patrick.net

M. Holiday, there is a trader joes in Tempe, which is key, are there any decent upscale markets? I mean if I am going to go there I need access to at least 45 kinds of cheese :)

I'm not a big Sushi fan, but there's hell of restaurants in Scottsdale and some in downtown Phoenix and Tempe and especially Scottsdale.

Three years for the money? Definitely. But you're going to be hating life without the proper attitude about this place. You may have a honeymoon perior or you may not. Some people think this place is the arm pit of the world others love it. Scottsdale's pretty nice.

All in all, the desert beauty is nicer than Vegas, which looks like the moon.
You've got to decide for yourself.

If you want me to mail you any local publications, shoot me an e-mail: radioholliday@yahoo.com.

Here's a link to a local "Metro" type weekly called The New Times:
It's got a review of a Sushi restaurant.

I will say, near my house are a bunch of good chain restaurants like Black Angus, Carrabbas Italian, and others. Yeah, the restaurants kick San Jose's ass.

Click this link and scroll down till you see what I posted below for a Sushi review: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/

From the New Times:

Recently Reviewed
Circa 1900
Line Thai
Sushi Eye Bar & Grill
Sol y Sombra
Rosita's Place

M. Holiday, tanks! Tempe seemed ok, decent small downtown, college vibe, sluttly girls, which it important when picking a bar to swill gin with Mrs-X.

The popular place in Tempe is Mill Ave. near the Arizona State.

It's been a while since I've been there, but there's clubs/restaurants, etc.

There are decent upscale markets/grocery stores.

The upscale market in Phoenix is called AJ's Fine Foods. Great, pricey grocery store. Smaller than Albertson's but good, fresh stuff. They put them near pricier neighborhoods.

Click this link: http://ajsfinefoods.com/

LILLL, dopers were friends of acquaintance who owns boat, me no likey dopers. Got the ocean angle figured out, 1hr plane ride to san diegho. Friends couch, surfboards in stock and bike ride to beach.

Thinking might as well ride out the impending shitstorm in lower expence local.

I think the final analysis is this:

For surfer-x, could be three years in purgatory. 1-2 years might be doable, but you'd be like a fish out of water.

You must keep busy and keep the spirit of adventure and check out the whole state. There are cool old towns like Jerome up north (where Maynard from Tool lives), and Bisbee down south.

Then there's Flagstaff for skiing and mountains, then there's the Grand Canyon.

Dude, this place is the wild fricken west. You can walk around town with a holster and a gun, just as long as it's visible. Some stores will have you check your gun at the door. Thing is, since everyone can carry a gun, no one does! Haven't seen a gun strapped on in over a year.

In California, you'd be surrounded by the cops and shaken down and put in jail.

Last word on Phoenix, since I'm doing a BBQ right now:

Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the U.S. As a top-10 metro area, it's got a lot of restaurants.

'Nuff said...

Just visited the property, corner lot, 1350 sq ft, 3bed/2bath ==> 750K

So they just dropped from 914K to 750K and below !!

You must be kidding. I do not believe that.

But if that is true... let's have a beer! :)

LOTUS = 1350 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath, corner, 3rd floor

3rd floor? Is it a condo?

I think you visited Villagio instead.

http://www.silverstonecommunities.com/californianorth/villagio_plans.html

Ha Ha,

I think Peter P is right, didn't see your Lotus floorplan in the previous thread, must be the villagio.

The smallest flooplan from your previous thread is 1670.
http://www.taylorwoodrowna.com/index.cfm?method=Homes_CommunityDetail&divID=1&MetroAreaID=24&CommunityID=175

Btw, what is the difference between a townhome and a condo? No neighbor above or below?

Is this price reasonable?

Reasonable?

I guess it is more reasonable than this one:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/rfs/169198126.html

Will I pay 750K + 450/month for an 3/2 apartment? I rather not. But it is not the most outrageous thing out there.

At 6.75%, 450/month is the interest for 80K! Watch out for HOA fees!

Ouch, is it a normal nowadays that HOA costs so much? What are the amenities that they provide for this?

HaHa, are you buying?

