Kathy Anderson

Looking for Foreclosures in Sun City Grand or the other retirement communities?

2009-05-22T16:31:00Z

In case you haven't already seen them, I have been creating new search catagories for buyers looking for the foreclosures in our Arizona retirement communities. We don't have many that come up at any given time (and they aren't all great deals) but for those who want to keep track, just click on the links below.

One word of caution though... if it is truly a GREAT deal, you have to move quickly as they are likely to have multiple offers in the first 24 hours of hitting the MLS. The homes that linger on the market are the ones that aren't the best deals for one reason or another.

Sun City Grand foreclosures

Corte Bella foreclosures

Sun City Festival foreclosures (none as of this writing... but stay tuned)

What is a Short Sale?

2009-05-22T16:23:00Z

I just posted an article on my Active Rain blog regarding Corte Bella short sales, not to mention short sales in general. I have also created some new search catagories for several of the Arizona retirement communities. If you have any questions about short sales, please don't hesitate to call or email me.

Summertime... To list? Or not to list? That is the question

2009-05-09T01:34:00Z

If you've been told homes won't sell in the active retirement communities during the summer, you were horribly mislead. Homes DO sell in the summer and because the inventories are down during those warm months, the homes that ARE on the market get quite a bit of traffic.

We have serious buyers that roll into town with the sole intention of purchasing their home for the next season. Some of them come to town with the belief they will get a better deal during the summer because "houses don't sell then in Arizona and the sellers must be desperate".

Guess what? Many of those buyers find themselves competing with other buyers for the same “deal”. As a result, I've found the prices tend to be a little more stable during the summer. Why is this? It’s pretty simple. It comes down to supply and demand.

If you have a home in great condition that is correctly priced, the chances are very good it will be under contract before fall rolls around. You might even have multiple offers to sort through. No joke! I’ve seen it happen in this market. I've also seen homes go under contract within days or weeks of hitting the market because the demand can exceed the supply of certain models.

Another, perhaps more important, reason not to wait to list your home is that in a declining market waiting will cost you money. While home sales in some of our communities have remained fairly strong, none of us can predict when the bottom will come. Waiting four or five months can cost you serious equity as the prices continue to go down. Then, about the time you want to list YOUR home, 20 other people with the same model do so as well.

Once again, it’s all about supply and demand. Personally, I would rather not have as much competition to sell my home. Just a thought…

Investor Opportunity in Sun City Grand

2009-01-29T19:37:00Z

Unique opportuntiy to purchase the largest condo available in Sun City Grand for the rock bottom price of only $120,000. Click on the link below to see the listing and give me a call if you have any questions.

http://www.kathyandersonrealtor.com/Surprise/Arizona/Homes/Sun_City_Grand/Agent/Listing_2184835.html

Spring Training Anyone?

2009-01-04T17:44:00Z

For those of you looking forward to heading south in March & for those of us lucky enough to already live here...

Tickets are on sale now for the Surprise Spring Training season. Click HERE for more information. To see the schedule, click HERE.

Every year I tell myself I'm going to get to at least one game. Unfortunately (or fortunately), my clients have been kept me too busy the last couple of years. At least there are a few night games. So this is the year. Maybe I'll see you there.

Sun City Grand December Sales

2009-01-02T18:45:00Z

I'm not making you wait for this report. I'm anticipating being crazy busy again soon and didn't want to delay getting it out. Click on the link below to see what sold in December in Sun City Grand

Sold in Sun City Grand - December 2008

One thing I should make you aware of... the price showing up as the list price on my reports, is not necessarily a complete picture of the history of these homes. Many of you have monitored individual homes and have seen them go off the market and come back on... at a lower price. Or, you may have actually watched a series of price reductions while listed with the same realtor. (No big surprise since we HAVE been in a declining market for the last 3+ years).

Just know, that when it comes time to buy (or sell) your home, if you are working with me, you will be given a complete history of any and all homes that are of interest.

Finally!!! Updated Sold Reports for Sun City Grand

2008-12-21T15:58:00Z

Sorry to all of you who like to monitor these reports. I have been extremely busy (surprise, surprise!) and this was the first week I had to get caught up. As soon as the economy started tanking, my phone started ringing off the hook. I had several new listings that sold in a matter of days as well as buyer clients of my own in town.

No one was more surprised than I was over the flurry of activity. I thought for sure the day the stock market started sliding, sales would come to a screeching halt. Could it be people are looking for a place to move their money to? If you are planning on owning a retirement getaway and expect to use it for several years, this is probably a pretty good investment. I just read again in AARP that one of the more than 76 million boomers turns 50 every 7.5 seconds. And with people looking for warmer winter climates, Arizona will continue to be the destination of choice for many.

I think this could be a busy year for sales in Sun City Grand. In fact, many of the areas most active realtors are seeing an uptick in activity like me. There are a lot of baby boomers that have been sitting on the fence for the last couple of years. With interest rates still at an all time historical low... and with the home prices close to what they were 4 & 5 years ago, I think some have decided to make their move. It will be an interesting year to say the least.

