Keller Williams Arizona Realty

AUSTIN, TEXAS (May 16, 2012) – Keller Williams Realty, Inc. announced today it has been recognized as one of America’s Top 10 Workplaces, according to the first annual National Top Workplaces list compiled by Workplace Dynamics.

Our culture is our strongest asset and the reason that so many people want to be with us,” Mary Tennant, COO of Keller Williams Realty shares. “Imagine what it would be like to work in a culture every day with people that you feel love, kindness, caring and humor with. Imagine working in an environment where there is a passion for every single person to succeed at the highest level.”

If this award proves anything, it’s that we only succeed when our associates do,” added Mark Willis, CEO. “We are proud to be in business with the best who are lifting us up each day and proud to be fulfilling our mission of building careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.”

The list of National Top Workplaces is based solely on employee feedback surveyed from 805 companies of more than 1,000 employees, which included over half a million survey responses. According to survey results, Keller Williams’ ranking was based on its overall culture and high levels of organizational health including training, benefits, compensation, and work-life balance. “Put simply, the most successful companies appear to be the ones that employees believe in,” said Doug Claffey, CEO at WorkplaceDynamics.

For more information and the full list of the Workplace Dynamics Nation’s Top Workplaces, please visit http://topworkplaces.com/stories/americas-top10-workplaces.php

About Keller Williams Realty, Inc.:

Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the second-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with almost 700 offices and more than 75,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company has grown exponentially since the opening of the first Keller Williams Realty office in 1983, and continues to cultivate its agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com). For more information about KW Worldwide, visit (www.kwworldwide.com).

Sometimes, finding the right home for the family may not be as easy as many would deem it to be. There are many factors to consider before buying a home: What is the condition of the home – Is it in tip-top shape or are there too many repairs to be done? How is the family responding to the overall appeal to the home? Does the architectural style of the home fit your taste and lifestyle?

Here are some of the popular architectural styles of homes that comprises Scottsdale real estate, Phoenix real estate, Paradise Valley real estate, Chandler real estate, Glendale real estate, Carefree real estate, and Mesa real estate.

Contemporary Style

Contemporary Homes in Arizona

Contemporary style homes is often associated with modernism. Contemporary architecture stems from a wide variety of influences. However, the ultimate intention of contemporary style homes is to create a feeling of space, putting emphasis in entertaining in the outdoors. These homes are more concerned with energy efficiency and uses sustainable materials. Eco-friendly homes are trending for the past decade, where materials and methods give a zen ambiance.

Mediterranean Style

Mediterranean style homes in Arizona

This architectural style is immensely influenced by homes in the Mediterranean region such as Spain, Italy and Portugal. Mediterranean style homes is characterized by red tile or clay roofing, arches, plastered adobes, terraces or courtyards, stucco finishing, terra-cotta tile flooring and balconies. These features are designed for sunny, warm and dry climates.

Prairie Style

Prairie Style Homes in Arizona

These homes are characterized by strong horizontal lines and wide open floor plans to complement the flat prairie landscape. Another distinct feature of this style is the low pitched hipped roof, grouped windows and secluded entrance. The Prairie architectural style was popularized by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, where his personal archives are found in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Santa Fe Style

Santa Fe Style Homes in Arizona

Santa Fe style homes is a variation between a Spanish Colonial and an Indian Pueblo design usually one story that features flat roofing, round-edged walls, stucco finishing, covered porches and exposed ceiling beams. The Santa Fe architectural style is best suited for the desert climate of the Southwest US.

Take your pick into the best of the Valley. Let the Luxury Valley Homes help you in your quest to find that beautiful as well as functional homes that fits the Arizona lifestyle.

Sonoran Hotdog in Phoenix Az

The harmonious fusion of the American-Mexican flare of the state of Arizona is due to the close proximity of the state to the country. The Mexican cuisine and good eats has been an American favorite for decades. The tortilla, burrito, tacos, the chimichanga, fajita, chili and the margarita are just some of the loved Mexican cuisine imports.

There’s an Arizona take on the Mexican dish that has been causing a buzz – the Sonoran-style or Estilo Sonora Hotdog. Over the past decade, hundreds of stores, food stalls and carts serve this American-Mexican flare in Phoenix, AZ.

The Sonoran Hotdog is not your typical hotdog with ketchup and mustard. It takes the expression “a little bit of everything” and does exactly that. The hotdog is wrapped in bacon, a heap of beans, grilled and fresh onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise, cream sauce, mustard and jalapeno salsa, some radishes, cucumbers, whole chilies and mushrooms, depends on your preference.

Take a bite into this “American take on a Mexican take of an American favorite.” Take a bite into Phoenix, Arizona.

