This Nandina fall-winter bush provides all season color. But it shines in the fall and winter months. During spring, little white flowers sprout. The berries will start to form at the top and cluster downward. Many of the clusters will look like vineyard grape clusters as they mature. When spring turns to summer, the leaves will be a healthy green and some will be variegated.
Everything depends on how much sunlight your Nandinas get. If possible take into consideration the winter shadows and plant in areas that get a minimum of shade. As the summer turns to fall and temperatures drop the leaves will start to turn. If your area gets below freezing the leaves will be more red if the plant is in full sunlight.
In Sedona, we get temperatures that can dip below freezing right before sunrise and then hover in a sweater temperature zone (high 50ºs – mid 60ºs) during the day. This produces a variety of coloration on the leaves.
For those of you that may be thinking of selling your home. This shrub adds a lot of curb appeal and is perfect for the winter months.
Visit your favorite garden website in your neck of the woods to learn more about this colorful winter plant. Different types of Nandina.
Hosting Free Thanksgiving Dinner to Sedona Community
One of Sedona’s busiest breakfast/lunch eateries, famous for their 101 omelettes continues with it’s Coffeepot Thanksgiving community tradition of serving a FREE authentic Thanksgiving Day dinner to the Sedona community on Wednesday November 25th starting at 3 PM. Residents from all Sedona neighborhoods participate every year excited to enjoy this wonderful meal hosted by Emile Daher, his family and long time employees.
Some of the employees have been with the restaurant since Emile took it over. They bring their children with them to partake in this feast and teach them the meaning of volunteerism. There is quiet satisfaction when you give of yourself to serve your fellow human being. Emile is hoping to serve 600 meals this year! The community will start lining up around 2 PM in front of Coffeepot. Andre, Emile’s son, said that he could have 100 volunteers standing around if he accepted everyone’s offer to help. The employees volunteer their time to prepare and serve this generous meal to the community.
Andre has stated, “this is just our small way of giving back to a community that has given so much to us”.
This has been a tradition as long as we have been residents in Sedona. The Coffeepot Restuarant was named for the famous rock you see in the picture which looks like an old percolating coffeepot that was used on cookouts and stovetops. Tourists and residents alike visit this popular restaurant because of the variety of breakfast and lunch items, and well of course the food and service is so good!
As you enter the restaurant, the wall on the left side is filled with signed pictures of many of Hollywood’s elite stars. Many celebrities enjoy a scrumptious meal and take a picture with Emile!
Coffeepot Restaurant has been a distinct community landmark from the 1950’s on. I have enjoyed many of the 101 famous omelletes as well as the genuine Mexican food that is served here. OK! I have even tasted a buckwheat waffle or two!
I highly recommend Coffeepot having a meal there. When the weather is pleasant, you can even enjoy a meal in their private terrace and garden area. There is nothing better. The service staff is friendly and you can’t have better hosts than Emile and Andre. Happy Thanksgiving from Sedona Arizona!
If you happen to come down with red rock fever, I am always here to help find a real estate solution tailored specifically for your needs. Learn more about me at sherisperry.realtor.
In the Sedona real estate and home market just like most other places in the United States, buyers and sellers alike are concerned about interest rate hikes. The Feds have been pretty indecisive about moving interest rates up, but the down-low is that they plan to make the move upwards in December.
No matter where you are in the market, whether you’re buying or selling, or just saving up a downpayment, interest rates can inversely affect your transactions.
Here are some ways to prepare for a potential rate hike:
Buyers
Get Pre-Approved – If you’re in the market for a home now, DO NOT HESITATE … get pre-approved by your lender. Different from “Pre-Qualified” (which just means that you have the potential to be approved if there are no hidden skeletons in your credit closed), a pre-approval means that a lender has investigated your background and credit history and is willing to loan you money. At the end of the pre-approval process, the lender will give you a Pre-Approval Letter indicating the amount they are willing to loan you and the most likely interest rate in current conditions.
What this does for you – Having a pre-approval letter means that you know what price home you can afford. It allows you to shop for homes at that price or lower. It also gives you bargaining power with an anxious seller. He may be willing to reduce his price for a sure thing rather than wait for a better offer and miss his chance.
When you have a pre-approval letter, your real estate agent knows you are serious about buying now and might be able to negotiate some extras for you in the transaction, too.
If you wait for interest rates to go up, you may have to settle for less house for the same payments.
Sellers
Require Pre-Approval to Accept an Offer – After you go through all the effort to negotiate and meet the requests and demands of the buyer, you don’t want the transaction to fall through just because the buyer couldn’t get financing. Many real estate professionals will advise you not to accept an offer, or even entertain one, without a pre-approval. The challenge for sellers is that once you accept an offer, you can’t reject it in favor of a better offer that might come along. It just makes sense to protect yourself from offers falling through from lack of funding.
Not Great for Current Sales– Prepare yourself for the rate hike by knowing how much you can adjust your asking price to compensate for a higher rate. Discuss these variables with your real estate professional and have a plan of action in place.
Terrific for Future Sales – If you plan to sell your home in the future, the rate increases will be in your favor because home prices will begin to rise and you can ask more for your property than you can today. The Feds resist raising rates until they think the overall economy is improving.
Savers
Good News – Higher interest rates are good news for savers because over time the compounded interest will give you more money for that down-payment. Just make sure to keep investing in your savings plan because rate hikes typically signify that prices in all areas of the economy will rise, so you’ll need a bigger downpayment for the same house.
If you need advice on buying, selling or saving for a home, I can assist you in that area. I am YOUR Solutions Realtor® and will help you navigate through all your Sedona real estate needs.
These are great examples of why you should not be present when a buyer is touring your home. Sellers, I encourage you to read this.
When buying my present home, there were two available on the same street. We toured both and had our hearts set on the one we eventually purchased. But the seller who stuck around in the other house actually told us that she would drop the price $10,000 if we bought it.
