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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 December, 2007

What Do Tucson Homes and Foreign Dollars Have In Common?

December 27th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

Since my earlier article Everything Canadian Home Buyers Want To Know About Tucson Real Estate I have been seeing more about foreign investment in American real estate. It goes beyond Canadian buyers. It makes perfect sense for Foreign Investors as well as second home and vacation home buyers to look into the sun belt for another home. When the American dollar is weaker than currency in other parts of the world, why not invest in American soil?

Roberta Murphy wrote an excellent article in her Luxury Home Digest about foreign investors. Canadian and other foreign investors are looking at San Diego, Scottsdale, and Tucson. On the local Tucson news station a fellow Realtors commented about the trend she is seeing for Canadian and other foreign home buyers who are looking for luxury homes valued in the millions. As of the date of this writing $1,000,000 Euro is the equivalent of $1,435,300 American. So that average home price in Tucson of $269,968 would cost $188,091 Euros. Not a bad investment. Now that investors know what they can get in Tucson, what else is available?

Let’s see, no hurricanes, no constant rain with massive flooding wiping out barns, no tornadoes, no winter blizzards, no California earthquakes. Hmmm. Lots of sunshine, ability to wear short sleeve shirts in the winter, more golf courses than you play in a month if you played every day. PGA events like the Accenture Match Play. Close to the Mexican border for shopping. An airport that rarely sees delays from local weather, if ever, giving access to the entire world. Mountain, city, and sunset views that will take your breathe away. Local attractions like the Sonoran Desert Museum and Old Tucson Studios. One of the oldest missions in the United States at San Xavier. A short flight to Aspen for skiing or the beaches of San Diego. Great restaurants of every level. And did I mention great weather?

Foreign and Canadian investors can find homes in Tucson that would cost much more in our sister cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and San Diego. Leaving these savvy buyers money for more investments, and living life to its fullest. I say welcome to Tucson and enjoy the like many of us have known for years.

Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: No Comments »

November Home Sales 2007 - Tucson Real Estate

December 20th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

First things first, Happy Holidays to Everyone.

Tucson Association of Realtors October report is out. Each month it comes out later and later. Sales did increase over October, the official number is 759 sales for November. October had 790 reported home sales through the MLS. Buyer confidence is still lower than it should be. Which ads to the reduction in numbers overall. I am still seeing a little more buyer activity as I did last month. Sales for the winter are traditionally lower. So, the drop from October to November can be expected. December should be even lower. Sales will begin to pick up in January and normally continue to increase until May and June.

Pending sales waiting to close for the month November were 910. A slight drop from October as can be expected for the seasonal trend.

Average home price increased from October by $7,714 to $269,968. The Median price went up by $8,000 for the second month in a row to $218,000.

November saw an anticipated drop in sales. I continue to believe that it is an emotional response of buyer confidence. The Herd Mentality is a definite factor here. The banks and the Feds working out restriction on ARM increases should help keep a few more homes from hitting the market. December will close out a year we’ll all try to forget. 2008 will show promise when buyer confidence returns. The Debt Relief Act is a step in the right direction for 2008. If you�re interested in Jay�s Opinion, he usually makes a good point.

Till next month, enjoy family and the Holidays.

Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: No Comments »

Fans Getting Ready For Accenture Match Play Championship 2008

December 15th, 2007 categories: Tucson Golf Events

If you were in Tucson for the 2007 Accenture Match Play Championship you had the pleasure of seeing some great play. Like sitting next to the green on the 360+ uphill 12th green and watching the pros land golf balls on and around the green. For my first PGA event with Tiger Woods, Phil Mikelson, Ernie Els and the like, it was interesting to see the massive crowds that would follow their favorite.

I remember during practice rounds standing behind the tee in what I thought was a safe spot to the side of where I felt the pros would tee, people crowding around me and Ian Poulter teeing up directly in front of me. The palo verde tree behind me allowed just so much room to back up, and no room to either side. The breeze off Ian Poulter’s driver across my face reinforced my feeling that I was closer than I wanted to be.

