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Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction- 2012

Candice & Roger Boggs — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:15:00 GMT

2012 Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction

Date:	Monday, January 16th - Sunday, January 22nd 2012
Hours:	8:00am Auctions Monday - Sunday 5:00pm Twilight Auctions Tuesday - Saturday
Location:	Westworld of Scottsdale Scottsdale, Arizona
General Admission:	Check out the prices by day in the chart below
Buying and Selling:	If you wish to buy or sell at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson, check out the offical Barrett-Jackson Website
More Info:	http://www.barrett-jackson.com

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Party of the Century... Arizona is 100

Candice & Roger Boggs — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:47:00 GMT

Party of the Century

Celebrate! Celebrate!! Celebrate!!!
I'm just getting my chant ready because it's going to be time for merrymaking like we've never seen before in less than nine years. That's when Arizona - America's "Valentine" state - marks her 100th birthday. February 14, 2012, to be exact. It's never too early to start planning.

The long road to statehood took nearly a half-century and was littered with bodies and promises and little white lies and pleas and entreaties and angst. So it's no wonder that the good folks of 1912 put on the best party Arizona had ever seen when President William Taft finally signed the papers of statehood that Wednesday morning, making Arizona the 48th state.

"Arizona will Don the Garb of Statehood," The Arizona Republican newspaper proclaimed in its main story of the day. "Population is small but it possesses the spirit that has made the West." Now, nearly 100 years later, the population is large, but it still possesses the spirit of the West, and so I think it's time we get serious about planning how we're going to celebrate our centennial.
I've been asking friends around the state, and we've come up with some nifty ideas and some lofty dreams. I'm hoping the bug will spread, and everyone will start planning today for Arizona's birthday party in 2012.

But before we get to the partying part - to the grand ideas and ambitious projects and fun events - we need to understand a little about what it is we're celebrating.

In most states, you wouldn't need to do this part because everybody would know the history. But Arizona isn't like most states. It's not only a "new" state, but one in which natives are as rare as a cool day in August. No, most Arizonans these days are transplants, like me, who grew up elsewhere and studied some other state's history in school (IOWA, in my case). So most folks who now call Arizona home don't have a clue about what it took to gain statehood. Many think that Sharlot Hall is just a museum in Prescott.
Well, friend, it's time you took a peek at the wild and wonderful story that brought Arizona into the Union.

Nobody thought much of this desert-to-mountain Arizona Territory that President Abraham Lincoln created on February 24, 1863. Someone said the new Territory was just like Hell - all it needed was water and good society. People here took umbrage (even though the statement was close to the truth), and Arizona spent the next 49 years proving it had water and good society, and a whole lot to add to these United States of America.
President Lincoln appointed territorial officers who could barely find this place on a map, and they realized the wild new land demanded great effort just to survive. They set up the first seat of government at Camp Whipple in Chino Valley.

They were immediately confronted with Arizona's "rough edges." For centuries, this land had been home to native people of many tribes. (Many of the water canals we still use in the Valley were built by the Hohokam, who vanished hundreds of years before white men ever set foot on this land.) Navajos, Hopis, Apaches, Pimas… these people had their own societies and their own traditions, but none of that mattered to the "Manifest Destiny" philosophy of white settlers who saw this as "open land" available for settlement. Clashes between whites and Indians would go on for decades. They were bloody and awful.

Arizona also was known as one of the renegade spots of the Old West, where "law and order" was hard to come by. Gunfights in the streets, unpunished murders, instantaneous hangings, unruly mobs and drunken louts - that was early Arizona.

Some notorious moments will live forever, like the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone in 1881 - perhaps the bloodiest 27 seconds in all of Western history. Then there was the massive search for Geronimo and his "renegade" band that refused to be relegated to a reservation - a full one-third of the entire U.S. Army was sent to the Arizona Territory to capture this 100-person band that included many women and children. (Geronimo eventually surrendered in 1886.)

Notorious names like Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, Pancho Villa, Bat Masterson and Big Nose Kate populate the early days of Arizona history.

But so did Martha Summerhayes and Sharlot Hall and George W.P. Hunt and Carl Hayden, all of whom worked tirelessly to "tame" this wild place.

As the 1800s came to a close, Arizona didn't see being a territory as a badge, but as "bondage." It needed the respectability and power of statehood, and efforts to get that began in earnest in 1888. As historians note, this was a nonpartisan issue, Democrats (who then ran the joint) and Republicans alike agreed on this when they could agree on nothing else.

Ironically, the first stumbling block was this: Republican senators in Washington didn't want another state run by Democrats. And the most powerful senator of them all - Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana, chairman of the crucial Committee on Territories - saw Arizona and New Mexico populated by "unlettered" Mexicans and Indians, "who probably could not speak English and would be poor risks as citizens," according to an Arizona Highways history called "The Road to Statehood."

Senator Beveridge did come for an on-site visit in November 1902, but those who watched the man in action were sure he came looking for ignorance, corruption and sin (and feared he found all three). The Arizona Republican wistfully hoped Beveridge found "a high degree of civilization" in Phoenix, Tucson and Bisbee, but alas, he declared Arizona too sparsely populated, too illiterate and too lawless for statehood. (They laughed out loud in Washington when Arizona countered that someday it would have 200,000 residents - impossible, everyone else agreed.)

If you think we get upset these days about slights, you can imagine how furious those "respectable Arizona citizens" were when Congress dismissed their dreams of statehood. To add insult to injury, Beveridge advanced the idea that maybe Arizona and New Mexico should be submitted as one state - one local pundit quipped that while Beveridge was rejecting one rotten egg, he thought two rotten eggs would make a good omelet. (Oh, those early folks had such a sense of irony.)

