My family and I went last year to the Salsa Challenge and just loved it!  Coming from the Southwest, you cannot help but fall in love with the different variety of salsas there are to try.This event takes place...Saturday, April 26, 2008Tempe Beach Park11am - 6pmThe best part of the event is to taste more than 80 different salsas prepared by valley chefs and then you vote for your favorite.  And for all you parents, our favorite is the KidZone.  A must when you have kids, it makes it a true family event.All funds raised will benefit the Hemophilia Association   for more information visit  http://www.salsachallenge.com/ When looking to buy or sell, or know of anyone that is, please    Let Our Family Help Yours   or would like to read more blog article visit      The Lange's online.C. Lange 04/23/2008

I am loving this time of year! The Diamondback's are off to a good start, the Sun's are beginning their playoff games and we get an early look at the Devil's this weekend! If you are an ASU football fan, come check out the annual "Spring Game" beginning at approximately 12:30.  (Gates open at 11:30) This is also an opportunity for fans to select their seats for the upcoming season. You are a Sun Devil fan, right?Last year was pretty exciting under their new head coach, Dennis Erickson. It will be interesting to see where the team can go now that they have a full recruiting year under their belts. ASU has some exciting players returning from last year's impressive team. They should be fun to watch!I'm Nick Bastian. I sell real estate in Tempe and the east valley. If you have any question... 04/17/2008

In their latest edition, Business Week looked at the real estate market underneath a different microscope. In their Report "Smart Buys in College Towns". They looked at the real estate market as a whole and then the markets in towns that are home to major univesities. What they discovered is a phenomena that is not lost on many real estate agents: Properties located near major universities hold value better than those of neighboring cities.  Tempe is no different. Though prices are down in other valley cities to a greater degree, homes in close proximity to ASU are selling faster and at higher prices than those further away. The casual reader may come away from reading this article with a misguided impression. It's important to note that  an entire city's results may not reflect the "c... 04/12/2008

In 1994 an undersized linebacker from San Jose secured the last football Scholarship to Arizona State University. Coach Bruce Snyder sat down with him, and other freshmen, to go over the concept of red-shirting. That's where a person is able to work-out with the team, learn the ropes and grow into a football player without using a year of eligibility. Pat told Coach Snyder that he could do what he wanted... red-shirt him or not, but he'd be graduated in four years and off to do more important things with his life. Pat graduated in 3.5 years with a 3.84 grade point average. He also left ASU as the PAC-10 defensive player of the year. Picked 226th in the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Pat set out to do what he always did... excel. He not only made the team, he started ten games in hi... 04/12/2008

Contact Todd Ford with Quinn Cornerstone Realty at 480-242-2224 for more information. Owner wants it sold. Newer Tempe home that is 3 years young. Great location in South Tempe. Cul de sac lot with new pool. Security system in place with ceiling fans throughout. A great entertaining home with a greatroom layout and separate master retreat with large walkin closet. Gorgeous gourmet kitchen w/huge island, 2 ovens, and stainless steel appliances. *Owner will sell partial or fully furnished on a separate bill of sale. Want a dynamic real estate video tour for your listing? Contact Show Appeal at 480-306-6620. 04/10/2008

In the constantly changing downtown Tempe Town Lake development scene, what was previously coined Pier 202, has now been changed to "South bank" at Tempe Town Lake.  The developer's web site has not yet been finalized, but you can see a simple rendering of the development here:www.southbanktempe.com/ This development is located on the south shore of Tempe Town Lake just East of the Rural Road bridge.  Just another exciting development planned for the downtown Tempe and Tempe Town Lake area!Also, visit our sister website for more information or to contact us on other Tempe Town Lake developments:www.townlakecondos.com/    04/09/2008

There are many factors that will go help in the decision when you purchase your next home. Of course, location plays a major factor in most sound real estate purchases. To help find out how "walkable" a neighborhood is, you can check out this nifty web site that will give your neighborhood a "score" based on the amenities near by.My neighborhood in South Tempe scores a "decent" 66. At 70, a neighborhood is considered "very walkable" according to the guys at WalkScore.com Here is their break down..90 - 100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car. 70 - 90 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car. 50 - 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday ... 04/08/2008

