HomeSmart acquires Dan Schwartz Realty

Andrew Johnson
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 1, 2008 04:40 PM

Two of metro Phoenix’s largest residential brokerage firms have merged with the purchase by HomeSmart Real Estate of competitor Dan Schwartz Realty Inc.

The sale price was undisclosed.

Combined, the companies have about 3,400 licensed real estate agents, said Matt Widdows, president and chief executive officer of HomeSmart.

All of Dan Schwartz’s 1,650 agents have the option of transferring their contracts to HomeSmart by the end of the year, Widdows said.

In terms of size, the acquisition puts HomeSmart in the same realm as Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, West USA Realty and other household names in the local brokerage industry.

HomeSmart had about 1,750 agents before the acquisition, Widdows said.

The transaction should not affect home listings being handled by agents with either business, officials with both companies said.

Combined, agents with the two companies have about 2,300 home listings.

Both Widdows and Dan Schwartz President Duane Fouts said the sale was not prompted by the current housing slump, which has seen home sales and values plummet.

“They pursued us for quite some time, and we decided to entertain their offer,” said Fouts, who joined Dan Schwartz in 1988.

Dan Schwartz Realty was founded in 1976. Fouts became a principal in the company in 1994 and 100 percent owner of the business in 2001, he said.

Before being bought, the company had an office in Phoenix, Glendale and Tempe.

The Glendale and Tempe offices are closing as a result of the acquisition. HomeSmart will move its corporate headquarters from its current location near Missouri Avenue and 16th Street to Dan Schwartz’s Phoenix office near 19th and Northern avenues.

HomeSmart, which opened in 2000, also has an office in Glendale, Mesa and Scottsdale, and plans to open an office in Gilbert this year, Widdows said.

It also has a franchisee in Prescott and in southern California, he said.

Dan Schwartz agents will have until the end of the year to move their contracts to another brokerage firm, according to Widdows and Fouts.

 

Phoenix Gay Pride

Tomorrow begins the two day Gay Pride event in Phoenix. This annual event attracts tens of thousands of people and boasts a parade, party and prime entertainment.

The Phoenix Gay Pride Parade kicks off tomorrow, Saturday 12 April 2008, at 11am. The parade moves north on Third Street between Thomas and Indian School and includes floats, walking contingents and cars who support or represent churches, political organizations, bars, radio stations etc. The parade can be a fun learning experience for parents who wish to expose their children to diversity. The parade is free for all.

The Phoenix Gay Pride Event takes place in the Steele Indian School Park from noon until 9pm on Saturday and Sunday, 12 & 13 April 2008, and includes entertainment such as dancing, drag shows and headliners such as Expose and Sheena Easton. The entry fee is $25 for a weekend pass or (I believe) $15 per day. (This is vague and may require more research if you are interested.)

For more information go to: phoenixpride.org

 

A Bit of Phoenix History

I know this info isn’t ‘hot of the press.’ I just thought it was interesting.

Modern take on ancients

Sue Doerfler
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 29, 2008 12:00 AM

Take a Tour

It’s only 35 years old, but its past is steeped in ancient history.

The Boulder House, one of the three homes featured Sunday during the Cave Creek Museum’s Homes Through Time Tour, is nestled among an outcropping of granite boulders that possibly were used by ancient Native Americans as a solar observatory.

The rocks rise 20 to 30 feet and form many of the home’s exterior and interior walls.

“It looks like these boulders are just hanging,” said Rick Cibik, general manager of Fort McDowell Adventures, the tourism division of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, which owns the 4,500-square-foot house.

Glass windows fit into the crevices between the boulders and provide cropped views of the desert beyond. Look closely at the boulders and you can see petroglyphs, including circles and spirals, that mark the seasonal changes.

The 10-acre site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, also is known for its rare bas-relief petroglyphs.

The tribe bought the home three years ago from original owners Bill and Sunnie Empie.

Southwestern architect Charles Johnson required several years to design the house and three more to construct it. The house was completed in 1983.

The home borrows on Frank Lloyd Wright’s principle of organic construction, in which a building appears to be one with its setting. The home is hidden in the rocks, and driving by, you’d never know it was there.

The entryway is sandwiched between boulders, disguising the small front door. Open it and enter a massive great room that features 20-foot ceilings lined with wood planks and vigas.

The interior has a Southwestern bent with a leather sofa and chairs and a sculptural, stuccoed floor-level fireplace. The copper and iron coffee table resembles a drum; a kiva ladder, with a folded Native American rug across one of the rungs, decorates the side of a boulder wall.

The adjacent dining room features a beehive fireplace, set back-to-back with the one in the great room. The centerpiece of the space is a rustic wood dining table, flanked by wood benches and chairs upholstered in a Southwestern-style fabric.

