Open House on the Lake

I had a great open house today - at 10549 W Bayside in Sun City. I'd thought I'd stop by long enough to take some pictures - took the open house signs with me so as not to miss an opportunity to meet someone who might be interested.

I was there for four hours.

Lots and lots of visitors - some were neighbors, some were visiting friends in the area, others were out driving around and thought they'd stop.

It's been on the market less than a week - so this was good exposure.

It's a good, solid house in good condition - in a well-cared for neighborhood, close to rec centers and other Sun City amenities. The best feature - by far - is that it is on the lake. The buyer will get a private dock, with a pontoon boat, and what views!

Sun City Festival - will try again

My buyer made an offer a few days ago on a property in Sun City Festival which, had it been accepted, they'd have used as a vacation home. Sadly, the seller did not accept our offer. It's always a little painful to be rejected. I'd have liked a counteroffer, even if it didn't go anywhere - but all we got was an email - a day after our offer expired.

It's disappointing, but there are other houses. Especially in Festival - there are a LOT of other houses. I'll keep looking. The trick is to find a resale there that competes at all levels with the new builds.

This is a great buyer - smart about the housing market, courteous, appreciative, pleasant - and hopefully we'll still be able to make business happen together. Someday soon.

Piano Recital - Vicki Zemke's Students

Last night was the annual piano recital for Vicki Zemke's piano students. Vicki, who has dozens of students, teaches from her home studio. Her students love her - as do their parents. She is gentle, quiet, firm - and the results of her technique show in her students' performance. The recital was at her church, Southern Baptist at Saguaro Ranch in Glendale, where she plays on Sundays and also works with "wee ones." She plays at Glendale Community College as well.

This is a remarkable person. I say that about all my friends - and here's a glimpse at why it is true of Vicki.

Since she has been big enough to mount a piano bench (true - she isn't very big - but back to my story) she's played piano in church. She is careful always to give God the credit for her talent, and it is considerable. At last night's recital, she also honored her parents who had just celebrated their anniversary - her parents who provided lessons for her and who have encouraged her always.

She's not limited her service to church or to her piano students. For many years Vicki and Dan were foster parents - a story all by itself.

Our friendship developed one summer when stress levels were particularly high. We clocked a lot of miles walking the perimeter of a park near where our homes - and spent lots of hours in water aerobics. She found out that summer that she had breast cancer, pretty advanced, and together we researched the disease as she made decisions that were right for her. It was a pretty traumatic time, and she determined that she'd tell her story at every opportunity. She's since counseled one-on-one with women pre-and post-surgery, shopped with them for wigs, showed her scars, passed out educational literature, hosted business lunch and learns on the subject of breast cancer, served on the Susan G Komen board of directors, and on and on. Today she is healthy, and based on last night's performance, I'd say stronger than ever.

Her daughters Jennifer, Elizabeth and Katelyn played with her in the recital. Sorry about the picture quality - but the performances were outstanding.

Sometimes a Short Sale is a No Sale

I have a client who made an offer on a cute little house near Glendale Community College. It's a short sale. Compared to other properties that we considered, this one is terrific - at least at list price. Lots of character. In pretty good condition - obviously well cared for by the homeowner. Not perfect - the roof does not look all that great - and the build-out in the garage may have worked for somebody but not for my buyer.

We made an offer - decent, given the comps and the current market - and then raised our offer by $2000. Unfortunately, the seller's lender wanted more - $10,000 more. Without roof etc. issues, that might fly. But as is, no. We might have been able to meet in the middle - another $5000 from my buyer - but it looks like too much work, so we've cancelled.

I support the buyer's decision. We will try to find more value for the money. There are still good choices, and the interest rate is still low. It may not be a great time to sell, but it is a very good time to buy - assuming we can find the right property.

New Life Center

I attended a fundraiser luncheon today for New Life Center. This is a non-profit 104-bed residential facility dedicated to rescuing women and their kids from domestic violence. It was a short program - just an hour - with all speakers telling (or singing) their stories. Families are designed to nurture one another, not torture one another. If you know someone whom you suspect may be in an ugly, violent situation at home, here's the contact information:

New Life Center
P. O. Box 5055
Goodyear, AZ 85338
623.932.4404
623.536.1147 (fax)
www.newlifectr.org

Contributions are welcome.

Golf Course Home in Sun City

We closed Monday on a sweet deal on a Sun City golf course property. Buyer (whom I represent) lives up north, loves golf, has friends in Sun City, is old enough (just barely) to live in an age 55+ retirement community - and for months has been looking on line at properties that might work as a vacation home. When here for a buying trip a couple of months ago, we found one that was bank-owned and ready to be auctioned.

We rescued it from the auction. Good for us.

There was a time not long ago that I complained (forgive me) about the challenges involved in purchasing a bank-owned property. That was pretty short-sighted of me. This was a very smooth transaction, at least as far as the seller's agent is concerned. Very attentive to detail. Very good with communication. Very professional in all aspects.

