Tucson Real Estate News

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley and Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II, signed an agreement to built a windfarm in northeast Arizona on tribal land.  The project looks to be one of the largest in the nation, after 2 years of planning and development work on the project.
                                                                                                                        

The agreement marks another step in the Nation's march towards utilizing renewable sources to generate electricity.  Plans call for at least a 500-megawatt facility - enough to power 100,000 homes, using up to 300 towers to harness the wind that is prevalent in the area.

            Kent Simpson

Remember the thrill of building and launching model rockets?  You'd buy a kit from Estes or Centauri and spend hours aligning the fins, gluing, sanding, painting, packing the recovery parachute...all for the joy and promise of sending it skyward.

Tucson is hosting the the Southern Arizona Rocketry Association's 4th Annual Desert Heat event Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Avra Valley, northwest of the city.  Officials expect between 60 and 100 modelers to bring a wide variety of rockets to launch.  Ranging in size from about a foot tall to over 12 feet in length, hundreds of launches are sure to inspire, thrill and impress all ages.

SARA had to get flight clearance from the FAA for the event, because of local air traffic.  Approval has been given for flights up to 4500 feet, but the organization is still working to get special permission for some launches to go as high as 6,000 feet!  It is sure to be a great family-oriented event.

Admission is free for spectators, launchers will pay a $10 fee.  Food vendors will be there and prizes will be given to children who launch.  The event is at the facilities of the  Tucson International Modelplex Park Association on North Reservation Road, between West Mile Wide and Manville Roads from 8am to 5 and 7 to 9pm Saturday and 8am to 3pm Sunday.

President of the Southern Arizona Rocketry
Association, Eric Burch, with a selection of rockets
ready to launch.
(Renee Bracamonte/Tucson Citizen)

If you are one of those drivers who believe "orange is OK" when it comes to going through an intersection, watch out--you'll get a ticket in the mail.

Tucson has contracted American Traffic Solutions, a Scottsdale-based company, to monitor and operate cameras at intersections deemed to be statistically accident-prone by TPD (Tucson Police Department).  They also operate a roving photo and radar van to catch suspected speeding violations.  Company employees operate the system and police officers review photos to determine whether citations should be forthcoming.  After comparing driver license pictures and license plate information to the offending photos, ATS is then given the tickets to mail to suspects.

Current sites with operational camera systems:

• Oracle & River Rd (Saturday, March 30)
• E. 22nd Street & Wilmot
• S. Nogales Hwy & Valencia
• E. Grant & Tanque Verde

         Kent Simpson

Ever hear the "Serenity Prayer?"  Ever actually listen to the words and apply them to life situations?  It is amazing how much sense it makes.

God, grand me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
(People, places & things.)  Government regulations, zoning codes, tax rates, market trends, setback policies, weather, etc.

Courage to change the things I can,
My attitude, perceived value, underwear, appointment times, offers, what I allow to affect me

And the wisdom to know the difference.
Easier said than done, but really, the key to the whole thing.

Sometimes, when I get wrapped up in the heat of the moment or just start to feel an edge building up, taking a moment to say this little prayer and see where the issue fits in the framework of it, it is like a little "reset button" and puts things in their proper place.  Try it sometime - pretty amazing how well it works to make a stressful day a whole lot easier!

High Lonesome Ranch

Did you ever want your own piece of God's Country?

The freedom and serenity that only 200 acres can provide.

Are wide skies and vistas that stretch across two countries calling you?

High Lonesome is what you seek.

Stunning 200 acre parcel nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Dragoon Mountains. This property offers mountain views, beautiful hillsides and wide open spaces. Bordered by over 1000 acres of State Trust and Bureau of Land Management land, the site offers both privacy and access to miles of hiking and horse trails. Tombstone, OK Corral and the town of Bisbee, are just a few of the interesting sites with in easy driving distance.

$695,000
Why not make your dreams a reality?
Call me before someone else gets their shot at it!

Kent Simpson

Everyone is buzzing about the new FHA Conforming Mortgage Limits (even though we have yet to see if lenders will comply).

The limit in Tucson (Pima County) has been raised to $316,000, while Phoenix (Maricopa) is now $346,000.  HUD has done something nice in providing a site where you can just plug in your state & county or MSA and see what the revised limits are:  FHA Mortgage Limits

Don't know what this will do for the Tucson real estate market, but it can't hurt now, can it?

The Gem Show is over, the Rodeo has ridden off into the sunset.  February has faded into history...what does March bring to Tucson?  You might be surprised at how many conventions, meetings and large groups are coming to the Old Pueblo!

March 1-6  Refrigerated Foods Association - Annual Meeting 2008
                HQ:  Hilton Tucson el Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort

March 1-7  Geological Society of America - Wildland Fires Conference
                HQ:  Holiday Inn & Suites Tucson Airport North

March 13-16  Triple Crown Sports Center - 2008 Triple Crown Spring Championships 2
                    HQ:  Viscount Suite Hotel

March 14-20  John Bingham Racing LLC - 2008 Arizona Distance Classic Event
                   HQ:  Westward Look Resort

March 18-20  National Ground Water Association - GEO Chemistry Meeting
                   HQ:  Westward Look Resort

March 19-24  American First Credit Union - Board of Directors Meeting
                   HQ:  Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

March 20-28  US Air Force Academy - Track Team
                   HQ:  Tucson Airport Hotel & Suites

March 24-28  American Express Corporate Meeting Solutions-NJ - Zurich Customer Forum
                   HQ:  Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

Together, these events are expected to bring nearly 2800 visitors to Tucson...not bad for a "slow" month!
What's going on in your community?

Need a place to store your boat or RV, out of the elements?  Got a car collection?  Got more stuff in more places than you want to even think about?  For personal, business or commercial needs, a personal warehouse is a good answer!  Tight, dry, spacious and easily customizable for your specific requirements.

Get rid of the mini-storage!  Reclaim your garage!  Quit spoiling your backyard with yet another shed or canopy!  Get your own personal warehouse at about half the cost of other storage or warehouse options.

Premises Personal Warehouses and the Pepper Group Diversified are proud to announce that this is becoming a reality in Tucson.  With over 300 ecstatic customers in Colorado, Premises is taking reservations for their new Arizona facility.  Arizona Daily Star article