Valley housing market still has a ways to go, experts say - CBS 5 - KPHO

Valley housing market still has a ways to go, experts say - CBS 5 - KPHO

Enjoy my August Newsletter!

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Being Creative with Creative Financing

Understanding the current market can never be over emphasized when it comes to real estate investments.  In today's unique and slightly confusing marketplace, this is even truer.  While every deal has it's own set of circumstances determining how you need to structure the financing, there are two general and important considerations distinctive to today's market.

1.  Seller's serious about attracting buyers must consider offering seller financing if they want to attract the highest number of potential buyers.  And therefore the highest price.

2.  Bank's will continue requiring large down payments from investors for the foreseeable future.  Not a particularly good thing but one that can be worked around with creative financing.

When it comes to financing your real estate investments, seller financing should be your first choice in today's market.  The seller won't charge points, they won't require private mortgage insurance, and there won't be loan origination fees.  To say nothing about all of the "garbage fees" like courier and fax charges that banks bring to the closing table.

Another major savings comes from the much lower down payment sellers will accept, especially for a house in less than pristine condition.  Often a down payment of 5% or less compared to 25% or more for a bank loan.

While seller financing offers several advantages over a bank loan, there is usually one big hurdle to get over before a seller will commit.  Few sellers want to carry the loan for 30 years.  They want a balloon payment to cash them out in a few years.  This is where sharp real estate investors become creative with their creative financing.

Let's look at an example of a creative way to structure a seller financing deal for your real estate investments in today's marketplace.  Let's say you find a nice single-family house in a nice neighborhood with a decent price of $125,000.  A seller financed down payment is 5% and comes to $5,250 instead of the $31,250 (25%) a bank requires.  In exchange for that down payment, you negotiate a balloon payment as far out as possible.  Say 5, 7, or 10 years.

Although you don't have a crystal ball to tell you what the marketplace will be in coming years, you should have an exit strategy for your real estate investment before you even buy.  In this case, you may want to sell the house for a tidy profit before the balloon payment comes due.  But you need a plan B in case the market timing doesn't work for a sale.  You'll need to refinance the loan - probably through a bank.

If nothing else changes in 7 years, with a 5% down payment and a 6.5% seller financed loan, you'll have 14.24% equity in the property when the balloon payment comes due.  If banks still require 25% equity, you'll need to come up with another $13,450 to qualify for a loan.  Not many investors want to come up with another big chunk of money to refinance.  However, if you're into the property correctly, you should be able to pay an extra $124 each month to earn equity faster.  With that extra payment, you'll own 25% equity when the balloon payment comes due.

If you negotiate that 7-year balloon up to a 10-year balloon payment, the extra monthly payment plummets to a mere $45.  Giving you the 25% equity needed for a traditional loan.

Always crunch the numbers for multiple scenarios to find the highest possible profit from your real estate investments.  Another way to creatively use creative financing is by slowly ramping the payments up (as rent increases) to meet the 25% equity requirement when the seller financing balloon comes due.

Author Bio:  Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 30 years and writing about real estate investing for seven years.  He also draws upon 25 plus years of business experience including 12 years as a manager at Boeing Aircraft Company.  Brian currently lives at Lake Cushman, Washington.  A vacation destination, a few short miles from a national forest in the Olympic Mountains with the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles in the opposite direction.

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Did You Know?

Did you know Arizona's forests provide the majority of the surface water for Valley cities? Water from snowmelt and runoff travels to the Salt and Verde rivers' reservoirs and into SRP's canal system. It is then delivered to city treatment plants, which provide water to homes and businesses.

Healthy forests are important to maintaining our water supply, yet many of Arizona's forests are unhealthy and overgrown. This makes them susceptible to wildfires, which affect both the quality of the water you drink and how much is available. Through support of forest restoration efforts, SRP is helping protect our water supply from the harmful effects of wildfires. You can help, too!

To learn more, visit: togetherweconserve.com/valleywater.

Smile - You're Not on Camera

Like many cities, Peoria placed "red light cameras" at several intersections.  After hearing from many of you about how you feared being in crashes as you approached these intersections, I looked deeply into them.  Numerous national studies indicated accident rates increase rather than decrease at "red light intersections."  After reviewing traffic statistics at our "red light intersection" with our Peoria police, we were able to show that Peoria was also experiencing an increase in accidents at them. RedFlex and their cameras didn't go easily, but with the support of residents like you who voiced your concern, the city council voted to remove them.  They didn't prevent red light running, and no longer do you have to fear or worry about them.

~~Dr. Ron Aames, Peoria Palo Verde District

Foreclosures at Lowest Level in 7 Years

Foreclosures at Lowest Level in 7 Years

What real-estate agents do for buyers - MSN Real Estate

What real-estate agents do for buyers - MSN Real Estate

4th of July Trivia

Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence. To whom did he give the first draft for revisions?

a) Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock

b) Robert Sherman and John Adams

c) John Adams and Benjamin Franklin

d) Robert Sherman and John Hancock

John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The Second Continental Congress initially appointed five people — Franklin, Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson — to draft a declaration and Jefferson wrote the first draft. Adams and Franklin made initial revisions and more revisions were later made.

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Wine Trivia!