In 1906, the idea of "jointure" actually went to a vote: Folks in New Mexico favored it, but Arizona rejected it almost six to one. Into this fray came an unmarried, feisty, determined, talented and independent woman named Sharlot Hall, who made history as the first female to ever hold office in Arizona when she became territorial historian.

Hall was a Prescott girl (transplanted from the Midwest), and her love and respect for Arizona history would not only produce some wonderful books of both prose and poetry, but would help assure Arizona became a state. (And yes, Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott is named in her honor to acknowledge all she did.)
Hall's impassioned writing about the virtues of this state and its massive potential helped sway the day in Washington - a copy of her stories was put on the desk of every lawmaker before a crucial vote that finally allowed Arizona to call a Constitutional Convention toward statehood.

It would be the most progressive constitution in the nation, with voting rights for women, initiatives and referendums for the popular vote on crucial issues, and a recall of judges. The last point wasn't acceptable to the president, and until Arizona removed it, he wouldn't allow us in. (But the year after we became a state, citizens reinserted recall - so there, Washington.)

As the Arizona Highways history notes, Statehood Day was something to behold:
"At 10:23 a.m. Washington time on St. Valentine's Day, motion picture cameras whirred for the first time at an official presidential ceremony. Abruptly, in Phoenix, a telegraph key clattered out the official message from the president: 'I have this morning signed the proclamation declaring Arizona to be a state….'
"A stack of forty-eight sticks of dynamite echoed the people's approval in Bisbee.
"In Globe, a cannon spoke forty-eight times.

"Engineers yanked whistle cords on boilers of locomotives, laundries, factories, mines, creameries and mills.
"In Tucson, the siren at the waterworks wailed, while University of Arizona R.O.T.C. cadets crisply executed close-order drills.

"In Prescott, Whiskey Row raised a toast of firewater and pistol shots, and Arizona-born boys and girls tossed handfuls of earth to nurture a native white oak transplanted on the plaza [still standing to this day]. A parade marched around the Yavapai County Courthouse.

"In Flagstaff, a newsman wrote, 'Now, b'gosh, even the grub tastes better.'"
We're going to have to work hard to make a bigger splash than that.

My friend Jim Bishop wants every one of Arizona's 15 counties to have an official history written in honor of the centennial. And what a varied history that would be. Remember, at statehood, the seat of power wasn't Phoenix or even Maricopa County, but Cochise County in Southeastern Arizona, where Bisbee and Tombstone were major forces. Oh, they have such stories to tell.

Meanwhile, Jim Ballinger, who runs Phoenix Art Museum, says he's already planning a massive display of Arizona art.

If Phil Boas of The Arizona Republic has his way, Arizona will sponsor a massive "expo" that will bring visitors from all over the world.

Marjorie Rice of Wells Fargo Bank wants high school students to gather the oral histories of old-time Arizonans.

Sue Gerard, who advises the governor on health issues, notes that fourth- and eighth-graders in Arizona study state history, and so those grades should be primed for special projects to note the centennial.
Shelly Cohen, who runs the Arizona Arts Commission, sees the centennial as a time to spotlight the great talents of Arizonans. She notes that during the nation's centennial, each state was asked to sponsor a project to reflect the nation's history. Arizona's project is a fabulous mural at the Heard Museum. Cohen notes that "each city should do a project," and said it's important that this not be "imposed" from the capital. "The art project would recognize the diversity of each community," she says.

And let's not forget we've got Pioneer Living History Museum just north of Phoenix, which is a replica of an Old West town - that should be a major part of this birthday. Of course, we still have some actual Old West towns that look like they did in 1912, and the centennial would be a great time for those restoration projects that have been put on the back burner.

Retired lawmaker Jim Skelly would like to see Arizona's media give us all a complete history of Arizona throughout the entire year of 2012, starting in Territorial days and doing in-depth stories about each decade of Arizona's life. Considering that PHOENIX Magazine has produced some terrific perspective issues to commemorate previous birthdays, I'm looking to them to once again shine.

I'd also like to see a Symphony commissioned to honor our birthday, and also a ballet. I think Arizona libraries should spotlight Arizona authors. The Heard Museum, which tells the history of Native Americans every day, should certainly do even more massive projects. And if this isn't a moment made for Arizona's historical societies, nothing is.

I also want to see a copper coin minted for the centennial - and it could be a nice little fund-raiser for some special project that would be a lasting reminder of our 100th birthday. (Not a statue, please, but something "living" that would continue to benefit our state.)

It would also be great to have a medallion or door knocker made of copper - since we're the nation's No. 1 producer - that could be sold to homeowners like me who'd adore having our homes carry an historical adornment.

If Prescott children could plant a tree 100 years ago, how many trees or parks could we create for our birthday?
If we want to be authentic, we won't have a "ball" or a "dance," but a "fandango," which is what they called dances in those days. We'll have giant picnics and ice cream socials and bands in the streets, and parades.
As you can see, once you start thinking, the ideas keep coming. I just realized that in 2012, I'll be what they call a senior citizen. But that's OK. I'll still be up for a great fandango!

http://www.janabommersbach.com/phx-mag-sept03.php

See you in Arizona

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Candice Boggs
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ARMLS residential sales in 2011 - Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:52:00 GMT

We hope the beginning of the New Year is going well. I wanted to start this year out with some VERY interesting statistics from 2011 to begin thinking about 2012.