A Mother's Day Treat at Scottsdale AZ

This Mother’s Day, surprise the most loved woman in your life with a new and exciting treat. Living in Scottsdale makes giving a treat easy because extravagant amenities and perks at reasonable prices abound. Other than the typical chocolates and flowers, why not surprise her with a relaxing spa day, a weekend getaway, a superb dining experience with the family or perhaps a whole day treat of shopping – all this in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With the numerous spas in and around Scottsdale AZ, one need not fret at fully booked or over crowded spas. Celebrate her day with rest and relaxation with full body massages, facial treatments, a mani pedi and more at the Spa at Camelback Inn, the Golden Door Spa at the Boulders or at the Eurasia Day Spa. These are just some of the many spas in Scottsdale. For more information on Spas in Scottsdale, visit http://blog.scottsdalecvb.com/category/spas/

Scottsdale is a fashionista’s delight with the largest shopping center in Southwest US. It’s right in the heart of the city of Scottsdale AZ, and known as the Scottsdale Fashion Square. Shop-till-you-drop with a wide variety of boutiques, accessory shops, retailers and art galleries. If the Scottsdale Fashion Square is not enough, head to Kierland Commons to satisfy the shopaholic in mom.

Send mom to a much needed day or two for herself with a weekend vacation. Choose from more than 70 hotels and resorts and 200 golf courses. Scottsdale offers many options. With all these first-class services and amenities, mom will surely enjoy the weekend.

If you’re in to giving her an all out blow out this Mother’s Day, how about a piece of Scottsdale real estate consisting of a beautiful home in Scottsdale. She would definitely love a place of her own, in the gorgeous city setting and the ambiance it provides. Let the Luxury Valley Homes team help you find mom that perfect house she can call home.

She deserves nothing but the best, all these and more in Scottsdale Arizona. 

Nationally, housing prices have bottomed and are on the rise. Asking prices on for-sale homes were 1.9% higher in April than one quarter ago. A 0.5% month-over-month rise in April, on top of month-over-month price increases in March and February, makes for three months in a row of rising asking prices, after adjusting for typical seasonal trends. In fact, prices have been stable or rising for the past eight months, except for a dip in December 2011. This marks a new milestone: asking prices were 0.2% higher in April than a year ago. Before April, prices were still falling year-over-year.

Not only are rising prices starting to look like a real trend: they’re also coming to a market near you — if they haven’t already. Asking prices increased year-over-year in 44 out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, with Miami and Phoenix leading the charge.

Why these markets? One factor is job growth, which boosts housing demand. Miami, Phoenix, Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills (suburban Detroit) and Denver all saw strong employment gains in the past year. Another factor is the big price declines after the bubble, which attracted house hunters and investors searching for bargains to those markets. Most of the metros with the largest price increases in the last year had huge price declines during the bust, including Phoenix, Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills and the four Florida metros in the top ten. But among the metros with the largest price declines over the past year, only three–Sacramento, Las Vegas and Fresno–had huge overall price drops after the bubble burst.

Note: Rankings based on the year-over-year changes in asking price among the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas.

Seattleites, take heart: in the most recent quarter, most of the metros with year-over-over price declines have turned around. Prices rose quarter over quarter in 92 of the 100 largest metros, including in Seattle, Las Vegas and Atlanta.

What You Need In The Current Market

Keys To Qualify For A Home Purchase Loan: What You Need In The Current Market

With home prices having decreased significantly, rising rents and the lowest interest rates in a generation, home affordability has dramatically increased and once again makes more sense for many potential buyers.   

As a result we have seen a tremendous increase in the amount of new buyers ready to purchase a home now. However, the main question that many of them have is what do I need, in order to be able to purchase a home in the current market? This answer will vary slightly, but here are a few things that everyone will need to be able to qualify for a home purchase currently. This is a good starting point to gauge your ability to purchase now or you need to get a few things in line before you make the move. 

1)    DOCUMENTED INCOME: In the current marketplace you will need the ability to document your income. If you work a regular job where you receive hourly or salaried pay, one month’s pay stubs and your last 2 years W-2′s will suffice. If you are self-employed or receive commissions as part of your salary, then expect to have to provide your last 2 year’s full tax returns. The bottom line however is that in the current market lenders will want you to be able to document and fully prove any income you state you receive.

2)    620 Credit Score: While credit standards are still more lenient on programs such as FHA financing or VA financing for Veterans as opposed to conventional financing, the minimum is now a 620 credit score. This is a practice that many lenders have implemented and will soon be an across the board requirement. If you score is below this level, you will be best served to begin the process of evaluating and repairing your credit score, prior to being able to purchase a home.

3)    DOWN PAYMENT: While there are a select few programs that will allow for 100% financing (Veterans Administrations Loans, USDA Rural Housing), the majority of all purchase loans will now require a minimum of a 3.5% down payment for FHA financing or 5% for conventional financing. This number increases if the property is a second home or investment property. Therefore, down payment must be saved up for most buyers prior to purchasing a home, but there are many options that can help minimize that amount. 

With home buying on the rise, these are just some of the many items to consider when purchasing a home and qualifying for a home loan in the current market. 

Arizona Cowboy College™ - The Only School of Its Kind

Saddle up and giddy up to one of Southwest’s favorite past time. Learn Western or English horsemanship and ranching techniques to sharpen your rodeo skills at Arizona Cowboy College™ – the only school of it’s kind. It is no surprise that NBC’s Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and ABC’s Good Morning America is raving about this one of a kind school.

