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Arizona Homes

Wednesday, August 19, 2009@ 1:52 PM
posted by Frank Stevens

Arizona Homes

For those who are uninitiated, it may seem like Scottsdale is just another Phoenix suburb. Although it may look that way on a map, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Scottsdale has transformed itself from a tiny farming town into one of the most luxurious and cultural cities in the country. Scottsdale ranks among the most affluent communities in the country with an average house price of over a half million dollars.

However, there are still buying opportunities in the area. The recent real estate and mortgage meltdown has impacted sales in many areas of the country and Scottsdale is not immune. This turns into an opportunity for buyers as the inventory from which they can choose is at an all-time high.

Scottsdale is the perfect city to live in if golf is your sport. There is no need to get stuck playing the same local course over and over again. There are over 190 courses in the metropolitan area and several have been ranked amongst the best in the world by professional players. There is a variety of course types from traditional links to desertscape. PGA pros play Scottsdale’s courses regularly and many have chosen the city as their home. The Robb Report has named Scottsdale “America’s Best Place to Live for Golf”. Along with some of the world’s best golf courses come some of the best golf schools and instructors. Even if you are just learning the sport, Scottsdale’s golf pros can help you shine up your skills and play like a pro.

Those who like to enjoy the nightlife will be excited by downtown Scottsdale’s vast array of night clubs, bars and restaurants. There are over 70 night clubs and bars downtown and many are within walking distance of each other. This creates a kind of “traveling party” in the downtown as revelers make their way from one spot to another, the music following them down the street.

If you are looking to settle down in Scottsdale, you will need an experienced real estate agent who understands the Scottsdale market. Stephen and Alice Proski of RE/MAX All Stars (www.az-homes4u.com) have been helping clients buy and sell real estate in the Scottsdale market for over 20 years. They have seen all market conditions and have guided many clients through the current one. Stephen and Alice know which areas of Scottsdale represent true bargains these days and which neighborhoods fit with your lifestyle and your preferences.

Scottsdale has a variety of housing styles to appeal to all tastes from artsy studio apartments downtown to two-story sprawling Georgians. There are ranch-style homes in the outer communities that have amazing views of the Sonora Desert and the Valley of the Sun, or quaint gingerbread townhouses in neat suburbs with flowers blooming in every front garden.

Moving to Scottsdale can be a reality and is for many new residents. The pull of the desert, the interminable sunshine and the quality of living make Scottsdale one of best places to put down roots in the country.

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Atlanta Goes Green

Wednesday, August 19, 2009@ 4:55 AM
posted by Frank Stevens

Atlanta Goes Green

Environmental awareness and urban sustainability are popular phrases these days. Cities across the United States are working towards being more “green”. This can encompass many initiatives including recycling, waste management, and local food production. The green movement is taking hold in many urban environments as cities struggle to deal with the less visible bi-products of production such as air pollution, landfill constraints and access to whole foods.

It is often lamented that, in general, the south lags behind the north in environmental awareness. While that is still true in many regions, some southern cities are picking up the ball and proving that they can be as green as any other city. Atlanta is no exception.

Atlanta is a city of over a half million residents and over 5.5 million residents in the surrounding metropolitan area. It is a major media and technology hub in the south, and the city attracts highly-skilled workers from all over the country. Atlanta’s green sensibilities are a blend of its residents’ needs and desires.

Atlanta has many active sustainability initiatives in progress. Curbside recycling is a cornerstone of the environmental plan. Atlanta’s curbside recycling is one of the most dynamic in the Southeast. The program recycles fine paper, glass, aluminum and steel cans, plastics and cardboard. The city has contracted with private recyclers who purchase the recycled materials and keep them out of the landfill. Atlanta also maintains several recycling drop off locations for items like batteries and old paint cans.

Atlanta’s mayor, Shirley Franklin, has been named one of the top “eco-mayors” in the country by Mother Nature Network for her efforts at improving environmental awareness and leading Atlanta towards a greener future. One of the initiatives named in the award is the Beltline, a proposed alternative public transportation system that includes 22 miles of light rail and 2,200 acres of new parks and green spaces. The proposal works the transportation around existing structures, preserving historic homes and buildings and causing minimal disruption to existing neighborhoods. Work will begin on the Beltline project in the fall of this year and will be continued for several years as the land required is purchased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. When it is completed, the Beltline will connect more than 45 Atlanta neighborhoods and will diminish the need for private transportation in much of Atlanta, thereby saving air pollution, gasoline, and traffic congestion.

Atlanta also monitors its carbon footprint closely and is actively working on reducing it. A carbon footprint represents the amount of stress put on the environment and tries to capture the environmental cost of activities. The city has set targets to reduce energy use, water and fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. Not only does the city government look to reduce their own carbon footprint but they provide information to their residents on how everyone can be more environmentally responsible.

