Tillman was known for his extraordinary commitment to service and leadership, and many who participate in the annual Pat’s Run do so to honor those who fight (and have fought) in the military services for our country (one group walking wore shirts which read “Veterans, thank you for my freedom”), remember their own loved ones who passed away in the line of duty, or celebrate success overcoming personal adversity (there are cancer survivors, people in wheelchairs, and more).  Tillman was #42 when he played for ASU, and the 4.2 mile Pat’s Run finishes on the 42 yard line in the ASU stadium for an inspiring experience for all who participate and volunteer.

From the East Valley Tribune: “How much of an impact did Pat have on people? Well, we have people flying in from 48 states, getting hotel rooms and paying entry fees to run four miles,’ said Marcy Wojtulewicz, deputy director of the Foundation. ‘This is overwhelming. I have never seen an event grow so fast. As a fund-raiser, you cannot describe this.’

In addition to the 21 national shadow events coordinated by chapters of the ASU Alumni Association in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Diego, among others, there are also six troop runs scheduled in Turkey and Afghanistan.”

The first Pat’s Run took place in 2005 with 5,000 participants. This year people were turned away after a cap of 28,000 participants was reached (two thousand others volunteered and organized the event), and organizers aren’t sure the local event will be able to grow much more than that for safety reasons.

The East Valley Tribune quoted Wojtulewicz, “The cap is to keep the event safe and to ensure the quality of the event. We want everyone to have their own inspirational moment during the race. Really, it can’t get much bigger.” The same newspaper story states Pats Run organizers will start concentrating on growing the Pat Tillman Foundation globally.

According to the Arizona Republic, Marie Tillman (Pat’s wife) “established the foundation in 2004 to invest in military service members and their families, to provide educational resources and to encourage them to continue a life of service beyond the military.”

Marie told Arizona Republic sportswriter Kent Somers (on April 14, 2008), “To me, the biggest part of (the foundation) is getting people to find out what they are passionate about and what kind of impact they want to have in their life, and empowering them to get out there and do it. I think that’s how he (Pat) lived his life. I think that’s how he approached things with his friends and with his family and all the people who encountered him. That was, in large part, the message that people got from him.”

Numerous residents of the Sun Lakes, Arizona retirement community are veterans themselves, and you’ll find the entire community to be very supportive of veterans and military members currently serving in the armed forces. There are numerous clubs/organizations at Sun Lakes such as the American Legion Post 55, which is open to all veterans and meets once a month (for more information contact Joseph Schneider, Commander, 883-0122). A more complete list of Sun Lakes’ service organizations can be found here.

As always if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Sun Lakes, one of the best retirement communities in the country, or homes for sale in Sun Lakes, Arizona, I invite you to contact me. Genuine thanks to all veterans and current military members for your service.

“Of women with children over age 18, nine percent said they had adult children living back home for indefinite periods. Twelve percent were primarily responsible for their adult child or children’s financial well-being and 31 percent said they had children who returned home, relied on them but expected to become independent.”

The recession and nationwide job losses may be one reason so many adult children are returning home to live with their parents and/or looking to their mothers to help them out financially.

Interestingly, 86 percent of women aged 46-65 years of age who were surveyed “said they were fully independent of their own parents by age 25.”

Times certainly have changed, and these percentages may leave you wondering if society has changed for the better or for the worse as time passes and younger generations age. I wonder if this economic recession will change the way society thinks and spends in the same dramatic ways the Great Depression did?

I couldn’t help but chuckle when reading the Reuters story about this survey when I thought if moms have children under 55 years old, they could move to a senior community and not have to worry about their adult children coming to live with them (ha!).

Joking aside, there are many reasons baby boomers and senior citizens enjoy living in retirement communities like Sun Lakes, Arizona. Sun Lakes is consistently named one of the best retirement communities in the country for the small town atmosphere and resort-style amenities available to Sun Lakes home owners. The Sun Lakes community is made up of 5 different, but equally stunning neighborhoods each built around its own golf course and club house (yes, you read that right – there are FIVE golf courses all within Sun Lakes). Sun Lakes’ convenient location near Chandler, Arizona, and a short drive to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport mean there are plenty of activities and events around Sun Lakes as well.

