Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate: January 2008

Since I took so many pictures of this picturesque community, I sorted through and came up with a few more to share. I had several golf course views that I hadn't shared, and since this particular area is a golfer's paradise, I decided to focus a bit more on golf.

Did you know? Besides beautiful accomodations, a restaurant and a spa, Gold Canyon Golf Resort boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses: Dinosaur Mountain and The Sidewinder. Some of the photos in the Real Estate Show Tour will give you glimpses of these courses which meander through the foothills along the eastern and northern edges of Dinosaur Mountain. Many of our winter visitors stay at the Resort and enjoy the amenities it has to offer.

On the way out of Gold Canyon just north of the 60, and nestled in between Superstition Foothills and East Gold Canyon lies an adult community - Mountainbrook Village. This community also has a golf course. I've provided a link to each so that if any of you wish to call for a tee time, or locate information, it's at your fingertips.

I didn't take you back into the Superstition Mountain which is located behind a guard gate, but I might do that another time. This private and gated community is very up close and personal to the Mountain as well as to a private golf club and two golf courses and incredible homes - another Lyle Anderson community.  Prospector and Lost Gold Golf courses lay neatly at the base of Superstition Mountain foothills. The views of this area are dramatic and breathtaking. The homes are incredibly beautiful and are situated just so. Many rules are in place to protect the views of other homes, and just about every home in that community has an awesome vista. Please feel free to contact me if you have any interest in purchasing in this community.

Enjoy the tour:

Call me, Teri Ellis, at: 480.216-3334 or email me at: Teri@TeriEllis.com for any questions or for help in searching for or selling a home.

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

Continuing our journey and my story about Gold Canyon, just nine miles east of Mesa, Arizona, in the beautiful Superstition Mountain foothills lies Gold Canyon Golf Resort boasting two 18-hole championship golf courses: Dinosaur Mountain and The Sidewinder. It also has many pampering services including massages. ;-)

With views the envy of our state, this is a popular landing spot for many from the colder climates in our United States of America.

Lots of golfing, hiking and relaxation is always on the menu in this fabulous area. Close by is the Arizona Renaissance Festival, a medieval amusement park and Renaissance Fair in Arizona just east of Gold Canyon East. Popular with residents from the Phoenix Valley, the Festival usually runs from late winter to mid-spring every year.

In addition, the Safeway International LPGA golf tournament is held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon.

As we traveled from the Superstition Foothills, we entered the eastern portion of Gold Canyon which also touts views galore as evidenced by the photographs taken on this virtual tour of the area. Just double click here. No less beautiful than the west side, many custom homes spot the landscape in the mountains and hills, with panoramic views. This is definitely a breathtaking area with great history and just far enough away from the city lights to feel a lot like country.

Enjoy my virtual tour, and be sure to click two times if needed:

More photos to come including Queen Creek, more of Gold Canyon, Mesa, so be sure to stay tuned.

Active listings as of January 28, 2008, 55,491. Great time to buy, so give me a call at: 480.216-3334 or email me at: Teri@TeriEllis.com when you're ready.

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

As promised, though pictures don't come close to showing the beauty of this area, I have put together a virtual tour of the Superstition Foothills community located in the beautiful area of Gold Canyon, Pinal County, Arizona. Many of the homes in this specific community are custom built, and several builders joined in and built the community into the mountains, and the vegetation - with untouched and natural views.

Specific rules of the community include no overhead lighting (all of the lighting is set down in the plants alongside the road). This was put into place in order to allow the homeowners to enjoy the stars and the quiet beauty of the area. You will also not see any overhead electrical wiring since it is all underground in Supersititon Foothills.

Required: all front yard landscaping is to be natural desert vegetation. Hiking paths, trails, and natural washes are plentiful throughout the community as well.

I was asked to share the story behind how Supersititon Mountain got its name. As a child, my dad would often tell us the story of the miner who had found gold. The story continues as he comes out to take a nugget with him to have tested. (Remember, this is what my dad told me and what I can remember.)  There are many variations of this story, but as I was told, he - the miner - was never able to find this mine again.

