Tucson, AZ Celebrated National Train Day

Tucson, Arizona acknowledges the 143rd anniversary of the creation of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad by celebrating the National Train Day last May 12, 2012, Saturday, at the Historic Tucson Train Depot, 414 North Toole, Southern Arizona Transport Museum. This free admission started from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

There’s no better way to celebrate the National Train Day than by learning operating model trains, real steam engines, real trains, and even experience climbing into the cab of steam engine Locomotor number 1673. The Southern Arizona Transport Museum will also feature bilingual railroad exhibits, Union Pacific’s Diesel Simulator for Operator Lifesaver and even listen for Union Pacific’s Diesels pulling long freight trains. Cakes, goodies from Amtrak, and other forms of souvenirs are available at the gift store of the museum.

National Train Day is a one-of-a-kind train event that will bring the railway to life for those in attendance, as well as those participating online through social media. The people of Tucson can also join the celebration of this year’s National Train Day by sharing their train travel-inspired experiences by submitting photos, videos, and stories at NationalTrainDay.com. Those who will participate can get a chance to win an all-expense paid Amtrak Vacations Rail Package for 2 or 2 roundtrip tickets anywhere in the United States where Amtrak travels or 3 DSLR Cameras with 2 interchangeable lenses!

The event is administered by Amtrak, the nation’s intercity passenger rail provider for 40 years of dedicated service as America’s Railroad. “This year’s National Train Day will be celebrated with unique exciting and inspiring train travel offers,” said Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak Vice President, Marketing and Product Development. See TucsonHistoricDepot.org for more details about the National Train Day event.

With an active, breathtaking community, more and more homes in Tucson are being built in this blooming city and state. For you are not merely purchasing a custom home in Tucson for your family’s future plans, but you are also buying an item that gives you the chance to experience the exceptional natural beautiful places and recreational activities you will discover in Tucson.

Among the home builders in Tucson and Arizona, Dorn Homes is the most reliable Arizona home builder that builds quality new construction homes in Tucson. When browsing for home builders in Tucson, look for Dorn-built homes that you can trust to provide you with a stylish, comfortable, convenient and energy-efficient home.

Source: http://www.tucsonhistoricdepot.org/

Tucson school gets national recognition for anti-bullying efforts

A preparatory school in Tucson gets praised for its efforts against bullying. St. Gregory College Preparatory School is one of just 77 schools nationwide that received the 2011-2012 “Model Mix it Up Award.”

This award is given to schools that are working towards fostering unity, civility, respect and understanding in their school communities.The school won the award with the help of a student organization formed this year called the Peace Ambassadors.

“The best thing we can do is add more positivity to our school,” says 7th Grade Student Margo Cramer says. Margo is one of 11 Peace Ambassadors at her school. When asked why she decided to join, she said she knows kids can be mean sometimes. “It feels horrible and I’d rather not have other people, like my friends, feel down about that.”
Throughout the school year the Peace Ambassadors participated in different activities to promote new friendships. Among the activities was a Mix It up Lunch, where students had the chance to work together with peers they didn’t know well.

“We know that in a school environment students do better when they feel safe and there’s a sense of well-being and that’s part of our goal here,” St. Gregory Counselor Kim Peace-Steimer says.
If you’d like to learn how to initiate a Peace Ambassador program at your school, you can contact Kim Peace-Steimer at ksteimer@stgregoryschool.org

Surely, friendly schools and communities abound in Tucson, Arizona. No wonder why people flock to this city to build their new Tucson homes and settle down.

When browsing for new construction homes in Tucson, look for Dorn-built homes that you can trust to be stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy-efficient. Dorn Homes, the most reliable among home builders in Tucson, strives to provide stylish and energy-efficient custom homes in Tucson and other prime cities in Arizona at a competitive price.

As a premier Arizona Custom Home Builder, you can also expect Dorn Homes to work with you, respond to your queries, and help you out in any way we can.

 

Source: KVOA.com

Contemporary Home in the Cliffs of Tucson

A contemporary home in Arizona was custom-built to blend in with the surrounding desert and foothills of the Catalina Mountains.

This Arizona custom house is owned by Cary Marmis, 70, a retired real-estate developer, and his wife Fern.The home includes roughly 25,000 square feet of living space.A major reason to build the home as he did, Mr. Marmis said, was to create a venue large enough to host charitable events. He says the home can accommodate several hundred guests for a sit-down dinner.

Though the architecture is contemporary, “we really softened [the design] to fit in with the environment,” Mr. Marmis said.The design was influenced by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, whose work echoed the kind of natural aesthetic he and his architectural team wanted.

One of the most impressive things about the home, Mr. Marmis said, is the views. In the north lie the Santa Catalina mountains, and from the south, the home offers views of Tucson.

The home was listed in 2008 for $22 million as a 20-acre property with a different brokerage. It was taken off the market in 2009 and re-listed in December 2011 for $15.9 million. The home is now listed for $15.9 million with Nikki Halle at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty.

