Entries from January 2008 ↓

Yes, McDonald’s is going upscale with the first restaurant of it’s kind in the state.  Featuring plasma screen tvs, wireless internet access, a toddler play area and booths with high leather backs.  Ooo la la!

An upscale exterior will complete the look with  glass and metal, striped awnings, and a double-lane drive-through. Customers in the drive-through lane will be able to look through a window into the kitchen before reaching the pick-up window.  Hmmmm.  I’m not sure I want to see the kitchen before I order, but OK.

The new restaurant will be located at Val Vista and Pecos near the new San Tan Village.  Have you been to the new San Tan Village?  It’s pretty amazing.  And now…with this gourmet McDonald’s, you’ll have somewhere to take your upscale toddler!

Rande Gerber, known by some as Cindy Crawford’s husband, and his brother, Scott, are opening Stone Rose, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess just in time for Maxim’s big Superbowl party Friday night.  Watch for Cindy, Brad Pitt & Cuba Gooding to hit the 45×45 foot dance floor that is being built over a pool. 

Last night, Pamela Anderson dressed in her signature “sexy mama” attire joined Phoenix Suns Shawn Marion at Venue in Scottsdale for Wednesday night’s Hearts and Helmets Celebrity Party and Poker Tournament where tickets at the door were going for $1000 a head, with proceeds going to charity.

Other Suns players attending the event were Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Grant Hill along with  Atlanta Falcons Ovie Mughelli, and Olympic Gold winner Dan O’Brien.

Brad Pitt AND George Clooney.  How will the valley contain all that beauty?

 This information was provided by Amy Jones, a multi-million dollar top producing Realtor. For more information visited Chandler Arizona Real Estate. Amy specializes in residential, vacation homes & cabins, as well as retirement communities in the communities of Ahwatukee, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, Tempe and the White Mountains communities of Pinetop/Lakes & Show Low.  Search the Arizona MLS

I will be the first to tell you I was born without a “sports gene”.  My husband will concur.  I really think I’d be more tempted to sit down and watch a game if I didn’t have to listen to all the sportscaster’s commentary.  Women have always taken the rap about being incessant chatterers.  I take it whoever started .that rumor had never listened to a sportscaster…blahblahblah.  It makes my teeth itch. 

That being said, having the Superbowl come to town doesn’t excite me all that much.  BUT…WAIT…Hollywood typically shows up at events like this and that does make it a bit more interesting.

So, Starwatch 2008 is in full swing. 

Heading the list in my personal opinion are George Clooney, Will Smith, Vince Vaughn and Will Farrell who are scheduled to attend the Creative Artistis Agency part at the Mondrian Scottsdale on Feb. 2

Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James, Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey and Nick Lachey who will be attending an invitation only party at upscale Skye Restaurant in Peoria on Feb. 2 starting at 7 pm.  Backtracking here…Skye will also be hosting Jordin Sparks and some of the other Idol runner-ups (there’s actually a photo of Sanjaya on the Skye promo page, does that mean he’ll be there too?) who will be performing on Jan. 30 and P. Diddy on Feb 1.

Ashlee Simpson will be performing on Jan. 30 at Myst in Scottsdale.

On Feb 2, Rapper and actor Ice-T and his wife, Coco, will preside over the DMS Bowl 2008 after-party also at Myst (taking over for Jamie Foxx who cancelled due to scheduling conflicts) following a concert that night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum by Akon, T-Pain, Ne-Yo, Fabolous and Eddie Griffin. They’re expected at the party, along with Black Street, Guy and Doug E. Fresh. (Ok, who are these people?)

944 Magazine is turning four acres of Scottsdale waterfront into the “Epicenter of Entertainment” or so they say.  Celebrities and Special Events From Thursday-Sunday of Super Bowl XLII Week include Wyclef Jean, Fall Out Boy, 50 Cent, Paris Hilton, Velvet Revolver, Juliette and The Licks, Paul Oakenfold to Own the Night. (I recognize a couple of these…just what is Paris going to do?)

Axis/Radius performances on Thursday, Friday & Saturday include performances by Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock, P. Diddy and Nick Lachey.

Mary J. Blige and Maroon 5 will kick off the first concert in the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m.