In a bank-owned property, the buyer does NOT get seller disclosure information - naturally, because the bank doesn't have any. The bank isn't a person - the bank hasn't lived in the property and has no information about details that the previous seller would have known. But on the other hand, the bank doesn't take long to accept or reject an offer. It only took a few business days to get an acceptance from the seller-bank - unlike short sales that may take weeks (sometimes months) to respond.

And nothing impeded the buyer's inspection period - which result, happily, was acceptable to buyer.

So - happy buyer. Golf course house. Good condition. View of a little pond (I'd call it a lake but that's "puffing") from the family room. And what appears to be a nice neighbor. Lots to look forward to in making a trip to sunny Arizona and golf weather when it's cold and snowy at home.

And happy realtor - it's always nice to get a commission.

Short Sale HOPE!!

While I was in Colorado, I got a counteroffer from the bank on a short sale where I represent the seller. Bank okayed the sales price and all other terms - EXCEPT they asked the seller to make a pretty sizeable contribution.

The seller - who had been out of work for months, in debt and out of money - is now working. But he's not working in Arizona. He left all his friends, his emotional support, his home, his family - to take a job in another state. While he is happy to have a job, there is always a probation period with a new job. So long story short, he is not in a position to make a financial contribution to the sale, nor in a position to take on a promise to pay - too much uncertainty in the future and too much debt in the present.

The happy news is that the bank listened! Monday the seller wrote a letter of explanation, and the bank paid attention to it today - and is agreeing to the short sale with no seller contribution.

If all goes well with buyer's home inspection and buyer's lender's home appraisal, we'll have both a happy buyer and an unburdened (and UNforeclosed) seller by the end of the year.

A little too soon to breathe a big sigh of relief, but we're closer than we've been yet ....

Listing on the Lake

If you know someone who might be interested in living on a lake in Sun City, Arizona - a Del Webb retirement community - give me a call and I'll send you the link. It's over 2100 sf with a private dock and a view at sunset that will melt your heart.

Three bedrooms, two baths, den, Arizona room, family room - nice looking home with a red tile roof. Faces north, with the Arizona room facing the lake. Pontoon boat is included.

Reasonable price. Would love to find a buyer for the family before Christmas.

Living History Museum

Janice's Uncle Bob lives in a house that suits an old cowboy. It's filled with memories, and filled with what have become antiques. I took some pictures just to hang onto the trip in my mind for as long as I can. My dad has been gone for a long time, and he would have been a couple of years older than Bob. There are some similarities between them - both are charmers, both have lived hard lives, made risky choices. Lots of differences too, yet he put me in mind of my dad somewhat.

This is a home crammed with cowboy memorabilia. Arrowheads. Rattlesnake rattles. Pictures of family. Drawings by friends. Wood cook stove. Photographs of people even I've heard of! Saddles. Sewing machines. Butter churns. Ropes. Trunks with Indian blankets. He says it's like living in a museum, and he is telling the truth. It's live-in history.

Trinidad

Day Three of my vacation was a trip - literally, a trip. We drove to southern Colorado, almost to the New Mexico border - to visit Janice's 94 year old mom's 92 year old brother Bob.

On our drive we were blessed to hear great stories of growing up on a working ranch, and when we got to visit with cowboy Bob, we heard about driving cows (not the same as driving cars), about gunfights - and those looks at the past bring appreciation to the present.

Here are pictures of the brother and sister in a local restaurant, with a picture on the wall of the restaurant of them as kids. There's also a picture of the best horse Bob has ever had.

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

Day Two of my Colorado vacation was experiencing the joy of being with one-year old twins. And these aren't just any twins - they are famous! They were born at 26 weeks - that's pretty early - because of complications during pregnancy. Maddy was 1 lb 2 oz, and Matt was 1 lb 14 oz. It was pretty scary for a long time, but look at them now at around 18 lbs each! They celebrated their one year birthday at the hospital where they were born, and the local TV station interviewed them and told their story on the nightly news. (Darn - I should have gotten autographs).

The twins' mom and grandma ran a half marathon when the twins had their one-year birthday - that tells you something about the "can do" attitude of this family.

It was a great day, and my respect for twin parenting (and grand-parenting) is unlimited. Such abundant love in that family - they appreciate those babies so very much.

Eighteen Months of Sunshine

I took a few days off to go see my friend Janice in Denver. Janice works nights at Sky Ridge Hospital, and she and her husband Peter take care of her 92-year old mom. Once a week Janice gets to babysit her 18-month old granddaughter, so while I was there, I got to hang out with them.

I'd forgotten how much fun an 18-month old is! She walks (toddles is more like it), she talks, she laughs, she HATES having sun in her eyes, she chases dogs, she colors, and - get this - she uses the potty chair. And when she SHOULD HAVE used the potty chair but didn't get there in time, she says "oh shoot."

What a doll. What a lucky "mimi."

Election

I worked the November 2nd election - and it was a good experience.

