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Fort Mohave AZ Real Estate – Los Lagos – Tropics In The Desert!

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gorgeous, lakefront Los Lagos is one of my favorite slices of real estate in Fort Mohave, AZ.

I was cruising today, checking on a lakefront lot at Los Lagos that I have listed  . . .

This is the scene right inside the secure, gated entry to Los Lagos.

Where else does the desert look so  cool and . . . tropical?

There are a dozen or so homes available now, starting in the high 100s up into the upper 300s — and lakefront lots starting in the mid 40s up to the mid 100s — all have amenities like pool, BBQ, spa, media library, tennis courts, fitness center and the subdivision is flanked by Desert Lakes PGA Golf Course and The Greens/Cielo At Los Lagos Golf Club.

Some of the custom homes in Los Lagos are truly breathtaking.

How would you like to have your morning coffee or elegant dinner party on THIS balcony patio?

For more information on buying or selling a home in Los Lagos, or real estate in Fort Mohave, AZ 86426, give a shout.

We’re Fort Mohave locals — and real estate professionals.

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Feng Shui For Real Estate And Life – A Prosperity Kitchen

May 1, 2010 By

In Feng Shui, the kitchen is where the kind of prosperity we all want really begins. The “bills are paid, food in the pantry, good wine in the cabinet and wanting for nothing” type of abundance.

The kind of ‘having’ that feeds–literally–ALL other wealth endeavors.

There’s a saying in speculation not to ‘gamble scared money’. The rich do indeed get richer–probably because they don’t worry about trying for more–they have more than they need already.

The prevailing feeling that “our sustenance will not be threatened.”

The kitchen is a key area in Feng Shui practice because if it is a disaster, it will breed disorganization and ultimately, lack.fudog

The kitchen is also, often, the most used (or as the case often is, misused) area of the home and therefore the most in need of constant tending.

Here are some basics to whip your kitchen into shape and energize prosperity and abundance in your life:

  • The kitchen MUST SHINE. Mirrors reflect, and thereby increase. Increase is what it’s all about. If you can have stainless steel in your kitchen and it is a compatible element with the area of the home in which your kitchen is located, and you can keep it shiny, fantastic.
  • Shiny floors and especially carefully cleaned corners are important. Dull and stagnant energy gathers in corners and must be removed. It’s okay to have rugs in high traffic areas but they too must be frequently cleaned. Nothing should be allowed to stay dirty.
  • Under cabinets must not be neglected. Just because something is unseen does not diminish the energy it generates. NO part of the house should be ‘creepy’ and getting under the sink to change out plumbing and wipe down shelves is important.
  • Cabinets organized. Where do junk drawers end up? You betcha–the kitchen. Tackle any repository for clutter first.
  • Dishes at very least loaded into dishwasher before bedtime. You will want to start your day with a spotless kitchen to symbolically invite prosperity in and set the tone for your day to be seamless.
  • Trash cans–small and frequently emptied–under sink or out of the way.

The stove is probably the most important element of the kitchen. The ancients believed the stove to be critical because the ability to cook food was literally the ability to stay alive! It deserves its own standalone tips:

  • If you can get a mirror (no matter how small) up on the wall behind the burners, to reflect and multiply the number of burners, you will be increasing prosperity. The more burners you have, the more food you can cook, symbolically and actually–and the greater the prosperity.
  • Burners need to be evenly used. We all get attached to the front burners when we cook. But make sure and alternate with back burners. We don’t want ANY profitable activity to be stuck on the back burner!
  • Burners MUST be kept clean and all parts free moving. Oven and broiler ditto. Clean and degrease often.

Pantries are likewise very important because they represent abundance–the food that is in the pantry will be mimicked by the wealth in the rest of the home. Keep your pantry stocked with lots of staples, but use and replace often too. When you have something besides a vintage wine in a cabinet for too long, it creates stagnant energy. Use, enjoy and replace! I line my pantry shelves with foil which I replace often. I want the shine in there! (YMMV, of course. I just go with my instincts.)

The refrigerator is often neglected and very important to generating wealth. They don’t call it cold cash for nothing! Clean frequently and move items around. Discard old often.

If your idea of cooking dinner is calling for takeout and popping a beer, no worries. You’re better off cooking, which is one of the most magical things we can do! But if it’s not your thing, simply turn burners on and off on regular occasion. Try to learn to cook, though. You’re limiting options!

Bells and chimes are great to have in a kitchen. They move energy via sound–very powerful.

