Tucson Real Estate Blogs » 2007

Tucson Real Estate & Golf Properties

Douglas Trudeau , Assoc. Broker
Prudential Foothills Real Estate
64 N. Harrison Road, Suite 160
Tucson , AZ 85748
Mobile: 520-954-2209
Contact Me

Archive for August, 2007

What Can Baby Boomers Expect In Tucson?

August 26th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

Tucson has a lot to offer Baby Boomers from every walk of life. From full living to assisted living. From condos to luxurious homes. From inner city living to rural living. You name, Tucson has it. From mountain biking to golf courses.

The only time you see a delay at the airport in Tucson is when there is foul weather at the other end of a flight. De-ice the windshield, what is that? Hurricanes? Isn’t that what we see on the news elsewhere? Earthquakes, oh yes that’s what they have in California. For golfers, we joke about having too many good days to play to have to play on a bad day. For hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, there are miles of trails.

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Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Are You Crazy, What Do You Mean Range Pricing?

August 25th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

We have all heard about the Drew Carey game show Power of 10. Contestants must pick a range on the scale for their answer. With each question the range decreases. Similar concept of pricing items within a range has been used on The Price Is Right for years.

Pricing a home in a real estate market that has cooled down is tough. How much is too little and how much is too much? With old school fixed pricing it gets harder to determine what is the right price. Miss the mark and your home becomes an Expired Listing waiting to happen. Too low and your lucky to get out of the neighborhood without being tarred and feathered by angry neighbors. A not so new and method that is rapidly gaining popularity is Range Pricing. Home buyers and sellers in the Tucson real estate market ask me all the time, “Why would anyone pay more than the bottom value on Range Pricing?” The truth is, buyers pay more than the bottom number all the time.

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Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: 3 Comments »

Should I Buy A New Home or A Resale Home?

August 24th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

There are arguments for both sides of the coin. New home construction has benefits for warranties, perceived better condition (new), and perceived potential higher value. The later has become the most important factor for buyers to consider. Will my home have the same or higher value six, twelve or sixty months after I buy it? Buyers are looking closer at, “Can I afford to make the payment two years from now?” With a resale home you don’t get to pick the colors, style of carpet and tile, or add an extended garage or patio. What you see is what you get.

With recent news about mortgages and new home construction more buyers are looking at resale homes. The resale home market has always been and continues to be stronger than new home sales. Reading this morning home builders stock values are decreasing. In Tuesday’s trading (Aug. 21, 2007) Standard Pacific dropped 9%, Toll Brothers dropped 4.6%, Comstock shed 5.9%, Meritage 2.2%, Lennar 1.6%. The prediction for new home sales a year ago was a 20% decrease in sales, now the 2007 reduction is being adjusted to 35%. Simply put, buyers don’t have faith that their new homes will be worth what they paid for them and/or that they can afford the mortgage.

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Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: 3 Comments »

Want to know where to buy southwestern furnishing for your home in Tucson?

August 23rd, 2007 categories: Tucson News & Events

Yesterday I took the day off to spend the day with my wife on her birthday. After visiting my brother-in-law and picking up her gift we decided to visit the store he told us about. Located in the shopping center at the northeast corner of Swan and Grant is Rio Grande Trading Company. I wanted to buy the doors to the entrance of the store. When I asked, they said they can have them custom made.

The pottery and wall decorations are not like what you see at the mall or most stores. If you need window accents, they have them. Like leather furniture, they have it. Like indoor fountains, they have it. Our youngest son likes to collect crosses, they have them. Need a mirror with a luxurious southwestern design, they have it. Like colorful zarapes, they have lots of them. Oh, and ladies the have foot ware and clothing as well. The staff is friendly and very accommodating.

So, the next time you are in the area of Swan and Grant, stop in and tell Gloria we said hello.

Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: No Comments »

What Everybody Ought To Know About Armory Del Sol

August 23rd, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

One of Tucson’s newer and most unique communities is Armory del Sol. Featured as one of the Top 10 Cottage Communities For 2007, Armory del Sol is a great community. Just a short walk from the city center. What makes Armory del Sol unique?

Architecture

Homes within Armory del Sol compliment homes in the surrounding community, Armory Park. The Armory Park community dates back the 1880’s while Arizona was still a territory. Those who lived in Armory Park were executives and workers employed by or influenced by the new railroad. They brought with them a Victorian and Queen Anne style of architecture not unlike those homes in the cities they came from. Sprinkled amongst the community are some Mission Revival and southwestern architecture. Making Armory Park a unique southwestern community.