Desert Mountain real estate features a brilliant mixture of homes, from the attached cottage to the ultimate in custom homes.

Desert Mountain Luxury Estate

Desert Mountain is one of the world’s premier private, residential communities in luxury real estate with outstanding recreational amenities. The community of Desert Mountain is dubbed as one of the “World’s Best Golf Communities” in 2000 by the Robb Report. For 20 years and counting, Desert Mountain has garnered more than 80 awards of excellence in the field of golf, commercial and residential design.

Desert Mountain offers 6 Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and Clubhouses, world-class, swim and fitness centers, award-winning golf-pro shops, the Sonoran Fitness Center & Spa, tennis facilities that includes hard compression, grass & clay courts, plus fine dining facilities and more. They offer 2375 Equity Golf Memberships, which translates to less than 396 such memberships per course across all six courses. The Equity Golf Membership to the Desert Mountain Club is currently $140,000. Many of the homes sold in this community will include this membership with the sale of the home.

Desert Mountain members have the most extensive golf practice facilities in Arizona. There are multiple pitching, chipping, putting and bunker areas, and four separate practice ranges with target greens. Desert Mountain’s PGA-trained professionals are available to help members at any skill level.

Its Member Services presents the finest concierge services that equals to five-star hotels worldwide. This award-winning community clearly defines casual southwestern luxury living.

The children have not been forgotten as Desert Mountain is family-friendly, with a full calendar of children’s activities. If you like to hike there is over 9 miles of hiking trails within the community.

For inquiries on Desert Mountain real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, just Email or call us at 480-595-6412.

To view current listings go to Desert Mountain real estate listing

When the Kids Aren't Happy, Nobody's Happy

Relocating can be particularly stressful for families with children. Younger kids may not express a reluctance to leave their old, familiar home, but they may react poorly as the process unfolds. Older children, especially teenagers, may vehemently object. “It’s my life too!”

As parents, you can do a variety of things to bring the kids on-board for a move. Communication is key–listening to your kids’ concerns and letting them know you understand how they feel. Preparation is important too. Give your children lots of information about the new location, helping them visualize a great new life in an interesting place. Then get them involved shopping for the new home, visiting schools, making lists–anything that shifts their focus forward.

Family Move

You’ll find more valuable suggestions in our special online report FAMILY MOVE: Tips For House Hunting With The Kids.  Simple click the title to read it. You may also be interested in reading, SMOOTH: A Dozen Ways To Plan The Perfect Relocation. We would be happy to help your relocation any way we can. Just give us a call or e-mail us at your convenience.

When you are out looking for homes for sale in Carefree AZ, it might be a challenge if you’re new to the real estate market. You can make it easier if you have a good idea of what the criteria is that you want in your home. 

Carefree Az Current Listing

When you consider buying a new home, keep in mind that interest rates and home prices tend to move in opposite directions. Some people mistakenly believe buying a home is a bad idea when prices are up or when interest rates are high. In fact, either of those situations can create good buying opportunities. However today’s economy could hardly provide a better climate for the purchase of a home. Market prices for homes are at an historical low and interest rates are the lowest they have been in decades. Prices have actually had upward movement over the past few months. The housing market is bouncing back.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR HOME BUYERS
Buying a home is not as simple as buying a new sweater, or even a new car. There are a lot of things you should know. Here are a few basics:

Do
• Ask a qualified REALTOR® to be your buyer’s agent. The seller pays their fee but their fiduciary responsibility is to their client buyer by agreement.
• Project your future needs, as children multiply, or get older and move out.
• Review last year’s tax and utility bills.
• Consider privacy for you and your spouse.
• Walk the property boundaries.
• Review the homeowner disclosure documents thoroughly.
• Purchase a home warranty for unforeseen breakdowns the first year.
• Keep meticulous records of home repairs once you move in for capital basis calculation once you sell.

• Get pre-qualified for a loan before you head out to find that house that meets your needs. This is a critical step to the home buying process.