I don’t think she realized that her admission gave more power to our negotiation on the other home. After all, we could always fall back to put a bid on her home if we were unsuccessful in our negotiations. So, she unwittingly hurt her position and also the position of the seller of the home we eventually purchased.
Original Article Below…. by Jenna Dixon posted on ActiveRain
Anything You Say …Please, Stop Talking!
Listing agents have long pleaded with sellers to vacate the premises during showings.
Agents have agreed to accompany all showings in an effort to placate their seller clients, agents have purchased expensive electronic key boxes and subscribed to monthly access services to open said key boxes, they pay fees to showing services so the seller does not talk to buyer agents directly…and still sellers do not understand WHY THEIR AGENTS DO THESE THINGS.
The answer is fairly simple, AS YOUR LISTING AGENT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO TALK TO POTENTIAL BUYERS AND THEIR AGENTS.
And here’s why, you could, potentially and unknowingly compromise your negotiating position by revealing important details to the buyer or their agent.
“Details? Like what?”, you may ask!
For instance, if you have already purchased or are under contract to purchase a new home that is contingent on the sale of your current residence, revealing that you are under this, or any other kind of deadline, could tell the buyer’s agent that you are ripe for a low ball offer. (You can insert pending job transfer, upcoming layoffs, serious illness, mounting debt or any other number of financial disasters.)
Or, perhaps you are faced with the question, “What’s your bottom line?” Oh yes, if given the chance many potential buyers and/or their agents will fire this little gem off just to see how you react. Attempts to begin negotiations directly with the seller are common.
Maybe you feel like you are being helpful and showing the home yourself to point out important features, like the large deck. Are you ready for the criticism of that jiggly handrail or the loose foot boards? Will you, just off the cuff, agree to fix it?
Congratulations, you may have just set yourself up to be asked to replace the entire deck, simply by acknowledging that there is a potential issue with the deck.
Even something seemingly positive can hurt you when it comes to negotiating. In chatting with the potential buyer you discover a shared acquaintance or common interest, or maybe they reveal some crisis in their own lives that plays upon your sympathies.
Will you be inclined to sell them your home for less than you would have if you had not known these personal details about them? The ever popular “buyer’s letter to the seller” gained momentum in real estate simply for this reason
ORIGINAL CONTENT BY JENNA DIXON GA BROKERS LICENSE# 277342
Arizona Monsoon Officially Ended on September 30th
Why is it a big deal?
Center Formation – Bell Rock
In other parts of the world, monsoon season is a time of devastating rain conditions and it may not be the most popular season but here in Arizona, we get much needed rainfall. It is true that in central (Phoenix area) and southern Arizona (Tucson) high winds and dust storms (haboobs) can preceed a rain event and cause damage which can be devastating and deadly. During microbursts, the heavy rain can also cause flash flooding and loosen the soil which causes trees to topple as well as power outages. It is not a time to be outside or driving around especially near washes, creeks and low lying areas. On ocassion lightning can strike a palm tree and catch it on fire! Arizona gets a million lightning strikes a year with most of the strikes coming during monsoon.
Here in Sedona, we got 7.33 inches of rain during the 2015 monsoon season. That is almost half the rainfall for the entire year. So you can see, monsoon is a big deal. With drought conditions over most of the western states, we have been fortunate to get rain. Our rain has been spread out allowing the earth to soak it in. We are already 2 inches above last year’s total rainfall with 3 months to go. We could potentially record the most yearly rainfall in the past 6 years.
Here is an example of a short microburst in our courtyard!
As for the summer heat…..
I get asked all the time from concerned buyers about the Arizona heat in the summertime. Most people outside of Arizona, think of the entire state as a desert. It is not! Northern Arizona is very different than Central and Southern Arizona. Sedona has pine trees and junipers and sits around 4500 feet. Sedona gets mild but noticible season changes. Flagstaff sits at 7000+ feet. The climate zone is different going from Phoenix to Sedona. Flagstaff also is in a different climate zone as well.
Deceiving Differences in Temperatures
Quick disclaimer: I am not bashing Phoenix – see my opinion in the closing.
Sedona and Phoenix summertime temps during the day are only 10º – 15º difference. This doesn’t seem like much until you compare the entire day.
I did a comparison of temps at 90º and above during a heat spell a couple of days ago. Phoenix was 102º and Sedona was 92º.
Here is the difference – Sedona was at 90º and above for 98 minutes the entire day with temps dropping into the 50ºs at night. On the other hand, Phoenix was at 90º and above for 11 hours. Temperature at night only dropped to 72º. There was a heat spell during the summer for at least 3 days the temps did not dip below 90º in some areas. One weather station reported 10 days in August above 90º for a low near Phoenix International Airport.
You might ask, how can those residents deal with that heat? They deal with the heat the same way folks deal with the cold and the snow. You change your seasonal outdoor habits enjoying the pleasent temps in the morning and evenings while staying inside during the day. They enjoy their pools and go to air conditioned malls and theaters. As long as your air conditioner is working, your OK.
In my opinion, I prefer the heat to the cold. I would much rather be able to enjoy the outdoors year round. Arizona is a mecca for outdoor activities and it is absolutely worth changing your habits if you like outdoor activities. let’s face it! Not everybody enjoys the heat. We have seasonal residents (snow birds) who come here after the heat subsides. Personally, I enjoy driving down to Phoenix for short stays during the summer months. We shop, enjoy the resort pools and get great deals because it is off season.
However, after decades of living is Southern California with only 2 seasons, Summer and almost summer, I wanted to be able to enjoy a mild climate that offered 4 seasons. This year has been really great so far, really mild winter and a Spring that started in late February and lasted through late June!
Arizona has many climate zones and offers something for every person. Another misconception is that there is no water here. We have lakes, rivers, creeks and streams all over the state. If you haven’t been here to visit. Now is the time!
