Merry Christmas @ Happy Holidays!

OK!   This is just wishful thinking.  In the past, we have had Mother nature give us the pleasure of these wonderful sights.  Snow can be very elusive most of the time.  For those of you who have to live with snow for months at a time, just the word probably sends shudders up and down your body. 

Here in Sedona, we have "polite" snow.  It comes in the morning and does not over stay it's welcome.  Even when we get a decent storm, we can be assured that it will be melted in about a day or two. 

There are realtors who do everything they can to avoid pictures of Sedona real estate with snow for fear that "snow birds" will fly away.  I think it is a strong part of who we are and what makes this paradise even more beautiful.  After all, a great majority of people live in areas that have four seasons.  It is not soothing they really want to give up entirely, is it?

Coming from Southern California, I relish and look forward to having four seasons.  When I see how a dusting of snow highlights the magnificent landscape we have, it warms me up inside and makes me realize my place in this spectacular winter wonderland. 

Eventually, it will snow on Christmas and we will be delighted that Mother nature has given us one of it's most precious gifts.  For now, we will wait for our first meaningful snow storm. 

I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season from Sedona Arizona. As we bring in 2014, I hope next year brings you all much health, wealth, and happiness!

Merry Christmas

Reprinted from Sheri's blog on ActiveRain


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Cash! Up For Grabs! Are you leaving money on the floor?

In one county of Arizona, there is $24 million sitting in the Maricopa County's Treasure Office.  

I just happened to catch a quick story on one of our local news stations last night about Foreclosures.  Many people who have had this unfortunate incident happen, do not realize that once they leave their home, they may have a windfall of cash coming back to them!  

Once the bank or investor takes back the property, it may go up for auction.  If the homes sells for more than is owed to the bank or investor, those funds are placed into an account for possible distribition to other creditors who can prove they may have a claim to the money.  It is up to a judge to determine how best to split the proceeds.  

Why Don't The Foreclosed Homeowners Know What Is Happening?

What usually happens is that the foreclosure process causes turmoil to the homeowner and the last thing on their mind is to put a change of address in. Some just want to start fresh while others are just trying to find a new place to live.

Hopefully you never have to go through this process, but those who have may be destitute or just depressed. This is one of the most stressful situations someone can go through.  

They may feel that they have lost everything and the last thing on their mind is putting a change of address in from the foreclosed property.  This is where the state or county loses track of the homeowner and any additional funds that may be coming their way (the foreclosed homeowner) get caught up in limbo.  

You Have To File A Claim

See, you have to file the necessary paperwork to put your claim in for the excess-proceeds.  If you do not know that your home has been sold above the money owed on foreclosure, you may lose the opportunity to what is owed to you!  For example, in Maricopa County, these excess-proceeds are held for 3 years. This gives you ample time to file a claim.

The two cases that our local Phoenix TV station profiled had large sums of money coming their way.  One distressed homeowner is awaiting the outcome of the judge's decision and may get more than $86,000 from the excess-proceeds statute.  In another case there is more than $135,000 to be divided amongst potential creditors and the former homeowner.  

Check with the appropriate agency in your state to see how these excess-proceeds are handled.  

For more information see "Phoenix Area Foreclosed Owners Could Get Thousands" @ Azcentral.com

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Village of Oak Creek AZ - A Sleepy Bedroom Community of Sedona

Village of Oak Creek (VOC) or the Village as it is called is 20 to 25 minutes away from the center of Sedona.  It straddles Highway 179 and has some great golf courses if you enjoy playing golf.  

There is the Sedona Golf Resort which is associated with the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa and there is the Oak Creek Country Club which is a championship golf course designed by the father and son team of Robert Trent Jones (Sr. & Jr.).  Both of these golf courses are open to the public and are reasonably priced.  Both offer views that may "handicap" your game just a wee bit.  Let's face it, focusing on your game in this magnificent country with red rocks jutting up around you takes the best concentration we can muster!

A bit of trivia. Helen Varner Vanderbilt married TWA President Jack Frye and built the House of Agaché Fire now part of the Red Rock State Park.  The house was destroyed in an 1983 fire. Many people like the friendly home prices that the Village offers. You can read more in the Village of Oak Creek Information located on the "Find Village of Oak Creek (VOC) Property" page of the website.   