There were 10,000 more sales in 2011 than 2010.

Total ARMLS residential sales in 2011 were over 100,000. This is only the second time sales hit over 100,000 for a year. The first time and all time record for the number of residential sales was 104,133 in 2005.

Short sales increased seventeen percent in 2011 over 2010. There was less than a one percent difference in lender-owned sales in 2011 compared to 2010.

How were properties purchased? The king was cash. Forty-seven percent of properties purchased in 2011 were cash. Twenty-seven percent were conventional loans, twenty-one percent were FHA guaranteed loans and three percent were VA guaranteed loans.

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com- Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

www.CandiceCares.com

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Desert Ridge in North Phoenix to become bioscience, tech hub

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:51:00 GMT

Desert Ridge area to become bioscience, tech hub

Efforts are under way to develop the Desert Ridge area south of Loop 101 into a bioscience and technology hub, just days after Mayor Greg Stanton announced plans for the Desert Ridge Bioscience Technology Collaborative.

According to Dr. Wyatt Decker, chief executive of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, more concrete plans could take form within six months, although full development of the plan is likely to take much longer.

"We worked with the mayor to develop the concept," Decker said, "and we are pleased with his support for Mayo."

Mayo Hospital is the key medical facility in northeast Phoenix. It occupies 210 acres at 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard, south of Loop 101. It opened in 1998.

Under the Desert Ridge Specific Plan, development in the area between 56th and 64th streets, Loop 101 and the Central Arizona Project canal must be related to or supportive of medical uses, including retail and residential.

Stanton's plan, announced during his inauguration speech on Tuesday, would expand that idea west to Tatum Boulevard. Some non-medical users already are in place in the area, including American Express and Sumco, which manufactures silicon wafers for the microprocessing and computer industries.

Decker said representatives from Mayo, Arizona State University and the Mayor's Office have begun working on the next steps. They want to develop a "clear vision" for the future, while showing "meaningful progress" as soon as they can, Decker said.

He foresees medical startups based on ideas generated at Mayo, ASU or elsewhere.

Maria Baier, who as state land commissioner controls most of the vacant property, said Stanton told her of his idea, but she does not have a lot of detail yet. "I told him I would do everything I can to be supportive," she said. "This idea is quite visionary and positive for the community."

She said there has been plenty of interest in the land throughout the Desert Ridge and Paradise Ridge areas -- large, mostly undeveloped tracts of land along Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix.

"The question is whether we bring it out now or wait for recovery," she said. "You typically would not dispose of property in a down market."

The Arizona State Land Department manages the State Land Trust and controls 9.2million acres after selling or leasing 1.6 million acres. The department is required to "enhance value and optimize economic return" on the land for its beneficiaries, primarily public schools.

"We want the trust to realize the appreciation of value in a better market," Baier said.

She said some of the land in question already has restrictions, including a ban on buildings that would block the view of the Mayo Clinic from the freeway. The department could come to an agreement with the city to determine how the land could be used.

2 Story For Sale in Coppercrest

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:01:00 GMT

• 3,723 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm 2 story - $340,000

Coppercrest, Glendale - CURRENTLY HAVE OFFER, NEED BACKUP OFFER! UPDATED - LARGE TWO STORY 3723 SQ.FT. FAMILY HOME BUILT IN 1996 ON A LARGE LOT (9100 SQ.FT). THIS HOME OFFERS 5 BEDROOMS (2 MASTER BEDROOMS W/ONE DOWNSTAIRS), 3.5 BATHS, 3.5 GARAGE AND BONUS ROOM + LOFT. DECORATIVE STONE TRIM ON FRONT EXTERIOR LARGE COURTYARD FRONT. BALCONY WITH GARDEN DOORS W/PHANTOM SCREEN MTN VIEWS. GREAT ROOM FEELING OPEN TO KITCHEN, RECESSED LIGHTING IN FAMILY ROOM ,GAS FIREPLACE IN FAMILY ROOM WI, 20” TILE ON THE DIAGONAL IN FAMILY ROOM. FORMAL DINING ROOM,LARGE BREAKFAST BAR/EAT IN KITCHEN,GRANIT SLAB COUNTERS EARTH TONES,GAS STOVE TOP,42” MAPLE CABINETS,STONE BACK SPLASH IN KITCHEN.BOTH GAS & ELECTRIC HOOKUPS IN LAUNDRY.

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2012 will mark a turnaround for Scottsdale Real Estate market

Candice & Roger Boggs — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:04:00 GMT

Positive Market Report Sends Housing Stocks Soaring

Good news spread Thursday for home builders, home improvement companies, and mortgage lenders, as stocks ticked up after the National Association of REALTORS® released a new report showing that pending home sales in November reached their highest level in a year-and-a-half.

Pending home sales — a gauge for the future of the market — increased 7.3 percent in November to a reading of 100.1, NAR reported in its index. (A reading of 100 is considered healthy for the real estate market.)

Analysts are predicting that 2012 will mark a turnaround for the real estate market, after years of a drastic slowdown in activity.

Stocks inched up on Thursday for several home builders. For example, Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., saw the biggest rise in shares following Thursday’s report, with shares increasing 9 cents, or nearly 7 percent, to trade at $1.39. Also, homebuilders D.R. Horton Inc. saw shares rise 45 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $12.65; Lennar Corp. added 77 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $19.75; and PulteGroup Inc. gained 28 cents, or 4.8 percent, to $6.24, the Associated Press reported.

