MyPhoenixMLS Blog

I was planning to write today’s blog on the continuing woes of the nation’s mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  But in snooping around for details, I found a shocking news story that I just have to comment on.  It’s from the San Francisco Chronicle, and it’s titled Are You An Idiot to Keep Paying Your Mortgage?

I hadn’t even read the article yet, and I was shocked.  It wasn’t too long ago that paying the mortgage was a family’s first priority (second - after food, I suppose); now it’s optional?  And maybe even stupid?

Yet I have clients who have asked similar questions.  One client needs to relocate for a job, is upside down on her mortgage and is wondering if trying to work out a short sale with the lender is just the way to go (as opposed to renting an itty-bitty apartment where she moves, trying to rent out the home she owns, and paying the large difference between what she could likely get in rental income and the monthly mortgage).

If she’s not likely to even break even on her loan-to-value ratio (the ratio of her mortgage amount to the home’s value) for several years and she’s not going to be living in the home, does it make sense to keep plugging away at the mortgage?

“Should you keep paying your mortgage? If you have significant equity in your home, absolutely. If you don’t, it’s getting harder to answer that question, especially when our government keeps giving people who owe more than their homes are worth so many reasons not to pay,” wrote the San Francisco Chronicle.

Indeed, most (if not all) of the government help programs require that a homeowner be delinquent on the mortgage - at least 90 days late in most cases.  Of course, that kind of delinquency will hurt your credit rating - it stays on your report for years - but is it a worthwhile tradeoff as government aid programs become juicier and juicier (there’s talk of rebalancing mortgage amounts so that people will only owe what their homes are worth).

More from the Chronicle:

“Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital, predicts that many homeowners who have little or no equity will stop paying their mortgage and then reduce their income to get the biggest payment cut possible [out of the new government aid programs]. They could stop working overtime or, if two spouses work, one could quit. After the modification, they could try to boost their income again.

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ Schiff says. ‘People are going to feel like complete morons if they don’t participate. The people getting punished are the ones who never made an irresponsible decision to buy a house they couldn’t afford.’

To prevent fraud, the government says a borrower ‘must certify that he or she experienced a hardship or change in financial circumstances, and did not purposely default to obtain a modification.’”

But what about the good, old-fashioned moral obligation to pay our debts?  Does that count for anything?

What do you think?  Click on the “Comments” link and join the discussion!

The National Bureau of Economic Research - the group of economists that officially declares when recessions begin and end - announced today that we are (surprise, surprise) currently in a recession - one that began last December.

In addition to thinking, “Tell me something I don’t already know” as I read the press release, I thought, “Why is this just now coming out?”

According to CNNMoney.com, “It typically takes a long time after the start of a recession to declare its start because of the need to look at final readings of various economic measures.”  Sure, but the NBER press release said that the economists look at monthly and quarterly indicators - so I’m still not clear why the recession announcement was a year in the making.  (And could they have picked a better time?  The Dow dropped another 7.7% today on the announcement.)

According to the New York Times article on the topic, “In declaring that the economy has been in a downturn for almost 12 months, the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed what many Americans had already been feeling in their bones.” Uh-huh.

According to CNNMoney.com, “The NBER did not give any reasons or causes of the recession. But it is widely accepted that the housing downturn, which started in 2006, is a primary cause of the broader economic malaise.

The fall of housing prices from peak levels reached earlier this decade cut deeply into home building and home purchases. This also caused a sharp rise in mortgage foreclosures, which in turn resulted in losses of hundreds of billions of dollars among the nation’s leading banks and a tightening of credit.”

The NBER doesn’t forecast how long the recession will last, though it’s already one of the longer recessions on record (assuming that we’re still in the recession, which is kind of a no-brainer, it’s been 12 months).  Since World War II, the only recessions that lasted longer were in ‘73-75 and ‘81-82, which both lasted 16 months.

Some economists suggested that there’s no end in sight, others predicted that, best-case, the recession could end and expansion could begin by the middle of next year, which - if you think about it - isn’t that far away.

What do you think?  How has the recession touched your life?  Are you planning on spending less this holiday season?  Click on the “Comments” link to join the discussion!

When dinner conversation turns to (gasp!) politics or religion this Thanksgiving, pull out these fun trivia questions to save the day!

