March launched the home-buying season with post-recession records for increasing home sales and prices and decreasing inventory, according to this month’s RE/MAX National Housing Report that surveys fifty-three metro areas. Last month, home sales were 6.6 percent higher than the nine-year-old report’s previous March record, set in 2016. Thirty-eight of the fifty-three metro areas in the report showed year-over-year increases.

Meanwhile, Months Supply of Inventory dropped below three months for the first time in the history of the report, indicating a market that greatly favors sellers, as six months is considered a balanced market. Active inventory continued to decline, dropping 17 percent year-over-year. As a result, the Median Sales Price of $225,000—also a March record—was up eleven percent year-over-year. This was the twelth consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.

“We expect a seasonal uptick in sales this time of year and March certainly met and somewhat exceeded that expectation,” said Dave Liniger, RE/MAX CEO, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder.“We don’t anticipate the tightening inventory to ease up in most markets until new home construction can catch up to its pre-recession pace. Until then, sellers will enjoy a fast-paced market and buyers will need to work with their agents to get in the right home.”

Want to know more about the current real estate market? Click here to download your copy of the April 2017 RE/MAX National Housing Report. If you are looking to sell your Arizona home or are ready to buy a home in a luxury Arizona retirement community, please contact Sharon Mason today.

The time has come again to put all your eggs in one basket! The Recreation Centers ofSun City West is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 15th at Beardsley Parklocated at12755 Beardsley Road Sun City West, AZ from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.

A full schedule of activities is planned for the day including a train providing free rides for the kids and a face painter to decorate little faces. The Easter Bunny will be hopping in and bringing fun, games and lots of eggs to Beardsley Park starting at 9:00 a.m. The children will be grouped by age. After all the children are finished collecting their eggs the Easter Bunny will arrive for pictures. Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Crafts, and plus so much more. The park will be also be selling donuts, coffee, and drinks. Don’t forget to bring your cameras to take pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Tickets will be available for Sun City West residents and their invited guests at the RH Johnson box office, and guests will also need to register their children ages one to ten for the Easter egg hunt. A fun day is guaranteed for one and all, so do not miss out on this fun free family event. For more information about the Sun City West Beardsley Park Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Huntclick here.

If you’re looking for more fun local events in Sun City, or if you’re an active adult seeking an Arizona retirement community to call home, please contact me today. – Sharon

It’s always exciting when there’s new growth to the beautiful Sun City area and this summer, Sun City and Youngtown residents can expect to see construction on a new fire station for the Sun City Fire and Medical Department.

The new fire station at 111th and Michigan avenues in Youngtown are slated to begin in July according to Sun City Fire Chief, Mike Thompson. The station will be sited on the lot so the bay doors will face 111th Avenue, and outgoing traffic will empty onto 111th Avenue. The advantage to this approach is there should be no traffic backup caused from cars waiting for the light at Grand and 111th avenues. The building will be a two-story, 16,000-square-foot structure with a minimum of three drive-through bays and housing to support two fire companies, about a dozen personnel, and one ambulance. The station will include independent facilities for both men and women.

In the meantime, Sun City Fire officials are busy getting the players in place for the project. Despite the lack of construction activity, the new station is taking shape. The new station is expected to be complete and ready to occupy by July 2018, according to Ron Deadman, Sun City assistant fire chief. Town officials also hope to secure $250,000 in grants to install street lights. Concurrent with construction plans, district officials are proceeding with other capital improvements funded by the bond, including refurbishing two engines and purchasing a new ambulance.

The district is averaging 14,000 calls per year, but only has the capacity to answer 11,000 of those calls so the new fire station and medical center in Sun City will help better address the needs of the residents. If you’d like to stay up to date on local news in Sun City or if you’re looking for the Arizona retirement home of your dreams, please contact Sharon Mason Today.

If you are considering a retirement home in the beautiful adult community of Westbrook Village, located in Peoria, Arizona there are a few things you should know about the homeowner’s association fees and age requirements. Many people are not clear on what the costs are when buying or selling a home located in Westbrook Village, and it is important to keep track of changes that impact the costs. Below are the current HOA fees for retirees who purchase or sell a home in Westbrook Village:

Resale Disclosure Fee: $350.00
Preservation Fee (New Owners/Members ONE-TIME fee): $1,852.00
Recreation Fee Per Household: $601.50
CC&R Documentation Rush: $50.00
Rush Fee (72 hours or less): $100.00

Westbrook Village is an active adult retirement golf community located in north Peoria, Arizona. Retirees who are at least forty years old are eligible to live in Westbrook Village, and they can enjoy an abundance of active retirement activates. Attend live musical performances, swimming laps in the spectacular designed pools, getting pampered at the resort-style spas, play a friendly game of tennis or take in a round of golf on one of the two 18-hole courses that are perfect for all levels of golf experience.

