Tucson Kent's World: January 2008

SAHBA, the Southern Arizona Homebuilder Association is hosting a Parade of Homes in Marana, AZ starting this coming Saturday.  The parade will feature 7 homes in the $1 million plus range in the Dove Mountain area of Marana, just north of Tucson.  Dove Mountain has been featured in recent news as the home of the newest Ritz-Carlton Resort, and will host the upcoming Accenture Match Play Championship Golf Tournament.

The parade will provide attendees an opportunity for the public to see a showcase of the latest in home styles, electronic systems, the latest in kitchen and bathroom luxuries, appliances, outdoor living and the pinnacle of high-end home features including disappearing walls.  Some of the homes utilize some green building techniques including carpet made from recyclable materials, water conservation techniques, solar panels and colored concrete floors.  Each home carries the EPA's Energy Star certification.

Homes will be open from 10 am to 5 each day of the event starting Saturday, February 2.  The parade will run until the 17th of February.  Admission is $12, seniors 50 & older $10, children 10 & younger are free.  Military personnel are half-price on Feb. 11, 55 & older will enjoy 2-for-1 admission on the 13th and Valentine's Day will be celebrated by offering $2 tickets with a canned food donation.  Special programs and events are planned, including a giveaway of SuperBowl Tickets on the opening day.

Builders are Bauer Homes, Casas Bonitas Development, Becklin Construction, Lathrem Homebuilders, JD Raney Construction, Washburn Custom Builders and Canatsey Building & Development.

For further information and a map:  click here

In a story in today's Arizona Daily Star, reporter Beck Pallack took a look at how Arizona's law enacting sanctions against employers who hire undocumented workers is affecting the rental market in Tucson.  The Legal Arizona Workers Act, which went into effect January 1, 2008, contains enforcement provisions up to suspension of an employer's business license for 10 days with a first offense of hiring unauthorized workers and possible revocation of their business license for a 2nd offense.

Vacancy rates on Tucson's South Side leaped from 7.1% in the 4th quarter of 2006 to 11.9% in the same quarter of 2007 according to RealData, Inc.  The vacancy rate jumped at the same rate on the Southeast side, increasing from 5.9% to 10.7%.

Pallack illustrated an increase in "skips," tenants who move out suddenly with no warning, with statements from several property managers.  Their observations noted a skip rate 3 to 4 times that experienced a year ago.

Despite these statistics, the overall occupancy rates remain healthy at a 95.2% average, down just .3% from December 2006, with rents increasing slightly.  The abundance of homes for sale on the market could bring competition to the rental market, with sellers more willing to consider leasing a home that has been on the market a while.  This is going to be interesting to watch as the year rolls on.  With several factors at play, it is hard to pinpoint just what the overall effect will be.

The Arizona law is the first of its kind in the nation, with Tennessee employing a new, similar one and Oklahoma slated to enact one in July.

Welcome to the Walter Douglas House.

The Walter Douglas House was built in 1907 by renowned architect Henry C. Trost. The home was designed to be the private residence of Mr. Douglas, a civil engineer who was to head the worlds largest copper mine in Bisbee, Arizona.

 It is said that Walter Douglas himself never lived in the home, although other members of his family did occupy the mansion for brief periods of time.

The home consists of some 42 rooms including a five room master suite, twelve bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a third floor billiards room, and a two bedroom one bathroom guest apartment with full kitchen and living room off the main floor with its own private entrance.

 The house is constructed of reinforced concrete exterior walls which likely accounts for its sustained structural integrity and commanding presence. Some of the outstanding features of this home include the beautiful Gustav Stickley commissioned library complete with the original nine piece furniture set.

Also worth noting is the Grueby ceramic tile fireplace facing and hearths on the six fireplaces throughout the home.

 The home, which is situated on almost two acres, also features some of the most beautiful unobstructed views of the Sierra Madre mountains to the south in Mexico.

There is a large swimming pool and private entertainment patio at the back of the house, which is protected by the house and the hill behind the house. The hill was constructed by Phelps Dodge during the excavation of the Lavender Pit and is comprised of copper ore. It has been estimated that there are several hundred thousand tons of ore in the hill.

 Over the past 98 years the Walter Douglas House has lived many lives; the "Copper King's" mansion, the Loma Linda Lodge, a health clinic retreat, an apartment complex, and then once again, a private family home.

It has ... 48 total rooms ... 2 acres.
Historical and one of the most famous homes in all of Southern Arizona.
It is listed for a simple sale at $2 million.

Listed For Sale By The Pepper Group Diversified
Currently off of the market.
Please Contact Kent Simpson For More Information
520.302.5368

Tucson's JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is basking in the glow of being ranked as one of the World's Best 500 Hotels in the January issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine.  The resort, nestled in a spectacular setting on Tucson's west side, has been open since January of 2005 and includes the Dalai Lama as one of its noteworthy guests.  The hotel boasts 575 rooms, 7 dining rooms, 27-hole Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, 88,000 square feet of event space and the destination Hashani Spa encompassing 20,000 square feet.  Slated to open in Spring '08 is a waterpark including a lazy river and waterslide.

