In today’s economy it’s tougher and tougher to plan ahead. Unfortunately there are disasters that are of course outside of your circle of influence; disasters that may happen in the future. Even if you are a savvy investor there are companies that go under, even when they look good on paper, but that had some of your retirement plans when you thought they were doing great. The federal government is bailing investment and insurance firms out of the holes they dug themselves. What are you to do and who do you believe?

Is it still a good time to get house plans for building the custom home of your dreams? That is a decision that only you can answer. It seems one of the biggest lessons in today’s economy is that you need to research your investment options more than ever. Since many of the people who are giving advice have never been through an economy quite like this one, they may be shooting from the hip and may or may not hit the target.

There are still many great places to build your dream house based on the country house living magazine plan that you’ve been dreaming about for years. If you use the computer at all and pay attention to any of the news, you will have seen surveys on the best places to live, the friendliest places, the least expensive, the most expensive, the best place to raise a family and many more. Not everything is going bad; you just need to find the good.

There still are those places where it makes sense to build a dream house and even luxury estate house plans mansions that may seem like extravagant in times like these. Just like in the Great Depression, times are not tough for everyone and many people have made good financial decisions that would allow them to put their money into a dream house.

Keep a car filled with at least half a tank of gas, since most gas stations rely on electricity.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Put meat and dairy products into a cooler with ice if an outage lasts longer than four hours.

Treat all downed lines as if they are live and dangerous! Stay at least 100 feet away to avoid electric shock.
It is dangerous for an untrained person to help someone who is trapped by a power line. Stay away and call for help.

If a power line falls onto a car, occupants should stay put, avoid touching any metal and wait for professional assistance. To report a power outage, call Mohave Electric Cooperative at (928)
763-1100.

Avalon currently has available lots in Laughlin Ranch, a luxurious master planned community complete with an 18-hole championship golf course. The Laughlin Ranch sales office is open 7 days a week, 10a.m. to 5p.m.

The next area of Avalon’s development will be one and two acre lots in Desert Shores, with a fantastic view of the Colorado River Valley.

With award winning designs and amazing attention to detail, it’s no wonder that Avalon Custom Homes has been voted the Best New Home Builder 5 years!

Land costs drop in the country. The further away from the city, the cheaper the acreage. Many people buy land because they want to build a custom home to their own specifications. They also want cleaner air and more space. Wide open areas without trees shading the house are perfect settings in which to install solar panels, which is a concern for many environmentally concerned buyers who use green building materials.

Drawbacks to Buying Land

Finding skilled craftsman willing to travel might be difficult. Some might not show up as promised and may want higher wages to compensate for the distance. Transporting building materials and paying for delivery will likely cost more over building a home in the city.

Although modern conveniences are available, they aren’t always reliable in the middle of nowhere, which is why many home owners in the country use generators as a back up when utilities fail. Going into town for groceries and other shopping needs generally requires planning and long trips. If it snows, and the roads aren’t promptly plowed, you could be snowed in for days.

Renting Before Buying Land

If you are unfamiliar with an area, it might be a good idea to rent a home first before buying the land and beginning construction. As a new resident, you can get to know the community first hand and hear stories from local owners that you won’t hear if you pull up in an SUV with a fat wallet in your pocket asking about MLS listings.

Resale value is often softer in the country than the city. That’s because the pool of potential buyers is smaller. If demand is low and supply is high, home prices will be more negotiable. As a tenant, you can try to time the real estate market and be ready to buy that parcel of land when it first becomes available.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Land

