A "Country" Find in Rural Marana - The Sky Rider Cafe Yesterday my daughter and I got up early to get a bike ride in before the temps rose too high.  Our destination was the nearby Marana Airport, 5.8 miles away.  They have a little restaurant there called the Sky Rider Cafe. (Every bike trip is better with a place to go TO!) The airport is one of those little municipal ones with the Cesnas and locally owned 2 and 3 seaters taking off.  We did have some jets practice out of there once, and the Blimp always "bunks" there during the Golf Classic.  It's a fun place to sit and eat and watch the planes touch and go.  The waitresses know most everyone by name and you have a bit of a feeling of going back in time. History, Airplane photos,  and Murals cover the walls, and the whole place is do... 06/07/2011

Did You Know Facts - Butterflies in Arizona (See the two of them in flight?) Did you know the collective name for a grouping of butterflies is called a "Kaleidoscope"? (can you find three?) Did you know butterflies taste with their feet and when they land on a plant?  They instantly taste if they have found what they were searching for. (I never get tired of the beauty of the Monarch Butterfly) Did you know that many butterflies only live an average of 2-14 days after emerging?  That's a short flight plan! There are many stories that circulate about why they are called Butterflies.  The most common belief seems to be that the name derived from Flutterby. The Tohono O'odham Indians, native to areas around Tucson and Pima/Pinal/Maricopa counties in Arizona, were previously known as the Pa... 06/02/2011

I recently hosted a small get together for fellow Arizona Active Rain members and Cara Marcelle Mancuso, a Tucson Realtor® with Tierra Antigua Realty, drove two hours to join us. She presented me with this beautiful hand painted "doodads" box.   Cara Marcelle Mancuso       It has a prized spot on our media shelf for all to view.   Thanks, Cara -  I wish I was 1/2 as talented as you,    I'll call you the next time I'm heading down to Tucson.     06/01/2011

Do You Have the H-O-A-a-a-a Blues?! My husband and I live in Gladden Farms, a master-planned community in Marana, just North of Tucson along I-10.  It's an area hard hit by the recession and for a time, over 40 properties listed for sale (about 50%) were a distressed sale.  But that's a different subject I've covered in a lot of blogs extolling the values of buying NOW, and I mean NOW, in a lovely community where the prices will raise in time. The reason why I know they will raise is three-fold. 1.  Real estate is cyclical - what goes down must come up, and so forth.  History and statistics show us this. 2.  New construction is booming in the area and with people, will finally come the retail and shopping and improvements this area so badly needs.  Yes, "If you build it, they will come"... 05/23/2011

Gladden Farms in Marana - Pretty as a Picture I've been living in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ for four years now, and I've watched the prices skyrocket, and then watched them plummet with distressed sales, too many homes on the market, and loss of local businesses due to the recession. With spring, new construction has been blossoming and the area has started to experience a rise in home values, optimism for a Fry's Superstore, Walgreens, and other such businesses that have been rumored since this master-planned community's inception. Currently there are 21 homes for sale in Gladden Farms, ranging from $100,000 to $239,800 at an average of $83.00 a square foot.  That's a lot of house for the money. There's a cross section of new construction, resale, short sale, and REO bank-owned propert... 05/18/2011

Marana, Arizona is home to a few sprawling active adult communities such as SaddleBrooke and Sun City Vistoso yet it is also home to smaller, and highly sought-after, communities such as Heritage Highlands at Dove Mountain. The options for active adult living here are endless! For those in search of an intimate sized gated community, Heritage Highlands fits the bill perfectly. With just 1,297 homes, the community offers a friendly neighborhood feel yet still features a wealth of exciting amenities and a vibrant social lifestyle. Dove Mountain is a large master planned community and Heritage Highlands is the exclusive 55+ portion of Dove Mountain. Just 25 miles northwest of Tucson in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, the location is set away from the hustle and bustle offering pr... 05/17/2011

Continental Ranch is a sprawling master-planned community in Marana, Arizona just 15 miles northwest of Tucson. Within this large community is the Del Webb neighborhood of Continental Ranch Sunflower. With 967 homes, the Del Webb portion of Continental Ranch offers an intimate setting for Arizona retirees in search of a private active adult golf course community. The location is within minutes from downtown Tucson and within two hours of Phoenix. Continental Ranch Del Webb was built between 1998 and 2002. Today buyers can choose from a nice selection of resale homes priced from the mid $100’s to the high $200’s. When built as new construction there were ten unique single-family ranch floor plans to choose from sized from 1,100 to almost 2,000 square feet. The Del Webb designed homes all... 05/11/2011

