Monthly Archives: July 2011

SunRidge Canyon Golf Community: A Fountain Hills Original

Posted on July 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

It would be odd to use the words “wild, beautiful” to describe a golf course in the same terms you might describe an untamed horse, or unruly, rapid river. But the creators of this popular Arizona course, named to Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the US”, weren’t thinking of tame, ordinary golf when they carved SunRidge Canyon’s legendary fairways from the raw desert canyon of its origins.
SunRidge Canyon’s 6,823-yard, par-71, Keith Foster-designed golf course unfolds around the rugged ridges and lush canyons unique to the McDowell Mountains that divide Fountain Hills from Scottsdale, Arizona.
In golf speak, it is a “non-returning 9”…or in other words, you won’t be spending much time at the beautiful SunRidge Canyon clubhouse until you’ve paid your dues on the course. The first half of the course plays mostly downhill, and might lull you into a false sense of accomplishment, but it’s the back-half that has the potential to test your mettle, as it winds back up-canyon to a spectacular finish at the 18th. Along the way you’ll be treated to canyon walls, beautiful vistas and desert arroyos that weren’t so much created by a bulldozer as they were carved out over eons by the relentless pressure of wind and water. Course Designer Keith Foster had the good sense to follow Mother Nature’s lead, and in the end, the beauty and challenge of SunRidge Canyon is unlike any other desert golf experience in the Valley of the Sun.
The 18,000-square-foot SunRidge Canyon Golf Club’s clubhouse is the ideal place to begin and end your adventures. The Spanish hacienda-style clubhouse provides an awe-inspiring setting for post-golf beverages as well as weddings, receptions, awards banquets or any other type of special event. There is also a full-service golf shop, men’s and women’s locker facilities, and a conference room.
New owners, Cindy and Don Misheff, along with manager Jeff Lessig, are giving the club more local interest, providing incentives for area residents who wish to purchase the SunRidge Players Card. Contact the pro shop at 480-837-5100 for more information on rates, tee times and the benefits of the Players Card.
For a fun, multi-media “fly-over” of the entire course, hole by hole, go to: http://sunridgegolf.com/golf/hole-by-hole-flyover/
Sunridge Canyon Homes and Lifestyle

The mountainous beauty that surrounds Sunridge Canyon serves as a natural barrier, which protects it from over-development and preserves its close-knit, small-town feel. There are 789 homes within SunRidge Canyon, located along the meandering fairways and often elevated nicely above the course to facilitate panoramic views. Homes in the community were developed between 1996 and 2005, and range from extravagant custom homes to small luxury villas—a perfect selection for empty nesters, retirees or families looking for a friendly neighborhood environment. Prices in the community range from the high $200’s to over $1 million.  There are two gated communities among the 15 individual neighborhoods.  The McDowell Sonoran Preserve winds in and around the western portions of SunRidge Canyon, with the pristine McDowell Mountains providing a stunning backdrop for many of the homes.

For more information, visit SunRidge Canyon at 13100 North Sunridge Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ, or call 480-837-5100. For information about homes and the local real estate market, contact Dori Wittrig, President and Designated Broker of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate; 480-816-5557 or www.TheSonoranLifestyle.com .

Via Flickr:
As the sun flares over the side of the mountain and the wind continues to how straight into our faces at a good 40-45 miles an hour, we both hit a 3 wood into the par three 17th. from 150 yards and both good shots never got to the green. Thats golf….

Dori Wittrig

Posted by Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate.  For more information about  the neighborhoods, homes, condos or land of Scottsdale or Fountain Hills, contact her at DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.com or by phone at 602-558-5901

 

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Posted in Golf Courses & Area Resorts, Homes, Lots & Condos For Sale or Rent, Our Real Estate Market

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Spanish Style, 3 Bedroom Bank-Owned Home Under $200,000 in Fountain Hills

Posted on July 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

 

16925 E. De Anza Dr. Fountain Hills

Bank-owned homes can be an incredible value, and here’s a great example of a 3 bedroom Spanish-style home in The Cottonwoods neighborhood of Fountain Hills.  Under $200,000, this bank-owned gem with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2 car garage appears to be extremely clean, cared for and well put together with custom upgrades normally found in more expensive homes.   The split bedroom plan of this 3-bedroom home features a large living room with a triple 8’ patio
door-wall and corner fireplace, high ceilings, Saltillo tile and blue tile accents that create a soothing, southwest ambiance, perfect for your relaxed, Fountain Hills lifestyle.

