The Phoenix Real Estate Advisor

Thankfully we’ve put this years election behind us and we can move forward. Whether you supported Obama or McCain you have to hope that the new president will do the right things and bring us back to the economic super power that we’ve been in the past.

Two things I’d like to comment on-

1- I want to thank Arizona for passing proposal 100, the amendment that permanently stops the state and local government from ever adding a transfer (sales) tax on real estate. I think the best part of this is the state now has to be “Honest” when it goes after more money from us and do it the old fashioned way. Like taxing payroll taxes so I clearly know how much I’m paying instead of hiding it in a transfer tax on real estate, etc.

2- As most people that know me understand I do not believe in the Democratic Parties idea of how to run the government. Larger government, more spending and “taxing wealth” instead of “creating wealth” never seems to work. With that being said, I am hopeful that President Obama will bring everyone together and get the country’s economy going again. Now will he?

Once he’s Washington and is surrounded by Democratic Lifers that have been waiting for this for years, will they be inclusive? Will they tolerate other opinions? Will will they do what the Republicans did back when they have this kind of power and thumb their noses at the other side of the isle?

Bottom line is this country has a new president and I hope everyone (like him or not) will get behind him and pray that he makes the right decisions. One thing McCain said last night that stuck with me is “I’m ready to serve my commander and chief”. If he can live his life this way shouldn’t we all?

I don’t usually blog about personal stuff but thought you might like to see how I spend my days off (when I get them). Lynn (my wife) and I took up hiking a few months ago and have been making trips to the Prescott, Arizona area to hike because of the heat here in the valley.

Last week we decided to change things up a little and go to the Payson area, specifically above the Mogollon Rim. The hike we decided to take is called the ”Pivot Rock Canyon Trail” hike and was at an elevation of 6900′ with a comfortable 75 degrees instead of the 103 we had back in Peoria.

One thing we learned is when we’re in the middle of the monsoon season and it looks like rain, maybe we should find a different place to hike. The weather looked rough heading up I-17 but we thought it would be gone by the time we get there. The good news is it was gone…the bad news is there was more coming.

You can check out all the pictures we took while up there by clicking this link. We didn’t get many pictures of when the lightening was hitting all around us or how the hail got to be marble size on our way back. We do have a couple of pictures of the hail after it was over so check them out.

Here’s the site we used to find this hike. Without the information on this site we would not have found the trail because it made a right down a stone staircase while a trail continued ahead. I’ve learned it’s smart to research these hikes ahead of time and make sure you know what your getting yourself into.

If you want any recommendations on day hikes please feel free to email or call me. We’ve like the trails that are out of the way and love to discover new things and I’d be happy to send you a couple links to hikes we really like.

Here’s an example of how REALTORS help people in their community. Most of us do things on a smaller level (I give a % of my commision to the Children Miricle Network) but every year we acknowledge people that are big thinkers!

Life stops when a child—or any family member—is diagnosed with cancer. Yet everyday bills still must be paid.  And H. Burton Foster knows first hand what a struggle that can be.

Twelve years ago, Foster’s son Matthew developed an aggressive tumor when he was a 15-year-old high school sophomore. When a local cancer institute said it couldn’t offer further treatment, Foster and his wife Debra organized a fundraiser to afford a last-ditch “miracle” cure at a Houston clinic. They raised more than $90,000.  Unfortunately, Matthew died less than a month later, a few days shy of his 18th birthday.

With money left over from the fundraiser, the Fosters started the Matthew Foster Foundation to help pay for daily expenses for area families with children who have cancer.

“We saw many families struggle with day-to-day bills. Matt had a positive impact on people so we wanted to do something positive in his memory,” says Foster, a father of seven other children who switched from computer consulting to real estate sales five years ago to gain more job flexibility to work on the foundation.

Foster, real estate salesperson with Century 21 Gold Standard in East Aurora, N.Y., 15 miles south of Buffalo, is one of 10 finalists for Realtor® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards.

Social workers identify families in need. Each receives up to $2,500 when their child is ill. Families whose children die are eligible for another $2,500 to $5,000 to cover funeral costs. To date, 250 families have received $260,000.  “You are truly angels. No one has ever done anything as kind for us. This has lifted a huge weight off our shoulders,” says a thank-you note from a family whose son Gary died at age 16.

This year the foundation hopes to raise $100,000 through three annual events: a golf tournament, gala, and car raffle. The foundation also donates $1,000 annually to a senior at Matthew’s high school who’s overcome a major challenge and is headed to college.

Besides serving as foundation president, Foster volunteers at the area hospital that provided Matthew’s care. “Burt’s one of those people who will do anything and go anywhere (to help),” says board member Kurt Kaul. “Having the foundation keeps the memory of Matt with us,” Foster says. “We’re trying to help others facing a difficult time. That’s what God teaches us to do.”

The Good Neighbor Awards is a grant program recognizing REALTORS® who make exceptional volunteer contributions to their communities.

Here’s a new artist I thought you might like to hear. He is only 12 years old and has played the greats like Eric Clapton!

At the sake of dating myself take a listen to one of the first “rock” songs I liked when I was young. I really like visiting Wolfgang’s vault from time to time to hear some of the classics!

This version was recorded live in 1977. I think the song came out closer to the early 70’s. Let me know if you remember this song and feel free to give me requests and I’ll track them down.