Also, mortgage companies also saw an increase to their stocks. For example, Bank of America shares increased 11 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $5.40 on Thursday while Huntington increased 16 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $5.63; and Wells Fargo shares jumped 55 cents, or 2 percent, to $27.66.

Source: “Housing Stocks Up on Pending Sales Report,” Associated Press (Dec. 29, 2011)

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/12/30/positive-market-report-sends-housing-stocks-soaring

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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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602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

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Scottsdale Real Estate Agent supports Holiday mail for "HEROES"

Candice & Roger Boggs — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:56:00 GMT

Holiday mail for "HEROES" was a huge success.... We mailed 1.5 pounds of post cards to the American Red Cross....

The Holiday mail for "HEROES - holiday cards will be delivered to members of the military, veterans and their families who are away from home this holiday season.....

http://goshinkarate.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-mail-for-heroes_22.html

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com- Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

www.CandiceCares.com

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!!

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http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html- Arizona MLS

Free AZ MLS Access, Arizona MLS, AZ MLS, MLS Search, Buyers may search ARMLS on this site without membership through our IDX MLS Services. The Arizona MLS from Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.

Iowa and Oklahoma - headed to Arizona

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:27:00 GMT

Iowa, Oklahoma return to Phoenix area for 2011 Insight Bowl

Hawkeyes beat Missouri 27-24 in last year's Insight Bowl in Tempe

SCOTTSDALE -- The Insight Bowl passed on taking Penn State, instead going with two teams that had been to the desert recently.

Given the Fiesta Bowl's troubles and the scandal at Penn State, taking Oklahoma and Iowa seemed like the safest bet.

"We considered Iowa a great opponent and with what they (Penn State) had been through, this wasn't the best year," said Duane Woods, board chairman for the Fiesta Bowl, which operates the Insight Bowl.

The Fiesta Bowl had a rough year that included financial improprieties, an attempted cover-up and the firing of president John Junker.

Penn State's campus swirled with controversy stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of children by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, which led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno.

Combining one scandal with another wasn't the best idea, so the Insight Bowl became one of five bowls to pass on the Nittany Lions.

The result pits two good teams who'll be playing in the desert for the second straight bowl season.

Iowa (7-5) beat Missouri 27-24 in last year's Insight Bowl for its school-record third straight bowl win.

Oklahoma (9-3) also played in the Valley of the Sun last year, routing Connecticut 48-10 in the Fiesta Bowl.

This year, they'll meet Dec. 30 in Tempe at Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium, hoping to turn around seasons that have fizzled at the end.

"It is hard to finish. It's exciting," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "And the other sidebar, obviously, is Oklahoma has a great tradition, great football team."

Oklahoma opened the season at No. 1 and got off to a great start, winning its first six games, including a rout over Red River rival Texas. The Sooners took a hit with a loss to Texas Tech on Oct. 22 and another three games later by losing a shootout to Baylor.

Despite the letdowns, Oklahoma still had a shot at winning its eighth Big 12 title and earn a BCS bowl berth. Those hopes came crashing down Saturday night, when the Sooners were routed 44-10 by Bedlam rival Oklahoma State.

The BCS hopes gone, Oklahoma is hoping to at least end the season on a good note.

"It'll be important," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, a former Iowa player. "We'll have a lot to get straight. We have a lot to correct. I don't know if bowl practices will be enough to get it done, but we'll see how they respond."

Iowa faded down the stretch last season after being ranked in the top 10 to end up in the Insight Bowl, then had 13 players hospitalized for undisclosed conditions related to an offseason workout, leading to criticism of Ferentz and the program.

The Hawkeyes battled through the adversity and some tough stretches this year to become bowl eligible for the 11th straight season, though two losses in their final three games knocked them down the Big Ten pecking order and into the Insight Bowl for the second straight year.

"We're looking forward to returning there for obvious reasons," Ferentz said. "Very much like last year, we have a tough draw, a great challenge on our hands -- we're playing another great team from the Big 12 Conference."

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com- Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

www.CandiceCares.com

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!!

SEARCH THE ARIZONA MLS - IT'S FREE

Direct link to Find Az Properties

http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html- Arizona MLS

Free AZ MLS Access, Arizona MLS, AZ MLS, MLS Search, Buyers may search ARMLS on this site without membership through our IDX MLS Services. The Arizona MLS from Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.

Scottsdale Holiday Lights - December 2011

Candice & Roger Boggs — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:46:00 GMT

Greater Phoenix Holiday Lights - December 2011

See These Christmas Lights All Month Long

There are hundreds of holiday celebrations in the Phoenix, AZ area that last for one or two days, but these Phoenix area holiday light displays can be enjoyed throughout the month of December, and sometimes even into January.

You could celebrate every day of the holiday season and never get to all the festivities!

Arizona Celebration of Lights

Saturday, November 19 through Sunday, January 1, 2012. Includes more than 7,000,000 lights and 300 animated and still displays. You stay in your car and drive through it. The organizers boast that it is Arizona's largest display of holiday lights. They anticipate that during this holiday season, about 15,000 cars will pass through the display. Here is a map.
See photos of the Arizona Celebration of Lights.

Glendale Glitters

November 25 through January 14, 2012 from 6 to 10 p.m. Historic Downtown Glendale comes to life each holiday season with about 1.5 million multi-colored twinkling holiday lights located throughout a twelve-block area that includes the Old Towne and Catlin Court Districts. There is no cost to walk or drive around the area. Downtown Glendale.
See pictures of Glendale Glitters.

