Montezuma Castle National Monument

Right before Christmas 2020, we visited Montezuma Castle National Monument in Campe Verde, AZ. This was my 2nd trip, but none of my other family members had ever been there.

I remembered the castle vividly from my first trip, but I didn't remember that there was water there.  I don't think we walked on any trail to the Montezuma Well.  The well trail was closed and I don't know if it's because of construction or Covid.  That will give us a reason to go back when friends visit that have never been there before.

Why is it Called Montezuma Castle?

That was a mistake made by early American settlers, who thought this ancient monument was built by the Aztecs for the Aztec emperor, Montezuma.  That was proven untrue, and it's highly unlikely…

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Phoenix, Az Number 7 on Best Performing Cities List 2021

Phoenix Jumped 5 Slots on the Milken Institute's List of Best-Performing Cities 2021

First, who is the Milken Institute?  According to their report, "The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank. We catalyze practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them.  Our goal is to help people build meaningful lives in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities."

I was informed of this list through one of my many real estate resources.  It might have been our local Association of…

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Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue in Cave Creek

Bryan's Black Mountain BBQ

Both my husband Jimmy and I had read about Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue in Cave Creek online.  We were eager to try it.  I had driven past it a couple of times without seeing it, so I thought it was down one of the streets in Cave Creek where the bars, dining, and shops are on North Cave Creek Rd.

We had visited Carefree Desert Gardens and were on our way home when we finally found it - right on Cave Creek Rd - and were excited to go in.  As we drove down Cave Creek Rd on a Sunday afternoon, the bars were packed.  I will admit that we tried The Grotto first but there was a long line outside and no one was distancing.  We then went to El Encanto but there was an hour wait - we were hungry!  That's when we remembered…

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Home Decor Trends for 2021

I always wonder how trends and fashion get started.  I know clothing designers have their fashion shows, but how long does it take for those fashion trends to drip down to the public?

I feel the same with home decor trends.  Who starts these trends?  How long does it take for a specific design to take hold?  I also know there are design shows, but those aren't always for the public.  I guess a lot of home decor trends get to the public through home magazines sold in supermarkets and stores.

Another way for these trends to be discovered by the general public is to visit new construction models.  That's where the gray and white trends started, along with white cabinets (usually Shaker style, but not always), and different wood or wood laminate…

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Carefree, AZ Desert Gardens

Jimmy and I decided to do something fun today, but it was getting late on a Sunday and we know how quickly many places close.  Out of a few ideas, we chose to go to Carefree, Arizona, which we're very close to.  Our purpose was to really see the Desert Gardens.

We've been to Carefree multiple times, but this time we were going to focus on the Desert Gardens.  I tried explaining to Jimmy that the gardens were in the town square and we'd been there before.  But for some reason, he was expecting something else.

I knew that it was a small area (I did my homework).  But when we've gone there prior we really didn't take our time.  It was always just a quick walk-through.  The last time we went was to visit the post office and the resale shop in the…

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New Year, New House?

It's still not too late to make some homeowner's real estate resolutions for 2021.  Inventory and interest rates are at historic lows and prices keep climbing.  But even with higher prices, the low-interest rates still help with your buying power.

Home Buyer Resolutions

Work on getting mortgage-ready - figure out your current home buying power.  Your credit score is a big part of qualifying for a mortgage.  Ask for a free credit report from the annualcreditreport.com website. 

Your credit will need to be at least 740 for most lenders, and the lower the score, the higher your interest rate might be.  This is why you need to do this before you start actively looking at homes.  Many agents won't even take you out to see places unless you've been…

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Tips for Searching for the Perfect Home

The process of finding your perfect home can be exciting at times, then feel completely overwhelming, and then become inspiring again, and sometimes all in the same day. With the current coronavirus pandemic making everything seem that much harder, there is even more to keep in mind- from setting up virtual home tours so you can scope out prospective homes remotely to what the pandemic might mean for your changing needs.

The good news is that there are plenty of tricks, tips, and resources available to assist you with the sometimes daunting process, so you can focus on the important things- and know what to keep in mind.

Let’s take a look at some top tips to help guide you through your search for the perfect home.

Search Within Your Range

…

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What do Historically Low Interest Rates Mean for Scottsdale Real Estate?

When I purchased my first house at the age of 22, we didn't bat an eye at the 10.5% interest rate for my first mortgage.  We were also required to put down 20% and it was only a 10-year mortgage (not our choice).  That house also only cost $18,300, and our monthly payment was around $210.00 total (including taxes).

I didn't think I'd ever see rates this low. And I'm talking about 6%, 5%, 4%, and 3%.  So I never expected less than 3%, but that's what happened in July of 2020.

Did you know that in 1971 the average mortgage rate was 7.31%?  I was a few years out from owning my own home, and interest rates were higher when I bought, but in my 37+ years in the real estate business, 7% was a good rate.  In fact, at one point in time, around 2012,…

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5 Reasons Winter is a Great Time to Buy or Sell Scottsdsale Real Estate

There is a common misconception that you should put your house on the market in winter.  But that's not necessarily true.  There are some advantages for both buyers and sellers of Scottdale area real estate to buy and sell in the fall and winter months.

There are people who need to buy and sell throughout the year.  Sometimes, people planned to do it during the summer but for whatever reason, things got pushed back.

I remember when we bought a Scottsdale townhouse, our first property in Arizona, I figured the real estate market would be the opposite of our prior state of IL.  I thought more people would buy a home in Scottsdale during the winter because the weather was usually nicer then.  Our agent, who also hailed from IL, said that wasn't the…

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Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, AZ

We visited the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, AZ, for the 2nd time.  A woman that was there said she's lived in Arizona for 42 years and this was her first visit because she didn't know it existed.  We'd love to spread the word.

The first time we went, it was just Jimmy and me.  This time we took our son and our granddaughter.  I missed the available reservation for 2:00 on Christmas Eve so we went the day after Christmas at 10:00.

You have to set an appointment as you are taken into groups with a guide.  Although she had a mask on this time because of the pandemic, I think it was the same guide that took us through the first time a few years ago.

This is a true animal conservation center and sanctuary

Although I…

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