Homes for sale in Sun Lakes include affordable lakeside and golf course homes in the gated, golf course communities. Sun Lakes, Arizona truly is retirement paradise and my clients are thrilled to find out how affordable this paradise is. Don’t wait to find out how affordable it is to turn your retirement dreams into paradise reality… contact me today. Also, feel free to share your own comments about the survey results below; I look forward to hearing from you!

The full April 2011 calendar for the Mesa Arts Center can be found here, but I wanted to highlight the upcoming FREE events. Every Saturday through April 30, 2011, the public is invited to attend the MACFest Festival for FREE! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday, enjoy art from local artists, food, live music, and fun for the whole family. MACFest “offers a consistent, easy, and affordable way for the many wonderful artists in Mesa, the Valley, and Arizona to expose and sell their work” (MAC website). This free event takes place in downtown Mesa, Arizona at Main and Macdonald Streets.

There is only one Sunday left to take advantage of the “Target Tag 3 for Free” events. Since October 2010, the first Sunday of every month, Target has sponsored these free events which include free admission (starts at noon), live entertainment, and childrens activities. The last of these events takes place Sunday, May 1, 2011, 1 – 3 p.m. in the Mesa Contemporary Arts Courtyard.  For the last Target sponsored performance, the Bad Cactus Brass Band will feature “New Orleans Jazz.”

Just the building (and views) of the Tempe Center for the Arts is stunning; you can click here for the full April 2011 calendar and I’ll mention just a couple of the FREE events coming up. If you haven’t attended a symphony at this beautiful, intimate orchestra hall yet don’t miss out on the next FREE performance on Monday, April 18, 2011. Yes, FREE. These are incredibly popular so get there early to ensure good seats; the doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The Herberger String Quartet will have a FREE performance of “Performance with a View” on April 19^th for a 10:00 a.m. program with a 9:30 coffee service.

On April 22^nd, at 7:30 p.m. in the amphitheater you’re invited to a FREE performance of “Music Under the Stars.” Music Under the Stars “is a unique celebration of arts and music featuring ensembles from local high schools. The performance provides an inclusive community atmosphere” (Tempe Center for the Arts website).

According the website, “Poet Lois Roma-Deeley and musician Christopher Scinto present excerpts from “Ballad of Downtown Jake,” a contemporary jazz opera based on the book “High Notes” by Lois Roma-Deeley, poet, and Christopher Scinto, composer.” This FREE event takes place on April 27, 2011, 7-8:30 p.m. Discussions with a moderator will follow.

Art and theater lovers can enjoy discounted tickets, ability to purchase tickets before they’re available to the public, and FREE, luxury bus transportation from Sun Lakes to performance venue for all South East Valley Performing Arts League (PAL) associated performances with a PAL membership; an annual membership is only $15 per household. Upcoming shows include the Arizona Ballet’s Mosaik on Friday, April 29^th, and the Phoenix Symphony’s final Coffee Classic performance on Friday, May 2^nd (for tickets – including last minute seating – call Vicky at 480-802-0478). If you already have tickets to one of the PAL associated performances but aren’t a PAL member you can still take advantage of luxury transportation to and from the event for $20 roundtrip (though at $15 for an annual membership it may be more economical to just join the performing arts league).

I had heard of other realtors using lawn paint to increase curb appeal of homes for sale and foreclosed homes, but this lawn treatment has grown in popularity as the recession continues and many homeowners are having to cut back on costs. Even the New York Times did a story on lawn paint use in places like Arizona and Florida.

While anyone trying to save money understands landscaping costs are far from a priority, some home owner associations disagree and fines for having brown or dead grass can quickly reach into the hundreds and even turn into a courtroom battle if left unpaid. In order to avoid fees, innovative home owners are painting their grass.

Environmental concerns have other home owners using lawn dye to turn their yard into an eco lawn. When you paint grass you no longer have to worry about watering, which cuts down on water waste and water bills.

