Why are so many people making the move to Goodyear? Goodyear, quite simply, has it all! From great dining and shopping to outdoor amenities such as scenic mountains with hiking trails, a new ballpark, golf, parks and more!
Located approximately 17 miles west of Phoenix, with easy access to I-10, sits the ever growing city of Goodyear. Goodyear offers an active outdoor lifestyle with walking, hiking and golfing. Distinctive master-planned communities such as Palm Valley, Pebble Creek and Estrella offer residents lakes, country clubs, golf courses, parks, paths, restaurants and shopping. Goodyear has been honored with the prestigious All-America City designation as well as the esteemed Most Livable City Award. It truly is a great place to live!
Goodyear opened the state-of-the art Goodyear Ballpark in 2009, home of spring training for the Cincinnati Reds. Various teams in the Cactus League provide great entertainment for locals and visitors during the Spring Training season. The Goodyear Ballpark is also home to festivals, Goodyear's monthly City Market, fireworks on the 4th and more. It is a beautiful facility that offer so much to the community.
Estrella Mountain Regional Park, located at the base of the majestic Sierra Estrella Mountains, provides 39 miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, in addition to ramadas, playgrounds, grills and lots of open space. Also located in the park is The Tres Rios Golf Course at Estrella Mountain Park which is surrounded by spectacular mountain views.
Speaking of golf, Goodyear is home to numerous golf courses including Palm Valley Golf Club, Pebble Creek's Tuscany Falls and Eagle's Nest golf courses, Golf Club at Estrella, and Falcon Dunes. Each course provides a unique golf experience for local golfers.
Goodyear is now known as the retail hub of the Southwest Valley. Currently residents can pick from a large array of shopping and pretty much find everything they need located within a few miles. And there is more shopping on the horizon! Goodyear plans to begin construction of Westcor's Estrella Falls Regional Shopping Center, the next super regional mall in the Phoenix area, soon. Estrella Falls will encompass 105 acres and will bring top top tier stores to Goodyear such as Macy's. Located around Estrella Falls will be a mixture of shopping, dining, hospitality, office and entertainment.
Craving a little culture? The West Valley Arts Council sponsors a year-round schedule of performances held at various venues in the West Valley including Goodyear. Through Performing Arts, art shows, concerts, classes and more, the West Valley Arts Council helps provide quality entertainment and cultural enrichment to West Valley residents.
If you have been thinking about buying a new home, now's the time to check out some of the great homes in Goodyear and take advantage of low prices and low interest rates. With all of the amenities that Goodyear has to offer, it is easy to see why it is earning rewards.
Evaluate Your Finances & Speak to a Lender
Owning a home in Litchfield Park or Goodyear is a major commitment and before you begin the process it is essential to evaluate your current finances. If you don't already have a budget set up, now is the time to do it. By having a monthly budget you can determine how much money you can afford to spend on housing expenses each month. After you set up a budget take a look at your savings, do you have enough for a down payment, closings costs and reserves? If not, it's time to tighten your belt and start saving.
Speak to a lender about what type of loan program that you may qualify for and how much cash you will need to proceed. A knowledgeable lender can also check your credit score to determine if you are eligible for a loan. In addition, when you place an offer on a property, you will most likely need to provide a pre-qualification letter of form.
A Realtor® Can Help You Find a Litchfield Park or Goodyear Home
All buyers should have a Realtor to represent their interests during the home buying process. Your real estate agent is your insider to the world of home buying. The right buyer's agent can be a real asset to have on your side and can also save you time, frustration and money. Make sure to find a local agent who specializes in Litchfield Park and Goodyear real estate.
A good real estate agent is invaluable when it comes time to make an offer on a house. After researching the property and the surrounding neighborhood, your realtor will draw up a purchase contract and then present it to the seller's agent. After negotiations are complete and the offer has been accepted it is time to get an appraisal for your lender and a home inspection of the property. As the close of escrow approaches you will complete a final walk-through of the house before signing the paperwork.
Looking to purchase a home in Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale or Buckeye? Ask me how you can buy a home with only 1% down! Let The West Valley Home Team help you find your way home in the West Valley. Visit our website or call 623-252-9350 for assistance in finding your new home.
Farmer's Market-Courtesy of www.anaturalday.com
Support your local farmers and businesses! The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park will continue to run the popular Wigwam Farmer's Market every Sunday thru the summer. Enjoy fresh seasonal produce from local farmers as well as a variety of vendors. The market starts at 7am and ends at 11am. It's a great place to take the family and enjoy some fresh local food.
The historic Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park has just completed their 7 million dollar renovation. Tons of exciting changes have occurred at the 440 acre resort including a new pool with water slides and the new Wigwam Bar.
