We had lived in Phoenix from 1968 to 1997 and had a second home in Flagstaff from 1973 to 1996.
I was in Hawaii redoing a condo on the Big Island we had purchased as a “second home” when the phone rang. It was 1997. Husband told me he had sold the business and did we want to move to Hawaii permanently? Phoenix had become so large and hot!! I said “yes” and immediately went out and found us a wonderful house that had a main house, a guest house, pool, spa, papaya trees and a fabulous view of the ocean. I then went to work to make it “ours”. Down to the studs! New windows, flooring, appliances, bathrooms, closets, structural changes, with me acting as the general contractor. I loved the work!! Over a 2 year period of time we lived with Stanley and crew at the house, but then my husband developed medical issues and life changed.
While we lived on the Big Island, we had a “second home” at the Colony Surf in the Diamond Head area of Honolulu. When 9/11 happened, my life changed. I was so far from “home”…my Arizona. I was raised in Missouri but Arizona had stolen my heart, and in 2005, after my husband’s passing in 2004, I went to Phoenix to find a home and return to Arizona. I stayed with a dear friend at the Biltmore who thought I was looking for a rental in Sedona. Boy, was she surprised! When I married in 1968, we lived in Phoenix (fewer than 500,000 people then) and in 1973 bought a condo in Flagstaff as our second home. Why had I chosen Sedona? Phoenix was too hot and Flagstaff was too cold. Mostly because of the beautiful weather, clear skies, small town vibe, and centered between Phoenix and Flagstaff, which allowed me to come and go everywhere either direction.
I had chosen 6 properties that I thought would be in my price range between Poco Diablo and the North end of Uptown. Could I afford to live in the areas of Sedona that I knew? I drove by 5 of them and then could not find #6, so I went to the real estate office to ask about the property. The listing agent’s assistant was available, laughed saying the picture of the house was taken from the street behind the property, and took me over to see the home.
When she opened the door, I walked in, took several steps, saw 2 walls of windows with views, and fell in love.
I didn’t know how many bedrooms there were. Didn’t know the square footage. Didn’t know where the bedrooms or bathrooms were…I just fell in love.
The next morning I wrote an offer on the property…full price.
I’m in real estate and have been an Arizona Broker with my own brokerage since 1989 (with the exception of the Hawaii sabbatical) who never fell in love with real estate. I brokered it. I looked at it as an asset. The math had to work. 13 properties over the years, including a home we built in Flagstaff. But, this time I fell in love.
I’ve changed my advice to people moving to Sedona full time…my latest note to a prospective buyer:
“If you are thinking of what makes sense, consider this: Building a new home can be what you want it to be in a neighborhood of your choice. Resale homes that need remodeling can meet your needs but can never truly be your heart and soul, unless you find that perfect one...like I did 20 years ago. When I walked into this house I didn't even know how many bedrooms it had. I fell in love. I remodeled the kitchen right away, then both bathrooms, added a fence for the kitties, relandscaped everywhere...this year I have to do much redo to the exterior, AC, furnace, railings...but I won't move. My heart and soul is here.”
Am I still in love? Yes. Sedona is where my soul is at home.
