Pam Treece of  Long Realty  Presents -

This month’s edition covers Tucson real estate market activity and discussions on low interest rates and the buyer opportunities they bring.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Program length: approximately 6 1/2 minutes

Remember the old adage, stop and smell the roses? Well in this case, it is the cirrus cactus in Tucson.

On June 20th, I was lucky enough to run into my friend, Kay Phillips, as I was leaving for work. “Did you see the cirrus blossoms?” she asked. No, but when I looked straight ahead there they were, the most brilliant colors.

“Can you believe it? The cirrus cactus just bloomed last night” exclaimed Kay. Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize we had the cirrus cactus in our own backyard. I remembered watching the evening news the night before as they planned on filming the cirrus cacti at the Tohono Chul Park.

For 364 days out of the year, these ordinary, cylinder-shaped cacti are easily overlooked. Yet for one special day, the cirrus cactus transforms the desert landscape. How can the botanical experts precisely predict this magical event? You got me!

Here are a few photos I took of the cirrus blossoms located next to Hole #1 on the Oro Valley Country Club golf course.

I returned home an hour later and took these photos. It was about 9 am on June 20th.

Heading home that evening I noticed the blossoms had shrunk and by the next morning, the flowers were gone. What a valuable lesson revealed by nature, live life to its fullest!

Cheers!

Did the Wicked Witch of the West land in Tucson? Am I in Kansas? Oh my gosh, the first 2007 monsoon storm arrived with a vengeance in Oro Valley, more specifically at the Oro Valley Country Club on July 18th and I must say I have never seen anything like this before! I have experienced intense 7.0 earthquakes in Alaska but to drive home and see over 60 trees scattered all over the golf course was heart

wrenching.

It was approximately 5:15 pm when the menacing sky raced through the Oro Valley Country Club with 60 to 65 mph winds with torrential rains. I found out later we just experienced a rare tropical microburst which transformed the Oro Valley Country Club landscape in less than 30 minutes. Eucalyptus, Mesquite, Palo Verde and Aleppo Pine trees ranging in heights of 45’ to 60’ didn’t have a fighting chance to withstand the muscle of this unique storm.

As I drove by the country club, I remember saying over and over “What just happened?” A downed

tree forced me to go around the backside of the course when I encountered another obstacle, flooded

streets. I slowly navigated home hoping not to flood the engine.

This picturesque golf course built in 1959 and is nestled next to the Catalina Mountains; survived 47 monsoon seasons just suffered its first major loss.

Why am I so passionate about our trees? Well,

• They provide relief from our scorching heat
• An appreciative golf ball ricochet making it safely back onto the fairway
• Home to harris hawks, great horned owls, vermilion flycatchers, finches, an occasional bobcat and raccoons.

We were lucky at our house since we only lost a few tree limbs and our neighbor’s

45’ tree just missed falling on our fountain. Unfortunately, others had to call their home insurance agents. Hmm, this may be a good time to review our policy.

May 2007 Tucson Real Estate Market Stats

The Tucson Association of Realtors® released the market statistics for May 2007. In summary, overall sales are improving each month. There are some positive gains in the median and averages sales price despite the overall market adjustment that Tucson has experienced. It is still a strong buyers’ market with inventory levels near record highs. Sellers are gradually becoming more realistic and flexible with the pricing of their homes. Homes priced competitively and in move in condition are selling in a reasonable amount of time.

Here are a few market statistics;

• Average sales price moved up for the second month in a row to $280,589.
• Active Listings fell from 10,387 in April 2007 to 9,741.
• Number of Units Sold in May decreased by 14% compared to May 2006 to 1313 units.
• Median Sales Price increased from $221,500 in May 2006 to $223,500 in May 2007.

Most active sales category is the single family home. The average price for a Single Family home is $302,475.

I prepared a comparative monthly sales trend graph between 2003 and 2007 using data from the Tucson Multiple Listing Service. It’s interesting to note that the 2007 sales are slightly higher than 2003 and the 2007 sales trend reveals a similar path as 2004, only at a lesser amount sold. The 2006 sales trend paralleled the record setting year of 2005. Will the 2007 sales trend continue to track the 2004 path promising a balanced market on the horizon? Time will tell.

Did you know that the name Tucson originates from the O’odham (Spanish) word Cuk Son, meaning “Black Base” as a reference to the mostly volcanic mountains on the west side of the city?

In further reference, “Cuk Son” means village of the dark spring at the foot of the mountains.

This comes to no surprise as Tucson was established in 1775 by Spanish soldiers.

Did you know that Tucson was established as a presidio before the United States of America came to be?

Tucson became a part of Mexico in 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain. Tucson became an actual state in the USA in1854 as part of the Gadsden Purchase.

Today Tucson is often referred to as “The Old Pueblo”

Tucson History

Did you know Tucson is the only city in the United States that was once walled?

Archaeologist Homer Thiel has spent much of his past decade finding the remains of presidio wall that once used to surround Tucson. This wall is now buried beneath its Downtown streets and buildings.

Did you know that Tucson is the oldest settlement in the United States that has been continuously inhabited?

The city of Tucson has been inhabited for over 4000 years and holds onto its rich heritage of Indian and Spanish influences.

Did you know that Tucson High School was founded 6 years prior to Arizona becoming a state?

Tucson High School had its first day of class on September 10, 1906 with a total of 45 students attending. On September 10th 2006, Tucson High has celebrated its 100th birthday.

Did you know that Tucson police chief banned an issue of Life Magazine in 1938?

Life Magazine released an issue in 1938 entitled “The Birth of a Baby” that included 35 still photographs with summaries underneath. Censors were concerned about the articles illustrations which showed development of the fetus to its birth.

Did you know that in Tucson a whipping post was erected to fight crime?

A whipping post was used by Americans from 1855 to 1860 in Tucson, AZ as a form of punishment. The Tucson whipping post occupied a spot near the adobe jail within the walled village of the southeastern side of Tucson where the county courthouse now resides.

Did you know that the first speed limit in Tucson was 7mph?

In fact, Tucson was the first cities to place implement a speed limit in Arizona. In 1903, the Tucson City Council established its first speed limit of 7 mph.

How Tucson Ranks

Did you know that Tucson was ranked the third best bicycle-friendly cities in the nation by Bicycle Magazine in 2006?

Bicycle Magazine’s reasoning for choosing Tucson for this award was its impressive 300 days of sunshine a year, being a bicycle-friendly culture and having a strong a strong bicycle advisory committee.

Tucson has also placed top 10 in the following:

• 7th Best City for Hispanics by Hispanic Magazine
• 3rd in being the most Creativity City by Washington Monthly
• 1st City for Spas and Resorts by Top U.S Hotels Resorts and Spas 2001
• Ranked in Top 6 places to Retire by Money Magazine
• Ranked in Top 10 Clean Cities by the U.S. Department of Energy
• 7th in Digital Government by Center for Digital Government
• Ranked in Top 10 for being the friendliest city by Conde Naste Travelers Magazine

Tucson Sight Seeing

Did you know Tucson is the gateway to the historic Anza Trail?

The Anza Trail is a 1,210 mile trail that commemorates the route followed in 1775 by Spanish commander Juan Bautista de Anza II. Azan is well known for leading more than 200 colonists on an expedition from Mexico to presidio and mission near the San Francisco Bay.

Did you know that Tucson has a military plane grave yard?

In the Sorona Desert, there is an airplane grave yard where the Air Force leaves planes until they need them again or it is time to salvage them. You can take a tour of the Pima Air & Space Museum to see the over 4,000 planes in the storage that consist of mostly Vietnam era government aircrafts.