The Clark Report
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News, Culture and the Summer Heat!
August 2011
In This Issue
August Get Your PHX
In Other Market News...
CenPho Community
August Get Your PHX: Finally, Rice Paper!

  

Rice Paper  


The goal of Get Your PHX is to show up, en masse, to support those who pioneer new restaurants, stores, bars and event spaces. We want to provide them a boost as they put their sweat, tears and wealth on the line to make life great downtown. Plus, we want to provide a chance for you to meet others like you, who want to get the most out of Phoenix.

 

 

Thanks again to Andy Pappas of La Piccola Cucina who lead the Get Your PHX group in a tour of The Gallantry of the Table. If you missed this one, please drop by and talk to Andy about this epicurean philosophy. There is so much to be learned!

 

So, on to August. We are excited to introduce Rice Paper to you. I've been watching the transformation of this little house on 7th St, just south of Oak. And, of course, we've been hearing about the coming of downtown's first Vietnamese hot spot for months. They are joining the ranks of a slew of great restaurants up and down 7th St.

 

Rice Paper 2 Owners Lan (aka "Lisa") and Hue Tran hail from San Diego. When I dropped by recently Lisa had been up for almost 24 hours straight preparing food and dealing with the hustle of a newly-opened restaurant. I'm told the Pho takes 24 hours to make properly, as well.

 

The things you learn....

 

Lisa and Hue have a particularly interesting story about how they decided to come to Phoenix to open the restaurant  (their family also owns a restaurant in Surprise called Saigon Kitchen). But I'll let them tell you about it.

 

I tried the rice rolls last week and was very impressed. The atmosphere was festive, they have a full bar and great meal presentation. I enjoyed that we could order off a checksheet, as with sushi. That way we could each pick something that we could split.

 

So, here's the thing to keep in mind for this month --Rice Paper is a small place. They can only take 30 people, tops. So, we are doing a first come, first serve RSVP system on this one. 

 

So, we really, really, really need you to RSVP to this one (did you get that last "really"?)

 

The upside: there is no cover for this event, plus Lan and Hue are extending their happy hour only for Get Your PHX guests. The happy hour will include:

 

All wines $5.

$1 off all spring rolls

$6 specialty cocktails

$6 appetizers

$2.75 draft beers

 

Keep an eye on our Facebook Fan Page for updates. As you know, there are always surprises.
 
August Get Your PHX
Thursday, August 18th from 5:30 to 8:30
2221 N. Seventh St.
Phoenix, AZ 85006
 Map here

In Other Market News..

In Summary

 

July had 8,377 closed transactions as of 8/1/2011. Of those 3,597 (43%) are Bank Owned and 1,991 (24%) are Short Sales. 

 

2 out of 3 property are distressed (foreclosure or short sale).

 

July 2011 had the 4th highest number of homes sold of the last 11 years. That's volume!

 

However, 7/11 was down 21% from June in a month to month comparison; but 7/11 was up 18% from 7/10 in a year over year comparison. 

 

We have a huge volume of homes being sold, and prices are pretty low (although not as low as 2009). Prices are bouncing up and down, but going neither up or down in any extreme way. 

 

Image: like a stone bouncing up and down on the bed of a fast moving stream. Poetic, huh?

 

Articles

 

If You Build it (Out) They Will come

There were two really interesting historical perspective articles this week from the Arizona Republic. One article is about how our spread outward was driven by a constant "boosterism" by all who came here. The other article is about what early city leaders hoped for our city. 

 

Solar House Price Reduction

You may recall that my clients Seth and Ben are selling their 1,274 sqft. home with the 3.6kW of solar panels and lots of energy saving goodies. See here.

 

Well, the price has just dropped! You will want to see this. Now at $139,000.

 

We are hosting an open house this Saturday to show off this beautiful home. See the event invite on Facebook.


Solar House

 

Now Even Case-Shiller Knows I'm Right

Money Quote: "Careful calculations show the once-scary shadow inventory in Phoenix is no longer as large as many thought, and what remains can effectively be cleared out in about a year."

 

Biz Journal Changes its Tune 

So, the Biz Journal is starting to change its tune, too. A recent Phoenix Business Journal blog discussed the idea that the Phoenix real estate market is starting to stage a comeback.

 

CenPho Community 

The Dragon Gate of FQ Story

An artist, you've probably never heard of represents one of the many reasons that I love CenPho: whether you love Gaudi-influenced art, or not. You won't find this anywhere else in Phoenix, maybe all of Arizona.

It is a new way to search for information on line. Imagine if you had a personal assistant who searched for you and put together a report for you. Yes, it is all generated by computer, even the voice. And yes, I already searched for my name on here. Clearly I have some more work to do because I'm not on here. Go ahead. Enter a different topic.

A Self-Serving Magazine Plug 

I know what you are thinking: "What do the Australians think of the influence of money on the American political system?"

Okay, maybe you weren't actually thinking that. But the folks at the Victorian Labor Party were kind enough to ask me to pontificate on the topic in this multi-part series.

 

Downtown Phoenix Is...

Students at the Barrett Honors College downtown made this video. I wish more people would do things like this. Maybe I will give it a shot. You know, because I have so much extra time on my hands.


Redistricting Contest Gives Cash for Maps

On August 2nd the Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition handed out $2,000 in prizes for maps in our redistricting contest. We proved that we can create more competitive districts and that people have the power to draw their own districts, thanks to technology. 

 

Look for more recent posts on www.GetYourPHX.com.

 

Final Words, Compliance and Other Legal Stuff

As always, I respect your right not to be bothered with annoying spam email. If you would like to be removed from my email list, just let me know. Thanks!


Sincerely,

 

Ken Clark

Realtor Logo  Equal  John Hall 
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Organizations Worth Supporting

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Phoenix Green Chamber

AZLCV

azredistricting.com

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