Latest Real Estate Articles

Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley Has Storied Real Estate History

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:49:26 -0600

One prominent area of Paradise Valley luxury real estate that exudes not just style and sophistication, but also a wealth of history, is Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. In fact, many people don’t realize that this exclusive resort’s legacy is filled with Hollywood celebrities, international tennis stars and even highly placed politicos.

According to The Sanctuary’s website, www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com, the story begins back in the early 1950s when the unique mountainside property was purchased by a group of investors including Hollywood stars Joanne Dru, John Ireland and Sydney Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's son. Joanne Dru was a famous actress who worked with big names including Jimmy Stewart, Al Jolson and John Ford; she and Ireland, who worked with Stanley Kubrick, Michael Landon and Broderick Crawford among others, were married at the time. Well-known architect Hiram Hudson Benedict, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, was tapped to design a clubhouse, and Benedict and Ireland developed the clubhouse, five tennis courts and a prototype casita that become John Ireland's Arizona home.

Throughout the 1950s, the facility was known as the Paradise Valley Racquet Club. Thanks to its Hollywood cachet, the tennis club attracted la crème de la crème of motion picture stars along with world-ranked tennis figures such as Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales. As the 1950s turned into the 1960s, local real estate entrepreneurs Vik Jackson and Les Heitel brought together an investment group that purchased the Racquet Club’s 53 mountainside acres, including the tennis courts, casitas and clubhouse. Meanwhile, tennis-training impresarios John and Barbara Gardiner were in the process of expanding their California-based tennis business. They became part of the operation and decided to construct additional casitas as well as expansive homes on the property, which then became known as John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch.

At about the same time, Paradise Valley resident and political heavyweight Senator Barry Goldwater was spearheading a group that was formed to preserve Camelback Mountain. The Tennis Ranch provided strong support for the preservation movement which eliminated development of land above the 1,700-foot level of Camelback Mountain. To help ensure that the mountain was preserved, the owners of the tennis facility transferred acreage from their privately-owned real estate into the Preserve.

In addition to helping save Camelback Mountain, the resort also supported community causes by holding numerous celebrity tennis tournaments to benefit a variety of charities. These tournaments drew many Hollywood stars, both as players and as spectators, including Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Liza Minelli, Johnny Carson, Bill Cosby and others. The Senator's Cup Tennis Tournament was also hosted at the Ranch, featuring members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and other politicians who battled for bragging rights in front of an often-packed gallery.

A few ownership transitions later, along with massive renovations, and the resort took on new life when it reopened in March 2001 as Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. The Sanctuary is now home to not just a storied history, but also magnificent spa-like amenities, sensational valley-wide views and award-winning fine dining.

Foreclosure Homes Florida From Florida REO Inventory

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:42:12 -0600

Florida REO Inventory helps you to find affordable Florida foreclosed homes. They handle the way it goes about the handling of selling its foreclosure/REO inventory effective immediately. Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgagee, or other lien holder, usually a lender, obtains a court ordered termination of a mortgagor's equitable right of redemption. Usually a lender obtains a security interest from a borrower who mortgages or pledges an asset like a house to secure the loan. If the borrower defaults and the lender try to repossess the property, courts of equity can grant the borrower the equitable right of redemption if the borrower repays the debt. While this equitable right exists, the lender cannot be sure that it can successfully repossess the property, thus the lender seeks to foreclose the equitable right of redemption. Other lien holders can also foreclose the owner's right of redemption for other debts, such as for overdue taxes, unpaid contractors' bills or overdue homeowners' association dues or assessments.

The foreclosure process as applied to residential mortgage loans is a bank or other secured creditor selling or repossessing a parcel of real property (immovable property) after the owner has failed to comply with an agreement between the lender and borrower called a "mortgage" or "deed of trust". Commonly, the violation of the mortgage is a default in payment of a promissory note, secured by a lien on the property. When the process is complete, the lender can sell the property and keep the proceeds to pay off its mortgage and any legal costs, and it is typically said that "the lender has foreclosed its mortgage or lien". If the promissory note was made with a recourse clause then if the sale does not bring enough to pay the existing balance of principal and fees the mortgagee can file a claim for a deficiency judgment. With the help of their Foreclosure Homes Florida Listings, they offer FREE, exclusive listings, neighborhood reports and sales comparisons throughout the United States. It is their vision that drives us, inspires us, and motivates them to continue to excel at a greater level and to widen the gap between their Agents and a typical agent as they seek to reach the pinnacle of their profession. They invite you to experience the difference for yourself. Whether you are a buyer, a seller, an investor, or a real estate professional, they are raising the bar for the Real Estate Community. They are better negotiators, more knowledgeable, experienced, and full of integrity, able to sell homes faster, able to sell homes for more money, highly trained, community and industry leader, and most importantly they are more trustworthy.