Soon", as in, the next month, or so, we will begin to see light rail cars being tested in Tempe. So far, the only testing of the cars has been at the METRO operations and Maintenance facility and along Washington street in Phoenix. The next phase of testing should be a little more interesting because of the dynamics of more traffic and pedestrians in the area. The following information was sent from the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. I have also talked to some friends at METRO but have not yet been given a firm date on the Tempe tests. Phoenix testing took place as recently as last week.METRO LIGHT RAIL TESTING TO BEGINMETRO will soon begin testing light rail vehicles in Tempe. This spring you will begin to see vehicles on the Tempe Town Lake bridge and on the tracks near Third St. in the M... 04/06/2008

World class athletes will be converging on Tempe, Arizona in the following week to participate in the third annual Ford Ironman Arizona competition. What makes this venue unique can be described in two words: proximity and climate. All the necessary elements are found in close proximity. The transition area, lake and three loop bike and run course are all centered around Tempe Town Lake. The race organizers proclaim, "race day viewing is nothing short of spectacular." Climate conditions are ideal. Arizona's April weather is summer-like. The water will be cool (around 64 degrees) which is perfect Ironman swimming temperature. The cool water creates a cooling effect on the nearby pathways. The more distant aspects of the bike race will run from Tempe toward the Salt River Pima-Maricopa I... 04/04/2008

NEW!Homes In Tempe with ZERO DOWN... Click HereIf you would like more specific information about any properties in this market review, or if you would like a subdivision added to my review - please email me at sold@azhomestore.com or call me at 480-899-2884 You can also search the MLS free at http://www.azhomestore.com/                                                            Comparative Market Analysis  Knoell Gardens    Property Type:   Residential       Status:   Active SubjectProperty        #ML#StatusAddressBuiltFe CodeSqFtList PriceLP/ SFADOMCDOM1 2958987 act 2119 W RIVIERA DR Tempe 1975 32FR2+C 980 $165,000 $168 10 10 2 2923596 act 2300 W Vineyard RD Tempe 1974 32FRP1C 1358 $199,999 $147 66 267 3 2877642 act 2516 W MINTON DR Tempe 1974 53FRXSO1C 2231 $279,000 $125 150 150 4 285... 04/03/2008

The East Valley Tribune reported on Thursday that the Marriott Hotel will anchor the new "M7" Tempe development located at the South East corner of 7th Street & Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe.  The big news is, when complete, the conference center will become the largest in Tempe!  The 52,000 square foot conference center, which would have the ability to manage very large groups, will complement the 1.2 million square foot development which will include the Marriott Hotel and two condominium towers that will be built at a later date.  Stay tuned for more information on the forthcoming M7 Condominium development!Would you like to live or work in Downtown Tempe?  Call an Urban Real Estate Broker who actually lives & works in Downtown Tempe! Feel free to contact us at our live/work loft in ... 03/28/2008

Here is a copy of the new commercial we shot a couple of weeks ago at the Fox 10 News studios. Most will run as a 15 second commercial during news casts, sit-coms, sporting events etc. Some will be 30 second commercials with another "featured" agent. So, "Just You Watch" to see your friend, Nick on tv this year! So far, these guys have been a lot of fun to work with. Also, please take a look at the new page of mine on www.myfoxphoenix.com. My direct link on their site can be found by clicking here.. You know what they say.. The camera adds 10 pounds and I really do wish they wouldn't have used so many cameras! :-)We are looking forward to promoting real estate in a positive light over the next twelve months. Having the media do some "positive press" might help get a few people off of th... 03/26/2008

It's time again for the annual Tempe Festival of the Arts that takes place this year March 28-30, 2008 in the Mill Avenue District of Tempe Arizona. This festival is ranked in the Top 20 of art festivals in the nation by many resources. The event showcases painting and sculpture, photography, ceramics, woodwork, metalwork and more. There is also food and wines to be enjoyed. A partnership has evolved between the Arizona Wine Growers Association and the festival. If you are in the area be sure to check it out. 03/25/2008

