Real Arizona Blog

Blog Post 11-2-07

Quality is an enduring principle in many things but especially in real estate. There seems to be a trend developing (again) that the properties on the market that exemplify nice "character" are still attractive to potential home & land purchasers. This "character" is found not only in the macro sense i.e. the REGION where we live or are giving consideration to live in, but also in the micro sense of NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMUNITY, UNIVERSITY, MUSEUMS, EVENTS etc.

I have often advised clients to consider the "quality" or "character" of the real estate they are considering to purchase. The macro concept of REGION is already a given when clients contact me on buying land or homes in the Tubac Real Estate market. They have already been investigating this area and Tubac & Santa Cruz County are both compelling places to consider living... people have figured this out.

The more micro characteristics of a property are more subtle and can be viewed in different ways by people with differing interests. Some want close proximity to town and the events that they enjoy attending, others want to enjoy these events but are happier with the privacy afforded by living in the country far from the urban centers.

The most detailed consideration of a purchase decision is the distinctive nature of the property itself (well, and the cost of course). Here in Tubac as in some areas around Tucson, VIEWS are a primary consideration and working with a property that has exceptional views brings much of our satisfaction going forward with our purchase of real property.

Other enduring characteristics of importance in purchasing real estate in Tubac or Tucson are how a property can be developed, enhanced i.e. remodeled, or enjoyed as is without any major alterations. Our Southern Arizona Region is blessed with a great climate, one of the 5 "C"s that has created our regional economy. Can you name any of the five C's?  Southern Arizona has a CLIMATE that has been the foundation for a thriving real estate economy because it enables residents to have an active outdoor lifestyle much of the year. But even more than this, it is the desert, it's spare but impressive vegetation and especially the LIGHT from the clear sky that enlivens our surroundings and bathes the interiors of our homes.

Quality does endure and it even endures "down" real estate markets. If you purchase something of quality, you will be richly rewarded for this choice no matter at what level you purchase. Some of us will buy a home based on the home's character itself. If this is the primary factor that influences your choice it can be at many levels of price, either at the top end of the real estate market such as this Ventana Area home (map) that just sold for $8 million (AZ Starnet) Ventana-area home sells for $8 million or at other price points.

Quality endures at all levels of participation and it is discussed  in Conde Nast's PORTFOLIO.com in this article Starchitecture for a Song. View the slide show to see the homes that others have found around the country.

There are some very nice Tubac homes and only some of them will ever be for sale. It just might be why this downturn in the real estate market is not as structurally difficult as many people feel compelled to believe it is. Many times it is the land itself that can make for you the decision to bring inspiration and you or your architect's vision to bear. What I am getting at is that buying a quality parcel of land for your custom home is essential to building a quality project. The home itself is made better when placed upon and into the landscape that surrounds it. Here is an example of a straight forward parcel of property that when designed for and built out by a creative architect, really creates a quality property. This home exemplifies the concept & is a Rick Joy design for a stunning home in Tubac.

There are some very special Tubac Properties for sale that have the potential for an owner to create a true masterpiece. Some are Tubac Homes and others are Tubac land parcels. Your discovery of Tubac - the REGION can start the process of finding a property that simply cannot be reproduced anywhere else. A quality property is the first step.

Buy quality.... you will not be disappointed.

Blog Post 8-21-07

Tubac is undergoing some significant land use changes as development both adds to and takes away lifestyle options for it's residents. We who live here, may have thought things would never change as we came to like the idea of a "good" coffee shop & "upscale" food market in Tubac. But even that is a change from the way things were and represents "growth".

This article by Tony Davis in the Arizona Daily Star Tubac mired in debate: Stay rural or go suburban? poses an interesting question. Will Tubac be able to grow up AND remain an attractive community for it's residents and visitors? Will the community be able to achieve growth with constraints that will foster and preserve the essence of Tubac's rural character?

Given some of the projects that have been proposed and ones in the process of trying to gain county and community support it appears that there is a clash of intents. Large scale development like so many other things "American" has gone toward "super sized" to bring an economy of scale to the projects. This makes sense given that there are some very expensive hurdles to building out a high density development east of the Santa Cruz river. Such improvements as access roads and bridges will be necessary for these types of developments and they come with a price.

The clash that developers have with long time residents and would be residents is one of expectation. Current Tubac residents and many people who hope to live there like the town the way it is. Their expectation is that things will pretty much stay the same. They do realize however, that some improvements would be desirable and enhance their lifestyles. Some developers on the other hand, see the potential in building out the Tubac area with more homes & the roads needed for traffic flow, as a plan to build the kind of developments they have built elsewhere. These developers expect things to go as they have gone elsewhere and after overcoming some community and county imposed hurdles they will begin to change the area for the better. An earlier blog post on commuting I made, discussed the process of community reaction to development.

Most of the people I have discussed this with don't want Tubac to become like all the other areas and loose the unique character it has now and those developers who work with small scale or "boutique" style projects vs "super-sized" ones could be in a better position to actually improve the community and gain support for their projects.

If Tubac didn't have such a rich history of settlement by the Spanish, a lovely siting in a valley of the Santa Cruz River, wonderful mountain surroundings and a fine Arts Community, it probably wouldn't matter if the area developed into more residential subdivisions and retail shopping.... But Tubac IS different and is not likely to support any development that compromises the character of the community.

Hiring the specialists to make sure you are on the right track. In this era of specialization, who doesn't find the value in consulting with those who have specific expertise in their chosen field?

Don't we all wish we had the knowledge to make the right decisions in all areas. The fact is our work and lives in a complex society require specializations that take many years of study and experience to become proficient.

When it comes to real estate professions, there are a number of areas that require specific expertise in this regulated industry. Consider a typical sale of a home, there are now licensed home inspectors and termite inspectors who are brought in in the early phase of the due diligence period. Additionally, in rural areas where there is no public sewer or water available, there are specialists to assist with the regulations concerning septic/waste water systems and specialist who will review well data and water quality.

If your home purchase is going to need a review of site layout, building locations or locating well & septic then an additional licensed professional needs to be employed - a surveyor. It is amazing how many times this is overlooked, especially when a home has been there for a while.

Here is an article from the Nogales International News about the Old Tubac Inn patio in Tubac where some improvements are encroaching on a public easement. These issues come up more often than you might think.

As a real estate professional, I work with clients and provide directed consultations on such matters. The real estate field is immense and there are many reasons to employ a specialist to achieve a result that is both efficient and educational.