Arizona Active Adult Communities

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Irene

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Your Mental Health and Where You Live

Today there was a great piece done on the Today Show about how to prevent Alzheimers. Surprisingly it may not be just your genetics but other environmental factors.  The food you eat, your activity level, the stress you experience, and how social you are.

The modern lifestyle may make you miss something else that keeps the brain sharp: Enjoying the company of other people. Your ancestors never had to try to be social, it just came with the territory — they’d just bump into others all the time in the village and talk, he pointed out. So one of the most powerful things people can do is to move to an area with sidewalks, bike lanes and nearby shops so they’re more likely to meet their neighbors and make friends.

Location, Location, Location

Still the most important thing about real estate.  When it comes to your mental well being, have a community where you can easily make and see your friends daily.  Like an Active Adult Community!

Contact me to assist you in finding the right community for you!

Click here for the entire article and videos

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Does Solar Add Value To Your Home?

Yes, No, Maybe

My favorite answer. Frustrating at times but it is true.

Let’s dig down…

Leasing Solar- No

If you are leasing a solar system you don’t own it so it is not adding value to the home.  Even if the solar lease has been pre-paid. The savings you may see on utilities is a bonus to the resident.  But the solar panels when leased do not add value.

Purchased Solar – Yes and Maybe

If you own the solar, it does add value to the home.  You own it and it conveys with the property.  YEAH!

If you purchase Solar and pay the solar off up front, most definitely the solar adds value to your home.  If you paid $30,000 for your solar, don’t expect to get $30,000 back in value.  Remember you also got about 10% back in tax credits, reducing what your out of pocket really was to around $20,000.  Depending on the age of the system, and the KW production of the system the value added will be something around or more likely below the $20,000.

If you purchased Solar with a loan, and you are still paying on that loan, the value added is different.  Like above, you still received your tax credits and may have used them to reduce the loan balance, also reducing your payment.  That is delightful on your wallet, especially over time.  Until you have paid down the loan, and have more equity in the system, the value it gives your home is significantly less.  And as the system ages your equity increases… you are not likely to reach the same value given to the homeowner who pays for the system up front until the loan has been paid off.

See, Yes, No, Maybe

If you are considering Solar, give me a call I am happy to share my knowledge with you.

Irene 480-788-0171

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Best Active Adult Communities If You Are Looking For Wood Working

A recent client was looking for a community with a full wood working shop available to use.  There are not that many.  I headed to my computer and started checking with each community. Many do have wood carving clubs, but only a few are large enough and chose to do full wood working shops.

Here they are

Sun City Festival
Sun City Grand
Sun City West
Sun City
Westbrook Village

Del Webb has put woodworking shops into almost all of their “Sun City” communities – way to go Del Webb!

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Best Arizona Active Adult Communities for Bicycling

I noticed a few themes in the book Younger Next Year… one being STAY ACTIVE.

Not the P90X active, rather get moving and stay moving.

A bike ride is a great way to get your heart pumping.  In the Active Adult Communities, you will see lots of people headed up to the recreation center on their bikes, many of the communities have bicycle paths in and around the community as well.  Making the 55+ communities a great place to get on your bike and get moving.

A few of the Best communities with additional bike paths and trails close by…

Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria has bicycle friendly streets and the Discovery Trail a 3.5 mile paved nature trail system meandering thru the Master Planned  Community of Vistancia.

Heritage Village IV in Scottsdale is close to the Camelback Walk, a paved multi use path along the parks and golf courses in Scottsdale.

The City of Gilbert is utilizing the natural washes for bicycle and walking paths, and are easily accessed from Trilogy at Power Ranch.

Trilogy at Verde River   Rio Verde, Tonto Verde  are right around the corner from McDowell Mountain Regional Park, where 15 miles of mountain bike trails await, trails are marked for beginner up to expert.  This is a popular location for mountain bike racing too!

MountainBrook Village in Gold Canyon is close to several different mountain bike trails, most with some hilly terrain.

 

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The Best Arizona Active Adult Communities with Mountain Views

There is something more than majestic to mountain views.  They draw us to them like any aspect of nature.  They help us stay calm, focused and centered.  It is not surprising that people love a home that has a beautiful view of the Mountains.

The challenge is building homes on a hillside is much costlier than building on flat land.

Most of the Phoenix area Valley of the Sun is flat as well.  We do have Mountains surrounding the city.   Where will you have the best chance of having magnificent Mountain Views?  In the communities closest to the biggest mountains.

The most significant mountains in the area are to the north and east of Phoenix; Tonto National Forrest, and Superstition Mountains.  There are a few other notable mountains scattered around as well.

In the northeast, the views of Tonto Nationa Forrest and McDowell Mountains from Rio Verde, Tonto Verde and Trilogy at Verde River are truly spectacular. Then I would head to Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch, the terraced lots have created amazing views from many of the home sites.  Heading out to Gold Canyon the views of the Superstitions are awesome at Mountain Brook Village.  Next on my list would be to the north of Tucson the SaddleBrook Communitieswith views of the Catalina’s.

This next group have fewer homes with mountain views, but views are available.  I then would go to Canta Mia next to the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, and Sun City Festivalwith views of the White Tank Mountains.  Lastly I include Solera at Jonson Ranch located next to the San Tan Mountains.

Rio Verde & Tonto Verde
Trilogy at Verde River
Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch
Mountain Brook Village
SaddleBrook Communities
Canta Mia
Sun City Festival
Solera at Jonson Ranch