Upgraded Kitchen of Granite, Maple Cabinetry, Specialty Lighting & Beautiful Stone

The remodeled kitchen of this 3 bedroom, bank-owned home features upgraded Maple cabinetry with pull-outs, self-closing drawers, custom pulls and tasteful granite and stone trims.  There is a spacious nook with plantation shutters, a 2-person breakfast bar, and a convenient granite-topped work desk.  The bisque GE appliances are in great shape and there’s a pantry for added convenience.

The master suite features two separate, granite-topped, tall height vanities with porcelain bowls and upgraded fixtures.  There is a walk-in shower and a large walk-in closet with a laminate organizer system.   The guest bedroom wing of this 3 bedroom, bank owned home has an adorable guest bath with custom vanity, mirror and lights.

A Backyard to Love! Pool, Heated Spa, Lots of Patios and Mature Landscape Includes 2 Citrus Trees

Outdoors, there’s a lot packed into this pretty back yard to help you enjoy the lovely Fountain Hills evenings.  The pool is large enough for laps, there is
an (LP) gas heated spa, lots of patios and a great landscape design with two
mature citrus trees.

Located in The Cottonwoods of Fountain Hills, this beautiful Spanish-style, bank-owned home is only two blocks from the World Famous Fountain and the Town Village.  The neighborhood is named for a tall grove of Cottonwood trees on its north side, giving neighborhood a sense of privacy.  There are no HOA Fees, yet the community has a strong sense of pride of;  2010 taxes for this beautiful 3 bedroom, bank-owned home were $1316.

Fountain Hills, AZ is on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains with big, panoramic views, great golf courses, a relaxed hometown atmosphere and friendly people.  Foreclosure activity in the community is trending downward, and housing inventory is at its lowest point since 2004.   Real estate experts have long held that the unique, custom home nature of the high desert community of Fountain Hills would allow it to be a leader in the rebound of the Arizona real estate market.

If you like Spanish architecture and are looking for a clean, resort-style ambiance, be sure to check out this 3 bedroom, bank-owned home, priced at only $195,030.   For more information about bank-owned homes, learn more about the Fountain Hills real estate market, or about the incredible Southwestern lifestyle of Fountain Hills, contact Dori Wittrig, President and Designated Broker of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate.  Ask for the 2nd Quarter Real Estate Report to get all the facts!  Contact her at 602-558-5901 or visit  www.TheSonoranLifestyle.com.

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Posted in Homes, Lots & Condos For Sale or Rent, Our Real Estate Market

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Fountain Hills Market Statistics: Strong Upward Trends

Posted on July 13, 2011 | Leave a comment
The following is taken from the 2nd Quarter, 2011 Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate Market Summary for Fountain Hills, a 25-page analysis of the mid-year look at Fountain Hills’ real estate market. 
 
Request Your Free Copy by emailing me at DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.com

Fountain Hills 2nd Quarter Market Report-Ready NOW!

Maricopa County:  Perhaps the best way to explain what is going on in the Maricopa County Real Estate Market is to quote the Cromford Report from July 2, 2011.  The Cromford Report is a reliable source that tracks, among other things, data from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service:

According to the current ARMLS data, 2,216 homes closed on June 30 across all areas and types, the largest total we have ever recorded for a single day. It beat the previous record set on June 30, 2004 by nearly 57%!  Not only that, but the total for the calendar month of June was 11,141, also a new all time record for sales through ARMLS. We know that the total sales recorded by the counties may have been a little higher during the summer of 2005 because so many transactions were completed outside of ARMLS in those days (mainly new homes and FSBOs). However in June’s total we are not including the  homes purchased at trustee sales which were very few in 2005 and likely numbered over 1,500 last month. However you look at it, June 2011 sales volume was enormous…

