The Tavasci Marsh, the largest freshwater marsh (unrelated to the Colorado River) in Arizona, is a part of the Tuzigoot National Monument.  The marsh is designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is home to a large variety of bird species including the Painted Redstart, Greater Pewee, Magnificent Hummingbird, Common Black-Hawk, Western and Cassin’s Kingbirds, Vermilion Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Abert’s Towhee and Lucy’s Warbler to name a few.  The Tavasci Marsh is spring-fed and has had many uses during its lifetime, from irrigated fields and cattle grazing to a flushing area for nearby Pecks Lake and an expanded use area for waterfowl.  Its varied use has created a need for restoring and managing the marsh to make sure that it will continue to be available as an IBA and will go into the future as a healthy wetland environment.  An Audobon program is underway to manage the restoration of the Tavasci Marsh and those interested can attend a presentation on Wednesday, November 19th at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Sedona, 100 Meadowlark Drive (off Hwy. 179).  Call (928) 214-0415 for more information.

The Tavasci Marsh is just one asset to the beautiful Sedona area, allowing for excellent bird watching as well as providing a piece of preserved nature.  Sedona is a naturally beautiful place to live, offering its residents a lifestyle to be envied.

If you are interested in looking at real estate in Sedona contact Claudia Ault and her team today at (928) 301-3016.  Claudia Ault and her team have the Sedona Real Estate knowledge and experience that you need to maximize your Sedona Real Estate search.  Visit www.claudiaault.com for complimentary access to the Sedona MLS, and all available listings in Sedona today.

Of course with the old saying “Location, Location, Location” there is always the mentality that Great Location + Great View = Higher Priced Home!

Although this may be true in alot of cases, realistically a view is not part of the actual real estate and in some cases - with the exception of an ocean view for instance - could be built on at any moment! Although a view may be pleasing to you, to your successor they may not like the view in the same way you do.

A home with a view is great, but do not buy a home just because of a view, see it as an added bonus.

When it comes to the landscaped garden however, this is yours! Congratulations! However, remember to maintain it! When looking for a property one with a lavishly landscaped lot may also command a premium (as well as possibly requiring a heavy amount of upkeep) so tread carefully.

On a similar line as before, a well proportioned lot is an asset, ones of a unique shape that you love may not be so attractive to the next buyer. Really using common sense as a rule of thumb is best. Of course your Real Estate agent will be able to answer questions you have when looking at property.

If you would like to take advantage of the market and purchase a home in Sedona Arizona then please contact Claudia Ault and her team who will be able to assist you in your Real Estate needs throughout the Verde Valley.

Sedona is stunningly beautiful from the ground, but when you arrive from the air, its spectacular red rock vistas open up to a vast plan - the Verde Valley. What an awe inspiring sight!

It is this view that has inspired the slogan: Sedona Airport - Americas Most Scenic Airport! And you can understand why! (click to see high resolution image) 

The Airport celebrated its 50th birthday in 2005 and is spread across 220 acres featuring one runway and one helipad. This boutique airport even has its own conference rooms for higher as well as its website featuring a nice little potted history of its early days.

Even though small the airport accomodates small jets and prop planes and is the hub for Air Sedona. It has scheduled flights from Phoenix and Las Vegas as well as the Grand Canyon airport. It is a great place for aviation fans!

If you are a man or woman with a plane and are maybe thinking about relocating to Sedona Arizona then please contact Claudia Ault and her team in Sedona who will be delighted to assist you in your real estate needs. Contact them through Claudia’s website or by calling her on: 928-301-3016

With the latest swings in the stock market uncertaintly has of course effected the mortgage markets. Despite buyers snapping up real estate and fewer loan being available on the market, mortgage rates are dropping!

Rates were down to an average of 6.28% for a 30 year fixed loan and 6.05 for a 15 year fixed a quarter point lower on average than previous although slightly higher than in recent weeks.

However, with cuts in the Fed Rate occuring and likely it is possible that mortgage rates will follow suit and we will see yet more historic lows to try and stimulate the housing market.

What is for sure is that buyers have a great opportunity on their hands, cheap money and great deals to be had!

If you would like to take advantage of the market and purchase a home in Sedona Arizona then please contact Claudia Ault and her team who will be able to assist you in your Real Estate needs throughout the Verde Valley.

Stop the press! Last month buyers took advantage of the new measures put in place to stimulate the housing market (the nationalization of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the $700 billion Economic Stimulus Rescue Package) and bought huge swathes of real estate!

The rise is a seasonally adjusted 5.5% which represents around 5.18 million units! Higher than Augusts 4.91 million and even September 2007’s 5.11 million!

This is excellent news and could be signs of a market starting to recover and with potential expected rises next year in prices between 2- 3 %. The increase in sales started in the West and is spreading across the nation.  Despite some doubts about Credit being as freely available as previous it does not seem to be stopping buyers who are wowed by the selection of homes on the market. Mortgage rates are still historically low and buyers are scrambling to get applications into bank before going out and looking at property.

Total national inventory fell by 1.67% and is now only a 9.9 month supply of around 4.27 million existing units available. Contrary to popular belief most purchasers are not investors looking to buy a second home or rental property, they are buyers shopping for a primary residence as home affodability has risen due to the fall in home prices.