If you have any questions regarding the HOA fees stated above, you can visit Westbrook Village website at: http://www.westbrookvillage.org/ or call at 623-561-0099. If you or someone you know is considering a retirement home located in Westbrook Village, please give me a call today. I can help you find the perfect retirement home where you can enjoy your golden years!

Spring has sprung at the Village at Arrowhead Shopping Center, 20050 N. 67th Ave. in Glendale, with music, raffles, wine tastings and an Easter event. The Village at Arrowhead offers specialty shops with distinctive fashion, home furnishings, restaurants and personal services.

Music at the Village, a free outdoor event, will be from 6-8 p.m. Fridays from March 17th through April 7th. The music kicked off with the 360 Sound Machine on St. Patrick’s Day, followed by The 8-Tracks on March 24th and March 31st. The spring concert series will wrap up with the Classic Example Band on April 7th.

Seating is limited and attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring a yard chair. Also, during the duration of the concert series, AJ’s will conduct free wine tasting inside the store from 3-6 p.m. There will also be an Easter party from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8th. Children can get their picture taken with the Easter bunny, decorate Easter eggs and create a festive Easter hat. There will also be an Easter raffle to benefit Juvenile Arthritis.

“There will be bunny hopping, shopping, and music-popping fun this spring at the Village at Arrowhead Shopping Center,” said Mary Walker, president of Power Promotions and event coordinator for The Village at Arrowhead. “We have our Music at the Village with free concerts, and a great Easter Party. Be sure to mark your calendar and join in on the fun.”

For more local valley events for active adults or if you’d like to know what’s happening in your Arizona retirement community, please contact Sharon Mason today.

Ready to get a jump on your spring cleaning? No matter how and when you decide to pull out the vacuum cleaner, it’s important for Arizona retirees and older adults to be safe in their space. Here are 3 safe spring cleaning tips for seniors.

1.) Toss expired prescriptions: Holding on to expired prescription drugs can be detrimental to your health. Make sure to avoid potentially dangerous health hazards by safely disposing of expired medication. Be sure to store medications in a cool, dark, dry place like an airtight plastic container.

2.) Remove fall hazards: One-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reduce the risk of falling injuries by removing unnecessary and obstructive items from your regular walking path and place them in storage or donate them to loved ones who might have a need for them. Make maintaining a clear walkway in every room of your home a top priority this spring.

2.) Add and replace lighting: Because fall prevention is an essential need for seniors and Arizona retirees, it’s important to make sure your home is well lit as insufficient lighting can contribute to slips and trips. It’s especially difficult for active adults who may experience trouble with their vision. Be sure to check all light features throughout the house and replace any missing or burned out bulbs.

If the idea of spring cleaning your home seems like an overwhelming task, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call friends or family members to help and turn a possible spring cleaning chore into a party. Implement these 3 safe spring cleaning tips for seniors while you clean and enjoy reveling in spring cleaning bliss. Happy cleaning! – Sharon

By 2030, one in every five Americans will be over age 65 according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). As we age, we all need housing that is safe and accommodates aging. Here are 7 essential home safety tips for seniors that will help assure years of enjoyment in your home.

1.) Make sure your shower has a non-slip floor, non-slip strips or a suction-attached non-slip mat.

2.) Beware of throw rugs, including bathroom mats as they can pose a falling hazard for older adults.

3.) Look into installing a walk-in or no-threshold shower, and add a bath seat or bench plus an adjustable hand-held showerhead.

4) Put night lights in dark spots that might affect visibility such as bathrooms, hallways and the kitchen.

5.) Make sure there is a light source within easy reach of the bed.

6.) Have safe seating in your home. A chair with arms provides something to grip while standing up or sitting down. Avoid chairs or sofas that are too soft or too low as they can make it difficult to stand up and maintain balance.