Don’t
• Accept as absolute truth statements by the seller. Document everything.
• Make verbal agreements.
• Look for a home without financing pre-approval.
• Make your moving schedule too tight.
• Buy the biggest home in a neighborhood — it’s usually the hardest to sell.
• Purchase without a quality home inspection.

Finding the Right Homes for Sale Carefree Az

When shopping for homes for sale Carefree AZ and you’re working be sure and ask yourself what your commute tolerance is and tell your real estate agent. If it’s 20 minutes your real estate agent needs to know so they can make that part of the search algorithm. Are schools important, easy access to shopping, medical, and recreation are all important factors to consider.

Consider the home itself as an important part of your criteria. When looking for homes for sale Carefree AZ, or anywhere else, consider the absolute “must haves” that have to be part of the home, that is, number of bedrooms, baths, fireplace, garage, etc.; consider the “should haves” that is it should have a center island kitchen but if it doesn’t and everything else is good so it’s not a deal breaker; “nice to haves” that is if the house comes with something you like but it’s not on your must or should have list, it’s nice to have but you it probably does not deserve a monetary value when negotiating the sale price.

Most importantly when you’re looking for homes for sale Carefree AZ, lean on your REALTOR®, they can turn your home quest from something daunting to an experience worth having.

For more information or questions call or email us. You can also visit http://www.CarefreeEstates.com our website for Carefree real estate.

2012 Carefree Balloon Festival

The 3rd Annual Carefree-Cave Creek Hot Air Balloon Festival, hosted by the Carefree Resort and Conference Center, will please young and old alike.  Our “gentle giants” attract thousands to Carefree and Cave Creek each year. This year’s unique environment, at one of the premier resorts in the country, promises an upscale evening of family entertainment. 

The 2012 Carefree Balloon Festival will be showcasing balloons of all shapes and sizes, Live Music, Arizona Skyhawk’s Parachute Team, vendor market, fireworks, indoor and outdoor food and beverage, adult refreshments, Sanderson Lincoln test drives and of course the ever popular Kids Zone!”

General admission is $8.00, Children 3-12 is $5.00 and 2 and under is free.  VIP tickets are available with advance purchase only for $55.00. VIP tickets gives provides an area with seating and fire pits, buffet dinner, bar, and restrooms. Twenty dollars of every VIP ticket goes directly to the Tim and Willy Kid’s FUN-Dation. The Carefree-Cave Creek Balloon Festival will be a fun filled event for all and it’s located at the Carefree Resort and Conference Center on January 21, 2012, from 4 PM to 10 PM.

This event is just another reason why Carefree real estate is so popular and families want their own Carefree estate that they can call their own. If your interested in knowing more about Carefree real estate just go to http://www.CarefreeEstates.com.

Named after its most noticeable feature of spectacular 12-million-year-old granite boulder formations, the community of Boulders is a beautiful community that is split between Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona, it’s located on the north side of Scottsdale and continues into Carefree, Arizona. The Boulders community accentuates a variety of homes ranging from patio homes to custom luxury homes. 

The Boulders in Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona

The Boulders community is home to the famous Boulders Resort and Green Door Spa with two world-class golf courses: Boulders North and Boulders South. These resorts feature a unique combination of resort courses.

Boulders community homeowners enjoy intimate living complemented with the easy access to schools, dining experiences, medical facilities, and shopping both in Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders offers a Zen-like ambiance with the therapeutic serenity and energy of the desert. The resort also features a fitness facility that includes a yoga studio, large movement studio, cardiovascular workout and weight training equipments, various treatment rooms, Men’s and Women’s steam, dry sauna, Japanese inspired relaxation baths, and a Tea Room.

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders brings a unique meditation labyrinth and tranquil pool and whirlpool that is beautifully nestled in the shadows of the boulders. Then top off the experience off with a visit to the full-service salon, and the Spa Boutique.

The Boulders community in Carefree, Arizona epitomizes the beauty of the Southwestern living.