Las Noches de las Luminarias

December 1 through 30, 2011. Each year during the holiday season the Desert Botanical Garden lines the paths of this extraordinary desert garden with thousands of luminarias. Food and beverage are available, live entertainment. A quiet, charming, romantic event, not necessarily for the kids. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. This is a ticketed event, advance reservations suggested. See a picture gallery of Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights

Friday, December 9 through Friday, December 30, 2011. (Closed December 24 and 25) Take a train ride through many festive holiday lights and displays turning the Railroad Park into a winter wonderland. Train and carousel rides are $2 each with children under three riding free with a paying adult. 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Photos

Thursday, November 24 through Saturday, December 31, 2011. The annual Mesa Temple Garden Christmas Lights display conveys peace and goodwill of the season with a unique and spectacular exhibit of hundreds of thousands of colorful lights. Free admission, free parking. Mesa.
See pictures of the Mesa Arizona Temple Gardens Christmas Lights

ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo

Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, January 8, 2012. Each year the Phoenix Zoo puts up an amazing holiday display of lights. The event is called ZooLights. Because ZooLights happens in the evening, don't expect to see many live animals. This event is about holiday lights, music and lighted animal sculptures. There is an admission charge.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/holidayevents/tp/Phoenix-Holiday-Lights.htm

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com- Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
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Phoenix foreclosures

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:50:00 GMT

Phoenix foreclosures at lowest percentage of market since spring '09

Foreclosures, as a percentage of the Phoenix metro housing market, reached their lowest level since April 2009, according to a report from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Foreclosures made up 26% of the existing-home transactions in the Greater Phoenix market in October, down from 29% in September, according to the report, released Monday. Foreclosures made up 43% of the area’s single-family existing-home transactions in January, according to the report.

"Though the local housing market is beginning to produce some positive movement, the surrounding economic environment and anemic growth are still inhibiting consumer confidence," said Business Professor Emeritus Jay Butler. "Just because we’re seeing a drop in foreclosures, that doesn’t mean we have a healthy housing market. Other types of activity and purchases are not increasing, in order to push us forward."

Butler also noted that the numbers only look at recorded foreclosures. “Many more foreclosures may be lingering in the pipeline just because more paperwork and rules are being followed in the process now,” he said.

October marked the lowest number of completed foreclosures in quite a while. The market had 1,900 completed foreclosures in October, down from almost 2,300 in September. There were almost 3,400 completed foreclosures in October 2010. The last time the number of completed foreclosures dipped below 2,000 in a single month was back in February 2008.

Overall activity in the Phoenix-area housing market is also down. The market had slightly more than 7,200 transactions in October, down from almost 8,000 transactions in September. That’s partly due to the season as housing sales tend to slow down during the fall and winter months.

The median price for a single-family home resold (not new foreclosures) in the Phoenix market in October was $125,000, down from last October’s median of $135,000.

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Price Reduced on 1199-1021 S Greenfield Rd in Greenfield Glen

Candice & Roger Boggs — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:48:00 GMT

Greenfield Glen, Mesa - Announcing a price reduction on 1199-1021 S Greenfield Rd, a 1,104 sq. ft., 2 bath, 2 bdrm single story. Now MLS® $119,500 - .

Property information

Arizona home buyers --- face complicated hunt!

Candice & Roger Boggs — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:56:00 GMT

Arizona home buyers face complicated hunt

Those fortunate enough to be eligible buyers during the first eight months of 2010 often faced a long, frustrating house hunt that left them feeling less like the hunters and more like the prey.

The home-buying process has gotten so complicated that even the most experienced real-estate agents have been forced to seek additional training and expert advice, said Candice Boggs - Top Agent for Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.

Mrs. Boggs’ said the extensive documentation prospective buyers must provide to qualify for a home loan dwarfs anything boom-era lenders had required.

On top of having to meet strict financial requirements, house hunters in 2010 must be willing to make sacrifices in the process.

• New homes generally cost the most and take a few months to build, but they offer total customization, a helpful seller and little to no buyer competition.

• Investor-owned homes generally come with cosmetic repairs already completed, and investors frequently offer the most flexible financing options. But buyers still need to be wary of possible wear or damage underneath the fresh paint and carpeting. And in some cases, buying from an investor can trigger more stringent creditworthiness requirements.

• Short sales promise bargain prices, and in many cases the homes are in excellent condition. However, they involve lots of extra paperwork and a negotiation process that can take months with no guarantees that the sale will go through.

• Bank-owned homes generally cost the least - a savvy buyer can wind up paying a small fraction of the home's previous market price. Still, they come "as is," which frequently means they are completely trashed, the seller is often slow-moving and unresponsive, and intense competition from cash-paying investors can push traditional buyers repeatedly to the back of the line.

Four recent homebuyers, each of whom made a choice different from the others, demonstrate how the buyer's financial and life circumstances often dictate the home they buy.

New home

As a working single mother of three about to send her youngest off to college, recent new-home buyer Kim Parsons said she was more than happy to pay a little more for a new home that was easy to buy and came with a warranty.

"I am looking at (paying for) college and tuition next year and I didn't want any unexpected costs," said Parsons, who said she was finally in a position to buy after renting her whole adult life.

Parsons chose to buy a four-bedroom home in west Phoenix from Los Angeles-based KB Home after a fruitless, six-month effort to buy a bank-owned home, an experience Parsons described as dehumanizing.

"It was pretty much the worst experience of my life," she said.

Parsons said the process of buying a new home was not entirely stress-free - there was a moment of uncertainty when the home's appraisal came in lower than the agreed-upon price.

