Posts Tagged ‘real estate in arizona’

Interesting Demographic Information About Arizona

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Arizona is the 48th state and the last of the contiguous “lower” states admitted to the Union. It officially became a state on February 14, 1912 and is well-known for its hot summers, awe-inspiring scenery and desert climate filled with cacti of all shapes and sizes, as well as its magnificent mountain ranges in the northern high country. Every fall and winter, thousands of part-time residents or “snowbirds” flock to the Arizona real estate to enjoy a mild winter awash with plenty of blue skies, sunshine and best of all—no snow!  

The capital of Arizona is Phoenix; this is also the state’s largest city. Tucson comes in second, followed by Mesa, Glendale, Chandler and Scottsdale. Over six-and-a-half million people call Arizona home, split about evenly between men and women.  

Arizona is one of the “Four Corners” states, bordering New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. Of its 113,998 square miles, approximately 15 percent is privately owned. The rest of the state is made up of public park and forest land and Native American reservations. In addition, Arizona has a 389-mile international border with the states of Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.   Although the state is known for its rugged desert landscape, residents and visitors alike are often surprised to learn just how mountainous Arizona truly is. Twenty-seven percent of the state is made up of forests, which is close to current-day Germany or France. In fact, the largest stand of Ponderosa pine trees can be found in Arizona.  

Arizona also tends to get more rain than many people realize. The state has an average annual rainfall of almost 13 inches; most of this amount usually falls during the winter and summer rainy seasons. In July and August the “monsoon season” typically strikes, bringing higher humidity and often dramatic thunder and lightning storms along with welcome rain. Lower elevations feature temperate winters and extremely hot summers, but once you reach the upper-third of the state, you’ll find much colder winters complete with snow. In fact, Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff is a popular winter destination for thousands of people.  

Arizona is growing fairly quickly in population. Between 1991 and 2001, the number of people who call Arizona home rose by over 45 percent, making Arizona the second fastest-growing state in the nation.    rl0z1

Arizona is Home to Many Great Convention Centers

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Arizona is a premiere destination for visitors searching for beauty, history, and entertainment.  It also offers world-class accommodations for conventions, drawing diverse groups of professionals, anime enthusiasts, comic book fans, swing dancers, and much more from around the country and the world.  Convention centers around the unique state of Arizona provide organizations and attendees a full range of features and options to make any event a success.

What makes greater Arizona real estate an ideal place to hold a meeting or convention?  The unceasing sunshine, gorgeous scenery, and wealth of attractions in the state ensure that attendance will reach all-time highs.  And to draw people inside to the meetings, workshops, or tradeshows, convention centers, like the newly expanded Phoenix Convention Center, offer a host of amenities designed to enhance your presentations and ensure the comfort of your attendees.  Take advantage of spacious meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, exhibit halls with pre-scored floors and other thoughtful design features, ballrooms, and stunning architecture and views.  This beautiful center is also home to theaters and offers a wide range of activities and events throughout the year.

Tucson is not to be outdone by the large Phoenix Convention Center.  Their equally-impressive facility will help you plan the best event your organization has ever seen.  The Tucson Convention Center offers help with suppliers, service people, attendance promotion, convention staffing, activity and event planning, online registration, and much more.  Event planning can run smoothly and on schedule with Tucson’s skilled convention staff.

The Mesa Convention Center provides yet another top-quality locale.  This full-service event facility is in the midst of 22 acres of stunning parkland.  With ample exhibit and meeting space, you will find the accommodations ideal for your event.  In the heart of Mesa, this convention center is conveniently located near the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the Phoenix Marriott Mesa.  Find all of the assistance you’ll need from on-sight catering to internet service.

In addition to these great convention centers, many area hotels offer spacious meeting and conference rooms, as well as plentiful accommodations for corporate or organization events.

The events held at convention centers in Arizona vary greatly.  You can easily find Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey extravaganzas, beautiful symphonies, cultural displays and acts, home and building shows, and much more.  Professionals from nearly all walks to life can attend focused conventions and enjoy Arizona at the same time.  Attendees can check local events calendars to make sure they don’t miss the best concerts, performances, and trade shows.  The incredible diversity ensures that Arizona is one of the top destinations for events and conventions in the world country. 

Whether you are going for work or pleasure, Arizona’s numerous convention centers provide a worthwhile experience that is almost as wonderful as the scenery.

Arizona’s Most Photographed Real Estate is Monument Valley

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that living in Arizona is a goal for many individuals and families. From southern Arizona to the high Sonoran desert of central Arizona to the stunning saguaro forests of Tucson and to the gorgeous Grand Canyon in the north, Arizona boasts a wealth of diverse season, climates, and amenities making it easy to see why Arizona real estate is so wonderful and why some many live, work and do business here.

