To Pool or Not to Pool

Summers in Southern Arizona can be tough. The weather warms up significantly and while the long days of sunshine are great, the heat can be a lot. So what to do? One option is to put a pool in your yard! As a homeowner, whether to buy a home with a pool or install a pool in your backyard is a big decision!

It’s tempting to imagine the aesthetics of a beautiful blue pool in the yard. It’s perfect for summer parties but it’s important to do your due diligence as a homeowner.

Be sure to budget for monthly pool maintenance. It’s important to keep your pool clean and at the correct chemical levels so it’s safe to use. There are also weekly chores that need to be done, including checking the basket for debris, skimming the surface, and vacuuming. Also keep in mind that during the summer months, the heat causes more water evaporation so anticipate an increase in your water bill.

Make sure to talk to your insurance agent about how a pool is covered by your homeowner’s insurance. There are a few different options based on your insurance. This is also an important question if you’re thinking about adding a pool to your yard after you own your home. If you have detailed questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Fairfield Homes agent!

Another consideration is safety. With pets and young kids, it’s important to budget and understand Arizona laws regarding fences and gates around the pool to make sure that everyone stays safe. In Arizona, above and below-ground pools must be surrounded by a fence or gate at least five-feet high that doesn’t have any openings more than four inches in diameter. There are some great local Tucson companies that will install high-quality fences that will enhance your yard design.

There are many advantages to installing a swimming pool in the backyard! For one thing, it’s great for kids! During the summertime in Arizona, kids don’t want to be anywhere except the pool. Anyone with a pool immediately becomes the destination house in the neighborhood!

Swimming pools are a great way to keep people of all ages active and engaged. It’s great for socializing, leisure,  and has many health benefits like stretching, low-impact exercise, and is great for rehabilitation. Swimming is one of the most popular outdoor activities! Studies show that swimming burns more calories per hour than walking or biking. Pools are also calming and peaceful.

What a great excuse to have barbeques and bond with your neighbors! Plus, swimming pools in Arizona can be used almost year-round so the cost per use goes down quickly and significantly.

The bottom line is that a swimming pool in Southern Arizona makes a lot of sense. The weather is perfect for it, it’s the ideal playground for kids and family pets, and it’s a feature that increases the resale value of your home. Of course, think through the details and what makes the most sense for your home and your family when making a big decision like this.


It was February 14, 1912, when President William Howard Taft strode into the Oval Office and signed a bill that amended Arizona Territory into the State of Arizona. Though it took a simple signature to enact statehood, the actual efforts to get here were long and arduous.

While February 14th is nationally known as Valentine’s Day, Arizonans know that on this day in history Arizona completed the 48 conterminous United States in the union.

How did this union begin?

The entirety of present-day Arizona belonged to independent Mexico in 1821. When expansionists spread out West, conflicts over territory arose, leading to the Mexican-American war which spanned from 1846 until 1848.

When the dust settled, Mexico ceded 70% of northern Arizona to the U.S. The land was considered a territory of New Mexico, but later it became its own Arizona Territory under the Confederacy. A couple of decades after the Civil War, residents petitioned for Arizona’s statehood several times, but to no avail. A big reason was population. People were dubious about the viability of the desert land, but that all changed.

The population boomed

From a first look, the desert environment gave doubts to its productivity. Yet, copper mining was Arizona’s premier industry and satisfied a rapidly growing market. Cattle, cotton, citrus, and more agricultural interests brought in homesteaders to develop farming economies. Arizona held the powerful five C’s: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate.

Gradually, more people recognized the Arizona climate was not only worth developing, but its environment was cleaner than other states and a warm respite from the harsh winter conditions.

Once the widespread availability of refrigeration and air conditioning developed, more people called Arizona home. A far cry from its population of 217,000 people in 1912, Arizona is currently home to 7.2 million people today.

So, Why February 14th?

Bad luck and better timing: It took some time for Taft to feel secure in the constitution of the state. But, when he ultimately decided to sign the statehood papers, planners hoped he would ratify Arizona on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12th. Unfortunately, Taft was out of town and everyone considered the 13th to be bad luck, so the signing was pushed back to February 14th — the day to commemorate love and admiration.

We admire our great state, and all over Arizona, visitors and long-time residents alike can uncover new, exciting opportunities here — from historical landmarks to expansive hiking trails. There’s an adventure for anyone.

Ready to ring in the celebration of Arizona’s 110th anniversary by calling it home?

At Fairfield Homes, we create gorgeous semi-custom and custom homes blended with the natural landscape and optimized for grand views of the Tucson terrain in every direction. Speak with an industry expert today to discover your home options!

Sources:
https://legallegacy.wordpress.com/2019/02/14/february-14-1912-arizona-joins-the-union-as-the-48th-state/
https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/arizona
https://kjzz.org/content/19682/did-you-know-it-took-arizona-49-years-become-state

Every home needs a great outdoor living space, especially in the stunning presence of the desert and beautiful sunshine weather Arizona has to offer. Your outdoor area is the perfect place to enjoy nature, relish the best temperatures throughout the day, spend time with friends and family, and engage in entertainment.

