July 4 Fireworks in Tucson, Marana AZ - 4th of July! Family Fun in Marana, AZ!  When:  4th of July - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where:  Crossroads Park at Silverbell Park off Cortaro Road and I-10 What:  Star Spangled Spectacular Why:  Because its family fun and awesome fireworks Who:  You and your family!! Cost:  Free Here’s a list of participating business partners so far that are adding to the event! Mathnasium Games for kids Coupons for Assessments Tower Theaters Jumping Castles Outdoor concessions Boston's Pizza Outdoor dining Happy Hour all day Dinner and drink specials Free chips and salsa for all tables La Quinta Inn & Suites $55 room special Limit of 2 free ice cream sandwiches per room Discounts to Texas Roadhouse Texas Roadhouse Tented outdoor dining Fun & games for the kids includi... 06/24/2010

Rancho Marana - Buying a New Home in Marana, AZ Marana is located just northwest of Tucson, AZ and was established in 1881.  The name Marana comes from a Spanish word meaning “jungle” or impassable tangle” and the town was named for its overgrown stretches of dense mesquite thickets.  Marana is known for its agriculture and although Wheat and Cotton are still a major force in the town’s economy, population and new businesses fed by the nearby trains and regional airport have helped the area grow. If you are planning on buying a new home in Marana, AZ, one of the newer subdivisions of Marana is Rancho Marana.  Rancho Marana is located just west of Sandario Road, and bordered on the south by Moore Road.  A mere 2-3 minutes from Interstate 10, Marana residents have a 30 minute drive to dow... 06/22/2010

Continental Reserve, Marana, AZ - 3 and 4 bedroom Homes for Sale I'd like to share with you about the community of Continental Reserve.  Continental Reserve, on Tucson’s northwest (NW) side was built as an extension to Continental Ranch in 1998-2006. This area is about 20 minutes west of Oro Valley and about 25 minutes from downtown Tucson via the freeway. Continental Reserve is a lovely subdivision located in Continental Ranch on the Northwest outskirts of Tucson, in Marana.  Continental Reserve is a 598 acre master-planned community which includes a little over 1300 hundred single family, 3 and 4 bedroom homes for sale, with 200 acres of preserved, natural open space. Continental Reserve homes are served by the Marana School District, including the Coyote Trail Elementary, Marana Midd... 06/20/2010

  San Lucas, Marana, AZ - Country Serenity, City Convenience The subdivision of San Lucas, Marana, AZ is your quiet country home just minutes from the conveniences of city life.  San Lucas, Marana, AZ is a beautiful, master-planned community under the shadow of the Tortolita Mountains and surrounded by the Sonoran Desert.    The subdivision of San Lucas, Marana, AZ, is filled with walking trails and common areas and amenities for families, sports enthusiasts and dog lovers!  Newly opened San Lucas Park has playground areas for the little ones, restrooms, vast soccer and baseball fields, beach volleyball, basketball, picnic areas, walking trails and even a dog park. The subdivision of San Lucas, Marana, AZ is only 12 minutes north of the intersection of Cortaro Road, and I-10 and the Cro... 06/19/2010

