Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
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New video coming today at noon PDT!
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It's been 65 days since I posted my last video - a streak that was supposed to end today.
For the past two months I've been working to produce several videos in advance. Coming up with an idea for a video, writing, shooting and editing is a pretty lengthy process - and that's not even factoring in working with clients in my real estate business.
It's been a lot of work behind the scenes, and today I was ready to finally hit that post button....but there was a problem.
You see, my editing software and the video files take up a ton of room on the old hard drive, so I bought another computer with the intention of only using it for editing.
I finished editing the first video late Friday night, which was perfect timing because I was leaving for a vacation with my family the following day. But Saturday morning we woke up to a text message saying our flight had been cancelled, and I had to enter scramble mode.
I jumped on my laptop and frantically checked every possible travel route to make it back for our family reunion that's been scheduled for over a year, and eventually I was able to find a flight (and drive) that would work.
With no time to spare I threw my laptop in the suitcase and we made a mad dash to the airport to catch our new flight.
This morning I pulled out my laptop ready to upload the video, and then I realized my mistake - I grabbed the wrong computer. I brought my work laptop, and not the one that had the video file on it.
So unfortunately my streak will extend for one more week until we return to Arizona, but the good news is this should be the last time I have a long streak without posting.
Not only have I pre-produced several videos, I've also brought on a few people to help me with the production so that I can return to weekly posting.
So thanks for your patience Arizona Dreamers, and see you next week!
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Queen Creekās downtown area has largely been like the town itself - full of potential, but still very early in its development.
But some news that I recently stumbled across makes me think that could be about to change.
So today Iām going to tell you:
What this news is
How it could be the first step in a major transformation for Queen Creek
And explain how it will impact you as a homeowner or potential home buyer in the area.
For the last decade Queen Creek has been one of the fastest growing towns in Arizona. That growth brought major developments like the Queen Creek Marketplace and the QC District Shopping centers, both of which have tons of major retailers, restaurants and a movie theater.
But the one thing Queen Creek has been lacking for years is a vibrant downtown area. Many clients Iāve worked with have even chosen to live in Gilbert simply because of the popular downtown that it offers.
Gilbertās downtown is home to a massive, weekly farmerās market, hosts numerous events, has some of the most popular bars and restaurants in the Phoenix metro, and offers a vast amount of entertainment for people in all walks of life.
But Queen Creek now seems determined to catch up.
The town recently announced a new development called The Switchyard will break ground soon. The $120-million project will occupy 10-acres on the NE corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads, and seems to be the first big step towards a monumental shift in Queen Creekās downtown.
Once completed, The Switchyard will house 54,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and office space. The project will also include apartments to provide much-needed residential space to the downtown area.
And even though the project isnāt expected to break ground until the fourth quarter of 2024, the first two tenants have already signed leases for their space - and anyone whoās been to downtown Gilbert will recognize these.
3,800 square feet of restaurant space will go to Postino - a popular wine cafe that boasts a relaxing atmosphere and a wide range of food choices.
The other lease will belong to The Porch - which will occupy 11,900 square feet and offer a large outdoor patio. This is another favorite in the Phoenix metro (they have three other locations) thanks to great food, a fun, retro-inspired atmosphere, quality cocktails, TVs for the sports fans, and even games you can play.
And this appears to only be the beginning.
For years the town of Queen Creek has had a PDF document laying out the vision for the downtown redevelopment buried on its website. It showed some renderings of what the town hoped to build and gave a quick description of the kinds of businesses it hoped to bring in.
But that document was put together in 2017, and not much had changed since that time. However, the town quietly released a revision in February of this year, outlining a commitment to begin taking major steps towards the project. And it appears this will be the first one.
So what will this mean for homeowners in Queen Creek, as well as those interested in moving there?
Queen Creek had already surpassed Gilbert as the most expensive area in the East Valley, and this should only push those prices even higher.
Thatās great news for anyone who owns a home in Queen Creek right now, but will also increase the barrier of entry for those who havenāt made the move there quite yet.
Now thatās not to say that home prices are going to shoot up overnight. The complete makeover of the downtown area will still take years to complete.
And even if you might still be a year or two away from buying property in Queen Creek, you still should be able to ride the wave of momentum that this project will bring to the town.
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People ask me all the time which community in Phoenix is going to take off next.
And the place is one I NEVER would have considered even two years ago.
But some recent news makes me think this community really could be about to blow up.
So today I want to share with you where this place is, why I think itās one of the best cities to buy property in the state, and what piece of news made me feel this way.
Okay - so EVERYONE is trying to figure out where the next Queen Creek will be. In 2000 nobody would have ever thought Queen Creek would grow into what it is now. And tons of home buyers want to cash in on the next area to ride that wave.
So how do you find an up-and-coming place?
A crystal ball would help, but the more realistic method is to try to predict where the growth and demand will be highest.
The West Valley has lots of areas that fit that, but I think thereās one community in the East Valley thatās been greatly undervalued.
For a long time the East Valley has been in really high demand, and areas like Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek all exploded with growth over the last 20+ years.
Home prices also spiked in these places because the areas for expansion are starting to run out.
But the place I think is poised to take off isnāt somewhere new - itās somewhere old.
For decades the city of Apache Junction has largely been ignored. If you take a tour of AJ now youāll find a mix of mobile home parks, older shopping centers and plenty of inexpensive housing.
