The Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors has this phenomenal leadership program, and I was nominated and selected for Class XV.  For the past seven weeks, I’ve been spending a day or two a week with thirteen other Realtors learning about the inner workings and offerings that make Scottsdale what it it is.

I have learned so much about this city and what it offers its residents and will share as much as I can here as time permits, since we still four weeks to go.

So far, we’ve had days that included learning about Scottsdale city government, several major businesses, an arts and culture day, the police department, and this past week, we spent a day with the fire department at their training facility (which was absolutely phenomenal).

Our  Class XV has assumed the moniker of Feisty Fifteen.  Feisty as in “full of animation, energy, or courage; spirited; spunky”.  We most definitely are that, and more.

As a group, we’ve bonded. And, as leaders in our community, we are growing and evolving.

Bob Peirce, the CEO of the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors, is retiring at the end of this year, and through this program I’ve had the incredible opportunity to spend more time with this phenomenal human being and supporter of both Scottsdale and the Realtor community. 

This leadership program has been Bob’s “baby” over the years and what a special time it has been.

Thank you, Bob.

For the opportunity. For all you do. And for what we all have learned from you about being a truly gracious and effective leader.

Plus,  more good news:

Amazon is one of about a dozen companies that have signed major leases in the area this year, and five more are expected in the next six months, said Barry Broome, president and chief executive of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Most of the companies are looking to expand manufacturing operations and to house inventory, he said.

One of the most positive articles I’ve read on the commercial real estate market in Phoenix in a long time.

You can read it here: Phoenix Rising Like, Well, a Phoenix

Citizens owning a residence or small business south of Indian Bend Road in Scottsdale will have an opportunity to get a free energy audit.  Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $230,000 has been allocated to Scottsdale for the Community Energy Audit program.  The audit will provide recommendations on how to make homes or businesses more energy efficient.   Audits will include air leakage testing, heating and cooling system evaluations and a review of a property’s last 12 months of utility bills.

Program participants will receive a  report summarizing audit findings and outlining recommendations and incentives for making energy efficiency improvements.

Residents and business owners will be financially responsible for making improvements should they choose to implement the auditor’s recommendations. 

For specific information about the program or to fill out an application, visit www.ScottsdaleAz.gov/greenbuilding/energyaudits or call (480) 312-4309.

Echo Coffee opened a little over a month ago, and fills a much-needed niche in South Scottsdale.  Locals were some of the first through the door, and they congratulated, and thanked, owner Steve Belt, for opening an independent coffee shop in their neighborhood.

From its Grand Opening press release:

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (05.04.10)- Offering a fresh outlook on starting your day with a friendly smile, Echo Coffee has opened in South Scottsdale with the motto that the community around the coffee shop is what’s most important.  From the modern comfortable décor to the numerous meeting spots throughout, Echo Coffee hopes customers will not only grab a great cup of coffee, but take a few minutes to relax and maybe meet a new friend.  

The store has been open for less than two weeks, and already Echo has seen a steady stream of coffee enthusiasts interested in the modern but homey coffee shop. Belt, former real estate agent, always loved his time spent in coffee shops and wanting a change in pace.  His new venture emphasizes this more tranquil outlook on life.  “I loved starting my day by coming to a coffee shop, sitting and talking with my neighbors and colleagues. In my shop I wanted to combine a great product with a viable third place location.”        

Each drip coffee is made to order at the pour over bar, where the barista pours hot water over the freshly ground coffee.  Belt has hired chef Carylann Wootton, formerly of Liberty Market in Gilbert, to create a menu emphasizing fresh, organic ingredients.  The pastries and light lunch menu include fare such as pecan and cranberry salad, curry chicken sandwich, hot pressed Italian sandwich, and various scones, breads, and pastries.

I stopped in early on and got a coffee roasting demonstration from Steve.

From green coffee beans…..

…. to the beautifully roasted.

And, of course, Steve sells these fresh beans by the pound, too.

Great coffee…

I find myself looking for an excuse to head over to grab an exceptional cup of coffee and catch up with Steve.  Not only am I glad to see a new business opening in South Scottsdale, it’s wonderful to see a friend going after a dream and doing it well.

The food is excellent too!  Menu

To contact Echo Coffee, visit www.echocoffee.com, or call 480-422-4081.

Echo Coffee on Facebook

Echo Coffee on Twitter

Echo Coffee is located at 2902 North 68th Street on the northwest corner of 68th Street and Thomas Road.  Business hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

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photo credit: Gangplank HQ

We are getting to the time of year, where gift giving can become a big thing, when it’s often the act of opening one’s heart that gives the biggest sense of satisfaction. Sharing your time and expertise is a gift that just keeps on giving.

