Indian Bend Wash Bike Path, heading south between Indian Bend & McDonald Roads

It’s really pretty easy to get around Scottsdale on a bike.  I can cycle to the bank, the local Albertson’s grocery, or even head down to Trader Joe’s for a few special treats, and pretty much stay on bike paths or lanes.

In 2005, Scottsdale was first recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Silver Level. This was the first time a city without a university received this level of recognition.  This year, Scottsdale’s bike paths were again recognized at the Silver level, an award level that only 12 other cities across the U.S received.  (Tempe was also recognized at the Silver level, and Chandler received the Bronze designation.)

Scottsdale’s network of bicycle friendly roads and paths include:

• 86 miles of bike lanes
• 10 miles of pave shoulders
• 50 miles of bike routes
• 61 miles of pave paths
• 238 miles of unpaved trails

And today, I read that Scottsdale has more bike projects in the works, including:

** Construction of a 10-foot wide multi-use path along the Crosscut Canal between Thomas and Indian Schools roads.

** A tunnel under Chaparral Road to link sections of the multi-use path along the Indian Bend Wash. The improvements will allow users to use the path without having to cross back and forth on Hayden Road.   

** The opening of a tunnel along the Arizona Canal that will allow trail users to go under Goldwater Boulevard and not have to cross traffic.

All projects are scheduled to be completed next winter.

These tunnels will definitely add to an already excellent network of bike paths!

In case you’d like to know a little bit more about cycling in Scottsdale, check out these links, too.

• Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Bike Map 2008 – see how to get from Surprise to Queen Creek via Phoenix and Scottsdale.  Also includes bike path connections to the Light Rail.
• Bicycle Element – Scottsdale Transportation Master Plan – A very interesting 124 page document, with history and plans for bike system.  I learned that the following actions will be targeted for enforcement:
  • Riding against traffic on the roadway
  •  Failure to yield to pedestrians and cyclists riding on the sidewalk
  • Riding at night without lights
  • Violating traffic signal
• Multi-use Path Ordinance – Learn what’s allowed and not on Scottsdale’s multi-use pathways.

We currently have quite a few bank-owned properties listed for sale.  This past week, the seller announced that they besides accepting pre-qualification letters from Wells Fargo and Wachovia, they will also accept Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA).

This was the first I’ve heard of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation before, so did a little homework for you.

From the their web site:

NACA is committed to working with people who do not have access to affordable credit. NACA’s participants, or “Members,” are primarily people who have low-to-moderate income, people who will live in communities that need increased rates of homeownership and revitalization, or people who have difficulty obtaining reasonable and affordable credit.

And…

• NACA provides everyone with one mortgage product, which is the best one available anywhere with No downpayment, No closing costs, No fees, at a below market fixed rate and you do not need perfect credit.
• NACA provides free, personalized, and comprehensive counseling to all Members to address your particular credit and financial issues and help determine a mortgage payment you can afford. NACA’s counseling and underwriting criteria are “character-based” and not based on credit scores and ratios.

The program appears to have extensive education and counselling components to assist a home buyer in learning about the home buying process, costs, and budgeting.  It is a program that is sorely needed at this time, and amazingly the interest rate being quoted on their web site today is 5%.

If you are a first-time home buyer, interested in purchasing a home this year, check out the NACA program.  It may be just what you need to make an educated and affordable home purchase in today’s market.

The Phoenix office is located at:

5212 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 248-4408

I like the way @Tyler Hurst says it: “The rules are simple. Write seven things about yourself and then tag seven people, link to their blogs and ask them to do the same.”

1. I leaned over the handlebars of my tricycle when I was 3 years old, in the garage at the top of the basement stairs, trying to talk to my mom who was downstairs doing laundry.  Next thing, I know I’m flying through the air, then on her lap, crying.  Result: I love to bike ride.  I do wear a helmet, as occasionally, I’m still fearless.
2. I’m an early riser. It started when my son was a toddler, waking up and wondering around the house during the middle of the night.  Sometimes, I justify my early mornings with Benjamin Franklin rattling around in my head. “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
3. My husband had a dark room when I met him.  We’ve been married 21 years, and until this past year, I’ve always deferred to him to be the family photographer.  With the discovery of Flickr, and having my Scottsdale photos picked up for use on blogging articles around the world, I’m starting to feel a little more confident.  I’ve even signed up for a photography class!
4. I believe in the power of the mind.  Think about positive things and they will happen.  For example, when I was looking for my first job after getting my Bachelor’s degree, I attended a job fair where Bell Labs had a booth.  I’d become fascinated with the Snobol language in school, and dreamed of working where it was created.  I walked up to the recruiter, and made some inane remark, like “I’m here.” Six weeks later, I was relocated and reporting to a job that was paying me to get my first Master’s degree.  Still amazing to me, and constant reminder that clarity of thought and intention, coupled with a little patience, works wonders.
5. I trust my gut.  Sometimes, I let my logic and intuition duke it out for awhile, but ultimately, I find that my sub/super conscious are much more in tuned to a situation than my rational mind.
6. One of my life goals has been to be a writer.  I wrote some pretty creative pieces in high school, but when I got to college, I froze up.  Somehow, I managed to put off English 101 and 102, until my senior year.  By that point, I knew who the best instructors were, and had a fabulous time getting to know my inner muse.  I’ve journaled off and on, since then, but until I discovered blogging, never had the inclination to put anything out there for others to read.
7. I’m fascinated by numbers, and was so disappointed to discover that most of the upper level classes I took for my Math degree were actually more about logic than manipulating figures.  Nonetheless, I finished, a bit wiser, and I still think statistics rock. 