Throughout the summer The Wigwam is celebrating their new "ultra-hip" Wigwam Bar with Cocktails & Chocolates. For only $20 per person, you can sample two of The Wigwam's signature cocktails along with homemade chocolate truffles from 7pm to 10pm. It's a great way to check out the newly revamped Litchfield Park resort. This event runs through September 4th, 2011.
The Phoenix Zoo comes to life at night on June 11th for Prowl & Play, a unique evening with the animals. From 6pm to 9:30pm take part in various activities where you can explore the darkened trails of the Phoenix Zoo. You can enjoy a guided night hike, catch a ride on the Safari Train or cool off at Yakulla Caverns and Leapin' Lagoon water play areas. For more information check out www.PhoenixZoo.org.
Help support our troops by participating in Packages From Home. Packages From Home collects and packages items that are sent to our servicemen overseas. Donate an item and get $1 off your admission to Prowl & Play. For a list of acceptable donation items go to www.packagesfromhome.org.
Welcome to The West Valley Home Team's blog about things to do in Phoenix's West Valley, including Litchfield Park, Avondale, Goodyear and the surrounding areas. This week features fun events like Spring Training, the Goodyear City Market, golf, family movie night and venomous creatures! Hope everyone enjoys their week!
Extended Spring Training-Courtesy of City of Goodyear
Extended Spring Training Baseball at Goodyear Ballpark: Enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather before it heats up and watch the Dodgers vs the Reds or the Brewers vs the Indians at 10:30 pm at the Goodyear Ballpark. Visit www.goodyearaz.gov for more information.
Movie Night at the Ballpark-"Tangled": Can't beat the evening weather in Arizona right now! Grab the family and head out to the Goodyear Ballpark to enjoy a free outdoor showing of Disney's "Tangled," a cute twist to the classic Rapunzel. Gates open at 6:30pm and the movie begins at 7:30pm. Seating is on the field so bring a blanket (no lawn chairs permitted). Parking is also free and concessions will be available for purchase. Visit www.goodyearaz.gov for more information.
Wigwam Golf Course-Courtesy of Wigwam Resort
Litchfield Park Friends of the Rec "Just FORE Kids" 36th Charity Golf Tournament: The Friends of the Rec will be hosting their annual charity golf event on the Wigwam's Red Course. The Friends of the Rec are a non-profit organization encouraging youth and family social activity, recreation and healthy living in Litchfield Park and neighboring communities. Check in begins at 6:30am and tournament starts at 7:30am. Visit www.litchfield-park.org for more information.
Goodyear City Market & Public Works Expo: To celebrate National Drinking Water Week and Public Works Week, the Goodyear Public Works Department is hosting and expo at the City Market from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. Educational information will be available along with the normal Goodyear City Market's local produce, homemade goodies and handmade arts & crafts. Located in the front parking lot of the Goodyear Ballpark. Visit www.goodyearaz.gov for more information.
Venomous Creatures at White Tank Parks: Head out to the White Tank Park Nature Center to see and learn about some of the venomous creatures that inhabit our beautiful Arizona desert. The White Tank Park Nature Center is located inside the White Tank Branch Library just outside the park entrance. Event starts at 10:00 am.
Lunch With Spidey at Estrella Mountain Regional Park: At 12:00 they will be feeding their tarantula and scorpions at the Nature Center. Kids can enjoy coloring pages and parents can learn about bites and stings safety. Admission to the park is required.
Did you know that most of the national web site home search systems are not real time? In fact they are third party IDX systems that simply feed from the MLS with a delay. Some homes may still show up as Active, but actually they are already AWC, Pending, Sold, Canceled or Expired.
I am proud to provide Litchfield Park home buyers with the most up to date information available. With our MLS Home Search, buyers are looking at properties in real time. In fact it is the same system that Realtors® in Phoenix Metro Area use for our own searches. It is easy to use and you can set up your own criteria or use our convenient 1 Click Searches.
pVisit our website at www.TheWestValleyHomeTeam.com and view all Litchfield Park Real Estate on the MLS Live!
Looking to purchase a home in Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale or Buckeye? Ask me how you can buy a home with only 1% down! Let the West Valley Home Team help you find your way home in the West Valley.
Out and About in Litchfield Park & Goodyear: Upcoming Events
Upcoming Litchfield Park Events:
February 20th: Wigwam Farmer's Market. Every Sunday the Wigwam presents locally grown farm produce and a variety of local artisans on the front lawn of the resort. Admission is free. The market starts at 9am, ends at 1:30pm and runs through April 17th.
March 3rd: Wigwam's Martinis & Manicures. Need a girl's night out? Every first Thursday of the month enjoy a mini manicure while sipping a martini or margarita at Litchfield's 
Bar at The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. From 6pm to 9pm.