Q: Thanksgiving is only celebrated in the U.S. - true or false?

A: False; Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving (on the 2nd Monday in October).

Q: Who was the captain of the Mayflower?

A: Christopher Jones

Q: How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday?

A: Sarah Hale (1788-1879), editor of The Godey’s Lady’s Book, a popular woman’s magazine at the time, wrote letters to Congress for years to get the national holiday established.

Q: How fast can a spooked turkey run?

A: 20 miles per hour!

Q: What foods were served at the first Thanksgiving?

A: Deer, codfish and boiled pumpkin.  Yum, yum!

Q: Who was the first president to pardon a turkey from thanksgiving dinner?

A: Truman

Q: What great American statesman lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol?

A: Benjamin Franklin

Q: About how many feathers does a mature turkey have?

A: 3,500

Q: Can wild turkeys fly? If so, how fast?

A: Yes!  Up to 55 miles per hour.

Q: Approximately what percentage of American families eats turkey on Thanksgiving?

A: 90%

Thanks to www.brownielocks.com and home.aristotle.net and www.creative-baby-shower-ideas.com for the trivia!

Share your great Thanksgiving trivia!  Click on the “Comments” link.

Welcome to the ninth edition of the MyPhoenixMLS area-specific market conditions update.  Today, I’ll describe what’s gone on in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix area real estate markets this past month.

Scottsdale

The number of homes resold in Scottsdale in October was up 8.7%, to 375, over September.  That’s 29.3% higher than in October 2007, when just 290 homes were sold.  After relatively steep price declines of 10.4% in September, the median price of single-family resales increased 7.7% in Scottsdale to $426,785.  That’s 21.7% lower than in October 2007.

The number of condos and townhouses resold in Scottsdale increased in October, up 3.4% to 150 homes.  The median price declined slightly, down 2.3% to $205,150.

In South Scottsdale, the median price for a foreclosed property fell to $209,550 (from $225,000 in September); the median price for a traditionally-sold home was up, though, to $240,000 (from $235,000).  In North Scottsdale, including DC Ranch and McDowell Mountain Ranch, the median price on foreclosed properties was up slightly to $495,000 while the median price of for traditionally-sold properties was down to $525,000 (from $560,000 in September).

In other words, foreclosed homes in North Scottsdale on average are 5.7% less expensive than traditionally-sold homes and can represent a bargain for the savvy buyers.  In South Scottsdale, the savings is 12.7% on average.  There are certainly great deals to be found in the foreclosure market.  For more information on buying foreclosed and REO-properties, visit www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

Paradise Valley

The median sales price for single-family homes in Paradise Valley was down slightly, to $1,324,000 in October from $1,326,000 in September, though sales prices may only reflect the sale of one or two homes in this pricey area.

If you’re looking for a good buy in the luxury market, now may be the time.  For the best deal with the least hassle, sign up for your FREE Time Saving Home Finder Program at www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

If you’re looking to sell your Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area home, an experienced realtor with a strong track record can help you get the best possible deal. It is possible to sell your house now. I’ve been selling homes in Phoenix through up markets and down markets, and I sold more homes in the first quarter of this year than ever before. It can be done.  Call me today at 602-318-1114 or visit www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

Phoenix

Phoenix is such a large city that home prices vary dramatically - from $71,500 in the Maryvale area to $249,950 in the Desert Ridge area.

Overall, the median price for single-family homes in Phoenix dropped 6.5% to $127,135.  That’s 36.4% lower than the median price in October 2007.  Sales volumes, though, were up, 1.4% to 2,605 homes.  That’s 142.3% higher than in October 2007.

The number of townhouses and condos resold in Phoenix increased 6.6% in October, to 325 homes.  After increasing in September, the median price was down 14.3% to $115,000.  That’s 25.6% lower than the October 2007 median price of $154,500.