The City of Scottsdale social services arm, Vista del Camino has a need for volunteers in its career center, specifically business people who will contribute a couple hours a week to help job-searchers with resume writing, interviewing skills, and on-line job searching techniques.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE VISTA DEL CAMINO CAREER CENTER

Vista del Camino, Scottsdale’s social services center, is seeking volunteers to work in its career center.

The center is seeking citizens able to volunteer for up to four hour blocks of time weekdays anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Vista del Camino Career Center provides online and individual assistance to people who are working to secure employment in Maricopa County.

Services provided by the career center include computer aided resume writing assistance, job search assistance, interview skills assistance and job counseling.

Individuals with a background in business, human resource management, or other related areas, and who may have special skills in resume writing, online job searches, and interviewing skills will feel right at home in the career center.

Duties include providing technical and educational assistance, answering the phone in the career center, checking citizens in and out and monitoring the use of office machines. For more information about volunteering, call Pat Leos at (480) 312-0063.

Today’s article at AZCentral.com, 3 experts sift through rubble of Valley market for signs of life, gives some insights, and shows that there’s not any one clear answer.  I think it’s worth the time to read, whether you are considering making a move, or not.

A couple of the quotes that confirm what I’m seeing:

Jay Butler: There’s no such thing as a national housing market. There’s no such thing as a Maricopa County housing market. It’s really what’s happening in your neighborhood. Some neighborhoods are holding up. There’s very little turnover, and people are very happy. . . . In others, you’re going to get foreclosures and sellers cutting prices to get out.

… and

R.L. Brown: It’s the best time to buy a house that we’ve seen in at least the last three years. Decide where you want to live, and then start focusing on that neighborhood. When you see the “for sale” signs start disappearing, it’s a clue that the area is in the process of recovery. Then prices in that neighborhood have probably bottomed out, and you’d better make your move.

My experience over that past three months is showing that some sellers are very in tuned to the market.  I had two listing appointments Saturday morning and in both cases, the owners were very close to where my analysis showed that a suggested listing price would be. 

However, other sellers still have a presumption that their house is better than any other in the neighborhood.  I represented a buyer last week, who walked away from a home purchase negotiation, because the non-local seller just did not see that her home was overpriced by 10%.  This buyer was savvy as to the market, nervous about buying in today’s market, but in a situation where it was the right time for her to make a purchase…. as long as she didn’t overpay.

The interview definitely covers a lot more ground, in regards to credit, recession, and remodeling. I do suggest at least scanning if you have any interest in our local real estate market.

Other related reading:

Experts Weigh in on Housing Market

Phoenix Real Estate: What do the numbers say?

McCormick Parkway Communities – Market Report 

Valley population gains moderating

Last year, Maricopa County (home to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and most of the metropolitan Phoenix area) was the fastest growing county in the U.S. based on number of residents added, according to a just released census estimate.  Our growth has slowed, yet the county is still growing, adding more than 100,000 residents last year, which the author indicates is “so far is the lowest rate this decade, but still enough to call it a boom.”

And where are our new residents coming from:

• 40% of the increase is from natural causes (births)
• 39% are moving here from other states
• 21% are moving to Maricopa county from other countries

That means that approximately 60,000 people moved to Phoenix last year and need to buy or rent a home.  165 people have been moving to Maricopa County a day.  Wow. 

So if you are thinking about a move to the Phoenix Metropolitan area, please know that Elliot D. Pollack has excellent economic data and forecasts on his ArizonaEconomy.com web site.  From there, you will find that the majority of our new residents, relocating from other parts of the country, are coming from California, the “Rust Belt”, other states in the Southwest, and the Northeast.

One of his recent reports, “Greater Phoenix Economy: What you need to know….”, has a wealth of information for a business person considering a move to the Phoenix area. In reading this report, I was taken back to my grade school days, where we were taught that Arizona was developed on the 4 C’s: Cattle, Copper, Cotton, and Citrus.  (In this report, an obvious fifth C has been added – Climate!)

Today, Phoenix’s economy is based on:

• Aerospace
• High-tech
• Advanced Business Services
• Transportation, Distribution, & Wholesale Trade
• Tourism
• Retirement & Second Home

Every time I read one of these reports, I get excited about living in Arizona, and specifically, the Phoenix-Scottsdale area:

Here are a few more of the “fun facts” that I discovered, or was reminded, of this morning:

• Phoenix is sunny 86% of the year (compare to Seattle at 43% and Chicago at 54%)
• The median age in the area is 33, lower than the national average of 35 years.
• Phoenix is the #4 move-to destination for young, single, educated adults.
• When compared to peer metro areas, Phoenix ranks 6th in median household income (when adjusted for cost of living)

So while real estate sales have slowed, and there’s much discussion about whether or not we are in a recession, I like to operate from the “glass half full” perspective and see that the job market in Phoenix has evolved, we still have great weather, and people moving to the area still need a place to live.

If you have any questions or would like some more info about the area, just let me know.