Shinto priests created the first Japanese gardens to help them communicate better with the gods. Over time, regular Japanese citizens incorporated these gardens into their own homes. Today, these gardens have become an important part of Japanese culture, helping them commune with nature and obtain tranquility in their day-to-day lives. Come celebrate this beautiful part of the Japanese culture at the Yume Tucson Anniversary Festival 2023 this Saturday, April 1st.

What: Yume Tucson Anniversary Festival 2023
Where: Yume Japanese Gardens (2130 N Alvernon)
When: Saturday, April 1st from 10 am to 3 pm
Admission: $6 to $18
Contact: Yume Japanese Gardens (520) 303-3945 or via email

Yume Tucson Anniversary Festival 2023 

Taiko drummers entertain all visitors at the Yume Japanese Gardens festival. Plus, you will be treated to the art of kamishibai storytelling. This uses colorful picture cards to tell traditional Japanese stories. Learn the art of ikebana flower arranging and Japanese crafts. And that's just the beginning.

Another important part of Japanese culture is its food. Try something from the Takoyaki Balls food truck. Or purchase a snack and drink from the gardens as well.

Ticket Info

Tickets cost $18 per adult. If you are a Yume member, you pay the discounted price of $10 per adult. It costs $6 per child. But kids ages 5 and under get in for FREE. Reserve your tickets today!

Tucson Eggstravaganza 2023

Don't forget. The International Wildlife Museum also hosts its Tucson Eggstravagana on April 1st. The Easter Bunny plans on attending as well. So, plenty of priceless photo-ops present themselves at the event. Just make sure you bring your basket with you to store all of the eggs you find.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

Easter Sunday takes place on April 9th. But who wants to wait until then to search for colorful Easter eggs? Fortunately, you don't have to wait. Because the Tucson Eggstravaganza 2023 happens the weekend before Easter!

What: Tucson Eggstravaganza 2023
Where: International Wildlife Museum (4800 W Gates Pass Rd)
When: Saturday, April 1st, 10 am to 12 pm
Admission: $10 ages 12 to 61, $7 military & seniors (ages 62+), $5 ages 4 to 12, FREE under 4 yrs & museum members

Tucson Eggstravaganza 2023

The Easter Bunny wants to make a trial run before his big official day. So, he plans on being at the International Wildlife Museum on Saturday, April 1st. No. That's no joke. He's really going to be there to hide sweet treats for all the boys and girls who attend. Take a photo with Mr. Bunny between 10:15 am and 11:15 am. Play fun Easter-themed games and create crafts, too. Get your face painted for spring. Then hunt for candy begins at 11:45 am. Just make sure you bring a basket with you from home. And remind Mom and Dad to get their camera ready for lots of fun photos.

Photos with the Bunny in Sahuarita

If the Tucson Eggstravaganza just isn't enough Easter fun for you, then you'll be happy to hear that the Easter Bunny plans on being in Sahuarita on April 2nd for an egg hunt and free photos. Meritage Homes hosts its Easter event from 11 am to 2 pm at their Sonora at Entrada del Pueblo offices (812 W Calle Las Varitas). They separated the egg hunt into age groups to allow a more even "competition". Bunny photos take place from 12 pm to 2 pm. Throughout the afternoon, all guests get to enjoy music along with candy and raffle drawings for fun prizes. The only cost of admission is one or more non-perishable food items. All donated items will be donated to Reach for the Stars. While the event is free, you will need to present a ticket when you arrive. Download your free ticket here.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

The first day of spring officially takes place on March 20th. Can you feel the temperature start to rise outside? If it's springtime in Tucson, that means just one thing. It's time to celebrate with the annual 4th Ave Spring Street Fair!

What: 4th Ave Spring Street Fair 2023
Where: N 4th Ave, Tucson
When: March 24th (10 am to 6 pm), March 25th (10 am to 6 pm) & March 26th (10 am to 5 pm)

4th Ave Spring Street Fair 2023

Tweeting birds. Sunshine on your face. Flowers in bloom. All of this points to the gloriousness known as spring. Artists from all over the world come out of hibernation to celebrate the season in Tucson each year. Dozens of food vendors keep everyone's spirits (and energy) up as well. Plus, local artists entertain the masses over this three-day event.

You cannot have a street fair without music. And the talent lined up for the 4th Ave Spring Street Fair is too big for just one stage. Instead, visitors can choose between the 5th St Stage and the 7th St Stage for live music all day, every day. 

More than 350,000 people crowd onto 4th Ave for this event each year. So, as you can imagine, parking can be a problem. Fortunately, organizers offer a free shuttle service to get you back and forth starting at 9:30 am each day until the close of the fair. Just make sure you wear good walking shoes to stay comfortable.