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This is the trail to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

This blog entry was first published on ActiveRain by Sheri Sperry on July 24th, 2013

Another Tool For Marketing Your Property - Quad-copter Photography

I was first intrigued with this when I saw a video of Riverside National Cemetery.  My son works there and told us about this person who was making a video of the grounds. You can see the video here. It is about half way down the page. Outstanding Aerial View of Riverside National Cemetery.
This looks like something out of the future but it is in use today for commercial purposes. One of those commercial purposes is real estate photography and videography. After watching the video above, you might think that the cost would be prohibative. But it might be more reasonable than you think.

The actual video in the link above was done with a Quadcopter.  A Quadcopter has 4 large blades positioned fore and aft on either side of the body of the copter.  It is much easier to fly because the 4 blades offer a more balanced flight.  I researched the person who did the video and found out that he uses 2 separate cameras.  One for flight that he monitors on his control pad and the other takes the video.  These cameras can be positioned forward or downward and give you a unique perspective of the landscape below.  The Quadcopter can be purchased for as little as $700 and with some modifications you might pay up to $2000.

If you list a lot of large properties or estates, this is a small price to pay for some magnificent photography that will catch the eye of the most discerning buyer.  I am sure you can find services that are now using these unique devices. If you promote a video like this, you will get a lot of exposure and by tying it back to your website you will improve your SEO.
Here in the Sedona real estate market, I will definitely utilize this service, when I have an opportunity.  I believe that these are the type of marketing tools that put you one up on your competition and help cement that listing with out of the box ideas.
It would be great to hear from those who are using this uncommon approach for marketing their listings!  include a link to your video!
Here is a link to a quadcopter video that gives you an idea of what can be done to enhance your listing's web presence and marketing value.  ----> http://youtu.be/EByQW6HNmRI 

Amazing Time Elapse Photography of 20 ft Century Plant Growth Over 2 Months

My family and I  saw this Agave (Century plant)  starting to pop up on April 30th.  My husband decided to take a picture every day while it was going through the growth spurt through the blooming.  The growth was very obvious on a daily basis.  It was amazing to see growth of 5 to 11 inches on a daily basis. Once the Century Plant got about 10 feet tall it became more challenging to measure.  We put a ploe you use for painting and got an approximate measurement then we laid the pole on the ground and used a tape measure to get the actual measurement.

We were very excited to see process take place.  However we didn't fully realize how the rest of nature would be impacted by this new edition to the backyard.  The birds started using the branches to perch and when the blooming started, beside the bugs and bees going into the blooms, the birds were feeding as well.

We usually see 1 or 2 humming birds and we have over 6 here now.  Also a couple of Orioles are visiting us on a daily basis. In the past, we have rarely seen Orioles. What a beautiful bird!
As you look at the sequence of pictures, watch the Red Agave in the foreground start to sprout into the pictures.

Here is where the video is located on my website --->  Sheri's Photo's ~ Sedona Is In My Heart ™

Sedona Hosting a Spectacular 4th of July Laser Light Show!

This blog was re-printed from Sheri Sperry's Active Rain Blog 

 Laser Light Show

Due to high fire danger, Sedona has opted to take a more "safe and sane" approach to the traditional fireworks display.  This will be the third year for the laser show and it has been well received. The festivities will start around 6:30 PM with a mouth watering Bar-B-Que and a live concert.  This will go until approximately 8:30 PM.  The laser light show will be choreagraphed to music and will start around 9 PM at the Posse Grounds City Park - located right off Soldier's Pass Road close to Uptown.

Of course many families will make a day of it.  So plan accordingly and get there early to scout out just the right place to plop yourself down and enjoy the Bar-B-Que and the show.   There are many other activities within a short walk, such as the city swimming pool, baseball diamonds, and basketball courts and a great skatepark and youth center!

Sedona has it all.

For the more adventurous, you may want to take a Bi-plane or Helicopter ride at Sedona Airport or grab a hot air balloon ride in the early am.

There is also the traditional Sedona Jeep Tours by a number of different tour companies.  If you want to rent your own off-road vehicle or Jeep, that is also available.

Don't forget, you can always take an awe-inspiring hike to one of our great Sedona landmarks, Oak Creek or one of the many Vortexes.  Check to see if a parking permit is needed. See - All Things Sedona below...

Cathedral Rock - Most Recognized Landmark in Sedona

Things to do while in Sedona!

If you want to make plans - go to my website "All Things Sedona" and click on

  

Top 49 Things to do in Sedona.

There are links to accomodations, hotels and resorts, a map of red rock country, restaurants and you can find current and historical weather data that is taken from my husband's weather station located right down the street from Posse Grounds Park.
You can find some great images of Sedona and Northern Arizona in our Photo Galleries also located on the same page.

Verde River Rafting

This is just one of the many activities available!

Happy 4th of July!

Visit Arizona in the Summer... Are You Wack-a-doodle???

It's Too HOT To Live In Or Visit Arizona In The Summer! Are You Sure?

When I talk to people who are not from our state, they usually say that Arizona is a wonderful place to visit in the winter but they could never live here in the summer!  What is wrong with 300+ days of sunshine each year?

Arizona gets a bad rap when it comes to the weather.  When people listen to their weather reports, they may hear that Phoenix hit 115 degrees today!  Or they might hear that Phoenix has had 90+ days this year of over 100 degree weather.  The monsoon weather which includes the dust storms usually makes the national news. However, some of the bestg photgraphs are taken during monsoon. It is a wonder of nature. 

Does it get warm in Phoenix?  During June thru mid September, it gets downright hot. BUT the mornings and evenings are enjoyable and definitely bearable.

Remember, when other areas are shivering and trying to stay warm in the winter, those who live or visit Phoenix or southern Arizona are playing golf, biking and enjoying outdoor activities.... I think that people tend to forget what a great place Phoenix is to live most of the year especially if you like year round outdoor activities. 

ENOUGH ABOUT PHOENIX! 

I want to dispel misinformation that the rest of the state has the same kind of weather as the southern half.  Northern Arizona and mountain regions have a whole different climate that "beats the heat" in the summer.  

Let's talk about Sedona Arizona.  Our weather is about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the "Valley of the Sun". Sedona is around 4200 to 4600 feet above sea level and has a very temperate climate.  We get the seasons but not the extremes that other areas see.  In the summer, where other areas can see temps over 90 degrees at 10 PM, we see temps in the low to mid 70s.  Quite a difference from the Valley of the Sun. 

As for Prescott, the temps are generally about 10 degrees lower than Sedona which makes that area very enjoyable during the summer months. Flagstaff and the White Mountains are a tad cooler than Prescott but a great get-away for those who live in Phoenixor Tucson.  The Colorado River basin gets really hot but the proximity to the water makes for a fantastic recreation area. 

I personally have not spent a lot of time in Tucson so I am looking for comments on how the Tucson region's summer weather compares to the rest of the state. 

Check out some more pictures showing our seasons and weather!

Re/MAX Sedona Arizona

Contact Sheri Sperry (click here)

Cell (928) 274-7355

Website -  eSedona.biz             
Featured Listings

If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property,

 please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz . 

Enjoy Spring!

© eSedona.biz, sperryr.com, azsedona.biz  

What Are The H.E.A.R.T. Principles?

Do You Manage From The Heart? (edit/delete)

Earlier today, I was checking out some of the blogs on ActiveRain and a title caught my eye.  "Don't worry, Be Happy...".  Well, I remember someone telling me that statement when things were not going well and it always brought a smile and a change of demeanor. 

As part of our job, we have to negotiate with either a buyer or seller agent on behalf of our customer and sometimes those negotiations can be very difficult.  

As I was reading that blog by Tony & Darcy Cannon today, I was remembering how we have to dig down to that special place deep within our heart and find a way to reassure our customers that we will get through the process even when we have to deal with that "stinky" person. After all, it is always about our customer, never about us.

The principles I use to help me find the goodness in that "stinky" person are from the book "Managing From The Heart" (Dell Trade Paperback 1990).

These principles are as follows:

-  Hear and understand me. 

-  Even if you disagee, please don't make me wrong.

-  Acknowledge the greatness within me.

-  Remember to look for my loving intentions. 

-  Tell me the truth with compassion.

These 5 principles were illustrated very well in story form, which made for enjoyable reading.  But more to the point, I can always find one (or more) that fit just about any situation where I need to tread lightly. I have found, especially during negotiations, to remain calm, take a step back and always act with my customer's best interest in mind. This approach has not let me down yet and most of all the process remains transparent to you guessed it, the customer. 

 

 

 

Re/MAX Sedona Arizona

Contact Sheri Sperry (click here)

Cell (928) 274-7355

Website -  eSedona.biz               
Featured Listings

 

If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property,

 please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz . 

Enjoy Spring!

© eSedona.biz, sperryr.com, azsedona.biz  

What Does It Take To Have a Healthy Home?

