Tucson Real Estate News

With all the "short-selling" going on these days, it is sometimes a challenge to find homes that a buyer can expect to move into within a reasonable time period (in certain areas & neighborhoods).  Our MLS has had a policy that all short sales must have that status disclosed within the listing.

I have seen it in the description that the public sees, hidden in the agent remarks and clever language that one must have a clear command of the English language used to disguise the fact that a listing is indeed a short sale.

Just a little while ago, I heard that our MLS board is considering removing the requirement that short sales must be identified in the listing...with the argument that it is unfair to the selling party, since so many people are avoiding those listings altogether. 

My belief is this:  short sale status should always be disclosed in a listing, and where the public can see it plainly & in easily understood language.  In fact, there should be a checkbox to sort out or specifically include short sales in a search.  Short sale status is of material concern to a prospective buyer, just as whether a property has a garage or a carport.  Real estate is a disclosure-oriented transaction, and if misdirection or misleading tactics are used to generate traffic become an accepted practice, we are selling our ethics down the river in the name of expediency.

I was taught from Day 1:  Disclose, disclose, disclose!  To ignore the basic foundation upon which trust begins in our industry is to invite more trouble and lawsuits.

Our ethics and morals protect us from legislation & litigation REALTORS®.

 

The holiday season is filled with lots of things this year.  Emotions and feelings run the gamut from hope to fear and everything in between.  Personally, the emotional barometer is centered on serenity with hope providing upswings and joy with what life has brought me to this point being my center of gravity.

There are myriad reasons to think of these times as tough ones, endlessly bombarded with fearful predictions, the ugly slap of real difficulties facing us as individuals, communities, nations and citizens of the world.  It is easy to dwell upon mistakes made by others as well as oneself, to harbor a certain dread of what might become, based upon the realities thrust upon us.  What keeps my personal thoughts distinctly swung over to the positive side of the meter is the strong belief that whatever may come, we will get through it and learn some valuable lessons along the way.

To me, Christmas is a time for reflection, a guage of where I am as a human being versus where I want to be.  In fact, the Holiday Season is marked by a sense of Thanksgiving during the whole time.  Being able to share Christmas Eve with my parents in Las Cruces, New Mexico helps to foster the spirit of thankfulness and contentment, coupled with the sense that all will be OK no matter what.

To visit the town I grew up in, to participate in Christmas Eve services in the church my family has been a part of for a long time engenders a knowledge of serenity that persists.  Observing the changes of my hometown as it grows and evolves help remind me that the status quo is a fleeting thing, marked by a moment in time.  Watching the people at the Christmas Eve service, the old familiar faces, noting those no longer around but seeing new people in their place, sparks the feeling that all is as it should be.

Today is one I am thankful for--in many ways.  Whether tomorrow brings what I want it to or what it should be is not in my hands alone.  I can do the best work that I am capable of, prepare for possibilities and obstacles that lie ahead and gird my ego to accept & implement the lessons to be learned along the way.

Merry Christmas everyone...my wish is for serenity & the spark of perseverance to guide us all in the year to come.

 

 

 

KB Toys filed for Chapter 11 yesterday - the 86 year-old retailer had previously gone through bankruptcy in 2005.  According to a story by AP Retail Writer Mae Anderson, the struggling company will be offering shoppers "going out of business" pricing until their retail locations close their doors.

Blogger Ian Ritter, in his "Counter Culture" blog for GlobeSt.com, wrote this morning that KB Toys will be closing all 460 of its stores nationwide.

It is a sign of the times...grab your discount toys while they last.  It sure is poor timing for all of the employees.

As we see more retailers go under, wonder what retail lease prices will look like in a few months, especially in malls?

          

 

Well...maybe not real alien ships, but these things sort of look like something from a sci-fi movie, don't they?

What are they?  They're filtration units used for drip irrigation.  Quite a bit bigger than anything you might need for your yard, but then, unless you're growing 50 acres of cabbage or onions in your yard, you don't need anything quite like this.  When using a drip system on a large scale, a little sediment in the drip lines can make for a really long day!

These are being used northwest of Las Cruces, New Mexico - about 3 1/2 miles north of Fairacres by a farmer named Steve Lyles.  He is one of the most progressive and innovative farmers in the Mesilla Valley, incorporating drip irrigation for quite a bit of his vegetable production.

In real estate & farming alike we need to conserve our resources, be innovative and strategically implement new ideas where prudent...and always be vigilant with the details, the grains of sediment that can clog up the works, especially when the tendency is to focus on the bigger picture.

Here's another view including the pump so you'll sleep better, knowing that there aren't really aliens invading the southwest.

 

Adobe.  Building material, stuff of much mystery, supposition and wonder.  Mention the word "adobe" and the first thought that comes to mind for most people is "southwest."

