March 20, 2008 by donna.

It used to be that you could not open enroll from TUSD to District 16 school district. Also, it used to be that open enrollment was only from December 1st to the end of February of each year. Both are no longer the case. TUSD is now letting students out to go to District 16 and you can open enroll your children any time during the school year. Of course, there may not be room at some schools: Manzanita is usually full because a lot of Pima Canyon families chose to send their kids to school in District 16 versus Amphi. schools and Manzanita is the closest District 16 elementary school to Pima Canyon. However, I have been told that Ventana Vista Elementary still has plenty of room for more kids. The Ventana Vista campus is beautiful; the library is incredible! Children who attend this school also have a great fine arts program - the schedule runs like this—6 weeks of daily music, then rotates to 6 weeks of daily art and then rotates to 6 weeks of phys ed and then it goes back again. Unlike most schools, 5th graders change classes for each class and only stay in the home room for reading and writing. 5th graders are full of energy and they seem to thrive with this new way of teaching them. There is a great before and after school care program that is well managed, fun and not expensive! The school test scores are consistently the highest in schools in the Catalina Foothills District 16 versus the school scores in almost all the TUSD schools. The main reasons for this disparity is that it is easier to manage a smaller school district and the children who attend District 16 schools tend to come from wealthier and better -educated homes. Sabino Mountain is on the border of the District 16-Catalina Foothills school district so many families can take advantage of sending their kids to schools closer to their homes. Also real estate values will pick up now that this long desired open enrollment policy has been implemented.

I chose to open enroll my daughter into District 16 at Ventana Vista for elementary school, but she will be attending St. Gregory’s for Middle School. St. Gregory’s is expensive, but I feel she will thrive in smaller classes. I need the constant feedback that private school teachers are more apt to give versus public school teachers. I also think that as a result she will be more likely to be better prepared for college and be accepted into more colleges than if she attended public school. I really like the sports program, too. I did not want her to attend a snotty school and I was relieved when I found out 25% of the kids that attend school at St. Gregory’s receive scholarship money.

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March 19, 2008 by donna.

Some of the non-custom Sabino Mountain homes are very affordable now! A year ago you could not find a home for less than $400,000 and now there are a few homes hovering at the 400K mark, and, therefore, it is likely that they will sell for in the high $300 thousands. Late last year we saw a few sales of less than $400,000. The main reasons for this price drop are that many of the competitive homes in the Foothills have been decreasing and financing options are less than they were most of last year: Buyers usually have to put 10% down to qualify for a loan. Sabino Mountain is a great place to live and it is a great time to find a great deal here. Sabino Mountain is in a gated community and the homes are less than 6 years old which makes Sabino Mountain more desirable than many other Foothill’s communities. Most snowbirds leave the end of March, so I hope you snowbirds out there will take a last look-see before you head home. Sabino Mountain promises to please!

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March 8, 2008 by donna.

I will be holding my beautiful listing at 4134 N Boulder Canyon open from 1-4 tomorrow. If you need the gate code to get in, please call me at 603-8622. This beautiful transitional home is range priced from $850,000 - $900,000 and is over 3,300 square feet with pool, spa, outdoor kiva fireplace and custom barbeque. To view the brochure with features and floorplan, go to my website at www.DonnaAnderson.com to the bottom of the first page.

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March 8, 2008 by donna.

A lovely home that is the Sundown Builder’s own home on Quail Canyon and is listed by Long Realty’s Foothills’ Office, just went under contract. I am told it had more than one offer. WOW! It really is a beautiful home with wonderful ridgetop mountain and city views. It was listed at $1,449,000 and is 4,378 square feet and took less than a few months to sell.

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March 2, 2008 by donna.