For those who want to know more about the Sedona weather, we have a weather station right in our backyard. There is more information about monsoon, Hi and low temps from 2011 and yearly seasonal short weather summaries from 2013 to 2015. You can go back to any date period to see what the weather history and there are slides that show a quick picture for the last 6 years.
As you read this please remember that as a Sedona real estate agent, I love doing this job. Both myself and my husband live real estate every day. We incorporate our love of real estate into our dalily activities so that it does not feel like work. Of course, as with any other occupation, you have your days! Take stock in what Sarah D’Hondt writes about being a real estate agent, because it is dead on. The author, just touches the surface on marketing tools such as the website… Fortunately for me, my husband loves working on the website, but he spends hours and hours on marketing, photography and website design and SEO along with staying on top of blogging and social media! If you think it is “easy money” and glamorous … As they say in NY – fug-ged-aboud-it!
I usually tell someone who asks me that it takes X amount of dollars to get started and they better have a rainy day fund to get them through the first couple of years and lean times. However, in the future I will point an interested party to this article so they can get a good picture of what is at stake! If nothing else, you will walk away with a much deeper appreciation for what I do for you. Believe me, I do enjoy what I do for my customers. Click on the link below
When you wake up and can’t wait to get out of bed on a Monday morning, you know you are going to have a good week. But Why? Well monsoon of course! The cloud formations especially in the early morning and late evening are absolutely amazing. As you look at the sky… you realize that it is good to be alive and you can’t wait to make a difference out there!
Cardinal sitting on tree limb – Thunder Mountain in background…during Monsoon
Sedona offers the best of all seasons. It doesn’t matter what season it is. You will enjoy the weather, the cloud formations and the overall climate that brings so many tourists during all our seasons. Clouds add dramatic background to any image.
Ithought I would showcase Monsoon. Contrary to popular belief, the temperatures and humidity do not get into the unbearable stage. We have cool nights. Nights where you can open the windows and no need for the air condition. The humidity is not like other areas in the country where you walk out of the house and gasp for a breath. You don’t even notice it. Monsoon provides average air moisture so you don’t notice any humidity.
The Sedona Real Estate market is finally teetering on a seller’s negotiation advantage, but as I stated in my blog, “Sedona Real Estate Advantage Goes To Seller“, don’t underestimate the negotiation power of either side when it comes to buying or selling Sedona real estate.
1) Remove Emotional Attachment – Advantage can go either way…
The most important concept you can remember for the buyer is, do not get attached to the home or property you are trying to buy. For the seller, you need to detach yourself from your property. Emotional attachment can be a big hinderance when trying to get a leg up on the deal. In many cases this attachment can cloud good business sense. If you find yourself wavering, speak to your Realtor®. They should be able to help ground you and get you over that hurdle. Remember, this is a business transaction. The party who feels they have the least to lose (and least amount of attachment) usually has the advantage.
2) Cash Is King – Advantage Buyer
Not all buyers can afford to plop down the full price of a home they are trying to buy, but those who can, create a built-in advantage for purchasing their dream property. Now with the Dodd-Frank Act coming into play, there could be more delays in the closing process. Having cash helps to remove some of the obstacles that a borrower may have to endure. A prospective cash buyer may be able to entice a seller to accept the terms of their offer, as the transaction may move more quickly.
3) Low Market Inventory – Advantage Seller
When the inventory is low, a seller usually benefits because there are less properties for the buyer to choose from. In fact, this may lead to multiple offers because other buyers may be just as interested in purchasing the property. This may drive the price of the property up as well.
4) Removing Contingencies – Advantage Buyer
This is a double edged sword. By removing contingencies, the offer becomes more attractive to the seller. However, there is a huge caveat that goes along with this. For instance, some buyers choose to eliminate the inspection period – that could come back to bite you in the end. For the buyer, it could be more difficult to exit the contract (during what would have been the inspection period). The inspection period is when you usually find problems that may make you think twice about continuing with the contract. One example is, if there was a problem with the roof, structure or foundation of the home, this could be a major expense to repair or replace. It could also affect the value of the property. Rescinding the right to an inspection period could hamper the buyer’s ability to exit the transaction.
If you are considering removing contingencies, proceed with caution.
5) Keep A Poker Face During Negotiations and Up To Closing
There is an old expression, “hold your cards close to your vest”.
Back in the Old West, there were brawls because someone caught a glimpse of the cards that another player was holding. When someone knows the cards you are holding, they can adjust their strategy to take advantage of that weakness.
Master Certified Negotiation Expert
Sheri Sperry is a Master Certified Negotiation Expert. Sheri is one of only 3 Sedona MCNE trained Realtors in Sedona. There are 40,000 real estate agents in Arizona and only around 100 trained MCNE agents in the entire state. If you need information on the negotiation process Sheri can help.
In some climates, visions of lush green lawns, English gardens bursting with color and a sparkling fountain filling the air with the tinkling of thousands of water drops may float through your head when dreaming of your ideal home. But, you’re responsible, so you’ve planned for your new home to be efficient: changing outdated toilets for modern low-flow versions, installed sustainable bamboo flooring, energy-efficient windows and natural gas appliances and even added extra insulation. So your yard, naturally, should be just as ecologically sustainable. Do your research on what trees, plants and flowers work best for your climate zone. One of the best ways to determine the type of landscape is to go to your local nursery and see what is available. Ask your nursery about planting conditions for each season as well as the season you are in. The climate in Sedona is much different than the climate in Flagstaff or Phoenix. So picking the right landscaping plan will help your plants thrive better.
Plan to replace that voraciously thirsty lawn with a beautiful, low-maintenance dry-scape. Dry-scaping (also called desert-scaping, or xeriscaping) is landscaping that uses less water, protects local wildlife and conserves energy while naturally fitting in with the regional environment. Since most climates support a wide variety of plant life, you’ll want to be sure to choose native plants. Before tearing up the existing lawn, however, consider the ways you’ll use the outdoor spaces, the slope and lay of the land and the effort you want to put into maintaining it.