According to the Arizona Office of Tourism, one of the most photographed landmarks in the United States is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, a sprawling preserve that spans the border between Arizona and Utah. Located inside the ancestral home of the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is approximately four hours northeast of Flagstaff, near the Four Corners area.

Photo by: Averette

Dominated by wine-hued mesas and surreal sandstone towers, some that soar as high as 1,000 feet, the magnificent landscape is also known for dramatic lighting, with the sun illuminating the towers and casting long shadows on the valley floor. As a representation of the “Old West,” Monument Valley has been a favorite shooting location for Hollywood filmmakers since the early days of the frontier genre, beginning with Stagecoach, in which John Wayne horseback rides across the region. Monument Valley is still a popular backdrop for numerous films, commercials and other media venues.

Though now a part of the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley was once a simple flat basin. Over millions of years, layers of sediment piled onto the basin, which was eventually uplifted by pressure from below. Wind and water slowly eroded the plateau, leaving siltstone and its sand behind, creating the wondrous formations that we marvel at today.

Backdropped by panoramic views of the world-famous Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte, the Monument Valley Visitor Center is located north of Kayenta, off of US 163. Here, you’ll find information on self-guided tours as well as guided tours, a restaurant with native Navajo cuisine and a gift shop.

There are hotels located in Page, about three hours away, and in Kayenta, about one hour away. If you prefer to stay inside the Park, the View Hotel offers rooms with a fabulous view of the Mitten Buttes. Camping is also available at Mitten View Campground. For more information, visit www.navajonationparks.org .

Drive Route 66 to Explore Arizona’s Finest Real Estate

Friday, May 28th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that calling Arizona home is a goal for many individuals and families. From the gorgeous Grand Canyon in the north to the high Sonoran desert of central Arizona to the stunning saguaro forests of Tucson and southern Arizona, Arizona boasts a wealth of diverse climates, seasons and amenities making it easy to see why Arizona is such a wonderful place to purchase a home, land or real estate as well as to live, work and do business.

Back in the day, Route 66 was considered the Main Street of America, and Arizona is home to the longest original stretch of the much-ballyhooed Mother Road…and much of it is still preserved by local residents.

To check out a sampling of some of Route 66’s many sites, take a few days and consider starting your trip in Lake Havasu City, home to the historic London Bridge, then head north about an hour’s drive to Oatman, an old gold-mining camp. Stroll the buckboard street and visit the Oatman Hotel, where movie stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned. Enjoy staged gunfights, take an authentic stagecoach ride or watch the four-legged settlers of the town – i.e., the wild burros that wander the street. Next, take the scenic drive through the Black Mountains and mosey on into Kingman, which is also home to the Route 66 Museum. If the hungries hit, grab a bite in one of the old trailer-type diners and then be sure to stop in Peach Springs, home to the Hualapai Indian tribal headquarters.

Over in Seligman, enjoy a snack at the quirky Snowcap, a Route 66 nostalgia-lover’s delight. Drive to Williams to overnight, then travel north to Grand Canyon National Park or board the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams for a picturesque trip to the Grand Canyon Village. Spend the day and night in Flagstaff, where the main drag is Route 66. Savor a juicy burger and a thick milkshake at the Galaxy Diner on Route 66 and two-step the night away at the Museum Club, a rustic Route 66 roadhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The next morning, drive to Winslow and take your picture at the Standin’ on the Corner State Park. “The Corner” was made famous by the Eagles song “Take it Easy,” which is what you’ll be doing every single day on your Route 66 road trip.

For more information on planning a trip down Route 66’s memory lane, visit the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Winslow Arizona Houses Petrified Forest National Park

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Owning Arizona real estate is a lifelong goal for many people…and it’s no wonder why. Some folks live for Arizona’s outdoor sports, while others prefer to spend their free time playing one of the state’s gorgeous golf courses, soaking up the spectacular sunsets or moseying around museums and other family-friendly venues.

And something that pretty much everyone who owns a piece of real estate or even visits the Grand Canyon State will enjoy is Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.

Located east of Winslow, Arizona, the park is nestled inside the world-famous Painted Desert, and is home to 200-million-year-old fossils that will amaze even the non-science geeks in the family. The story goes that volcanic lava destroyed what was once a flourishing forest, embedding the remains of the trees into a vast acreage filled with ash and water. Millions of years later, erosion set the logs free, revealing a veritable wealth of magnificent petrified wood, which is made up mostly of quartz.

In addition to the Petrified Forest, the Park features more than 13,000 years of human history, including a nearly 800-year-old, 100-room dwelling called Puerco Pueblo. There’s also an extensive collection of prehistoric pottery fossils and numerous scenic hiking trails that range from half-mile to three miles – and each trail boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding Painted Desert. If you’re so inclined, head out into the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area on horseback or via burro, mule or even a llama…we kid you not. When it’s time for sweet dreams, no problem – you can do an overnight backpacking trip through the park, or for those less adventurous, there are plenty of nearby hotels and campgrounds.