The Elections Department in Maricopa County hires about 7800 poll workers, and of that number, there are over 500 "trouble shooters." I was a trouble shooter again this election.

A trouble shooter's job is to be a resource to a small selection of precincts - I had seven assigned to me, but in only four polling places. The BIG job is done by the inspector of each precinct - but a trouble shooter answers questions for the inspectors, repairs machines, refills supplies and generally fills in where needed. The polling places assigned to me where pretty close together - and I drove from one to the other to the other to the other - and back - continuously. Looking for trouble - not finding much. That's a good thing.

Although the polls are open from 6am to 7pm on Tuesday, trouble shooting begins the Saturday before, continues as the polls are set up on Monday, and then clock begins ticking at 5am Tuesday and keeps on going until polls are closed and votes are delivered to drop sites. I was home by about 9pm Tuesday - and believe it or not, could still see to drive.

All seven of the inspectors I worked with were terrific. They were capable, prepared, experienced (most of them) and had great can-do attitudes. They worked well with their Boards, and I don't think among them there was any unpleasantness the entire day. It's simply amazing how much work it takes to make an election happen - and what happens at the polls doesn't begin to address the hard work the Elections Department goes through before and after.

We are so blessed to be in America ....

Reluctant Buyers

I'm working with one of the nicest buyers I've ever met. I like her (I almost always like my clients, but she's particularly nice - and I'd be so happy to help her find what she's looking for). She's on an automated search, meaning that when something turns up in the Multiple Listing System that meets her criteria, she receives an email notification with the property details. And when she sees something that looks good, she calls me and we go look.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought we'd found just the right thing. Stucco, red tile roof, around 2000 sf home built around 2000. Good location for her. Three car garage, RV gate, covered patio, pebbletec pool. Nice floor plan. Great kitchen - love that kitchen. Fireplace. Gently-used. NOT a short sale (did you get that - NOT A SHORT SALE!!!) and not trashed. Window coverings all in place. The carpet needs help - either a professional cleaning or replacement - maybe some of both. But the yard was in decent shape.

The problem was that by the time we got to it, it had been on the market about a week and there were five other offers. We wrote the best offer we could - a little over list price - and we asked the seller (a bank) to pay most of buyer closing costs. The bank countered somebody else's offer. Darn. But my buyer still liked it, so I approached the seller's agent again, after our offer had expired, to see if there was any chance at all.

Well, there was! The buyer that the bank had countered somehow went away - I don't know the details - so we were still in the game. The bank countered our offer, but the terms remained the same: same price we offered, same deal as to buyer closing costs.

And here's where it gets painful: my buyer has decided to pass. She knows what she's comfortable with as to monthly payments - and given the amount of down payment, this pushes her just past her comfort zone. She's within lender criteria as to what she's eligible for. All the same, monthly payments for the forseeable future - 30 years worth - is a big commitment in today's economy, with all its uncertainty about job stability.

Rent receipts don't help much when could use your interest as a tax deduction, but on the plus side, you aren't trapped either.

It's not the decision I'd have made, but I respect that she's made it. We'll look for the perfect house at a lower price - and keep fingers crossed.

Trick or Treat

Funny how things change. We're aren't big on Halloween at our house. Not that I don't get a kick out of giant spiders on houses and spooky decorations - but I'll stick to passing out candy, thank you very much. Seems like stores were promoting Halloween back in August, skipped Thanksgiving and went straight to Christmas. Not complaining - just think it's odd. It's hard enough to live in the moment for some of us.

When I was a kid - back in the olden days - trick or treating was as much about tricks as treats. And the tricks we suffered sound a lot like vandalism, looking back on it. We lived in a little post-WWII house in the midwest, in the suburbs, with a board fence around the house. Kids threw kernels of seed corn at the fiberglass awning - which made a big racket. It was a stealth thing - it'd be dark outside, you'd be inside watching television, then the corn would hit and sound like an explosion. Fun if you were the thrower - not so much if you weren't.

It was also the time for soaping windows. The "trickers" used bar soap, and sometimes just "decorated" your windows - again, a steath thing. Not so innocent were soaped screens - it was difficult/impossible to remove the soap writing from screens.

Then there were burning paper sacks on the porch - kids would knock or ring the bell, the dad would go to the door, see the burning sack, stomp it out - and get dog poop all over his shoe.

Sometimes doorknobs would be greased. Sometimes car horns would be "stuck" - this was a time when cars were in the drive, not in the garage, and it didn't take much ingenuity to strategically place a wooden toothpick where the horn would blast.

And Halloween wasn't just on October 31st - it was the whole week prior.

It was also a day when kids who went to the door for "trick or treat" didn't have to worry about poison or razor blades.

This year, Steve set up the candy-passing-out-station around 5:30 - and by 6:30 we were about out of candy. (It wasn't even very good candy. When we have the good stuff, we eat it - and we don't need it.) Every single child - and most were in pretty clever costumes - was well mannered, said thank you, and if there was any "tricking," we haven't found evidence of it yet.