Latest Articles by Sanjog Gopal

CityNorth Emerges

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Encompassing 5.5 million square feet, built on 144 acres, CityNorth emerges as the largest development in the country. This impeccably planned, pedestrian-friendly city will become the urban core for the Northeast Valley in Phoenix.

The objective is to create an interactive environment where residents can live, work and play. The development includes a mix of retail, residential, dining, hotel, office space, cultural, civic, entertainment and fitness venues.

CityNorth is a privately held real estate investment, inspired by the development and consulting firm of Thomas J. Klutznick and renowned developer Kenneth A. Himmel. His firm was responsible for award-winning projects such as the 2.8 million square foot, Time Warner Center; One Central park residences, Jazz at Lincoln Center and City Place in West Palm Beach.

Location

With easy access from the Pima Freeway (Loop 100), CityNorth can be easily reached from all four directions. The two full interchanges off the Pima Freeway are Tatum Blvd. and 56th St. CityNorth is conveniently located to Airports, the Mayo Clinic Hospital and is accessible by nearly 1 million people in 25 minutes or less.

Retail

Retail plans include 1 million square feet of a huge variety of outlets including, high-end designer boutiques, department stores, hardware stores and art galleries. It reflects a shopping environment to satisfy everyone's tastes and needs.

Restaurants

Dining choices will range from coffee houses, cafes, and local favorites, to fine dining establishments run by renowned chefs.

Office / Hotels

Office space will occupy over 2 million square feet where tenants can choose from single-user spaces, corporate headquarters or smaller loft offices.

Several different hotels have been incorporated into the CityNorth plan, varying from hip, boutique to ultra-luxury and business-oriented.

Residential

Following suit with the retail and restaurant schema, the residential plan also offers a variety of different uses by appealing to various budgets and lifestyles. Some of the units will be incorporated into the retail space, such as townhomes, condos and apartments built above retail shops and restaurants.

The balance of the residential lies within the 5,700 acre community of Desert Ridge where currently 6,500 single-family homes and condominiums are under construction and approximately 10,000 more are slated to be built within 5 years.

Desert Ridge Community

This community of CityNorth includes the above residential as well as the following: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa - a 950 room resort and convention hotel including 8 tennis courts, a 36 hole championship golf course, spa, 10 restaurants and 252 time-share units.

Desert Ridge Marketplace - This 1.2 million square foot entertainment complex includes a 4,000-seat AMC Theatre, all the major retail giants and 28 restaurants.

Although some of the residential areas have already been completed, the downtown area of High Street is scheduled to open in 2009. The on-site Sales Gallery will open in January 2008 for those interested in a sneak preview.

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"There's no place like home" say the dedicated Phoenix Realtors at OZ Realty. Contact them for all of your Phoenix real estate needs.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Home Selling Tips: Staging Finishes

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Most smart buyers know what it takes to generate interest in a home. There are, of course, a few things that are just common sense. The most natural of these is easily the cleanliness factor of the home. Remember that image of the white glove test? That's how clean the home should be. The entire house should squeak! But there are also a few tricks of the trade that can be utilized to feature certain aspects of your home or, to make it more inviting to buyers.

One aspect of the home that is often overlooked is the lighting. One way that the light in a room can be improved is by cleaning the windows if natural light is needed or by the addition of lamps if the room is simply too dark. Try not to overdo it as harsh lighting is not overly attractive. Also, make sure that the home is a comfortable temperature. If a home is freezing cold then buyers will not stay long enough to notice everything, likewise if they are sweating after 3 minutes in the home.

There is another aspect that many people seem to forget when selling their homes. Odor. This is not to say that your home stinks, merely that every home has its own smell. This is created by things like smoking, pets, or cooking to name a few. It's always good practice to air the home out for a while before a showing. Try not to use overpowering air fresheners or sprays as this can lead viewers to believe there may be an odor problem. Another nice touch is adding flowers throughout the house. This can bestow pleasant smells on the rooms as well as creating a nice accent to the furniture and art. Remember, you are not trying to sell the home to yourself, your home has to appeal to as many people as possible so do whatever it takes to ensure that your home is an inviting and appealing place.