During our last high rise and loft condo tour of Tempe Town Lake and Mill Avenue, several tour attendees asked about the status of the DMB redevelopment of Centerpoint on Mill, the retail, office, restaurant and movie cinema mall on the northwest corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive.DMB, developers of DC Ranch, Verrado, One Scottsdale and other wonderful communities owns Centerpoint on Mill.  The original intention was to immediatley begin a massive redevelopment that would include replacing the existing office building with a taller one, tearing down the single story shops facing Mill in order to build multi-story story buildings with shops on the ground floor and residential condominiums above, more shops in front of what was Harkins movie theater, and a 20 story hotel to be bui... 03/25/2008

I recently toured the Merrion Square mixed use project in Tempe and was impressed with the overall layout of this small project in a great Tempe location. On the ground level, you find four commercial units with eight residential units directly above. Although there is currently no covered parking, I was told the spaces will be covered very soon. The units have many nice features including high ceilings, nice finish work, travertine baths, granite kitchens and a good use of space. The original builder wasn't able to complete the project that was supposed to be sold in 2006 and a new developer has come in to finish the units and begin sales. Pricing appears to be good for the area and currently begins at $269,000 for the 945 square foot units and goes to $379,000 for the 1345 plan. On th... 03/21/2008

Bridgeview is an amazing lakeside community in Tempe. I have visited this community on several occasions and recently took a short video while touring one of the models. Not exactly a "professional grade" video but I wanted to try and give you a feeling of how gorgeous these units are. The video was a spur of the moment shot taken with my new toy, the Flip camera. :-)  This particular model is a West facing property on the 4th floor of Bridgeview featuring 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and approximately 1718 square feet. The views of the lake, grounds and mountains are amazing. Take a look at the kitchen, I loved it! The pricing is currently set at $1,225,000.00 for this unit. Wait till you see the Penthouse suites that we discuss in a future post.. Unbelievable!For the ultimate in luxury lakesid... 03/18/2008

March 12, 2008Leeann SkodaThe Arizona RepublicTempe has been named the "Best Walking City" in Arizona, and among the top 100 in the nation.Health publication Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association surveyed major cities across the U.S. to find the "Best Walking Cities." Tempe was ranked 66 among the Top 100 Walking Cities in the country; Yuma and Glendale also earned a spot on that list.Cities were judged based on criteria that included crime rates, pollution, number of parks and the number of people who walk to work and for exercise.Among the cities surveyed, Tempe boasted the most people who walk to work, the most mass transit users and the most parks per square mile.Tempe scores above the national average for use of alternative transportation: walking, bicy... 03/13/2008

Today - since it was going to be around 80 degrees, my husband and I went along with some friends to play golf. Now, just to make sure you all understand, I am what is affectionally referred to as a "duffer."  That means a beginner and not good. We had attended a Boy Scout Charity/Auction where we bid on and won four tickets to play at ASU KARSTEN.  We did good! We had heard it was a challenging course with lots of hills and sand traps, slopes and narrow fairways. My husband, who has been playing for many, many years told me when we returned home, that it was the most challenging golf course he's ever played on - NOW he tells me. ;-) I LOVED it!!! I wasn't good, but it was so much fun. It was a five-hour golf game with lots of walking over little knolls and hills and chipping out of san... 03/10/2008

Our latest WeKnowUrban High Rise and Loft Condo Tour was held just this past Saturday.  It was a huge success with 50 attendees.  As the entire country (and quite possibly the world) has heard, real estate, particularly the sale of high rise and loft condominiums, is a touch slow.  So, for a high rise and loft condo tour to generate 50 urban living fans in our opinion is pretty awesome.  It sure seems that people are interested in all the construction going on in Tempe and urban properties.The tour covered the Tempe Town Lake and Mill Avenue Districts including North Shore, Bridgeview at Hayden Ferry, and Centerpointe High Rise.  We also discussed Onyx High Rise, Pier 202, Marina Heights, Hayden Flour Mill, 100 Mill, Mosaic, Lumina High Rise and Farmers Art District all of which are cur... 03/09/2008

A premiere vintage car road rally takes place in Tempe Arizona on April 6-9, 2008. This event is a unique fund-raiser for the Phoenix Art Museum. Thousands of vintage car buffs come to the event from all over America. The event takes place at the Tempe Diablo Stadium at 2200 W Alameda Drive in Tempe Arizona. For more information about this interesting event visit their website. 03/09/2008