1975 E Kleindale Road

Once you discover Richland Heights, every other Central Tucson neighborhood pales in comparison.

It's truly unique: huge lots, wide streets, close to the shops and restaurants on Campbell, and only two miles north of UofA. Miles and miles of biking and walking paths start at the Rillito River, about a mile away.

Unlike most of Central Tucson, here you are not in the flight path of the air force base. Check out the big, beautiful fireplace and open-beamed ceiling. Mid-century modern architecture is alive and unadulterated in this gracious home.

Living room, dining area, master suite and breakfast/family room all have sliding doors leading to the covered porch hugging the entire length of the house. You'll be delighted by the views of the snow on the Catalina Mountains in the winter and the dramatic lightning storms in the summer.

Four bedrooms, plus a den next the foyer--a great office or guest room. Kitchen counter and one of the three bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

The 0.41 acre lot is rare in Central Tucson. So are the garage, workshop and abundant storage space inside and out. The interactive floor plan is here. Sold for $250,000 on June 28, 2013 to the perfect buyers. They love everything about the mid-twentieth century, and they appreciated the original character and fabulosity of this home. They don't plan to change a thing, which I think is keen.

New Uses for Old Pools

When I bought my home at the Desert's Edge, it had a repulsive pool. The water was blackish green, and I had to pull dead rodents and lizards out of it. It was surrounded by a hideous pool fence, and the pool equipment had caused some land subsidence. I got rid of it before I even started renovating the inside of the house.

I like the idea of converting a pool to a koi pond, but creating a cistern for landscape irrigation water is an even better idea.

Another Boost for Our Housing Market

Once again, Tucson is on a list of the best housing markets in the country. Fiserv Case-Shiller says Tucson is among the top 15 U.S. cities for projected increase in home values in the next five years. They are predicting 7.9% annualized home value appreciation for Tucson from 2012 to 2017. The projected national average home price increase is 3.3% over the next five years.

If you exclude the cities with horrible climates, or insane home prices, we're number one, I'd say.

Only Santa Fe has a lower unemployment rate than ours, which is 7.5%. National average is 8.1%.

Johanna Skibsrud

My fabulous client Johanna Skibsrud will be at Antigone Books, 411 N 4th Avenue, promoting her second book on Friday, March 29 at 7:00 PM. The reading will be followed by refreshments and a question and answer session. This is from the flyer promoting the event:

Join us for a literary short story collection double header with Johanna Skibsrud, author of This Will Be Difficult to Explain (Norton, $14.95) and Jamie Quatro, author of I Want to Show You More (Grove, $24.00). Skibsrud’s collection of masterful stories introduces a cast of characters experiencing life-defining moments that weave throughout their everyday lives. Time and again they find themselves confronted with what they didn’t know they didn’t know, at that point of intersection between impossibility and desire. Her first novel, The Sentimentalists, won the Scotiabank Giller prize, Canada’s most prestigious literary award.

John Melillo

Just as cool as his wife Johanna Skibsrud (see post above), my fabulous client John Melillo is creating a buzz as singer/guitar player of Algae & Tentacles. Is that a marvelous name or what? Check out this review in the Tucson Weekly

3141 E 28th Street

This colorful home is a visual delight. Cozy and sweet.

 Large family room is currently used as a third bedroom. Mature desert landscaping and an orange tree. The back yard is enclosed by a fence and block wall for privacy.

Two room shed with electricity and a workshop. Laundry room off the carport.

Evaporative cooler is about three years old per owner. The inviting front porch welcomes you home.

Only three miles to UofA and downtown on the Golf Links Parkway bike route.

Just six blocks to Reid Park, where you can enjoy concerts, theater, festivals, dog park, golf, baseball, zoo and recreation center with pool. Our City parks are nationally recognized for excellence. This is the affordable urban life style everyone's talking about. Get your place in the sun now. Sold May 14, 2013 for the incredibly low price of $77,000.

Rainbow

I love it when it rains while the sun shines brightly. This was actually a double rainbow, but it faded before I could capture it. There are plenty more where that come from during this lovely winter rainy season