However, Parsons said they reached a compromise - a small price to pay for feeling human again.

"It was what I expected the first time," she said.

Short sale

Once their hearts were set on living in upscale, family-oriented Ahwatukee Foothills, a suburban area of Phoenix, the McGrews' options immediately became limited.

Mike McGrew, who recently completed a stint in the U.S. Army and now works for a defense contractor, said there were few new homes for sale in the community, and many existing homes on the market were listed by unmotivated sellers who had not yet accepted that their homes were no longer worth 2007 prices.

All signs seemed to be pointing Mike and Shea McGrew toward a short sale.

They recently moved into a beautiful home - vacated weeks earlier by its formerly upside-down owner - in a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood.

But finding the short-sale home and closing the deal took the McGrews a full year.

While they are happy with the new home, both acknowledged the presence of a few nagging frustrations.

For one, they will have to pay for repairs on their new home, which is usually the seller's job.

The McGrews know firsthand, because they just paid for repairs on the home they sold in Kansas, where Mike was stationed.

Perhaps even more frustrating was watching the backyard die and the pool go green while they were waiting for the short-sale paperwork to go through.

"I snuck in a couple of times to water the plants," Mike said.

Fix and flip

Amanda Sanders is another casualty of the battle for a bank-owned home, which she said cash-paying investors clearly won a long time ago.

After nearly a year in which one offer after another was rejected in favor of an investor's cash bid, Sanders and her fiance, Blake Barganski, decided a conditional surrender was the way to go.

The couple decided they would try one last offer, this time on a home near Queen Creek that had been purchased and renovated by a large real-estate investment firm.

"It was either we get the next house, or we live in an apartment for the rest of our lives," Sanders said.

Thankfully, the former enemy turned out to be benevolent, once Sanders and Barganski had accepted their fate as retail buyers on the foreclosure food chain.

The seller, Aliya Investments, is a large real estate-investment firm based in Phoenix that sold more than $12 million worth of Phoenix-area homes during the past year, according to Linda Vejnoska, company spokeswoman.

Sanders said buying from an investment firm was actually a good experience, especially compared with competing against one.

"When my Realtor called his Realtor, they actually called back the same day," she said.

The couple said they liked the Pinal County home, which looked like new and didn't require any fixing up.

The only snag, a minor one, was that Sanders had to clean up a few outstanding credit issues because even though she had been approved for a Federal Housing Administration-backed mortgage, the lender's credit-score requirements jumped 40 points when it learned she would be buying from a fix-and-flip investor.

Fix and flip, Part 2

Ken Burck Enterprises is another real-estate investment company currently buying and flipping bank-owned homes.

OK, one home.

But Scottsdale-based investor Ken Burck, a chiropractor, and his wife, Roseanne, who does the books, also have nearly a dozen rental properties and say they have learned enough about how the game works to earn a tidy profit.

The Burcks have enough money socked into their side business that they can buy modestly priced homes with cash, fix them up and then sell or rent them, depending on the demand.

Still, Burck recognizes there are pitfalls even seasoned veterans could fall into.

For instance, Burck learned by attending a seminar that the smart investor looks for homes that need cosmetic work but nothing structural, which would be very expensive to fix.

Even with enough cash flow to keep buying and fixing homes, Burck is limited by his busy schedule and the fact that he does most of the renovation and landscaping work himself.

But staying small is also his strength. Burck recently bought a bank-owned home in north Phoenix for $56,000 - a no-hassle transaction in which he paid cash.

After putting an estimated $15,000 into renovation and landscaping, Burck said he planned to list the home for $94,000, sell it, and then start again.

Burck says, at the rate he's going, he isn't too worried about reports of a bank moratorium on foreclosed-home sales.

"There are so many vacant homes out there already," he said.

See you in Arizona

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Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :)

Candice Boggs
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602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

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Search Arizona MLS

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Down Payment Remains Obstacle to Home Ownership

Candice & Roger Boggs — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:17:00 GMT

Wedding Registries for Home Downpayments?

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Forget the toasters and champagne flutes: More engaged couples are doing a different type of wedding registry that allows them to collect cash for a down payment on a home, according to a recent article in The Washington Times.

Dana Ostomel, founder of Deposit a Gift in New York City, says that about 15 percent of their registries are to raise down-payment funds for a home and another 15 percent are for home-improvement funds to pay for upgrades like a new roof or furniture.

"Given that 75 percent of today's engaged couples already live together and are older, very often they are already established with the household basics that you find on a traditional registry," Ostomel said. "What they want is the gift of big-ticket items and longer term goals, like the gift of home ownership.”

The FHA permits gifts from a wedding to be used as a down payment, but lenders are required to document that the funds are gifts. About 27 percent of first-time home buyers use gift money from relatives and friends for a down payment, according to a 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/10/25/wedding-registries-for-home-downpayments

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/20/registries-raise-cash-gifts-avoid-etiquette-no-no/

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com- the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com- Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

www.CandiceCares.com

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!!

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Scottsdale - Mortgage Relief

Candice & Roger Boggs — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:24:00 GMT

Obama Offers Mortgage Relief On Western Trip

Obama To Promote New Steps To Help Housing Woes - According to an administration official, Obama's housing initiative will help homeowners with little or no equity in their homes refinance by cutting the cost of doing so and removing caps for deeply underwater borrowers. The new rules apply to homeowners with federally guaranteed mortgages who are current on their payments. With the president's jobs bill struggling in Congress, the White House is refocusing its efforts on steps Obama can take to address the nation's economic woes without getting lawmakers' approval.