Click on the links below to see recent closed escrows in Sun City Grand

Sold in Sun City Grand - September 2008
Sold in Sun City Grand - October 2008
Sold in Sun City Grand - November 2008

Archived Sales in Sun City Grand

Homes Sold in Sun City Grand - August 2008

2008-09-03T15:33:00Z

I just posted the August sales figures for Sun City Grand. Click HERE to take you to the page.

The City of Surprise Would Like You to Participate in a History Project

2008-09-03T15:30:00Z

The City of Surprise, Arizona Would Like YOU to Participate in a History Project

Did you know Surprise, Arizona was named after developer Homer C. Ludden's hometown of Surprise, Nebraska? Well, as a resident, in the next couple of years you will probably be hearing more about the history of our city.

The City of Surprise, AZ is turning 50 in the year 2010. In order to commemorate the big anniversary they are asking residents to participate.

If you have old photos, newspaper clippings or stories to tell about our fair city, organizers would like to include them in a history book or video. You could even have your 15 minutes of fame on film while they video tape you telling your story.

It sounds like a fun project. If you have anything you'd like to contribute, just call Sherry Aguilar at 623.222.1220 or e-mail her at clerk@surpriseaz.com . To see some of the pictures the planners already have, click HERE.

Surprise Senior Center Newsletter & Activities

2008-09-03T15:28:00Z

Surprise, Arizona - Senior Center Newsletter for September 2008

The September 2008 issue of the Surprise, Arizona Senior Center newsletter is out.

Click HERE to see it.

Just because the thermostat is in the triple digits doesn't mean you have to be cooped up inside. Did all your friends leave for cooler climates?

Head out to the Surprise Senior Center and make some new friends. In addition to your own community activities, there are many trips and activities you can participate in here.

Click HERE to view the Senior Center Calendar

Click HERE to view the Senior Center Lunch Menu

National Tennis Championship is Coming to Surprise, AZ

2008-09-03T15:24:00Z

Save the Date - the USTA National Campus Championship is coming to Surprise, AZ in April 2009

Join the United States Tennis Association "Tennis On Campus" program for the 2009 USTA National Campus Championship in Surprise, Arizona, April 16-18, 2009. Click HERE for a printable brochure. The action will be taking place at

The Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex
14469 W. Paradise Lane
Surprise, Arizona

The new Surprise complex is one of the premier public tennis facilities in the country and expected to attract some big names in the future. Come enjoy the championship in Surprise, Arizona, and look for more to come.

New Connecting Road affects Sun City West & Corte Bella

2008-09-03T15:22:00Z

New Connecting Road affects Sun City West & Corte Bella

Work on El Mirage and Deer Valley Road has started (Click on the link to see the full report plus a map of the work to be done)

Starting Monday, July 14, 2008, the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) contractor will begin roadway construction of a new segment of El Mirage Road extending from Deer Valley Road to SR Loop 303. The project will construct a new six-lane (three travel lanes in each direction) roadway extension of El Mirage Road from Deer Valley Drive to Williams Road and widen the existing El Mirage Road between Williams Road and SR Loop 303. Construction is scheduled for completion in Spring 2009.

The new road will border the east boundaries of Sun City West & Corte Bella, opening up a much needed passage from Bell Rd to the Loop 303. Many Sun City West and Corte Bella residents that back up to the proposed road may be unhappy as this will undoubtedly affect future property appreciation values. Unfortunately the needs of many have outweighed the concerns of some.

Look at the Future Plans of the NW Valley Freeways

2008-09-03T15:20:00Z

ADOT Plans for the Northwest Valley Freeways Servicing Surprise, Arizona

I just came across this pdf file I thought would be of interest to those of you already living in the Surprise, Arizona area as well as to those of you anticipating a move. The presentation was created in April of 2007 and shows the expected growth of the area (pages 7 & 8), US 60 (Grand Ave) improvements, and the Loop 303 Freeway corridor development (page 24 and on).

It will be interesting to watch the progress. Click the link below to take you to the file.

http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/Valley_Freeways/Loop_303/North/PDF/042507_L303_Pres_GrandDemocrats.pdf

Surprise, AZ is One of the Safest Cities in the U.S.

2008-09-03T15:17:00Z

Surprise, Arizona - Ranked 33rd Safest City in the U.S.

The attached article is not new. The information actually came out in November of 2007 so the ranking may have changed some since then. The reason I am posting this now? I have clients that ask me all the time, "just how safe is Surprise?". So when I came across this article I decided to make it available to anyone interested. Click on the link below to take you there.

http://mountaingatewest.com/pdf/surprise_safest_city.pdf

Homes Sold in Sun City Grand - July 2008

2008-08-02T02:43:00Z

I just posted the July sales figures for Sun City Grand. Click HERE to take you to the page.