The small, compact kitchen features a tile mural backsplash and tile counters in earth tones. Stainless-steel appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Dacor double ovens, offer a contemporary twist.

The master bedroom is perched at the top of the house, 23 steps up from the kitchen. A contrast of old and new, it features a fireplace used hundreds of years ago by ancient Native Americans as well as a heavy wood-frame bed that is centered in the room.

The bathroom has dual vanities and a step-down shower that doubles as a jetted tub.

The guest-room wing, off the dining room, contains two bedrooms, a guest bathroom and a powder room. Its long hallway features a wet bar, which contains the only boulder that was moved on the site during the home’s construction, said Cibik, of Fort McDowell Adventures. With its flat top, it makes an ideal tray stand.

Throughout the house hangs Native American artwork, including pieces done by members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Other homes on tour

The tour includes two other homes:

• The Hunt home, on the site of an old cavalry remount station. The property features old structures as well as a main house that was inspired by hacienda living. Rich woodworking, antique furnishings and architectural details abound.

• The Hoss home, an environmentally friendly home with passive solar features, gray-water recycling and other environmentally sensitive features.

 

We’re So ‘Green’ We Glow!

Now that the nation is switching to more energy efficient home lighting, there are certain things to keep in mind. EnergyStar.gov has some basic info about CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs). Here is some valuable tips to keep you safe:

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
Before Clean-up: Vent the Room
1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
3. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place
them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and
powder.
5. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in
the glass jar or plastic bag.
6. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
3. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such
as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments
and powder.
5. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area
where the bulb was broken.
6. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum
debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials
7. Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a trash container or
outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.
8. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
9. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific
area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken
lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Vent the Room During and After Vacuuming
10. For at least the next few times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning
system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
11. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least
15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

Also check out Earth911.org and use the search engine at the top of the main page to find recyclers in your area. I tried the search and also checked out the city of Phoenix website.*

* I still haven’t found a .gov, .org or .com that shouts, “Bring your individual CFLs here!”

 

Meme? Check, please!!

I thought that listing seven things about myself that you probably didn’t know would be fairly simple. And having time to ponder the deep down universal meaning of the question itself might allow for true revelation. But, it turns out it’s more like one of those ‘awkward silence’ dating questions. Thanks a lot, Travis.

1. A stuffed Kermit the Frog was my favorite toy as a small child. He now lives in Scotland.

2. My ankle was broken in a car accident when I was 12. I threw up on the floor of a Pizza Hut that night.

3. My first job was in a small 4 screen movie theatre. I was an usher – ‘ticket please’ – and ran the projectors.

4. My favorite band of all time is Jethro Tull.

5. I don’t know the ending to the Blair Witch Project. I had a big bowl of wonton soup before the movie. The constant shaky camera work did a number on my stomach. Since my ankle wasn’t broken I made it to the bathroom in time.

6. Delivering newspapers in San Diego was one of my favorite jobs. I did that for about 5 years.

7. I spent about 7 years working in IT, mostly with Microsoft products. I now own a Mac.

 

Meme Madness

Chris Butterworth, a colleague at Dan Schwartz Realty, tagged me in a “meme” string. I must admit this is the first time something like this has happened to me and in such a public forum. I am asked to list 7 things about myself that others may not know and to tag 7 other people. Since I don’t know anybody who would actually respond to me if I tagged them I will not send it on. I will, however, list the 7 things about myself that others may not know about me and ask Mark to do the same.

1. I started working a summer job when I was 8 years old for a local farmer and have worked ever since.
2. As a child I took 3 years of piano lessons. (Don’t ask me to play now.)
3. I once owned a pair of bell bottoms with bells at the bottom so big that my entire body could fit in the bell of one leg. (I could have parachuted with those things and I was so proud.)
4. In high school I had an afro that has haunted me for years. (It was huge and scary.)
5. I was raised vegetarian and have eaten very little meat in my life. (Bell Bottoms + Afro + Vegetarian = HIPPIE!)
6. While going to collage, I held down up to 3 jobs at a time, sometimes going days without sleep. (Well, going to collage parties didn’t help with the sleep either.)
7. I always wanted to learn to surf so in 2000, while between jobs, I went to San Diego and lived in the back of my truck with my surfboard for a few months. I did learn to surf. (Not very well.)

The biggest surprise for all after reading the list above is that I was NOT raised on a commune and neither my parents nor I went to Woodstock.

Don’t forget your hard-working, piano-playing, bell-bottom wearing, afro-haired, vegetarian, party animal, surfer dude real estate agent when you are in the market for your perfect Central Phoenix Real Estate.