Artificial grass (or “turf”) is another way to have an eco lawn, but fake grass is more expensive than simply dying your lawn green. If you’re going to go through the trouble and expense of digging up your grass sod to put in fake grass, consider xeriscaping your yard. In Arizona xeriscaping is very popular, and the numerous benefits make it appealing for home owners of all ages.

If you are a retiree and landscaping isn’t something you want to spend your leisurely time tackling, consider xeriscape for at least your front yard. The minimal maintenance required is a definite plus if you prefer to spend your time pursuing other activities and hobbies. Whether you are environmentally conscious or simply enjoy not spending more money than you need to, the water conservation aspect of xeriscape will reduce water bills and xeriscape very often adds to your overall property value.

At top retirement community Sun Lakes, Arizona you’ll find both xeriscaping and grass (though I won’t tell you which yards are natural, painted, or fake grass) in front of Sun Lakes homes. Gardening is a popular hobby among retirees in general, and Sun Lakes has its own gardening club for residents (for more information contact Leona Alpert, 895-4188).

In addition to the Sun Lakes Garden Club, there are over 100 different clubs and organizations for Sun Lakes residents. Sun Lake’s resort-style amenities are one of the reasons this senior community is consistently named one of the best retirement communities in the country. Sun Lakes first class amenities include five community golf courses (each with its own clubhouse), pools, spa, multiple restaurants (everything from casual to fine dining), a variety of sport courts, numerous lakes, miles of walking trails, a full events/activities calendar, and so much more!

If you are interested in learning more about the over 55 community of Sun Lakes, Arizona, or Sun Lakes homes for sale, leave me a comment below or click here to contact me directly. I’ve helped hundreds find their dream home in the affordable, luxurious retirement paradise of Sun Lakes, and I look forward to helping you discover the same.

An investment implies you have equity, or will be able to sell in the future. Neither is true with a timeshare purchase. For a quick basic timeshare lesson, with a timeshare several people purchase a vacation property (each pays only a percentage of the total price instead of 100% of the purchase price), and every “owner” has a specified time period (usually annually) to use the property for themselves. Annual fees include maintenance, and the pitch is that during unoccupied weeks the property can be rented out and the income split between all the “owners.”

“Owner” is in quotation marks for a reason: you don’t own a timeshare in the same way you own a house outright. When you pay for a timeshare, you have absolutely no equity in the place, you pay incredibly high annual fees, and it will be next to impossible to sell when you realize you want out of this “investment” that isn’t anything more than a money pit.

Consider real estate expert David Ramsey’s timeshare calculations: “The average cost of a timeshare in the U.S. is $14,500. If you put that money in a mutual fund averaging 12% over 10 years, you would have almost $48,000. Pretty good.

In 20 years, you would have over $178,000. Even better.

In 40 years, you would have over $1.7 million! That’s a lot of free money! Hope you like the vacation house! . . . With timeshares, you’re just pre-paying your hotel bill for the next 20 years whether or not you use it.”

Pre-paying your hotel bill . . . ouch. If you want to be able to return to the same vacation destination frequently, and have all the comforts of home available to you it makes more sense to buy a home in that area! Certainly the plummeted US real estate market is scary to some, and I understand why. The real estate market is rebounding, however, and savvy investors are taking advantage of current low sales prices before home values return to pre-recession numbers.

If you are over 55, and would love to leave freezing winters behind for warm, balmy, sunny days consider looking at the senior community of Sun Lakes, Arizona. Conveniently located by Phoenix, Arizona, and directly next to the award-winning City of Chandler, Arizona, Sun Lakes homes have maintained their values despite the nationwide trend of quite the opposite. Year after year, Sun Lakes has been named one of the best retirement communities in the United States. Purchasing a vacation home or retirement home in Sun Lakes not only gives you all the comforts of home, you have access to all the resort-style amenities including FIVE community golf courses (each with its own clubhouse), fitness areas, tennis courts, pools, restaurants, over 100 clubs/organizations, a full calendar of events and activities, and more!

Timeshare scams are so persuasive, the US Federal Government has put together information for consumers here. Sun Lakes, Arizona offers you a small-town atmosphere, the amenities of a first-class resort, friendly neighbors, numerous events and activities, a convenient location close to several large cities, and more for affordable prices. When you purchase a Sun Lakes home you are truly making an investment. To learn more about Sun Lakes, Arizona or homes for sale in Sun Lakes, please leave me a comment below or contact me directly here. I am happy to answer any questions you have.