7.) Remove tripping hazards such as lose electrical cords that may be in the path of furniture or high traffic areas in your home.

These 7 essential home safety tips for seniors are just a few of many ways to help ensure wellbeing as you enjoy retirement and healthy aging. If you’d like more home safety tips for seniors or if you’re looking for an Arizona retirement community to enjoy retirement, please contact Sharon Mason today!

Tax time is here and if you are a semi-retired older adult or an Arizona retiree, it’s important to understand and take advantage of the deductions available to reduce your income taxes each year. Current research indicates that individuals are likely to make errors when preparing their tax returns. Here are the top 3 tax write offs for retirees you don’t want to forget.

1.) Retirement plan contributions: Older adults and Arizona retirees over fifty have higher contribution limits for traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k)s. Even though you pay taxes on the income you contribute now, the withdrawals upon retirement are tax-free with no tax needed to be paid on all the interest or other income earned by your Roth IRA investments.

2.) Charitable contributions: Giving back never looked so good! Charitable contributions are deductible as itemized with cash contributions of up to fifty percent of your adjusted gross income being deductible each year as an itemized deduction. If you donate property other than cash to a qualified organization, you may generally deduct the fair market value of the property. If you donate a car your deduction generally is limited to the gross proceeds from its sale by the charitable organization.

3.) Selling your house:Arizona retirees and semi-retired older adults will often sell their homes to downsize into smaller homes or Arizona retirement communities. If you've lived in your home for a long time, you probably have substantial equity and will earn a large profit on the sale. As long as you live in your home for at least two out of the five years before you sell your house, the profit you make on the sale is not taxable.

For more tips on tax write offs for retirees visit irs.gov. If you’re ready to sell your home, buy a new home, or relocate to a luxury Arizona retirement community, please contact me today! I can help you find the perfect home where you can enjoy your golden years!

Did you know? Just two out of every five U.S. households report good or excellent progress in meeting their savings needs according to the 2016 annual America Saves Week survey. Since 2007, Social Security has collaborated with America Saves Week to promote their shared mission of helping millions of people save for their future. This year, America Saves Week begins on February 27^th. The week is an annual opportunity for organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for individuals to assess their own saving status.

The 2016 annual America Saves Week survey assessing national household savings revealed:

• About half (52 percent) are saving enough for a retirement with a desirable standard of living.
• Only 43 percent have automatic savings outside of work.
• More men (74 percent) report progress with saving than do women (67 percent).

It’s never too early or too late to start planning for your financial future. In fact, savers with a plan are twice as likely to save successfully. If you want to start saving more for America Saves Week visit www.americasaves.org and either start or continue building a secure financial future for retirement. For more tips on saving for retirement or to located a retirement community in Arizona, please contact Sharon Mason today.

You may have heard that Prasada Lake Village is undergoing significant revisions this year. The 1,600-acre plan stretches west from there to the White Tanks, widening west of Citrus Road from Waddell Road south to Peoria Avenue.

The plan to update the Prasada area was approved in June 2007 and was envisioned as a single-family development with blended neighborhoods and four themed parks built mostly or entirely by Fulton Homes. A proposed minor amendment submitted in September reveals that Fulton Homes dropped out, multiple developers want in, blended neighborhoods and themed parks would be impractical and a smaller age-restricted community could take up part of the area.

“Normally I don’t bring you minor amendments but this is a significant minor amendment that doesn’t meet major amendment requirements,” Community Development Director Eric Fitzer said. While the changes sound significant on paper, this is a minor amendment per the development agreement since it does not increase the density or intensity of the plan. Paul Gilbert, co-founder of Phoenix-based Beus Gilbert PLLC and representative for the applicant, said the proposed changes would not increase the total density by one unit.

In order to make the changes from the originally envisioned development, the land owner first needs approval to bring in multiple developers. The blended neighborhood concept would have required a mix of duplexes and single-family residential on a single street.

Mr. Fitzer said proposed amendments also would open the possibility of a smaller active adult community in part of the development, similar to Trilogy at Vistancia. If added, the senior community would likely include a golf course to meet its open space requirements. “There is a possibility that a portion of the 1,600 acre Prasada Lake Village could be age qualified,” Fitzer stated in an email

If you’d like to stay up to date on local news in your Arizona retirement communities or if you’re looking for the Arizona retirement home of your dreams, please contact Sharon Mason Today.