I have just listed 4134 N Boulder Canyon Place–it will be open today–March 2nd–from 1-4PM. This luxurious Outpost-built 3,324 square foot home is in impeccable condition. The floorplan is designed for family living and entertaining with a large great room plan that has formal dining and breakfast area–sitting room right off the spacious gourmet kitchen that has an oversized 10 foot+ breakfast bar. Upgrades abound: granite counters, 42″ cabinets in the kitchen, walk-in pantry, 18″ ceramic tile floors in all main living areas, twin master suites, master bathroom # 1 has a whirlpool tub in addition to a stylish glass block and tiled shower; there are 2 gas fireplaces–one in the great room and a cozy kiva fireplace outdoors. Speaking of outdoors–this home offers resort -style living at its best–there is a sparkling pebbletec pool (with in-ground cleaning system), spa, barbeque, kiva fireplace and a covered flagstone patio in the back yard that faces the pristine Sonoran Desert, the Santa Rita Mountains and the sparkling city lights. This home was appraised in January ‘08 for $925,000 and is priced at a range price of $850,000 - $900,000 for quick sale. Call me at 615-2598 for your private viewing! To see the brochure, floorplan and photos of this beautiful home, go to my website www.DonnaAnderson.com or www.SabinoMountainHomes.com to the bottom of the first page where you can find my featured listing.

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February 24, 2008 by donna.

Last week I was amazed when I saw a property in Sabino Mountain come back on the market at the same price it was a few months back, after another house with the same floorplan and located on the same street had just sold for approximately $50,000+ less then this listing. There is no doubt the appraiser is going to use the comparable of the house that sold for much less, especially since it had similar upgrades as the house that just sold in December. I keep wondering what are they thinking? Did the agent advise the Sellers properly? I would not have taken this listing at this price, since even if they get lucky and it sells much higher than the last house sold, which is very unlikely in this market, it won’t appraise. Two-story houses are unlike one-story houses that attract many buyers who put a lot of cash down and as a result, the appraiser is not as strict. Most two-story buyers put 20% or less down and the appraisers are very, very conservative these days, so this house has little chance of appraising for much more than the last one that sold.

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February 14, 2008 by donna.

There are a few resale Pepper-Viner one-story homes that have reduced their prices near the low $400s. Both are over 2,000 square feet and one has a pool which is a rare find in the non-custom homes in Sabino Mountain. Both back to the Sonoran Desert open space. What a great time to buy or invest in the Tucson Foothills which is now very affordable again! Sabino Mountain has such rare beauty and majesty; I am so glad I call it home!

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February 13, 2008 by donna.

Did you notice some of the guardrails have been painted? The area going down North Boulder Canyon is completed! Hurray!

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February 13, 2008 by donna.

After having looked at almost all the housing inventory on Sabino Mountain, I must say there are more than a few luxury custom and semi-custom homes that seem over-priced in my opinion. It amazes me since the real estate market is a very strong “Buyers’ Market”, coupled with the fact that this is when many snowbirds are visiting and some will buy. Most snowbirds leave by the end of next month, so unless the Sellers price their homes more reasonably, it is likely they will not sell anytime soon. I can only guess that some of these Sellers are just fishing to see if someone will pay their high price and that is very unlikely.

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January 24, 2008 by donna.

Recently I kept up my New Year’s Resolution to start going to the gym. I know myself and in order for me to be religious about attendance, it has to be close by, so I picked “Sierra Fitness”. Much to my surprise it is a cozy place located very close to where I live, work and drop my daughter off at school - close to the corner of Sunrise and N. Kolb. It is never crowded and I can get on the treadmill and see fantastic Catalina Mt views. I tried out a month membership for $99. They offer many memberships including off days and off hours. I am not an exercise class person, but they offer many classes. The equipment is ample and I never had to wait in-line to use it. I see people of all ages and all sizes and everyone is cordial and friendly.

I have also decided to change hair dressers so I can be closer to home; I have been delighted with “Wild Orchids” and my young hairdresser, Katrina. Again, this salon is located near the corner of Sunrise and Kolb.

One of my favorite lunches is the wonderful fresh salmon salad I get for lunch at “Garvi’s” and this is no surprise to anyone - is located near the same corner.

My Dentist is fairly new to me and wonderful, too–”Dr Sandra Gibson”–located right upstairs from “Sierra Fitness”, near the corner of Sunrise and N. Kolb. She takes great care of my husband, my 11 year old daughter and myself. After trying several local dentists and not being impressed, she was a great find!

My last favorite close to work spot is on the corner of Sunrise and Swan - “Starbucks”. I just love the music and atmosphere in the AM. I have a large Vanilla Latte’ and read my New York Times. This is a great way to start the day!

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