Now may be the time to buy a home in Phoenix. Lock in a great deal on your dream home before prices start climbing again.  For the best deal with the least hassle, sign up for your FREE Time Saving Home Finder Program at www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

If you’re looking to sell your Phoenix home, an experienced realtor with a strong track record selling in slower markets can help you get the best possible deal. It is possible to sell your house now. I’ve been selling homes in Phoenix through up markets and down markets, and I sold more homes in the first quarter of this year than ever before. It can be done.  Call me today at 602-318-1114 or visit www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

Welcome to the ninth edition of the MyPhoenixMLS area-specific market conditions update.  Today, I’ll post market conditions reports for the East Valley, including Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, and Mesa; in my next post I’ll describe market conditions in the Scottsdale and Phoenix markets.

Chandler

The number of homes resold in Chandler decreased 6.9% in October, after a 4.8% increase in September.  Still, the 405 homes resold in October outpaced October 2007 by 55.8%.  And while total sales were down, the number of foreclosure sales in Chandler increased 24% in October - to 155, or 38% of all homes sold.

After declining in September, the median price was up 2.3% in October to $225,000.  That’s 19.5% lower than in October 2007.  The median price of a traditionally-sold home increased 5.6% in October, while the median price for a foreclosure sale dropped 2.3%.

Following two months of double-digit declines, sales of townhouses and condos in Chandler increased 60% in October.  The 40 townhomes and condos resold is 100% higher than in October 2007.  The median price was up, too, 1.1% to $126,925.

Gilbert

Sales volumes on single-family resales in Gilbert dropped 6.2% in October after rising 3.2% in September.  Still, the 455 homes resold in October is 71.7% higher than in October 2007.  The median price also fell, 2.1% to $225,125.  That’s 18.1% lower than the median price of $275,000 in October 2007.

After falling 9.6% in September, the median price of townhouses and condos in Gilbert declined another 11.1%, to $130,920.  The number of townhouses and condos sold was again unchanged, at 15 homes — 50% more than were resold in October 2007.

Tempe

After an increase of 1% in September, the median price of single-family resales in Tempe increased again in October, up 2% to $219,000.  That’s still 15.3% lower than in October 2007 - making Tempe one of the Valley cities with the lowest price declines over 2007.  The number of homes was once again unchanged at 110 - 22% higher than in October 2007.

After falling 27.3% in September, the number of townhouses and condos resold in Tempe increased 25% in October to 50 homes.  That’s 100% higher than in October 2007.  The median price was up, too, 1.2% to $146,750 (18.8% lower than in October 2007).

Mesa

After decreasing in September, the median sales price of single-family homes in Mesa increased in October by 1.5% to $165,515.  That’s nevertheless 27.8% lower than in October 2007.

After rising 20.6% in September, the number of homes resold in Mesa decreased slightly — 1.8% — to 805 homes.  That’s 96.3% higher than in October 2007.

The number of townhouses and condos resold in Mesa increased 13.6% in Mesa to 125 homes.  That’s 78.6% higher than in October 2007.  The median price was up, too, 2% to $108,000 (22.7% lower than in October 2007).

If you’re in the market for a home or townhouse/condo in the East Valley, now might well be a good time to buy.  Homes sales in most Valley cities have risen significantly this year - home buyers are buying up existing inventory rapidly.  Once that excess inventory has been bought, the supply of homes will once again match the demand for homes and prices will rebound.

So lock in a great deal on your dream home before prices start climbing again.  For the best deal with the least hassle, sign up for your FREE Time Saving Home Finder Program at www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

If you’re looking to sell your East Valley area home, an experienced realtor with a strong track record selling in slower markets can help you get the best possible deal. It is possible to sell your house now. I’ve been selling homes in Phoenix through up markets and down markets, and I sold more homes in the first half of this year than in any entire year ever before. It can be done.  Call me today at 602-318-1114 or visit www.MyPhoenixMLS.com.

It’s here again: time to produce my monthly Phoenix area real estate news video for Realty Times. Read on for a snapshot of what went on in the Phoenix area in October.

Did you miss my last Realty Times news video?  You can check it out here:  http://realtytimes.com/REUv/BobStahl

Enjoy!

RT: What specifically happened last month/quarter in this market?

MyPhoenixMLS.com:  A total of 8,210 resale homes sold in Maricopa County in October, down 0.8 percent from September — but still 107 percent higher than in October 2007.

Of the homes sold, 46 percent were foreclosures (up from 44 percent in September).  Comparatively, in October 2007, 29 percent of homes resold were foreclosures.

