They can be a nightmare for homeowners: Burst pipes, exploding water heaters or the slow, steady, hidden drip of leaky appliance hoses. Here's what to do if you find yourself in a water emergency, and 12 ways to prevent disaster.
Water may be the indispensible source of life, but it can be a villain when it's leaking inside your home.
Just ask Will Southcombe, director of training for PuroClean, a cleanup and restoration company with franchises in 43 states. He's been in the field for decades and has seen the worst that water can do.
Tales of woe
Southcombe's line of work provides some memorable tales. One couple he knew left on a two-week vacation and, when they returned, "opened the door, and about 6 inches of water came out of the living room."
Somewhere in an upstairs bathroom, a pipe fitting had broken, probably soon after they'd departed. Water gushed unchecked for nearly two weeks. "Every room on the first level had water. The basement was full," Southcombe says. "Every piece of wood in the house was warped. It was a 100% loss — it was covered by insurance. They bulldozed the home and built over."
The story's not really unusual, water-damage experts say. And "probably 80% of what we do could have or should have been prevented," Southcombe says.
Accidents that vigilant homeowners can prevent include:
- Malfunctioning dishwashers
- Leaky washing machines and ice-makers
- Broken and backed-up toilets and sinks
- Bursting appliance hoses
- Leaky pipe fittings
- Frozen pipes and gutters
- Leaking roofs and ice dams
- Gaping windowsills
- Foundation cracks
- Unsealed wooden decks
Southcombe tells of a customer who came downstairs in the morning to find that the back corner of the refrigerator had fallen through the floor. Cause: a leaky ice-maker. True, the house was old and the floor was made of particleboard, but the fridge probably had been dripping, unnoticed, for about five years.
The lesson? Keep your home dry. It's your most important home-maintenance job. If a leak is running silently under your fridge or inside the walls, you're facing possibly thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of dollars of damage.
Whenever water touches anything organic for long — wool carpet fibers, paper, wood or the bits of sloughed-off skin, pet hair and dirt found in even a well-vacuumed carpet — rot and mold get started. Depending on the materials and the temperature, mold can begin in a day or two. Rot takes longer. Repairing or replacing rotten or moldy structural wood, engineered wood products, drywall and carpet will set you or your insurance company back a small fortune.
Much of the trouble that water causes goes unseen until too late. "Water doesn't necessarily wave a red flag as it runs into your home and does its damage. It's very, very sneaky," says Mark Decherd, founder of DryOut, a Fort Myers, Fla., company that maps and treats damage from water in homes.
Will insurance cover it?
Water is rising (so to speak) as a source of insurance claims from homes and businesses. That doesn't even include floods and other natural catastrophes, says Heather Paul, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance. "The vast majority of those water losses are preventable," she adds.
"Out of every $100 paid in insurance claims, $12 goes to water damage and freezing claims, not including water damage from flooding rivers and seas," says Bob Passmore, of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, an industry group.
When faced with water damage at home, a homeowner invariably asks, "Will my insurance cover it?"
For an insurer to cover your claim for water-related damage, the cause must have been "sudden and accidental," says Jeanne Salvatore, of the Insurance Information Institute. If your kitchen floor rotted because you put off fixing a leaky kitchen sink, for example, you're probably not covered.
Read: 10 ways to prevent a plumbing nightmare
"It's considered your responsibility as a homeowner to maintain your home," Salvatore says.
On the other hand, if you maintained your pipes and kept up with your home's maintenance but one winter the pipes burst, the damage will be covered under standard homeowners insurance, Salvatore says.
Southcombe says he believes insurers are becoming stricter. Where they once might have overlooked neglected maintenance and paid the related claim, these days they're more likely to stick to the letter of the policy, he says.
Even when insurance does kick in, there can be significant headaches for homeowners. Ask Mary Birkmeyer, of Longview, Wash., who, with her houseful of Christmas guests, awoke to find that the water heater had sprung a leak, ruining a hardwood floor. The family had to live with exhaust fans and humidifiers running night and day for three weeks in an effort to salvage the floor before the insurer finally decided to replace it.
Their insurer has said it won't cover water damage to their home again. So the family, now extra vigilant, installed inexpensive, individual alarms under appliances and pipe joints to alert them to dampness. "The alarms have saved us on several occasions," Birkmeyer says. Even if you can continue getting coverage after a claim, your premiums may rise.
Emergency action plan
When it comes to water damage, your energy is best spent on prevention — and we'll get to that in a minute. But it's also good to know how to handle an emergency. Say you're running a bath and then your mom phones. She goes on and on and suddenly — yikes! — you remember the bath. But it's too late: Water's everywhere, flooding the floor, running out the door. Here's what to do:
1. Move furniture. Remove everything you can from a wet carpet (dyes and stains on wood furniture may bleed onto the carpet); if you can't move a piece of furniture, put aluminum foil or a plastic bag under the legs.