Thousands of golf fans came to Tucson to enjoy the play of PGA pros and what Tucson has to offer. From February 18th through the 24th, 2008 thousands of fans will enjoy the 2008 Accenture Match Play Championship Some will easily find hotels, some will not. For those looking for homes to rent VRBO.com Marana, Tucson, and Oro Valley are a great sources to find a variety of homes, town homes and condos to rent for the week.

For those looking for tickets early, my connection is Paul Arnaud (520) 548-3060. Please let Paul know how you found him. He has everything from individual tickets to corporate tickets. If you’re cutting it close and Paul can still order tickets, call me and we’ll arrange something to see if we can have your tickets waiting for you when you arrive to Tucson. The tickets I bought last year didn’t arrive until nearly a week before the event.

If you want to see some of Tucson’s available real estate while in town I’d be happy to serve. Everything from setting up computer generated searches, to showing you homes. After all, Wall Street Journal commented a few years back that Tucson is one of the top 20 cities in the world for home buyers looking for retiring, second, or vacation homes. Think about it no tornadoes, no hurricanes, no blizzards, no earth quakes, and so many good golf days that there is no need to play on a bad day year round.

While in Tucson, enjoy some of our sites:

Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Bank Repossessed Properties, Are They a Good Deal?

December 8th, 2007 categories: Tucson Real Estate

It’s no wonder that some bank repossessed properties are hard to sell. Lenders whose future are in question and who need to get rid of the inventory of homes they possess should take note. Guaranteed, the chance of buying some bank owned properties for much less money than their value can be high. So is the risk. Read the contract thoroughly. The bank has a lot of clauses that can be very one sided. Having an attorney read the contract can save a lot of headaches.

In Arizona a buyer makes and offer, signs it and it’s proposed to the Seller. If the Seller counters, they prepare it, sign it, and propose it to the Buyer. Not with Banks. They want the Buyer to sign the Counter Offer first. Hmmm?

Clauses like, “Seller’s acceptance of this offer is evidenced by Seller’s signature herein…” Sounds reasonable. You would expect a statement like this. Read further, “…and no prior oral discussion or representations if any by Seller or its agents, shall be binding against Seller unless set forth in this Counterproposal.” The listing Agent tried to argue that this clause was binding to the Seller. Hmmm?

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Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: No Comments »

What Can Yahoo Do That Google Cannot?

December 6th, 2007 categories: Just Because

What Can Yahoo Do That Google Cannot? The answer is simple, respond. Here’s the story.

Several months ago I wrote a blog welcoming In-N-Out Burger to Tucson. Got a lot of hits. Great, more readers to my blog. Then the phone calls started coming. Somehow, my telephone number was being given out as the phone number for In-N-Out Burger in Tucson. I wrote a blog In-N-Out Burger I Am Not. Called 411 to get it corrected. A representative from 411 contacted me and corrected it. Calls stopped, but, not forever.

A few weeks back I started getting calls again; up to 12 a day. Tried to put a spin on it to let the callers know if they needed a good Real Estate Agent keep my number. It wouldn’t be bad, but, these calls have been interrupting time with clients. Not the caller’s fault. I politely give the callers the right number 1-800-786-1000, laugh about keeping my number and move on.

I contacted Google; good luck. Got the run around to contact this and that, still not fixed. I contacted Yahoo, received a message wrong department, however, they would see it got to the right department. Within 24 hours problem at Yahoo fixed. Got a survey from Yahoo to insure quality service. Gladly responded with praise. A week later, problem with Google still exists.

Google may have the systems, but, they lack the service. Which in today’s world can kill a business. So, as you can see Yahoo has GOOD SERVICE. Google? Still waiting. Maybe somebody from Google will read this and fix it. Meanwhile, don’t be surprised if you get me when looking for In-N-Out Burger. I’ll keep giving out their number 1–800–786–1000 no additional charge.

Authored by Doug Trudeau | Discussion: 1 Comment »

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