One Barrel of Wine Contains:

740 pounds of grapes or 59 gallons
24.6 cases of wine
295 bottles of wine
1,180 glasses of wine

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Should Boomers Worry About Millennials' Housing Shift?

Should Boomers Worry About Millennials' Housing Shift?

Finish Strong Motivational Quotes

Finish Strong Motivational Quotes

Brushing Up on the Key Factor for Getting a Loan

Whether Phoenix area residents are looking for a home equity line of credit, a refi, or a new mortgage, when it comes to getting a loan, everyone knows that it’s the credit score that ultimately determines the outcome. Yet when it comes to a working knowledge of what major factors affect your score, a new survey shows that many of us are less certain than we should be.

The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit outfit that from time to time releases reports designed to improve that situation. Their latest is a sort of report card on how much average adults understand about credit scoring —  the key factor in getting a loan of any kind.

On the plus side of the report card, CFA says that people who have obtained one or more of their own credit scores within the past year are significantly better-informed than those who have not. No surprise there. Those people tend to know that there are three large credit bureaus (although how anyone who watches TV doesn’t already know that is a mystery to me).

On the minus side, more men than women misunderstand how age and marital status affect their credit scores (those factors have no effect). Men, on the other hand, “are more skeptical than women about the value of credit repair agencies.” CFA doesn’t go into why that is, but I’d like to think that it’s because they understand that a more straightforward way to repair your credit is to pay all bills on time.

Sandwiched in among the charts and graphs are various bits of good advice for any Phoenix area resident getting a loan.  A few bear repeating:

1.      Avoid maxing out credit cards; try not to even get close

2.      Pay down debt instead of just moving it from account to account

3.      Keep track of your credit from time to time, even if you’re not planning on getting a loan right away

If you are planning to become a Phoenix area buyer or seller in the near future, I’m here to help you make the most it. Call me anytime. 602-722-0026

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Major League Baseball Info

Major League Baseball requires that all the umpires working in the league must wear black underwear at every game.

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Interesting Information

The price of the Titanic cost about $7 million to build and the price of the Titanic movie was about $200 million to make. Unbelievable!

New Signs in Old Town

The original one square mile of Peoria is full of history, with homes built in the early 1900s, a church that is the oldest running in the state, and storefronts that take you back in time. In 2009, city officials adopted the Old Town Peoria Revitalization Plan to help breathe life into the downtown area yet recognize its historical relevance. The target area is bounded by 85th Avenue to the west, Peoria Avenue to the north, Grand Avenue to the east, and Monroe Street to the south. One of the goals in the plan was to replace existing street signs with themed signage, creating a recognizable sense of place and to celebrate the historic character of Old Town Peoria.

A group of citizens helped design the new signs, which have white lettering on a brown background and a "sign topper" identifying Old Town Peoria. Last month, the city replaced 21 "ordinary" street name signs with these historically-themed signs. The entire project stayed local making it extremely cost-effective: A Peoria business designed and made the signs; some of the material used was already available through the city's maintenance shop; and city employees did the installation.

Other goals in the plan include upgrades to the appearance of the buildings and renovation of the community center. When visiting downtown, take a look around to notice these little changes that make a big difference. For more information about the plan visit www.peoriaaz.gov/planning or call Rob Gubser at 623-773-7405.

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Did You Know This?

Disneyland does not sell chewing gum!  Walt Disney did not want guests inconvenienced by stepping on gum purchased in the park.

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WestWing Mountain Trail

The trail head for WestWing Mountain is at WestWing Park, 27100 N. WestWing Parkway.  Services include:  off-street parking, restroom facilities, and chilled drinking water.  The park is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; the trail is open from dawn to dusk.  The city discourages the public from parking in the adjacent neighborhoods to access the WestWing and Sunrise Mountain trails - please be courteous to the neighboring residents; use the park or school parking lots for your hiking experience.

To access WestWing Mountain trail, cross WestWing Parkway to the north and east at the four-way stop intersection of Black Rock Road.  The mountain trail access is just to the north of Higuera Drive, through a drainage wash in the WestWing community.  However, after walking through this wash area for 1/4-mile, you will begin an ascent for the next half-mile that is sure to increase your heart rate.  The entire loop of the WestWing Mountain Trail is 3.1 miles.  It offers several scenic overlook areas and panoramic views of the entire Phoenix area.  You also will see the storage area behind the New River Dam that is connected by both Eastwing and WestWing mountains.  This hike is recommended for more experienced hikers.

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Take It Outside

One thing the West Valley has over those East Coast locations - our weather rocks!  Soak up the sun with a group hike or bike ride through Thunderbird Conversation Park.  Trails span 1,000 acres and are the only desert-mountain preserves in Glendale.  Picnic areas are located in desert washes shaded by Palo Verde and Ironwood trees.  If you love animals, these trails are perfect for you, too.  Critters you can see on trails include jackrabbits, squirrels, lizards and 19 species of birds. Take in our Sonoran landscape from up above with a balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions or sit back and relax on a guided tour from Arizona Scenic Tours.

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Historic Downtown Glendale

Glendale's historic downtown pairs gas lamps and brick sidewalks with the verve of unique ethnic eateries and boutique shops.  Nationally renowned for the unique shopping experience it provides, Glendale's downtown is broken into two parts - the storefronts of Old Towne and the bungalow-turned-boutiques of Catlin Court.