A bowl of fresh fruit or fresh flowers, changed often, are an awesome way to beautify, treat the senses and demonstrate abundance.

I am not a Feng Shui Master (mistress?); just an enthusiast. I hope you enjoy these tips. They work for me.

So next time you’re struggling with a closing from you know where or need your home to sell FAST . . . cook a gourmet meal, then clean up spotless and light a candle of red, purple, green or gold to turn filth to filthy lucre!

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: For Sellers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Riverfront Homes, Mohave Valley AZ 86440 – River Terrace and Tangerine Terrace

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Our journey from the Laughlin Bridge to the Needles Bridge on the beautiful Colorado river browsing Bullhead City, AZ riverfront homes started at the north end of Bullhead City near the Laughlin Bridge , then meandered down river, navigating the River around the bend . . . and marveling at the breathtaking Mohave Valley, AZ Riverfront Homes on the beautiful Colorado River.

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And now, we find ourselves at the southernmost riverfront communities on the Colorado River in the area — Colorado Riverfront Terrace (also called River Terrace Estates) and Tangerine Terrace, located in the southern part of Mohave Valley, two tiny and exclusive subdivisions–each with just one street–with exquisite custom homes over a rocky bluff with private docks and a community launch.


View River Terrace and Tangerine Terrace in a larger map

There are waterfront and non waterfront homes in these communities, depending of course on which side of the street you’re on.

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These are site built custom homes only subdivisions, with ornate gated entries, HOA maintained.

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The communities are situated across the river from Jack Smith Park with golf course and boat launch in Needles, CA.

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Since January 2010, there have been 3 active listings ranging from 200k for an off-water home to 1.6m for a custom waterfront. There is one pending sale. The home sizes range from 2000 to 4300 SF. As Spring/Summer 2010 season begins, the activity promises to become more energetic as relocations, second, vacation and seasonal buyers and watersports enthusiasts flock to our waterfront communities.

The Colorado River has something for just about everyone, but these are the very best of Bullhead City and Mohave Valley, AZ.

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There are other river access and lakefront communities, and if I haven’t written about them, check back often–I will. Give me a shout for more information! You can call, text or e-mail me, or catch my posts on Twitter and Facebook.

I know a bit about Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley Arizona real estate . . .

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Riverfront Homes Mohave Valley AZ 86440 ~ Dike Road and The Colony

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you’ve been following my posts on Bullhead City, AZ riverfront homes, we started at the north end of Bullhead City near the Laughlin Bridge . . . worked our way down river, then followed the lazy River around the bend . . . and now, we head South to Mohave Valley, AZ Riverfront Homes on the beautiful Colorado River.

From the southernmost part of Bullhead City to Mohave Valley at the Arizona/California border, the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe owns most of the waterfront land, so you won’t see any riverfront homes in Fort Mohave, AZ.

But if you head just a few miles South, you’ll find the most amazing riverfront homes in Mohave Valley, AZ, 86440 that you’ve seen anywhere in Mohave County.

Most of these fabulous luxury homes on the Colorado River are located on Dike Road, on half acre to acre sites, with the white sandy beaches our area Mohave County waterfront home buyers most desire. These are the homes you will be drawn to if you want to pull your boat in and out of the water often. Most of the other waterfront subdivisions will require that you launch from a public or community launch and then dock at your own dock. Not here! You will be able to walk out into your back yard and stick your toes into the sand, lounge with a sippy cup on your own private beach. This is life on the Colorado River at its very finest.

Dike Road has three sections:

  • The North part, off Courtwright Street where the homes are palatial and on large (many acre+ lots), most with private wells.

  • On the West side of Harbor, and just north of the Needles Bridge over the Colorado River (the last right turn before the River if heading toward California), many of the lots are split in half by Dike Road. Some of the land owners split the lots and sold them; others built their supersized garages on them and their gorgeous custom homes on the waterfront side. That’s why you’ll see some garages seemingly situated ‘solo’.

There are both site built and manufactured homes, and private wells and city sewer are typical in this area. The zoning is mostly RE Recreational and allows for guest quarters with County permits and approval.

  • On the East side of Harbor, there is a gated community called The Colony, where the properties are elevated above the River by rocky bluffs, and the homes almost all have their own docks below. These homes sit across from the Needles Municipal Golf Course and Jack Smith Park.

As of posting date, there are currently 4 active listings, and since January 1, 2010 there have been no sales. Square footage ranges from the 1400s to almost 7000. List prices range from the upper 500s for a manufactured home to just shy of 2M for a sizeable luxury home on the Colorado River.

