The Tucson Real Estate Show

How Mortgage Backed Securities Work – with hotsauce!

Kent Simpson — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:33:03 +0000

What in the world are “Mortgage-Backed Securities?” How do they apply to the home loan process & mortgage rates?

Before fall of 2008, had anyone other than Wall Street traders even heard of Mortgage Backed Securities? If there hadn’t been a crash in the real estate market, would you even care?

Tom’s really good at explaining away the mystery behind what they are…and how they actually relate to you, me and the average person…by using the Poblano Hot Sauce factory in Tucson to illustrate it.

The Segura Family has been making this addictive blend of heat & flavor since 1924 – now featuring 4 different flavors. No matter where you are on the planet, you can enjoy some – just order some!

Outdoor Recreation In Tucson – Rillito River Park

Kent Simpson — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:14:01 +0000

Outdoor recreation and Tucson are great partners – one of the benefits of 300+ days of sunshine & mild winters. Tom Heath and I visited the Rillito River Park which…follows the Rillito River (really!?!) for miles along the base of the Catalina Foothills through Tucson.

Tucson is widely known for its great outdoor recreational opportunities, having won numerous awards from various groups & publications: League of American Bicyclists gave the Tucson/Pima County region a Gold Designation – the only metro of 1 Million+ residents to receive this high of an honor; Triathlete Magazine named Tucson the best place to live & train; Bicycle Magazine gave Tucson the #2 rating in the U.S. for bicyclists…and the list goes on.

Jaime Arrieta is a local who has combined his love for the outdoor life with his business. As proprietor of Peddler On The Path – a mobile cafe, he is a regular fixture on the Rillito River Park and outdoor events in the region. Next time you’re at the Tour de Tucson or even just strolling along the path, chances are you’ll see his van – stop on by & grab a some coffee or a powerbar. He’s a friendly guy!

Living Healthy In Tucson With “Stock The Kitchen”

Kent Simpson — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:46:42 +0000

Leslie Hollander leads a group in the Tucson area named “Stock The Kitchen.” Their focus is healthy living – educating and supporting their members in how to live a healthier life through eating properly and taking care to choose their foods wisely. Many aspects of their program emulate the teachings of the world-famous Dr. Andrew Weil (a Tucson resident himself).

Stock The Kitchen emphasizes fresh food, grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides if possible – and locally produced when practical. Seeing Leslie’s vitality, energy and calm demeanor, maybe I should learn a thing or two from her! We caught up with Leslie as she led her students on a shopping trip to the Farmers Market at St. Phillips Plaza. Visit Stock The Kitchen’s website to learn more about the group, and see a schedule of classes, outings and events: Stock The Kitchen on Meetup.com

I wonder if there’s a healthy way to have my evening cookies & ice cream? Probably not!

Rip Van Winkle Buys A Home In Tucson

Kent Simpson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:44:21 +0000

Is it the right time to buy a home in Tucson? What are market conditions like compared to how it was 5 years ago? We take a look at these questions by using the character, Rip Van Winkle, to compare the scenario – including both price of home and interest rates on mortgages.

The truth is - since prices have dropped so low, AND interest rates are at historic lows, this might be one of the best times in a looonnnnggg while to buy a home in the Tucson real estate market. Most often, either prices or interest rates will be low, but very seldom will they both be low at the same time.

This video was filmed at the site of the University of Arizona BioSciences Park, which promises to be a real boon to economic diversity in the Tucson region.

Special thanks to Barry Habib for inspiring this episode!

Spotlight On Local Business – Wilde Rose Coffee at St. Phillips Plaza Farmers Market

Kent Simpson — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:52:38 +0000

One of the missions of THE Tucson Real Estate Show is to highlight local businesses. What better place than one of the local farmer’s markets? In this episode, we visit the popular St. Phillips Plaza Farmers Market.

Here we found Ron Rose, founder of the Wilde Rose Coffee Company. He is a great conversationalist, but his coffee is fantastic! I’m a real fan of big, bold, dark roast coffee – which is Wilde Rose’s specialty – but don’t take my word for it, you’ll have to try some. If you aren’t coming to Tucson soon, you can order from the Wilde Rose Coffee website and have a little taste of Tucson until you get here.

Visiting your local farmer’s market is a great way to get to know businesses in your area, but also a good place to meet people, relax & enjoy the atmosphere – and to support your local economy. The community of a farmer’s market just plain feels right – and if you’re new to the area, folks are friendly, helpful and more than willing to welcome you to Tucson.

Finding the Farmers Market at St. Phillips Plaza is easy – it is nestled at the base of the Catalina Foothills – right at the corner of River Road & Campbell Avenue. You can’t miss it! We didn’t find Mr. An at the St. Phillips Plaza this time (maybe he was busy), but hope he’s around when we come back!

Why The Tucson Real Estate Show?

Kent Simpson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:01:01 +0000

Does the world really need another real estate show…or website?

Our short answer: YES!

Here’s what we’re going to do that is different and hopefully useful to our audience:

This show site is all about Tucson – the people, places, personalitites that make Tucson a distinctly unique place.
The information & education we are hope is valuable to you is tailored to show you how it applies to the Tucson real estate market – While there are many things that affect the real estate market on a national level, local market conditions will show different results, sometimes even from neighborhood to neighborhood. Factors that apply to Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. or other markets may have similar natures, but have different results here. All real estate is local!
Our mission is to educate the public – while showing off Tucson…and have some fun doing so.

We hope you enjoy what Tom and I are putting together – please feel free to share with others. While it would be nice if you use our services if you decide to buy or sell real estate in the Tucson area, The Tucson Real Estate Show is about being a resource for people. There’s no obligation to hire either one of us to enjoy everything we offer here.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show! Come back often, as we’ve got a lot of good stuff coming in the near future.

Thanks for visiting – Kent Simpson

Tucson Historic Trolley with Conductor Karen Rodack

Kent Simpson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:56:37 +0000

Join us as we take a ride on Tucson’s Historic Trolley – Conductor Karen Rodack explains some of the history behind the trolley system and the car itself! The Old Pueblo Trolley is run by an all-volunteer group and survives by the income from donations & fares.

Buying A Home In Tucson – The Steps In The Process

Kent Simpson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:53:22 +0000

So you want to buy a home – here is an overview of the steps along the way in buying a home in Tucson. Kent Simpson explains as we ride Tucson’s Historic Old Pueblo Trolley.

On The Right Track-What You Need To Get A Mortgage In Tucson

Kent Simpson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:50:17 +0000

Filmed in downtown Tucson at the historic train depot – Tom Heath gives a brief overview of what a mortgage broker does and what is needed to get started along the right track to getting a home loan.