Saturday, September 14, 2013

Treasure Found in Phoenix by Scottsdale Student

For those who were participating in the College Times Treasure Hunt, it's over!  The $1000 certificate was found yesterday, near Hunt's Pyramid at Papago Park in Phoenix, by a 20 year old Scottsdale Community College student.  Clues for the Treasure Hunt were printed in each edition of College Times, but you could sign up to receive clues early by text.  Before the treasure was found, seven clues were released by text, plus a bonus clue was available by visiting the College Times 'street team' at ASU.  I think you could also get bonus clues by following College Times on Twitter and Facebook, but I didn't do that.  Perhaps I should have.  My family was searching by Tempe Town Lake since the clues referred to 'water northwest of ASU'.  We weren't even close!

While the chance of finding the $1000 loot was slim to none, we had a great time looking.  It's fun the whole family can enjoy and good exercise too.  It's also a great excuse to get out of the house, go places you normally wouldn't go and see parts of the Valley you may not otherwise see.  While at Tempe Town Lake searching for the 'treasure', my family ended up pedal boating on Tempe Town Lake as the sun went down.  After that, we walked down Mill Avenue and found a great little Turkish grill where we ate dinner.  Our college-aged daughters probably wouldn't normally want to hang out on Mill Avenue with my husband and I.  But they made an exception in this case, and we all enjoyed ourselves!

Times Media regularly has similar treasure hunts in the Valley.  Interestingly, I just found this old post on a 2007 Times Treasure Hunt where the treasure certificate was found in basically the same place - under a rock at Hunt's Pyramid.  Except back then, the prize was $3000 instead of $1000.

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on September 14, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Monday, September 09, 2013

The House of the Future?

Parade recently had an article listing ten technological advances to home appliances that could be in our houses by 2025.  From biometric vitamin dispensing faucets to a food disposal that dispenses compost pellets, some of these futuristic appliances are pretty cool while others seem a little creepy.  Personally, I don't think I want a computerized medicine cabinet dispensing medications to me.  But I could definitely get used to a washing machine that washes, dries and stores my clothes for me, and then irons them when I'm ready to wear them.  And I can't wait to have a 3D printer in my house!

I hate going to the grocery store, so I love the idea of shopping on a smartphone and having it delivered.  I'm honestly a little surprised that grocery stores aren't already using the internet more effectively.  Most grocery stores have those 'rewards' cards you sign up for to get discounts.  They scan your card every time you shop, thus tracking everything you buy.  So they know exactly what you buy and how often you buy it, and they have your contact information.  I wonder why they don't periodically email me a reminder shopping list of stuff they think I'm out of?  I get emails telling me when I need to buy a new toner cartridge for my printer (although they're usually wrong!).  Grocery stores could email you a 'proposed' grocery list, then let you login to edit it and schedule delivery.  They could use a smart app that 'learns' your habits and refines your preferences each time you shop.  That way, you could quickly and easily re-stock on all the items, brands and quantities you normally buy without having to go to the store.  But then people might not make all those impulse purchases, buying stuff they don't need just because it looks good.  Perhaps that's why grocery stores don't do this!

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on September 9, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Friday, August 30, 2013

Sign on Front Door of San Tan Valley, AZ House

This San Tan Valley homeowner has a humorous way of saying, "No thank you" to solicitors!

Written By: Scott Hubbard Certified Home Inspector, ASHI® Member Homewerx Home Inspections Office: (480) 503-2611 Toll Free: 1-888-THE-WERX Schedule a Home Inspection Online!

Posted by Scott Hubbard, Arizona Home Inspector on August 30, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Phoenix, Arizona Has Great Weather... and Snow?!

It's snowing in the Valley!  This picture was taken in Mesa, but several cities in the Phoenix-metro area got snow today.  I hereby declare tomorrow a snow day :)

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on February 20, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Is There Really a Market For This Business?

I was driving through Chandler today and this business caught my eye.  Is the economy really so bad that people have to rent tires?  I can't imagine a single situation that would make me want to rent a tire.  Even if you need new tires really bad but can't afford them, there are many used tire places around the Valley that sell decent used tires for half the price of a new tire (or less).  

Since I'm a very curious person (or weird, however you want to look at it), I couldn't stop wondering what would make somebody rent a tire.  So I googled this place.  Their website claims that they're the "largest Rent-To-Own Custom Wheel and Tire Retailer in the nation".  I'm sure they probably are because I think they may be the ONLY Rent-To-Own Custom Wheel and Tire Retailer in the nation!  But here's what surprised me... their website says they have over 86 stores across 11 states, and the company is the 7th largest independent tire dealer in the country.

Seriously, who rents tires?  Apparently not many people.  Although, the store was open and they had a "Sale" sign out front, there wasn't a single car in the parking lot.

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on August 18, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Wells Fargo REO Off Limits to Bank of America Employees?

Just saw a listing in MLS that says the house is owned by Wells Fargo Bank, but in the remarks it says:

"Bank of America, N.A. employees and employees' household members (including persons deriving their primary means of financial support from a Bank employee) and business partners of the Bank are prohibited from purchasing this property, whether directly or indirectly."

That's weird, huh?   Public records also show Wells Fargo as the property owner.  I wonder if the listing agent meant to say that Wells Fargo employees are prohibited from purchasing the property.  Or does Wells Fargo not want Bank of America employees buying Wells Fargo REO properties?

#TooBigToFail  #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmm

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on August 16, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, August 20, 2010

Arizona monsoons are bad for swimming pools!

The other night, it got so windy that it blew a lawn chair in my pool. It also blew a million leaves and some of our landscaping lights in the pool. Where are my teenagers when I need them? Gotta love Arizona monsoons!

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on August 20, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Monday, August 16, 2010

Commercial Real Estate Question...

Here's a question for all the commercial real estate agents, brokers and developers out there.  Why do commercial real estate developers always put these bumpy landscape tiles right by grocery store entrances and exits?  There must be a good reason because all the major grocery stores have these.  But they're such a pain because stuff starts falling off your cart as soon as the wheels hit these things.  If you try to go over them slowly, the cart's wheels get stuck.  If you try to go over them quickly, your cart bounces around and stuff falls off.

This may sound sexist but I'm saying it anyway... the bumpy landscape tile idea came from some guy who's never had to push a cart overflowing with groceries through the parking lot!  Just sayin'.  :)

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on August 16, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack

Saturday, August 14, 2010

AZ Homeowner Needs a New Landscaper

One of these things is not like the others... two of these things are kind of the same!

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on August 14, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Friday, November 06, 2009

They're Back... Zip Codes Come Back to AZ MLS!

The Zip Codes Are Back!  Thank you nice folks at Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS®)!!

Zip codes disappeared from AZ MLS sheets sometime in the past few weeks.  I don't know for sure when the zip codes returned, but I noticed it yesterday, (ironically) right after I finished talking on the phone with another real estate agent who mentioned the missing zip codes!  He was giving me an address and didn't have the zip code because it wasn't on his MLS printout!  But now I'm happy to say that MLS looks like this again...

 

Just to be sure, I looked up some of my old MLS printouts that had no zip codes, and MLS shows all their zip codes now.  So thank you again ARMLS®!!

Written By: Shannon Hubbard Realtor®-Investor Great American Realty, Inc. Cell: (480) 695-6672 Email me

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on November 6, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack