Nationally Sales of New Homes Increase to Match Two-Year High

[caption id="attachment_4864" align="alignright" width="300"] New Home Building on the Rise[/caption]

The operative word here is, national sales of new homes rose more than projected in July to match a two-year high. An important fact to remember is that real estate is geographical in nature and while the west may have stunning increases, elsewhere in the U.S. may not be as stellar.

THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Sales climbed 3.6 percent to a 372,000 annual pace, following a 359,000 rate in June that was higher than previously estimated, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Last month’s rate was the same as in May, which was the strongest since April 2010. The median forecast of 72 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a rise to 365,000.

Buyers are returning to the market to take advantage of cheaper properties and record-low mortgage rates, helping to boost orders at new home builders. Competition exists from foreclosures, unemployment exceeding 8 percent, and limited credit pose hurdles to a more pronounced rebound.

Some prognosticators believe the demand could continue to climb right on into 2013.

• Sales of new houses were up 25 percent from a year ago – Source: Commerce Department


• The median price for a new house decreased 2.5 percent in July from the same month last year, to $224,200.


• The value of all U.S. homes climbed 1.8 percent in the second quarter from the previous three months, the biggest gain since late 2005. Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency

Sales of new homes, tabulated when contracts are signed, are considered a timelier barometer than purchases of previously owned dwellings, which are calculated when a contract closes. Newly constructed houses accounted for 6.7 percent of the residential market in 2011, down from a high of 15 percent during the boom of the past decade.

The NAR figures also showed distressed sales, comprised of foreclosures and short sales, in which the lender agrees to a transaction for less than the balance of the mortgage, accounted for 24 percent of existing-home purchases. The share was less than the prior month and down from 29 percent in July 2011. Of those, 12 percent were foreclosed houses and 12 percent were short sales.

You can review the local August 2012 financials for the Scottsdale real estate area at Maricopa County Real Estate Market Watch.

Nationally Sales of New Homes Increase to Match Two-Year High

$70 Million In Park Bonds Proposed For Mesa Arizona

Mesa AZ Dog Park

There is a new $70 million bond package to upgrade parks and recreation facilities in Mesa Arizona. The approval is scheduled for the Nov. 6 general election and will add about $25 a year to the property-tax bill for an average-priced Mesa AZ home over the life of the bonds.

According to the people that have submitted voter-information packets this is a bargain for the Mesa Arizona residents. Mayor Scott Smith, Vice Mayor Scott Somers and Councilman Dave Richins have all said that the Mesa city parks are tired or inadequate. They said, “These proposals are not luxuries, they are essential for Mesa to keep and attract the best and brightest and to create jobs over the long term."

Parks are always good for the community that is made for the communities recreation, children and yes, even a place for our furry friends. When the money goes to pay for a professional ball park then that creates reservations in my mind. The financials I have seen related to the professional ball parks are great for the team owners and for the residents not so much. Creative financial analysis is used to prove it’s worth and in the end the revenue is not realized for the city and its residents. Make it a multiuse park for the team owner and the residence of the city and it could prove beneficial for the residence of the city, but that’s just my opinion.

Other ballot arguments were also submitted. The bonds, known as Question 1 on the Mesa ballot are as follows:

• Build sports complexes at Mesa Junior High School and the former Powell Junior High School, $8.7 million.


• Enhance and renovate existing parks, $37.8 million. This category includes replacing the pool at Taylor Junior High School with a regional aquatics center.


• Develop four east-side parks under a federal requirement that Mesa replace Riverview Golf Course with parkland of equal value. The golf course closed this year to make way for a Chicago Cubs training complex. Cost: $7.25 million.


• Provide $10.75 million to buy Buckhorn Baths, expand Monterey Park and plan a downtown civic plaza.


• Provide $5.5 million for bike and pedestrian paths on both the east and west ends of the city.

Mesa voters will be asked in November 2012 to approve several changes in the city charter.

The change with the greatest potential impact would require a special election for mayor if the office became vacant with more than two years left in the term. The current charter, written when mayoral terms were two years, specifies that the vice mayor becomes mayor for the remainder of the term should a mayoral vacancy occur. With mayoral terms now four years, that creates the possibility that someone could serve as mayor for nearly four years without having been elected to the job.

Brought to you by: Mesa Real Estate AZ | Luxury Valley Homes Team

$70 Million In Park Bonds Proposed For Mesa Arizona

For more information, please visit our website.

Art Walking Tour Scottsdale Arizona

New York isn't the only city in this great nation that embraces the artistic side of its locals and residents. A new and up and coming artist's hub is flourishing in the city of Scottsdale Arizona. The city prides itself in its eclectic art, whether it be contemporary, classical, neo-classical, native American-inspired, indigenous – you name it.

