Phoenix: Home of the Fizzies

Okay, as if we haven't given you enough reasons already to move to the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas, here is another one: Phoenix is the exclusive test market for a new/old product called Fizzies. Fizzies are tablets that were popular in the 50's that flavor drinking water, turning them into a soft drink.

The company that is manufacturing the product has chosen Phoenix because of the large number of senior citizens here. The company is betting that the older population will be more likely to remember the product and purchase it for their younger relatives, thus spreading word about the product.

Fizzies come in seven flavors, including lemon lime, fruit punch, and root beer. They are a healthier alternative to colas, as they are made from Splenda and contain Vitamin C. They are available in area Hi-Health stores.

So there you go. Not only is this the land of the sun, but we have soft drinks you can't get anywhere else!

If you are considering relocating to the Phoenix or Scottsdale areas, please contact Choice Group Realty today.

Branded Cities: the Future of Real Estate?

Westgate City Center is 223 acre $850 million development located near Glendale, Arizona. The "mini-city" will include work and recreational projects, as well as 2,200 condos. The development is located near two major sports venues, Jobing.com arena (the home of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team) and the University of Phoenix stadium, which will be hosting the 2008 Super Bowl. Annual visitation to the city is expected to be around 22 million.

What's really interesting is that the development represents the beginning of a new wave of branding initiatives by major companies. Nissan has signed on as the "Official Automobile of Westgate City Center" and will have a major presence through the city.

The concept is being spearheaded by the Branded Cities division of Clear Channel Outdoor, a company that specializes in billboards and other forms of outside advertising. For its sponsorship dollars, Nissan will get signage on three 100 foot tall Times Square style media boards, product placement at numerous other locations throughout the city, and live events sponsorships. Nissan will also be the sponsor of many sporting events and related broadcasts, such as ESPN pre-game shows.

With 20 to 30 large multimedia boards, the city will very much be a live, branded advertising environment, which Nissan will largely control. So is this the future of real estate? Or just a fad? We think it's very likely this could be a major development, especially as real estate prices continue to escalate. By building tightly controlled mini-city environments and attaching it to corporate sponsorships, economies of scale can be achieved. It may be cheaper to live in places like this, where large companies are pouring money in to get their marketing message across. But do people really want to live in an environment surrounded by advertisements? Only time will tell. We're still rather partial to the idea of having one's own house and back yard.

Choice Group Realty knows Phoenix/Scottsdale real estate. If you're looking for the home of your dreams, call us today!

Real Estate Advice: Have Faith. Have Patience.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've probably heard about the difficulties the real estate/mortgage industries are suddenly having. There are a lot of homes on the market, and credit has gotten very tight. Some of the largest mortgage companies in the world are in very real danger. And a lot of people are losing their homes.

Our advice?

Have faith!

If you are looking for a new home but are worried that it may be out of your reach, here is what we advise you to do. Create a picture in your mind of your ideal home. Envision it. Hold that picture there every day. Then start talking to people who can help you find that home. If you're searching for a home in the areas of Scottsdale or anywhere else around Phoenix, then please call us...for example. And finally, have faith! If you want it bad enough, it can happen. It may take longer than you would like, but don't give up.

If you're trying to sell your home, our number one piece of advice is to have patience. If you are in too big a hurry, you will likely have to take less for your home than you would like, especially in the current market. And the same advice as above applies - envision selling your home to the perfect buyer at the perfect price, find the right people to help you, and have faith.

Choice Group Realty will do whatever we can to help you find the perfect home in the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas, so please call us today!

Scottsdale Winter Wonderland Raises Money for Good Cause

Here's a fun news item: Market Street Park on Pima Road in North Scottsdale will host Summer Snowball this Saturday, Aug. 18th. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, and admission is $10.00. Scheduled activities include art projects, a snowball throwing contest, and shaving cream-sculptured hair styles.

Proceeds from Summer Snowball benefit Homeward Bound, a program that helps families with children that have faced domestic violence or homelessness. Participants are also being encouraged to bring school supplies and canned foods.

DC Ranch Community Foundation is sponsoring the event. The organization works to enhance educational opportunities for community members and students.

Arizona: Be Careful in the Sun

Many people are drawn to Arizona because of the incredible amount of sunlight we get here. There is no doubt that the sun can be very good for you, both mentally and physically. It just makes you feel good...but you need to be careful! As with most things in life, moderation is the key.

To receive the health benefits of Arizona's intense sunlight, you only need a few minutes of exposure a day. Beyond that, you risk getting skin cancer. So it is very important to cover yourself with a strong sunscreen, and if possible, light-colored clothing. Contrary to what you might think, light clothing will actually keep you cooler.

To help combat the ill effects of overexposure to the sun, the Arizona Cancer Center has opened up the Skin Cancer Institute. A major area of activity for the institute will be public awareness and education about how to protect yourself from the sun. It also has sophisticated equipment which can be used to take a close look at moles and lesions for signs of skin cancer. The institute has two locations: Scottsdale and Tucson.