2. Lift draperies. Leave draperies in place but get them up off the floor by putting them on clothes hangers and hooking the hanger onto the drapery rod.
3. If water reaches a wall, pay attention. If you can spot water in the carpet or it reaches a wall juncture, treat the problem seriously. It may have traveled unseen four or five feet along the floor, through the carpet pad, possibly reaching cabinets, walls, insulation, other rooms and the subfloor, elevating the risk of mold, Southcombe says.
4. Get help fast. A quality company or professional will assess your problem for no charge. Search online or in the Yellow Pages under "water damage" or "water restoration." Call and ask, "Will you do a free assessment?" Make sure they use an infrared thermography camera to find cold spots (indicating evaporating water). Or ask an insurance agent to recommend a trusted firm. (You can say, "I don't want to file a claim; I just want to know who you'd use.") Do this immediately.
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25135881&Gt1=35000
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Completely Upgraded
• 1,613 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm single story - 
MLS® $97,000 - Short Sale - Peoria AZ
Vistas Avenida, Peoria - Cross Streets:
Peoria & 75th Ave Directions: North on 75th Ave to Desert Cove W to 76th Ave N to Home on West side of Rd
Remarks:
Short Sale!! Home has been completely updated.
Kitchen has granite counters and new cabinets (2005), walk-in pantry.
There is a 19'x12' addition not included in sqft. Tile floors throughout kitchen, living, dinning, main bath, laundry, and hall installed in 2008.
Main bath has granite counters and new cabinets(2005). Bedrooms had laminate wood flooring installed in 2009. Master has walk-in closet & bathroom has new cabinets (2005). Ceiling fans throughout.
Windows replaced 2007. Swimming pool was completed in Jan 2008, has a large cool deck area and is completely fenced.
Spa and Storage Sheds do not convey!!
Property information
I like Its look and layout, it’s more interesting, and has more user options.
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Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and
Existing-home sales in Scottsdale jumped 36 percent in the first half of this year, and home construction picked up slightly from its glacial pace.
Housing-industry observers remain cautious about where the market is headed because prices have not stabilized and foreclosures accounted for a quarter of the 3,215 homes sold in Scottsdale through June, according to Arizona State University Realty Studies reports.
"I see a very definite pent-up demand for things, people wanting to buy," said real-estate agent Bob Morris of John Hall and Associates. "There's still hesitancy to buy in the marketplace, some fear and hesitancy."
Foreclosures and short sales continue to put downward pressure on prices.
Scottsdale's median-home price in June was $378,600, up less than 1 percent from a year earlier. But it was the first year-over-year monthly increase during the first half of 2010. The Valley median price in June was $147,500.
New homes are just a fraction of the Scottsdale housing market. The city has issued 100 single-family building permits from Jan. 1 through this week and is on pace for about 171 new homes in 2010. Last year, Scottsdale approved just 130 home permits, down from 3,100 a decade earlier.
Pulte Homes and Lennar are building a total of 790 homes at Lone Mountain just west of Scottsdale Road. Most of the new-home permits are going to custom and green-home builders, said Michael Clack, Scottsdale's director of development services.
Windgate Ranch, one of the city's only large subdivisions, has several homes under construction, said Linda Rossi, Toll Brothers Southwest region marketing director.
Toll Brothers has completed 237 of 633 planned homes since it started sales in March 2006 at the subdivision northwest of Bell Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.
Prices start at about $500,000 for a 2,750-square-foot home, Rossi said.
"We certainly are seeing light at the end of the tunnel," she said of the housing market.
Shadows prices rebound
Other observers are optimistic as well.
Bob Bell, an insurance agent who tracks the local market, said he is seeing an increase in prices for condominiums that have been refurbished.
He and his wife, Glenda, own two condos at Scottsdale Shadows, a large, formerly age-restricted community at Hayden and Camelback roads.
"I watched it when it went down and I wasn't happy about it, and I've watched it start to inch back up," he said.
The Bells bought their first Scottsdale Shadows condo in July 2004 for $91,000, which they lease out for $950 per month. They bought another unit in March 2007 for $159,000. Both are 1,200 square feet.
At current prices per square foot, Bell figures the second condo is worth about $137,000. He is upside down on it, but prices are up from $80,000 to $90,000 per unit and he can afford to wait for the market to recover.
ASU's June report showed Scottsdale condo sales up 35 percent from a year ago, but the median price slipped 8 percent to $145,000.
In the resale-home market, sales are concentrated at the lower end where it is far easier for buyers to get financing.
Only 5 percent of the Valley homes that sold in June went for more than $500,000, said Fletcher Wilcox, Grand Canyon Title Agency vice president.
The upper limit for conventional loans in Maricopa County is $417,000.
"Homes in north Scottsdale keep dropping in price until they get under that number," said Jay Butler, ASU Realty Studies associate professor.
However, buyers are still showing that they want to live in Scottsdale, he said.