How to sell your house fast in a down market

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:15:15 -0600

Even in a depressed real estate market it is possible to sell your house fast. Sometimes it may be necessary to think outside the box or conventional methods of selling your house fast.
The following tips will help you in selling your house fast.
In this article, the assumption is that you may or may not be behind on your mortgage payments and whatever the reason you need to sell your house, you have to do it fast.
1) Repairs
One of the first things a potential house buyer will check is if the house needs repairs. It is especially important because it directly determines how much they will have to spend to get the house to a good condition. And of course, it is one of the most obvious things a potential house buyer will notice.

Sometimes it may be possible for you to do your own repairs if they are minor or get someone to do it for you. If you can afford to repair the house yourself, then it becomes much easier to sell the house.

Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. Things like air conditioning, heating, plumbing and so on need to be working properly. The foundation and the roof need to be sound. The kitchen, windows, bathrooms all need to be in a good condition.

And of course, as obvious as it sounds, make sure the house smells nice. Get rid of cigarette or pet smell. Give it a fresh look maybe a fresh coat of paint and carpet.

Lastly, make sure curb appeal is attractive. What is the first impression a potential house buyer get when they approach the house? Keep the yard clean. Revamp the mailbox. Repaint the house address on the curb if there is one. And sometimes get a new door if the one you have looks old.

Of course, a fresh coat of external paint will give the home a new, fresh look that will appeal to potential buyers.

2) Type of buyer
What if you cannot do your own repairs on the house?
What if you are already behind on your mortgage payments?
What if you are facing foreclosure?

It may be time to think outside the conventional house buyer. It becomes necessary to talk to real estate investors who buy investment properties where you live.

These real estate investors will most likely buy your house as it stands, fix it up then sell it or keep it as a rental property for cash flow.

In some cases, real estate investors may also sometimes get creative and buy your house on terms even if you may owe more than the house is worth.

Whatever the situation is, it may still be possible to sell your house fast to a real estate investor, walk away with money and move on with your life.

Where do you find real estate investors?
A lot of real estate investors advertise themselves in local classified ads. This would be a good place to start. In most areas, there are real estate investing clubs that you can attend for free and make contacts.

Ultimately, looking outside the box will help you sell your house faster even in a down housing market.

Scottsdale is Home to the Trend Setters

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:04:17 -0600

Whether you’re in the market for the latest high fashion apparel, magnificent fine art, enviable pieces of jewelry or a sensational desert home set on view-rich real estate, Scottsdale, Arizona doesn’t just follow trends—Scottsdale sets them.

Let’s start up in the far North Scottsdale real estate. Right near The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa, is el Pedregal Festival Marketplace. Reminiscent of an ancient Moroccan oasis, El Pedregal Festival Marketplace boasts fabulous boutiques, fine art galleries and upscale restaurants. During the cooler months, El Pedregal has even been known to host open-air concerts in the courtyard amphitheater.

A bit further south, you’ll find that North Scottsdale also has its share of more traditional, yet still very first-class shopping malls, one of which is Kierland Commons. This intimate outdoor mall includes venues such as Anthropologie, Z Gallery and Michael Kors, as well as some of Scottsdale locals’ favorite night-life bars and restaurants.

Currently, downtown Scottsdale is home to more than 100 boutiques, shops and art galleries, plus Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, which enjoys stores such as Barneys New York. Meanwhile, the Old Town Scottsdale section is notable for its Old West ambience and offerings of handcrafted jewelry, pots, rugs and more by Native American artisans. A number of galleries and shops in Old Town Scottsdale also offer a mind-bending array of gorgeous articles and artifacts that are unique to the Southwest.