President Barack Obama offered mortgage relief on Monday to hundreds of thousands of Americans, his latest attempt to ease the economic and political fallout of a housing crisis that has bedeviled him as he seeks a second term.

"I'm here to say that we can't wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job," the president declared outside a family home in Las Vegas, the epicenter of foreclosures and joblessness. "Where they won't act, I will."

Making a case for his policies and a new effort to circumvent roadblocks put up by Republican lawmakers, Obama also laid out a theme for his re-election, saying that there's "no excuse for all the games and the gridlock that we've been seeing in Washington."

"People out here don't have a lot of time or a lot of patience for some of that nonsense that's been going on in Washington," he said.

The new rules for federally guaranteed loans represent a recognition that measures the administration has taken so far on housing have not worked as well as expected.

His jobs bill struggling in Congress, Obama tried a new catchphrase — "We can't wait" — to highlight his administrative initiatives and to shift blame to congressional Republicans for lack of action to boost employment and stimulate an economic recovery.

Later in the week, Obama plans to announce measures to make it easier for college graduates to pay back federal loans. Such executive action allows Obama to address economic ills and other domestic challenges in spite of Republican opposition to most of his proposals.

While Obama has proposed prodding the economy with payroll tax cuts and increased spending on public works and aid to states, he has yet to offer a wholesale overhaul of the nation's housing programs. Economists point to the burst housing bubble as the main culprit behind the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile, the combination of unemployment, depressed wages and mortgages that exceed house values has continued to put a strain on the economy.

While the White House tried to avoid predicting how many homeowners would benefit from the revamped refinancing program, the Federal Housing Finance Agency estimated an additional 1 million people would qualify. Moody's Analytics say the figure could be as high as 1.6 million.

Under Obama's proposal, homeowners who are still current on their mortgages would be able to refinance no matter how much their home value has dropped below what they still owe.

"Now, over the past two years, we've already taken some steps to help folks refinance their mortgages," Obama said, listing a series of measures. "But we can do more."

At the same time, Obama acknowledged that his latest proposal will not do all that's not needed to get the housing market back on its feet. "Given the magnitude of the housing bubble, and the huge inventory of unsold homes in places like Nevada, it will take time to solve these challenges," he said.

In spelling out the plan to homeowners in a diverse, working-class Las Vegas neighborhood, Obama chose a state that provides the starkest example of the toll the housing crisis has exacted from Americans. One in every 118 homes in the state of Nevada received a foreclosure notice in September, the highest ratio in the country, according to the foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac.

Obama visited the home of Jose and Lissette Bonilla, two grocery store workers whose house was refurbished under a program paid for by the original 2009 economic stimulus plan. The program was designed to stabilize communities hit by foreclosures or abandonment. Lissette Bonilla said she told the president that without his stimulus plan, the five members of her family would still be living in a one-bedroom apartment.

Presidential spokesman Jay Carney criticized Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for proposing last week while in Las Vegas that the government not interfere with foreclosures. "Don't try to stop the foreclosure process," Romney told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Let it run its course and hit the bottom."

"That is not a solution," Carney told reporters on Air Force One. He said Romney would tell homeowners, "'You're on your own, tough luck.'"

The president also was using his visit to Las Vegas to promote a $15 billion neighborhood revitalization plan contained in his current jobs proposal that would help redevelop abandoned and foreclosed properties and stabilize affected neighborhoods.

The Nevada stop was the first leg of a three-day tour of Western states, blending his pitch for boosting the economy with an aggressive hunt for campaign cash.

From Nevada, Obama will head for the glamor of Hollywood and the homes of movie stars Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas and producer James Lassiter for some high-dollar fundraising. On Tuesday, he will tape an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. He will also raise money in San Francisco and in Denver.

Before the president addressed his mortgage refinancing plan, he attended a fundraiser at the luxurious Bellagio hotel, offering a sharp contrast between well-to-do who are fueling his campaign and the struggling homeowners hoping to benefit from his policies.

The mortgage assistance plan by the Federal Housing Finance Agency will help borrowers with little or no equity in their homes, many of whom are stuck with 6 or 7 percent mortgage rates, to seek refinancing and take advantage of lower rates. The FHFA plans to remove caps that had allowed homeowners to refinance only if they owed up to 25 percent more than their homes are worth.

The refinancing program is being extended until the end of 2013. It was originally scheduled to end in June 2012.

The administration's incremental steps to help homeowners have prompted even the president's allies to demand more aggressive action.

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a moderate Democrat from California, gave voice to Democratic frustration on the housing front last week when he announced his decision not to seek re-election, blaming the Obama administration directly for not addressing the crisis.

"I am dismayed by the administration's failure to understand and effectively address the current housing foreclosure crisis," Cardoza said in a statement that drew widespread attention. "Home foreclosures are destroying communities and crushing our economy, and the administration's inaction is infuriating."

Obama's new "We can't wait" slogan is his latest in a string of stump-speech refrains he hopes will pressure Republicans who oppose his $447 billion jobs package. He initially exhorted Congress to "Pass this bill!" then demanded "I want it back," all in the face of unanimous Republican opposition in the Senate, though even some Democrats were unhappy with the plan.

Obama has now agreed to break the proposal into its component parts and seek congressional approval one measure at a time. The overall proposal would increase taxes on millionaires, lower payroll taxes on workers and businesses for a year, pay for bridge, road and school construction projects, and help states and local governments retain teachers and emergency workers.

The proposals with the best chance of passage are the payroll tax cuts and extensions in jobless insurance to the long-term unemployed.