Atlanta’s green attitude is just one more of its many draws that have made it one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

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Nashville Is the Place to be to Become a Country Music Star

Friday, August 14, 2009@ 5:26 AM
posted by Frank Stevens

Nashville Is the Place to be to Become a Country Music Star

Country music has remained one of the country’s most popular music genres since its birth in the 1930’s and 40’s. Every year, dozens of new country recording artists emerge on the music scenes and thousands clamor for the opportunity to get noticed.

For those who truly want the opportunity to get noticed and perhaps become the next country music star, Nashville is the place to be. Nashville is the birthplace of country music, with radio broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry having been broadcast starting in 1925. The Opry was responsible for the creation of many country music careers, including Loretta Lynn, Hank Snow and Willie Nelson.

Today, Nashville is still the center of the country music scene in the United States. Music industry professionals live in Nashville and recording studios dot the landscape. New up-and-coming artists play live in Nashville’s dozens of live music venues nightly. The city is redolent with the country music vibe.

If you’re just starting out in the music business and country is your genre, Nashville is the place you need to be. To be successful in the industry, you need to understand it and be immersed in it. Start by taking in all the live music in Nashville that you can find. Get a feel for new trends in country music and what is popular at the moment. Talk to industry professionals that you encounter in local venues. There are agents, managers, artists, and label executives that commonly frequent Nashville concerts. You’re not there to promote yourself; just to learn everything you can about the industry.

There are many venues in Nashville that have open mic night. This is an opportunity for you to practice your stage presence and your material. Keep in mind that, although these venues can sometimes be laid back and casual, there is always the possibility of industry professionals in attendance so make sure that you are at your best every performance. Keep alcohol to a minimum and dress for success- the casual look works for country music but rips and tears in grungy clothes that you have picked up off of your floor doesn’t.

Once you think you are ready to take your music to the next level, Nashville has many opportunities to get in front of the right people, but it rarely happens overnight. The more you immerse yourself in Nashville’s country culture, the more opportunities are likely to present themselves over time.

Moving to Nashville is the easiest way to stay in tune with the country music scene there. Housing prices- both for purchase and rental- are reasonable and there are lots of houses and apartments within walking distance to most of the central Nashville hotspots. Nashville’s restaurants are top-notch and the quality of living is ranked high annually.

Nashville draws country music artists from all over the world and is an energizing and creative place for artists to work on their craft and get experience in the business. And, for the lucky few, Nashville can catapult a career into the stratosphere.

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Taking On Temporary Assignments

Tuesday, August 11, 2009@ 10:17 AM
posted by Frank Stevens

Taking On Temporary Assignments

For many employees, working at the same job day in and day out can get monotonous over time. While you may like the company you work for and your position, it is common to yearn for change; to learn new skills and work in a new environment. But hopping from one job to another just isn’t practical for most employees and, in this uncertain economic climate, it is often not a possibility.

Many national and international companies have temporary assignments available in many of their offices. It is an opportunity for their employees to get experience in other areas of the company and to bring their experience to share with their new office. These assignments can last anywhere from a week to a year or more. It is a win for both employer and employee.

Moving to a different part of the country for a temporary job can be disruptive to your life, especially if you have a spouse and children. If it is a shorter assignment, you may choose to leave your family at home in order to not disrupt jobs, schools, and other social engagements. On a longer assignment, you may wish to rent out your house and take the family with you.

When choosing your accommodations for the assignment, the length of your stay may impact your choices. A hotel room is common for shorter stays although there are several drawbacks. A hotel room doesn’t provide you many of the amenities you have at home like a kitchen, or a washer and dryer. There isn’t much room to spread out in a hotel room, and it is unlikely to ever feel ‘homey’.

With a longer assignment, a hotel room can be costly. On top of that, putting up with the lack of amenities for a long period of time or trying to live in a hotel room with family can be stressful and not practical. One alternative is to rent an apartment, however, if the assignment is less than a year, having to organize heat, electricity, water and other utilities and maintenance on the apartment can be a huge time-waster. Ensuring that all the utilities get turned on when they’re supposed to and organizing all of the final readings and billings at the end can take up time that could be spent sight-seeing in your new city.

There is a third alternative for finding accommodations for a temporary assignment. You can rent temporary extended stay housing. Wynne Residential Corporate Housing maintains luxury apartments in every state and in most major cities for corporate relocations, vacations and any other type of extended stay travel. Wynne apartments are fully furnished and have everything you would expect from home. Apartments come in many sizes and styles to accommodate the size of your family and your preferences. Wynne also looks after all of the utilities and maintenance so that you can focus on settling in to your new location. Whether your stay is a few weeks to a few months, staying in an extended stay apartment is convenient and relaxing.

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