Home Inspection

Home inspection is scheduled this afternoon for a charming house just south of Glendale and 39th Av.  It's in the perfect neighborhood for the buyers - close to family and friends - and it looks to be in great shape.  By noon we'll know just how great a shape.

Good News!

The lab report indicates that I have a very low risk of recurrence - so chemo is not warranted.  Good news! Instead I am taking a pill - once a day for the next five years.  There may be side effects - hot flashes and/or joint pain - but if there are, pharmacist says that usually they go away within four or five days once the body has had time to adjust.

So - that is 1825 pills plus one for Leap Year minus the one I took this morning.  If the world holds together for that long, with me with it, that'll be easy enough.  I started taking vitamins a few days ago - and maybe I am imagining it, but I think I have more energy.

I've been blessed.

The protocol is for me to see the oncologist, Dr. Choi, a month from now, to make sure the pill and I are getting along okay, then every two months - then after awhile every three months and at continuing decreasing intervals til we're done done done.

Physical therapy begins next week - prescribed by Dr. Angelchik for three times a week for six weeks, if needed.  The goal is to build strength, particularly in my right arm, and improve range of motion.

We have a health insurance change coming up in July and once that happens, I intend to join a fitness center. In the meantime, my friend Paige and I will resume our morning walks.  So all is well, very well.

Real Estate in Peoria AZ

Single family housing in Peoria, AZ is a tiny bit more plentiful - at least today - than what is available in Glendale.  The MLS is showing 388 single family homes for sale - that excludes condos and duplexes and manufactured homes - and, of course, that number will go up or down in the next 15 minutes.  

The least expensive looks to be a dump - that's code for a challenged-in-every-conceivable-way house - for $38k.  At the high end there is a $3.2 million property with eight bedrooms with over 10k square feet of living space - on 10+ acres.  With mountain views (of course).

The median listing is a to-be-built home in Sonoran Mountain Ranch - four bedrooms, three baths, three car garage with a 7200 sf lot - for $288,500.  That's $133/sf.

So, there's a little more to choose from in Peoria at the moment than in Glendale.  Lots of good value.  Prices are NOT going down - don't expect them too until the supply/demand thing changes.

Glendale AZ Real Estate

Just checked the Multiple Listing System - curious to see what's the latest by way of housing opportunities in Glendale.  There ARE good buys - but there IS NOT a lot from which to choose.  I restricted my search simply to single family homes (no condos, no duplexes, no manufactured homes) in Glendale - no restriction on age or size or features - and found that as of this morning, there are 335 actively for sale.  

The least expensive is listed at $35,000 and the most expensive $1.8 million.  The median (that's the one in the middle - not necessarily an average) is listed at $194,900 - built in 1987 in Deerview Subdivision, three bedrooms, three baths, two car garage, no pool, 2214 sf, $88+/sf.

Prices are going up ....

Not a lot of new builds in Glendale - I found one in the system built in 2013, an "in-fill."  Of course, by tomorrow this is old news - and the numbers will change ....

Another Value in Sun City

TThis is my latest listing in Sun City - a genuinely charming Fontaine model - 1410 sf - parquet tile in the living room, ceramic tile everywhere else except in the two bedrooms.  Screened-in back porch has saltillo tile.

Great location - two blocks east of 99th Avenue, about a half mile south of Bell in Sun City.  Quiet neighborhood (okay - most of Sun City is quiet, but this is too!) and close to the Bell Rec Center.

Sharon Forman staged - on a shoestring budget - and did a great job.  Looks cute - and it should because it IS cute.

It's been a rental for awhile and has been well taken care of.  All applicances are included, and the roof is about five years old.  Half a dozen or so citrus trees - one in the front yard and the rest in the back.  No fence - so there's no closed-in feeling.  Nobody but your neighbors to look at, although you're only a block from a golf course.

We're under contract - inspection is scheduled for tomorrow.  If all goes well we'll close on this one in mid-April.

Health Update

This is - I think - the last or the next-to-last health update.  Surgery went very very well.  I have nothing but good things to say for all the caregivers involved.  All signs are good for a long and healthy life.  A little detail, to give credit where it is due:

My general surgeon is/was Dr. Michael Stumpf.  He was referred by my plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Angelchik.    They collaborated before and during the surgery - and their skill and kindness is even more than I could have hoped for.  Surgery was February 13th.  Dr. Stumpf removed the breast tissue - and followed the "cut here - save that" lines drawn by Dr. Angelchik.  Dr. Angelchik removed an implant, put in a new one, stitched me up -  boy, does that sound easy.

Release from hospital was February 14th.  I've had one follow-up visit with Dr. Stumpf - and won't see him again until September.  I've had a half dozen follow-ups with Dr. Angelchik, the next one scheduled early April.  He's prescribed physical therapy to build strength and improve range of motion - so that's in the works.

Next is oncology.  Dr. Stumpf recommend Dr. James Choi (whose office is conveniently close to a Starbucks) - and I've met with him once.  He will have another test run on the tumor to confirm that chemo is not warranted.  He is quite emphatic that follow-up hormone replacement therapy is not an option - that it is a "gotta do."  Will know more about that in a couple of weeks.  I'll continue to see Dr. Choi - probably for the next five years.

So - when I say I am good, I mean that all reports indicate good health, that I feel good, that I am aware that  my outcome is wonderfully positive and I am very grateful.  What an understatement.  I've been back at work since sometime toward the end of February - and continue to look for more real estate business.  It's out there - I just need more than my fair share ....

Open House on Star Ridge

I'm not sure why, but this is the first time I've held open house at this listing - and it was a great success.  We had more than a half dozen visitors in two hours, and all the feedback is very positive. 

Positive feedback is all I would have expected.  It's a one bedroom, one bath upstairs condo with a view of the golf course in Sun City West.  Completely furnished with nice furniture -  attractive and in good condition.  Appliances are included.  Newer carpet.  Tile where there should be tile.  The unit is nicely painted - pretty colors - the homeowner is responsible for the interior and the condo association takes care of the exterior.  Great view of the golf course.  And - it is rentable!

Often with an open house I'm my myself - not this time.  Before I had the door closed, a neighbor came and before he left, a couple of bicyclists came followed by more and more and more - and I was not alone for even a minute in the two hours that I was there.

Most of today's lookers admitted to being curious and not being buyers - but the last people to come are doing more than looking.  A lady and her friend are - I think - the real deal.  She's a nine-month resident, and this furnished, clean, move-in ready condo with its beautiful view suits her.  We'll see if her look turns into a contract.  That would be a good thing ....

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