Not far away, you’ll find a charismatic cluster of chic shopping malls with stores that rival those you find nestled along Los Angeles’s Rodeo Drive. For example, Scottsdale Fashion Square is host to more than 200 premier retailers a la Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton and more. Featuring extremely high-end specialty shops and eateries, The Borgata of Scottsdale is an architecturally charming re-creation of the Tuscan village of San Gimignano, Italy, complete with open-air seating, gently cascading fountains and quaint cobblestone walkways.

In nearby Phoenix, Biltmore Fashion Park has an exceptional lineup of stores (Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple Store, bebe, Brooks Brothers, Escada, Tommy Bahama and Williams-Sonoma, to name just a few), as well as a Concierge Center that can supply you with restaurant menus and reservations, valet information and transportation options; in addition, they are always happy to hook their guests up with complimentary bottled water, complimentary package carry-out, and tourism and event information.

For the ultimate shopping experience you might want to check out one of the area’s customized shopping services that utilize luxurious chauffeur-driven limousines and personal shopping experts. It’s just one of many amazing ways to experience shopping in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scottsdale Living Offers Something for Everyone

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:32:29 -0600

Sexy, sophisticated, seductive Scottsdale: a haven for the finer things in life.

Whether you are in love with the sensational elegance of the high Sonoran desert, the razzle-dazzle of sleek and chic urban loft living, or a fashionable kick-back-and-relax family lifestyle, living in Scottsdale, Arizona has definitely got everything you need – and much more.

Boasting guard-gated golf course communities, intimate upscale neighborhoods and exclusive dining, shopping and living districts, Scottsdale is filled with passion, pizzazz and personality-plus. Each swank community within this charismatic city’s borders sizzles with its own sense of style. For example, for those who treasure the urban-hipster look and feel, downtown Scottsdale is home to numerous trendy boutiques, dance-till-dawn nightclubs and see-and-be-seen restaurants, where getting dressed-to-the-nines is an art form in and of itself. Home-styles include chi-chi apartments, lock-and-leave villas and high-rise condominiums, many of which are decked out with garden terraces and walls of sheer glass windows that showcase a shimmering panorama of city lights as far as the eye can see.

A bit more sedate, the center city is home to Scottsdale’s luxuriant garden district where handsome family neighborhoods come alive with canopies of shade trees, lush grassy lawns and a Santa Barbara ambience. Floor plans range from two- and three-bedroom single-level homes to expansive homes with multiple bedrooms for growing families. Man-made lakes and waterways dot the landscape, and what’s even better is that Scottsdale’s real estate zoning regulations ensure that many of these neighborhoods, such as the lovely McCormick Ranch, will forever retain their abundant charm.

Further north, the McDowell Mountain/Foothills area is signatured by magnificent homes and stunning estates surrounded by forever-preserved mountain ranges. Snuggled into the spectacular higher elevations, world-class master-planned communities offer extraordinarily private custom homes and homesites tucked around championship golf courses designed by world-famous golfers and their associates. Nestled next to dramatic boulder-strewn mountains and stands of stately saguaros, these beautiful plateau communities enjoy cooler temperatures and luminous sunrises, iridescent sunsets and magical, mystical moonlit nights.

Throughout Scottsdale, it’s easy to find exceptional shopping, dining and cultural venues as well as gorgeous parks, well-maintained hiking/biking trails and a wealth of alfresco amenities that cater to virtually every lifestyle. Particularly in the winter season, events of all kinds abound...it’s a high-end car collectors’ nirvana, an art aficionados’ wonderland and a horse-show heaven for the equestrian set...all of which exquisitely accents the majesties of Mother Nature that embrace this creature-comfort town.

Arizona is Home to So Many Fun Things to Do

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:17:20 -0600

From hiking, biking and boating to shopping, dining and dancing, Arizona houses a plethora of amazing real estate and even more amazing things to see, experience and explore.

Let’s start in northern Arizona, in Page, which not only enjoys its own scenic sights, but also serves as a hub for several different popular destinations known as the “Grand Circle”. A few short minutes drive north of Page is Lake Powell, where you can book a boat tour that lets you take in a wealth of scenic grandeur from beautiful Tapestry Canyon to the Rainbow Bridge.

Of course, no trip to Arizona is complete without at least a day at the Grand Canyon, which is only about a two-hour drive from Page. For the adventurous and physically fit, a variety of hikes await you, but if savoring spectacular scenery and souvenir shopping is more to your liking, you’ll find plenty of that here as well.