Concert in the Park Series - Things to Do in Marana, AZThe town of Marana would like to invite you to enjoy our yearly Music in the Park Series.  It's presented by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance group, every second Saturday at the new park, Crossroads at Silverbell, located at 7548 Silverbell Road N., Marana AzThe best thing - it's free!The second best thing - the scenery!The third - well let's just say it's a win-win all around!Concerts start at 7 p.m. and run from May 14th through Mid October.The lineup includes:Key Ingredients of African SoulRailbirdzThe Soul ProprietorsLast Call GirlsThe GrindHeather O Day Music will range from Jazz to country, R & B, Original Hits, blues, Rockabilly, Folk, Reggae, Soul -plenty of variety for the whole family to enjoy.Don't forget t... 05/06/2011

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ - July Market Statistics - Homes for Sale (Pulled out from accidental archives - was originally published July 2010) A market capsule of 76 homes as of July, 8, 2010.  This is an update from my June Market Statistics on June 13, 2010 and what has transpired since then.80 listings on the market52 active homes for sale in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ (available)4 are pending (just waiting to close)4 are active capa (would accept a higher offer)11 are active contingent (have contracts, awaiting on contingencies such as inspection, appraisal, financing)9 have sold since June 13, 2010 17 of all of these statistics are new sales5 sold11 active1 pending Builders in Gladden Farms, Marana AZ include:Pulte, Lennar, Miramonte, Hillcraft, Richmond AmericanGladden Farms, Maran... 05/02/2011

Communities Take Root - Help Marana, AZ "Win" an Orchard! Dreyer's is running a fantastic little contest called Communities Take Root.  Winners will receive an acre of a fruit orchard, provided by the Dreyer's Brand as well as the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. One of the "neighborhoods" nominated is the Manana Community Food Bank. The Marana Heritage Farm, adjacent to Gladden Farms in Marana, is an educational and demonstration farm whose mission is to find long term solutions to hunger. It's a place for volunteers and workers to help raise food for the local food bank. If the one acre orchard were to be placed in Marana, the harvest would provide produce for the Child Nutrition Program through Summer Meals and Kids Club.  The Heritage Farm plans to use demonstrations and hold talks o... 04/28/2011

Marana - Tucson, AZ's Northern Neighbor Marana is located just minutes north of Tucson - easily accessed by the Interstate 10, slashing diagonally through town. In 1990 the population of Marana was about 2200.  Today figures soar to beyond 120,000 residents.  It also sprawls over more than 120 sq. miles, so there are many facets to this community. I went to a Pima County Growth meeting this week and big things are still in the works within this area. Residents, I'm sure, are familiar with the Cortaro Crossings area with its WalMart and Kohl's shopping anchors, as well as a variety of other retail shops and businesses.  Restaurants have popped all over with choices ranging from familiar chains to locally-owned eateries offering Asian, Mexican, Yogurt and more. The jewel in the area is th... 04/22/2011

Buying 3 and 4 Bedroom Homes for Sale in San Lucas, Marana, AZ San Lucas is a very attractive little community along Interstate 10, about ten minutes north of Tucson/Marana town proper.  The community has a lovely backdrop of the Tortolita Mountains and is minutes from the Marana Town Hall and Municipal area, almost completed Marana Health Center, and some limited shopping and restaurant choices. The area is ripe for growth, and in fact, many of the homes for sale in the area are new construction.  If you are interested in a new construction home, it is always wise to have buyer representation, because on-site agents work for the builder.  If you'd like more information on a new construction home in the Marana area, please give me a call.This post, however, is focused on your buying pow... 04/18/2011

Homes for Sale in Continental Ranch - In the Middle of Everything Marana! Continental Ranch is a part of Marana, AZ, just minutes north of Tucson west of I-10.  With the newer Twin Peaks Interchange, getting to and from Continental Ranch is a part of Marana, AZ, just minutes north of Tucson west of I-10.  There are several homes on the market in this master-planned community in the middle of "everything" Marana.  Parks, Theaters, Library, shopping, fine dining, fast food, health facilities, offices, outdoor sports and recreation, hiking, walking...Continental Ranch in Marana, AZ is truly a convenient and beautiful place to live.Currently, homes for sale range from 1152 sq. feet to 3121 and have up to 5 bedrooms and 3 baths.  Continental Ranch has two community pools, but many of the lot... 04/18/2011

Gladden Farms in Marana, AZ - 2011 April Market Statistics - Homes for Sale 128 Homes in Gladden Farms are the focus of this month's market analysis for the Marana neighborhood, just minutes north of Tucson, AZ.  Inventory is up from January/February, when 110 homes were actively listed.31 homes are currently ACTIVE and for sale in Marana (Tucson) AZOf those ACTIVE, 6 of the 31 are NEW CONSTRUCTIONWay up are the ACTIVE CAPA homes, moving from just 4 to 10 currently ACTIVE CAPA - meaning the owners would like a better offer and are still accepting contract offers20 homes are ACTIVE contingent with accepted contracts and are going through Escrow7 are PENDING close of escrow, with all contingencies fulfilled60 homes have SOLD in the past six monthsFrom these statistics, you can see Gladden... 04/13/2011