Shadow inventory?  Foreclosure “tsunami?”  According to the “experts,” we’re supposed to be right in the middle of what was predicted to be “the bigger wave” of foreclosures, with much doom and gloom forecast.  But inventory is at an alarmingly low rate especially in desirable areas like Fountain Hills and the East Shea corridor.  Prices are stabilizing and the wave is looking more like something out of a 1960’s beach party movie.  While this certainly doesn’t spell the end of the housing crisis in Arizona, it does highlight what we’ve been saying all along…the Maricopa County real estate market is very resilient.  Unless the federal government succeeds in mucking up our economy to a much greater degree, we have survived the worst and can begin to feel confident in our sunbelt real estate appeal, once again.

Fountain Hills:  All indicators in the Fountain Hills real estate market are positive…..every last one!  This is the first time in recent memory that we’ve seen:

  • Inventory decreased in every category (homes, condos, land)
  • Sales pace ahead of 1st quarter 2011 in every category
  • Sales pace ahead of the 2nd quarter 2010 in every category
  • Prices increase over 1st quarter 2011 in every category

Distressed Property Sales comprise 36% of the $89 million of sales closed during 2nd Quarter, 2011 in Fountain Hills.  That’s a huge decrease from just 6 months ago at the end of 2010 when 50% of Fountain Hills’ residential sales were either Bank-Owned Properties or Short Sales (49% at the end of 2009)  Currently, there are 36 bank-owned properties listed for sale in Fountain Hills, the smallest number we’ve seen in over two years…and one-half of what it was in October 2010.

To be fair, the local real estate market was feeling euphoric one year ago at the end of the 2nd quarter of 2010, when inventory was reduced and prices had risen drastically the previous 6 months.  But, as most of us believe, this was more than likely an artificial market created by the incentives of the Homebuyer’s Tax Credit program.  It is no secret that the 1st and 2nd quarters of each year are usually Fountain Hills’ busiest.  And, we had a huge drop in business the second half of 2010 that resulted in an 8-year low in prices.  However, we at Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate are experiencing a very robust sales pace even this summer…with many more enthusiastic buyers than one year ago.

So, the next 6 months will officially tell us whether we have left the bottom of this market behind us.  And, while the long climb out of the problems of the past few years will not be a steady, uninterrupted incline, we do believe that if you’re waiting for the “perfect time” to purchase your next home or investment property, that time is NOW!

A few words about “shadow inventory:”   Across the Valley, we are hearing that the anticipation of a huge shadow inventory is a non-starter.  First, it’s
important to understand the various forms of shadow inventory.  Some experts consider it to be the foreclosed properties that are sitting vacant and off the market.  Others use a broader definition as any property that is either headed for default, is in default or has been foreclosed and is vacant and off the market.
Those that believe this is a non-issue are—in our opinion—analyzing the market place from an informed, realistic position.  Their comments generally include statistics that take into account the active sales pace of short sale properties that will remove the anticipated shadow inventory prior to foreclosure; they also take
into account properties that are purchased off the courthouse steps by investors that are either purchasing to hold or to fix and flip…creating a much more vibrant market than we saw several years ago when trashy default properties clogged the system.    In Fountain Hills, we are seeing both of those dynamics in play.  If a property is in decent shape and priced reasonably…it sells.    Statistically, there are only about 25-30 properties that might be considered “shadow inventory” by the narrower definition.  These properties are often plagued by prior title conditions (bankruptcy or actions for deficiency judgment); extreme hazardous conditions within the home (mold, etc.)  While there may be other factors that negatively impact our local market, we don’t believe “The Shadow” is lurking around us.

Enjoy the attached reports.  There is a lot of information in them, and we’re happy to help you analyze them for your own purposes or to send you more detailed reports such as our “Neighborhood Report” or some of the Cromford Reports that analyze both the local and valley wide market.  We look forward to being of assistance should you decide that now is the time to buy or sell your next property.