Carefully plan your site
Take time to determine how wind, sun, shade and water naturally factor into your property. Hire a professional to test the soil. When property slopes even a slightly, water naturally flows differently than on a flat elevation. You’ll want to place play or entertainment areas at a higher point so that water doesn’t pool in them. Use a lower area for a water feature or for plants that would benefit from the runoff.
Conserve water and soil
A professional landscaper or local gardening shop can offer the perfect plants to conserve water and soil. When plants require added water, install a drip-irrigation system that slowly adds water directly to the plant. a drip-irrigation system reduces waste as compared to sprinklers. Drip systems also prevent both evaporation and overwatering. Be sure to preserve any natural existing trees, but replace high-maintenance ones with quick-growing climate positive varietals. Install shade-tolerant plants in the shadow of trees. Consider replacing lawn with heavier ground cover (larger gravel, lava rock, or native plants) to reduce water consumption and protect from erosion.
Create a functional space
Because lawns offer activity and play area, carefully use materials and designs to enhance the usefulness of your landscape. If you replace turf grasses with pea gravel for a play area—or even mulch, sand, or recycled materials designed especially to use in playgrounds your children’s area can be both easily maintained and functional.
Design your entertainment areas with gravel and paver stones in artful combination to beautiful and protect from erosion while requiring less water. Check out these images for some great ideas.
Contemplate alternative materials
Enhance natural landscaping materials like mulch and gravel by using alternatives such as recycled concrete and brick for rock garden and retaining walls, re-purposed rubber tires for playground areas, and tumbled glass “mulch” to add color to raised flower beds and garden walkways.
Consider maintenance needs
No matter what landscape options you choose, if your yard becomes a haven for weeds or requires lots of effort, its use and your pleasure in it are diminished.
Check local requirements for herbicides that work best and are safe for the local environment.
Cover bare soil with water permeable barriers or fabric. Layer your gravel or mulch over the fabric making sure it is completely covered.
City officials just recently decided to put a moratorium in place for pool contruction. This makes it the first city in Southern California to do so. The city of Milpitas in Northen California has already put a moritorium on pool construction.
As most of you know, California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in it’s history, and an emergency drought declaration was issued by the state’s governor. Though, there are state wide restrictions limiting the amount of water that can be used, each region and city or community may experience a different level of concern based on where the water comes from. Some cities have to import water. Other cities get water from wells or they have a contract with a nearby city or company that supplies the water.
Cities such as Laguna Beach that have to import water are most concerned over usage. Pool construction moratoriums have taken center stage. Many other cities in California are in different stages considering a moratorium.
So what is the benefit of a Pool Construction Moratorium?
More available water … right? Not so fast. As a read through an article provided by ReMax Evolution, it does not state anywhere that a conversation about actual evaporation rates of a pool vs. grass vs. drought resistant plants and drip systems. I think this should at least be part of the conversation.
Who are the biggest losers in this battle?
Pool construction companies will be hit the hardest. This will have a ripple effect throughout the California construction industry as well as real estate sales and possibly new construction.
The consumer who wants to build a pool is also affected. According to Milpitas City manager tom Williams, they will allow projects already in construction to go through. He also said that some residents who want a pool badly have said they are willing to import the water from another state to fill the pool.
Anther question that should be discussed.
What role do pool covers play in reducing evaporation rates? One article says that pool covers reduce evaporation by 90-95% and can save a pool owner 3 to 5000 gallons of water per summer. How does this compare to water resistant plants? Maybe pool covers should be part of the permitting process. No pool cover no pool!
An average 100 x 100 sf lawn uses 6230 gallons every time the water is turned on .
If a pool owner or builder can make arrangements with another state not affected by a drought, to import water at their cost and evaporation rates are minimal, is it prudent to a city to take each pool construction plan on a case by case basis?
More Information Means Better Decisions
Knowing this key research about evaporation rates, pool covers, and importing of water may help to provide a better assessment of what rules and regulations are put into place.
I have been told that Sedona gets our water from an aquifer that starts up in Flagstaff area and flows south. I heard there is an 85 year supply. But as we continue to grow, new water consumers are being added. The water is there but the delivery system (wells etc.) needs to be improved or new wells etc. need to be built to provide more water. So even with a lot of available water, we need to conserve as well. Other areas in the Verde Valley also have conservation programs in place.
The Worldwatch Institute also has conflicting points of view on drip irrigation systems. What some may consider wasted water through spray irrigation, others claim that water is returned to the aquifer if not used. Some studies show that spray irrigation has an evaporation rate or runoff of anywhere from 50% to 80% depending on the land conditions, climate etc. Drip systems are about 80 to 90% effective for bringing water to plants and trees but as mentioned may not return much water back to the aquifer.
Despite evidence to the contrary, new homebuyers continue to believe that buying a home is the same type of investment as stocks, bonds, CDs and their 401K. If the housing boom taught us anything, it is that the purchase of the house you plan to live in should not be your sole asset toward retirement. Nor should it be.
Now certain areas of the United States such as Sedona, AZ are more unlikely to be affected by a downturn in the housing industry because for many, these are second homes. bottom line is that people who buy here have the where-with-all to ride out a downturn.
Here’s why:
Over long periods of time, the return on investment for the home you live in is nearly zero compared to stocks and other types of investments. That is because the combination of taxes, inflation, insurance, interest and the cost of repairs and upgrades absorbs most of the increase in the home’s value. At the same time, that huge downpayment you plunked down isn’t earning interest and the other costs to purchase the home are tied up in the “investment.” This is especially true when you own the home for seven years or less. In fact, many Americans continue to believe that the value of their home will increase faster than inflation, but according to economists, history does not bear that out.
