Filed under: Flagstaff Fun, Uncategorized | Tags: Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, Heritage Square, Hike, Lake Mary, Lowell Observatory, Northern Arizona, picnic, Sky ride, Snow Bowl, Summer, Travel
Flagstaff summers are idyllic. Every day we enjoy warm gentle weather and the end of the summer cools off with afternoon storms. School seems to start earlier every year BUT according to the calendar, summer doesn’t end until August 31st. Armed with that knowledge and a full week before Autumn, here are a few Flagstaff delights that are a must do before another summer slips away.
#1 Movie Night on the Square – Without a doubt one of my all time favorite Flagstaff traditions. I love watching the families set up early to get good spots, while the older kids and other adults mill around the square seeing friends and catching up. The sense of community is awesome and oh yea, they play a movie too! Happening every Friday night in Heritage Square while summer lasts.
#2 Skyride - We all love our mountain and I feel spoiled most days with the views just as I drive on Cedar. It is easy to forget how majestic it can be to go on the sky ride in the summer. Even on a warm day be sure to bring a jacket – the climb in elevation will make it colder as you rise. While you are packing things, toss in a snack and a drink for yourself. Once at the top, the world pulls itself into perspective as you relax and take in the views.
#3 The Percival Lowell Summer Chamber Music Series – A great combination of 2 Flagstaff cultural institutions brings a fantastic line-up of musicians to the observatory this summer. Now in its 3rd year, this annual series runs through September 4th featuring classical, blue grass and jazz.
#4 Lake Mary Picnic - Its so close and yet tucked just out of sight, maybe that is why we don’t think of Lake Mary often enough. What could be more summery fun than a picnic by the lake? Its free fun for the whole family although the furry members seem to get the biggest kick out of the outing. We like to pack up a big picnic and graze for hours while the dogs and baby play… Sometimes its the simple pleasures that are the best.
#5 Take a Hike – Let’s face it; we are surrounded and outnumbered… by the trees! Which was a big part of my initial attraction and ongoing love affair with Flagstaff. From Fat Man’s Loop to the Pipeline by Elden, Flagstaff offers a ton of great trails to explore and the urban trail connects all of town. Its great exercise and being in nature is a natural mood lifter. Your dog will thank you and so will your heart.
You’ve got a few weeks of Summer ’11 left… Make them great!
Filed under: Flagstaff Fun, twitter | Tags: #tweetup, Blog, Flagstaff, food, local, networking, pizza, Pizza Furiosa, restaurants, Travel, twitter, wine
I started organizing Flagstaff tweetups in 2009. Back then I called businesses and asked them if they might host a tweetup… And then explained what a tweetup was… And then usually went on to explain what twitter was. Almost everyone was not interested but I did make many people laugh. Long before I met him IRL, I got a lot of encouragement from @PhxREguy (Jay Thompson) to persist no matter how many people came each month. What began with about 7 people showing up not knowing what to expect has become a networking, friend-making, local business promoting institution. Now 2011 is booked for the rest of the year, thanks to help from @MikerDzign (Mike Russell) and @accounting4you (Jody Seibert), and we have people asking to get scheduled for 2012.
Each month we highlight a different Flagstaff business who host us in their location and share their wares. This month, Flagstaff’s new restaurant, Pizza Furiosa welcomed the local tweeps with FREE samples of pizza, appetizers and salads. Why would they want to give us all of this DELICIOUS food for free?
Behold the power of social media. Before the August #FLGup (Flagstaff tweetup) even began, the Flagstaff twitter waves were over run with Pizza Furiosa mentions (tweets containing someone’s name). Pizza Furiosa benefited from FREE advertising for days and that is all BEFORE anyone even tried the #10 pizza (so good I am drooling now remembering it). Once the #tweetup began people started tweeting about all of the delicious food we were being served. The next day, people were STILL gushing about the food, the friendly hosts and the fun time they had.
