the future?
- What are the senior living options available in Tucson?
- Whe is the right time to move into a retirement community?
- Should I sell my home now or wait?
- Should I fix up my home or leave it as is?
- What will I do with all of my stuff?
- How do I get moved and settled into a new place?

The presentation will be on Tuesday January 27, 2012 at
Atria Bell Court Gardens
6653 E Carondelet Dr.
RSVP to 520-886-3600
Light refreshments will be served and we will offer a tour after the discussion.
Hope to see you there!

Tubac Art Festival. Night of the Luminarias.

An article on Nikkiandchris.com

Here is another interesting article that I found on nikkianchris.com!

Check this out!

Here is some sorta good news from Kiplinger!

One of KCM's Flyers. A statistic from the National Association of Realtors.

Interesting Information for Investors

Check out this article!

Tucson Housing Report for November 2011

In Tucson there has been a 16% increase in the number of closed residential sales and a 27.5% increase in the number of new properties under contract!

The Metal Man- Full Moon

Last night I attended a social at The Metal Arts Village Tucson on the Northeast corner of Dodge and Ft. Lowell. We took a lovely tour of this fabulous tucked away treasure in Tucson. We saw the Full Moon Open Studios, a fabulous event that is a must see!

Oil Well in Midland, TX with my Sister

My Sister and I (both talking at the same time) in front of oil wells at the Petroleum Museum in Midland, TX. We were at a cousin reunion. Fun!

Downsizing Made Easy: Step 1

Create a plan that fits your lifestyle and future needs
The first phase of creating your plan means doing some research. Consider your interests, financial situation, location of your friends and family, and how you envision living your life to the fullest. Then choose a place that you think will best fit your lifestyle. Take some time with this step even if you haven't fully decided whether you intend to move. It's like having a plan in case of a fire or storm... you hope to never need to use it, but it's smart to have it just in case.

You Are Invited to Learn How to Simplify Your Life

Downsizing Made Easy

Simplifying your life should leave you overjoyed, not overwhelmed.

The Five Easy Steps to help you begin the process of simplifying your life.
1. Create a plan that fits your lifestyle and furture needs.
2. Communicate with your family and friends.
3. Surround yourself with highly qualified professionals.
4. Get rid of all that extra "stuff."
5. Adjusting to your new lifestyle.


Come Join!

When: November 2, 2011
2:00 to 3:00 pm
Where: Santa Catalina Villas
7500 N Calle Sin Envidia
Rancho Sin Vacas
RSVP Becky 742-6242 ext 208


Light refreshments

Tour of community to follow.

Plan for a fun Christmas Fundraiser!

The Twilight Wish Foundation met at Freedom Inn a Brookdale Senior Living Community which specializes in personalized assisted living. Debbie Rosness is the new Sales & Marketing Manager. The Twilight Wish Foundation Board is planning a fundraiser "Christmas in the Big Apple" at the Gas Light Theater for Saturday, December 3rd at 3 p.m. It will be fun for the whole family. The money raised will go towards granting wishes and having a Holiday Party at Armory Park for low income Seniors. I will be there as a "photo elf" to help people get their picture taken. It will be such a happy time for all.

My Week at a Glance

I met my fabulous home improvement/handy man, "The House Butler" at my house for a whole slew of items to correct. He sure is excellent. You have to book far ahead but if you can wait I recommend him. Pay on the spot.

Jim McDaniel
520-721-1876

I finished my Top Side Coaching 7 week course program for seniors and ealtors all across. The program was excellent and I recommend for any realtor wanting to work with the Senior Community. Contact Nikki Buckelew at http://www.topsidecoaching.com/ to get more information. I sell to everyone but have a passion for helping the Seniors and making sure they are well taken care of.

I met Nancy Mahlstede of Stage Tucson at a listing one afternoon to give a consultation on staging the home. She is so good and it always makes a quick turn around for the house. It is amazing to me how a good eye for arranging furniture or putting in furniture can make such a difference. Homes consistently over and over sell faster.

Downsizing Made Easy

Come hear the expert talk about 5 steps to Downsizing Made Easy.
Simplifying your life should leave you overjoyed not overwhelmed.

5 Easy Steps:
Step 1. Create a plan that fits your lifestyle and future needs.
Step 2. Communicate with your family and friends.
Step 3. Surround yourself with highly qualified professionals.
Step 4. Get rid of all that extra ‘stuff”
Step 5. Adjusting to your new lifestyle.

Location: At Santa Catalina Villas in Rancho Sin Vacas. Light refreshments.
Date: Wed, Nov. 2, 2011

U of A study on Seizures and Epilipsy going on now!

The U of A has a Grant to study seniors or 65 who are or have had seizures or Epilepsy. If you are interested call please click here for more contact informationa and dates.