"The idea is if you want to live in a particular area, now is the time to do it," Butler added. "Prices have dropped so much."
Prices down 36%
Butler's ASU colleague, real-estate professor Karl Guntermann, in his repeat-sales index, reports that Scottsdale's home prices fell 36 percent from April 2006 to this past April. That is less than the decline in Tempe of 42 percent. Chandle's decline is 45 percent with Gilbert at 47 percent.
John Rapasky, Counsel Mortgage Group president, said he is seeing some hopeful signs for a housing-market recovery even if there is some downward pressure on prices.
On conventional loans, lenders have cut the minimum down payment to 5 percent from 10 percent with private mortgage insurance.
"I think as much as you can use the lenders as a guide, after going through all this pain, they've decided to loosen up a bit," Rapasky said.
Buyers with good credit, assets, proof of income and a down payment are in a good position to buy, he added.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/02/20100802scottsdale-exisiting-home-sales-up.html
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I thought this was worth sharing.......
-- Each of us has to take responsibility for our own personal development. A good way to do that is to periodically give yourself a check up from the neck up! This simple exercise will help you track your progress in personal development and show you where you need to spend more time to make improvements.
Read each statement below and answer: "Always/Yes," "Often," "Sometimes," or "Never/No."
I make choices recognizing how they shape my future.
I work toward using my full potential.
I am willing to change.
I act with honesty and integrity.
I believe I have the necessary qualities for success within me.
I manage my attitude.
I associate with positive people.
I look for the good in other people.
I give sincere compliments.
I help others be more successful.
I take inventory of my positive qualities.
I find new ways to motivate myself.
I plan my activities.
I regularly set goals.
I believe goals are necessary.
I believe I can reach my goals.
I try to improve on yesterday.
I use my time wisely.
I learn from reading inspirational stories.
I am willing to do extra things at work.
I routinely read motivational material.
I consider criticism as feedback for consideration.
I take care of myself physically.
Congratulate yourself for each "Always/Yes" answer that you scored. And then make a plan to improve the areas that need more of your attention. Start with the "Never/No" answers and set goals to move those statements forward, at least into "Sometimes," if not "Often."
Use this exercise periodically throughout your career and life to continue tracking your progress. Over time, you will make improvements!
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
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University of Arizona economist Marshall Vest says the recession officially ended in Arizona several months ago, although it will be months before a recovery is evident and years to repair all the damage that's been done.
Vest contends the national recession ended in May or June and the recession in Arizona ended about six months later.
Conceding he is more optimistic than other economists in the state, Vest said he believes Arizona's economy reached bottom sometime around the end of 2009 or the beginning of this year and has started growing again.
He bases that on an analysis of retail, employment, housing and income numbers as well as anecdotal information.
Although other economists are not as convinced and several indicators remain volatile, Vest said Monday he stands by his statement because he thinks he spends more time with the data than other economics. He is director of the Economic and Business Research Center at UA and for the past 30 years has headed its forecasting project.
"With the data we have currently, it looks like consumers are spending again," Vest said. "I think the economy is off and running."
In an article recently written for the UA publication Arizona's Economy, he estimated that, "It will take several more months before recovery becomes evident. Some components will continue to decline for a few more months."
To economists, recessions are technical definitions of when economies contract and expand. Economists with the National Bureau of Economic Research, a Cambridge, Mass., the group that determines the beginnings and ends of national recession, said last week that it is premature to say if or when the national recession has ended.
Vest relied on the following data to say Arizona's recession has ended and its economy has started to grow:
• The number of non-farm jobs in the state stopped falling in December and hiring announcements have increased. But Arizona still has almost 300,000 fewer jobs than it did in its August 2007 peak.
• Residential building permits bottomed out in March 2009 and have increased statewide by more than 70 percent through December, although the actual number remains small. Housing prices apparently bottomed out in June.
• After falling for three consecutive quarters, personal income stabilized in the second and third quarters of 2009.
• Retail sales statewide are growing at a 5 percent annual rate after bottoming out last June. Vest predicts they will grow 5 percent this year and 10 percent next year.
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2010/04/19/20100419recession-over-arizona.html
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We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas
CAVE CREEK, AZ -- Canadian investors are buying Arizona real estate, helping the housing market in the west Valley.
"It is the buying opportunity of a lifetime," said Bill Chipman, an investor from British Columbia whose business group is buying real estate in Arizona, Texas and Nevada.
"Our business plan is to buy 500 homes but I hope we can do 1,000," he said.
Arizona is at the top of his list, helped along by low home prices here and the strong dollar up there.
Real estate sales to Canadians are reportedly up 80 percent over last year, and the Valley's struggling housing market is surely helping.
Real estate values have plunged in areas like Avondale, sometimes by more than half what they were a few years back.
But there is hope according to realtor Candice Boggs.
"Phoenix has great opportunities. It's like California without the beaches or California," she said.
Boggs has seen a number of sales on everthing from townhomes to strip malls, bought by Canadian investors and retirees over the last couple of years.