A trip to downtown opens up a world of flavors and discovery at today's hip mom-and-pop style business offerings.  From family-run restaurants to small businesses featuring boutique clothing, rare fashions, art, delectable treats and home accents, Glendale's downtown shops can easily keep a marathon shopper busy for the afternoon (or weekend).  One of the stops you'll want to make is at the Cerretta Candy Company, a family-owned factory you can tour and see how your favorite indulgences are made.  If your sweet tooth still isn't satisfied, get a scoop or two of frozen goodness at Papa Ed's Ice Cream, a Catlin Court parlor that serves up delicious treats from a unique Craftsman-style carriage house.  Then find a special furry friend to take home and cherish at Bears & More, a toy-lovers wonderland full of plush animals, puzzles, games and more.  All are within historic downtown where you can enjoy the relaxing shade of the tree-lined streets and rich history of Murphy Park.  The popular park also serves as the picturesque setting to many of the city's famous festivals and events, and a visit during the holiday season will expose you to a whole new view of the downtown as the park and adjacent streets are blanketed by more than 1.5 million twinkling lights for the annual holiday event season.

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Sports and Entertainment District

Whether your favorite team plays on the gridiron, the diamond or the ice, this district has it all.  As the home of the NHL Coyotes and NFL Cardinals, Glendale is a place where residents and visitors can immerse themselves in sports and entertainment year round.  Head to the award-winning Jobing.com Arena to watch the Coyotes take on hockey's best.  Spend your falls and winters watching the bruising action in the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Cardinals, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and BCS Championship games and Super Bowl 2015.  Or, come here for MLB Spring Training action at Camelback Ranch - Glendale, home to the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.  Along with the Glendale stadium you can attend a game at the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres stadium in Peoria and the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians stadium in Goodyear.  The Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals stadium is located in Surprise and the Milwaukee Brewers play in Maryvale. Why not visit them all?

Of course, even a sports nut can't live on Dodger dogs alone.  Luckily this district offers more than sports and concessions. Check out concerts at Jobing.com Arena and put Westgate City Center on your must-do list.  Westgate is a dynamic mix of restaurants and retail with an open-air style that invites and embraces.  At Margaritaville, you can enjoy a cheeseburger in paradise, followed by a stroll through trendy and fun shops that leads to a $6 million Bellago-inspired dancing water feature that will get you moving, too.  Of course, when you're ready to sit back and be entertained, you can sink into a comfortable chair to view a feature film on Arizona's largest Imax screen or take in one of the plaza's many themed nights under the stars.  The Tanger outlets have opened at Westgate and there are plenty of hotels that have been built in the Peoria and Glendale area to accommodate all the out of town guests that come for pretty much the month of March.

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West Valley Cities at a Glance

Live it up!  Get down!  Chill out, let loose and run wild!  Whatever your mission, we can deliver in Glendale, Peoria, and the other West Valley cities.  Let us set the stage for your adventure, be it edge-of-your-seat sports showdowns, romantic evenings amid our colorful Sonoran sunsets, rugged yet stunning outdoor escapes, blockbuster shows, family fun or to-die-for shopping and dining.  Life happens here, and adventure follows.  Let us point you in the right direction so your journey can begin.

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Westgate City Center

Trendy and cutting-edge is almost unavoidable at Glendale's Westgate City Center.  Nestled under the shadows of what is probably the coolest professional sporting facility to ever emerge from the earth's landscape, the district's shops and boutiques almost seem to form a mini urban amusement park for the shopping masses.  Fueled by the buzzing nightlife and tempered by the calm of nearby wine bars and happening restaurants, a trip through Westgate's shops will do more than wear out your credit card; you'll experience a total reprieve from the busy reality that surrounds this shopping escape.  Diners can experience the thrill of dueling pianos over a meal at the Shout House, kick back in an Adirondack at Margaritaville, challenge the bull at Saddleback Ranch steakhouse or keep the party going at McFadden's, just a few of dozens of unique dining options.  Shoppers will also find a little of everything, from boutique clothing shops, accessory stores and a toy shop that lets you build your own remote-controlled car--custom-built, bumper-to-bumper.  Time your trip just right and you can also head over to the adjacent Jobing.com Arena to catch a Coyotes hockey game or blockbuster concert --recent tours include Taylor Swift, Usher and Justin Bieber.

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Make a Play Date

Looking for a little theatrical escapism?  We've got you covered.  First, try Theater Works, a small, but mighty local non-profit theater company based in the beautiful new Peoria Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Peoria.  The troupe has a stellar range of presentations, from drama to comedy, and musical and holiday, as well as a special puppet theater for children!  Or check out what's taking center stage at Arizona Broadway Theatre, just north of the Peoria Sports Complex spring training facility.  Dinner and a show might just be the perfect reason to get all dolled up for a night out on the town.

