Just a little irony here. I recently completed by broker school (10 am -10 pm for two straight weeks!) so that I could obtain my Arizona real estate brokers license. I wanted to get this license to that I could offer my clients the extra knowledge and expertise that comes with obtaining your brokers license. Meanwhile my 16 year old daughter has been struggling with chemistry and math and is putting in some major study time to keep up her GPA. I was grossing about my day job of selling  Scottsdale real estate here in my home town and going to school. "Well Mom, my daughter said, "know you know how I feel between studying and doing track -it's stressful! Welcome to my world". I guess I didn't think that kids have the same stresses we adults have - they do, but on another level. But it's stress just the same.

I took part one of my broker test yesterday and assumed I did pretty well on it. I breezed through and took the 4 hour test in two hours. About the time I went on line to discover that I hadn't passed, my daughter called me all excited that she had gotten a 94% on her chemistry exam. I'd better hit the books and look to my daughter for some study techniques.

Your Scottsdale Realty Expert and almost broker,

Echo Farrell
1st USA Realty Professionals
480.227.7344

Think flattened Snakes on Planes. The squiggly filled in cracks infested our streets. We're a mid size family subdivision in North Scottsdale called Terra Feliz (means Happy Land). But if you're jogging, running, or just taking out the dogs for a walk, you can risk life an limb tripping on these unsightly road fills. More than one neighbor has tripped and scrapped up her knees. My 75 lb lab, Lucy, saw a bunny and went running, pulling me behind her. But I didn't see the street crack- she chased the bunny and I got to pick asphalt from my knees for days! Enough! As a local Scottsdale Realtor who specializes in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley  I know what various neighborhoods AND their streets look like! It was time to take action!

My phone call to the city of Scottsdale about two weeks ago went something like this. "Hi there. I live in a neighborhood called Terra Feliz just south of Shea in the Paradise Valley zip code but located in the city of Scottsdale. I think (pardon the pun) we slipped between your cracks. Our roads have not been resurfaced in the entire 10 years I've lived here. I sell real estate in Desert Mountain, DC Ranch Ranch, Scottsdale Ranch, McCormick Ranch,  McDowell Mountain Ranch, Ancala  and Paradise Valley (I think they were getting my point) and their roads all look like new.  We're in the same league - maybe better than some neighborhoods. Is there some special criteria for getting our roads pretty? Do you want me to send out a flyer and have all of my neighbors call you? (The guy from the city said, "Oh please don't do that"!)


"Mrs. Farrell, we'll have someone from our road surfacing call you back". (Right, I thought...) They did call they very the next day and said our roads would be resurfaced. Wow a fast acting government agency! Yea City of Scottsdale!

Yesterday we received a notice that all cars and trucks must be moved as our roads are being resurfaced. Wow that felt good. I like this advocacy stuff. Especially when it works. I can smile quietly to myself when my neighbors out walking their pups saying "I'm glad the city finally took notice". (Well someone finally took notice.) Looking for my next project...

If you would love to live in a lovely Scottsdale or Paradise Valley neighborhood, with nice homes and smooth asphalt contact me at 480.607.9990 or visit my web site at www.azsonorahomes.com . You can also find out what your home is worth by visiting here.

Take care!

Echo Farrell
1st USA Realty Profesionals
www.azsonorahomes.com
480.227.7344

Question? What fits on a 2x3 poster board and can transform your life? It called a vision board made popular by the movie that everyone is talking about called The Secret.

On this board you place images of things you want, dream or aspire too. The vision board is extremely powerful. I have had mine about a year now and it keeps me focused on what is important to me.

The other day, my daughter Meghan, home sick with a cold asked to see The Secret. She is an old soul turning sweet 16 this Sunday. Then last night, out of the blue, she proudly produced her vision board. Meghan had been working on this unbeknownst to me while getting over her cold. Meghan’s board proudly showed the world among other things that she has INTENTION to attend UCSD, surf, crew, get a 4.0 and nice boyfriend.

It's no secret that children are the best gift.