Spring in full swing and Summer around the corner, expect prices to rise as is customary during this ‘on’ season for watersports enthusiasts and Colorado River vacation home buyers.

The Colorado River has something for just about everyone, but these are the very best of Bullhead City and Mohave Valley, AZ.

There are other riverfront, river access and lakefront communities in Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley, AZ. Give me a shout for more information! I know my way around Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley real estate . . . and will be happy to share what I know.

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Do You Want To Live In Bullhead City, AZ 86442?

December 29, 2009 By

If you want to move to Bullhead City AZ 86442, you will be in good company.

Many relocations to our area and even more vacation and seasonal residents’ transactions start happening in Fall when the weather starts to mellow.

And every second Summer, the mistake-makers–those whose buyer (often dual) agents were masters of the ‘panic sell’ and bought wrong, wrong, wrong–come crying that they need to move back ‘home’–or anywhere else.

Upside down as all get out at worst case. Losing money or just breaking even at best.

Living in Bullhead City, Fort Mohave 86426 and Mohave Valley 86440 is GREAT. This Southern California transplant made the move in 1993 and never looked back.

BUT – we came for a 4 month leave of absence from our jobs in LA and rented until we were sure.

Before you buy, you will need to be clued in to the basic and immutable truths about our area.

1. Bullhead City is REALLY HOT in Summer (can be nearly 130 on some days! And it does NOT cool down at night so temperatures are often still over 100 for a low in mid July). And you know all the jokes about it being a ‘dry heat’? That’s ‘mostly’ true. BUT, during our ‘monsoon season’ the humidity cranks up and you’ll think you’re in Florida or New Jersey. Except hotter.

2. Bullhead City can get COLD in Winter. We are the desert! We don’t get snow. But it gets cold! If you are buying a Summer place, you will need to take precautions against freezing plumbing–a chief cause of water damage.

3. Bullhead City jobs are mostly ‘service industry’ related. Arizona is a ‘right to work’ state and our casinos (major source of employment) often won’t get you better than a 30k annual salary including tips unless you make it to upper management.

3. Our way of life is a lot SLOWER PACED than our LA, CA or Las Vegas counterparts. Some can’t deal with how ‘country’ we still are.

4. If you are inclined to overindulge in food, drink or gambling, Bullhead City, with its 24 hour casinos and bars within a 10 minute drive, could very well be your downfall.

5. We have critters–sun spiders as big as your hand–scorpions–rattlesnakes–coyotes–mountain lions. You won’t see ‘most’ of those in the suburbs–and I personally own stock in the pest control company! But move onto a 10 acre ranch at the foot of the Black Mountains? DUH!

So PLEASE, investigate this area well before settling on it. I won’t be crushed that you decided not to rush forward on what might be an unwise move. Some people SHOULD rent. And we have rentals as well as sales.

HOWEVER, if you think this may be the place for you–and it is a WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, FUN place for those who understand 1 – 5 above– here’s a REALLY SMART PLAN:

  • Arrange for a ‘reconnaissance mission‘ trip prior to any property touring to cruise the area solo. That way, you can really figure out what areas you are attracted to without distraction, and at your own pace. Listings, maps, directions, not a problem. Just ask. 

  • Visit our area in Summer — and in Winter.

  • Second reconnaissance mission will be with me. We’ll see some representative properties in areas you’ve found of interest. No pressure. 

  • Get your financing in order. If you are making a job transfer for instance, you may need to rent for a bit first to qualify while you ‘settle in’ to your new position. And loan professionals are not all created alike. I know who the great ones are–and who they aren’t. Ask me before you start clicking around online! 

  • When you are certain you like our area and can handle the extremes of heat and cold, slower pace than big city living and the occasional unwanted ‘critter’, we make an appointment and see a list of the properties that fit your criteria BEST just prior to making your OFFER to PURCHASE. 

  • Let me EDUCATE you about the PROCESS of buying property in AZ, so you enter into your TRANSACTION comfortably, confident that you’re making a sound DECISION.

Remember that working with your real estate broker is a team effort:

YOU, preapproved or funds-ready, knowing what to expect from our area PROPERTIES, ready to work together toward this common goal.

And ME, ready to share my MARKET KNOWLEDGE and BUYING or SELLING STRATEGIES with you as a CLIENT.

You may not know it, but you just got a little bit LUCKIER. Because

LUCK = Laboring Under Correct Knowledge!