 

Think Like a Thief

It is important to do everything you can to keep your Central Phoenix Real Estate safe. Did you know that burglars break into a home, apartment of condominium every 11 seconds? There are an estimated 1,329,950 burglaries annually nationwide 28% of which were due to unlawful entry (entry with no force; achieved through open doors and windows). 60% of residential burglaries occur during daylight hours with an average loss of $1,350. Once your home has been burglarized it is more likely to be burglarized again. What can you do to protect yourself?
Police say that getting a big dog is actually more of a deterrent than an alarm system. The dog is then more than just a burglar deterrent and will also become a part of your family. Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Doors, Windows & Lights

• Keep doors and windows securely locked at all times.
• Ensure that doors have deadbolt locks with a 1-inch throw and reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws.
• Secure windows with secure key locks or other devices.
• Lock sliding glass doors. Install two locks, place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track, or install vertical bolts.
• To secure your garage, don’t rely only on your garage door opener. Lock all doors into attached garages.
• Refrain from leaving house keys in obvious locations such as under the doormat or a flower pot.

Landscaping

• Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Low voltage outdoor lighting is inexpensive and provides peace of mind.
• Keep landscaping trimmed away from entrances and walkways.
• High fences can shield a burglar from detection. Forgo a little privacy for increased security.

Personal Property

• Use an engraving pen to engrave your driver’s license number on personal property.
• Make a home inventory list, complete with photos or video. Store this list in a secure location, away from your residence.
• Look in your windows to see if electronics and artwork are visible from outside your home. Any valuables within clear view should be moved.

While on Vacation

• Have a trusted neighbor or friend collect your ail, packages and newspapers.
• Alert trusted neighbors to the fact that you will be away from your home for a set number of days.
• Contact your local law enforcement agency and request a house watch patrol during your absence.
• While away from your residence, keep some shades and blinds up and/or curtains open to simulate normal, everyday living.

*Italic information above was provided by First American Title and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.*

Food for Thought: Does your neighborhood have a community watch program? If not, why don’t you look into starting one?

Burglary prevention is more than just keeping your Central Phoenix Real Estate safe from theft, it is keeping your family and home safe.

 

Credit Report Freeze

Credit is important when purchasing Central Phoenix Real Estate. Here is some information sent out by a loan officer, Jeannie Bolger.

Consumers in Arizona and 10 other states have joined the rest of the nation in gaining access to a powerful tool that thwarts identity theft. But like other powerful tools it should be used with caution.

Earlier this month, the 3 major credit reporting bureaus decided to let all Americans voluntarily freeze or lock access to their credit files, for a modest fee. Since credit card companies, other lenders and various businesses won’t open new accounts without checking a person’s credit report or score, a freeze essentially blocks crooks from opening accounts in someone else’s name.

The new policy announced by Equifax, Experian and Transunion, which took effect Nov. 1, extends voluntary freezes to Arizona and other states lacking such laws.

In case you want to lift the freeze temporarily – to refinance your mortgage, shop around for a new insurance policy, open a new credit account and so on – you can do so with a personal identification number supplied by each of the credit bureaus

The freezes block new account applications but doesn’t disrupt existing accounts. As good as voluntary freezes can be, they don’t make sense for everyone or in all situations.

For starters, there are costs involved. Arizonans pay $10 per credit bureau to apply for a freeze and $10 per credit bureau to permanently stop or temporary lift a freeze. Those costs can add up, especially if you regularly freeze and unfreeze your files. Fees are lower, and sometimes free, in many states. People who are ID-theft victims can freeze or unfreeze their accounts at no cost, in Arizona and elsewhere.

Applying for a freeze involves effort. All requests must be in writing and must list your name, address, SS # and other personal information, while including that $10 payment. But the 3 credit bureaus don’t require the exact same information, so it’s critical to read the instructions posted on their website:

Equifax (www.equifax.com),search for “state security freeze reports and fees”

Experian (www.experian.com/consumer/security_freeze.html#state)

TransUnion (www.transunion.com), click on “security freezes” on home page.

Above post information was provided by Jeannie Bolger (jeannie@cnnmortgage.com) 602-550-8674 Mobile, CNN Mortgage, Inc http://www.cnnmortgage.com/

Don’t forget to think of us when purchasing your Central Phoenix Real Estate.

 

Welcome to Central Phoenix

This blog was set up to discuss the local real estate market and living in Central Phoenix. Travis Schnepp, with a strong background in real estate, will chime in from time to time to relate his experiences. My name is Mark Morabito. I’m new to the real estate business and work with Travis at Dan Schwartz Realty in Arizona. I plan to do the most posting. I’ll be commenting on things like living in Central Phoenix, Helpful Hints for Buyers and Sellers, etc.

Our goal is to provide our readers with useful info in their search for Central Phoenix Real Estate. Enjoy!