The 4th Ave Merchants Association hosts two street fairs each year: spring (in March) and winter (in December). This nonprofit organization uses funds they raise to invest in local Tucson businesses and infrastructure. They also promote local artists and programs essential to help nurture the entrepreneurial and artistic spirit in us all. 2023 marks the 54th year that they have hosted the street fair here in Tucson.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

A while ago, ole Johnny defeated the devil in Georgia with some mighty good fiddle-playin'. But the devil's also got some talented opponents here in Arizona as well. And you'll find them all playing at the 2023 Marana Desert Bluegrass Festival.

What: Marana Desert Bluegrass Festival 2023
Where: Gladden Farms Community Park (12205 N Tangerine Farms Rd, Marana)
When: March 11th to 13th (3 pm to 7 pm Fri, 10 am to 6 pm Sat & 9 am to 4 pm Sun)
Admission: $20 to $30/adult, FREE for ages 15 & under

Marana Desert Bluegrass Festival 2023

Bluegrass music got its name from The Blue Grass Boys who performed in the 1940s. But the music itself derived from English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants who settled in the south (primarily the Appalachian area) in the early 1900s. It became what we know as bluegrass today thanks to the early American musicians who took these influences and made the music their own. 

But at the Marana Desert Bluegrass Festival, guests enjoy more than just great music. Organizers want families to enjoy this event together. So, they included a Kids Zone for the little ones to play in. And there are several free workshops for all skill levels...whether you're a seasoned pro or someone who is just learning to pick a tune out on their guitar. Plus, you might want to put your bid in on some truly amazing items at the silent auction. Also, purchase a raffle ticket for fun prizes given away throughout the weekend. Lots and lots of fun is sure to be had by everyone at the festival!

Concert Line-up

Friday's free concert starts with Band Scramble at 3 pm and Monsoon sky at 5 pm. Saturday's festivities begin with the national anthem at 9:45 am. Then, starting at 10 am a new band comes to the stage every hour. Performers include Jam Pak, The Cross-Eyed Possum, Buck Jumpers, The Sonoran Dogs, North of Lonesome, the Arizona Wildflowers, and Sierra Sweethearts, with The Central Valley Boys closing out Saturday night. On Sunday, Jam Pak returns at 11 am, followed by Hamilton Beech, The Sonoran Dogs, Sierra Sweethearts, and another great concert by The Central Valley Boys finishing off the rest of the weekend.

Ticket Info

Admission to Friday's concerts comes absolutely free of charge for all ages. However, you need to pay to attend the festival on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $20 per day for adults ages 16 and older. But if you plan on attending both Saturday and Sunday, I highly recommend purchasing the weekend pass. It saves you $10 per person on admission. Kids ages 15 and younger get in free all weekend long. You must purchase your tickets online ahead of time. This is a ticketless event (ie, no paper tickets will be created). 

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

In just over two weeks, we celebrate St Patrick's Day. It's the one day of the year when everyone's Irish. If you feel like celebrating responsibly with other grown-ups, you might want to think about signing up for the Tucson St Patrick's Day Crawl 2023.

What: Tucson St Patrick's Day Crawl 2023
Where: Several Tucson Bars
When: March 17th & 18th, 4 pm to 10 pm (after-party til 12 am)
Contact: Crawl With Us Tucson (612) 460-0094

Tucson St Patrick's Day Crawl 2023

The crawl begins with a check-in at O'Malleys Bar & Grill on 4th Ave between 4 pm and 7 pm. Your admission ticket allows you to waive the cover charge at all of the bars along the crawl. (That, in and of itself, could save you $5 to $15 a pop!) The venues selected to appear on the crawl include:

• O'Malleys (247 N 4th Ave)
• Cobra Arcade Bar (63 E Congress)
• Funky Monk (350 E Congress)
• Hi Fi Kitchen & Cocktails (345 E Congress)
• John Henry's (117 N 6th Ave)
• The Neighborhood DWTN (61 E Congress)

Each location features its own drink specials for the night. Your admission fee gives you one or two drink shots as well as food specials at participating venues along the way. After you finish your crawl, head over to the Neighborhood DWTN for the 10 pm after-party. 

Ticket Info

For the best price, reserve your tickets online by March 4th. Individual tickets cost $20 per person. Save $5 per person when you buy in groups of four. After March 4th, ticket prices go up. Just don't wait until the night of the event or you might miss out. These tend to sell out rather quickly. You must be at least 21 years old to participate. Anyone without a valid ID on them may get turned away at the door.

Remember that you can enjoy the Tucson St Patrick's Day Crawl 2023 while still being responsible. Grab an Uber or bring along a designated driver to ensure that you and your group get home safely. Slainte!

