Vikas Pawa

Hi Mark, I think an important question to consider is what you are planning on doing with this second property. I assume that it won't be as a primary residence since you recently purchased a home. This will affect your financing options and is something to consider. Also, if you were renting, will your rent cover a good part of your mortgage? I also would say that if you were thinking of "flipping" the home, consider why someone else didn't buy it at a higher price before you did. It is possible to do it but extremely, extremely difficult in this market.
Would you like a comparison market report for the house and the surrounding neighborhood? It sounds like you were given some of this information but you don't sound confident or convinced that it is accurate? And while we all appreciate the service that Trulia and Zillow provides, their valuations really have to be re-evaluated by a licensed professional working in the area. A market report usually takes me about a 1/2 hour to run and it's essentially a second opinion. I'm happy to do it for you and at worse, it will give you some extra information about what to do next.

-Vikas - Sun Jun 22 2008, 20:41

I think that might be possible, probably Civano, which has both attached and detached living quarters. The other possibility is central Tucson which has a lot of homes with seperate guest houses. However, the schools in the SE (Vail) where Civano is located are some of the best rated (if not the best rated) in Southern Arizona, better than in town. AND, it'll probably be much more difficult to find something in good condition in central Tucson in the price range. Civano is actually a nationally rated development because of their green and low impact construction (they all have solar water heaters and offer other options as well) and a master plan that encourages community interaction. I think it might be a good place to start and they have both resale and new homes there. Let me know if you'd like more info on it,

-Vikas
(520)204-2008
vikaspawa@hotmail.com

PS there's a link to the Civano neighborhood website below - Thu May 15 2008, 21:56

It's hard to tell. They are widening the I-10 exit, there are more and more amenities being put in further and further along Valencia AND you are absolutely right, your dollar goes much further. Part of this affordability has to do with the number of bank owned/short sale properties that have come up in the area recently, driving down the prices. The home builders (lennar, kb e.t.c.) have also reduced their prices significantly because they weren't selling homes. Demand is soft and the commute is really the issue for most people. In a down market, it's usually the outer areas that get hit the hardest and the earliest. (You should consider what you might spend on gas as part of your expense.) Lately, I've found that the good deals are starting to go fast which tells me that there are more and more folks attracted to the area. I had a client and we ended up being one of a number of offers on the same property. It ended up selling for above asking so it's important to be quick and have a good agent with experience with these properties.
I don't think any agent will be able to tell you if it's the next booming area (what about the SE and Vail? They've got a lot of positives going for it and Sahuarita is picking up a little as well . . .) I would advise you not to buy real estate right now on the assumption that the prices are going to go up in the near future. Different "experts" are quoting different timelines but I think it'll take 3 - 5 years for the prices the start appreciating again. (that's just my opinion.) It is a good time to find a home to live in, just don't plan on doing a flip, it's possible but very, very tough. Let me know if I can assist you, I know Sonoran Ranch (Estates and Villages) very well and buyer agency services are of no cost to the buyer. A recent client did end up finding something off of Valencia and Wade that was a bank-owned property and it takes a different skill set from your typical residential resale realtor. Best $/sqft in the subdivision and I felt really good about the deal,
-Vikas
(520)204-2008
www.VikasPawaGroup.net
vikaspawa@hotmail.com
Prudential Foothills Real Estate - Mon May 12 2008, 01:18

Hi Patricia, I work extensively in Sam Hughes as well as the surrounding university area and know the market and homes there very, very well. (I currently have 2 homes for sale in the area). Was there a specific question you had about the neighborhood that I could help answer for you? My email is vikaspawa@hotmail.com or tel 520-204-2008, and I'm a realtor with Prudential Real Estate here in Tucson. Thanks!

-Vikas - Sun Apr 27 2008, 22:34

Yes there are. www.tarmls.com should give you the search options for a rental, lease and lease purchase. Also, I've made calls on behalf of clients to home sellers in the foothills who have vacant homes that have been on the market for a while. They might be open to it, especially in the current real estate market. You can call me or email me if you're interested.
-vikas - Sun Nov 11 2007, 08:26