That relatively high number of foreclosures continued to put downward pressure on prices, which fell 1.0 percent (compared to a decline of 5.1 percent in September).  The median price of $167,375 is 30.2 percent lower than the median price in October 2007.

RT: In your opinion, or the opinion of experts you know, will the market conditions continue or will they change?

MyPhoenixMLS.com: The fact that 107 percent more homes were sold in Maricopa County in October 2008 than in October 2007 would suggest that the housing inventory in the Phoenix area is being bought up.  Once the number of houses for sale is in balance with the number of buyers in the market, prices will begin to rise again.

Foreclosure sales continue to represent good deals for savvy real estate investors and other home buyers in the area — in October the median price of a traditional sale in Maricopa County was 9 percent less than the median price of a foreclosure sale.

On the other hand, the economy continues to worsen and some economists are now suggesting that the recession may be longer and deeper than they had originally anticipated.  While new reports show that consumer prices have actually decreased, credit is still extremely hard to come by and mounting job losses make buying a new home — or saving a home from foreclosure — may be increasingly difficult for many Americans.  That all bodes ill for the prospects of a real estate recovery in early 2009.

RT: What are the bright spots in the market?

MyPhoenixMLS.com: The median price for a resale home increased in a number of Valley cities — the biggest increases were in Scottsdale, where prices rose 7.7 percent, and Goodyear, where prices rose 5.8 percent.  Prices also rose in Chandler (2.3 percent), Tempe (2.0 percent) and Mesa (1.5 percent).

The median price of foreclosure sales increased 4.4 percent in Maricopa County in October — and even more dramatically in some area cities.  In Scottsdale, the median price for a foreclosure sale increased 18.1 percent to $413,250.  The median foreclosure sale price also increased in Goodyear (14.9 percent), Glendale (6.3 percent), Mesa (5.4 percent), Surprise (2.8 percent) and Phoenix (1.2 percent).  Rising prices for foreclosure sales might suggest that the market is equalizing, preparing for a bottom.

RT: Is there anything the world needs to know about your area pertaining to Real Estate Market Conditions?

MyPhoenixMLS.com: The market for townhouses and condos was once again a mixed bag.  Overall, in Maricopa County prices dropped 8.4 percent in October to $127,500 (that’s after a 5.2 percent drop in September).  Nevertheless, median prices increased in some Valley cities — 1.1 percent in Chandler, 2 percent in Mesa, 1.2 percent in Tempe, 12.9 percent in Peoria, 21.8 percent in Sun City and 6.4 percent in Sun City West.

The number of townhouses and condos resold in Maricopa County increased overall — up 6.3 percent in October.  The number of sales fell in Peoria (25 percent) and Sun City (14.3 percent) but increased in Phoenix (6.6 percent), Scottsdale (3.4 percent), Chandler (60 percent), Mesa (13.6 percent) and Tempe (25 percent).

On Sunday, I posted a blog about mortgage modifications for homeowners who are having trouble making their payments.  But what about the flipside of the discussion — when a homeowner simply can’t (or doesn’t want to) continue paying the mortgage (or the lender/servicer won’t agree to a modification)?  When a home goes into foreclosure, it can be a great opportunity for the savvy investor.  Key word: “can”.

What can make foreclosed home a great opportunity?  What can make it a nightmare?

An article last week in the U.S. News and World Report Real Estate section talked about six mistakes of foreclosed-home buying.  I borrowed their mistakes and modified them to create a step-by-step process to analyzing and, perhaps, buying, a foreclosed property.  If you follow this process, you can take advantage of the great opportunities and leave the nightmares behind.  Use these five steps as a guide:

Step 1: Get help

It should come as no surprise that I think real estate agents can be immensely helpful in the process of buying or selling any home.  But when you’re dealing with a foreclosed home, the process is much more complicated.  Leverage a real estate agent experienced in foreclosed home sales to help you determine how to make an offer that’s fair for you and the seller (the bank), based in part of what other similar foreclosed homes in the same neighborhood have recently sold for.

Step 2: Know the law

There’s more legalese involved in a foreclosure transaction than in a traditional home sale.  Plus, foreclosure laws differ from state to state.  Read up on your state’s foreclosure laws and ask your real estate agent to recommend a good real estate attorney with experience helping people purchase foreclosed homes.  According to the U.S. News article, a detail as tiny as the wrong font size on your documents could hold up the transaction or — worse — land you in legal trouble.