Countering Obama's criticism, GOP leaders say the sluggish economy and stubbornly high unemployment rate are the result of failed Obama administration policies.

"It's another day in the campaign life of President Obama, and he's bringing his re-election tour to Nevada, ground zero for the damaging effects of his failed economic policies," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Monday.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141648275

See you in Arizona

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Need help or can't find the house you're looking for? Call me...I'll be happy to help :)

Candice Boggs
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602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

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Search Arizona MLS

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Relocation Guide Scottsdale Arizona

Candice & Roger Boggs — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:55:00 GMT

Relocation Guide - Phoenix Overview

Thanksgiving dinner on the patio, New Year's hikes up South Mountain. Two thriving downtowns and another awakening. More manageable mortgages and mountain views.

Phoenix-area residents tote thick brag books on their hometown, adopted as it may be. And they're not just filled with sunny skies and sparkling swimming pools.

Where weather was long the area's main appeal- and remains a big seller - the attraction has broadened.

There is a lifestyle for virtually everyone but diehard New Yorkers and their big-city brethren.

Like sports? Phoenix fields a team in every major professional sport- you might spot Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson at the Paradise Valley Blimpies, chatting with former D-back fan favorite Luis Gonzalez. There is also a rich college rivalry in Arizona State University vs. the University of Arizona and several national sporting events including the Fiesta Bowl, FBR Open and two NASCAR races.

Outdoor enthusiasts have a ring of mountains to choose from, not to mention the incomparable Grand Canyon a few hours away.

** DIRECT LINK – Arizona Homes Buyer Guide: http://www.findazproperties.com/HomesAuthenticated.aspx?tabid=743835

Sarah moved here from Cedar Rapids Iowa with her family in the summer of 2009 and was instantly wowed by the breadth of outdoor activities. The mother of three school-age children hikes three or four times a week.

"The hiking is just awesome," she said.

The area's upscale restaurants rival those in culinary hotspots, and there are chains galore for families and the budget minded.

You can order the country's best gourmet pizza or Mexican food that has seared the mouths of presidents, sip high tea or a $10,000 margarita.

Many chain restaurants and stores have their highest-volume restaurants in the Phoenix area, guaranteeing a first look at the latest trends. Chinese food favorite P.F. Chang's started here and has spawned other Asian-food offshoots.

There's an unparalleled collection of upscale resorts, which locals flock to in the summer when rates drop by more than half (and temperatures climb).

There are theaters and concert venues in every pocket of the region and the world-class Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum.

On the job front, no metropolitan area can match Greater Phoenix's job growth. Real-estate and service jobs reign supreme, but efforts to diversify have drawn a promising new cluster of biotech companies and research.

Housing prices aren't the bargain they were just a few years ago, but the area remains relatively affordable. The median house price in Greater Phoenix is $122,900. That is above the overall U.S. median price of $172,600 but far below San Diego at $350,400, Los Angeles at $390,300, Miami at $140,800 Las Vegas at $117,100 and on par with Denver's $197,900.

The landscape is ever evolving. Living here is like watching a work in progress. The Phoenix of today is nothing like that which greeted newcomers even a decade ago.

Where else can you watch a city that is already the nation's fifth-largest unfold in front of you? Downtown Phoenix is in the midst of a long-hoped-for renaissance, with a $1.4 billion light-rail project, sprawling new convention center and hotels, the relocation of key Arizona State University programs and proposals for a teaching hospital.

Newcomers will hardly feel alone. Metropolitan Phoenix gets 100,000 of them every year, more than double the national average. Sports bars stake claims as the headquarters of teams from back home, and "Where are you from?" is as common as "Where do you live?"

Homesickness is not likely because friends and family are within easy reach.

DIRECT LINK – Arizona Homes Relocation Guide: http://www.findazproperties.com/HomesAuthenticated.aspx?tabid=17101

US Airways and Southwest Airlines each offer more than 200 daily flights, providing non-stop service to cities around the country and in Mexico and Canada. They shuttle visitors here and residents back home.

Those new to the West will find an exciting lineup of vacation spots. Mexican beaches are just a four-hour drive away, while San Diego and other Southern California favorites are a one-hour flight or five- or six-hour drive.

There are hourly flights to Las Vegas every day of the week and San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and are all doable in a weekend.

You don't have to leave the state to get away, of course. Arizona boasts dramatic geographical diversity. Tourism folks like to brag about being able to ski in the morning (in Flagstaff or the White Mountains) and swim in the afternoon. Sedona, Jerome, Prescott and Tucson, each with their own appeal, are easy day trips.

Sarah said the diversity was among her biggest surprises about Arizona.

"It isn't just desert," she said. "It's amazing how you can get to whatever you want to quickly. You can feel like you're in Colorado in an hour. You can go skiing, you can go fishing."

See you in Arizona

www.FindAZProperties.com - the Home of FREE Arizona MLS

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.

www.FindAzProperties.com - Search Arizona MLS - FREE

www.FindTheValueNow.com
602-677-9867 or Toll Free 1-888-926-7827

www.CandiceCares.com

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!!

SEARCH THE ARIZONA MLS - IT'S FREE

Direct link to Find Az Properties

http://www.findazproperties.com/Arizona_MLS/page_782828.html- Arizona MLS

Let me know what you think.

Free AZ MLS Access, Arizona MLS, AZ MLS, MLS Search, Buyers may search ARMLS on this site without membership through our IDX MLS Services. The Arizona MLS from Arizona Homes Realty, LLC.