For inquiries on Boulders real estate in Carefree, Arizona, just Email or call us at 480-595-6412

To view current listings go to Boulders real estate listing

Named after its most noticeable feature of spectacular 12-million-year-old granite boulder formations, the community of Boulders is a beautiful community that is split between Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona, it’s located on the north side of Scottsdale and continues into Carefree, Arizona. The Boulders community accentuates a variety of homes ranging from patio homes to custom luxury homes. 

Boulders Luxury Estates

The Boulders community is home to the famous Boulders Resort and Green Door Spa with two world-class golf courses: Boulders North and Boulders South. These resorts feature a unique combination of resort courses.

Boulders community homeowners enjoy intimate living complemented with the easy access to schools, dining experiences, medical facilities, and shopping both in Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders offers a Zen-like ambiance with the therapeutic serenity and energy of the desert. The resort also features a fitness facility that includes a yoga studio, large movement studio, cardiovascular workout and weight training equipments, various treatment rooms, Men’s and Women’s steam, dry sauna, Japanese inspired relaxation baths, and a Tea Room.

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders brings a unique meditation labyrinth and tranquil pool and whirlpool that is beautifully nestled in the shadows of the boulders. Then top off the experience off with a visit to the full-service salon, and the Spa Boutique.

The Boulders community in Carefree, Arizona epitomizes the beauty of the Southwestern living.

For inquiries on Boulders real estate in Carefree, Arizona, just Email or call us at 480-595-6412

To view current listings go to Boulders real estate listing

Discover for yourself why many consider Scottsdale real estate as the buzzing city and why people from all over the country and the world are moving to Scottsdale, Arizona. Here are 7 reasons why you should choose Scottsdale Arizona.

1. People who have experienced Scottsdale Arizona are impressed by the hospitality the city embraces its residents and visitors with stunning beauty in and around what makes up Scottsdale real estate. The city has been voted as “one of the most livable cities in the United States”

2. The city features a scenic backdrop against the Sonoran Desert and the McDowell Mountain preserve.

3. Environment plays a very crucial role in this city. Amidst all the advancement, commerce and social activities, the city never fails to actively take action in preserving its rich environment they were blessed with.

4. With a low crime rate comes a greater and safer freedom. People in Scottsdale get a real feeling of comfort and security in and out of their homes.

5. Scottsdale is an affluent city in the state of Arizona where hundreds of gorgeous homes are on the market at unbelievably affordable prices. There’s no surprise why Scottsdale real estate is so popular and sought after! Take a look for yourself at these gorgeous properties.

6. Scottsdale yields strong results. Ninety eight percent of the students in Scottsdale graduate from high school, and a large percentage of that proceed to University and onto Graduate levels.
7. To add even more cherries to sweeten the amenities the weather in Scottsdale is as lovely with over 300 days of sunshine a year.

Countless exciting activities await you in Scottsdale! Whether it be a Southwestern family-fun afternoon extravaganza in the many parks and recreational areas around the city or a lavish, hip night out with some friends. All that and more, in Scottsdale Arizona. Start your year by enjoying the many opportunities to own a piece of Scottsdale real estate.

View this Video by Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

• Not everyone celebrates the new year eve on the 31^st of December. The Chinese celebrate new year at the second new moon after the winter solstice.
• The first New Year’s Eve ball dropped in Times Square on December 31, 1907 
  

  Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

• Sydney, Australia has one of the largest annual New Year’s Eve celebrations.
• Over 80,000 fireworks are set off from the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
• The centenary clock is lowered at 23:59:48 on new years eve in Madrid, Spain
• The most popular New Year’s resolution is to lose weight.
• The most popular New Year’s Day parade is held in Pasadena, California – the Tournament of Roses, better known as the Rose Parade
• In Arizona, a pine cone dropped on New Year’s eve
• In Seattle, the countdown is done with an elevator
• It is in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, the Philippines and Venezuela where New Year’s eve is a public non-working holiday.
• The Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival
• Thailand celebrates New Year from April 13 to 15 by throwing water.
• New Year began on March 1 in the ancient Roman calendar.
• The first new year holiday was observed 4,000 years ago in Ancient Babylon
• In around 600 BC, the New Year tradition of using a baby began to signify a new year.