"Business is good, Our Canadian friends have been buying steady and unless the dollar goes up tomorrow, which I don't see happening, then the trend will continue," Boggs said.
See you in Arizona
http://www.abc15.com/content/realestate/story/Arizona-real-estate-being-snapped-up-by-Canadian/To_gZ9p-iUi_WqnE0RpCTw.cspx
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs - CandiceBoggs@cox.net
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
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We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and
Scottsdale, Arizona is the seventh best place to live in the U.S.A. This was the finding of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Opportunities for work are on the increase. The weather is warm and sunny throughout the year. Education and health care facilities are plentiful with a strong emphasis on quality.
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html - Search the Scottsdale Arizona MLS
The people of Scottsdale are known to be as warm as the weather. The scenery from all parts of Scottsdale is breathtaking.
A thriving chamber of commerce is always on hand to help new business ventures. Businesses and the tourist industry are growing by the day which makes Scottsdale a lucrative place to relocate. There are hi tech industries and small businesses. Major banks and insurance Companies are located in Scottsdale. The tourist industry flourishes all through the year with tourists flocking in for the good weather and other cultural and sports vacations. The hotel industry is growing in Scottsdale and there are many hotel jobs available at all times. The sports industry is another profitable industry in Scottsdale with an emphasis on golf.
Scottsdale can be divided into four areas. The south of Scottsdale is known for s its nightlife and art. Downtown Scottsdale is famous for bars, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. Central Scottsdale has the famous neighborhoods of the Shea corridor and Paradise Valley. It is home to celebrities and important persons. North Scottsdale has become a major golfing region of the U.S.A. with several excellent courses and PGA tournaments taking place through the year.
The Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation is the best school system in the whole of Arizona and one of the finest in the country. The foundation has elementary schools, middle schools and high schools attached to it. The foundation encourages the active interaction of parents and teachers. It has been called the most excelling School District in the country.
Scottsdale has an excellent health care system. The Scottsdale Health care foundation has three excellent hospitals- the Osborne Hospital, the Shea hospital and the Thompson Peak hospital. All the hospitals are equipped with state of the art treatment facilities. The famed Mayo Clinic and a skin cancer institute are also situated in Scottsdale.
Libraries, art galleries and museums of repute are located in Scottsdale. It is home to many famous and up and coming artists and architects. There is a large performing arts community in Scottsdale. All year round art shows and performances take place in Scottsdale.
Sports lovers will enjoy living in Scottsdale. Scottsdale is the home of World class golfing and several PGA tournaments take place every year. There are many golf courses of different yardage and exciting challenges. The views of desert and mountain from each course are a veritable feast for the eye. Staying at a home rental when planning to live in Scottsdale is a prudent choice. . You can look for a property to buy while renting a home for a month. This is cheaper than staying at a hotel which charges by the room per day. You can choose the location that suits the entire family. You will be able to gradually acclimatize yourself to your surroundings by renting first and buying later.
Scottsdale, Arizona is the best place to live because of its healthy climate, friendly people, creative culture and booming industries.
Scottsdale is a safe city with a competent and reputed police force and an efficient fire service. The police force organizes community watch programs so that living in Scottsdale is secure. The community spirit and the civic mindedness of the communities in Scottsdale make living in Scottsdale convenient and comfortable.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Scottsdale,-Arizona-Is-The-Seventh-Best-Place-To-Live&id=1076249
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
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We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, REO, Forclosures, Short Sale, Fixer Uppers
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona__-_Foreclosures__REOs/page_1553689.html - Banks Owned Properties in Arizona
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Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please go to our website now to search our complete list of Arizona Properties.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix.
Wachovia or World Savings
.... Mortgage Problems: Facing Foreclosure?
Are you behind on your Mortgage Payments?
We work directly with the Wachovia Short Sale Manager here in the North Valley. Give us a call we may be able to do a short sale on your home to avoid foreclosure.
Wachovia offers an easier process to get your short sale approved in a shorter time and user friendly guidelines. These new short sale guidelines make it easier to get a short sale approval.
What does a Wachovia Short Sale NOT REQUIRE?
1. Hardship letter – Wachovia does not require hardship documentation
2. No current bank statements
3. No Current pay stubs, W2 or previous Taxes
4. Lender will get direct the information that they do need from the borrower
A few of the potential benefits of this new program are:
1. Incentive up to $2,500-$5,000 move out expenses – lender decides which borrowers qualify for this incentive
2. Quick turn-around time for approval – Turnaround time from contract to approval/decision is about 7-10 days
3. No out of pocket expenses
4. Short sale does less damage to your credit than does a foreclosure
5. And more…
Call or email me today for a confidential no obligation consultation.
http://www.wachoviahomes.com/wachovia-homes/#com
If you are a homeowner there's a good chance you have negative-equity in your home. In certain states and markets you are almost certainly upside down on your home if you've owned it prior to 2009.