Step 3: Think long term

Two years ago, savvy investors could purchase “distressed” properties (in foreclosure or not), fix them up, and flip them quickly for a handsome profit.  Not so anymore.  Even though homes are still selling in today’s market, most aren’t selling quickly, and you shouldn’t count on being able to flip a foreclosed property for a quick profit.  Instead, if you look at a longer-term time horizon and plan, perhaps, to live in the home or rent it out for a few years before selling, you’re more likely to realize your desired return on investment.

Step 4: Remember price + 10% (at least)

More than homes being sold by owner/occupants, foreclosed homes tend to need repairs — sometimes minor, sometimes major.  Always, always have the home inspected by a professional home inspector before you sign a sales agreement and add in the cost of the repairs the inspector recommends.  If you only think about the purchase price when you’re calculating potential return on your investment, you’ll be sorely disappointed.  Add at least 10% — or better yet, get a quote on repair costs from a professional contractor.

Step 5: Approach it as a business deal

It’s true that banks aren’t — and don’t want to be — in the business of owning (and trying to sell) real estate.  For that reason, they’re usually willing to accept less than market value for a foreclosed home.  But they’re not willing to give away the farm.  And because most banks hire real estate agents to sell their foreclosed homes, you’ll be dealing with someone who knows how to drive a hard bargain.  Come to the table prepared to defend your offer, certainly, but don’t expect the seller to accept a low-ball offer.

What do you think?  Have you bought a foreclosed property?  Was your experience good or bad?  What made it that way?  Click on the “Comments” link and join the discussion!

Last Tuesday, the AP headline read “Big banks step up efforts to modify mortgages.”  The article talked about how Citigroup has jumped on the modification train, announcing that it would work to help “at-risk borrowers” keep their homes.

According to the article, “With defaults mounting, lenders including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. have become more aggressive about modifications to mortgage agreements. The government is also working on an ambitious plan to help around 3 million borrowers avoid foreclosure, but details have yet to be released.”

When a bank like Citi or Chase or Bank of America still owns a mortgage, it can easily decide to change the terms of that mortgage.  In fact, if the borrower has sufficient income, it often makes much more sense for the bank to work with the borrower to arrange terms that work — even if it means the bank lowers the interest rate or extends the terms of the loan — because the foreclosure process is so costly to the bank (in addition to costs the bank incurs during the process, including court costs, in today’s market many banks have to sell homes at steep losses).

That’s all well and good, many say, but the problem really lies with mortgages that are part of the now-infamous mortgage-backed securities (MBS).  When a big bank “services” — but does not own — a mortgage, the bank can’t make the decision to modify the loan terms.  Only the holder of the MBS can make that decision.

But according to a segment last week on NPR’s Fresh Air, just finding the investor who owns the MBS that your loan is a part of can be a daunting — sometimes impossible task.  And mortgage servicers, who get a fee to perform services like collect payment on the mortgage, are often too busy to help homeowners figure out who really owns their mortgage.

According to a MarketWatch article, “Servicers haven’t been participating enough to help keep borrowers in their homes, said Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, at a panel hearing. ‘I believe we now have a situation that requires legislation,’ said Frank, D-Mass.”

The FDIC announced last week details of a plan aimed to entice investors — those holders of MBS — to be more open to mortgage modifications.  As part of the plan, according to CNNMoney.com, the government would “share up to 50% of the losses if a borrower who had been helped ended up in default anyway. The risk of re-default had been one obstacle to getting lenders on board with systematic modification plans.”

Regardless, if you’re having trouble paying your mortgage, absolutely contact your mortgage servicer and ask about a mortgage modification plan.

What do you think?  Have you worked with your lender/servicer to modify your mortgage?  Or had them turn you down?  Click on the “Comments” link and join the discussion!

Earlier this year I blogged about the disconnect between some homeowners’ perceptions of the value of their homes and the actual value.  I wrote about a Zillow.com study which revealed that in the Western U.S. 36% of homeowners thought the value of their homes had increased; 30% thought the value hadn’t changed; and only 34% knew the value of their homes had declined. In reality, home values declined for 67% of homeowners.