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

As of January 2023, year-over-year sale prices in the Tucson real estate market rose by 5.1%. But total sales decreased by more than 40%. After many months of experiencing a seller's market where homes sold for above asking and in a matter of days, it has now become more of a balanced market. However, sellers should not despair. Buyers are still out there looking for a Tucson home to purchase. But they expect to pay an appropriate price for it. Here are a few pricing strategies you may want to consider before you list your home.

Pricing Strategies for the Home Seller

Market Value

This is why you need a great Tucson REALTOR® on your side. They can find out the current market value of your home. Many real estate experts suggest that you list your property for that amount to draw in potential buyers.

Below Market Value

Another one of the pricing strategies that home sellers employ is listing it slightly below market value. Why? Well, most people look for a bargain, right? By listing even $5,000 below market value, you may receive an offer quickly. Sometimes, you might receive multiple offers and drive your final sale price up. However, that is risky in today's market. You might end up with only one offer at the lower list price or maybe even slightly lower than that. 

Above Market Value

Finally, you might want to try listing your Tucson home above market value. In a seller's market, we see buyers paying higher than market value for homes. But today, it might mean sitting on the market for a while and eventually reducing your price anyway. Plus, even if you receive an offer for the above market price, anyone who needs to finance their purchase must get an appraisal for the property. If your property does not appraise for the sale price, the lender will not approve the buyer's loan. That means that your buyer may end up walking away. And, unless you lower your price, you face the possibility of this happening over and over again.

Discuss pricing strategies with your REALTOR® before settling on an initial list price. They know the market. They have the experience. Trust them to steer you in the right direction. If you don't trust them, you might want to look for another one.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

Tucson is well known for its diverse culture and fantastic fare. I mean, Sonoran food. Need I say more? If you love eating and want to learn more about our local cuisine, sign up for a Tucson food tour.

Tucson Food Tour

In December 2015, Tucson became the first official UNESCO-designated City of Gastronomy in the United States through its Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Cities only receive this special designation when they exhibit extraordinary measures to utilize their cultural heritage and creativity to develop a sustainable environment. Currently, San Antonio is the only other US city designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. So, if you are interested in finding out why Tucson made this exclusive list, you have three options for a Tucson food tour to choose from.

Downtown Tucson Tour

The Downtown Tucson tours happen every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. They last for about four hours each and cost $69 per person to attend. For your price of admission, you visit six local vendors, see three unique restaurants in the downtown area, learn all about the history of Tucson and its cultural significance, and, of course, enjoy samples of fine dining along the way. (No one leaves here hungry!) Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and slather on the sunscreen. Spaces are limited and tours sell out weeks in advance (especially on the weekends). So, make your reservation today. 

Main Gate/4th Tour

Here's your chance to find out more about the city's historic 4th Ave District and Main Gate Square. This tour also lasts for four hours and costs $69 per person. These usually take place on Fridays. Guests of the Main Gate/4th Tour get a peek behind the curtain of five local area restaurants, some of which have been seen on the Food Network. It's a fun way to learn about Tucson's gastro-history and more about how it became a UNESCO site. You can make a reservation for you and your friends or family online here.

Brewery Tour

Finally, while not technically a Tuscon food tour, the Brewery tour caters to the 21+ crowd. These last three and a half hours and cost $85 per person. Visit three local breweries and two local distilleries in the Tucson area. Go behind the scenes to find out how these delicious libations are made in our fine city. Enjoy beer flights and spirit samples. But make sure you grab lunch before you go because food is not included here. Visit Tucson's Brewstillery Tour website here to make your reservation today.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

Do you love classic cars? Does your mouth water at the thought of a juicy barbecue? Do you feel the blues from the top of your head to the tips of your toes? Then you absolutely must go to the Tucson Cruise, BBQ, and Blues Festival 2023 this weekend!

What: Tucson Cruise, BBQ, and Blues Festival 2023
Where: Oro Valley Marketplace (12155 N Oracle)
When: Saturday, February 11th, 10 am to 3 pm
Admission: $5 per person
Contact: Oro Valley Marketplace (520) 797-3959

Tucson Cruise, BBQ, and Blues Festival 2023

Cars

Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliances (SAACA) hosts its annual Tucson Cruise, BBQ, and Blues Festival this Saturday at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Dozens of classic car owners compete for prizes in 30 different categories, including Best Engine, Best Paint, People's Choice, and, of course, Best in Show. If you love classic automobiles, this is the place to be. Plus, you get to help decide the People's Choice award winner. How cool is that?!

Food

Several food vendors make sure to keep festival guests fed right. Pick up some amazing BBQ from Fork & Fire, Fresco, Dante's Fire, or Zio Peppe. Even the Greater Faith Word Church offers up delicious barbecue. BlackJack Infusions and Gus Gyros also provide fantastic fare. For dessert or a lighter snack, try a FruitShack smoothie.