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Get a Little Mystical

Contact the spirit world, peek at the future, see where your birth chart will lead you, or get a snapshot of the colors surrounding your aura.  It's all available at Glendale's most metaphysical downtown location - The Astrology Store.  Here astrologer and psychic medium Dave Campbell gives readings and helps clients seek information from "across the veil."  And if it's not the future stressing you out, but the present, the store still offers help.  Try the healing hands of one of its massage therapists.  Keep the unwinding...well...unwinding with a visit to nearby Cameo Candles and Open Door One and Two, three shops full of heavenly scents, comforting apparel and hand-crafted art.

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Retail Therapy

Shopping is at its best in Glendale and the West Valley.  Bring an empty suitcase and book a weekend with the girls.  You'll want to kick things off in the cool boutique shops in historic downtown Glendale, then head north for the grand daddy of shopping centers - Arrowhead Towne Center, which covers everything from chic at the Apple Store to designer duds right from the runway at The Limited.  And don't forget the outdoor shopping paradises at Peoria's Park West and Glendale's Westgate in the Sports and Entertainment District. Enjoy regular outdoor farmer's markets amid the many specialty shops and restaurants at Park West, then soak up the energy and take in some entertainment at Westgate, dubbed the Times Square of the Desert, thanks to the vibrant signage, lights and dancing water fountains that stand proudly at the plaza's center.

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Web Appeal is Peoria's New Curb Appeal

Remember the days when you didn’t have to rummage furiously through the house to find a ringing phone, because it stayed where it was supposed to be—plugged into the wall? You remember: it used to take less than 10 minutes to check out the TV listings because there weren’t hundreds of channels. And a gallon of gas cost less than a loaf of bread…

Of course, those days are long gone. Unless you want to live on an isolated island somewhere in an underdeveloped country, that’s that.

In the real estate profession, the good ol’ days are gone, too. When I’m helping a client sell his or her home, I make the most of the fact that the super-highway to today’s buyer is no longer the newspaper or snail mail. 

It’s the Web.

It’s the listings.

The first glimpse potential buyers get to any property is most often found through our Peoria real estate listings. Those attention-grabbing Peoria real estate listings are the agent and seller’s best chance to attract an in-person visit—with all that follows.

So how do you help your agent ace the Peoria real estate listings? 

As in preparing for any performance: set the stage!

Photographs are your best listings allies, so “stage” the house before photography begins. Professional photographers know that the viewer’s eye will be attracted to any out-of-place detail: a dog bed in a corner, or one window with a blind pulled lower than the others will create a distracting element. What looks okay in real life is much less critical.  

Savvy buyers will peruse real estate listings in Peoria online before scheduling visits. They save time, effort, and expense—and for those not committed to a specific area, the wealth of information published online about the community helps narrow their search. If you’re looking to sell your house, be sure your listing catches the attention of those serious and educated buyers. They’re the ones who are likely to write an offer.

Ready to set the stage for a successful sale? I’d love to prepare a marketing plan for you this spring!

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Dinner, Drinks and a Show

Take the team out for dinner at one of Westgate's many fine restaurant offerings.  From grill greats to the best in breweries, Westgate's menus are full of variety.  Plus, you'll be in the heart of Glendale's Sports and Entertainment District, meaning a walk to the award-winning jobing.com Arena for the latest blockbuster show is within minutes.  There's more:  head to Glendale's Downtown Dining District, which has the world covered with its lineup of ethnic eateries, including local favorites Haus Murphy's and Pedro's.  For those who go straight for the dessert, check out Papa Ed's Ice Cream or Cerreta Candy Company.  Then, keep the fun and entertainment brewing into the wee hours at nearby Vee Quiva Casino.

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Northwest Region

If you want to cowboy up while on vacation, the Northwest Region is the place to be.  As town folk like to say, “You should spend the day, out Wickenburg way.”  Wickenburg was once home to the richest gold lode in Arizona.  While the area’s Vulture Mine was long ago played out, Wickenburg retains its rustic gold rush image.  So if bola ties and Western art are on your shopping list, remember Wickenburg features shops with names like Buckshot Babe’s, Old Livery Mercantile, Smith and Western and Copperstate Cowboy,.  It’s the kind of place you can stroll through while licking homemade ice cream cones and imagining the days of yesteryear.  Restaurants like the Twin Wheels Cafe’ have hearty food and the chance to catch up on town happenings from locals while you soak up the western atmosphere.  On a different note, this region features Lake Pleasant.  Even if you don’t get out on the water for fishing, boating or jet-skiing, The Waterfront Bar and Grille lets you enjoy the scenery in air conditioned comfort while sipping on cool drinks, like the regionally popular Margarita.  If a few sips of the salty senorita drink gets you wanting to make a big splash, the harbor area also features gift shops with fashionable swimsuits and other ensembles.

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Fishing Trip!

Drop a line and see what takes a nibble.  At Lake Pleasant - a favorite desert lake among anglers - it could be bass that's biting.  Open year-round, Lake Pleasant features more than 50 miles of shoreline with 10,000 acres of crystal clear water fed primarily from the Agua Fria River.  Anglers have been known to pull large-mouth bass, white crappie, white bass, channel catfish, and tilapia from its waters.  Need to load up on some gear before heading out?  Stop in at Cabela's in the Sports and Entertainment District, a 160,000-square-foot, two story showroom stocked with every hook, reel and tackle you may ever need.