Custom luxury homes like the one above are many in the sunny state of Arizona! So when browsing for new construction homes in Tucson, look for Dorn-built homes that you can trust to be stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy-efficient. Dorn Homes, the most reliable among home builders in Tucson, strives to provide stylish and energy-efficient custom homes in Tucson and other prime cities in Arizona at a competitive price. We will help you pick the right location for your Arizona home.

As a premier Arizona Custom Home Builder, you can also expect Dorn Homes to work with you, respond to your queries, and help you out in any way we can.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Distressed Home Sales in Tucson, Arizona

There is a new emerging trend in the mix of distressed home sales versus non-distressed sales in the recent months. Distressed home sales have created an impact on the Arizona housing market.

A distressed property, or what is being marketed as “short sales”, is a home that has a mortgage which a homeowner can’t afford to maintain. Instead of foreclosing, the lender agrees to the sale of the property for less than the loan balance. Because of the lesser value selling price of distressed properties, it creates a downward pressure on properties values on surrounding areas. Purchasing a distressed home is more appealing for a home buyer’s standpoint due to the lower pricing, however the process can be more complex and longer.

Here are trends for distressed vs non-distressed residentail property sales for Tucson:

What Does It Mean?

According to the article of longrealty.com, “the data above seems to indicate that we are seeing a shift in the Arizona marketplace with a greater percentage of residential transactions being non-distressed sales, with conditions in place for this trend to continue. If so, it would be good news for the continued improvement of local housing including price stabilization and appreciation.”

When browsing for new construction homes in Tucson, look for Dorn-built homes that you can trust to be stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy-efficient. Dorn Homes, the most reliable among home builders in Tucson, strives to provide stylish and energy-efficient custom homes in Tucson and other prime cities in Arizona at a competitive price. We will help you pick the right location for your Arizona home. As a premier Arizona Custom Home Builder, you can also expect Dorn Homes to work with you, respond to your queries, and help you out in any way we can.

Real Estate Trends in Tucson

 

Tucson, AZ – The average cost of real estate property in Tucson, AZ dropped to $84 per square foot, a decrease of 9.7% compared to the same period last year. The median sales prices for homes in Tucson, AZ for December 2011 to February 2012 was $112,000 based on 2,579 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price decreased by 11% ($13,900) and the number of home sales decreased by 13.3%.

There are currently 6,090 resale and new construction homes in Tucson on Trulia, including 52 open houses, as well as 5,325 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price of homes for sale in Tucson, AZ was $256,374 for the week ending in March 14, which was unchaged compared to the prior week.

When browsing for new homes in Tucson, look for Dorn-built homes that you can trust to be stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy-efficient. Dorn Homes, the most reliable among home builders in Tucson, strives to provide stylish and energy-efficient custom homes in Tucson and other prime cities in Arizona at a competitive price. We will help you pick the right location for your Arizona home. As a premiere Arizona Custom Home Builder, you can also expect Dorn Homes to work with you, respond to your queries, and help you out in any way we can.

 

Source: trulia.com

 

Dorn Homes – Creativity, Quality and Commitment

Discover why Dorn Homes remains to be the leading custom and luxury home builder in Arizona.

Dave Grounds, Dorn Homes President and CEO, believes that Dorn Homes rises above other AZ new home builders because our homes “have a soul.” We construct new homes in Tucson, Prescott, Tubac, Green Valley and other parts of South Arizona with their future owners in mind. Yes, that means YOU.

I love people and I love creating things. It (home building) is a great mixcture where we get to serve people and we get to create branad new Arizona homes. – Dave Grounds, Dorn Homes President and CEO.

As a luxury home builder in Arizona, we want customers like you to be truly involved in making their dream home. The design layouts and fixtures in new construction homes in Tucson, new homes in South Arizona and other prime locations are easy to customize to fit your needs and budget. We want the construction process to be a pleasurable experience for you. The Dorn Homes customer service is unmatched by other home builders in Tucson. You can reach us anytime as we make sure that our communication lines are always open. You can even monitor the progress of your home construction through our website.

Our business is more than just about constructing properties. Dorn Homes is also about establishing a strong builder-customer relationship and together we can build your dream home.

Tucson Resident Exhibits Bravery by Taking Down Accused Thief

Tucson, AZ – Monday, January 30, Tucson resident William Sponaas took down a thief outside of the Big Lots store.

Sponaas says he saw a man trying to get away after stealing a shopping cart full of socks. While he was busy chasing after the bad guy, his daughter Mariah was back at the car calling for 911.

The two made their way across the intersection weaving through strip malls. About an hour later, Sponaas took the guy down when he tried to push Sponaas into traffic.

“I tripped his feet from underneath him and grabbed the back of his ankles and held him down,” described Sponaas.

Eventually police showed up and arrested the guy. The whole event lasted an hour. It was an exhausting experience for Sponaas, but he says he would do it again.