Music

This year's musical line-up for the festival features some of the best artists around. The day starts off with Missy Andersen. Then, The Tirebiters take to the stage. Finally, the duo Sugar Thieves closes out the day's events.

It looks like the weather is going to be bright and sunny this weekend. Looks like a perfect day to spend outdoors. So if you love beautiful cars, fantastic food, and amazing music, then make time to visit the Tucson Cruise, BBQ, and Blues Festival. 

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

With home prices continuing to rise, new construction may be out of the question for some of today's homeowners. So, they turn to older homes in need of a bit of TLC instead. Those HGTV shows make it look like fixing up a home is easy and even fun. However, the reality of owning a property like that is quite different. Whether you wish to buy a home, fix it up, and sell it or simply want a "bargain" that you can make your own, you need to know a few things before you invest in a fixer-upper.

The Reality of Buying a Fixer-Upper

Worst Home, Best Neighborhood

They say that real estate is about location, location, location. So, experts suggest that you look for the worst home in the best neighborhood when it comes to a fixer-upper. Anything priced 20-25% under a comparable property in good condition is a great place to start. When looking at comps, look at cost-per-square-foot as well as how many bedrooms/bathrooms each home includes.

Cosmetic Changes = Good. Major Problems = Bad.

Stay away from issues like foundation problems, water or fire damage, or mold. Leave those to the more seasoned professionals. Seek out Tucson homes in need of cosmetic changes (updating the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, or paint/wall treatments). These cost much less to fix up.

Consult a Contractor

While some home improvement projects can be completed yourself, larger projects may require a professional. That means hiring a contractor. But before you put in an offer, ask a contractor to look over the property and provide you with an estimate. Then, add at least 3 to 5% (or a little more for bigger projects) for your contingency fund. This helps cover any unforeseen issues that may arise. This happens more often than you might expect.

Do the Math

Once you find out the cost of your renovations, add that to the price of the Tucson home. Make sure those costs do not exceed the value of the home once your renovations are completed. Ideally, you want the total cost of the home and any improvements to fall below what you would sell it for. Remember, though. If you need to rent a place while you renovate your fixer-upper, you must also factor in those costs.

Create a Budget and Stick to It

It is really easy to get super excited about your renovation project and overspend on materials and finishes. Instead, create a budget and stick to it. If you need help financing your renovations, consider an FHA 203K or a Fannie Mae Homestyle loan.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate

When you buy a Tucson home, the seller oftentimes pays for the first year of your home warranty. But you need to pay for a homeowners insurance policy yourself. A standard home insurance policy covers damage or loss from theft and fire among other things. But there are a few things that your typical homeowners policy does not cover. 

What Homeowners Insurance Does NOT Cover

Acts of God

Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Earthquakes. Floods. A typical homeowners insurance policy will not cover any damage to your Tucson home from a natural disaster. You need an additional policy to cover these situations. Many insurance companies offer special policies for an additional fee if you live in an earthquake-prone like California. While the last earthquake of any significance in Tucson happened back in 1887, we do experience seismic activity on a regular basis. But that may not be enough to warrant paying for an earthquake policy. Yes. A standard home policy covers flooding caused by a burst pipe inside your home. But any damage created by torrential rains or an overflowing river nearby requires a separate flood policy. Most insurance companies do not cover this because the cost to repair damage caused by floods can be extensive. So, FEMA created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to fill this void. If you live in a flood-prone area, you might want to consider taking out a policy through them.

Mold

Did the burst pipe cause mold to build up? Were firefighters called to take care of a fire in your home? Damage caused by water from those scenarios may be covered under your homeowners insurance. But if the mold came from a source outside of your home (flood, high humidity, etc.), your policy most likely does not cover that. Also, standard policies do not cover damage caused by something preventable, such as a slow leak inside your home.

Sewer/Drain Backup

When it rains, do the sewers and stormwater runoff drains back up sending water flooding into your yard and/or home? Unfortunately, you may end up paying for the cleanup of these awful messes yourself. Worse yet, sewer backup into your home is not typically covered under a standard homeowner's policy either. 

Regular Wear and Tear

Finally, your policy will not cover normal wear and tear. It is only meant to be used for unforeseen emergencies. Therefore, you need to make sure you perform regular maintenance/upkeep on your Tucson home. This allows you to tackle projects in the early stages rather than waiting for something to break down completely and pay much more for it later on.

Always discuss what is and is not covered on your homeowners insurance policy with your insurance agent before you sign for it. Talk to them about your concerns. They can point you in the right direction if additional policies are necessary.

Rebecca Schulte, Schulte Real Estate Group, Your Source for Tucson Real Estate