So why buy a home?
Ahhhh! The real reason to buy a home is because you want to live in it and make it your own. You want to raise your family there, become part of a community and establish your presence. Once the mortgage payments end, you’ll have a less expensive place to live in your retirement years and something to pass on to the next generation. In fact, here are the top reasons to buy a home:
Homeowners feel more secure in their own property. They have control over costs such as the mortgage and insurance so that they can budget. Rents rise, often without warning, making them difficult to plan for year over year.
For the same monthly dollar amount, typically a home has more square footage and often more usable property (patio, yard, garage) over a rented space.
Owning means that you can change the paint whenever you like. You can update, upgrade, renew, refurbish and modernize as your family grows.
Pride of ownership. Not only does it feel great, property lived in by its owners tends to show better than property lived in by renters. Owners more often view the home as an extension of themselves, investing in maintenance, upgrades and refurbishing. Owners anchor a neighborhood and ownership expresses their core values.
Tax considerations. This on is a bit two-sided because your tax savings are tied to your interest payments, not your principle payments. None-the-less, if your overall payment (principle, interest, mortgage insurance and taxes) is the same as your rent would be, the tax savings would increase your cash flow.
Forced savings. With the monthly principle amount going toward building equity, making mortgage payments forces the buyer to “save” the equity amount. Of course, the savings only become usable upon sale of the home, so the usefulness of this forced form of accumulation means holding the home long enough to “redeem” the savings upon sale of the home.
Should you buy a home?
Yes. Absolutely. But…only when it’s right for you and your circumstances. And only if you truly understand its value, both now and in your future. Our professionals can help you understand how homeownership can benefit you and your family.
When a house is an investment
Investment property is property that has the potential to increase your cash flow. These types of property include commercial properties and rentals (both multi-family and single-family homes). If you’re interested in pursuing investment property, we can help you with that too.
The biggest challenge to solar energy is the inability to both capture it and store it in any meaningful way. In fact, while efficiency in capturing solar power has increased from about 15 percent of most solar panel models to 35 percent efficiency in the higher ends, even when captured the energy grid is unable to store and regulate its flow throughout the day.
Enter the Tesla Powerwall
Elon Musk, CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Motors, announced earlier this year that Tesla’s new Powerwall for the home and Powerpack for commercial use already garnered 38,000 preorders. The Tesla Powerwall offers 92 percent efficiency in DC round-trip power.
Here are the basics:
The Powerwall home battery charges via electricity generated by solar panels. As solar energy wanes throughout the evening or on a cloudy day, the battery supplies energy back to your home instead of pushing it into the public power grid. The Powerwall also offers energy during a power outage, so homeowners in storm-prone areas or country homes with unreliable utility service can access emergency power.
The Powerwall utilizes a lithium ion battery with technology similar to that in Tesla automobiles and installs on the wall of your garage, basement or even outdoors. For larger homes, or those with higher power consumption requirements, multiple batteries can be installed together with up to 90 kWh total available power. Each battery in its weather resistant enclosure is just 51.2 inches by 33.9 inches and only 7.1 inches deep.
The system uses rooftop solar panels connected to the Powerwall and an inverter that directs current from both the solar panels and the Powerwall battery into your home’s alternating current power system.
For an example of how much energy your home uses in the day, consider that your refrigerator consumption is commonly 4.8 kWh/day (kilowatt hour per day) while your washer and dryer together equal about 5.6 kWh/day. Add to that your lights, laptop, flat screen television or stereo and you’re looking at about 2.5 kWh/day additional consumption.
Of course, the first question that comes to mind for a cutting –edge home technology like this is the cost. According to Tesla Motors specifications, the home-sized batteries cost just $3000 for the 7-kWh model and $3500 for the 10-kWh version. Each comes with a 10-year warranty.
If you’re looking for an energy efficient home that conforms to the requirements for solar panels, let me know. We can optimize your search so that you find the home that is just right for you and your power needs. Also remember that many resale homes have solar systems that are leased. In most cases, these leases are transferred with the home. As you get closer to making an offer on a home, it may pay to scrutinize the solar contract of that particular home.
Be careful of a guarantee sell date, but with that being said, the short answer is “yes,” read the fine points of the agreement.
In a seller’s market it seems like most homes should sell — given enough time and exposure on the market. But there are some situations where a home MUST sell: the owners need to move for work or because of a job loss; or, the home was left in a will and proceeds need to be split among the inheritors; the sellers are experiencing divorce, or any number of other reasons a home needs to sell quickly.
With a quick sale required, sellers may be temped to go for an agent’s offer that sounds too good to be true: The agent will “buy your home if it doesn’t sell!”
According to Angie’s List, such offers are not scams. They are, in fact, marketing tactics that might work for you in your situation — a win-win — or, might be a really bad deal. Before signing on the bottom line, make certain you know what you’re agreeing to.
Home Sale Guarantees
Real estate professionals may offer a variety of types of guarantees. Each has its own value to both the agent and the seller:
“If I don’t sell your home, I’ll buy it” — Often, this type of guarantee offer comes from agents that work with investors. An investor wants to buy a home either to rent or to sell at a profit. In this scenario, you should plan to part with a chunk of your equity. This program may work for you if you need to sell quickly but don’t need top dollar from your home, if you need to sell to settle an estate, or if you’ve found a new home at a substantial discount and just can’t afford the two mortgages at once. Just know that you will see less return on this type of sale. If your agent only sells under this program and not to the general public, you’ll end up with less in your pocket.
“If I don’t sell your home in X months, I’ll buy it” — When a program has time stipulations, it usually also has price stipulations. You’ll most likely be agreeing to a schedule of markdowns (monthly, bi-weekly or weekly) so that by the “I’ll buy it” date it reaches the price the agent will pay for it.
“We guarantee you X% of the value” — In this approach, the agent offers a specific discounted price if your home doesn’t sell. Often, this is about 90% of its fair market value, plus fees and commissions.