Nope no buying for me in Az. Way too much downside, not looking for an investment, especially one that looses everything. If I like Az and stay I might by in late 07 or 08 when all the caliassfucks are out of the "market"

I am NOT buying JUST BECAUSE of HOA fee.

I will wait till 2008 … I am happy renting

Looks like 400-450 has become the standard HOA for condos. That number is around 200-300 for townhouses and 100 for SFH.

Honestly 750K is not that bad if HOA is around 200.

John Haverty Says:
Special Reports - Torch My Ride: Arson for Hire

hmm, JH displays a remarkable ability to argue against himself...

Why so high? Is there a justification or condo developers can set any fee at will? Can HOA increase in future? Does it include utility bill?

Two major maintenance items: elevator and swimming pool.

That complex has both.

Rest assured that HOA will increase in the future. Also, homeowners can be hit by huge assessments (new roof, new sidings, etc).

That complex has both.

Oops, it does not even have a pool. Why is the HOA so high?

You and (the delightful) Mrs. X have the luxury of not having to pull a kid from his ‘perfect life” to do this. However…if she has her way…you may not be childless for long!

Ouch.
Now, Linda, that was harsh. You do want Mr. X to invite you back, right? :-)

I saw this exact same comment on Fark tonight … word for word. What the heck?

hmmm

John, you’re an engineer. What was that nonsense about the exorbinant energy consumption to produce my bike?

i dunno, frify, but he'll argue about it with you.

are you getting an aerorider? (innocently)

interesting point about commutes, though, one solution is to buy a place to stake the equity, but then go on to rent elsewhere as work requires. in oz, you get tax breaks to the point where it can be cheaper to buy 1 place and live in another than live in the place you're paying off -- IF you bought before the boom.

michael mobbs, a guy who designs 'green villages', points out that the construction contractors have to travel from all points of the compass to make some supposedly green, energy-saving development, therefore adding significantly to the 'embedded energy' cost of construction.

Guys,
Hate to change the topic for a minute, but I had a kind of revelation this weekend. To cut to the point and get the embaresessing stuff out of the way, I somehow got convinced to go to a timeshare presentation. I'd never been to one, so what the heck?
Needless to say it was absolutely useless and I was jabbered at for over an hour by this poor salesman. I actually felt kind of guilty for going.
Now... Here's the DOOZY. The company that ran the timeshares is owned by a company called Cendant Corporation. Perhaps some of you guys that trade stocks are very aware of them. I'd never heard of them. What's interesting to me is that Cendant owns an enormous amount of timeshares around the globe. But that's only a small fraction. They also own Caldwell banker, 21st Century, ERA, Sotheby's International, NRT, the biggest broker company in the U.S, the resource group, the biggest provider of titles.
In essence, Cendant owns enough major RE and mortgage related companies to have an almost virtual monopoly on the entire RE industry. It is not easy to find any of this information on their site. By reading a few investor articles, I found this one, which to me is the writing on the wall:

"Realogy Corporation is anticipated to launch as a standalone, publicly traded company by the end of June 2006. This new company will be formed from the previously announced spin-off of the Real Estate Services Division from Cendant Corporation. Realogy will be comprised of four complementary businesses:

* A global real estate franchisor of industry-leading brands
o Century 21®
o Coldwell Banker®
o Coldwell Banker Commercial®
o ERA®
o Sotheby's International Realty®
* NRT, the largest U.S. residential real estate brokerage company
* Cartus, the world's premier employee relocation company
* Title Resource Group, a leading U.S. provider of title, escrow and settlement services

As the leader in size, scope and resources, Realogy will be well-positioned to take advantage of the favorable market dynamics that drive the real estate industry, including U.S. residential real estate market demographics that will drive strong, long-term housing demand; international expansion opportunities for both relocation and franchising; and emerging technology that will support sales and grow market share."

You can read more about it here: http://www.realogy.com/

Now... I know that starting a conspiracy about this is only too easy. But seriously- could this be the true smoking gun?