A public art walking tour is available for all in downtown Scottsdale. Be inspired with the many public pieces of art scattered all over the city that holds a rich history. Here are some of the exhibits that await you on your Scottsdale Art Walking Tour.

• 
  
  [caption id="attachment_4845" align="alignright" width="150"] Passing the Legacy[/caption]
  
  “Passing the Legacy” encapsulates the meeting of the Old West and the New West. Seen along Scottsdale Waterfront Pedestrian & Trolley Bridge is this life-size bronze piece by Herb Mignery.
  
   

• Located along Scottsdale Waterfront, “The Doors” by Donald Lipski stands a monumental 28 feet tall with mirrored panels inside to capture what it is like to be inside a kaleidoscope.

[caption id="attachment_4846" align="alignright" width="150"] Bronze Horse Fountain[/caption]

 

• One of the most photographed landmarks in Scottsdale, the “Bronze Horse Fountain” by Bob Parks showcases 5 Arabian horses springing forth from the fountain. The piece is found in the intersection of 5^th Avenue and Marshall Way.

 

 

• Another most photographed landmarks in Scottsdale is the “Jack Knife” by Ed Mell. The giant bronze piece is modeled after the city's official seal. It features a cowboy bucked up to a bronco in the intersection Marshall Way and Main Street.

[caption id="attachment_4847" align="alignright" width="150"] The Yearlings[/caption]

 

• Made by George-Anne Tognoni, “The Yearlings” depicts three bronze yearlings galloping and since become an icon of free spirit in the West. Witness the iconic monument in the Scottsdale Civic Center.

 

 

 

• A take on contemporary art, “Knight Rise” by James Turrell is one of only 3 skyspaces open to the public in the US. Turrell says it provides the opportunity to “look at our own looking.” At sunrise or sunset, viewers experience the sensation of the descending sky. Knight Rise is located within a custom-designed chamber by architect Will Bruder at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

Relocating? Let the Luxury Valley Homes Team help you find your dream home in one of Arizona's most liveable cities -- Scottsdale AZ.

Art Walking Tour Scottsdale Arizona

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room

   Article Written by Tricia Underwood
   Brought to you by the Luxury Valley Homes



Your living room looks good and incredibly hip—if you were living in the mid-90s. Whatever date it harks back to, it is desperately in need of some updating. While you may think this is going to be a huge ordeal that will break the bank, there are a number of ways to modernize your living room easily and without spending a grip of money that you can’t necessarily afford to spend. This way, your home can evolve with the times, helping you to be happier when you are in it. From custom window blinds to dressing up with some new drapes, check out these six tips below.

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room

GET A NEW RUG

The rug that you have had in your living room over the last decade plus needs to be changed out. This doesn’t mean you need to throw it away, but it’s probably riddled with dust, among other interesting things, and it needs to be removed and heavily cleaned. This will help alleviate some of the subtle mustiness in the living room. You may want to try the living room without a rug at first, to see if it frees the room up. Or just get a new rug that still matches the furniture, but allows the feeling in the room to go in a completely different direction.

CONSIDER ANIMAL PRINT

A touch of animal print goes a long way in a living room, adding a subtle exotic flare to the décor in the room. Consider getting a few animal print pillows or having a cushion of that single chair few people sit in reupholstered in animal print. Don’t go overboard, as that will look tacky. Just a few touches of animal print here and there will do the trick.

BUY NEW DRAPES

Those old drapes over the windows in your living room are definitely due for a change. Drapes change almost as regularly as fashion it seems, so the minute you update these drapes, the better the entire living room will feel. To dress up the blinds and windows do a little research online for companies who focus on windows. Scope out draperies and good deals on this front, making sure you are getting what you need to fit your budget and style.

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE

Get your feng shui on and start by moving your couch and other seats off the wall to the middle of the room, so that the living room seems bigger and more airy then before. Get a flat screen television and hang it on the wall, allowing you to get rid of or move whatever piece of furniture it was sitting upon. This all may entail drawing the furniture closer together or even getting rid of some pieces of furniture, which you may quietly dread. However, the new layout will make the living room feel new almost immediately.

REPAINT THE WALLS

Move everything out of the room and repaint the walls. This will be a bigger job then you may have originally planned, however it will be like cleaning a nice car that has been in desperate need of a wash. That fresh paint and new color will make you feel like you have a clean slate and then you can rearrange the furniture when you move it back into the newly painted room.

MIX AND MATCH TEXTURES

Find different textures you like and mix and match them throughout your living room. Switch out identical pillows with pillows that are made out of different materials and are different colors. Try a tweed rug, wooden side tables and a metal coffee table. While this may be risky, as it may feel like there are too many different materials going on, once you get it right, you won’t tire of your refreshed living room for a while.