The challenge is if you need to sell your home you've got two options: bring money to the closing or get the bank to approve a short sale. And since you probably don't have $25,000 or more in savings you will need the bank to work with you.
QC Short Sales has the experience and network to effectively negotiate your short sale. Every short sale is different so it takes an experienced team of agents, negotiators, and attorneys to work with the banks and complete the transaction.
And if you have a loan with the Wachovia family, QC Short Sales may even help you get "Cash for Keys" which will help you find a rental and cover you moving expenses. Contact us now to see the benefits of a short sale versus foreclosing or even modifying the mortgage on your home.
QC Short Sales. -- Quick Close. Quality Control.
http://www.realtorsfr.org/
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs - CandiceBoggs@cox.net
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
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http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and
Making an Offer on a Short Sale in Scottsdale, Phoenix or Cave Creek?
............................What You Need to Know?
Are you looking to buy a new home? Are you thinking that now's a great time to find bargains? Before you make an offer, it pays to know a little about the seller's situation.
If a home is being sold for below what the current seller owes on the property—and the seller does not have other funds to make up the difference at closing—the sale is considered a short sale. Many more home owners are finding themselves in this situation due to a number of factors, including job losses, aggressive borrowing against their home in the days of easy credit, and declining home values in a slower real estate market.
A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when the seller's lender has taken title of the home and is selling it directly. Homeowners often try to accomplish a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure. But a short sale holds many potential pitfalls for buyers. Know the risks before you pursue a short-sale purchase.
You're a good candidate for a short-sale purchase if:
- You're very patient. Even after you come to agreement with the seller to buy a short-sale property, the seller’s lender (or lenders, if there is more than one mortgage) has to approve the sale before you can close. When there is only one mortgage, short-sale experts say lender approval typically takes about two months. If there is more than one mortgage with different lenders, it can take four months or longer for the lenders to approve the sale.
- Your financing is in order. Lenders like cash offers. But even if you can’t pay all cash for a short-sale property, it’s important to show you are well qualified and your financing is set. If you're preapproved, have a large down payment, and can close at any time, your offer will be viewed more favorably than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.
- You don’t have any contingencies. If you have a home to sell before you can close on the purchase of the short-sale property—or you need to be in your new home by a certain time—a short sale may not be for you. Lenders like no-contingency offers and flexible closing terms.
If you're serious about purchasing a short-sale property, it's important for you to have expert assistance. Here are some people you want to work with:
Experienced real estate attorney. Only about two out of five short sales are approved by lenders. But a good real estate attorney who's knowledgeable about the short-sale process will increase your chances getting an approved contract. Also, if you want any provisions or very specialized language written into the purchase contract, a real estate attorney is essential throughout the negotiation.
- A qualified real estate professional.* You may have a close friend or relative in real estate, but if that person doesn’t know anything about short sales, working with him or her may hurt your chances of a successful closing. Interview a few practitioners and ask them how many buyers they've represented in a short sale and, of those, how many have successfully closed. A qualified real estate professional will be able to show you short-sale homes, help negotiate the purchase when you find the property you want to buy, and smooth communications with the lender. (All MLSs permit, and some now require, special notations to indicate that a listing is a short sale. There also are certain phrases you can watch for, such as “lender approval required.”)
- Title officer. It’s a good idea to have a title officer do an initial title search on a short-sale property to see all the liens attached to the property. If there are multiple lien holders (e.g., second or third mortgage or lines of credit, real estate tax lien, mechanic’s lien, homeowners association lien, etc.), it's much tougher to get that short sale contract to the closing table. Any of the lien holders could put a kink in the process even after you’ve waited for months for lender approval. If you don’t know a title officer, your real estate attorney or real estate professional should be able to recommend a few.
Some of the other risks faced by buyers of short-sale properties include:
- Potential for rejection. Lenders want to minimize their losses as much as possible. If you make an offer tremendously lower than the fair market value of the home, chances are that your offer will be rejected and you’ll have wasted months. Or the lender could make a counteroffer, which will lengthen the process.
- Bad terms. Even when a lender approves a short sale, it could require that the sellers sign a promissory note to repay the deficient amount of the loan, which may not be acceptable to some financially desperate sellers. In that case, the sellers may refuse to go through with the short sale. Lenders also can change any of the terms of the contract that you’ve already negotiated, which may not be agreeable to you.
- No repairs or repair credits. You will most likely be asked to take the property “as is.” Lenders are already taking a loss on the property and may not agree to requests for repair credits.
The risks of a short sale are considerable. But if you have the time, patience, and iron will to see it through, a short sale can be a win-win for you and the sellers.
http://www.realtor.org/rmosales_and_marketing/handoutsforcustomers/handouts/short+sales+tips+for+buyers
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
Search Arizona MLS
Looking for a home in Arizona? SEARCH the same inventory that licensed Arizona Real Estate Agents search...it's easy and it's FREE!!