About two hours south of the Grand Canyon lies Sedona, Arizona. Famous for its red-rock formations, Sedona is also a must-see destination for visitors and residents alike, since the scenery and topography of the entire area, which includes the magnificence of Oak Creek Canyon, is quite simply breathtaking. Consider taking a guided tour in a four-wheel-drive vehicle; these trusty beasts-of-burden are known to clamber up and down some of the most stunning boulder-strewn landscape.

Closer to central Arizona, the Phoenix metropolitan area is filled with museums, theaters, sports stadiums, and shopping and dining venues. A fun day’s itinerary might include the Phoenix Zoo, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen West and a visit to downtown Scottsdale, where upscale art galleries perfectly mix with old-fashioned cowboy charisma. If you’re here in March, take in a Major League Baseball spring training game, and end your day in Glendale’s Catlin Court, where old-world charm and historic homes have been converted into tasty eateries and delightful boutiques.

Southern Arizona is awash with the majesties of Mother Nature, and is also home to uniquely themed exhibits, including the Titan Missile Museum, which focuses on providing an education about the history of nuclear conflict around the time of the Cold War. Movie buffs should definitely check out Old Tucson Studios; situated just fifteen minutes from Tucson, this old frontier town has been the film-site for numerous Hollywood westerns, including movies starring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. As you explore the grounds, you can watch a cowboy gunfight, enjoy a musical revue, take a ride on a miniature train into the surrounding desert or visit the Old Tucson Story Museum, home to a number of original costumes worn on television shows such as Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza.

The Finest In Tucson Real Estate

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:33:49 -0600

While filled with plenty of more affordable housing options, Tucson, Arizona is also host to a plethora of high-end communities, subdivisions and neighborhoods, especially in the northern and northwestern sections of the city. For example, the Tucson luxury real estate communities of Oro Valley, Marana and Catalina Foothills are home to a wealth of upscale communities, both gated and non-gated, and in fact, Oro Valley has been called one of the most affluent communities in the southwest. Oro Valley’s master-planned community of Rancho Vistoso boasts a number of gated subdivisions, including the luxury subdivision of Honey Bee Canyon, which contains only 48 lots sized at over an acre each, as well as intimate venues such as Fairfield at Vistoso, a golf subdivision on the Vistoso Golf Course.

Nestled across the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, the master-planned community of Dove Mountain lies in the nearby town of Marana. Like Rancho Vistoso, Dove Mountain is home to several gated communities, including The Gallery and Canyon Pass. The very private and gated Gallery Canyon has only 15 residences and The Overlook boasts just 17 custom-built houses, while gated courtyards are the pièce de résistance at the Private Collection at the Terrace. Within these communities, views typically are right on the fairways of one of the two courses of the Gallery Golf Club, making these addresses ideal for golfers and spectators of the sport. But that’s not all; there’s also Dos Lagos on the club’s south course. The posh living quarters here currently carry price tags of more than $1 million each.

Other subdivisions in Dove Mountain include the retirement community of Heritage Hills, The Villages, Quail Crossing, The Preserve and The Bluffs. Dove Mountain features four golf courses, including the course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, host of the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship.

The community of Catalina Foothills is also home to dramatic homes and estates, including Catalina Foothills Estates which is a collection of gorgeous neighborhoods located just slightly north of Tucson. These communities, some of which are gated, offer a subtle blend of architectural styles ranging from Tuscan-inspired motifs to magnificent desert estates to territorial ranch homes. For families with school-age children, it’s important to note that the Estates are served by the Catalina Foothills School District, which is consistently ranked as one of the top school districts in Arizona.

With spectacular views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and the city of Tucson itself, Cobblestone Homes is considered one of the most elite subdivisions in Catalina Foothills. If you’re a golf aficionado, you can choose to make your home in one of Catalina Foothills’ scenic golf subdivisions such as La Paloma, which is made up of several smaller neighborhoods surrounding the golf course at the exclusive Westin La Paloma Resort.

Meanwhile, The Canyons in Catalina Foothills is nestled right next to the base of the Santa Catalinas and features homes currently ranging in price from $2 million to $8 million. Every house is on a large, private lot and has a wonderful view of the mountains, with some also overlooking the city lights of Tucson.