Owner Richard and his staff were gracious hosts of our group. He completely embodied the collaborative nature of twitter by inviting us to go next door to Wine Styles and enjoy their wine tasting before trying his pizzas. Owner Peggy welcomed us all into Wine Styles on a busy night and many of us participated in their fun wine tasting. Richard even sent plates of Salad #1 (hand pulled mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, basil) and meatballs just for our tweetup group (and much to the chagrin of the other patrons who were snickering about twitter). Managed to work in a little business when I ran into some non-twitter friends while visiting Wine Styles who would like me to list their house.
After about an hour, wine bottles in hand, our group moved back over to Pizza Furiosa. Family style we all got to sample: Salad #2 (Iceberg, Buttermilk dressing, blue cheese crumbles, smoked bacon, tomato, egg), a special 3 mushroom pizza, pizza #10, and pizza #9. We sat together at a long table, laughed as @HeatherAinardi ‘s baby knocked over the bowling pins, and enjoyed the warm hospitality of Furiosa.
Best part of it all? I got to catch up with an amazing eclectic group of people from our community that included many local business owners and even the Mayor of Flagstaff, @SaraPresler. All of these people have become friends and amazing business allies. They can also make me laugh till my cheeks hurt. It was all so good and I for one left completely sated by incredible food, fun and witty friends and new connections.
Filed under: Buyer Tips, Home Tips | Tags: Agency, attention home buyers, Buyer Mistakes, construction models, Home Buyer, real estate, real estate broker, REALTOR, representation agency, termite report
Attention Home Buyers! What you don’t know CAN hurt you.
There is a lot of information thrown at you when you are buying a home; everything from finance math on different loan terms to deciphering a termite report. It is difficult to wade through it all. Having a representative to guide you through the maze is a must. Having an understanding of how representation/agency works in real estate is fundamental to having any real estate conversation. Is the REALTOR® you are speaking with going to repeat what you say? Will they share what they have heard from the seller? It all depends.. on agency.
The Arizona Association of REALTORs® created a form to explain agency to potential clients which reads:
“Before a Seller or Buyer enters into a discussion with a real estate broker…the Seller and the Buyer should understand what type of agency relationship or representation they will have with the broker in the transaction.”
BEFORE they start talking? Why is it so important?
Agency requires fiduciary duties which prompt certain actions from REALTORs®. Have you entered into agency with your REALTOR®? Do you know if your REALTOR® is representing you? the seller?? both you and seller??? Here are some explanations of the fiduciary duties required by Buyer Agency when a REALTOR® is only representing the Buyer.
Loyalty - This is a big one. It means our clients’ interests come first, over our own interests and those of other parties.
Confidence – I ain’t sayin nuttin. If you tell me that you love the place and would pay $50,000 over asking price, I CANNOT reveal that to the seller unless you want me to do so. Working in your best interest I am bound to keep your confidence on any price or motivation issue. If we are not in an agency relationship, I do not have this prohibition and can sing like a canary.
BUYER BEWARE: When you go to new construction models without your REALTOR® and sign in their book, you just signed away your right to have your representative get compensated. The person in the model represents the seller and NOT you.
Disclosure – I’ll spill everything I know for you. Once agency has been established, anything pertinent about the property or the transaction that your REALTOR® knows, they are obligated to share with you.
BUYER BEWARE: When you walk into open houses and start speaking with the REALTOR® in the home, that person is representing the seller. In the working in the best interests of the seller, they are REQUIRED to repeat that you will pay $50,000 over asking price.
Obedience – Sit Ubu sit. Yea, not exactly but agency does require us to obey all lawful and ethical instructions.
Accounting – Not going to file your taxes for you but your REALTOR will give you copies and retain copies of any document that you sign with them. They will also stay in touch with you throughout process. (NOTE – This does not include documents you sign with other parties like loan or escrow documents.
Lack of understanding of these basic real estate duties has lead many a buyer through a transaction that was not what they wanted. Don’t make this mistake. Take the time to understand buyer agency and how good representation can make all the difference in your home buying experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and above all else, always make sure that you trust the party representing your interests.
BTW – All of these duties, with the exception of Accounting, go away when the REALTOR® or Broker is representing both the buyer and seller… Interesting huh? Where does the loyalty ultimately lie? Stay tuned, I think I smell a sequel…