Celebrate Earth Day at Ironwood Forest! On Saturday, April 16, restoration work will be taking place at a trouble spot in the Ironwood Forest National Monument. Volunteers will be digging holes, mixing soil and installing growing beds for Ironwood and Palo Verde trees. The site is located on the North Side of the Waterman Mountains off Avra Valley Road.  Folks are meeting at the Avra Valley Airport at 7:30 a.m. and the day ends at by 12 noon. If you'd like to help, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, gloves, and tools!  Be sure to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and area.You can rsvp here: Lahsha at 628-2092 or lahsha@ironwoodforest.org   They need to know you are coming.  To get to the airport: I-10 and Exit#242 (Avra Valley Road) Travel west about 5 miles and the airport will ... 04/09/2011

Marana Bluegrass Music & Arts Festival - Things to do in Marana Spring is Bustin' Out in Marana in a Bluegrass Music & Arts Festival!  In two weeks, April 9 - 10, 2011, the Crossroads at Silverbell Park in Marana hosts a weekend-long event from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The festival will be highlighting some of the SW Desert's finest artists and bluegrass musicians!  One of a kind handmade works, arts & crafts, kids activities, music and more will be featured this entire weekend.To find the event, take the Cortaro Exit off I-10, just north of Tucson. Travel west and you'll see the signs at the Southeast corner of Silverbell and Cortaro Roads. For a complete lineup of musical talent and artisans, click here to see the Marana Festival lineup.  While you're at the park, take in the sights and beaut... 03/29/2011

Buying a Home in Rancho Marana - A Lovely Marana, AZ Community Rancho Marana subdivision is an area of newer homes about five minutes west of Tangerine and I-10.  This is a master-planned area of Marana that was hit hard by FEMA flood plain zoning a few years back, as well as the recession's effect on housing in the area. But Rancho Marana and nearby Gladden Farms is worth a drive by.  Richmond American, Meritage  (GREEN homes!), and Pulte are all back at work busy building up the community.  Resale homes are at amazing prices for buyers as well.Currently, in Rancho Marana, there are several homes available.  These are 2, 3, and four bedroom homes for sale with contemporary styling in an active home-owner association community.  Pride of ownership abounds. The homes are one and two stor... 03/21/2011

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ - 2011 Market Statistics - Homes for SaleHere's a look back on the first two months of 2011 and what is happening in the real estate market in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ 110 homes are listed on the Tucson Area MLS, up from last quarter's number of 8634 homes are ACTIVE listings and for saleOf those ACTIVE listings, 5 are NEW CONSTRUCTION4 homes are ACTIVE Capa and hoping to receive a better offer15 homes are ACTIVE Contingent and have accepted contracts11 are PENDING and just awaiting close of escrow with all contingencies fulfilled46 homes have SOLD in the past six monthsThis tells us that Gladden Farms is a growing community with many properties under contract, nearing close of escrow, or recently closed. Builders in the area include names such as Lennar, Rich... 03/11/2011

Tucson and Marana, AZ - Oxymorons and Other Picturesque Things! No, I'm not any sort of photographer, but I was going through my camera this week and decided to share.  A couple were sights I don't usually see around town. First - WGC Accenture Match Play 2011 has completed its run, and the champion has been named.  All that's left is for everyone to pack up and go home.  Dove Mountain, where the golfing took place, is a part of Marana near Tortolita Mountains.  If you squint at the photo, you can see the housing up near the foothills.  It's a scenic, restful location with mid-priced, adult living, and luxury homes available.  Please contact me if you'd like more information about buying or selling in this area! Now, imagine yourself taking the photograph, and turning completely around,... 03/02/2011

Up, Up, and Away to Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ One of my favorite songs from my childhood... "The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloonIt wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloonWe can sing a song and sail along the silver skyFor we can fly we can flyUp, up and away"   I'm certain that's one of the reasons why Gladden Farms, Marana AZ feels like home to me. Gladden Farms is just north of Tucson along Interstate Hwy 1-10, heading west on Tangerine Farms road. The hot air balloons have been dotting the morning skies of Marana this past month.  Since moving to Marana, I've seen as many as 6 in the sky at one time.  The following is a photo I snapped taking my daughter to school one day last week. Tours are available for up to 8 people, and you can plan on a balloon adventure takin... 02/21/2011