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and
OVer an Acre
• 2,280 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $420,000 - Horse Property
Desert Hills Estates, Phoenix - CROSS STREETS::
7th St.. & Carefree Hwy, Just North 1/2 Ml Directions: North on 7th St. 1/2 Mile. Home Sides to 7th St. With A Good Buffer. Custom Features on this Horse Property is Endless!
REMARKS:
Believe It!!! *Custom Built* Split Floorplan/Large Master Bedroom W/Walkin Cedar Lined Closet.
*Outstanding Efficiency w/2'x6' Steel Stud Walls + 2' Stirofoam Insulation('R' RATING ~40+)!
*New Exterior paint in 2009, Finish Better than Stucco, Won't Chip or Crack,
Attic Has Cast Alum' Duct Work w/Extra Insul.+12 Seer A/C's!
Large Open Kitchen & Dining Room W/Sand Corian Counters, Breakfast Bar, Oak Cabs.,Lead Glass FRT DRs,French DRS, Tile floors, Wired For Everything.
Step Down Living Rm w/Huge Windows Facing Backyard & Artistic Entertnmnt Cntr,.
2 Tiled Patio's w/Built in Wood Fireplace & Ceiling Fans.
Horse Stalls 16'x32' Undercover w/ Auto Wtr. Tack Area 10'x12' Plus Hay Storage. Enclosed Arena w/Gate,
+ 800sq.ft.WorkShop w/30'x36'Open Slab,220 Volts,
3 Car Garage w/Cabinets
Property information
Another Potential Stress for Homeowners in Distress
Facts for Consumers
The possibility of losing your home to foreclosure can be terrifying. The reality that scam artists are preying on the vulnerability of desperate homeowners is equally frightening. Many so-called foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim they can help you save your home. Some are brazen enough to offer a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, once most of these foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you much the worse for wear.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you, the homeowner. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.
If you think you may be facing foreclosure, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know how to recognize a foreclosure rescue scam. And even if the foreclosure process has already begun, the FTC and its law enforcement partners want you to know that legitimate options are available to help you save your home.
How the Scams Work
Foreclosure rescue firms use a variety of tactics to find homeowners in distress: Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the Internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the Internet, on television, or in the newspaper, posters on telephone poles, median strips and at bus stops, or flyers or business cards at your front door. The scam artists use simple and straight-forward messages, like:
“Stop Foreclosure Now!”
“We guarantee to stop your foreclosure.”
“Keep Your Home. We know your home is scheduled to be sold. No Problem!”
“We have special relationships within many banks that can speed up case approvals.”
“We Can Save Your Home. Guaranteed. Free Consultation”
“We stop foreclosures everyday. Our team of professionals can stop yours this week!”
Once they have your attention, they use a variety of tactics to get your money:
Phony Counseling or Phantom Help
The scam artist tells you that he can negotiate a deal with your lender to save your house if you pay a fee first. You may be told not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor, and to let the scam artist handle all the details. Once you pay the fee, the scam artist takes off with your money.
Sometimes, the scam artist insists that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with the lender. In this instance, the scammer may collect a few months of payments before disappearing.
Bait-and-Switch
You think you’re signing documents for a new loan to make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick: you’ve signed documents that surrender the title of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.
Rent-to-Buy Scheme
You’re told to surrender the title as part of a deal that allows you to remain in your home as a renter, and to buy it back during the next few years. You may be told that surrendering the title will permit a borrower with a better credit rating to secure new financing – and prevent the loss of the home. But the terms of these deals usually are so burdensome that buying back your home becomes impossible. You lose the home, and the scam artist walks off with all or most of your home’s equity. Worse yet, when the new borrower defaults on the loan, you’re evicted.
In a variation, the scam artist raises the rent over time to the point that the former homeowner can’t afford it. After missing several rent payments, the renter – the former homeowner – is evicted, leaving the “rescuer” free to sell the house.
In a similar equity-skimming situation, the scam artist offers to find a buyer for your home, but only if you sign over the deed and move out. The scam artist promises to pay you a portion of the profit when the home sells. Once you transfer the deed, the scam artist simply rents out the home and pockets the proceeds while your lender proceeds with the foreclosure. In the end, you lose your home – and you’re still responsible for the unpaid mortgage. That’s because transferring the deed does nothing to transfer your mortgage obligation.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver.
Bankruptcy Foreclosure
The scam artist may promise to negotiate with your lender or to get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, though, the scam artist pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name – sometimes without your knowledge.
A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. What’s more, the bankruptcy process is complicated, expensive, and unforgiving. For example, if you fail to attend the first meeting with the creditors, the bankruptcy judge will dismiss the case and the foreclosure proceedings will continue.
If this happens, you could lose the money you paid to the scam artist as well as your home. Worse yet, a bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job.
Where to Find Legitimate Help
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to negotiate a new repayment schedule. Remember that lenders generally don’t want to foreclose; it costs them money.