George,

Well exactly. I suppose we had best be prepared b/c as the bubble inflated we had specuvestors drooling all over us with how they were going to spend the money, now we're going to have to do plenty of "hand holding" on the way down! Well I for one refuse. I cannot make everything right in your world Mr. Specuvestor so why waste your time and mine! Take your lumps like a man and move on to your next incredible humiliating disaster. I only charge $200 for a complete financial plan (which btw does not advocate the use of the "debt=wealth model). While Prudential (I believe) charges $1,500 PER YEAR I am relatively cheap but no, you can not bitch and moan at me for free. Sorry Mr. Specuvestor. I mean look at his ROA. $1,000 a month in rent collected minus $150 HOA, minus $200 a month in property taxes, minus 6% rental manager fee = $590 TAXABLE freaking dollars. So his ROA is what, 3.12%? Freaking pathetic. (Assumes asshat paid $225,000) Don't waste my mutha f@ckin time*

*From Al Pacino in the movie "Heat".

El Presidente from the HOA is going to here from me just as soon as the market closes! You see, the reason I am so lit off about this is not the transgression against your fellow man in the first place but BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE THIS LEADS! People that bitch to their neighbors and get the slightest concession BITCH MORE! You think by jumping through the hoops that you've made them happy and you've heard the last of it" Wrongo, it's just getting started! Next thing you know having three buddies over once a year for the Super Bowl translates into "a constant and ongoing party"! No thanks guys. Been there, done that. NFW, I'm going to nip this in the bud before it even gets started! Now where's my bud nippers?

Oh and before anybody jumps in and says "that's what you get for being a renter" I've been down this road with many a "homeowner" too! Renters are benign when compared to "homeowners" that KNOW they are right! For 10 freaking years I lived next door to a neighbor who's wife made our lives a living fucking hell! In the end I just gave up and realized that no level of civility and compliance was going to make this woman happy. And we lived on THREE ACRES! She gave me the "stink eye" everyday when I drove up the driveway so I had that to look forward to when I got home from work. Tormenting us became her hobby, her passion. I hear she has found the Lord but hasn't found her way to apologizing to my wife or myself. (I found out years later that she was basically "extorting" money from my wife to the tune of $40 a month for the electricity she "calculated" for the use of our common well). This a "good" Christian? I'd hate to see the bad ones. Fucking asshat!

DinOR:

"Boomertopia". Gotta remember that one. My mother lives in "Willow Glen" aka San Jose -- that is the perfect example of Boomertopia and I'm going to be sure to tell her so. She loves to go on and on about her $820k starter condo with a one-chair balcony boasting a stunning view of a B of A parking lot. What a shitheap.

I hear she has found the Lord but hasn’t found her way to apologizing to my wife or myself. (I found out years later that she was basically “extorting” money from my wife to the tune of $40 a month for the electricity she “calculated” for the use of our common well). This a “good” Christian? I’d hate to see the bad ones. Fucking asshat!

Apologies in advance to any nice Christians out there, but when someone spouts off to me about how they've "found Jesus, etc., etc.", I run the other way as fast as possible, because I know what's coming next! Usually a sales pitch for their cult/church, or some other pyramid scheme for which they're trying to snare some more "converts". People who wear religion on their sleeve and must go around telling everyone else how holy they are are NOT moral people! This type of so-called "Christian" feels it's prefectly OK to f@ck over clients, co-workers, friends, family, whomever, all week long, but then "repent" on Sunday. And that makes it all better --Hallelujah!

And btw, in case anyone's interested in moving to the South, here's a tip: Baptists are the cheapest motherf@ckers on the planet when it comes to tipping. The absolute worst are the Sunday busriders on their way back from church to lunch/brunch wherever. Found that out the hard way, working as assortment of service jobs after college.

Red Whine,

"one chair balcony" LOL!

Good stuff. I see them all over Portland in the "Pearl District". A buddy of mine owns one and we go out there to smoke cigars. I swear he has a hibachi sized grill and one potted plant so there's barely enough room for two guys to stand. Every time someone has to go inside it's like "uh, excuse me, um, pardon me". Oh and the view? Used to have a view of the Fremont Bridge, now? Yeah, a view of other people's "once chair balcony" so I guess you can have a party with yourself. Woo Hoo! I suppose that's why so many just sit empty even on the rare occasion of a nice day in Portland. Just a waste.