A gospel concert will bring Patti LaBelle and Donnie McClurkin to Phoenix Symphony Hall on Jan. 31. Rap star Ludacris will be the big draw at a Feb. 2 show at the Celebrity Theatre.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be performing during the halftime Show (this is the part of the game I will actually watch).

A post event reception where you can meet Jay Leno.  Tickets for this event started at $50,000 and are, sadly, sold out.  Sorry Jay, I had to take a pass (hey… isn’t that a football term?)

There’s a whole slew of famous athletes who are going to be hosting parties at their namesake restaurants or at the very least attending a party, but I wouldn’t know them if I saw them.

Starwatch Superbowl 2008 continues….

For more Information visit Chandler Arizona Real Estate.  This information was provided by Amy Jones, a multi-million dollar top producing Realtor with RE/MAX Elite. Amy specializes in residential, vacation homes & cabins, as well as retirement communities in the communities of Ahwatukee, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, Tempe and the White Mountains communities of Pinetop/Lakes & Show Low.  Search the Arizona MLS

A recent headline in the Arizona Republic forcast a depressed market for the next 5 years in the Phoenix Metro area.  Woe-is-us. 

But I was just thinking.  If I was a home buyer sitting on the fence and waiting for home prices to bottom out, this would be just the announcement I would need to say “5 years? I’m not waiting 5 years to buy a house!”

So I’m all for spreading the word that our homes prices are probably not going to appreciate very well over the next 5 years.  Buyers, Come and Get it Now!

Canadian buyers have been contacting me every week to get the low down on our market and are scheduling visits to purchase vacation homes and investment properties. I am currently working with many Canadian buyers who have visited or are planning to visit in the next few months.

Why?

• The weakening US Dollar (For the first time since the 70’s, we have parity with the Canadian dollar).
• Word on the street in Canada is the US is headed for recession and you can pick up a great deal on a home that is sure to appreciate in the future.
• A record inventory of value-priced homes for sale in the Phoenix Metro area.
• The Canadian housing market has experienced double digit appreciation recently making homes less affordable, but on the plus side, giving Canadians access to equity lines of credit one their homes allowing for investment funds.
• Combined with great airfare rates from Canada to Phoenix, the word is spreading throughout Canada that Arizona is the place to buy.
• Last, but not least…Our weather (of course)!

Developers in the Phoenix metro area are hosting seminars all over Canada promoting their communities. Canadians are wisely contacting Realtors in the valley to get the skinny on these hyped communities which aren’t always the best values contrary to what Developers are reporting.

Sellers here welcome the opportunity for ANYONE to look at their homes in today’s market and ask me “Exactly what are Canadians looking for in a home?”

My buyers from Canada are looking for a wide range of homes styles & price ranges. Obviously, like anyone, they are looking for a “great buy”. However, most are looking for amenities in a home that says “Arizona resort property”. A home they could rent out part of the year and use as a vacation home for up to 6 months a year. This means most are looking for a home with a private pool and close to a golf course with a golf course view being preferable.

Homes in Queen Creek and Maricopa are of particular interest to many of our Northern neighbors for the values that can be had in those communities. The only concerns with these communities are the lack of shopping and amenities including restaurants and other entertainment venues found in some of the slightly higher priced communities. Chandler’s Ocotillo area as well as the Ahwatukee Foothills are prime locations for these buyers.

Some are partnering with other Canadian buyers to purchase a high end property to use similar to a time-share, each buyer using the property for a specific period of time. This is a great investment strategy. They will all profit from our market when it turns around and, at the same time, have a resort property to use as they please. These buyers are focusing on Scottsdale, Paradise Valley & Fountain Hills properties with fabulous view lots and all the bells and whistles of an elite property priced at 1 Million plus.

There are also those who are looking for condos and townhomes that offer the freedom of no exterior upkeep as well as great locations close to amenities of dining, shopping & entertainment.

The Million Dollar question is “Will Canadian Buyers save our Real Estate Market?”  Well, with over 55,000 homes currently active on the Arizona Regional MLS, the answer is “not likely”.   But a Buyer is a Buyer and the only way we’re going to correct our market is to reduce our inventory….one house at a time.  So I say to buyers from all over the world, “Welcome to Arizona”!