AZ Real Estate 06-14-15

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R E A C H U S || TA M E R A T H O R N T O N , TA M E R A . T H O R N T O N @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M || B U S I N E S S . A Z C E N T R A L . C O M

CATHERINE REAGOR REAL ESTATE

Beyond this door lies your personal retreat

As market improves, HARP less attractive

Courting courtyards

Several national housing and finance regulators came to Phoenix on Friday to talk about the federal refinancing program known as HARP being extended for a year. Their message: More than 10,000 metro Phoenix homeowners can refinance through the Home Affordable Refinance Program and lower their monthly payments, even if they owe more than their house is worth. It’s always good to remind people of people of aid if they don’t know it’s available. But was it really worth the trip? Top officials from the Treasury Department, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and government owned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac traveled here to talk about a program that started winding down more than a year ago. They are encouraging the last homeowners eligible to tap the program before mortgage-interest rates climb higher. “Arizona has the eighth biggest pool of homeowners still available for HARP,� Megan Moore of Federal Housing Finance told a small group at Friday’s event. “Spread the word to anyone who may qualify.� HARP has helped a lot of Arizona homeowners — almost 160,000 — refinance and cut their payments since early 2009 when President Barack Obama announced his housing plan in Mesa. But most of the Arizona homeowners who tapped HARP did it a few years ago before home prices started to rebound. When the finance program was expanded in 2011 to help homeowners no matter how underwater they were on their mortgages, it was wildly popular in metro Phoenix, where home values fell by half during the crash. But now the popularity of HARP has waned, several Valley mortgage lenders say. Maurice Cohn of Glendale-based Eagle Home Mortgage, a 25-year Valley veteran in lending, told me that he isn’t seeing many people interested in refinancing with HARP. Dean Wegner of Scottsdale-based Academy Mortgage said when the ex-

GREMLYN BRADLEY-WADDELL | SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC

Pining for a private sanctuary? A place to putter around, put up your feet or peruse a book, all the while enjoying the great outdoors? Or maybe you’re craving a bit of land to create a garden, a secret enclave all your own, tucked behind a front-yard wall?

Sounds like you’re in the market for a

courtyard and — lucky for you — courtyards are hot commodities in today’s real-estate market. See COURTYARDS, Page 3R

PHOTO BY VOGT PHOTOGRAPHY

This Tuscan-inspired home, built by Woodridge Builders, features a generous private courtyard where the homeowners can enjoy the outdoors.

See REAGOR, Page 3R

Luxury Retirement Community for Active Adults Over 62 Come And Experience The Hospitality!

Call Us. NOW..

To make reservations to be our guest for complimentary lunch and tour.

For more information, see our ad inside!

LUXURY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OF SUN CITY

623-933-1313 • www.wooddalevillage.com

$5

SCOTTSDALE | 11635 N. Saint Andrews Way | Open Today 1-4PM

LIVE THE DREAM on Orange Tree’s sixth fairway. A notable MLS# paver circular drive and grand courtyard entice you to explore the Bedrooms compelling interior. A professional appliance package, beautifully Bath refinished cabinetry, thick slab granite, Bosch five-burner gas Pool cooktop and glass tile backsplash complete the island kitchen. Glorious vaulted, beamed and planked ceiling in the bonus room. Sq. Ft. Fireplace. Luxurious sitting room master with jetted tub and deep Parking Classy Closets walk-in closet. Endless lawn, BBQ and pool out Lot Size back. Exquisitely landscaped grounds with pretty pathways and iron ZIP Code gates. Phenomenal ACRE+ lot with room to expand. Four car epoxy tandem garage. Tons of storage. In the Magic 85254 Zip Code. Online Pics – Joseph Callaway Price

Brought to you by Those Callaways Luxury Circle, (480) 596-5751

- 5286708 -3 -3 - Yes - 3,116 - 4-Car Garage - ACRE-PLUS - 85254 - ThoseCallaways.com - $999,000

see more inside $5

PHOENIX | 6179 North 29th Place | Open Today 1-5PM

SUPER-CLEAN AND MOVE-IN-READY IN GATED MLS# BILTMORE VILLAS. Boasting big views of Camelback Mountain, Bedrooms this contemporary Southwestern home enjoys beautiful views across Bath a large open common area that offers plenty of privacy. Living room Pool with vaulted tongue-and-groove beamed ceiling, huge wall-windows, tiered clerestory windows. Spacious flex area. Pristine kitchen with Sq. Ft. snow-white cabinetry. Master bedroom with plantation-shuttered ZIP Code windows. Supporting bedroom with built-in desk/cabinetry, Murphy bed. Fabulous sunset patios, lush desert landscaping, statuesque Online Pics Price saguaros. Dramatic natural water feature flows from spa. Community amenities: pathways, tennis court(s), golf course. Visit tourfactory. com/1367465. Inside: details, directions.

Brought to you by Sandra Baldwin, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty

- 5290472 -3 -2 - No - 1,822 - 85016 - BaldwinTeam.com - $615,000

see more inside $5


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