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Top-Notch Curb Appeal

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

As I drove to work this morning I found myself considering the curb appeal of the homes I drove past. There were some nice homes, some not so nice, and one or two that grabbed my attention from the street while motoring past. This is the kind of curb appeal that a home needs to sell quickly and for a good profit. How many homes do you see that grab you by the face and say "here I am?" Especially while you are driving past at (hopefully) the speed limit, but let's be serious, usually a bit faster.

It was funny, but one thing stood out about the homes that really caught my attention. It may seem like a broken record in this industry but it was the overall cleanliness and presentation of the property. It would make a realtor's job so much easier if when a sign was placed in the front yard, the home was transformed into a pristine Eden with a unified theme that would appeal to any buyer no matter what their tastes are. Unfortunately this is not the case. Making that transition takes a bit of work. However the ideal remains the same. A home that is able to attract positive attention from someone driving past at 50 miles per hour is a home that will sell quickly.

A good way to begin this transformation is by doing a bit of landscaping. Ensure that your yard is as tidy as possible with the lawn neatly trimmed and edged. Also trim the trees and bushes, if possible use a uniform shape for these plants. Also refinishing the driveway can be a quick way to add to any home. These things really help the exterior of a home to show at its absolute best, In today's market its necessary to go the extra mile to ensure your home gets the attention it deserves and is memorable to viewers. It takes time and effort to create a perfect home for selling but the expenditure is well worth the effort.

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Best of Arizona Lifestyles

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There are few places in the world, and fewer in North America where the style of life is more desirable than in Arizona. This area is known to get hotter than any other location in America and as such has become home to an elaborate lifestyle that is grounded in the pursuit of outdoor activities. It is also home to a thriving real estate industry and is known to be one of the prime retirement areas in the country. You could spend a lifetime searching and never find a climate that is more agreeable then that which is offered by Arizona.

At the core of the Arizona lifestyle is the abundance of recreational options that are both created and supplied by nature. Perhaps the most popular recreational option that is associated with Arizona is golf. Golf has become a lifestyle of its own in Arizona with numerous golf course communities that cater to every ability level and wallet. Golf course communities are developments that are built around a central golf course that winds its way through the homes. This creates a beauty that is hard to equal and home ownership in these areas usually comes part & parcel with a membership to the course. As you can imagine this is a fairly relaxing style of life.

Of course there is more to Arizona than just golf. The landscape that makes up Arizona is tailor made for exploring, and the major cities are full of great stores, restaurants and professional sports. Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe and Scottsdale and all the surrounding areas are each possessed of a wild selection of real estate that is sure to capture the imagination of any buyer. Quite simply, if you are seeking a phenomenal place to live with a great climate and a never ending selection of things top do and see, then Arizona is a natural choice.

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Real Estate: Pre Sale Upgrades

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Prior to the listing of your home, many sellers choose to do some upgrading in an attempt to raising the asking price of their homes. This is a sound practice as home buyers are becoming more and more discerning about what they buy. In today's real estate industry it's imperative that a seller does whatever is required in order to distinguish their property from everything else that is currently listed. There are a number of things that you can do but remember one thing; the asking price must justify the costs of the upgrades without pricing your home out of the market. It's a tricky prospect, but one that's worth it,

So, where to start? Well the best way to go about this is to identify the things that NEED upgrades and worry about the things that could USE upgrades later if you have room in the budget. The smart place to start with necessary upgrades is the home's appliances. Buyers like to see the latest in appliances in a home, particularly in the kitchen. Another aspect of the kitchen that is relatively inexpensive to replace is the countertops. If the counters are old and stained, perhaps years of knife marks and the like; new countertops can completely revamp the look of a kitchen. There is also a nice selection of attractive and decently priced fixtures and sinks that could be the finishing touches on a very attractive kitchen.