Meanwhile, many other prospectors continued to search for the lost mine, and never found it.  According to Wikipedia, "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine (also known by many similar names) is reportedly a very rich gold mine hidden in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, Arizona, east of Phoenix, Arizona in the United States. The land is a designated Wilderness Area, and mining is now prohibited there."  For visitors, there is the Lost Dutchman State Park along Highway 88, just to the west of the mountain from Apache Junction.

Wikipedia goes on to cite: "

"According to many versions of the tale, the mine is either cursed, or protected by enigmatic guardians who wish to keep the mine's location a secret."

There is also another area in the Goldfield Mountains adjacent to Superstition Mountain that did have rich ore that was mined as well. Another story I've been told is that the Indians named the mountain because it was cursed. As Wikipedia tells us, many stories have been told and written about the Lost Mine.

Enjoy my virtual tour:

Anyone thinking of relocating to Arizona, would find this area a spectacular area to live and to enjoy our wonderful Arizona weather and pristine beauty.

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

Taking a drive east of the Valley of the Sun along Highway 60, I continue beyond Mesa, beyond the city of Apache Junction, and turn left/north onto the road entitled "Superstition Mountain Drive". I am now looking directly at Superstition Mountain and entering the community of  Superstition Foothills.

I continue my drive enjoying the beautiful mountain, foothills, the blue skies, beautiful homes nestled in the foothills, the neat and scenic views and come to Don Donnelly Road.  I turn right and on my immediate left is the clubhouse for this community complete with a pool, picnic tables, club house, and lots of green grass.

I think a virtual tour is in order, so the next post will include more of the photos taken. This is such a beautiful area that even photos are not enough. Many of my out of state clients have purchased their home in Gold Canyon - specifically in Superstition Foothills because of the pristine, untouched feeling of this area. There are hiking trails throughout the entire community, golf courses and peaceful and quiet away from the city feeling.

As I continue my drive along Don Donnelly Road, there are more and more mountain vistas, shrubbery, cacti, and I feel the peace. My drive will continue in Part II and will include East Gold Canyon and the 55+ community of Mountain Brook.

Today, our active listings totaled 55,022. Remember, you heard it here! Now is the time to buy!

Give me a call when you're ready to list or to buy: 480.216-3334 or email me at: Teri@TeriEllis.com for Exceptional Customer Service - Always!

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

Not only have the interest rates dropped dramatically, but as I was reading the East Valley Tribune, I noted: "Firm's new Mesa call center to hire 200."  Now that's more good news. Arizona's employement is still very good despite the recent lags in selling of homes. People still continue to relocate here, and Arizona is still a viable place for businesses and jobs. For more information, just log onto http://www.westbusinessservices.com/.

It is reported that the company doing the hiring noted there is plenty of room to expand at the Mesa location and plans to do so over the next six months. The center is located at Main Street and Gilbert Road occupied by the InPulse Response Group, a separate division of West Corp. operating a 500-seat call center.

Click here for a complete read of this article.

Today, our active listings totalled 55,022. Due to interest rate cuts, many are refinancing their homes or out buying new homes. So many mortgage programs to work with.

If you need the name of a good loan officer who will help you and tell you llike it is, just give me a call at: 480.216-3334. I, as a Realtor, am ready to help you purchase a new home or a resale home in Mesa, Arizoona or any of the surrounding areas. Stay tuned for more.

For more information about Mesa, Arizona, just contact me at: 480.216-3334 or email: Teri@TeriEllis.com

In Mesa, Arizona, especially East Mesa as well as Apache Junction and Gold Canyon there are a plethora of retirement communities. Many of our winter visitors come here for a visit and then end up purchasing their winter home returning year after year to enjoy our wonderful Arizona weather.

In this article, I should like to introduce you to the retirement community of Sunland Springs Village. Located on the far eastern edge of Mesa, just south of Baseline and east of Signal Butte, lies a wonderful Active Adult community with a club house, swimming pool, tennis courts and three beautiful golf courses. My favorite golf course in this community is Four Peaks, probably named after the mountain range Four Peaks directly to the north. There are always lots of fun things to do at the club house, or if you choose to just sit and watch, that's fun too.

Any time of the day you will see joggers, fast walkers, strollers, and lots of friendly people enjoying the warmth and the sun. Since I am from Arizona, during the winter I don't wear shorts, but on the putting green or the driving range and on the golf courses themselves, lots of our winter visitors are wearing shorts. I'm bundled up unless it gets into the high 60's.

