I’ve been fortunate to live in the area for about 12 years and I love to brag about it to anyone I meet that hasn’t yet discovered this area, weather from they are from out of state or other parts of the Valley.

Cave Creek is home to many unexpected surprises and it always amazes me how few people that live in the Phoenix Metro area haven’t ventured up this way. It’s only a short 15-20 minute car-ride, or a mellow cruise up on your bike, from the Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road, but feels like a different world once you arrive. It’s a world away from the bustling downtown and to some, feels like a journey back in time to the old Wild West days when life moved at a slower pace. I like to describe the town as a mix of artsy, cowboy and funky with just enough sophistication thrown in to appeal to most everyone-wonderfully eclectic!

In addition to being at a bit higher elevation than other parts of the Valley, it’s a bit cooler up here and we’re fortunate to have a gorgeous range of mountains all around us so the views from most parts of town are gorgeous. It’s normally very peaceful and a bit of a sleepy little town but the population grows in the winter months and weekends as folks head up here to get out of the cold or to take in some of the weekend goings-on.

We have some of the best coffee joints, wine bars, restaurants and bars in the Valley and are overflowing with shops and galleries to keep you busy for a day (weekend or longer) discovering all that the town has to offer.

The residents here are warm and welcoming and love to see new faces, and there are always a few local characters hanging around sipping a cup of locally roasted coffee or a cold beer that are happy to bend your ear with an interesting story or two. I’ve added a few photos of some of the local hot spots that are among my favorites.

In addition to being a creative writer (ha!), I’m also a local Realtor and would love the opportunity to work with you and introduce you to the area. It makes my chosen career a delight when I have such a great community in which to live and work.

So, if you’re looking for a day trip during the weekend or considering re-locating to another area of the Valley-head North! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Until next time….

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.

   Cave Creek Wicked (www.cavecreekwicked.com):
  
Sat. Oct. 29th, 2011, Family Events 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, Adult Costume Contest & Bar Crawl 6:30 pm – 2:00 am
  
Cave Creek Wicked is almost here! Watch this site for updates on haunted maze, family day on the streets, pet costume, horse costume, kids costume contests and pub crawl in the evening. Plan your costume and get ready to get Wicked!  Cave Creek Wicked map
 

Wild West Days (www.wildwestdayscavecreek.com):
  
November 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th 2011, schedule of events  che

checheThere’s something for everyone from the oldest to the youngest Cowboy and Cowgirl during Wild West Days.
  
Bring the whole family out to Cave Creek, Arizona during the 4-day Wild West Days celebration in the historic Western Town of Cave Creek, Arizona, located just north of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona.  This year, in its 9th annual celebration, Wild West Days has also decided to support the Luv Shack Ranch Horse Rescue, the Desert Foothills Community Association (DFCA),  the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, and the 100 Club of Arizona, as its main charities. In addition, the event will provide charitable support to the many horse-related organizations throughout our community which do so much to preserve our independent Western lifestyle.
  
 Hope to see you at these fun events in Cave Creek, AZ!