In some cases, a company will help with the relocation costs and guarantee that they will buy the house if it does not sell. Make sure you read those documents so you know all the terms of that guarantee. You want to make sure you get the most value for your money when selling your home.
The Bottom Line
Before you agree to any home sale guarantee plan, know that if the agent does not sell your home outright and the plan goes into effect you’ll be accepting far less for your home than on the open market. While this seems like a lose-lose for the typical home seller, it can be a win-win if the sale is urgent or the sellers have extenuating circumstances.
The Best Scenario
When selling your home, the best scenario is to work with a real estate professional that knows the home’s market, can advise you on the best way to prepare your home and create curb appeal, and offers all marketing resources (online, offline, print, local, signage, MLS, etc.).
A Brief History of T. Roosevelt & The Conservationist Movement
“While my interest in natural history has added very little to my sum of achievement, it has added immeasurably to my sum of enjoyment in life.” Teddy Roosevelt
If you studied the life of President Theodore Roosevelt, you know he was a dedicated conservationist his entire life. We might not have the Grand Canyon and other National Parks as we know them today if it were not for Teddy Roosevelt. He established the Antiquities Act and signed it into law on June 8, 1906. The Act establishes the archeological sites on public lands as important public resources. It obligates federal government agencies to preserve and protect these lands for historic, scientific, cultural, commemorative and archeological purposes for present and future generations. It also authorizes the President to protect landmarks, structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest by designating them as National Monuments.
What Is The Difference Between A National Park and Monument?
This act grew out of concern in the last quarter of the 19th century that the rapid development of national lands would possibly endanger these sites and artifacts. Most of us really don’t see much difference between a National Park or Monument. National Parks are protected due to scenic, inspirational, education, and recreational value. A National Monument have objects of historical, cultural, and/or scientific value. A Monuments can be quite varied. For example, They may protect such areas or objects such as wilderness, fossils, forts, ruins, historic buildings or other structures. Historic cemeteries or battle grounds would also fall into the category of National Monuments or Parks.
Famous National Parks include: Grand Canyon AZ, Great Smoky Mountains NC-TN, Hawaii Volcanoes HI, Sequoia CA, Shenandoah VA, Glacier Bay AK, Yellowstone WY-MT, Yosemite CA.
Famous National Monuments include: Fort Sumter SC, George Washington’s Birthplace VA, Rainbow Bridge UT, Statue of Liberty NY, White Sands NM, WWII Valor (Pearl Harbor) HI.
It Takes An Act of Congress….!
It literally takes an Act of Congress to establish a National Park. On the other hand, a National Monument can be established by the President through the use of the Antiquities Act.
Sedona Verde Valley Red Rock National Monument
A quick little story…. Legend has it that when Teddy Roosevelt was President, he was making his way west across the country to identify areas which could be considered for National Park or Monument designation. As he criss-crossed the states, he came down through Utah to the Grand Canyon and was going to continue south through Sedona but urgent business in Washington DC forced him to take a train out of Flagstaff back to DC. He never got to Sedona….
If you have ever visited Sedona or the Verde Valley, you know the beauty and majesty of the Red Rocks. The region is steeped in history and areas that need to be preserved. There are fossil sites as well as Petroglyphs and Pictographs, commonly referred to as “rock art”, throughout the Sedona-Verde Valley area. As many Native American sites need to be protected and preserved as possible. Some of these sites have already been discovered and preserved but others need to be identified. This area was a big part of the heritage of “Wild West”. There are forts, abandoned mines and historic buildings still standing in Cottonwood, Jerome, Camp Verde, and Sedona, all of which has been well preserved due to our mild dry climate. But the big question is …Do we need the federal government stepping in to usurp local and state authority?
If you are not familiar with Sedona, this is a great site to learn about the area. You can learn about the communities of the Verde Valley at http://sellsedona.com/communities/ .
My Position On This Issue
I have been to a few meetings and many hours of discusssion on this subject. I along with most of the realtors and business community feels this is not only a bad idea but will harm future business, ranching and real estate values as already demonstrated in many western states where National Monuments have taken over. The system currently in place in the Verde Valley, is governed by local people for local people and it is working!
Without getting too far into the minutia of the proposal, the control of the entire area would fall under the control of the federal government. Every aspect of development or maintenance of property outside city limits would require permits of some sort and open to hearings and possible lawsuits before any development and in many cases maintenance can take place.
Ron Volkman voiced the opposing argument for the Sedona Verde Valley Assoc. of Realtors (SVVAR). at a Sedona City Council meeting. He said the KSB proposal contains “dangerous possibilities” and “is a very real threat to private property rights, graing and water rights.”
For example, if a dozer is needed to clear a wooded area of dead or dying trees the process above is the only way heavy equipment can be brought in to clear an area. In most cases, it becomes cost prohibitive for the land owner.
Furthermore, farms and ranches go out of business and the land is devalued. Water rights also come under the control of the federal government often to the detriment of the local population which loses control of conservation efforts and usage.
The feds have control over roads, trails, etc. so, they could easily close a trail or road without any local input if they deem that it is not in the “National” interest to maintain the road or trail. Camping in open lands currently would also be jeopardized or off limits in the proposed National Monument.
The state and local tax base is also depleted. Unlike eastern states, western states such as Arizona, Utah, Nevada, etc. are under much higher degree of federal control. To give you an example of how much initial property would be aquired for the monument, it would encompass 160,000 acres in and around Sedona and Village of Oak Creek.
As of 2010, here is an example of FEDERAL ownership of land.