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Mountain Warrior Weekend

Head to the hills and be sure you pack a picnic to sit back and take in the ultimate view. Trails abound at the White Tanks Mountain Regional Park, where skilled climbers and novices alike can crank up the cardio before taking a break atop one of the rolling hills.  Look east to take in the West Valley below, including a dazzling dusk view of the bustling lights of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale and surrounding Sports and Entertainment District.  If you've got the energy, you can test out your skills at the nearby Estrella Mountain Regional Park and Thunderbird Conversation Park, too, just to say you've climbed and conquered them all!!!

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Interesting Facts About Recycling

In general, when a material or product is recycled fewer fresh materials are needed than when a product is manufactured for the first time, less energy is used and pollution to our air and water is reduced. Recycling is important to a cleaner environment.

You’ve seen the triangle with arrows ( the recycle symbol ) on plastic containers a thousand times but did you ever notice a number inside the symbol? Look at the water bottle sitting next to you or in your fridge, look for the recycle symbol and notice what number is inside it (The symbol is usually near the bottom of the bottle and sometimes on the very bottom). The number inside the triangle is probably a 1 or a 2 and is an important number to know. Below we explain what the most common numbers mean and the dangers involved, it’s simple but something we (including our children) should all know.

Important! Be sure to read below, why to never reuse a #1 plastic water bottle to drink out of. The #1 water bottle is your typical store bought drinking water bottle.

Instead of tossing something recyclable into the trash, you should do your part to make sure it gets recycled. Often times there’s designated areas to drop off recyclables. If you have a garbage collector at your home or office, ask them if they have a special container for you to put your recyclables in.

Below are some interesting facts about recycling:

Using the average 12 ounce soda or beer can it would take about 33 empty aluminum cans to equal one pound.

The average disposable diaper sold today could easily last well over one hundred years in a local landfill and the average baby will need at least 7500 diapers from birth until potty/toilet trained.

Glass is 100% recyclable, it doesn’t lose quality, durability or purity during the recycling process.

The international agency for research on cancer has said that styrene ( what styrofoam comes from – polystyrene or polystyrene foam from the styrene monomer) is a probable carcinogen and the EPA says it’s a suspected toxin to some of the bodies organs. The National Toxicology Program has deemed it an anticipated human carcinogen. When you use a Styrofoam cup, remember they have a long lifespan in a landfill and are very unlikely to ever be recycled. Styrofoam is also known to be a choking hazard for a lot of animals.

Have you heard of fog harvesting? There’s a net (sometimes referred to as a fog harvesting fence or fog harvesting tower) that with the help of wind can take fog and turn it into clean drinking water and they are improving peoples lives in some areas of the world where water is scarce.

What the number inside the recycle symbol on most plastics means. It’s usually on or near the bottom of every plastic container. If you're drinking out of one right now it most likely has a 1 or 2 on it. Recycled #2 plastics are heavier plastics than #1 plastics. The #2 plastic would be a typical milk jug, some juice bottles and even detergent jugs. The # 1 is what an average water bottle sold in the local grocery by the pack would most likely have on it. You may notice the #1 plastic is probably very clear and thinner than the #2 container. Different grades of plastics are recycled into different products.

#1 plastics or (PET plastics) are often times recycled into products using fleece, jackets, carpet, backpacks, sleeping bags etc.

#2 plastics can be recycled into heavier more durable products than #1 plastics like plastic crates, outdoor plastic furniture, play sets for children, toys, buckets, and even back into drinking and food grade containers and more.

Plastics #2, #4 and #5 are the plastics that can be made safest for foods and drinking.

Notice we didn’t mention #1 plastic in the safest for foods and drinking? While #1 is considered safe enough by the FDA to drink the contents once, most health advocates agree that manufactures should not recycle the #1 plastic back into a drinking bottle again because of bacteria and chemical breakdown concerns.

#1 grade plastic water bottles. Do not reuse #1 grade plastic bottles, think of the 1 as (one time use) because they are not manufactured or safe for repeated use. Repeated use of a #1 plastic container for drinking or eating can release unwanted and unhealthy chemicals in your food and drink, washing it does not help, washing it does not make it safer and can actually release more chemicals into your food or drink. 

Did you know food scraps can be recycled or composted into an excellent compost for gardening? Breads, vegetables, fruit peels, coffee grounds and even eggshells are just a few of the ingredients that can be used to strengthen your soil’s fertility.

Organic matter accounts for about one third of all waste.

We all use bottles and jars either directly or indirectly, Americans discard about 28 billion of them each year.

Buenos Aires is home to about 3 million people which accumulate about 6 thousand tons of trash per day. It’s estimated that around 90% of their trash isn’t being recycled which is overloading their landfills and making garbage disposal a growing concern.

The most used metal in the world today is iron.

The second most used metal in the world today is aluminum followed by copper.

The typical can made in America has about 25% recycled steel in it.

Upcycling is when a material is recycled or transitioned into a more purposeful and valuable item than it was originally. For example, recycled bottles are used to make fleece which is used to make clothes.

Some strange things I’ve seen upcycled into other things are: A teapot and pan upcycled into a cool lamp, wood coat hangers combined with a bicycle rim upcycled into a unique chandelier and thousands of prescription lenses used to make a dazzling and glimmering chandelier ball.