Here are seven people I’ve met or hang out with on Twitter, that I’m curious to know more about:

• @wbaustin was my first choice since he’s networked to everyone, yet seems quietly mysterious.  Then, I find out he’s already been tagged.  And in the process, had a wonderful Twitter conversation with him.
• @susieblackman – Cuz she’s a cowboy and has a crazy-fun sense of humor. You can see her at Bucking the Real Estate Trend in western North Carolina.
• @monimcg – Another Realtor, I’d like Monica for a next door neighbor, except that she lives in New Hampshire, which is far too cold for my blood.
• @ElaineHanson - Who caught my attention with her detective attitude for finding the name of a song that was rattling around in my head. She sells real estate in  Topanga, California
• @DaveinTucson – Takes great photos and likes to share what he knows about Tucson Real Estate
• @ScottSambucci – From Altos Research, he digs numbers and stats even more than I do. Scott is A+ when it comes to real estate statistics and customer service.
• @MrBusinessGolf - Scot Duke gets off the hook this time, too.  If you are into business or golf, and on Twitter, or need a solid example of how to use social media to build a business, follow him!

I did this meme thing a couple times before. 

• The (Memorial Day) 2008 Super Meme
• Tagged – Twice in One Day

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming!

1. Who is your favorite musical artist? (post a youtube video)
One of my all-time favorite bands is definitely Boston.

2. Who is your favorite artist (post a flicker photo)

Today, Escher and Downe Burns come to mind… there are so many more.

 or
photo credit: Pingu1963

3. Who is your favorite blogger?

I’m an avid reader and subscribe to many blogs, on real estate, blogging, marketing, education, and women’s issues.  Sometimes, on politics and other topics related to current events.  For me to choose a favorite blogger, would be a total contradiction of who I am.  I read for content, to learn, and to be moved.  There are many great writers out there who blog.  (Thank you.) 

4. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? 

One person that I’d like to meet, or at least sit and listen to, is Buckminster Fuller.  So many ideas.  Or maybe, Leonardo da Vinci.  It’s hard to pick just one.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up? 

I wanted to be a commercial jet pilot.  And then, I found out that my vision wasn’t good enough, so I quickly changed my focus to computers, which I’ve incorporated into my life, in one way or another for 35 years.

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? 

Now this is a scary one, because there’s so much running around in my head that’s not connected to anything.  Stopping to pull out a tidbit could take a moment, or maybe much longer, ….so, I did a Google search and found way too much trivia, and in looking for something funny to post, find that “The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court.”

7. If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why? 

My first response on this one, would be to head into future.  One of the “dreams” that I’ve had for some time, is to be in a plane full of friends, flying into the sunset for 24 hours.  Don’t have any idea if there’s a machine that fly at this speed, but it’s a pretty cool idea, isn’t it?  Seems like it would be a great party.

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held? 

My most interesting job is the one that I’m doing.  I tend to live, eat, and sleep in present time. I immerse myself.  Computers, R&D, sales and marketing, product development, network marketing, real estate.  But now that I’ve put that string of jobs on the table, I’d have to say being a parent has been the most challenging and interesting job I’ve ever had – there’s just no manual and it takes a lot of care, commitment, and creativity, to figure it all out.  Besides making me a more patient and compassionate person, it’s helped me become a much better juggler!

Now, for the next round of the game. Here are the eight people that I will encourage to keep the meme going.  I’m going to select Scottsdale and Phoenix area blogs, so you can meet of few more from our growing local real estate blogging community.

Irene Hammond – McCormick Ranch Blogging is one of three McCormick Ranch real estate blogs. 

John Wake – McCormick Ranch Real Estate and Homes  is the second.

Jamie Geiger – The Real Estate Cactus

Leif Swanson – Ugly House Photos

Craig Frooninckx – Craig’s Arizona

Heather Barr – North Phoenix Agent Blog

Chris Butterworth- The Butterworth Group

Steve Belt – Real Phoenix Living

One of my grand schemes this year was to create a personal blog, where I could comment about things that are important to me, that may probably have nothing to do with selling real estate in Scottsdale.

Today’s YouTube video post at At Home with Dru is about character.  It’s a reminder for us all about the value of working together.

Be well.

(Update 4/7/2009: AtHomeWithDru.com turned out to be one more blog that I could keep up with so, plus Twitter has provided me with the creative and eclectic outlet that I was looking for.  As of today, I’ve moved a couple of my favorite posts here to AtHomeinScottsdale.com and deleted the rest.  Life changes, so do I.  Namaste.)

What is Web 2.0?

I’ve told people that I think like a computer. This video is more like how it is.

However in most Scottsdale zip codes, the prices increases are seen in the upper 25% of the price range.  In the following charts, the first group is defined as lowest 25% priced homes and increase up to the fourth quadrant which includes the highest 25% priced homes.

The time that it takes to sell a home is still increasing, and overall shows no sign of tapering off. 

However, when the data is broken down by home price, it’s easy to see that the lower priced end of the market may be showing some signs of relief.

And then finally, the number of homes being sold has improved since last summer, but shows some signs of tapering off.

As would be expected, homes in the lower price ranges are selling at a higher and more consistent pace, than the upper end of the Scottsdale real estate market.

Scottsdale has weathered the real estate market changes better than many other Phoenix metropolitan cities.  I think it will be interesting to see where the next couple months take us.  As always, comment, email, or call, if you have any questions, or would like more detail.