Questions about Senior living?

What do you as an adult child of a Senior want to know about
helping your parents choose an Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing or Memory Care Community? What is most important? When is the right time to sell their home? Do you fix it up or sell “As Is”? Are you going to have an Estate Sale? What should you do with all their stuff? Where is the best placement…where to go? What community is best for Mom and Dad?

We can help answer these questions!
Location: Sunrise at River at 5:30 p.m. 3 Experts will have a Panel Discussion…less than 1 hour.
Light refreshments.
Come ask questions!

Talking to seniors in my community

I recently gave a talk to potential Seniors who were looking to move into The Cascades (201 N Jessica Ave. Tucson, AZ 85710). The biggest TIP given by Sherri Gillette of Caring Transitions was "DON’T give stuff for birthdays and the holidays. Instead give consumables..like flowers or gift certificates to restaurants (better yet..go with them) and trips. We have too much stuff."

I also gave a talk at Mountain View Retirement (7900 N La Canada Rd Tucson, AZ 85704). We had a Focus Group and discussed the two things Seniors wished they could do sooner: the first was to have moved in sooner while they were healthier and the other was not have so much stuff!

Downsizing Your Home Made Easy Presentation by Sherie B!

You are invited to a presentation at Mountain View Retirement Village, A Senior Living Community at McGee and Oracle: 7900 North La Canada Drive, Tucson, AZ 85704 at 1:30 PM on Monday September 26th. Ira Gold, Appraiser, will be speaking on home values and how the appraisal system works. I will be speaking on Downsizing Your Home Made Easy and Tips for selling your Home in today's market. If you or your parents are considering moving into maintenance free living then this may be for you! RSVP to 520-229-3350

Lillian and Me

My sweet 90 year old client Lillian has sold her home and is off to Albuquerque to move into a Retirement Community near her son.

She is so sad to be leaving Tucson and her home. Her 95 year old friends live down the street and all her memories with the home. What a dear.

Craig Wisnom from Bogutz & Gordon, PC

Craig Wisnom, a certified specialist in Estate and Trust law, from Bogutz & Gordon, PC has done some fantastic youtube videos. He offers a lot of valuable information that is worth listening to! Below is a link to the youtube page where you can watch many different videos done by Craig Wisnom. His advice and thoughts are very valuable!

Bogutz&GordonPC

KCM Blog Post

Homeownership: Still the American Dream....

The KCM Crew (Keeping Current Matters) has recently done a blog post featuring some statistics that they deem most interesting from the new National Housing Survey for the second quarter of 2011. This survey includes statistcs about the most important reasons to buy a home, the home as an investment, and buying vs. renting a home.

Follow this link for more information!


Also, Don't forget to "like" my business page on Facebook!
Sherie Broekema Long Realty Company

Sky Center at Mt. Lemmon

This upcoming season at the SkyCenter promises to be truly memorable. The Schulman telescope is now fully operational with significant improvements in image quality. In terms of both visual views and CCD imagery, once the clouds clear from our monsoons, SkyCenter will be raising the bar in public outreach offerings.

There are some specific big events coming within the next year as well. On November 8th asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass *very* close to the Earth (astronomically speaking). SkyCenter will host a very special program to watch this near earth object fly by. Here is a good article about the event:

http://www.universetoday.com/85360/take-a-look-huge-asteroid-to-fly-by-earth-in-november/

Mark your calender for summer 2012...June 5, 2012, as a significant event will be occurring! It will be the LAST CHANCE for anyone alive today to see Venus transit across the disk of the Sun. For most people this is a once-in-a-life-time event. The western US is fortunate to see a good fraction of the transit during the sunset. Also fortunate is that this is the time of year it is most likely to be clear atop Mount Lemmon. The 9,157 feet will give us an advantage to witness Venus crossing the Sun that few can equal.

Also, SkyCenter has released some fantastic lightning photography and videos from the recent storms in Tucson.

http://www.caelumobservatory.com/gallery/aug_lightning.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11rSAIuZOH8&fmt=37


To contact the SkyCenter for more information:
520.626.8122
www.SkyCenter.arizona.edu

Tucson Housing Report for July 2011

Tucson Main Market Housing Report 7-11

August events and activites around Arizona

Along with the monsoons, August also offers various events and activities around Arizona.

Vigilante Days
August 12-14, 2011
Tombstone

Happy Birthday Tucson
August 20, 2011
Various Events Throughout Tucson

EMVIA Prickly Pear Festival
Rillito Downs Park
520.290.4770

Canoe Days
August 6-7
Sahuarita Lake Park

Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball
Chase Field - Phoenix

Breaker's Water Park
May-September
Marana
520.682.2304

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tucson
520.883.2702

Castles-N-Coasters
Phoenix
602.997.7575

Colossal Cave
Tucson
520.647.7275

KCM Report August

I always think that KCM- Keeping Current Matters has important information that is worth while to read. This current link has 5 quick tips to know for August.