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How To Get Home Warranty Work Done FAST!

December 29, 2009 By

Home warranties are something I believe in, and yet they are, after all, insurance companies (although usually kinder and gentler) and a ‘middleperson’.

When you want NEED the repair done, done right the first time and done fast, being proactive and efficient on YOUR end will help you–or your client–significantly.

When requesting service:

  • Request service online. Most warranty companies have portals where the homeowner or agent can request service. USE THOSE BLANK FIELDS that ask for additional explanation! This is a lifesaver when you have a middle of the night plumbing leak or thermostat issue. First in the Q = first to dispatch.
  • THEN, call the warranty company‘s CSR and pay your service fee via CC or e-check. That too should expedite processing–and vendors who get paid fast get the work done fast. It’s also great for them to not have to collect the service fee. Saves time all around.
  • Ask the warranty company for a LOCAL vendor as close in proximity to the property as possible, unless you have a reason not to. Keep in mind that the companies do not know which zip code is closest. My house is closer to a zip code in another state than 3 local ones.
  • Ask the warranaty company for the phone number of the vendor. They often have a ‘back office’ number that won’t go to voice mail.
  • Call the vendor. They are faxed the service requests, usually via an office person who may or may not be a ‘techie’. There’s a good chance, even after the previous steps, that the information they got from the warranty company CSR is incomplete. Tell them a request is en route. And be PLEASANT!
  • Provide information to the vendor: the make, model, type of appliance if applicable, and tell them as clearly as possible what is wrong and what parts of the appliance appear affected. Repeat trips are often eliminated when the vendor can arrive with the correct replacement parts.
  • Give the vendor DETAILED directions to the property.
  • Give the vendor your cell number and/or e-mail address so they can give you an ETA and heads up. Murphy’s Law WILL prevail and you will not want to miss each other!

You’ll be amazed how easily things get done when you help servicepeople help you…

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READ THIS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE!

December 18, 2009 By

Don’t forget about the Homebuyer’s Tax Credit. More info…

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Checklist for Buyers

December 9, 2009 By

Arizona Department of Real Estate
Property Buyer’s Checklist

Here is a checklist for consumers to help avoid some of the pitfalls of purchasing a new or used home, or raw, undeveloped land.

New Homes in a Subdivision

1. You should read the Arizona Department of Real Estate Public Report. By law, this document must be given to you before you sign the purchase contract. You must sign a receipt for the Report. By signing the receipt, you imply that you have read the report.

The Public Report will tell you such things as:

  • Flooding and drainage disclosure
  • A description of adjacent land and uses
  • Who provides electricity, telephone, gas, water and sewage disposal
  • Common community and recreation facilities
  • Assurances for completion of improvements
  • Local services and facilities, including schools, shopping facilities, public transportation, medical facilities, fire protection, ambulance service, police protection and garbage services.
  • Taxes and assessments
  • Property owners association details

If you have any questions about the Public Report, you are welcome to call the Arizona Department of Real Estate at 602-468-1414, extension 400. A Subdivision Representative will assist you with your questions.

The cover sheet of the Public Report contains a disclaimer by the Department of Real Estate. Read it carefully. Most important, note that it states:

“Not all of the information in this report has been verified by the Department; certain information has been accepted by the Department as true and accurate based on attestation of the subdivider and/or the subdivider’s agents. You should verify all facts before signing any documents.”

2. Read the purchase contract carefully. Note that if the builder or developer is not placing your earnest money deposit in escrow or a trust account, the funds may be placed in the builder’s or developer’s general funds account, and may be used for any purpose. You could lose the money if the builder or developer declares bankruptcy or otherwise goes out of business. If the funds are not going to be placed in escrow or into a trust account, that fact must be stated in a separate paragraph in the purchase contract and you are required to initial that paragraph. Make sure you understand where your earnest money is going to be deposited.

3. Before you sign a purchase contract, drive around the home for at least a mile or more in every direction to see how the surrounding area appears to you and what nuisances and hazards might exist in the area. Is there a storm drain or canal nearby that might pose a hazard to your children? Is the home or building site near an airport or a manufacturing plant? Visit the area at different times of day, on weekends and in the evening. Disturbing noises and odors can travel farther at night.

In areas where there are expanses of vacant land nearby, check city or county zoning maps to see if nearby property is zoned for apartments, industrial or commercial use. Land zoned for commercial use might be used to construct anything from a shopping center to a hotel. To obtain this information, call the city or county planning and zoning department listed in the blue pages of your telephone directory.