Other foreclosure prevention options, including reinstatement and forbearance, are explained in Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do, a publication from the FTC. Find it at www.ftc.gov.
You also may contact a credit counselor through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), a nonprofit organization that operates the national 24/7 toll-free hotline (1.888.995.HOPE) with free, bilingual, personalized assistance to help at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure. HPF is a member of the HOPE NOW Alliance of mortgage servicers, mortgage market participants and counselors. More information about HOPE NOW is at www.hopenow.com.
Red Flags
If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:
- guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances
- instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit or housing counselor
- collects a fee before providing you with any services
- accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer
- encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time
- tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender
- tells you to transfer your property deed or title to it
- offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is not set by the housing market at the time of sale
- offers to fill out paperwork for you
- pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately.
Report Fraud
If you think you’ve been a victim of foreclosure fraud, contact:
- Federal Trade Commission
- Your state Attorney General
- Your local Better Business Bureau
For More Information
To learn more about mortgages and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre42.shtm
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
Search Arizona MLS
Looking for a home in Arizona? SEARCH the same inventory that licensed Arizona Real Estate Agents search...it's easy and it's FREE!!
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and
Another Potential Stress for Homeowners in Distress
Facts for Consumers
The possibility of losing your home to foreclosure can be terrifying. The reality that scam artists are preying on the vulnerability of desperate homeowners is equally frightening. Many so-called foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim they can help you save your home. Some are brazen enough to offer a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, once most of these foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you much the worse for wear.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you, the homeowner. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.
If you think you may be facing foreclosure, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know how to recognize a foreclosure rescue scam. And even if the foreclosure process has already begun, the FTC and its law enforcement partners want you to know that legitimate options are available to help you save your home.
How the Scams Work
Foreclosure rescue firms use a variety of tactics to find homeowners in distress: Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the Internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the Internet, on television, or in the newspaper, posters on telephone poles, median strips and at bus stops, or flyers or business cards at your front door. The scam artists use simple and straight-forward messages, like:
“Stop Foreclosure Now!”
“We guarantee to stop your foreclosure.”
“Keep Your Home. We know your home is scheduled to be sold. No Problem!”
“We have special relationships within many banks that can speed up case approvals.”
“We Can Save Your Home. Guaranteed. Free Consultation”
“We stop foreclosures everyday. Our team of professionals can stop yours this week!”
Once they have your attention, they use a variety of tactics to get your money:
Phony Counseling or Phantom Help
The scam artist tells you that he can negotiate a deal with your lender to save your house if you pay a fee first. You may be told not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor, and to let the scam artist handle all the details. Once you pay the fee, the scam artist takes off with your money.
Sometimes, the scam artist insists that you make all mortgage payments directly to him while he negotiates with the lender. In this instance, the scammer may collect a few months of payments before disappearing.
Bait-and-Switch
You think you’re signing documents for a new loan to make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick: you’ve signed documents that surrender the title of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.
Rent-to-Buy Scheme
You’re told to surrender the title as part of a deal that allows you to remain in your home as a renter, and to buy it back during the next few years. You may be told that surrendering the title will permit a borrower with a better credit rating to secure new financing – and prevent the loss of the home. But the terms of these deals usually are so burdensome that buying back your home becomes impossible. You lose the home, and the scam artist walks off with all or most of your home’s equity. Worse yet, when the new borrower defaults on the loan, you’re evicted.
In a variation, the scam artist raises the rent over time to the point that the former homeowner can’t afford it. After missing several rent payments, the renter – the former homeowner – is evicted, leaving the “rescuer” free to sell the house.
In a similar equity-skimming situation, the scam artist offers to find a buyer for your home, but only if you sign over the deed and move out. The scam artist promises to pay you a portion of the profit when the home sells. Once you transfer the deed, the scam artist simply rents out the home and pockets the proceeds while your lender proceeds with the foreclosure. In the end, you lose your home – and you’re still responsible for the unpaid mortgage. That’s because transferring the deed does nothing to transfer your mortgage obligation.
Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver.
Bankruptcy Foreclosure
The scam artist may promise to negotiate with your lender or to get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, though, the scam artist pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name – sometimes without your knowledge.
A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. What’s more, the bankruptcy process is complicated, expensive, and unforgiving. For example, if you fail to attend the first meeting with the creditors, the bankruptcy judge will dismiss the case and the foreclosure proceedings will continue.
If this happens, you could lose the money you paid to the scam artist as well as your home. Worse yet, a bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job.
Where to Find Legitimate Help
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. You may be able to negotiate a new repayment schedule. Remember that lenders generally don’t want to foreclose; it costs them money.
Other foreclosure prevention options, including reinstatement and forbearance, are explained in Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do, a publication from the FTC. Find it at www.ftc.gov.