March 5th: Litchfield Park/Friends of the Rec 10k, 5k, 1 Mile Fun Run & Celebration of Life Walk. All participants receive a goody bag, t-shirt and a raffle ticket for prize drawings. Food, drink and an award ceremony are included in the event. Walk as a cancer survivor or in memory of a friend or family member in the Celebration of Life 1 mile walk. Check-in at 6:30am at Old Litchfield Park Downtown Center. Call 623-935-9040 for more information.
March 12th & 13th: 
Spring Fine Art & Culinary Festival. This event boasts over 200 art booths, wine garden with wine and beer tastings, culinary delights from noted chefs, great good, live music and much more! Located on the Florence Brinton Litchfield Park Memorial Library Lawn. Free admission and parking. Small fee for Wine Garden. Call 623-252-9350 for more information.
March 15th: Flag Raising Ceremony. Flag raising ceremony on the front lawn of Litchfield Park City Hall in honor of the 235th Merchant Marine Founder's Day. Reception immediately following. Ceremony starts at 8:15 am and this event is free. Call 623-935-5033 for more information.
March 20th: Arts in the Park Concert. Enjoy the free concert held at the Wigwam Resort's north lawn. Featuring Litchfield Park favorite Mary Hoffman. This event is free. Bring your lawn chairs! Call 623-935-9040 for more information.
Upcoming Goodyear Events:
February 19th: West Valley Magazine and The IMS Arizona Marathon Expo. Held Saturday February 19th at Western Sky Middle School from 10am to 5pm.
February 20th: 3rd Annual IMS Marathon. The IMS Arizona Marathon will consist of a full (Boston Marathon qualifying) marathon, a half marathon, marathon relay and a 5k walk/run. Registration is available at the Expo on Saturday February 19th at Western Sky Middle School. Venue is held at Westgate in Glendale.
February 19th: Heart and Sole Run/Walk. Event is held at Goodyear Ballpark with registration starting at 8am. Receive a t-shirt, ribbon, goodies and refreshments with registration. The ballpark will also have music, vendor booths and food concessions. Call 623-882-7603 for more information.
February 25th: Trip to Rockin' R Ranch. The Rockin' R Ranch is still owned and operated by one of Arizona's original pioneer families. This historic ranch has a history as intriguing as the West was wild. Share an evening of real cowboy fun at Arizona's Wild West Town with shows and entertainment. Go to rockr.net for more information or call 480-832-1539.
February 26th: Goodyear City Market. Goodyear hosts a marketplace at Goodyear Ballpark on the first Saturday of the month from October to May, featuring local produce, homemade goodies and handmade arts and crafts. The event is held in the Front Parking Lot and runs from 10am to 2pm. Call 623-882-7603 for more information.
Litchfield Park and Goodyear Homeowners: Solving Your Mortgage Crisis Just Got Easier!
5 Steps for a Successful Short Sale
Lenders and the federal government, prompted by the sheer volume of loan modification and short sale requests, have overhauled their systems and programs, making the foreclosure avoidance process much easier than in the past.
If you are considering short selling your home to avoid the financial and emotional fallout of foreclosure, you should be aware of the five steps you should take to increase your chances of a successful transaction.
First, do you qualify?
You must:
1. Have a verifiable hardship, like unemployment, medical bills, or relocation
2. Must have a monthly income shortfall
3. Be insolvent (you have no cash or assets that can be sold to pay down the mortgage), or headed towards insolvency
If you meet these qualifications, follow these five steps to a successful short sale:
1. Contact me so we can identify your servicer, fill out a short sale packet for the lender, and assemble all the required information needed to list your home for sale
2. Gather financial information (i.e., bank statements, pay stubs) from at least the last three months
3. Keep your house in showcase condition for showings, and make as many repairs as necessary and that you can afford
4. Expect the lender, junior lien holders, and private insurance companies to request more paperwork, and try to gather requested information quickly to ensure transaction efficiency
5. Set realistic expectations and work with me, the lender, and the buyer to the satisfaction and benefit of all parties involved
For more information about how the short sale process works, or about any other foreclosure alternatives you may qualify for, call me today. I can help you alleviate the burden that the threat of foreclosure brings, and we can develop a strategy to help you breathe a little easier.
If you or someone you know is feeling the financial pinch of today's economy, let me help relieve your mortgage payment pressure by educating you about your foreclosure alternatives. The time is now to escape the grip of foreclosure and take control of your financial future.Don't hesitate to check out our website for the free resourcesat:
www.WestValleyShortSales.co/
You will find valuable information regarding foreclosure, strategic foreclosure, and short sales that can help you make the right choice. The West Valley Home Team at Welcome Home Realty specializes in real estate in the West Valley, including Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye and the surrounding areas.
If you would like a free confidential consultation please call 623-252-9350.
