‘HOME PHONE’ – Fulton Homes lets you buy a home on your phone.(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Fulton Homes.) Fulton CIO Patrick Hindall: “Every single one of our web features and buyer tools [‘room and kitchen visualizers, interactive lot maps, buyer portals, community search and navigation’] are now fully responsive on all devices… Buyers don’t have to wait until they get home from a buying tour to shop Fulton Homes. They can pull over and use their mobile device from the comfort of their vehicle…” AZ Business Magazine. http://bit.ly/2C41UvA
Real estate sales activity November 2016-17 in San Tan Valley. Queen Creek Independent has the “Market Data Report” (courtesy of SouthEast Valley Regional Association of Realtors) for “real estate activity… for November 2016 to November 2017. The information [graphed and tabulated] includes average and median listing prices, median sales prices, active/pending/sold units and closed sales.” http://bit.ly/2BQaGsG
Why new home sales spiked and what’s driving the surge. “Two take-awaysemerged from pre-Christmas reports on the sudden surge in new home sales”: The release of “pent-up momentum” and the “stark reality of attainability.” Builder’s John McManus explores what it’s going to take to carry the new-home sales pace into 2018. http://bit.ly/2lmCeyM
Where renters are feeling rich. “RentCafe analyzed data to see in which cities where winter expenses put a strain on renters the most and the least.” In which Arizona cities did renters come out ahead? Find out and access the full RentCafeanalysis at RealtorMAG. http://bit.ly/2E9sH6K
Here are the Top 10 stories of 2017. “[The list isn’t] based on newsworthiness or importance — although each story is important and newsworthy. The ranking is based on the sheer number of… readers who took the time to read the story.” And, as AzBigMedia adds, “those looking for commercial real estate news were clearly the most enthusiastic…” –> http://bit.ly/2BPQ9Ez
[SLIDESHOW] Retail, office, hospitality top biggest Phoenix commercial real estate sales of 2017. “Commercial real estate was one of the laggards following the Great Recession, but as other aspects of the economy have come around, so too has that sector.” And PBJ has a 26-image slideshow of the top “commercial real estate transactions” to prove it — NO subscription required! http://bit.ly/2lbWvbm
Grand Canyon University transforms apartments into student housing.“Caliber and its subsidiaries have embarked on a renovation project that will transform [the] nearly 45-year-old [GC Square Apartments]… into a gated community with resort-style amenities.” And given the “modern, trendy” makeover this place is getting — as described in Arizona Business Daily — it almost makes you want to hightail it over to GCU and attempt to enroll! http://bit.ly/2E64qP9
Paradise Valley leaders eye feats of local stature in 2018. “The Town of Paradise Valley Independent reached out to three members of Paradise Valley Town Council [Mayor Michael Collins, and Councilmen Paul Dembow and David Sherf] to better understand what they believe to be items of importance headed into the new year.” http://bit.ly/2DrJp0g
3 council seats, 3 initiatives on the Tempe ballot in February. “Beyond council, Tempe voters will weigh in on three ballot measures that range from preserving a park to campaign finance reform. With the elections fast approaching [, AZCentral has] a roundup of what you need to know.” http://bit.ly/2C5GkH6
Pinal officials discuss what’s just around the corner. “As the world prepares for the end of the year, area officials [including State Rep. T.J. Shope, County Supervisor Steve Miller, County Manager Greg Stanley, and CG City Manager Larry Rains] talked with PinalCentral on what goals and benchmarks residents can expect to see in 2018.” Among the exciting things noted for the new year: The RTA (‘new transportation plan and tax’), Attesa, and San Tan Valley incorporation. http://bit.ly/2Ci0hty
Set of disputes lead top Coolidge stories of 2017. Chief among them (as far as real estate development drama is concerned), was a proposed solar farm near the Eleven Mile Corner and what ensued when the city pursued annexation, which included “a portion of the proposed solar plant site.” Another top story that caught our eye: “Road tax vote could mean big things for Coolidge.” For the stories along with capsule summaries of all 20, tap to Coolidge Examiner. http://bit.ly/2CjiFQh
Rose Law Group Reporter Top 10 Quotes of 2017. This year’s list features rare, unusual, or otherwise amusing lines credited to some familiar names and sources tracked down and compiled by Senior Reporter/Writer Phil Riske. http://bit.ly/2pOSFJY
As the rush is on, IRS clarifies requirements for prepaying property taxes. “The IRS announced only taxpayers who have received a tax assessment from their local government and made payment by the end of the year are permitted to prepay their property taxes after President Donald Trump signed a new Republican tax bill onto law.” (Now, if only there was some sort of deduction for all the CHAOS caused by the “new $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local levies”…) Further details in this UPI report. –> http://bit.ly/2C4pPuz
Tucson Unified School District escapes the clutches of the state on ‘ethnic studies.’ “[A] federal judge on Wednesday… said state lawmakers acted illegally in 2010 in making it illegal for any schools to have courses that promote the overthrow of the federal government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group, or ‘advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.’ ” More on the case and the ruling in this report from Capitol Media Services’ Howard Fischer at Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2llTEM8
John McCain is the fourth-most admired man in the world, Gallup poll says. “U.S. Sen. John McCain finished behind two presidents and the pope to win recognition as the fourth-most admired man in the world, according to the Gallup organization.” AZCentral has poll details, including results for the “Most Admired Man and Woman.” http://bit.ly/2E7NrMf
Yee opts for treasurer over Congress. “[State senator Kimberly] Yee was tipped as one of the early front-runners for a seat vacated by former Republican U.S. Rep. Trent Franks.” KTAR reports that that “Yee said she was honored by the encouragement she received to run but wants to focus on running for [State Treasurer] Jeff DeWit’s job.” Read Yee’s statement here: http://bit.ly/2BPHzpu