Check it out!

What is Happening to Home Prices?

Great information from Kevin Kaplan!

What is Happening to Home Prices?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Kevin Kaplan

We've all seen the news. "Home prices slide", "Risk of a double dip in home prices" etc. But is it worth a few minutes to better understand what is happening to home prices here in Arizona? I do, so here we go.

The Product Mix
First of all, real estate is a very localized affair and needs to be evaluated as such. So while we see articles on the national housing market, let's take a closer look in our backyard here in Arizona.

Pricing in its simplest form is a function of supply and demand (remember those college economics classes? I am lucky enough to hold a degree in Economics….). But what many people seem to overlook in housing is that you also need to understand the type of product being sold, and what impact that has on overall pricing metrics.

We did some analysis on MLS data to determine the product mix of residential homes being sold in Tucson and in Phoenix for the time period January-May 2011. Specifically we wanted to know the mix of distressed (REO and short sale transactions) and non-distressed closed sales. Here are the results:

Tucson – 43% REO (Bank owned) sales, 9% short sales and 48% non-distressed sales
Phoenix – 42% REO (Bank owned) sales, 20% short sale and 38% non-distressed sales
52% of closed sales in Tucson and 62% in Phoenix were distressed.

Impact of Distressed Sales on Pricing
So now that we know more than half of residential properties sold were distressed, let's take a look at the impact that has to pricing.

We see a stark difference in pricing from distressed to non-distressed homes.
The product mix is driving down the overall home price sales. As this distressed inventory gets absorbed (which is happening now at a good clip) the product mix will start to shift back to more non-distressed sales, which means we may have a more instant uptick in home sales prices – just because of the product mix.

Another reason to work with an educated Long Realty agent who can help you understand local housing dynamics.

For a copy of our latest Housing Report to see market trends in your area, visit our website

Facebook!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to give you a link to my business facebook page! It is always updated with information concerning real estate and what is going on in Tucson and its surrounding area. It is a great way to get in touch with me, and if you have any news you would like to share with me, I would love to hear it.

Feel free to "like" Sherie Broekema Long Realty page!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Sherie-Broekema-Long-Realty/139718236075480

New 2011 Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Brought to you by Pima County Regional Flood Control District:

New 2011
Flood Insurance Rate Maps

What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) identify federally recognized flood hazard areas and reflect insurance risk designations for flooding. The maps are issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

When will the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps become effective?
The new FIRMs are scheduled to become effective JUNE 16, 2011. Any modifications to the scheduled effective date will be posted on the Pima County Regional Flood Control District's (District) website www.rfcd.pima.gov/dfirm.

Where an I go to view the new maps?
You can view the maps on the District's website at: www.rfcd.pima.gov/dfirm using your address or tax code parcel number. If you do not have access to high speed internet you may access the website from computers at any branch of the Pima County Public Library. You may also view the maps at your local floodplain management agency (see the Local Map Repository contact information at the bottom).

Local Map Repositories

The Town of Marana
Marana Development Services Center
11555 W. Civic Center Drive
Marana, Arizona 85653
(520)382-2600

The Town of Oro Valley
Oro Valley Community Development Department
Department of Public Works
11000 N. La Canada Drive
Oro Valley, Arizona 85737
(520) 229-4818

Wild Fires

http://www.inciweb.org/

This site appears to be the most professional and up to date source of information for the wild fires. Click the fire that you are interested in and it provides not only information about the scope of the problem but links that can assist people in gathering more information.

Why now is the time to sell

5 Reasons You Should Consider Selling Now

Will I Get More Money If I Wait?
Almost 14,000 Houses Sold Yesterday
What Exactly Is Shadow Inventory?
Month’s Shadow Inventory: State by State
The Impact of Distressed Properties on Neighboring Values
Oswald Acted Alone and We Did Land on the Moon


Those are just a few of the dealines in this month's KCM (Keeping Current Matters) on why now is the time to sell.

Check out the link below for more information!

Remember, if you have any questions for me don't hesitate to ask, comment, or e-mail. SherieB@tucsonhomes.com

http://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/pdf/TimetoSell.pdf

New Entries from KCM Blog!

KCM Blog always has fantastic articles and information. Their most recent, "How To Make An Offer That Will Be Accepted", is very helpful. Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://kcmblog.com/2011/05/31/how-to-make-an-offer-that-will-be-accepted/

Long Insurance Group – What You Should Know About Vacant Homes

Did you know that most Homeowners Insurance policies will afford little to no
coverage in the event of a loss to an insured residence once it becomes vacant
for more than 30 days? This puts many homes that are currently up for sale and
no longer being occupied by their owners at great risk.
Long Insurance has the solution! We have national carriers that offer 3, 6 or 12
month insurance policies on homes that are temporarily vacant due to being on
the market, between tenants, or even undergoing minor renovations. These
policies provide essential coverage’s to the home and the Homeowner such as
Fire, Vandalism and Liability.