Western States Federal Land Acreage
Nevada – 81.1%
Utah – 66.5%
Alaska – 61.8%
Idaho – 61.7%
Oregon – 53.0%
Wyoming – 48.2%
California – 47.7%
Arizona – 42.3%
Colorado – 36.2%
Eastern & Midwest States
New York – 0.7%
Rhode Island – 0.8%
Ohio – 1.1%
Illinois – 1.1%
Maine – 1.1%
Massachusetts – 1.6%
Pennsylvania – 2.1%
New Jersey – 3.7%
Wisconsin – 5.3%
If you consider Texas a western state (personally I consider it a southern state) it would be an exception to the rule at 1.8%. But, let’s remember that Texas was a country before becoming a state and Texas history and Texas mindset plays a big part in why the federal government does not have much land or control of the land. Reference information for the above chart can be found on page 5 of the Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data.
This has only increased since the print date. Once the Feds have control of an area they can annex more area with very little input from the state.
Golf Community – Amante Cornville AZOffered At $199,500 By Sheri Sperry ReMax Sedona
Located in the gated golf community of Amante in Verde Santa Fe, Cornville, this Amante home for sale is only 30 minutes from Sedona. It is close to big box stores in Cottonwood as well as minutes away from the Medical Center and all other medical facilities.
It has a neutral color palette, modern floor plan with 3 bedrooms , great room, 2 baths and easy-care landscape. There is also the community clubhouse, pool and other amenities with 18 holes of golf within the community of Verde Santa Fe. See Verde Santa Fe Golf Club.
New Listing – 1360 Vista Montana #26 – West Sedona 86336
This West Sedona townhouse for sale is now on the market. It is a 2 bedroom 2 bath townhouse in the Vista Montana area right off Soldiers Pass and the 89A. The location is great for those who enjoy walking. You are very close to shopping, restaurants and medical, dental and eye care.
This townhouse is an end unit. It has a big back patio, great for entertaining.
In West Sedona there are no other townhouses available in Vista Montana at the time this was put on market. It will not last long.
Remember, I am THE Realtor® who tailors specific real estate solution just for you. Ask me how I can help you. For more details call me at 928-274-7355.
See MLS info for this West Sedona town house (Condo) at link below
In just about all instances, customers who want to purchase Sedona real estate, are looking for views of the red rocks. This is generally number one on the wish list. However, a close second, is privacy or a big lot where neighbors are not too close. Some of the other areas you find below don’t figure in closely if you have already decided on real estate in the 86336 zip code of Sedona. Everything is close by, especially if you choose a home in West Sedona. Just remember, homes with views & privacy command a higher price tag. Most luxury homes are built on premium lots with land and views.
Big Park or the Village of Oak Creek is about 20 to 25 minutes away from the West Sedona area. Many residents like the slower pace of the Village. The questions below are more appropriate for those who live in the Village (Big Park).
Take a lesson from that old real estate adage “location, location, location.” Many seasoned homeowners will tell you that the size of your home and the amount of space you have—including extra living rooms, game rooms, or even acreage — becomes far less important to you in short order if the location is wrong.
Ask yourself these questions:
How long is my commute to work? At first blush, the thrill of ownership may overshadow a long commute. Eventually, however, many commuters begin to feel that their families get to live in the home and they just visit for a few hours in the evening and on weekends. If being part of family life is important to you, look for something closer to your work, even if it’s a little smaller.
Is it near to my children’s schools? As children progress through school, the number of activities for them to be involved in increases dramatically. If the commute to their school for ball games, drama club, band practice and the like is too long, either you’ll spend all of your family life on the road or your children may miss out on things that could be important to them.
How far away is shopping? Living on rural property or in a newer housing development may seem like the perfect opportunity, but if you run short on milk for breakfast, is it an hour round trip to the nearest market? Or, if you choose an urban condo for its great walk score to restaurants and nightlife, do you have to have a vehicle to drive just to find groceries? The inconvenience of far-away shopping affects the enjoyment of your new home.
Do I enjoy activities in the nearest community? Whether urban, suburban or rural, your connection to your community affects your satisfaction and contentment with your location. If you prefer the theatre, but live in a community that only celebrates agriculture, your quality of life may suffer. Conversely, if you love the great outdoors, but your city only offers indoor activities, you may need to rethink the location of your home.
Other considerations:
Of course, one of the biggest reasons to consider location is the future sale of your home. No matter how lovely your home is, or how perfect in every other way, its location can make or break a future sale.
But, if you’re concerned about the environment, the location of your home can leave a larger or smaller carbon footprint. An EPA study points out that a home’s location relative to public transportation, energy sources and the actual housing type significantly affect energy consumption. While living and working in Southern California, my husband and I put around 60,000 miles (combined) on our vehicles every year. Now that we live and work in Sedona, our combined mileage has been reduced by 66% to 75%. Everything is within 1 to 10 miles on average. In Sedona, there are many green homes and more being built. As a past-president of the Sedona Luxury Real Estate Professionals, we invite many builders and environment friendly home specialists to present their products and services. I can help you find the solutions that best fit your needs.
Before beginning your property search, take time to reflect on what is most important to you. Then, let your real estate professional in on the secret. He or She will narrow the search to those locations that fit your needs, wants and desires best.
Now that the weather is finally warmer and spring really seems to be here, it’s time to tackle some of those nasty cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off. If you’re planning to put your house on the market, or getting ready to leave a rental for your newly purchased home, take on these projects now. Don’t procrastinate.
Refrigerator
We don’t know how it happens, but refrigerator drawers and shelves seem to collect gunk and goo. We can swipe them with a wet cloth on the fly, but at least a couple times a year we need to remove all the contents and give those shelves and drawers a really good scrub. Typically, these pieces are too large to fit in the sink, so consider taking them outside. Use a biodegradable cleaner and wash them out over your lawn so that the water does double duty.
Rugs
Those beautiful rugs that kept our toes cozy all winter are due for a good beating. Of course, you can vacuum them as well, but sometimes a good shaking or whacking with a broom or rug beater is just the ticket. Make sure you have a sturdy clothesline or balcony rail to hang them over. Letting them air out in the fresh outdoors can help get rid of that musty winter odor too.