Presented by the Sun Lakes Collector Car Group, the Sun Lakes Show and Shine Car Show will be held from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday at the Sun Lakes Country Club Parking Lot (just South of Riggs Road at the end of Sun Lakes Blvd). This FREE event (no entry fee or admission) will not have judging, and is a wonderful opportunity to show off your own car, view other collectors’ cars, and chat with like-minded classic car enthusiasts. So give your car a wash and wax, and drive her over to the classic car show at Sun Lakes on Saturday morning.

This is just one of numerous activities and events held every month at Sun Lakes. Consistently named one of the best retirement communities in the country, Sun Lakes, Arizona offers seniors luxury living (with exceptional resort style amenities) for affordable prices. Golfers love Sun Lake’s FIVE community golf courses (with individual clubhouses), each with a unique retirement golf community wrapped around every course and numerous lakes. All five unique golf courses and golf retirement communities together are the Sun Lakes senior community. Some are gated communities, and all offer golf course homes and lakeside living as well. Whether you are an active adult wanting a plethora of activities, events, educational, and cultural opportunities to fill your retirement days or enjoy relaxing in peace and quiet there truly is something for everyone at Sun Lakes. To learn more about events at Sun Lakes check back to these blogs often, or contact me about homes for sale in Sun Lakes.

Phoenix Business Journal writer Mike Sunnucks reported House Bill 2636 “would change Arizona’s current personal income tax structure from a progressive system that ranges from 2.59 percent to 4.54 percent down to a flat rate of 2.13 percent for all incomes by fiscal year 2015. The current bill eliminates income tax deductions, including for mortgage interest, and comes at a time when Valley homeowners are already under siege by underwater mortgages, declining values and a high tide of foreclosures.”

Opposition to House Bill 2636 pointed out tax deductions currently encourage charitable giving and home ownership, both of which are necessities in the current economy. In an economic climate where the state of Arizona is making sweeping budget cuts less money is available to help charities serving a historically high volume of people it would be damaging to take away tax deductions for charitable giving. Likewise, oppositions fears without tax deductions to encourage home ownership the real estate market would likely remain crippled for longer than economists and real estate experts already predict could be years before a rebound.

A story in the Yuma Sun argued “even if HB 2636 had become law, that provision wasn’t expected to be a deciding factor in whether someone will buy a house.”

The Business Journal reports that according to an analysis by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee  the “flat tax plan would cost the state $3.7 million in state income tax revenue annually” and “would cut taxes for those making $100,000 or more and raise taxes on those making less than $100,000.”

Others side with flat tax plans. “Conceptually, I like the idea of a flat tax,” said Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma. “I like the idea of closing loopholes. The Constitution does say that taxes should be fair and equal. But there’s too many exemptions on both ends of the extreme for both the very wealthy and the very poor and the burden is borne by those in the middle.”

You’ll have plenty of time to do your own research to form your own opinion because Monday the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Steve Court, R-Mesa, put House Bill 2636 on hold for issues brought up by the bill to have a chance to be resolved.

“Although I am still supportive of the flat tax concept, and I believe that the bill is a great framework to incorporate this type of policy for Arizona, a number of legitimate questions have been raised that will take some time to properly sort through,” Court said in an email to legislators that Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, D-Yuma, shared with the Yuma Sun.

Click on these links to read the entire story in the Phoenix Business Journal and Yuma Sun.

If you have additional information regarding the proposed flat tax, or an opinion to share leave a comment below. As always, if you or someone you know is interested in homes for sale in Sun Lakes or learning more about why Sun Lakes, Arizona is consistently named one of the best retirement communities in the country I invite you to contact me.

This Sunday (April 3, 2011) the public is invited to a FREE concert (donations accepted) at the Chapel Center in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Beginning at 3 p.m., the Desert Valley Christian Ringers (an advanced community handbell choir from the East Valley) will perform “an evening of sacred, secular and classical works” (Arizona Republic).