Contact us at 520-918-6565 for more information.

KCM Report

KCM, Keeping Current Matters, always has great blog posts and information that I feel would be an asset to you. Here is their most recent blog post. A very interesting view about the current housing market! Check out the link below!


http://kcmblog.com/2011/04/05/ok-you-win-stop-listening-to-real-estate-agents/

KCM Blog

Always fantastic articles and information coming from KCM. Here is their most recent blog post that I think makes some important points!

http://kcmblog.com/2011/03/01/if-your-goal-is-to-buy-low-buy-now/

Presentation on Trusts with Ronald Zack

Do you want information on Trusts?
What is a Trust?
Who needs one?
The truth about Trusts.
What can I do with a Trust?
What is a Special Needs Trust?
What is an Irrevocable Trust?
Update on new laws...

Ronald Zack, an Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney, will give a presentation, in simple terms, what you need, what you don't need and how much you should pay for it.

Ronald Zack's Trust-Based Estate Planning for 2011 and Beyond will be held on February 22, 2011 at Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce. 1443 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ, 85719; #520-623-0099.

Registration/Refreshments begins at 5:...30 pm and the Presentation begins at 6:00 pm.

This sounds like a great opportunity to learn more about Trusts!

Southern Arizona events in March!

Here is a collection of some of the great local events going on around Southern Arizona in March.

Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Festival
March 5 & 6, 2011
Pima Community College NW Campus
520.797.3959

Music in the Canyon
March 6, 2011
Sabino Canyon
520.749.1900

Ballet Tucson - Dance & Dessert
March 11-13, 2011
Stevie Eller Dance Theater
520.623.3373

2011 Tucson Festival of Books
March 12 & 13, 2011
University of Arizona
520.626.5653

Cactus League Spring Training
March 2011

Tucson St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 17, 2011

Downtown Tucson
Oro Valley Arts in the Park - Fine Art & Jazz Festival
March 18 - March 20, 2011
Canada Del Oro Riverfront Park
520.797.3959

Arizona Theatre Company - Sex and the Second City
Phoenix - March 10 - 20, 2011
Tucson - March 23 - 27, 2011
PHX: Herberger Theater Center
TUC: Temple of Music and Art
PHX: 602.256.6995 / TUC: 520.622.2823

UA Men's Basketball
520.621.2287

Sounds like a great list of events!

Residental Notice of Value

The Tucson Tax Residental Notice of Value 2012 just came out. The appeal instructions include that if you believe that your property has been improperly valued or erroneously listed, you may petition the Assessor for review within 60 days of the notice date. A "Residental Petition for Review of Value" may be obtained from the Assessor's Office or downloaded from their website: www.asr.pima.gov

Interesting Articles

This is a great article for those thinking of buying a home now. Time to jump all the way in and buy.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fkcmblog.com%2F2011%2F01%2F04%2F3-questions-you-must-answer-before-buying-a-home%2F&h=84b45

&

I just finished a Certified Negotiation Class so found this article interesting.


http://kcmblog.com/2011/02/01/this-is-a-job-for-superman-not-clark-kent/

I always love new friends on Facebook, check out my Facebook for my most recent and up-to-date information and interesting articles that I find and like to share!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=588669871

Recent activities in January 2011!

Pictured above with Tom Haymen, Instructor and Kathleen Baylies, Exclusive Buyers Agent-Broker (Wilmington NC)
I attended a two day Real Estate Negotiation Institute course and recieved my CNE Designation. Very interesting and even though I have been negotiating contracts for years, the class helps. We used to present all contracts in person however when the fax machine and email came along realtors started using this method and skipping the face to face. We were encouraged to go back to the beginning and do the old fashioned way. I agree. The instructor is a Phoenix Realtor and worked as a negotiator for Proctor and Gamble for 25 years.



Pictured above:
Our family celebrated two birthday surprise dinners at Culinary Cuisine in Tucson last Sunday. We were all invited to cook the meal as much as we wanted and of course eat. A feast! I recommend for parties, children's birthday parties, or even cooking school. Lots of fun. They also offer cooking classes

Keeping Current Matters

Keeping Current Matter's blog features a great article about the 3 questions you must answer before buying a home. This is great information to read and pass along to friends and family.

http://kcmblog.com/2011/01/04/3-questions-you-must-answer-before-buying-a-home/

Tucson Housing Report for January 2011

Hello Friends! Here is the most recent Tucson main market housing report for January 2011!

Main Housing Report 01-2011 ">