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Homes Sales March 2007

Kelly Carr
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 6, 2007 12:00 AM

When Tom Hennessy tries to explain his Douglas Ranch project, he has to divide it into sections.

That’s because it is difficult to wrap people’s minds around the massive Buckeye development. Hennessy calls it Arizona’s largest master-planned community, larger than Tempe, and predicts it will take 25 to 50 years to complete.

Now, the community could get larger.

Planners of Douglas Ranch are working with town officials to increase residential units and commercial space. Douglas Ranch, 25 miles northeast of downtown Buckeye, west of the White Tank Mountains, was originally approved for about 83,000 homes and 25 million square feet of commercial, office and industrial space.

Now the developers are aiming for about 100,000 homes and 50 million square feet of commercial, office and industrial space. They plan to bring the proposed increases before the Town Council for approval in late April.

The change would bring Douglas Ranch’s projected residential count to 250,000 to 300,000 residents, and could generate about 160,000 jobs.

“We are trying to create a job-based community with about 1.6 jobs per households,” said Hennessy, general manager of Douglas Ranch. “That’s the main driver of why we are increasing. We want to make sure we have enough office, commercial and industrial space to make a vibrant community. Usually residential comes first, but we are going to make a strong effort to capture businesses at a community and national level.”

Building isn’t scheduled to begin until 2009, so developers are still in the design and planning stages.

El Dorado Holdings and JDMD Investments are the principal owners of Douglas Ranch.

Hennessy, who works for El Dorado, plans to team with local universities and other community experts to troubleshoot ideas for the project. He hopes their expertise can help developers find the best sustainability methods.

Douglas Ranch developers plan to make room for a university within the project, which could be a first for the town. The community also is scheduled to have about 12 high schools and 25 elementary schools.

“Everyone realizes there is real opportunity here,” Hennessy said. “We have a unique circumstance. We have a Valley that’s growing. They say we will double in population. We have to look at how we can do it better with an eye toward the future.”

When you choose a real estate agent, you’re selecting someone to represent you in one of the largest financial transactions most people ever undertake.

As the Internet continues to simplify the way people research buying and selling homes, there are many good reasons to choose an agent who can harness the power of technology to provide you with exceptional service, including:

* Providing you with an online home evaluation to stay on top of current market value.
* Email you new home listings as soon as desirable properties hit the market.
* Deliver e-newsletters to keep you informed about market trends and other valuable information.
* Showcase your home on the Web to help you sell it for top dollar.
* Sending up-to-date information by email for you to review at your convenience.

Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling or simply want to stay informed about the real estate market, using new technology helps us consistently provide you with timely information and outstanding service.

With hectic schedules it’s easy to overlook fire safety and other home maintenance activities. But it’s important for your family and that precautions are in place and working.

Replace the old batteries in your home’s smoke alarms with new ones. While you’re at it, you should dust each alarm and test it to make sure it functions properly. Make sure you have installed enough smoke alarms for the size of your home – at least one per story, especially near bedrooms.

It’s also a good idea to check your fire extinguishers at this time. Many models are only useful for a certain number of years before they must be serviced or replaced. Check your model to determine the time period. Each home should have at least one extinguisher in the kitchen, and the garage is an appropriate place to keep one as well.

Finally, take a few minutes to scan your home’s power outlets. Overloaded circuits cause many home fires. Replace any cord or plug that has cracks or visible damage.

These easy maintenance tasks can improve your home’s safety and your peace of mind.

Homeowners Tip:

Remember to always store matches and lighters in a safe place out of reach of children.

Make sure your family has a home evacuation plan in case of emergency.

Didn’t get around to taking advantage of the Home Improvements Tax Credits in 2006?

You still have time as they extend through December 31, 2007. Tax credits are available for certain improvements that relate to energy efficiency. For example, replacement windows and doors qualify for tax credits up to $500.

Check with your accountant or tax preparer for the information and forms to take advantage of this credit.

I hope you will find valuable information on this site. I will update it regularily with homeowner tips.

Whether you are thinking of selling or buying, the information should be helpful.

I look forward to hearing from you as well.