Wondering if you have what it takes to be an actor? Sign up for “Getting Paid to Talk: An Introduction to Voice Acting” which will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Sun Lakes Center. According to the Arizona Republic, “This adult-education course is taught by a selection of voice acting professionals and vocal coaches. Students are taught the steps to becoming a voice actor, including the basics, studio work, demo production methods and inside industry tips. Each student records a mock commercial during the session.” To register call 480-857-5500.

Sun Lakes is conveniently located next to the award-winning City of Chandler, home to the Chandler Center for the Arts. If you would like to see the full April 2011 calendar of events for Chandler’s Center for the Arts, click here. I would like to highlight one of the upcoming events: On April 16, enjoy a Chandler Symphony Orchestra concert for FREE! This FREE CONCERT starts at 2 p.m., but I advise you to get there early as these concerts are incredibly popular and fill up quickly (donations are accepted and are vital to the continuation of the symphony). The orchestra is made up of talented community members who donate their time for practices and concerts throughout the season.

Consistently named one of the best places to retire, Sun Lakes is also conveniently located by Mesa, Arizona which is home to an awe-inspiring arts community, also known as Mesa Arts Center. If you haven’t been to the Mesa Arts Center, you’re truly missing out on one of the true cultural gems of the Valley, Arizona, and the entire Southwest region. You can view the packed, current calendar of events for the Mesa Arts Center here, but I’ll also share a couple of exciting upcoming events on their calendar:

On Thursday, March 31, 2011, “Pushing Elephants” is a FREE event in which you will learn the inspiring story of a mother who escaped with 9 of her 10 children when war ravaged her Congolese village, eventually resettling in Phoenix, Arizona. More than a decade later mother and the “lost” daughter are reunited and share their story with you. This FREE EVENT starts at 6:30 p.m.

The same evening in the Piper Repertory Theater of the Mesa Arts Center, at 7:30 p.m. Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro de Cuba will perform a concert no Cuban music fan should miss. “For more than 80 years, and in over 35 nations around the world, the Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro de Cuba has been the greatest and first champion of the traditional sound of Cuba,” according to the Arts Center website; tickets for this event are on sale now.

Sun Lakes, Arizona provides residents with over 100 clubs and organizations to participate in, a wide variety of activities from chauffeured outings to miles of walking paths, FIVE golf courses and clubhouses, resort-style amenities, an ever-changing calendar of events, and much more! Sun Lakes is the perfect retirement community whether your retirement dream is to be active with welcoming new friends or to enjoy your privacy and quiet, but I do hope you’ll take the time to explore the incredible artistic opportunities in your very own backyard. Not yet a resident of the best retirement community Sun Lakes? I’ve helped hundreds find their Sun Lakes dream home, and look forward to doing the same for you. As an expert Sun Lakes realtor I know the most up-to-date information on Sun Lakes homes for sale; the sooner you contact me the sooner you’ll be living the retirement dream in Sun Lakes retirement paradise!

Giving assets to grandchildren through trusts benefits them, but also allows you to reduce your own estate and taxes which will be due after you die.

According to ElderLawAnswers, “Perhaps the simplest approach to gifting is to give the grandchild an outright gift. You may give each grandchild up to $13,000 a year (in 2011) without having to report the gifts. If you’re married, both you and your spouse can make such gifts. For example, a married couple with four grandchildren may give away up to $104,000 a year with no gift tax implications. In addition, the gifts will not count as taxable income to your grandchildren (although the earnings on the gifts if they are invested will be taxed).”

Medical or school costs can be paid on behalf of your grandchild (on top of the $13,000 annual maximum) but the money must be paid directly to the medical professional/business or school.

ElderLawAnswers lists the following as benefits of providing gifts to grandchildren through gift trusts:

(1) You can reduce the size of your estate by transferring up to $13,000 (in 2011) into each trust you create for each grandchild. No gift taxes will be due in connection with the transfers;

(2) Although the trust owns the assets, you control them as trustee and can decide what type of investments to make;

(3) Income earned by the trust from amounts that you’ve deposited will not be taxed to you; the trust pays the taxes;

(4) Amounts deposited in trust, and the income earned from those funds, will be used for the benefit of your grandchildren; and

(5) You can provide that the trust terminate at any age you specify.