 

Dori Wittrig

Posted by Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker, Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate.  For more information about  the neighborhoods, homes, condos or land of Scottsdale or Fountain Hills, contact her at DoriW@SonoranLifestyle.comor by phone at 602-558-5901

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Fountain Hills Bank-Owned Homes Offer Investors the American Dream

Posted on July 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

Gerry and Emma Morgan, at work in their newest rental property acquisition

Astute investors are taking advantage of current real estate environment to purchase quality bank-owned homes in communities like Fountain Hills, Arizona.  Indeed, you would have to go back several decades to find a more conducive environment for purchasing investment properties that offer the combination of low purchase price plus an active rental market with feasible rental income returns.  Fountain Hills residents Emma and Gerry Morgan are two of those savvy investors taking advantage of the current inventory of bank-owned properties to build their future.

Emma “Aiqi” Morgan was always a go-getter, all the way back to her early years as a young woman in China.  Now, she and Gerry are pursuing their American Dream by methodically acquiring bank-owned investment properties.
They are the prototypical investor…identifying great house deals in quality communities, investing their own labor to improve their acquisition.  They carefully analyze the potential for income and appreciation.  They plan for
long-term…this is part of their retirement program, and a legacy for their
daughter, Elaine.They are a great team.  Emma is the motivation behind their home search, while Gerry provides the expertise needed to analyze the structural integrity of the home and to improve it, with experience gained from many years of investment property ownership and his years with the FAA servicing their flight location and radio systems.  Together, they invest the elbow grease and painting talent as
needed.

Buying rental investment homes in Fountain Hills is an easy decision for Emma and Gerry.  They live in and love Fountain Hills, a small community on the far northeastern reaches of Maricopa County, on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains with beautiful views of the nearby Superstition, Goldfield and Mazatzal Mountains.  They, like others, enjoy the hometown feeling of the community which offers world-class amenities. Fountain Hills has broad appeal for families wanting a quality place to raise children.  It’s also popular with second home, winter-visitors who want to enjoy the five incredible golf courses, outdoor recreation and small-town events that are the fabric of the social structure.  It is this quality of life that also provides a great source of tenants for homes Gerry and Emma purchase.

Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate in Fountain Hills was a good fit for Gerry and  Emma.  Agent Bruce Laessig regularly lists quality bank-owned properties for lender-clients, and Designated Broker Dori Wittrig offers the expertise needed to discover both the challenges and opportunities of purchasing bank-owned homes.  Dori also provides a comprehensive Quarterly Market Report that helps her clients to analyze the marketplace and make educated, informed decisions.  Later, Property Manager Dawn Woods then offers professional management
services to identify quality tenants that will be a good fit for owners like the Morgans.  It is a formula that works well.  For more information about the opportunities or to get a copy of the company’s Fountain Hills Quarterly Market Report, contact Dori Wittrig, Designated Broker of Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate at 602-558-5901.  Or, check out www.TheSonoranLifestyle.com.

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A “Star Spangled Welcome” to Fountain Hills Newest Residents!

Posted on July 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

John and T Kay Bertoldi with Dori Wittrig

Welcome to John and T Kay Bertoldi who officially made Fountain Hills their home on a very warm Fourth of July holiday week-end.  John and T Kay,  who are both employed with underwater engineering firm PREVCO, are relocating from Santa Fe, New Mexico.  They chose a lovely territorial style, bank-owned property on Lunar Lane, in FireRock Estates, only a few blocks from their office in the Fountain Hills Technology Park, an “ideal commute time” according to the couple.

The home was both listed and sold by Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate…Bruce Laessig represented the bank seller, while Dori Wittrig assisted the Bertoldi’s with their purchase.

The Bertoldi's New HomeThe Bertoldis story is interesting, and a true testament to the appeal of Fountain Hills.  Relocating along with their employer, both couples were looking for a warmer climate and a charming, high desert community.  Fountain Hills fit the bill.  They enjoy the hometown atmosphere, community based activities and proximity not only to the dining and cultural offerings of the Valley of the Sun, but also the recreation of central and northeastern Arizona.    Join us in welcoming them!

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Posted in Clients, Customers, Friends & Family, Uncategorized

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