  Sunflower Community - Buying a New Home in Marana, AZ Sunflower Community is nestled in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains near Saguaro National Park. This is an active adult community of 967 homes, with ten different floor models available. It is one part of the master-planned community of Continental Ranch which has been enjoying tremendous growth and progress in the past decade.  A huge community park, library, shopping complex with cinema theater are all within minutes of your home in Sunflower Community. Other Continental Ranch amenities include several large grocery stores, Urgent Care center, office buildings and restaurants.  Tucson International Airport is 30 minutes from your door.  Twin Peaks Interchange is under construction and soon freeway access will be 2 minutes awa... 06/16/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ - June Market Statistics - Homes for Sale   Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ  3 month window 3/15/10 - 6/13/10 102 listings on the market  37 active homes for sale in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ (available)   8  active capa  (will accept a higher/better offer)  14 active contingent  (have offers accepted, contingent on perhaps financing, inspection, appraisal, etc)    7 pending (just waiting to close)    of the 102 homes on the market that are active to closed, 22 are or were new construction Builders in Gladden Farm, Marana, AZ:Richmond American, Pulte, Lennar, Miramonte, Hillcraft Subdivision homes were built starting in 2005, so most houses are no older than 5 years     Sizes range from 1256 to 3683 sq. feet with 6 bedrooms     Lot sizes from .13 to .28 acres Prices ... 06/13/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana AZ - Summer Food Donation Drive      Every so often I run across a little blurb about somebody local doing something good, and I wanted to share this story with the "world-at-large". I received my Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ, HOA May-June Newsletter on June 9th this issue (I guess it was a mail mix-up) and called the family to see about their event and make sure it was still going on.  I hope most people got their circular earlier, because there were a LOT of Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ events going on in May, and many more planned for over the summer.      I gave then a call, and confirmed that Leah and her family are running a food-collection drive May through July, and maybe longer if there's a good response, and need the involvement of the residents of Gladden Farm... 06/13/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ, A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways Part 3This is my third and final installment of A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways of Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ.  Part 1 of A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways featured a sampling of photos covering five miles of trails that criss-cross over 35 acres of greenbelts, gardens, parks, orchards, and pathways. Part 2 of A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways took you through the eyes of a child, photographing some of the many parks and fun things for children and families to enjoy in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ. Part 3 will show you that living in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ isn’t just for children.  I’m also going to briefly describe some of the community amenities within a half mile, as the crow flies.  Gladden Farms, Marana AZ is tru... 06/11/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana AZ - PROGRESS!!  Save the Great Horned Owl!In the recent movie, Avatar, viewers were given a very strong message about greed, progress, saving the planet, appreciation for wildlife, etc.  GREEN is a word becoming more and more "colorful" in our priorities and focus now, and rightly so.I've written in previous blogs about the beauty of Gladden Farms, Marana AZ, and that the community is up and growing again, with new construction and new subdivisions coming to life.  Walgreens has purchased land nearby and progress is full speed ahead. A little paragraph in our recent Gladden Farms, Marana AZ community association newsletter caught my eye today. Under "Important Announcements" was a little blurb entitled, "Wildlife Update".It seems that the community developer had o... 06/10/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ, A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways Part 2 Walk with me again through scenic Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ.  Gladden Farms, Marana AZ is located about 20 minutes north of downtown Tucson, a few minutes drive west of I-10 and Tangerine. New construction is progressing like crazy this year, and home sale prices in the area make for affordable living. Looking for lovely, SWDesert Homes for sale? Check out Marana and Gladden Farm home prices here! Recently, I blogged about the beautiful pathways and walkways that intertwine among the master planned community of Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ.  I invited you to view my photos of the Gladden Farms Walking and Biking trails. Today, I want to take you on a pictorial walk along the pathways, showing you what a FUN place this is... 06/10/2010

  Gladden Farms, Marana AZ, A Pictorial Walk Along the Pathways Walk with me through scenic Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ.  Gladden Farms, Marana AZ, is located about 20 miles north of downtown Tucson, a few minutes drive west of I-10 and Tangerine Farms Road. Tangerine Farms Road connects with Tangerine Road at I-10.  (Intersection of I-10 and Tangerine) Residents and visitors enjoy a short 5 minute drive along beautifully maintained medians, spacious bike lanes, and cultivated walkways.  The entire roadway is well lit, and kept impeccably landscaped. Looking for lovely, SWDesert homes for sale? Gladden Farms, Marana AZ, is a master-planned community.  (A master-planned community is a development built according to plan specifications that includes homes, apartments, commercial buildings, ... 06/09/2010

'Twin Peaks Road” – NW Marana, AZ gets official name     It is always interesting to give directions to out-of-state visitors coming from one of our nearby airports in Phoenix, or the Tucson International Airport.  I would try to give them the straightest route to my last home near the intersection of Swan and Sunrise, located in the north foothills of Tucson.   “So…take the Ina exit.  After you cross Oracle, the same road becomes Skyline, and then you follow the bend in the road and it becomes Sunrise…. “ Those of us who live and work in Tucson know of many such stories regarding streets and their changing names.   Recently, according to a news story in the local newspaper, it was reported that the newest I-10 interchange and roadway will officially be named “Twin Peaks Road”.  The Twi... 06/08/2010

Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ - Rural Driving - Because You're Worth It I live in Gladden Farms, Marana, AZ – an engineered community about 20 miles north of downtown Tucson.   Our subdivisions are surrounded by rural farmland – wheat and cotton—and further down the roads are black angus cattle herds and horse land.  Mountain views abound in every direction and you forget the “city” is just 10 minutes away. I used to live in rural Wisconsin, about 30 minutes NE of Green Bay, WI, in another farm setting.  There were rolling hills of alfalfa and oats, corn, sorghum, and thousands and thousands of Holstein milk cows.   Traffic was quiet on the rural byways, and tractors often travelled the roads between fields and farms. The ideal of Marana was shattered this weekend.  Sunday morning, June 6, ... 06/07/2010

I am sure by now folks who are not living in the Sonoran Desert are pretty tired of the rain and snow. At this time of year those of us who have made the move here are feeling very smug. With the temps in the mid to high 70's and the cactus are setting their blossoms, it is a wonderful place. Hiking and biking are at their best. Spring training for baseball has started life is good. The housing market here in the Tucson valley is starting to blossom also.  As of January 2010 active inventory was 6,631, a 14% decrease from January 2009. There were 691 closings in January 2010, an increase of 21% from January 2009. Months of Inventory was 9.6, down from 13.5 in January 2009. Median price of sold homes was $160,000 for the month of January 2010, down 2% from January 2009. Tucson is experie... 03/16/2010

USDA Rural Housing Program Loan Features Property must be in USDA Rural Housing Eligible Area No Downpayment or Reserves Required No Monthly Mortgage Insurance with one time Guarantee Fee No Maximum Seller Concession Best For Homebuyers with limited savings Low to moderate income homebuyers in rural areas . Many properties in the Tucson area will qualify for this type of loan   Rich lecinski 520-834-4663 Long Realty Company Virtual Home Finder http://rlecinski.longrealty.com   10/13/2009

Sometimes the most peaceful view at sunset is found looking away from the sun.  That was the case this evening in Dove Mountain, Marana, AZ. I hope your week was successful, and that you had a chance to vege just a little today.  Enjoy the view.  ___________________ I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender. Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage; (520) 349-9090 Photo copyright Mike in Tucson 06/27/2009

The Town of Marana, Arizona is a progressive & dynamic entity in Southern Arizona.  Businesses such as: Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Arizona Pistachio Company, Tucson Aeroservice Center, AZBlock 2000 and many others have located in Marana because of the friendly and progressive business climate, not to mention the great proximity to I-10 on both east & west sides. The Town staff has put together a brochure for current and prospective businesses as a guide to services and who to talk to within the Development Services Department:  Download To visit the DSC site for forms, contact info or other information, visit the Development Services section of the town website:  Marana If you are interested in relocating or building a business in Marana, Arizona, please feel free to contact me anytime. 03/18/2009

Just to the northwest of Tucson, the town of Marana is a small but growing & dynamic community.  Home to cotton fields, endless vistas, new homes starting in the low $100k range and $1+ million custom homes, the diversity of Marana is incredible.  As the town grows, so does its ability to provide useful information on its website: Marana.com  Today I got an update from the town government, letting me know that they are now able to provide information about permits & parcel records online.  This is going to be a useful tool for me or any other person interested in homes in Marana, Arizona. You can view information on any home in the Marana area by permit number, parcel number or address.  To do a permit search, just click on the "Online Permit Center" at the top of the left column on th... 03/18/2009

He's been out of the world of competitive play for nearly a year.  Tiger announced this week that he's fit to play, and he's chosen the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play in Marana (a Tucson suburb,) to make his debut. What has he missed most in the past year?  "The competition." Tiger's good for business!  When Tiger comes to play golf, real estate activity follows him.  A Long Realty agent sold a near-million dollar house, and we did the lending on that last year when a fan from Indiana flew here to see Tiger play. Tucson REALTOR Kent Simpson wrote a blog post last year when Tiger won (yet again!) at Dove Mountain.  Here's the link. We're looking for more of the same this year.  Welcome back, Tiger! I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.Think of me as... 02/20/2009

Be Among the First to See Ritzy New Golf Course One of the world's most significant golf tournaments will be played northwest of Tucson next month. Don't miss your chance to see the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain for the highly anticipated Accenture Match Play Championship , February 23 - March 1. Stake out your spot among the stately saguaros and wide fairways designed by Jack Nicklaus. Watch the world's top 64 golfers compete for an $8 million purse. Be among the first to score tickets and enjoy the best setting you've ever experienced. Weekday tickets start at $45 per day. Visit the World Golf Championships website or call (866) 942-2672 or (520) 571-0400. 01/27/2009