The Arizona Cowboy College™ in Scottsdale, Arizona have been in operation since 1969. It is a family-owned and operated business that envisions to teach horsemanship skills and ranching techniques for cowboy enthusiasts. The school offers horsemanship skills enhancement, roping classes, team building, ranch/ cattle work, pack trips, shoeing and lots more.

The College is run by Lori Bridwell, wife of the late Lloyd Bridwell who’s the world’s most recognized “Working Ranch Cowboy”. Working extensively with Lloyd Bridwell to produce a curriculum for the Arizona Cowboy College™ was Rocco Wachman, the school’s current senior instructor. Wachman starred in the Country Music Television’s Original Series Cowboy U in 2003, 2004, and Cowboy U Molokai.

With such comprehensive curriculum, Arizona Cowboy College™ is no walk around the park. The school aims to make cowboy learning a fun experience. People across the United States and the world come to Scottsdale Arizona for the opportunity of a lifetime to learn and sharpen their skills in ranching.

A life changing experience awaits you at the Arizona Cowboy College™ in Scottsdale Arizona. 

Winfield Scottsdale Estates

It doesn’t seem to make a difference what month it is when you visit greater Phoenix area, there is always lots of activities to see and enjoy. Phoenix, Arizona is blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine so you can almost always count on great weather as you experience the many activities available in the Valley of the Sun. When you’re not looking for Phoenix real estate you can take time out and enjoy all the recreation and adventure activities. Of course there are the tours that can be taken by way of jeep, horseback, or even by boat. Probably the most adventurous way to see the sites is by hot-air balloon where you can glide silently and observe all that’s down below. One of the most popular destinations is golf at one of our 200 plus pristine golf courses.

If you’re looking for Phoenix real estate we would like to show you one of our favorites.

It’s a gorgeous home in the central Phoenix corridor! Almost a half acre lot, situated in a cul-de-sac with fantastic curb appeal. Extensive remodeling has been done, including an entertainer’s backyard dream. This includes a fire pit, pebble tec pool, built in barbeque, travertine pavers and a putting green. Most of the updates were completed in 2011. This home has a split floor plan, including Knotty Alder cabinets, plank wood and travertine floors, plantation shutters throughout and surround sound. The Master Suite has a private, flagstone patio, with a great walk in closet. This is in a fantastic location and close to everything. If you’re looking for a four bedroom, three bedroom home you’ll want to put this one on your list to see. Take a preview of the home now by watching the video below and thanks for stopping by to visit the Luxury Valley Homes Team.

33132 N 72nd PL Scottsdale AZ 85266 - Winfield

Located on the Northeast side of Scottsdale is the Winfield Estates Community that rests at the base of one of the most exquisite cactus and boulder-studded mountains in the southwest. Winfield offers both Scottsdale sophistication and Carefree charm.

Winfield Estates are located in the lush upper Sonoran landscape where the residents enjoy the natural wonders of the area. The boulder outcroppings are distinctive, look closely and you can see a formation that looks like a snowman and you don’t have to experience the cold weather to enjoy it. The natural wildlife is abundant with various species of colorful birds to the Arizona roadrunner that runs like a flash to get from one place to another. You’ll see the occasional coyote and other wildlife that are indigenous to the area. If you don’t see them you might hear them serenading one another at night.

Available now in Winfield is a barely lived in Sunchaser model Town Home. 

This Sunchaser floor plan boasts three full bedrooms, two bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen, breakfast bar and formal dining room. Meticously maintained home with private back yard and very low maintenance landscaping! Enjoy all the amenities that Winfield offers, with a heated community pool and spa, clubhouse with fitness center, Standing Rock cafe, walking trails and 8 lighted tennis courts. Shopping and local restaurants are close by. A video of the community and town home has been made available for your inspection.

For more information of this and other Winfield properties go to http://www.WinfieldRealEstateArizona.com

Animal Health Services for Happy Pets

Many of us animal lovers and pet enthusiasts love and care for our animal buddies so much that we look out for the welfare of our pets like we would look out for our family and loved ones. With that said, are they not already a part of the family?

Animal health care service centers are dedicated to ensuring the optimum health of every animal companion. Centers for preventative medicine, emergency, urgent care, surgery, diagnostics, reproductive services, oncology, orthopedics, dentistry, grooming, vaccinations, boarding and more exist around the Valley.

When immediate health concerns and emergency care are needed, there are a number of centers in and around Scottsdale that provide services and products for the well being of each pet. You’ll be amazed at the top notch services and facilities provided by centers such as Animal Health Services in Cave Creek AZ, Animal Care Hospital in Phoenix AZ and Animal Medical & Surgical Center in north Scottsdale AZ. These are a few of the centers around the Valley of the Sun that are within a stone’s throw away from your home.

Animal Health Services also cater to bereavement and grief counseling through their Pet Loss Support Group meetings for children and families that deal with the loss of their beloved pets.

Moving to Scottsdale AZ with the whole family and animal buddies? Visit the Luxury Valley Homes website or call us at 480 595 6412 for more information on animal-friendly subdivisions and properties.