http://www.mytucsonblog.com Everything you need to know about Tucson and Real Estate - and then some Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:24:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The emails have started increasing already, fielding requests for rental homes for February.  And while my company doesn't deal in rentals at all (try Bidegain Realty or Tucson Realty and Trust), the increased inquiries can only mean one thing. It's time for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/tucson-events/tucson-gem-and-mineral-show/ Request via email: I would love to see a blog entry or entries on the theme of "here are some features you should look for in an Arizona home, and here's why they're important.". Maybe the opposite too, things to avoid? For example, is a pool ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/tucson-homes-explained/by-request-important-features-of-an-arizona-home/ Question from the audience: Lender X is offering a 4 month pre-approval, free lock, and a onetime float-down after the lock. Obviously, I would like to lock into current rates.  I'm trying to figure out when to get pre-approved and lock. I don't want to lock ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/loans-and-financing/evaluating-a-home-loan-pre-approval/ Happy New Year's Eve! As much as we look toward the future around this time of year, I thought we'd take a minute and consider where we went in 2008.  So without further ado... The Top 10 Highest Visited Content in 2008: ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/odds-and-ends/the-2008-blog-retrospective/ I was interviewing my Sellers the other day for a new listing in Oro Valley that I'm taking - learning from them what their favorite things about their house ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/about-tucson/oro-valley-marketplace/ Wow.  I think the local newspaper just declared bottom, in a round-about way.  Bold move?  Not the typical spin, anyway.  Read it here.  http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/273542 (It'll hide behind a free registration in a week.) http://www.mytucsonblog.com/market-discussion/did-the-arizona-daily-star-just-declare-bottom/ Hattip to Tucson architect Jake Boen of the In Place Architecture Blog. Found a post in my reader this morning from local architect Jake about the return on investment of various green remodeling projects and upgrades, quoting GreenAndSave.com where they've got a master table of anticipated ROI. It's ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/repair-renovate-maintain/roi-of-green-remodeling-projects/ Landed in my inbox today, a proposed rule change, if I understand the message correctly: MLS Rule Change for Short Sales Section 3.18- Short Sales: As used in these rules, short sales are defined as a transaction where title ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/home-buying/proposed-rule-change-for-short-sales-in-the-tucson-mls/ Now, I'm no plumber, but this looks like polybutylene pipe to me.  The right color, the brass clamp fittings, the house was built in the early 1990's... This is a shot of the master shower in one of my listings, a lender owned gigantic home on the West side, ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/bank-owned-homes/fun-with-polybutylene-and-lender-owned-homes/ There's an article in the Tucson Weekly this week about foreclosures in Tucson, and one homeowner who negotiated with his bank to stop foreclosure and stay in his home.  You can read the story here. It's an interesting reflection on the foreclosure market in Tucson, from the cause of ... http://www.mytucsonblog.com/bank-owned-homes/tucson-weekly-reports-on-foreclosures/