What is Repurposing? Repurposing is when a tool or item is simply used for something other than what the manufacturer created it for. For example, people often use car tires to protect boats when docking.

Statistics say that about 80% of everything which is thrown by Americans can be recycled. The reality is that less than 30% is being recycled. There is a lot of room for improvement.

All the jars and glass bottles thrown away during one month by Americans could fill a huge skyscraper, the size of the Empire State Building. All these glass containers could be recycled instead.

It’s estimated that millions of creatures from the sea have been killed by plastic garbage and bags which are thrown in the oceans.

There is a huge patch of garbage on the ocean and that’s a fact. It’s called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and is an enormous cesspool of various chemicals with a high reading of plastic pollutants. what we’re unclear on is it’s actual size which is now estimated to be larger than all of the United States.

If a ton of paper is recycled, around 17 trees are saved, as well as two oil barrels, 4100 energy kilowatts, 60 pounds worth of pollution and over 3 cubic yards in the landfills. If you’ve read all of the interesting facts about recycling to this point, you’re incredible!

Automobile manufacturers have lots of steel left over when stamping the patterns needed. The left over steel is put on a conveyor inside the plant which travels to bays where it’s dumped in waiting trailers. When the trailers get full they are pulled by a tractor to a recycling facility often times located very near or inside the automobile manufacturer which recycles the steel and then sends it right back to the automobile manufacturer where the process continues.

This concludes your interesting facts about recycling .

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Phoenix International Raceway

Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona.  The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually.  PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series.  The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mile (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval.  In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mile (2.43 km) interior layout.  PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000.  Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Phoenix International Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the second and second-to-last track on the schedule.

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Family Adventures Run Wild

Take a walk on the wild side as you go on an adventure to Wildlife World Zoo, home to Arizona's most unique assortment of wild animals.  Guests are amazed as they get up close and personal with white tigers, albino alligators and even sharks at Arizona's largest aquarium.  Large shade trees make for a comfortable visit year round.  Follow it up with a trip to the region's own Space Mountain.  Just west of Glendale is the Challenger Space Center, where they offer an in-depth look at the magic of the final frontier.  Children and grown-ups, too, can take simulated space missions and learn all about the wonders of space.  The kids will delight at things like Q&A sessions with real NASA astronauts, and if a little education slips into the mix without them knowing, too--even better!  Finally, head back to the homestead - or use one of ours:  Tolmachoff Farms.  A fourth-generation, family-operated farm that grows a variety of fruits and vegetables locally, this farm also features special events throughout the year.  Activities include Family Farm Day in the summer, Pumpkin Days and a Corn Maze in October and November, a haunted corn maze for Halloween, and Christmas events through-out December with Santa Claus.  Plus, you get to pick your own produce to take home.

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Roses, Ranches and Peacocks -

Roses, Ranches and Peacocks - It's a Time-Travelling Adventure

A rose is a rose, and there are hundreds at Sahuaro Ranch Park, a historic homestead in the heart of Glendale.  Families can stroll the garden area and marvel at the up-close visits they're likely to get from the resident peacocks tht walk the grounds.  Listed on the National Register of Historical Places and known as the "Showplace of the Valley," the Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area offers activities, exhibits, events throughout the year and guided tours - keeping the history of early settlement in the Valley alive.  Families can also get in some fun play and picnic time at the surrounding recreational fields, play areas and massive ramadas that complete the property.

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A Real Western Getaway!

City slickers can get an authentic taste of the West out Wickenburg way.  Kick up some dust and head out to the Desert Caballeros Western Museum to get yourself in the mood.  The museum boasts one of the most extensive collections of Western history, art and cultural artifacts to be found.  Ready for the real thing?  Test your spurs out on the open range at Rancho de los Caballeros dude ranch, which offers everything from the rustic and real to the lounging and luxurious.  Want to experience the West without the wild?  Check out our native flora and fauna blooming at the popular Desert Botanical Garden, located east of Glendale.  Here, you'll find winding trails taking you on a tour of the senses with powerful Sonoran sunsets as your backdrop.  Regular events and exhibits include a blend of art and music installations throughout the garden.

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Fever Pitch!

Take it out to the ball game all month long in March as the "boys of summer" become the "boys of spring" in Glendale and the West Valley.  Home to more than half of the Major League Baseball teams that gear up for opening day with Cactus League Spring Training, Glendale and the West Valley boast five sprawling ballparks that let fans get up-close to the legends on the field before the first pitch.  Come early for warm ups, then pick your seat, from reasonably-priced, behind-the-plate sections to grassy outfield knolls made for lounging, snacking and sipping lazy spring afternoons away.  Make a week of it and tour the parks in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear and Maryvale!  Games start today!