• Zoning Requirements
  Check with local authorities (city, county and state) to determine zoning ordinances and whether you can build the type of home you want before committing to buying the land. A community within 20 minutes of Sacramento city limits, for example, does not permit construction of any structure on parcels smaller than 20 acres. Ask about future zoning, whether there are plans to put in shopping centers or airports, or to change nearby land uses that could also devalue your land.
• Smells and Sounds
  Realize that you might be trading exhaust fumes from city buses for the lovely odors produced by pig farms. Some farm animals such as geese and donkeys produce squawks and brays that travel for miles. Horses along country roads drop steaming piles of waste. It’s not like anybody carries along a plastic bag and picks up after their horses.
• Natural Hazards
  Obtain a natural hazard disclosure and look for soil problems. Some parts of El Dorado County near the Sierra, for example, have naturally occurring asbestos in the rocks and soil. A disclosure will tell you if the land is a protected habitat, which would prohibit building. Is the area a known fire hazard? Is the fire department supported solely by volunteers? Many owners in the country maintain private ponds for fire emergencies.
• Elevation
  If the land is located near hills, how likely is the land to move? Some slab foundations can crack if the land is unstable. Find out if your parcel lies within the path of a potential landslide. For construction near bodies of water, you might want to consider building a raised foundation and make sure to buy flood insurance. If the land was once a swamp, ask neighbors about the condition of their foundations.
• Easements
  If access to your land is provided by driving across an adjoining parcel, you should obtain an easement and make sure it is recorded. Find out who maintains the roads and what your prorata share might cost for upkeep. What rights do neighbors have to cross your land? Are the boundaries clearly marked? Obtain title insurance, which will disclose easements and restrictive covenants or conditions. You might want to order a survey of the land.
• Utilities
  Water is important. Not all water is potable. Sometimes water rights don’t “run with the land,” which would mean you could not dig a well. Find out the depth of your water table and determine the difficulty of digging. Is the ground mostly rock? It can be costly to bring electricity, telephone or cable services to the property if they are not already established nearby. Will you need to install a propane tank? Consider a generator for back-up during power outages. If you cannot hook up to a sewer, what will it cost to install a septic system?
• Appraisal
  It’s common to pay cash for land. If you’re not planning to finance the land purchase through a conventional lender, which will require a lender appraisal, then obtain your own appraisal to determine an appropriate price before making an offer. Comparable sales are sometimes difficult to find when buying land.

Bullhead City has a classic low desert climate with extremely low relative humidity and very high summer temperatures. On the average, it receives about 7 inches of precipitation a year. Stores, shops, restaurants, theaters and homes are air-conditioned much of the year.

Although most of the county is designated as desert, nearly 190 square miles is water, making water sports a favorite among residents and visitors alike. The average daily high temperature in November is 74 degrees. The average daily high temperature annually is a beautiful 88 degrees.

Bullhead City, Arizona – Monthly Climate Normals
	Year	Jan.	Feb.	Mar	Apr.	May	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
High °F	88.5	65.0	71.1	78.4	88.0	97.0	107.3	111.8	109.8	102.8	90.6	74.6	65.1
Low °F	59.5	43.0	46.3	49.9	56.3	64.9	72.8	78.9	79.1	71.4	59.3	49.1	42.3
Avg °F	74.0	54.0	58.7	63.7	72.2	80.1	90.0	95.6	94.5	87.1	75.0	61.9	53.7
Rain “	7.02	1.21	1.18	1.14	0.19	0.11	0.01	0.38	0.74	0.45	0.43	0.53	0.66

Bullhead City is a place with a great personality and abundant resources. Whether visiting as a vacationer or looking to relocate, we invite you to celebrate the ever changing Colorado River region in and around the Bullhead City area. From Katherine Landing on beautiful Lake Mohave, to the living Ghost town of Oatman, or the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation to the Gold Road Mine in the scenic Black Mountains, this valley has something for everyone. Located on the Colorado River near the spot where Arizona, Nevada and California meet, Bullhead City is a thriving community where striking scenic beauty provides the backdrop for a host of attractions and outdoor recreation activities. In nearby Laughlin, Nevada just across the Colorado River, visitors and residents alike enjoy Las Vegas style gambling and nightlife but in a more relaxed atmosphere with eleven resorts, top name entertainment and gourmet dining.

REAL ESTATE / HOUSING
The real estate industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the region’s economy and has resulted in the expansion of a variety of homes available in the area with prices at a stable, yet affordable level.

Bullhead City is known for its diversity of housing types and styles. From million dollars homes on the Colorado River to existing site-built and manufactured housing and condominium projects. The Bullhead City area has housing to fit almost any need.

Site-built homes ranging from the $150,000 and up are being developed throughout the region. Manufactured housing can be found starting at around $65,000.00

A large selection of affordable rental housing is also available in the area. Residents can select from traditional single-family homes to mobile homes, condos, RV park spaces and apartment complexes offering amenities like pool/spa areas, work-out facilities, and clubhouses.

For a list of real estate and property listings feel free to call our office today at (928) 704-5300 or email us at avalon2@citlink.net

The Colorado River Valley is known across the Southwest as a summer vacation paradise, offering a choice between the cold, fast-flowing Colorado River and warm, smooth waters of Lake Mohave. Both are perfect for water sports like boating, skiing, personal watercraft and sport fishing throughout the year.