Mini-Blinds
Though wonderful for controlling sunlight, mini-blinds are a housekeeper’s nightmare. Dusting each of those little slats, or even using special tools doesn’t always work. At least once a year, lay them out on the lawn and give those blinds a good spray with an eco-friendly degreaser. Then, use the hose and a spray nozzle to wash off all the grime. Dry them in the warm sun before hanging them back up.
Comforters and Duvets
Take your large blankets, comforters, duvets and quilts and wash them in your own large capacity washer or take them to a nearby Laundromat. But, rather than pay for all that drying time, bring them home and hang them out on a sturdy clothesline or railing to dry outdoors. Giving them a good airing out can give them a lovely freshness and prepares them to be packed away until the cold weather returns.
Trash cans
Even when you use bags, your trashcans are subject to grime and ooze. Line them all up on the edge of the patio, fill them with organic dish soap and put the kids to scrubbing with big sponges. If a water-fight ensues, all the better! Once the cans are clean, let them dry outdoors.
Inside
While all your carpets, trashcans, quilts and blinds are drying in the sun, now is a good time to mop those floors, dust the overhead fans and tackle the windows. Of course, spring-cleaning all goes more quickly if you round up the whole family to help for just one day a year.
If you’re getting ready to sell your home, there are some other items you should consider tackling too. Give us a call and we can tell you just where you need to invest the most time and effort.
A newer trend sweeping the building industry is the use of wood-look porcelain or ceramic tiles. While natural wood flooring is still an optimal choice for most homes, here are some reasons you may want to take a second look at wood-look or wood-grain tiles:
Humidity situations:
Moisture: if you live in a humid or moist climate, natural wood may succumb to warping or swelling when exposed to excess moisture. Fluctuations in humidity levels where the level in the air is higher than the level in the wood can cause a condition known as “cupping.” Cupping is when the floor has a washboard appearance and feels uneven underfoot.
Lack of moisture: in the reverse situation, where the wood has more moisture than the air, the moisture in the wood evaporates and causes shrinkage. In plank wood flooring, gaps may form between the planks. Parquet flooring exposed to low humidity may loosen and break apart. Even in typically high-humidity areas, running a furnace in the winter can reduce indoor humidity enough to damage wood flooring.
Properly laid porcelain or ceramic wood-look plank tiles give the rich look of wood, but do not swell or shrink with excess humidity or arid conditions.
Temperature control:
In warm climates, the cost of air conditioning can be a budget breaker. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are cooler to the touch and can help reduce the need for excessive air-conditioning.
At the same time, ceramic and porcelain tile is not as cool to the touch as marble, for example, so in colder climates it is not too cold in the wintertime. If your climate tends to extremes, you can mitigate the cold flooring in winter by installing radiant or hydronic (circulate water) heating mats under the tile.
Durability:
Tile comes in five varying grades of durability rated from light traffic to extra heavy traffic. The choice of tile should reflect the traffic and use that it will receive. Tile strength is graded by the Porcelain Enamel Institute and rated for hardness from Group 0 (only wall tile) to Group 1 (I, or PEI1) through Group 5 (V, or PEI5).
Compared to wood or carpet, ceramic or porcelain tile is water, stain and wear resistant. That means you can get a wood look in your kitchen or bath and not worry about damaging the floor if your dishwasher floods or the kids start a water fight in the shower.
Scratches can mar the look of wood flooring, requiring expensive sanding and refinishing. Laminate flooring like Pergo cannot be repaired once scratched—those individual planks need to be replaced. Depending on the grade, ceramic or porcelain tile is nearly impervious to scratches from normal wear and tear, so if you’re one of those homeowners that like to move the furniture every week or two, but love the look of wood flooring, wood-like tiles are a win-win.
Resale value
For homeowners, along with all other considerations is the concept of resale value and return on investment (ROI). Wood flooring increases home values, but wood-look ceramic or porcelain tile can add the same or similar value over the long-term. Additionally, tile often is less expensive to install, so your return on investment can be even greater.
The best choice is the choice that fits you and your family’s lifestyle, continues to look good for years and is easy to maintain.
Perform Due Diligence
One thing you have to know is that some of the tile that comes from other areas of the world may have chemicals or materials that you would not want in your home. I recently talked to a home decorator who told me that some there are manufacturers in China who include formaldehyde in the making of certain ceramic tile. So make sure you check the Master Standard Data Sheet to see what in in the product before you purchase it.
In the Sedona real estate and home market just like most other places in the United States, buyers and sellers alike are concerned about interest rate hikes. The Feds have been pretty indecisive about moving interest rates up, but the down-low is that they plan to make the move upwards in 
In some climates, visions of lush green lawns, English gardens bursting with color and a sparkling fountain filling the air with the tinkling of thousands of water drops may float through your head when dreaming of your ideal home. But, you’re responsible, so you’ve planned for your new home to be efficient: changing outdated toilets for modern low-flow versions, installed sustainable bamboo flooring, energy-efficient windows and natural gas appliances and even added extra insulation. So your yard, naturally, should be just as ecologically sustainable. Do your research on what trees, plants and flowers work best for your climate zone. One of the best ways to determine the type of landscape is to go to your local nursery and see what is available. Ask your nursery about planting conditions for each season as well as the season you are in. The climate in Sedona is much different than the climate in Flagstaff or Phoenix. So picking the right landscaping plan will help your plants thrive better.
Be careful of a guarantee sell date, but with that being said, the short answer is “yes,” read the fine points of the agreement.
important to you, look for something closer to your work, even if it’s a little smaller.
Now that the weather is finally warmer and spring really seems to be here, it’s time to tackle some of those nasty cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off. If you’re planning to put your house on the market, or getting ready to leave a rental for your newly purchased home, take on these projects now. Don’t procrastinate.