(This blog post has been republished from Sheri Sperry's activerain® blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/wwwesedonabiz)

Building new homes has once again become popular.  Let's face it, everyone wants a home that fits their needs without compromise. What better way to accomplish that goal than to design it to your specifications.  

So what are the must haves?  Do you give much thought to having a healthy home? I can tell you that was not on the top of my list years ago. You might ask yourself, what is a

healthy home?  Some of the criteria for me would include a home that is free from mold or bacteria that keeps out harmful pollutants and dust. I would also include a system that provided microbe free fresh clean air to circulate through-out the home.  Wouldn't it be nice to see eco-friendly, energy efficient materials and products used?  Of course, the home should be built to standards that could come close (if not equal) to a net zero energy footprint. 

Not to much to ask right? !!

You might be skeptical of a project this aggressive.  Could it even be accomplished without costing an arm and a leg? If you find the right builder and designer to complete the project, you might be pleasently surprised at the cost and the results.

Remember, that the cost of building materials and other home products and appliances may be more

expensive, ...we are talking energy efficiency! This home will be built to provide decades of service with minimum repair or remediation cost as well as utility bills that will be almost nothing.  Let's not forget that a good builder will know all the federal, state and local programs and incentives to help defray the higher cost of the green materials.

Those of you who are thinking of purchasing Sedona Arizona real estate or a luxury home may want to visit  NRG Build Pros  to get more information.  During a recent open house event, I was able to see a newly completed project and was quite impressed with the designer and the builder. I started to think of all the people that suffer from allergies of some sort.  This home would give people with allergies a reprieve from the nagging symptoms.  This home checked off every box I talked about and more. 

Here is a list of "Extreme Energy Efficient Features" you might want to see in your dream home:

• HERS Rated Home / Energy Star Certified home and appliance (Home Energy Rated System) see chart ---->
• ICF Wall System ~ R-30 plus - 
• Roof System ~ R-4- & R-50
• IB Roofing Membrane w/ Lifetime Warranty
• Insulated Garage Door ~ R-9
• Anderson Door & Window Package
• ERV or HRV Fresh Mechanical Ventilation System
• High Efficeiency 20.5 Seer Heat Pump
• Air to Air Hot Water Heater
• LED Lighting - lasts longer and is very energy efficeint
• E-Max Flushing System by Toto - water efficent
• High Performance Low-Flow Faucets by Grohe & Hans Grohe
• Panasonic Whisper Sense & Whisper Sense-Lite
• Solar System 2k (there is an option for 5k system w/ plug-in for hybrid auto or off grid system)
• Kilowatts Monitoring System by Envi
• Many, many more amenities and features

This is a partial list and was furnished by NRG Building Specialists l.l.c. 

The Real Estate Market Is Showing "Real" Improvement

"Glimmer of Hope" - is it real?

During the last four years, realtors all across the country were looking at the statistics every month to try and point to a recovery or at least a glimmer of hope that a recovery would be coming soon.  In the last few months there is good news, that glimmer of hope is pointing to a solid recovery all across the nation.  Also, it certainly does not hurt that the stock market is at record levels! (As I write this the market closed at 14,447- a record high.) WOW!  Besides all of that, the stock market fear gage is at it's lowest level in 4 years!

What the stats say...

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index reports that U.S housing markets are showing expanded improvement for the sixth month in a row in February.

In September of 2011, there were only 12 improving metro markets.  Just over 70% of the 361 metros across the nation are now showing improvement.  In fact the NAHB is reporting at least one metro area in all 50 states is improving, showing that the housing market has momentum and is expanding.  This is real and sustainable improvement.

Are market conditions similar in the Sedona AZ real estate market ?

The Sedona homes for sale statistics, point to that same momentum.

<---- Number of active listings is declining and listing prices are rising. ---->



The absorption rate has moved from 8.29 in Feb-12 to 5.55 in Feb-13.

The absorption rate shows how long the current inventory of  Sedona properties would last at the current rate of sales. So you can see that number is falling.  Listing are selling at a rate of almost 3 months sooner than a year ago.  This is great news for sellers.  

Are we moving from a buyer's market to a seller's market? You be the judge!  The average sale price of a home in the SVVAR (Sedona Verde Valley Assoc. of Realtors) is $239 K in Feb-13 which is a 10.77% jump from Feb-12.



Is the market in flux? 