If you’re not comfortable with your grandchild’s ability to handle large sums of money, you may want to consider a “Crummey” trust which allows you to maintain control of the trust, as explained by author and attorney Matthew Karr:

“A “Crummey” trust, named for the man who pioneered the idea back in the 1960s, is a trust that is set up so that whenever you make a contribution, the beneficiary has the right to withdraw that contribution for the next 30 days. If they do nothing, the money stays in the trust and the beneficiary can no longer access it directly until they reach an age of maturity that you specify. For instance, a trust might end when a grandchild turns 28. Or a grandchild might get a third of the assets at age 25, a third at 30, and the rest at 35.”

If the idea of gift trusts interests you there are numerous outlets to do further research, in addition to consulting an attorney to talk about your specific estate and desired future for yourself and your family.

If you think back to your own memories with your grandparents, you’ll realize time spent with your grandchildren is also a precious gift. When you live in retirement communities such as Sun Lakes, Arizona you are able to enjoy the luxury lifestyle, resort-style amenities, and wide variety of events, activities, clubs/organizations (and more!) year round but many of these things are also available to visiting grandchildren. At Sun Lakes you can enjoy the five community golf courses and clubhouses any time, but your grandchildren will treasure the special times you taught them to play golf. Grandchildren can also join you in the community swimming pools, or for a game of tennis, in addition to the wide variety of activities and events for children and families taking place next door in Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix, Arizona.

What do you enjoy doing with your grandkids when they visit you at your Sun Lakes, Arizona home? If you don’t yet have a Sun Lakes home, but are interested in living in one of the country’s best retirement communities I invite you to leave me a comment below or contact me directly. We can talk about what you want in a retirement home, and I’ll share homes for sale in Sun Lakes which fit what you’re wanting. I look forward to hearing from you!

According to the Arizona Republic, here is how it would work:

- Arizona homeowners would qualify if they were current on their mortgage payments but owed more than their houses were worth.

- Qualifying homeowners would enter a marketplace managed by a state agency that has not yet been designated. They would publicly post the monthly payment they were willing to make – typically a payment lower than their current bill and equivalent to their current mortgage but with an interest rate of 2 to 5 percent.

- Investors would evaluate those mortgage requests and then bid on the loans they wanted to buy.

- When investors and borrowers were matched up, the investors would pay off the homeowners’ old loans. Homeowners then could make payments, at a lower interest rate, to the investors. Investors would make 2 to 5 percent interest, which Reagan noted is more than they can currently earn by saving cash in a bank.

- Borrowers would have to sign away their “anti-deficiency” rights. Laws in Arizona say banks in most cases cannot pursue homeowners to recoup any losses after foreclosing on a home. Waiving anti-deficiency rights is meant to reassure investors that borrowers wouldn’t abandon their homes without repaying.

- Investors would receive a home certificate giving them lender rights to the house as collateral for the short-term loan. Each month, 3 percent of a homeowner’s payment would go into an insurance fund that would help cover potential losses for investors. The fund would be managed by a government agency.

“The system would make the deals temporary. After five to 10 years, homeowners would have to pay back investors’ principal. The bill anticipates that, by then, home values will have rebounded, allowing borrowers to refinance through a traditional home lender.”

Thankfully, home owners within top retirement community Sun Lakes, Arizona, have seen their homes maintain values even while other local and national areas have had substantial real estate value losses. But if you are interested in investing in real estate and the local economy through Arizona’s potential “home certificate program” you’ll need to wait quite a while; there are still several obstacles to overcome and questions to answer before the bill passes. To read the entire Arizona Republic article, click here.

In the meantime, if you or someone you know is interested in selling their retirement community home or homes for sale in Sun Lakes, I invite you to contact me. Consistently named one of the best retirement communities in the country and best places to live, Sun Lakes, Arizona offers luxury amenities, stunning landscaping, beautiful model homes, numerous golf courses (and clubhouses), over 100 clubs and organizations, and more… but all for affordable prices! Don’t wait to find out how affordable your dream retirement can be at Sun Lakes; contact me today.