With now being an excellent time to buy, if you are thinking about Sedona Arizona Real Estate then please contact Claudia Ault for professional Real Estate advice in Sedona and the surrounding Verde Valley. You can call her today on: 928-301-3016 or through her online contact form here.

Yee-Haw! Well, thats what you would be saying whilst riding horseback through the Red Rocks of Sedona Arizona!

The folks at A Day In The West have over 60 years experience and know the trails around Sedona like the back of their hands. A ride on a horse with them is an unforgettable experience where you can get up close and personal with the Desert and the Red Rocks which make Sedona so famous! Yes, you can be John Wayne!

Of course, for those who are perhaps a little weary of exploring on horseback, there is the gas powered equivilant, Jeep tours! Prices for each, or both vary depending on the time and day, but what a great way for locals or visitors to get out and explore the area.

So why not try it - a great way to learn more about the area if you are looking at purchasing a property here! Explore the banks of the Verde River on horseback!

If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Sedona Arizona - perhaps as a second home or investment property then please contact Claudia Ault and her team in downtown Sedona for professional Real Estate advice in Sedona and the surrounding Verde Valley area.

OctoberFEST is here - no, not Oktoberfest, but OctoberFEST, the festival of film!

Sedona is well known for its international film festival which is highly publicised and naturally well received. OctoberFEST is no different. This year ond of the films to premiere, (definately one to look out for)is narrated by Johnny Depp and is a biography of the mythic American figure, Hunter S. Thompson.

This iconic film has a lot of personal meaning for Depp who has been a fan of Thompson for years until his death.  The film: Gonzo, The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is definately one to catch if you are there.

With such a great community spirit and lifestyle it is no wonder that people adore Sedona, Arizona.

If you are looking to relocate to Sedona Arizona to live the great lifestyle on offer here - including frequent film festivals - then please contact Claudia Ault for professional real estate advice in Sedona and the surrounding area.

Most people love to escape home after fighting traffic on their way home on a busy polluted highway. Well, firstly here in Sedona the gorgeous wide open spaces mean that rarely does one feel couped up as in a big smog ridden city. However your inner sanctum (your home) may not be doing the best for your health after all.

Many of us do not care for the quality of air in our own homes. However, fear not there is something which you as a homeowner can do!

 Often the tricks are simple such as weatherproofing your windows, doors and garage door. However others may require a professional. If you have a furnace, you will need to check for leaks as it may be giving off harmful gases - older units are more prone naturally. Also if you have leaky plumbing this can cause mold and the spores can become airbourne. However, controlling the level of moisture in your air is easily fixed, use a dehumidifier and or your air conditioning system to regulate it.

Even simpler is the basic message of keep everything clean and tidy and leave open doors between rooms to have better circulation. In the kitchen and bathroom remember the key word: ventilation. From the gas stove to the bathroom chemicals these nastys can pollute our air with relative ease. By having an extractor/exhaust fan which has a pipe to the outside can greatly improve the quality of your air in these areas.

If you are looking at buying or selling a piece of Sedona Arizona Real Estate then please contact Claudia Ault in downtown Sedona, Arizona for professional real estate assistance in the city and throughout the entire Verde Valley.

Credit Crunch? What Credit Crunch - well, thats what you would be saying if you were FHA who have seen their business triple in the last few weeks. Since the shake up of FNMA and FHLMC and the changes to the FHA criteria more and more people are turning to FHA backed loans for their home purchase.

With new guidelines and government backing these is virtually unlimited cash available as a “lender” meaning that there is liquidity and flexibility for the borrower who is looking for that perfect home. Also their are many schemes at the moment to assist homeowners who are struggling thanks to the new $700 billion bailout package.

With a great selection of properties available a great low rate FHA loan may just be what you are looking for. Many people are snapping up the inventory available so here is your chance to jump on the bandwagon and buy a slice of Sedona Real Estate for a great price and get a low rate loan to finance it.

If you are thinking that it is the right rime for you to invest in Sedona Arizona Real Estate then please contact Claudia Ault and her team in downtown Sedona and they will be able to assist you in all your Sedona and Verde Valley Real Estate needs.

TERMITES! Well, thats what you could be cursing if you do not keep up on your termite inspections and preventative measures!

If you are selling your home a discovery of termites may permenantly damage the sale or cause massive delays whilst treatment occurs. This is something you cannot afford. If you are buying a property again, it is always wise to have an inspection carried out as an infestation may not start to show for 5 years or so!

In warmer climates such as those in the southern and western US termites are definately something to worry about. There are around 1,900 species of termite in the world and three species are what cause the most damage in the US. Get clued up! Learn more at: http://www.termite101.org/

So, homeowers - make sure you get your home inspected and if necessary treated for an infestation. However, do not wait, get in a professional to safeguard your home in the first place and prevent termites getting in! Also, good landscaping in the garden can help you spot a problem before it gets too close for comfort.

If you are thinking about purchasing a property as a second home or relocating to Sedona Arizona then please contact Claudia Ault and her team in downtown Sedona for professional Real Estate advice in the city and the Verde Valley region.