You’d think — after all the bad news that headlines in the newspapers every single day — that homeowners might be a little more realistic today about the value of their homes.  But not so, according to a new article from the Associated Press, “Homeowners cling to false optimism about own home.”

According to the article, Zillow.com spokesperson Amy Bohutinsky said, “We expected people to get a little more in touch with reality especially over the summer, because you couldn’t turn on the TV or read the newspapers without seeing that home prices are falling.  It was very surprising to see this kind of disconnect.”

According to Dan Ariely, a behavioral Economics professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, homeowners often see their homes as extensions of themselves.  Because many people feel that they’re “special” they think their homes are “special” too — and, by extension, worth more than the neighbor’s.

Even when homeowners aren’t emotionally attached to their homes — people who bought the home as an investment property, for example — financial attachments can still make lower values hard to accept — especially when lower values mean that the homeowner will take a big financial loss when selling.

Sometimes the disconnect arises when a homeowner has put in a lot of extras to the home — or done expensive remodeling.  I’ve blogged before about remodeling and cautioned that you shouldn’t expect to get $1 higher sales price for every $1 you spent on the remodel.  In some cases, you’ll recoup $0.80 on the dollar — sometimes, much less.  Especially in a slower real estate market — in a slowing economy — prospective buyers might not value $2900 in designer fans as much as you do, when $1000 in fans would have cooled the house just as well.

Of course, your perception of the value of your home only really matters if you’re looking to sell.  Then, you really need to be realistic about what homes like yours in your neighborhood are selling for.  An experienced real estate agent will give you a comprehensive explanation of why you should list your home at a certain price.  As I’ve said before, pricing your home too high at first, even if you reduce the price later, can be a big mistake.

What do you think?  Do you have a realistic or unrealistic value of your home?  How do you feel about how the market in your area has changed over the past few years?  Click on the “Comments” link and join the discussion!

Holiday Activities

Glendale Glitters Spectacular

What: Glendale’s kick-off to the holiday season. A million lights, music, fireworks, crafts, train rides, Santa and more.

When: November 28, 29

Where: Glendale

Desert Botanical Garden Las Noches de las Luminarias

What: Visitors to the Desert Botanical Garden stroll among the lights while listening to holiday music.

When: November 28 - December 23

Where: Desert Botanical Garden

How much: Advance tickets required

Fantasy of Lights

What: Downtown Tempe’s tree lighting ceremony, parade and entertainment.

When: November 29

Where: Tempe Beach Park

Thanksgiving Day Parade

What: Thanksgiving Day Parade in Fountain Hills. Floats and marching bands.

When: November 27 at 9 a.m.

Where: Fountain Hills

How much: Free

ZooLights

What: Lights, animated displays, and carousel rides.

When: November 27 through January 11, 2009

Where: At the Phoenix Zoo

Song and Dance

Avondale’s Entertainment Series

What: Free concerts and shows. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Pack a picnic dinner (no glass containers or alcohol), or purchase a meal from a vendor.

When: November 14

Where: Avondale Civic Center Amphitheater

How much: Free

Bluegrass Festival

What: This three day event has featured the Four Corners championship contests for fiddle, flat pick guitar, banjo and mandolin.

When: November 14-16

Where: Wickenburg

Glendale’s Live at the Library

What: Musical entertainment. Call 623-930-3573 for more details.

When: Every Thursday night from 7 to 8 p.m

Where: Glendale’s Main Library at 5959 W. Brown St.

How much: Concerts are free

Litchfield Park Arts in the Park

What: Outdoor concert

When: November 16, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Where: Wigwam Resort Front Lawn

How much: Free

Music in the Garden

What: The Desert Botanical Garden concert series features a variety of music.

When: November 14 at 7 p.m.

Where: The Desert Botanical Garden

How much: Ticketed event

Arts and Crafts

4th Friday ArtWalk

What: Photography, jewelry, crafts, paintings, sculptures and more. Live music.

When: November 28, 6 p.m. 9 p.m.

Where: Mesa Riverview

Apache Junction Art Festival of the Superstitions

What: Juried fine-art show with live musical entertainment, theatrical performance groups and a Cultural Cuisine Court. Kid Zone.