Adobe is an ancient building material - long prized for its simplicity, insulation value and strength.  When people come to New Mexico and Arizona for the first time, they usually want to see a home built out of adobe...and there are many.

What few people get to see is what the actual adobe bricks look like, how they are stored, etcetera - unless they are having a home built out of the wondrous sun-baked mud.  On a stroll through Old Mesilla, just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico, I saw a golden opportunity to show a little adobe to my readers.

Just to the south of Mesilla Plaza there is a building that is being restored, and the adobe being used is made on the spot, left to cure then stacked until use.  Notice the buttresses helping support the outside walls? 

Hope you enjoy the photos!

I love Mike Jones - he is a dear person, friend, photo & blogging guru and a great professional to send clients needing loans to. 

It all started when he drove through Las Cruces, New Mexico (my hometown) and was impressed with a sculpture of a roadrunner at the rest area off of I-10, west of town.  Being the consummate shutterbug and blogger that he is, Mike wrote a great blog post about the roadrunner made of spare parts and junk, relating it to his business and providing inspirational thoughts for us all.  Here is his post:  It's Not What You Have...It's What You DO With What You Have... 

Great Post!  I especially like that he found something truly unique in my hometown, and saw inspiration in it.  Isn't that Roadrunner great?  Here's a photo that shows the artwork as seen going west on I-10:  You can see the roadrunner highlighted in the red circle.

As wonderful as Mike is, I have to question his judgement (although I can understand how his awe at the craftsmanship and creativity that went into the roadrunner).

He completely missed the best part of that vantage point...the view of Las Cruces & the Mesilla Valley that unfolds as you head east into town off of the mesa:

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As incredible as the roadrunner is, I can't believe MikeInTucson missed this photo!  Those are the Organ Mountains to the east, and Las Cruces is the city unfolding before them.  You can see pecan groves in the foreground.

Oh, by the way...that roadrunner?  It was approximately 5 feet to my left when taking this picture.  Better luck next time, Mike.  Perhaps he was just letting me have the opportunity to show a little of the Mesilla Valley's beauty, after all it is my hometown!  LOL

High School Football...in some parts of the country, it is treated like religion.  Towns shut down on Friday nights to see the local team play.  A few communities organize caravans and ride-share programs to go to away games.

TV shows like "Friday Night Lights" treat the subject like the most important thing in teenagers' lives and of their families also.

Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania...Alabama, Illinois and many others come to mind as places where High School Football is a passion.  And Las Cruces, New Mexico.

WHAT?              WHERE?

Las Cruces, New Mexico!  Yes - this community of roughly 100,000 people in the Mesilla Valley where the Rio Grande River makes the land fertile & history includes Billy The Kid, Pat Garrett along other figures notorious or heroic - is incredibly supportive of its high school gridiron gangs.

The stadium that the school district uses for regular games is named the "Field of Dreams," providing a 10,000 seat place for the 3 high schools to play their home games.  When Las Cruces High and Mayfield High play each other...the place just isn't big enough.

                             

When the Bulldawgs meet the Trojans, the game is moved across town to Aggie Memorial Stadium at New Mexico State University, which seats just over 30,000 people. The backdrop of "A" Mountain and the majesty of the Organ Mountains behind provide a scenic setting for fans.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, these two teams met for the right to play for the State Championship...and somewhere in the neighborhood of 24,000 people came.  This was a disappointing turnout...two weeks before, the Bulldawgs & Trojans drew 26,000+ to their annual regular season battle.  The university team barely averages 15,000.

WHY?

One of these teams has won 9 out of the last 13 titles in New Mexico's 5A (large school) division!  Mayfield has won 6 (the last 3 championships in a row), and Las Cruces 3.

Having beaten Mayfield during the regular season by virtue of a 2-point conversion in the final minute of play, Las Cruces fans were anxious, hoping that their undefeated season would not be ruined by a Trojan squad looking for revenge.  Instead of a close nail-biter, the Bulldawgs won convincingly, 35-7, to dash Mayfield's hopes of a 4th straight championship. 

What makes this rivalry special?  Many look at the fact that these footballers are all TEAMS first.  There are no superstars.  In most years, only a few players will earn athletic scholarships.  Division I caliber players are even fewer.  The special feeling comes from the cameraderie and knowledge that as a TEAM, these kids can do great things, enjoy a fierce rivalry...and still be friends, especially since they've known each other from grade school on.

This country loves its underdogs, Horatio Alger stories and seeing the little guy overcome challenges to achieve great things by working together.  In Las Cruces, New Mexico, the storybook gets new chapters every fall.

UPDATE:  Las Cruces High finished the season undefeated, bringing home their 4th title since 1995.  That makes 10 state football championships in that time period for the city!

(Born & Raised in Las Cruces...
known for needing his "enchilada fix"

every few months or so)