As and ode to a year that we are all about to bid adieu, let us all welcome 2012 full of love and hopes from the Luxury Valley Homes team. May God Bless us all and the United States of America.

Welcoming the new year with grand fireworks display is as epic and iconic as it comes in New York’s Time Square or in Sydney’s Harbor Bridge. The gorgeous display of lights never fails to enthrall anyone – of course, from a safe and comfortable distance. These light shows are more than just spectacles, they have become a tradition.

Welcome the New Year in Style at Carefree, Arizona

Fireworks were first invented in 7th century China and was used for entertainment as well as for warfare. Fourteen thousand years later and fireworks are still being used more or less the same way but only better and safer.

The Chinese believed that the loud noises the fireworks made drove away the evil spirits, bad luck and ill fates. So welcoming the upcoming year with fireworks meant driving away the misfortunes and bringing in good luck.

Celebrate and dance your way through the night at various New Year’s eve parties in Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona. Before the clock strikes midnight, make sure to find a good spot, count your way down to 1 and witness the spectacular fireworks display. Welcome in the new year full of love and hope. Ring in 2012 with all the fun and amusements in and around Downtown Carefree and Carefree real estate.

Then top the night off with nice cold sparkling champagne to cheer on for the coming year.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2012 from the Luxury Valley Homes.

Success in a child’s years to come is greatly influenced by the groundwork laid during the formative preschoolyears. Significant to the success of the child in academics and life is the balancing of the mental, emotional and social education and development during the years of infancy to age five. 

Things to Remember When Choosing a Preschool for Day Care

Parents naturally want to find that their children have the needed reading and writing skills for kindergarten and 1st grade after years in preschool, but the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child has found in their studies that the contentedness and self-assurance that comes from stable human relationships are significant as well. The preschool program can make the difference in the whole development in children, harmonizing positive social relations and emotional happiness with academics that prepares the young students for further schooling and future life.

Because of the critical development that takes place in the young life before kindergarten age, parents should take special care in selecting preschool programs. They should look for schools that apply a curriculum that incorporates imaginative play with valuable and age appropriate academics. Such schools should have teachers that are caring and qualified. Evidence should be found that the teachers provide an environment that fosters the growth of the vital social and emotional sides of learning.

Obviously, helping children to learn to count and to know their ABC’s is important. Then, elements of life are also crucial like compassion and sharing, friendship and truthfulness along with inner-confidence and kindness. The National Research Council reported in the year 2000 that infants come into the world in a learning mode. They are born ready to absorb all they can from their environment. The report was titled, “From Neurons to Neighborhoods.” The swift learning and mental growth that happens until the child is five years old is phenomenal, and educators should be mindful of the part they play in encouraging the character qualities that prepare them to be balanced human beings as well as good students.

Preschools should be staffed with teachers who love their work, who understand the needs of balanced education at the early ages of their students. A quality curriculum combined with top criteria and caring professionals have the potential to help children be their best and reach their highest potential. Children can achieve amazing accomplishments given the right setting. From those who take care of infants to those who are teaching the five-year-olds, every teacher should nurture the balance of healthy physical, mental and emotional growth.

Preschool days should be filled with a mix of imaginative child-play and teacher-guided learning. Children should also receive frequent evaluation to note individual progress so that the program can be adjusted and modified to meet the needs of the individual students. Evaluations help teachers form a guideline for structured, purposeful and consequential teaching and learning. The potentials and heights that children can reach far exceed any expectations when placed in a positive and balanced learning environment.

Submitted by Dan Gilbert on behalf of Primrose Schools. Primrose’s BalancedLearning® daycare have low student-to-teacher ratios, ensuring that each child receives personal attention and loving care. Dan has written a number of articles on topics varying from bilingual learning to teaching the importance of volunteering.

Image by: Casey West