Phoenix is Home to Music Museums and Much More

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:49:44 -0600

The centerpiece of the Valley of the Sun is the city of Phoenix, Arizona which is nestled in a sprawling valley embraced by the Superstition, White Tank, McDowell, and Estrella Mountains. What started as a dusty little town of a few square blocks when it was incorporated in 1881 has grown into the fifth-largest city in the United States, encompassing nearly 500 square miles. Along with the natural majesties of Mother Nature, Phoenix houses a population of more than 1.5 million residents supported by a thriving “man-made” arts community, and in fact, the arts are both abundant and approachable in Phoenix.

Whether you prefer art that is visual, such as painting, sculpture or glasswork; performance-based, such as opera, ballet, theater or the symphony; or museum-centered, you can find it in high quantity and high quality in Phoenix and the surrounding communities.

Let’s start with the recently renovated Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, home to the Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Symphony, all of which offer full seasons and a broad spectrum of programming that appeals to a wide audience. Just across the street from Symphony Hall is the Herberger Theater Center, home to several theatrical companies as well as a dance company. A bonus is that upstairs from the Herberger’s lobby area is a gallery that exhibits an ever-changing display of works from local artists.

Elsewhere in and near downtown Phoenix, small venues such as the Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix Theater and others showcase both touring artists and local troupes. The Dodge Theater is a theatrical chameleon of sorts, morphing into a comedy club, a concert venue or a theatrical production stage through as-needed repositioning of both seating and stage.

Numerous Phoenix artists and musicians participate in First Fridays, a monthly evening event when downtown galleries, studios and businesses open their doors and encourage visitors to wander down the streets, stopping to meet artists and artisans and learn about their work.

Those who get their art-fix at museums definitely have a bonanza waiting for them in Phoenix. From the world-famous Heard Museum, to the Phoenix Art Museum, to the Hall of Flame, there are museums for all ages and interests. Check out the specialty museums such as the Mining and Mineral Museum and the Arizona Capitol Museum, where you can learn about the origins of the state of Arizona. Many museums offer free admission one day of the week, so check with them and plan your excursions accordingly.

SVP Group and Ashiana Homes Come Together to Make Luxury Villas in Gaziabad

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:40:05 -0600

The two Delhi NCR based real estate developers SVP Group and Ashiana Homes have come together to introduce mega luxury housing project Villa Anandam on the Meerut Road, NH-58, Ghaziabad. The 198 villas will be constructed in 12 acres of land and are expected to be ready for possession by mid-2012. The total cost of this residential project will be Rs 150 crore.

Villa Anandam is well connected by rail and road as well as with other fully developed infrastructural facilities around it such as schools, hospitals and educational institutions. In the first phase, Villa Anandam will offer 125 independent luxurious four bedrooms duplex villas on 140 sq yard, 146 sq yard and 178 sq yard with a built-up area of 1,810 sq ft starting at Rs 75 lakh.

Vijay Jindal, chairman and managing director, SVP Group, said, “In the last couple of years, this location has witnessed unprecedented growth, emerging as one of most coveted destination. Villa Anandam goes much beyond quality construction, making a definitive statement in opulence and luxury.”

“Luxury residential market was never out of the scene. It was always around, the only hindrance was the people’s unwillingness to buy property because of economic reasons. But now things are getting back on track. Our this mega residential project is on NH-58, Ghaziabad ( NCR )” he added.

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Unitech to buy back UCP (Unitech Corporate Parks)

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:35:21 -0600

Unitech Ltd is planning to buy back its London’s AIM listed group firm UNITECH CORPORATE PARKS (UCP) formed in late 2006 by Unitech to invest in the commercial properties across the country and is in discussion with the independent directors of the UCP for a possible offer from UNITECH Group The deal is proposed with 31 pence per share and UCP share traded at 30 pence per share at AIM exchange and after proposed transaction was announced, it was up 13.2%. Company reported to BSE and the share dropped 2.6 % to closed at Rs 82.40 at BSE on Wednesday.

Composition of UCP, Unitech Ltd. and its promoters already holds 4.74% in it UCP’s top shareholders are ABN Amro, HSBC and Roveda holdings.It raised about €360 m through AIM exchange in Dec 2006.

This proposed deal declares within three months of Unitech Ltd. announcing demerger of its infrastructure business, including telecom into a separate entity UNITECH INFRA LTD.