Tricia studied journalism and fell in love with the entertainment sector. She is never seen without her camera, her iPhone (back-up camera!), or her pug.

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room

For more information, please visit our website.

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room

   Article Written by Tricia Underwood
   Brought to you by the Luxury Valley Homes

 

Your living room looks good and incredibly hip—if you were living in the mid-90s. Whatever date it harks back to, it is desperately in need of some updating. While you may think this is going to be a huge ordeal that will break the bank, there are a number of ways to modernize your living room easily and without spending a grip of money that you can’t necessarily afford to spend. This way, your home can evolve with the times, helping you to be happier when you are in it. From custom window blinds to dressing up with some new drapes, check out these six tips below.

[caption id="attachment_4821" align="alignright" width="300"] 6 Tips To Update Your Living Room[/caption]

GET A NEW RUG

The rug that you have had in your living room over the last decade plus needs to be changed out. This doesn’t mean you need to throw it away, but it’s probably riddled with dust, among other interesting things, and it needs to be removed and heavily cleaned. This will help alleviate some of the subtle mustiness in the living room. You may want to try the living room without a rug at first, to see if it frees the room up. Or just get a new rug that still matches the furniture, but allows the feeling in the room to go in a completely different direction.

CONSIDER ANIMAL PRINT

A touch of animal print goes a long way in a living room, adding a subtle exotic flare to the décor in the room. Consider getting a few animal print pillows or having a cushion of that single chair few people sit in reupholstered in animal print. Don’t go overboard, as that will look tacky. Just a few touches of animal print here and there will do the trick.

BUY NEW DRAPES

Those old drapes over the windows in your living room are definitely due for a change. Drapes change almost as regularly as fashion it seems, so the minute you update these drapes, the better the entire living room will feel. To dress up the blinds and windows do a little research online for companies who focus on windows. Scope out draperies and good deals on this front, making sure you are getting what you need to fit your budget and style.

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE

Get your feng shui on and start by moving your couch and other seats off the wall to the middle of the room, so that the living room seems bigger and more airy then before. Get a flat screen television and hang it on the wall, allowing you to get rid of or move whatever piece of furniture it was sitting upon. This all may entail drawing the furniture closer together or even getting rid of some pieces of furniture, which you may quietly dread. However, the new layout will make the living room feel new almost immediately.

REPAINT THE WALLS

Move everything out of the room and repaint the walls. This will be a bigger job then you may have originally planned, however it will be like cleaning a nice car that has been in desperate need of a wash. That fresh paint and new color will make you feel like you have a clean slate and then you can rearrange the furniture when you move it back into the newly painted room.

MIX AND MATCH TEXTURES

Find different textures you like and mix and match them throughout your living room. Switch out identical pillows with pillows that are made out of different materials and are different colors. Try a tweed rug, wooden side tables and a metal coffee table. While this may be risky, as it may feel like there are too many different materials going on, once you get it right, you won’t tire of your refreshed living room for a while.

 

Tricia studied journalism and fell in love with the entertainment sector. She is never seen without her camera, her iPhone (back-up camera!), or her pug.

 

6 Tips To Update Your Living Room | Scottsdale Real Estate

Kitchen Design Styles

Kitchen Design Styles

Kitchens come in many different styles and designs. For some, it's the kitchen that says everything about the house and about those living in it. It has become the main focal point of the home and the room for entertaining guests.

If you're thinking of remodeling the kitchen look and feel, then let us inspire you to find the answer to your remodel project. It could be the color palette, the arrangement or just the cabinetry, that you select. Find the kitchen design style that fits your style and lifestyle better.

Here are examples of different styles:

Asian





Contemporary





Country





English Tudor





Rustic





Tuscan





Victorian

Kitchen Design Styles

For more information, please visit our website.

Kitchen Design Styles

Kitchen Design Styles

Kitchens come in many different styles and designs. For some, it's the kitchen that says everything about the house and about those living in it. It has become the main focal point of the home and the room for entertaining guests.

If you're thinking of remodeling the kitchen look and feel, then let us inspire you to find the answer to your remodel project. It could be the color palette, the arrangement or just the cabinetry, that you select. Find the kitchen design style that fits your style and lifestyle better.

Here are examples of different styles:

Asian

[caption id="attachment_4773" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Asian Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

Contemporary

[caption id="attachment_4774" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Contemporary Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

Country

[caption id="attachment_4775" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Country Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

English Tudor

[caption id="attachment_4776" align="aligncenter" width="450"] English Tudor Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

Rustic

[caption id="attachment_4777" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Rustic Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

Tuscan

[caption id="attachment_4778" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Tuscan Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

Victorian

[caption id="attachment_4779" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Victorian Kitchen Design[/caption]

 

 

Kitchen Design Styles