"Boomertopia" may be Surfer X's, not really sure. One thing I do know though is that I have an asshat neighbor that's about to get her's.

HARM,

I think in my case the "strategic leak" that was bound to find my ears is done so to let you know you're not supposed to "go after" that person any more. Kind of like "Safety" when were kids playing tag. These people are real good at getting in some cheap shots when it would be totally inappropriate to give them the response they so richly deserve by claiming "Safety" just when you're about to let 'em have both barrels.

Oh, sure I did some mean and hidious things to you in "former life" but I've found God (or whatever) so it would be inappropriate for to knock my teeth out one at a time with a tack hammer b/c I'm not "that person" anymore. I'm a "new person" totally unassociated with that "former person".

Well guess what sister, after having you for a fucking neighbor I now have NO FEAR of hell! I've already spent my time there and after you get what you got coming to you the satisfaction will be worth the eternal weenie roast!

newsfreak,

Yeah, I saw her the other day at my youngest daughter's HS graduation. It's not so much the "stink eye" that she gives me but more the "I've already been through hell so you don't need to chase me with a tack hammer" look. I don't know what I could possibly do to her that life hasn't already. One decent kid out of five from THREE different husbands and she lives in a "double wide" on a dirt road! Case closed.

DinOR, I am your Father, embrace the anger, welcome to the darkside. Good Good.

Oh Yeah! I was talking to a friend this morning (cynical attorney) that told me when it comes to neighbors it just seems like there are "different flavors of bad". I told him he just killed the last little part of me that WASN'T a cynic. Thanks pal! Actually it's just when you have ONE bad neighbor for every 10 decent ones they feel like they have to "fill the void" by being asshat enough to make up for the rest. I get this sick impression that they feel by making others feel self-concious about their every waking move they are "doing their civic duty" to make everyone else as miserable as they are!

Surfer X,

"embrace the anger"

Uh yeah, (sorry about that). I saw asshat #2 when were on the back deck yesterday for daughter's grad. party and she gives me this "perturbed look" b/c our music on low and casual conversation "broke her tranquility". What a caffone. What an asshat.

Jon,

Yeah, sorry about that. Surfer X has helped me to embrace my anger so I can move on now. It's just that after 9 years in the U.S Navy you really develop an appreciation for the need to get along. When I see neighbors that go out of their way to let you know that they don't care if you are upset or insulted it kind of gets to a guy, you know?

mlslistings.com summer climb...

June 8th, 2006
San Mateo (all price ranges): 1363
San Jose (all price ranges): 3669

June 12th, 2006
San Mateo (all price ranges): 1428
San Jose (all price ranges): 3709

65 homes/week -> 2300 San Mateo homes by the end of September?

newsfreak,

Exactly, we have always gone out of our way to be ideal neighbors where and whenever possible. If there are chioces we are presented with we'll almost always go with the one that would be the most considerate of others. It really gives me pause for reflection when we stop to think about what our "post bubble" home and lifestyle will look like? What good is a "high end, up-scale" home if your neighbors are asshats?

I just said being an alarmist and a complete ASS doesnt solve anything.

Thanks for proving a point.

no, thank you

Some neighbors think the world revolves around them.

What revolves around what? It does not matter. It is all relative.

But if we get that wrong, things will be in retrograde from time to time.

newsfreak,

Uh I don't think I'm going to show this person a damn thing. It's just that incidents like this do give us cause to question what other people in the neighborhood would do if you let your folks park their motor home while visiting or set up a baseball diamond for your kids? What would it take to have someone who's been a good friend and a good neighbor to turn on you over the slightest issue. It's just too much of a "tight rope" much of the time. I think what amplifies the out of doors issues for Oregonians is that we have so precious few nice days and we spend like 10 months out of the year fantasizing about them and how we will spend them that it gets "touchy" real quick. I suppose if we lived in an area where nice days are a dime a dozen it wouldn't be nearly the issue it's become.

Yes I know it's a nice day and your son has been well behaved so he can ride his ratty sounding dirt bike but we had plans for a quiet afternoon with friends!

It seems like people get more edgy the closer we get to having a "day without rain". Hell it can be overcast and cool if it just stops raining for one damn day! Must be that much worse in Seattle!