Mountain ranges are evident all around; however, the mountain that I particularly love to see is Superstition Mountain just nine miles east of Sunland Springs Village. To the north are the Goldfield Mountains, and to the south the San Tan Mountains.

There are still new homes being built as well as resale houses available. If you're in the market for a second home, or are thinking of retiring, I am available to show you these beautiful homes in a wonderful and peaceful area.

Located near hospitals, shopping at the new Superstition Gateway East and Superstition Gateway West, theaters including an IMax theater, Coldstone Creamery, Super Wallmart, Kohl's, Staples and lots of places to eat, this might just be a great place to settle in. Give me a call at: 480.216-3334, or just email me at: Teri@TeriEllis.com for any way that I can be of assistance.

An article in our local paper supported my view about what 2008 holds for buyers and sellers in Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gold Canyon, Arizona. In January, 2005 we had less than 7,000 active listings in our MLS. Of course that included all properties such as mobile, manufactured homes, townhomes, condos, single family not only in Maricopa and Pinal County, but from cities across Arizona that wanted to market their listings in this MLS.  We all need to forget about the negative press! They want to make news!

On January 11, we had 53,904 active listings. While builders still continue to build, they are selling off their inventory homes - and our MLS doesn't typically include those.

There are signs that our housing market is on the upswing. The past two years, buyers have been waiting, sellers have resisted listings their homes at a marketable price, and interest rates and mortgages have been a challenge. Notice the comparisons below:

• Chandler Resales in 2006: 4,625
• Chandler Resales in 2007: 3,675

• Mesa Resales in 2006: 7,600
• Mesa Resales in 2007: 5,605

• Gilbert Resales in 2007: 3,730
• Gilbert Resales in 2007: 3,205

• Valley Resales in 2006: 67,035
• Valley Resales in 2007: 50,975

Not since 1997 were sales as low as in December 2007. 2008 is predicted to be a better year!

There are still thousands of people moving to Arizona helping to chip away the inventory of homes - resale and new. Certain areas as well as homes located on golf courses and lakes seem to be holding values better. Sellers who purchased several years ago - even in 2002-2004 - have become more realistic even though they may lose 10-15% in value from the top of the market. They will still be ahead of the game.

I spoke with one of my former buyers who is thinking of selling her home and buying another. I recommended she price her home with an appreciation of 7-15% from when she purchased it in 2004. That's not a bad appreciation rate.

As most of us know, mortgage interest rates recently experienced their biggest two-week decline since May 1995!

Definitely not the time for buying to flip, but for those who plan to live in their home for a few years - absolutely. Typically homeowners move in 3-5 years..........the longer the better, at least in this market. I've owned property in this area since 1981, and I still own them! The prices continue to go up because people love Arizona!

Buyers who are waiting for the market to drop further might ask themselves: "how do you know you haven't waited too long?" Sellers are willing to negotiate, there's a huge selection of homes and interest rates are near historic lows.

Read the complete story from the East Valley Tribune:

For more information on our market, just give me a call at: 480.216-3334 or email me at: Teri@TeriEllis.com. To visit my website, click on http://www.teriellis.com/

I have been thinking about this today. It seems that we (or I) am typically right behind the ball - lagging a few steps behind - when the real estate market goes up or goes down.

For instance, we sold our home in California in 2000 as the market was going up. "If" we had stayed six months longer, we could have sold it for more, and then you know what happened after that.

Then, we moved back to Arizona and waited for a year and a half to decide just where we wanted to build a home. If we had purchased immediately.........well, you get the idea.

So, in 2002, we did purchase our new home, had it built and moved in on November 22, 2002. We did GOOD!!!

During the next two/three years, we could have bought, sold, bought, sold and made more money, BUT I didn't know that so..........we didn't.

NOW, I'm looking at the market and thinking to myself. Okay, "they" say the market will correct itself beginning in 2009. If that's the deal, then 2008 will be a GREAT time for buyers to buy a home. Otherwise, they will be competing with all of those jumping on board in 2009!

Now, how's that idea sit with all of you? Think 2008 is a GREAT YEAR TO BUY A HOME?

Thinking of moving to Mesa, Arizona? For new construction or resale, stop by www.TeriEllis.com or call me at: 480.216-3334 for Excellent Customer Service - Always!