But I think thatās about to change.
Now some will roll their eyes at this because Apache Junction tried this once before - and it didnāt go well.
In 2007 there was a plan to redevelop a large area of ādowntownā Apache Junction into an urban center. The idea was to build large scale office buildings mixed with dense residential, similar to what downtown Tempe looks like today.
That project was squashed by the recession a year later, and AJ has never been able to get much traction since.
So whatās changed?
One is the major population expansion. The huge master-planned community of Superstition Vistas is expected to double the cityās population over the next 10 years.
But the biggest development that gives me confidence that AJ has finally gotten serious about a transformation came with the news that the city just purchased a 10.64 acre lot in the heart of downtown for $2.9 million.
This is the first time ever that Apache Junction has purchased land with the goal of assisting in commercial development.
The property was once home to the Grand Hotel (which opened in 1960 as the Superstition Ho) that was a favorite place to stay for movie stars who were filming Westerns in the nearby Superstition Mountains.
Some of the notable guests were John Wayne, Elvis Presley and Ronald Reagan.
But as the golden age of Westerns came to an end, the hotel and Apache Junction both fell on hard times. The Grand Hotel closed for good in 2002, and was torn down (with the intention of being the center of the failed redevelopment project) in 2007.
But just as Westerns seem to be making a comeback (thanks Yellowstone), Apache Junction is looking to do the same.
The city has partnered with a Scottsdale based architectural and design firm to lay the groundwork for a major redevelopment of the downtown core.
City leaders are also holding public open house events (next one is July 10th) to gather input from residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to help shape the vision for what Apache Junction will become.
The city is hoping to have wrapped up this āinformation gatheringā phase by September of this year, and then begin work on the infrastructure to make it all happen.
Itās a small step, but for the first time since the 1960s, Apache Junction looks ready to take off.
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What do you do in Arizona when it gets SO HOT outside?
I get this question everyday, and I have a video in the works that will explore the subject in a different way than youāve seen before.
But itās 103 degrees as I sit here and write this on my front porch, and you might need some answers now (and you may be like me and have some kids you need to entertain while school is out).
So here are five of our FAVORITE indoor things to do in the Phoenix area during the summer.
1. OdySea Aquarium (Scottsdale)
We may not have not have oceanfront property in Arizona (sorry George Strait), but we do have plenty of sea creatures.
This is the largest aquarium in Arizona, and one of the best in the entire country. Itās HUGE. Thereās over 65 exhibits that range from the traditional viewing areas to interactive spaces where you can touch Stingrays, Russian Sturgeon, and more. You can also ride on the Voyager, which is the worldās only revolving aquarium experience.
OdySea is part of the Arizona Boardwalk which is home to nine other attractions so you can easily spend a day (or three) here.
2. Childrenās Museum of Phoenix (Downtown Phoenix)
This place is geared more towards the younger kids (think under 10). Inside youāll find a massive climbing structure, a pretend supermarket & restaurant, a forest made out of pool noodles, a little stage with costumes and interactive science exhibits.
Thereās also rotating events & programs to make sure kids always have something new to enjoy.
3. Legoland Discovery Center (Tempe)
My kids LOVE this place and beg us to go all the time. There are stations where you can build all sorts of Lego projects. The go-to areas for my kids are the dinosaur Lego build and the ābuild your own race carā that also has a track where you can test it out.
Kids (and adults) can also marvel at some cool Lego creations on display, and thereās even a few small rides you can go on too.
4. Main Event (multiple locations)
If you have older kids (think 12+) who love video arcades, bowling, an obstacle course and laser tag then this is a great spot. Thereās also billiard tables, virtual realty experiences, and - thankfully - a separate restaurant/bar area for adults who need a break from all the lights and sounds of the arcade area.
5. Arizona Science Center
Another one thatās probably geared towards slightly older kids (think 10+), but there are still some great exhibits for the little ones too.
This is another MASSIVE place, and the exhibits change all the time so youāll never get bored.
From a journey to outer space to the depths of the ocean, kids will learn about all kinds of different topics and get to explore a ton of interactive displays.
If you enjoy seeing fireballs, smoke and other amazing sights then be sure to check out the live demonstrations.
But what if you donāt want to spend all your time inside this summer? Are we all just going to have to sprint from one air conditioned space to another?
Make sure youāre subscribed to the channel so you donāt miss my upcoming video on that.
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I took a hike the other day. We made our way to Gold Canyon and went up the Hieroglyphic Trail, and it was awesome! The views from the top were beautiful, and the flowers on the different types of cactus are always cool to see. Also found a cool little stream at the top. Definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a relatively quick hike near Phoenix.
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Today marks a big milestone - we officially hit 1,000 subscribers! I'm so grateful to each and every one of you for your support! Looking forward to continuing to make videos and trying to put out some great content.
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If you're thinking about moving to Phoenix Arizona or the surrounding areas - this channel will give you the best possible idea of what life is like living in the Phoenix area. We'll be touring some of the most popular neighborhoods around the Phoenix area, looking at some of the new construction model homes that are available, and also show you some of the fun activities around the Grand Canyon state.
Want to know more about living in Phoenix Arizona? Please reach out to me and my team! We'd love to help you make the move to Arizona and enjoy all that this great place has to offer!
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Brian Elder - Phoenix AZ Realtor (License SA702464000)
EXP Realty