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Arrowhead Towne Center

A comfortable, inviting and upscale shopping experience awaits you at the Northwest Valley's premier shopping destination:  Arrowhead Towne Center.  With more than 170 top retailers and eateries in addition to six major anchors Dillards, Dick's Sporting Goods, Forever 21, JCPenney, Macy's and Sears, you'll find little reason to leave the soothing and spacious mall.  Satisfy your techie curiosity and play with an iPad 2 at the Apple Store, pick up a new bag from Coach to carry home your new treasures or bring the kids (and become one again yourself) at the new LEGO store, which boasts walls of every kind of Lego block imaginable, as well as some pretty inspiring Lego creations.  Visit the elegant, enclosed shopping center and enjoy top amenities such as new soft seating areas and expanded bathrooms, in addition to Guest Services that provides visitor information, store and event details, Westcor gift cards and much more.  Your little ones will also enjoy the trip while playing in the fun "Towne Center" play area.  With the center's outstanding store selections you will find everything you need for your stay in Glendale. When you're done, have the fam meet you for dinner at one of dozens of great restaurants in and around the center, including popular deli delights, award-winning burgers, vegetarian specialties and more.

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Historic Downtown Glendale

There are a few things you should know about Glendale's Historic Downtown.  This retro-chic destination incorporates two district neighborhoods that are home to more than 90 specialty and boutique shops that get national attention for the retail-chain-free collection of stores slinging vintage clothing, turn-of-the-(last)-century furniture and even pop-culture collectibles.  Want hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind wearable art?  Check out the Cottage Garden (with two locations in the historic Catlin Court district).  Looking for vintage clothing or hot fashions at cool prices?  Stop in at the Pink House - named a top boutique shop by multiple regional publications.  And explore two stories of treasures you'll want to take home at A Mad Hatter's Collectibles & Home Decor.  While the shopping finds are spectacular, the stroll through the downtown is just as amazing.  Immerse yourself in the tree-lined streets, redbrick sidewalks with retro storefronts and too-perfect bungalows-turned shops.  The area has been named by USA Today and Sunset Magazine as one of the country's 10 best places for shopping, but the food is equally praise-worthy.  Take a trip around the world without ever leaving the neighborhood thanks to more than a dozen ethnic eateries covering everything from classic American, Asian, German, Polish and Mexican fare.  Free covered parking is available in the downtown's Palmaire Parking Structure, 5835 W. Palmaire Avenue.

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Restaurants & Retail

Where to go when you're hungry for authentic flavors and the ultimate shopping locales

Some head to our region for a different kind of sport - the one where trophies are traded in for the pride of landing that one-of-a-kind buy or uncovering the best bargains.  Don't forget the afternoon lunch breaks, complete with chilled drinks and some of the best patios to be found.  What's on the menu, you ask?  Try everything from ethnic delights, home-style kitchens, unique Southwestern flavors, American classics and restaurants with views of everything from roaring fireplaces and waterfronts to big screens and the night sky! Not sure where to start?  Let me make a few suggestions.

Go to visitglendale.com and check out the "shop" and dine" tabs.

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Arrowhead Entertainment District

Easily accessed from Loop 101, the Arrowhead area boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants and entertainment venues in the West Valley.  At its center is Bell Road, boasting an area dubbed "Restaurant Row" on the south and Arrowhead Towne Centre, an indoor shopping mall of 170-plus stores, on the north.  But shopping and dining aren't the only draws. This area also features entertainment for all tastes.  For the sports enthusiast, there's the Peoria Sports Complex - the Spring Training home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.  The 11,000 seat complex also plays hosts to festivals, fireworks displays and other events year-round and has attracted other nearby amenities for the sports-minded, like bars and grills with sand volleyball courts and lines of flatscreens showing the must-see game.  For the theater-minded, there's Arizona Broadway Theatre, dubbed Best of the Valley by Phoenix Magazine.  This dinner theater produces top-rated plays and food, enjoyed in an atmosphere where you can be comfortable in business casual or make a night of it in formal wear.  Keep the party going at Skye, a restaurant, dancing and show place where you can catch comedy acts and tribute bands to the likes of Journey, the Eagles and Abba.  It's a late-night venue open until 2 a.m. weekend nights, so make it a party and plan on sleeping in late!

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West Valley Region

The West Valley is a place of extremes - from the heart-pounding roar of 3,400 pounds of NASCAR metal zipping through 200-mile-per-hour turns at Phoenix International Raceway to the cowpoke pace of ambling horses kicking up dust trails under desert stars and dinner served by open fire and cowboy songs and stories.

The West Valley is one region of several cities, each with its own character and amenities, but all easily accessible from I-10 or Loop 101.  The quick travel in this region enables you to fill your trip itinerary with highlights as varied as dude ranches and campfire, to five-star resort dining after a day on championship golf courses or in high-end boutiques.  Try a skydiving adventure in Buckeye or learn about the ancient Hohokams and Anazasi tribes in the town's archeological museum.  Take off to Goodyear for golf or cheering a favorite major league baseball team (the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds play here).  Find an "oasis in the desert" at the award-winning Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa in Litchfield Park and test out your wild side at the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium with a new Dragon World exhibit and daily wildlife encounter shows.  Catch a tennis match or the American League champion Texas Rangers for spring ball in Surprise.  Fulfill your cowboy fantasies in Wickenburg.  Drop a fishing line in Lake Pleasant or zip across its glassy surface on a jet ski.  Hike the Estrella Mountains or shop the canopy-covered open-air walkways of Peoria's Park West.  Whatever you do, leave time in your trip for a sampling of all of these West Valley cities:  Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tolleson, Wickenburg and Youngtown.

