Ah, Sunday. Nothing like fresh coffee & French Toast!
Via Ace
All posts by Ben
ADWR Sponsors Trip Through the Grand Canyon
Editor’s Note: On July 25, 2019, the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, or GCDAMP, sponsored an eight-day Colorado River raft trip through the Grand Canyon for the organization’s stakeholders, which include members of government and science-oriented agencies whose duties include conditional analysis and research of the river.
One of those stakeholders was ADWR Water Resources Specialist Craig McGinnis, a member of the GCDAMP Technical Work Group. The work group provides technical assistance to the Adaptive Management Work Group and consults with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center in developing criteria and standards for monitoring and research programs.
Craig put together the highly polished video linked below because of his abiding fascination with the canyon and the river and because “I had a good GoPro camera that could do the job — with eight days of charge on a power cell, of course.”
Craig reports: In our roles as public servants of the State of Arizona, we help carry the torch of ADWR’s mission – protecting and enhancing Arizona’s water supplies for current and future generations.
This mission goes hand in hand with the stewardship of our natural heritage: to best preserve the ecological wonders of our surroundings for posterity. Few would argue against the Grand Canyon as the crown jewel of these Arizona treasures – a natural wonder of the world and reflected in our nickname as the Grand Canyon State.
As documented in this clip, the 2019 trip embarked July 25 through August 2. Stated objectives for the trip included providing an opportunity for Tribal representatives and GCDAMP stakeholders to learn about current river issues, and for Tribal partners to articulate their respective concerns and perspectives in a field situation.
https://youtu.be/vev8iMdW7hA
Click to see the video. ADWR (Arizona Department of Water Resources) is responsible for all of the water in Arizona. Check out the article for more info on their programs.
Sunday Jam
Saw these guys several times in small halls & once at the Cleveland Colosseum on New Years’ Eve 1976/1977. Always an amazing show, and one of the most underrated groups of the 1970s.
Prices Are Bubblicious, Will the Bubble Burst?
The nation’s surging home prices don’t seem to care about the recession the country is mired in. They can’t be bothered by the deadly coronavirus pandemic or the double-digit unemployment that’s come as a result. Instead, prices are defying logic, expectations, and even belief, as they shoot up to record highs amid an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
It has all led some to wonder: Are some markets getting too hot? Could a significant correction be around the corner?
Such questions have become louder in recent weeks, in the face of some startling growth numbers, particularly in some high-priced California and less expensive Rust Belt, Midwestern, and Southern markets.
Source: Home Prices Hit Record Highs. Is It a Bubble About to Burst? | realtor.com®
With the massive migration from California, and other large metro areas, I think we’re just at the beginning of this new wave. Our biggest problem is that the builders and everyone else in the system (title people, county inspectors etc.) are overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the demand.
Meanwhile, I expect things will stay hot for the foreseeable future.
– Ben
Sunday Jam
Existing Home Sales Soar By Record To Highest In 14 Years
After a 20.7% MoM surge in June, July’s existing home sales were up a stunning 24.7% MoM (crushing expectations of a 14.6% MoM) and sending home sales up 8.72% YoY
Making the Tiny Home Perfect for Living Large
On “Good Bones,” Mina Starsiak and her mother, Karen Laine, have shown themselves to be pros at making small spaces feel open and airy. In their newest Indianapolis renovation, they show how to creatively transform a grungy, run-down house into a bright and inspiring artists’ cottage. In the episode “Cottage Becomes Artistic Oasis,”
Starsiak and Laine are tasked with renovating a house that a local arts nonprofit has bought for a mere $6,000. They plan to turn it into affordable housing for artists.
The top challenges? For one, the house is tiny, just 790 square feet. The nonprofit also has a tight budget of $90,0000 to spend on renovations, which won’t go far, given all the work this place needs…
For less than $100, they build a vertical living garden inside the sunny three-season room and fill it with edible plants like basil, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, and chives. The result is a beautiful green design element that’s also functional.
This article has even more goodies. One important thing is to use neutral and lighter colors in small spaces. This makes them feel much bigger and inviting.
Since the home will someday be rented out to artists, Starsiak and Laine decide to keep the design color palette light and neutral.
Not only does this help make the tiny home feel bigger, but it also creates a blank slate for the future tenants. They’ll be able to add their own colors and decor to match their style.
Source: ‘Good Bones’ Reveals Top Tricks To Make a Tiny Home Feel Huge | realtor.com®
Lots of interesting ideas for those on a tight budget or just anyone who wants new things to try.
There’s quite a few smaller homes in Kingman dating back to when it was a sleepier mining town. Good bones homes, but in desperate need of a renovation. Many investors have already caught on to this idea as it’s a great way to build instant equity. Many folks will pay top dollar for a mint move-in condition home.
Moreover, these inspirations can translate to your new tiny home in the beautiful northwest high desert of Arizona.
Enjoy…Ben
Frequent Visitors
This roadrunner has been hanging around. The bugs like to be wherever the cool air escapes from our swamp cooler, and he waits patiently to dine…
Frequent Visitors
Lately, we’ve been leaving a little water out for all of the neighboring wildlife during this extreme heat time.
Here’s a glimpse of a Golden Eagle through our kitchen window. We’ve seen a pair with a juvenile, but it’s so hard to get a decent shot.
Besides the eagles, we see javalina every day with two young babies. We’ve even had a deer, it’s wild kingdom out here! – Ben
Good News Again – Housing Starts Soar 22.6% in July
The numbers: Home-building activity has staged a significant turnaround from the coronavirus-related slowdown.
U.S. home builders began construction on homes at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.496 million in July, up 22.6% from the previous month and 23.4% from a year ago, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday. The pace of home building is now 7% down from the pre-coronavirus high.
Permitting activity occurred at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.495 million, up 18.8% from June and 9.4% from July 2019.
Source: Housing Starts Soar 22.6% in July as Americans Reenter the Housing Market in Droves | realtor.com®
It’s wild here as we are clearly in a “boom.” Sadly, land prices are just beginning to move up, primarily because the market is being driven by California and other big city refugees looking for immediate housing. Still, there are encouraging signs: same day land sales (we haven’t seen that for a long time,) multiple offers, and shrinking inventories are all contributing to somewhat more solid prices.
The lack of ready infrastructure is holding many folks back. Some would be more than willing to live temporarily in an RV, but just don’t want to start completely from scratch. Having a septic, or even a basic driveway are all helpful. A well or utility power are hot sellers these days.
Meanwhile, it’s just startling to see how active the market is in the residential world. At least 50% of sales in Kingman are on the very first day of the listing. – Ben
(Photo: Realtor.com)