It is always refreshing to hear about acts of bravery because it reinforces the community spirit in Tucson. The sense of peace and order in the city is one of the reasons why many home buyers are looking into new homes in Tucson. When choosing among home builders in Tucson, call only the best and most reliable. Dorn Homes builds Tucson new homes that are stylish, comfortable, convenient, and energy efficient. Dorn Homes also ensures that clients of new construction homes in Tucson are guided in every step of the home building process.

(Source: kgun9.com)

Ski Valley opens earlier than expected thanks to winter storms

Tucson, AZ – Last week’s winter storms left Mt. Lemmon covered in over two feet of snow. Thanks to the Friday winter blast, Ski Valley officially opened for business. For skiers and snowboarders like Matt Russell, the weekend started a little early.

“An epic day at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley,” said Matt Russell.

Thirty plus inches of snow on top of a 14-inch base is not a bad way to open up Ski Valley. These conditions easily made for a busy day on the slopes. Everyone felt like a little kid in the snow—from seasoned snowboarders to first timers.

No one expected Tucson’s winter escape to open up this early in the season, but all the snow made it possible. Of course, the business owners are not complaining.

“Definitely good for business, right before holidays to open this early this year,” said area manager Graham Davies.

The Friday sun didn’t warm things up too much, but that’s the way the skiers like it. When it was time to call it a day and head back to snow-less Tucson, Tucsonans were not too disappointed. After all, Ski Valley is just an hour away and the snow’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

With the Ski Valley just an hour away, snow-loving Tucson folks definitely have a lot to be happy about. Tucson’s accessibility makes it an attractive location and it should not be surprising that more people want to own homes in Tucson. If you think a Tucson home fits your lifestyle, get in touch with the most reliable among home builders in Tucson. Dorn Homes, a notable Arizona home builder, builds Tucson new homes that are stylish, convenient, comfortable, and energy efficient.

(Source: fox11az.com)

Dorn Homes RoseWater Community

Living the good life usually involves a great location and a great home. This is why Dorn Homes, a notable Arizona home builder, offers quality Tucson community homes that would enable individuals, couples, families, and retirees to live life to the fullest.

Dorn Homes is a family—and we want you to be part of it. We strive to understand your desires more than any other Tucson home builder. We know how buying a home can make a big impact to your family life, so we work hard to make sure you have all the support and information you need to make the very best choices, every step of the way. Now, Dorn Homes presents another new and exciting Tucson community—the community in RoseWater.

Ideal for nature lovers and outdoor adventurists, the RoseWater community is located near national forests, mountain trails, parks, and country clubs. What better way to enjoy Arizona’s Tucson than with a bit of outdoor fun that enables families to have a great time together? Picnicking, hiking, biking, and camping are just some of the fun activities that families can enjoy.

Located right at the heart of Tucson, RoseWater community homes have easy access to schools, convenience stores, and farmer’s markets. So why live in inconvenient locations when you can have everything you need right here? So choose RoseWater, choose Dorn Homes. Dorn is the dependable choice for a home builder in RoseWater. Expect that a Dorn-built house is stylish, convenient, comfortable, and energy efficient. Trust only the most reliable so that you will make the wise investment that you and your family can truly enjoy.

Dorn Homes Pantano Community

When it comes to living in comfort and convenience, Dorn Homes encourages everyone to check out Pantano Homes. An ideal community that is perfectly nestled at the heart of Tucson, Dorn Homes’s Pantano Community is the right choice for first-time homeowners, military personnel of the nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and anyone who seeks a comfy yet stylish single-family home.

Anyone would love living in a Pantano community home because it is just a short drive away from schools and the market. As an added bonus, an amazing backdrop of mountains with miles of trails and nature is practically in your backyard.

Fun recreation is accessible, too. The Pantano Riding Stables is a popular destination for trail rides, wagon rides, and summer horse camp. Western riding adventure is guaranteed to be a blast. Holiday events are also held at the Pantano Riding Stables.

Arizona’s second largest city, Tucson, is one of North America’s oldest continuously inhabited areas. Tucson has a gorgeous city skyline with an amazing backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Rincon Mountains, and Tucson Mountains. The warm climate makes it an ideal place to seek outdoor activities and discover the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Golf, a mainstream sport in Arizona, is accessible in Tucson as well with world-class courses that would delight any golfer.

As the oldest incorporated city in Arizona (Tucson was incorporated in 1877), Tucson boasts of a metropolitan lifestyle, but with homely neighborhoods. Over 150 companies in Tucson are involved in the design and manufacture of optics and optoelectronic systems, earning it the nickname Optics Valley. But this “Old Pueblo” remains grounded and remembers its culture and heritage through their festivities, cultural shows/events, cuisine, and preservation of museums and historical sites. Alongside these traditional features are more modern offerings like luxurious spas, amazing golf courses, and lively shopping districts. It’s no surprise that every Tucsonan is a satisfied resident of a Tucson community home.

Dorn Homes, a great choice as a new Pantano community home builder, only builds tasteful, comfortable, convenient, and energy efficient homes that would surely wow anyone as it had wowed past and current clients. This premier Arizona home builder guides homeowners in every step of the home building process.

 

 

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