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Get Cultured

Stretch your legs with a walkable tour of some of the city's most historic locations (walking maps/guides are available at the Glendale Visitor Center).  There are a few biggies you must fit into the schedule, including the Sahuaro Ranch Historic Area, which boasts turn-of-the-century ranch houses where stately peacocks frequently walk about.  Glendale is also home to some fantastic works of public art, including a Dale Chihuly that is sure to stun and inspire.  Check out the city's online sampling before you head out to take in your favorites at glendaleaz.com/arts.  Be sure to catch a show at the AZ Broadway Theatre and Theater Works at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.  You can also venture out into space with your feet planted firmly on the ground at the out-of-this-world Challenger Space Center.

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Chocolate, Wine and Romance Are the Focus of Glendale’s Sweetest Festival February 8-10

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, Feb. 8-10, is a delicious delight for the senses as the Glendale Chocolate Affaire takes over downtown Glendale to create a chocolate-lover’s dream!

Chocolate purveyors from Arizona and around the nation gather in Glendale for this award-winning festival, which celebrates not only chocolate, but romance and the arts as well. Chocolate confections will include items such as fried ice cream with chocolate and strawberries, chocolate-covered bacon, chocolate-covered churros, chocolate-covered key lime pie, , chocolate-covered crepes and much more.

The Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Arizona’s famous candy makers, Cerreta’s. The candy factory will offer tours all weekend, so visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chocolatiers create everyone’s favorite candy.

In addition, the festival has become the largest gathering of national romance novelists in the Southwest. This symposium of literary romantics offers fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with authors, as well as the chance to attend free writing workshops given by the experts.

Families with children will enjoy myriad activities, including hands-on arts and crafts, face-painting and a rock-climbing wall. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available throughout the weekend to take couples or families on a scenic, charming ride through the historic Catlin Court district.   

Event hours are Friday 5 - 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The event is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Glendale, in Murphy Park, located at 58th and Glendale avenues.

The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Cerreta’s Candy Company, ABC 15, The Arizona Republic, Valley Buick-GMC Dealers, Monster, KMLE, KOOL and JAMZ.

For more information on the Glendale Chocolate Affaire, including the entertainment lineup and a list of authors making appearances, visit our website at www.glendaleaz.com/events or call the special events hotline at 623-930-2299.

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Free Seminar for Realtors

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Park West

Park West is an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination located on Northern Avenue at the northwest corner of Loop 101.  It's ideally located one mile from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale and Jobing.com Arena.   The space is anchored by a Harkins Movie Theatre, nine sit-down restaurants (that cover everything from burgers with a blue twist to brick oven-baked pizza to Fleming's, a high-end steakhouse and wine bar) and more than 30 specialty retailers.  You'll find a little bit of everything for the  particular shopper, including the latest offerings from Brighton's Collectibles, Dog's Etc. (a specialty shop for the four-legged friends back home) and Fair Oaks Cigars.  Done shopping??  Take a break amid the center's western resort feel, which includes relaxing "Bali" lounges, reflecting pools and wood shutters.  The picturesque center also features outdoor fireplaces, unique art pieces, canopy-lined walkways and beautiful landscaping.  Be sure to check out regular open-air organic farmer's markets and wine tastings to really soak up the ambiance.

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OUTSIDE AND ON-THE-GO!

WHERE TO HIKE, BIKE, WALK, RUN, BOAT AND MORE

Let our outdoors become your playground.  From urban and desert trails to water recreation respites and rolling fairways, Arizona's Western metropolitan region will leave you with life-altering outdoor experiences (and your photos will be pretty amazing too).

Stand atop any of the West Valley's mountain crests, and you'll soon learn that the climb is well worth the effort.  A clear day presents opportunities for nearly endless views of the rolling desert and bustling cities below.  Head north, west or south and suddenly you're immersed in a desert fairytale with winding trails daring you to climb, bike or meander your way higher.  Delight in the native flora and fauna or enjoy the best seat in the house for a morning sunrise.  For an up-close look or a planned excursion, talk to the folks at Arizona Scenic Tours, a company that specializes in planned excursions and customized tours.

Water seekers will find refuge just a little farther northwest at one of the state's most popular boating destinations - Lake Pleasant.  An ideal locale for a fisherman's retreat, the area is also perfect for boating exploration and high-speed water action.

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Major League Baseball

The Peoria Sports Complex was the first Major League Baseball spring training and player development facility in the country shared by two teams.  Built in 1994, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners utilize the facility year round.  In addition to baseball tournaments, the facility hosts community events, concerts, art and trade shows, weddings and group events.

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Restaurants & Retail

Where to go when you're hungry for authentic flavors and the ultimate shopping locales
Some head to our region for a different kind of sport - the one where trophies are traded in for the pride of landing that one-of-a-kind buy or uncovering the best bargains.  Don't forget the afternoon lunch breaks, complete with chilled drinks and some of the best patios to be found.  What's on the menu, you ask?  Try everything from ethnic delights, home-style kitchens, unique Southwestern flavors, American classics and restaurants with views of everything from roaring fireplaces and waterfronts to big screens and the night sky! Not sure where to start?  Let me make a few suggestions.

Go to visitglendale.com and check out the "shop" and "dine" tabs.

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