DJ,

Fulton Ranch is a beautiful community with community lakes and walking trails throughout - developed by Fulton Homes. Mr. Fulton, the owner of Fulton homes designed and built this community - and he even built his own home there! If you drive by one of the many entrances with impressive waterfalls and palm trees, many times you'll notice professional photographers taking pictures there. Fulton Homes has a long estabilished reputation of building quality homes. In addition, Fulton Elementary school opened 2 years ago as a K-6 Elementary school - right across from one of the lakes. The development as a mix of homes, from custom lots and home in the center (Island), to Single Family Developments as well as townhome style resort community.

On the downside, the community was started during the "peak" of the housing bubble ... so you'll see many homes are pricey. From new stories, you'll see that one arm of the Fulton Home Development has filed for bankruptcy - my understanding is this is the land ownership part, and the home building part is still operational.

There is another Fulton community within a couple miles of Fulton Ranch called Geneva Estates also in Chandler ... it is also by Fulton Homes with homes priced in the mid $300s - $400s. Their sales office has been very busy with many homes selling recently.

There is also a new community called Portella within a few miles - home prices there start in teh $180s and the office has sold over 40 homes within the first month of opening.

I'd be happy to talk more to you about what you view as potential and answer any questions you have. There are many considerations for a new home community - price, community features, size of home, lot size, location, additional costs for landscaping, window coverings, ... There are rewards (e.g. home warranties) and risk (e.g. if developer doesn't finish community) to consider as well. If you are seriously considering a new home, you should consider having a buyer's agent working for you. It doesn't cost you extra and while many builders are helpful and a good source of information, it is good to have an agent looking out for your best interests as well! Feel free to contact me by clicking on my name in blue and selecting the contact button if you wish.

Hope this has been helpful!

DJ,

There are many great prices in the valley! If you are going to purchase I would suggest purchasing now before the great bargains are gone. Many builders are offering great insentives at much less than 3 years ago.

If you would like some guidance with your purchase feel free to contact me. I can walk you through a plan!

If you need a lender please view my site! I have an awesome one reccomended by my buyers!

Lucinda Tkach
Windermere
602-799-6846
lucindat@windermere.com

Hello DJ,

This might seem a bit trite, but lets take a look at history and some of our glorious newspapers and magazines that have espoused on the doom and gloom of real estate.

Time Magazine 1947 "The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is resonable expec-tancy that prices will decline"
Science Digest 1948 "Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today's average price is out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers" (Avg price of home was $8,000 at the time.
Business Week 1969 "The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more americans" (Avg home price at the time was $28,000)
Money Magazine 1981 "The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close".
Miami Herald 1985 "If you are looking to buy, be careful. Rising home values are not a sure thing anymore"
Money Magazine 1986 "Most economists agree...a home will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it was...."
Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine 1993 "Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment."
San Francisco Examiner 1996 "A home is where a bad investment is."

So, if your time horizon on owning a home is measured in months you should probably wait. If you plan to own a home for many years I would highly recommend that you consider making that leap into the market sooner than later.