Scottsdale is blessed with some of the finest health care in the world, being home to the world famous Mayo Clinic and other fine medical facilities. Thankfully, now we have one of the top institutes to help us stay safe from our wonderful, but potentially deadly, sunlight.

Choice Group Realty knows Scottsdale and Phoenix area real estate. If you would like help finding your perfect home in the land of the sun, call us today.

Home Bargains Available in Outskirt Areas of Phoenix

If you are looking to move into the Phoenix area and are highly concerned with finding a nice home at a bargain price, you might want to look in one of the areas on the outskirts of Phoenix, such as El Mirage, Buckeye, and Gilbert. There is a rising trend in some of these areas of home owners getting behind on their mortgages and trying to sell before losing their homes. While this trend certainly has its negatives, the fact is that it is a positive for a bargain-seeking home purchaser.

Adding to the downward pressure on home prices in some area is the fact that there are many more homes on the market than there have been in recent years. It's a buyer's market.

A recent article on the Arizona Republic web site pointed out the following facts:

• During the first half of 2007, 84 homes were foreclosed in Anthem, compared to 3 during the same period in 2006.
• In Buckeye, there were 245 foreclosures through June of this year, compared to 66 last year.
• In Avondale, there were 122 foreclosures through June, compared to 5 in 2006.

Choice Group Realty specializes in high-end homes in the Scottsdale area, but these facts point to the fact that if you are a bargain hunter, there are certainly homes on the market in other areas that you may want to take a look at. We can help you find these homes. While we hate to hear about anyone losing their homes, selling and moving on is a better option for these home owners than accepting a foreclosure.

Call Choice Group Realty today and we'll get started working for you!

The Richest Real Estate Education is in Phoenix

We came upon an interesting article on CNNMoney.com about a company based here in Phoenix called Nouveau Riche University. It's not really a university. It's a week long program that instructs its students on how to make money in real estate. The core idea behind the program is to leverage your existing assets to buy income-producing real estate.

There are, of course, considerable risks with this investment approach. A change in interest rates, or a down real estate market, or an inability to rent out properties can all result in a negative cash flow situation. On the upside, this approach has been used successfully by many real estate investors to build considerable fortunes.

We are going to withhold judgement on how effective Nouveau Riche's training and strategies are. We will say that for much, much less money, you can learn the techniques on your own. Nouveau Riche has its own real estate agency through which it sells properties to its students. This is one aspect of which we are a bit suspicious. To charge $16,000 to teach someone how to invest in real estate, and then turn around and sell them the property (also charging fees for that service) seems like a conflict of interest.

But the fact that this business is located right here in our own backyard sort-of highlights that this is a hot area for real estate investing. Real estate is on everybody's mind around here.

Rather than invest a sizable chunk of money on real estate training (which may be questionable), it may be better to use that money as a down payment on a new home, investment or otherwise, which will reduce your risk and reduce your payments. Scottsdale is still one of the hottest real estate markets in the country, and Choice Group Realty knows Scottsdale real estate. So call us today!

New Look for Scottsdale's Canal Bridge for Good Cause

The Canal Bridge in Scottsdale, Arizona joins downtown's Southbridge district to the Waterfront. Don't be alarmed - but the bridge is soon going to be turning pink! Starting September 28th and continuing through October, the bridge will be lit up with pink Christmas lights. This is being done in honor of and to raise awareness about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A pink bulb can be sponsored for $20. There are also other levels of sponsorship available, such as $500 Twinkles and $10,000 Guiding Lights. The Arizona Institute for Breast Health, which is organizing the event, expects that most of the bulbs will be sponsored by those who want to pay tribute to loved ones who have dealt with breast cancer.

To learn more, check out www.thepinklightdistrict.org.

And as we say every time, if you are looking for a new home in Scottsdale (or anywhere in the Arizona area), please give us a call...because we know Scottsdale!

A Couple of Interesting Business Moves for Scottsdale

J. Alexander's, a Tennessee-based restaurant chain is opening a location in Scottsdale, Arizona. The restaurant is an upscale casual dining restaurant that specializes in wood-fire cuisines, including steaks, prime rib, and seafood. We have eaten at a J. Alexander's and can testify that it is wonderful eating.

The restaurant will be located at The Borgata, across the walkway from Taneko Japanese Tavern, facing Scottsdale Road. It will occupy over 12 thousand square feet and seat 180. J. Alexander's is also looking at other locations in Scottsdale for more restaurants, so it seems the restaurant may become a Scottsdale fixture.

In other news, Heard Museum has relocated to a new location in North Scottsdale. The museum is recognized for having one of the finest collections of Native American art in the U.S. The new location will allow the museum to display more of its permanent collection, in addition to special exhibits.

In addition to expanded exhibition space, the new location will also have an expanded cafe, Arcadia Farms, which will offer signature salads and sandwiches, and a new menu featuring Southwest entrees influenced by Native American cuisine.

If you would like to call ever-growing Scottsdale home, please contact Choice Group Realty today. We know Scottsdale, and can help you find the perfect home.