We have to remember that there may be many potential sellers still sitting on the sidelines waiting to get into the game.  How many want to put there Sedona home up for sale? If these potential sellers jump into the market, the number of Sedona real estate listings available will multiply and absorption rates may increase which could lead to a shift in advantage to the buyers once again. This is why I say the market is in flux.

What about Sedona luxury homes for sale?

For the purpose of this statistical analysis, we will define the luxury home market at $500,000 and above.  The Sedona Luxury Real Estate Professionals define the price as $750,000 and up. I am a member of SLREP and on the executive board.

What really matters is the number of sold and pending listings.  In Feb-13, 11 listings sold compared to 8 last year - a 38% increase. YTD - the listings jump to a 47% increase year to year.  On the Pending Listings - the percentages are staggering.  There is a 70% increase from Feb-12 to Feb-13 and YTD the percentage jumps to 85% year to year!

All in all, it is an exciting time for everyone involved in the real estate market.  Sedona real estate buyers can still get some good deals out there but they are dwindling to the delight of the seller. Real estate professionals are busy then ever fulfilling the needs of their buyers and sellers.

If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property,

 please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz . 

Enjoy Spring!

© eSedona.biz, sperryr.com, azsedona.biz  

Protecting Your Garden In Winter

When you live in the Southwest or the Sedona Arizona real estate market to be more specific, you may not think about how winter temps will affect your plants and flowers.  In fact two years ago, we had a prolonged freeze and unprotected plants did not make it.  Buying frost netting is kind of like getting a flu shot during flu season. You keep procrastinating and suddenly you have the flu and only wish you would have made the effort to get the flu shot!

We lost a lot of our plants during that season a couple of years ago, and once Spring came we had to replace them.  I kept thinking, if I would have purchased that frost netting, maybe the plants would have made it.

The next year in early Fall, we bought plenty of netting.  We were not going to take a chance with losing our beautiful plants again. At least we would give them a fighting chance.

Our plants made it through the winter fine. In fact, they bounced back very well during the Spring.  We are pretty fortunate here in the Sedona Arizona real estate market .  The temps usually stay above freezing, but we do have days that dip below 32º and stay there for more than a few hours. You can check Sedona weather at this link, http://sperryr.com/Sedona_Weather.php  Generally, plants and winter flowers can survive a short time below freezing but when the temps stay below freezing for hours, plants become at risk.

I don't profess to be much of an expert at gardening, but with a little work, we can all give our plants and flowers a fighting chance during the winter months.  There are many things besides covering your plants that can help to keep your plants safe. Here is an article to help you make the decision that is best for you and your area. Protecting Your Plants .

I am also including a link to my website where you can find many other articles that may peak your interest. The article that pertains to this blog is "Garden Plants For Fall & Winter Containers".

As you think about your winter garden here in the Sedona Arizona real estate market,  remember to monitor the temps on a regular basis from around mid november to the end of March.  In 2012, we got 6-8 inches of snow on March 18-19 and the 20th was the coldest day of the year at 19º for the high! Here is a pic from March 18, 2012.







If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property, please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz .  Happy Holidays!

© eSedona.biz, sperryr.com, azsedona.biz  

NEW! Sedona Arizona Calendar of Events

Happy New Year!  and with the new year comes a brand new Sedona Arizona Calendar of Events! As we start the new year, I was thinking about all the events that are starting to be scheduled for 2013.  I realized that each calendar in Sedona that I checked was designed to satisfy a small group of followers for that particular website.

I said to myself, wouldn't it be nice if I could get all the different events scheduled on one calendar. I bet a lot of other folks were thinking the same thing so I took the time over many days to gather the information I would need to put together such a calendar.  Sedona Arizona Calendar of Events is ready for tourists and locals to enjoy. This was a joint venture by eSedona.Biz and Sperryr.com

Here are some of the categories that are covered by this calendar:

• Sedona Events & Festivals including the Arts, Jazz, Film, Holiday, and Community

• Tourist Happening

• Featured Events of local businesses

• Astronomical Events - such as meteor showers, phases of the moon, lunar and solar eclipses

• Astrological Events - such as retrogrades 

I hope that Sedona Arizona Calendar of Events can help you schedule your activities that you want to enjoy in and around Sedona.  If there are other events that you feel may benefit the community of tourists and locals please let us know so we can add them to this calendar.

You can contact us at http://sperryr.com/Feedback.php

Sperryr.com and eSedona.Biz wish you a healthy and happy 2013!