Check Arizona Department of Transportation maps to find the nearest future freeway routes, and whether roads in the area are slated for widening. For information about reviewing the maps, call 602-255-7011.

4. Call the school district serving the subdivision to determine whether nearby schools are accepting new students. Some school districts, especially in the northwest part of the greater Phoenix area, have placed a cap on enrollment. You may find that your children cannot attend the school nearest you and may even be transported to another community.

5. Read the deed restrictions, also called CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions). You might find some of the CC&Rs are very strict, especially those addressing landscaping, RV parking, play equipment, satellite antennas, and other common amenities — particularly if the subdivision is governed by a homeowner’s association.

6. Check out the homebuilder with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. You can determine the number of complaints customers have filed against the contractor, whether any are unresolved and whether the builder’s license has ever been suspended or revoked. You may reach the Registrar of Contractors at 602/542-1525.

Previously Owned Homes

1. Be aware that the seller’s broker does not represent you; the seller’s broker represents the seller. The seller’s broker has certain responsibilities to the seller that are not afforded to you. You might wish to retain the services of a buyer’s broker to represent you in the transaction. Usually, the buyer’s broker receives a portion of the commission paid by the seller, and the services may cost you nothing, but you will receive representation equal to that provided to the seller by the seller’s broker.

2. Read the seller’s property disclosure report, and check every item on it. Ask to see receipts for repairs to the home. Look behind large pictures on the wall and behind anything on the floor which conceals large areas of the wall. Look for stains on the ceilings or carpets that might indicate water damage. Read the purchase contract carefully to determine if there are any deadlines for challenging the seller’s disclosure report or for having your own inspections conducted.

3. Order your own termite inspection. It will cost about $30. Don’t rely on a termite inspection obtained by the seller. Some sellers have been known to cover up termite infestation by having several inspections done until they obtain a report that shows no infestation.

4. Consider having the home inspected by a professional home inspector. It will cost perhaps $200 or $300. It is money well spent. For instance, the owner may not know that the roof is rotten and must be replaced. If any alterations have been made to the home – the addition of an Arizona room, for instance — ask to see the building permit. Make sure the alterations are legal. Home inspectors are not currently licensed or regulated by the State (they will be some time in 2002), but your buyer’s broker may be able to recommend a reliable home inspector.

5. Check all appliances to confirm that they work, including the stove burners, oven, garbage disposal, dishwasher, washer and dryer and the water heater.

6. Run water in all sinks and tubs and flush the toilets to make sure they drain properly. If the landscaping includes an irrigation system, check to see that it works.

7. Drive around the neighborhood and observe the condition of the homes. Are lawns mowed? Are there old cars rusting in driveways? Ask neighbors how they like living in the area. Is this really where you want to live?

8. Read steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 for “New Homes in a Subdivision” above.

Raw Undeveloped Land


 

1. Ask to see the Arizona Department of Real Estate Public Report before you sign anything. The contents of the Report are described above in “New Homes in a Subdivision” above. Pay particular attention to the source of utility services. You may find that bringing utilities to the property will be an expensive proposition. If the property you are considering is smaller than 160 acres, if there are more than five parcels in the subdivision, and if the developer cannot produce a Public Report, the subdivision is probably illegal. If you buy the land without reading a Public Report, you may find there is no supply of water, or that it will cost tens of thousands of dollars to bring electric service to the property. You may also find that you do not have permanent legal access to your property.

2. Ask to see the Arizona Department of Water Resources report for the property. Determine that there is an assured or adequate water supply (depending on whether the property is in or outside of a Groundwater Active Management Area), and how much it will cost to have a well dug if necessary.

3. If purchasing raw land with the intent to develop it into smaller parcels, be aware that splitting the land into more than five parcels requires a Subdivision Public Report issued by the Arizona Department of Real Estate. For more information about applying for the report and the cost, contact the Department at 602-468-1414, extension 400.

4. If you have inspected the land and signed a purchase agreement or contract, you have seven calendar days following the day on which you signed the agreement or contract to rescind the purchase in writing without cause. The rescission notice must be received by the seller by midnight of the seventh calendar day. The seller must clearly and conspicuously disclose your right to rescind the purchase. Right of rescission does not apply to new or previously owned homes.

5. If you have not inspected the land before signing a purchase agreement or contract, you have six months in which to inspect the land, and at the time of the inspection you have the right to rescind the purchase.

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