When: November 16, 17

Where: Central Arizona College.

Arizona Antique Show

What: Primitives, ephemera, eclectic, glassware, pottery, collectibles, toys, advertising, military items, coins, early American linens, fine selections of vintage costume jewelry and fine estate jewelry.

When: November 15, 16

Where: Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix.

ArtFest of Scottsdale

What: Fine art, live music, international foods, and an interactive family area featuring hands-on art activities and creative challenges for children. Over 200 select contemporary artists and crafts people from across the nation will show and sell one-of-a-kind artwork.

When: November 22, 23

Where: Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza

How much: Free admission

Cowboy Artists of America Exhibit

What: Paintings, drawings and sculptures. Many never seen before.

When: October 19 - November 16

Where: The Phoenix Art Museum

Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts

What: Arts, crafts, food, music, entertainment.

When: November 14-16

Where: Fountain Hills Park

Movies at the Museum

What: Independent and classic cinema and documentaries relating to art, artists, and works on view in the Museum.  We may not have popcorn, but we do screen thought-provoking movies with themes that often directly relate to our current exhibitions or collections. Screenings are followed by related discussion, often led by topic experts.

When: November 18, 7pm; November 30, 1pm

Where: Phoenix Art Museum

How much: Free with paid museum admission. First come, first seated.

Scottsdale ArtWalk

What: Every Thursday evening the Scottsdale Art District invites you to spend a casual evening walking downtown and enjoying fine art.

When: Every Thursday evening

Where: Downtown Scottsdale

How much: Free

Miscellaneous

Queen Creek Olive Mill

What: Free public tours of olive oil processing plant. Gift store.

When: Tours given Tuesday through Saturday.

Where: Queen Creek Olive Mill

How much: Public tours are free.

Ahwa-Turkey Stomp / Car and Craft Show

What: Vehicles of all different makes, models and years. A judged event with trophies being awarded to 14 classes. Craft booths, live entertainment. Food and spirits available. Held in conjunction with the Ahwa-Turkey Stomp to raise money, food and toys for various organizations.

When: November 22

Where: Ahwatukee Community Swim & Tennis Center

How much: Fee to show your car or have a booth. Admission to attend is a frozen turkey, non-perishable food items or new unwrapped toys.

Arizona International Auto Show

What: Hundreds of the newest cars, trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles. Entertainment and celebrity appearances.

When: November 27 - 30

Where: Phoenix Convention Center

Breast Cancer Awareness Events

What: During the Breast Cancer 3-Day, thousands of women and men will unite and walk 60 miles to honor those affected by breast cancer, and to raise money for research. Walk at your own pace, and stop whenever you feel you should.

When: November 14 - 16

Friday Night Bull Riding

What: You can watch or, for a fee, you can ride. Nominal charge for kids to ride a sheep.

When: November 14, 21, 28, 7:30 and 9 p.m.

Where: Rawhide

Woofstock

What: Walks, contests, demonstrations, entertainment for you and your dog.

When: November 15

Where: Tumbleweed Park, Chandler.

How much: Free admission, entry fee for events.

Sports

Arizona Cardinals Football

What: The Arizona Cardinals play professional football in the Valley of the Sun.

When: November 23 at 4:15 against the New York Giants

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale

Arizona Fall League Baseball

What: After the regular baseball season is over, there are six more weeks of baseball in October and November when each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams selects 6 prospects to play in the AFL.

When: Various dates in November; check out www.mlb.com for a complete schedule.

Where: At stadiums around the Valley

Phoenix Coyotes Hockey

What: Our professional NHL hockey team hopes to howl its way to the Stanley Cup.

When: November 15 at 7, November 18 at 7:30, November 28 at 2, November 29 at 7

Where: Jobing.com arena in Glendale

Phoenix Suns Basketball

What: Our professional basketball team plays hoops.

When: November 16 at 6, November 20 at 8:30, November 22 at 7, November 28 at 6, November 30 at 6

Where: US Airways Center (formerly the America West Arena)

Sun Devil Football

What: Arizona State University’s football team competes for PAC-10 glory

When: November 15 at 3:30 (homecoming), November 28 at 7:30

Where: Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ

What do you love to do in Phoenix in November?  Click on the “Comments” link and join the discussion!