You also may contact a credit counselor through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), a nonprofit organization that operates the national 24/7 toll-free hotline (1.888.995.HOPE) with free, bilingual, personalized assistance to help at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure. HPF is a member of the HOPE NOW Alliance of mortgage servicers, mortgage market participants and counselors. More information about HOPE NOW is at www.hopenow.com.
Red Flags
If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:
- guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances
- instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit or housing counselor
- collects a fee before providing you with any services
- accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer
- encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time
- tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender
- tells you to transfer your property deed or title to it
- offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is not set by the housing market at the time of sale
- offers to fill out paperwork for you
- pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.
If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have gotten a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately.
Report Fraud
If you think you’ve been a victim of foreclosure fraud, contact:
- Federal Trade Commission
- Your state Attorney General
- Your local Better Business Bureau
For More Information
To learn more about mortgages and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre42.shtm
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
Search Arizona MLS
Looking for a home in Arizona? SEARCH the same inventory that licensed Arizona Real Estate Agents search...it's easy and it's FREE!!
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and
I read this blog from http://goshinkarate.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-you-losing-your-marbles.html and I thought I would shar it here.....
3900 MARBLES or How Many Saturdays Do you Have Left??
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.
Let me tell you about it.
I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whomever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital" he continued. "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."
"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and throwing away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life."
"There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."
"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.
Instead, I went in the bedroom and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on" she asked with a smile." "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."
Kind of make you think.....
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
Search Arizona MLS
Looking for a home in Arizona? SEARCH the same inventory that licensed Arizona Real Estate Agents search...it's easy and it's FREE!!
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and cities
Volunteers needed for Tres Rios cleanup in Southwest Valley
The call is out for volunteers to help in the First Annual – Tres Rios Nature & Earth Festival cleanup.
Tres Rios, in the Southwest Valley, is touted as a wildlife sanctuary encompassing the confluence of the Salt, Gila and Agua Fria rivers. It includes the 200-acre Base and Meridian Wildlife Area. The sanctuary has been threatened by litter and illegal activities.
Feb. 20 is spring-cleaning day.
The cleanup runs from 7 a.m. until about 11 a.m.
Volunteers will meet at Phoenix International Raceway, 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., in Avondale.
The raceway is five miles south of Interstate 10 at the end of Avondale Boulevard. This year, the cleanup is hosted by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Avondale, Goodyear, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation.
Volunteers should bring gloves, sunscreen and sunglasses. Wear a hat, work clothes and work boots, and dress appropriately for the weather.
The County Attorney's Office will hand out bottled water, hand sanitizer, garbage bags and commemorative T-shirts.
The wildlife refuge and riverbanks have long suffered from illegal shooting and fishing and unrestrained littering. The area is home to cottonwood, willow, salt cedar, seep willow and other plants that thrive in riparian areas. Animals such as hawks, osprey, peregrine falcons, desert tortoise, beavers, bobcats and javelina live in the area.
In October, County Attorney Andrew Thomas created a partnership of local, county and state agencies to battle the trashing of the riparian refuge. Under his plan, polluters would be prosecuted and other measures would be taken to restore the endangered riparian refuge.
The partnership is creating signs to warn against illegal activities. Helping in the annual cleanup is part of the plan. Tom Matheson of Goodyear has frequented the area for years and has participated in previous Tres Rios cleanups.
This year will be no different. Matheson, who visits the area once or twice a week, wants to see a sustained effort to keep the area clean and free of illegal activities. Off-road vehicles are multiplying the damage, he said. "We need trash barrels that are secured so they aren't moved and stolen, both of which have happened," he said. "The barrels should be secured in place and picked up by Game and Fish on a regular basis."
• For information on the cleanup or to register your group, call Avondale Recreation Services at 623-333-2416, e-mail cunderhill@avondale.org, or go to http://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/ and click on "Tres Rios Cleanup 2010."
• For information on the Tres Rios Nature & Earth Festival March 6-7, go to http://www.tresriosnaturefestival.com/.
• For directions, go to www.tresriosnaturefestival.com/directions.htm. Touted as a wildlife sanctuary, Tres Rios encompasses the confluence of the Salt, Gila and Agua Fria rivers and includes the 200-acre Base and Meridian Wildlife Area. The riparian habitat is near Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/surprise/articles/2010/02/10/20100210swv-avontresrios0210.html
Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :) Candice Boggs
Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.
Search Arizona MLS
Looking for a home in Arizona? SEARCH the same inventory that licensed Arizona Real Estate Agents search...it's easy and it's FREE!!
http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html
We want to represent you when you find a great deal on your new home, right now there are some great deals on lender owned homes, some are fix ups, others are available for very low down payments. We also have rental homes and lease to own homes we can help you find the best option for your family.
Experience you can trust to help you with your new home. Please call or email and get your complete North Phoenix list of Arizona Bank Owned homes.......... in Anthem,Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, Glendale, Arrowhead Ranch, Peoria, Scottsdale, and North Phoenix, and other North Scottsdale and Metro Phoenix areas and cities