                                                                            
Visitors and industry critics have applauded the hotel's staff and facilities, awarding them numerous awards in 2007 including:

Top 100 Golf Resorts - Conde Nast Traveler
Award of Excellence - Corporate & Incentive Travel
Greens of Distinction - Corporate & Incentive Trave
Platinum Choice Award - Smart Meetings Magazine
Pinnacle Award - Successful Meetings Magazine
Golden Tee Award - Meetings & Conventions Magazine
Golden Platter Award - Meetings & Conventions Magazine

Tucson, Arizona has long been known for its fine resorts and unique brand of hospitality.  Adding a property of the JW Marriott Starr Pass' caliber adds to that tradition.  Most of Tucson's resorts are nestled in the Catalina Foothills to the north of town - having this property tucked into a quiet niche of the Tucson Mountains to the west gives us another compass point to be proud of.

Kudos to the staff and management for continuing the tradition of excellence that has been a hallmark of the Tucson Hospitality Industry!

If you are interested in buying a home in the resort or close by, there is quite a selection to choose from - you can buy a home, townhome or condo on the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, or select a luxury home in a gated community.

New homes and ranchettes can be found nearby - in a variety of price ranges on both sides of the Tucson Mountains. 

Call me to explore your options for resort homes, golf homes on the Arnold Palmer Signature course or one of the many other highly rated golf courses that help make Tucson a golfer's paradise.

Travel + Leisure Article

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa

Find Your Very Own Tucson Paradise

Top Stories

I Love Arizona!
Many people over the years have asked me, "Why in the world do you enjoy living in Arizona so much?"
Sometimes it is difficult to put into words, so I found something that does a pretty good job without getting long-winded. 

Well, click on the link, watch the slideshow and see a few reasons!

Arizona Slideshow

Music is by Wilcox' own Rex Allen, Jr. so turn on your speakers!

Click Here To Search For Your Own Desert Paradise!

Our local newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star, has put together a really good resource for people relocating to Tucson, vacationers, locals themselves and anyone just plain interested!

This online guide is pretty comprehensive, including attractions, native flora & fauna (with photos!), event guides, museums, guide to the top 200 employers, restaurants...you name it!

Please feel free to click on the link to see some of what makes me proud to live in Tucson:  Native Guide

If you are interested in relocation to Tucson, or know someone who is, one of my team's specialties is working with people relocating in the Tucson area.  Providing a wealth of information about different neighborhoods, the Tucson lifestyle and getting to know the area is a point of pride.

I enjoy showing Tucson homes, but most of all - I love to show off my town!  Utilizing the tools and providing the resources to make the transition of relocation as simple and hassle-free as possible is something we want to make a hallmark of your real estate experience in Southern Arizona.

Below are some of my personal photos from around the area--I'll post more as time goes along.  Enjoy!

Click Here To Search For Your Own Home In Tucson's Desert Paradise!

Exceeding expectations in service for over 20 years.

Tucson's Loft Cinema is hosting a series of competitions for local filmmakers called "First Friday Shorts."  Incredible things have been brought about by the digital revolution:  one of them is opening up the art of filmmaking to the masses.  For better or for worse.  On the first Friday of each month, local artists screen their films of 15 minutes or less before an audience posing at judge and jury of their work.  At the 3-minute point during each film, a huge gong is illuminated and the audience can stay silent to allow the film to continue or stop it by yelling "Gong" to Max Cannon, the local columnist and host.  At the end of the evening, a show of applause for each title determines the winner of a $100 prize and automatic entry into the local Short Film Festival in May.

What results is an atmosphere of encouragement and appreciation for the budding artists.  While a few films are truly horrible, the majority are fun, interesting and surprisingly well done.  One can see exercises and experimentation with different techniques, avant-garde writing, animation and technical exploration.  It is a lot of fun to watch groups of supporters cajole the audience into voting for their choice and cameraderie among the filmmakers.

A friend and I went last night on a lark, and both of us plan to attend as often as possible!  The $5 price of admission is paltry compared to the enjoyment to be had.  Who knows, perhaps one of these young artists might become our next Fellini, Capra or Spielberg.  The fun is watching the process of growth and discovery along the way.

The Loft is a Tucson cultural icon quickly becoming recognized nationally and internationally for its support of and contributions to the art of film.  Started in 1972, the Loft has transitioned from the typical "only place in town to see foreign films" to a dynamic non-profit cultural force and educational resource in the community.  A diverse lineup ranges from low-budget productions to the screening of art films from around the world.  Directors of note often host screenings of their work, some even soliciting critique from attendees.  Recent and planned events include screenwriting & filmmaking workshops, a showing & discussion of The Fisher King with Oscar Winner Mercedes Ruhel, Q & A with Bobcat Goldthwait, David Lynch, The Jewish Film Festival, Tucson Childrens Film Festival and a selection of award-winning films, cult classics and more.  Check out their web page:  Loft Cinema Tucson

                

Philip Seymour Hoffman         John Cameron Mitchell                                     "Betty Page-O-Rama"

                            John Waters