Old and scratched up floors can be a bit of a sticking point when selling a home. Also threadbare and stained carpets can be a big turn off. A popular choice for flooring currently is laminate. This surface is very attractive and can add a really clean look to any room. Of course for areas like kitchens and bathrooms that have a high level of traffic and large spill potential, it's wise to use tile or another waterproof surface that will not stain or discolor. It is truly amazing the difference that these seemingly small things can make, but the difference and effort is worthwhile when considering the jump in asking price that comes with them.

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Finding The Perfect Arizona Home

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

There is a lot of excitement involved when purchasing your first home. Its a time of high emotion when things can seem to take forever or happen really quickly in the same day. It is this time when some snap decisions have to be made that can dramatically affect the purchase process. Everyone would love to have surplus time in which to consider their home purchase but sometimes that is not the case. Careful planning in the early stages is a good way to ensure smooth sailing once you start the process of making serious offers. Things can move quickly in the Arizona real estate market, you had better be prepared!

The best things you can do when purchasing an Arizona home is your homework. Spend some time learning about the process that a home purchase takes; learn about the different stages that it moves through so that you can be prepared for any situation that arises. Your realtor is a invaluable resource during this process as they are skilled at navigating the twists and pitfalls involved with the purchase of a home. Another good idea is to have your finances completely dealt with and verified before considering buying. Have your mortgage approved and ready to go on all counts before making an offer. If you wait until offers are made to secure financing, you could easily lose the home to another buyer with approved financing or end up in a bad situation where you find out that the financing that is available to you is not enough to cover your offer. This can be a terribly bad situation for all involved so avoid it at all costs.

Now, in searching for your perfect home, take a second to consider what the future will hold for you. If you are single, is marriage in the plans? Children? Is this going to be a home you live in for many years? Try to plan ahead for the home and realize whether or not an upgrade will be necessary or if this is going to be home base from the foreseeable future. Its much better to accommodate any future plans before purchase when there are still options available.

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Selling Your Arizona Home

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The sale of a home can be a time of mixed emotions. On one hand you are selling a home that has been your life's operations center for many years and you no doubt have a real attachment to it. On the other hand you are likely moving to a home that suits you current lifestyle better. It can be difficult to say goodbye to an old home, but what you can do is ensure that you prepare it so it will fetch what you know it is worth on the Arizona real estate market.

Do you remember the first time you set eyes on your home? What were the points that stood out? What made you want to buy it? This is a great chance to go back to your purchase date and highlight those same features that originally sold you on the home. Maybe it was the yard, or the size of the rooms, or the whole package, no matter what it was, time to bring that back out! Unfortunately most buyers will not see things the same way you do now; of course you have a bit of an emotional attachment to the home.

To give your home the selling power that you know it has try starting with the exterior. Clean up the yard and make sure it looks like a show garden. Plant some new flowers, trim the hedges and maybe even plant a tree or two. If the outside of your home is cluttered and in disarray, buyers will not take the home as seriously as one with a pleasant frontage. There is the added bonus that an attractive facade will draw people into the home to investigate further!

Now for the home itself. How does the paint look? A new coat for your home can help raise the asking price and it can drastically change the look of a home. Neutral colors are best as they will appeal to a wider variety of people. Dramatic colors might be alright for you, but that purple door might be a bit much for new owners! This is also a good chance to compare pictures of your home to those you are competing with. Take careful note of these other homes and try to ensure that your home has that visual hook that the others don't. It will benefit you in the long run. Your home has been good to you, be good to it and give it the chance it deserves!

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Sanjog Gopal is a CPA & REALTOR specializing in the Arizona real estate market. My background as a CPA ensures that I am ideally suited to provide elite service in all aspects of home purchases and sales. For more information contact me anytime or visit me on the web at www.azresidence.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com