By Al and Jean Batson
The Batson Team

Let us be the first to wish you a happy holiday season whether it is Christmas or Hanukkah. With the holidays approaching, don’t be surprised if showings on your home, if it is listed, slow down. People tend to be so overwhelmed with shopping, cards, family and cooking, that going out to look at homes is often postponed. If they are looking during the holidays, generally they’re serious buyers.

What’s the plan for Hayden/Loop 101/Scottsdale?
“Located at the northwest corner of Loop 101 and Hayden Road in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cavasson is being meticulously designed to welcome the world’s finest organizations – elevating businesses and lifestyles – in what will become one of the region’s premiere business districts.

The project’s mix of uses will include approximately 1.8 million square feet of market leading commercial office space, 1,600 multifamily residences, hotels, retail, restaurants, services and amenities. The initial phase of the project will include several commercial office buildings, including a multi-story office building for Nationwide Insurance, multifamily apartments, a six-story parking structure, retail and restaurants, hotels, and significant infrastructure improvements.” To read more about it, visit www.Cavasson.com. This is a very similar project to our CITY NORTH revised plan, as you’ve been reading about.

On another note, last month we discussed owning vacation rental properties. The biggest season of all for vacation rentals is January – April; some visitors start even earlier. We’re getting questions about vacation rentals now, when most are already taken. There simply aren’t nearly enough winter rentals available. Many “snowbirds” tie down their next year’s accommodations before leaving in the spring. This means that waiting until October or later to find a short-term rental may bring disappointment. If you have friends from out-of-state who would love to spend the winter here, you might suggest that they start months ahead. Some owners do not want a one-month tenant if they can tie down a tenant for two to four months, so they may postpone taking a single month lease, hoping to obtain a longer-term tenant. There are resources your friends and family can check out but be prepared for the higher price tags. Special events (such as Spring Training) are premium times and can make it difficult to find options. Hotel prices also increase dramatically during the winter season; especially during special events. Staying for the entire season gives the vacationer more bargaining power than those that want one or two months. Many short-term rentals are available via websites like www.VRBO.com, www.HomeAway.com, etc. and some locals list on our multiple listing service. Like everything else today, the internet is full of information. Just be cautious and always ask what is in the unit specifically. Is it move-in ready? Does it include everything you need – right down to hangers in the closet? Use reliable vacation rental companies or your Realtor.

If you have a question or topic suggestions, please email it me at: [email protected]