Every detail counts to make your outdoor area match and complement your household’s lifestyle. There are plenty of things you can do to begin transforming your backyard into the ideal spot for entertaining and relaxing year-round, but first, consider a few factors to determine how you can best amplify your outdoor experience.

What’s the Purpose?

Having a functional and serene outdoor space encourages and provides the opportunity to spend more time outside. When you’re looking to achieve the ideal outdoor space for you, the key to breaking down how you would like it to function depends on your lifestyle and what activities are important to you. Ask yourself what the purpose of your project is, how you want to use your patio, and plan accordingly.

  • – Do you plan on hosting dinner parties outside?
  • – How many guests do you typically entertain?
  • – Does your outdoor area need to be kid or pet-friendly with a separate area just for them?
  • – What activities do you and your guests enjoy?
  • – Would you prefer a quiet space to relax and unwind?
  • – Would you prefer sun or shade?
  • – Are there any arrangements you would like to make with your landscape?

Consider the Layout

Take a walk outside. An important point when it comes to designing your space is to consider the layout you’ll be working with.

  • – How much space is available?
  • – Are there existing elements?
  • – What can you add or remove?
  • – How can you position elements in optimal ways?

Determining the position of your patio space, orientation, and outlook will help plan out your course of action. Make note of components you’d like to see in specific placements, such as a pool to the right side, a fire pit to the left side, and a spacious outdoor kitchen underneath your covered patio. Once you visualize where you would like these elements to go, creating your ideal space will come easily. It’s also important to note where the sun rises and falls in your backyard because sunlight levels can affect the comfort of you and your guests.

Establish the Ambiance

The final step in creating the perfect outdoor environment lies in a pleasant ambiance. There are many ways to decorate your space and give it a touch of personality where people can enjoy themselves and make memories. Anyone can have a backyard, but not everyone can have a welcoming outdoor living space.

With Greenery

Brighten things up with greenery—plants unfurl fabulous foliage and beautiful blooms to delight in. Arizona does not typically have a green color palette due to the sandy desert landscape, but there are many options beyond the natural saguaros and cacti to adorn your backyard—Baja Fairy Duster, Desert Lavender, and Flame Honeysuckle being a few of the colorful flora you can add to your scenery.

With Water

Add a cooling element to your landscaping design. Ponds, fountains, water statues, and waterfalls are all attractive options that add sound, texture, and movement to your outdoor living space. A birdbath feature could also bring in visiting wildlife.

With Fire

Gather around a fire pit for a sense of closeness. When the temperature outside drops, a fire pit will warm you and your guests up during those cool nights. Arrange chairs around the edges, and enjoy the flickering, crackling show with family and friends.

With Lighting

Illuminate the beauty of your outdoor area during the nighttime. Adding or upgrading lighting makes it possible to stay outside longer and emphasizes the features that make up your yard.

Fairfield Homes is Southern Arizona’s most highly sought-after home builder, delivering the utmost luxury and quality in-home while showcasing the natural desert beauty all around. Our floor plan options feature gorgeous indoor-outdoor living designs, such as a private, covered patio option, with enough space to make your ideal outdoor living area a reality. Get started today!


Monsoon season — it happens every June 15, but did you know it wasn’t always like that? Back in the olden days, people considered the monsoon to arrive after three consecutive days with dew points of at least 55 degrees. Forecasters decided to set dates, now June 15 through September 30, to allow us to focus on what a monsoon brings. Keep reading to discover interesting facts you should know about the monsoon season.

  1. There are nearly 500,000 lightning strikes during a monsoon

Take cover or stay indoors during monsoons. Watching the crackle and pop of lightning from afar may seem like a beautiful, natural spectacle, but it is also very dangerous. Most lightning strikes occur more than three miles away from the center of the thunderstorm, with the farthest strike recorded 15 miles away.

  1. Monsoons can cause dust storms

In Arizona, during monsoon season, it is common to see a wall of dust that reaches hundreds of feet in the air. The high winds caused by the thunderstorm lift large amounts of dust, creating an intense dust storm, also known as a “haboob.”

  1. Monsoons are difficult to predict

Because they have few patterns, monsoons are difficult to predict. However, researchers continue to study aspects of the monsoon to improve the forecasting accuracy of these occurrences.

  1. Arizona receives 31.5% of its total annual rainfall during the monsoon season

A large fraction of rainfall in Arizona happens during the summer monsoon months. This has its advantages, as seasonal rains make it possible for agriculture, forests, and inhabitants of the region to store water for the next dry period.

  1. Tucson received 1.62 inches of rain during 2020’s monsoon season

In 2020, Tucson experienced one of its hottest summers ever and the second driest monsoon ever. The only time the monsoon season has brought less rain than 2020 was in 1924 with 1.59 inches.

  1. The last above-average monsoon in Tucson was in 2017

Monsoon season in Tucson usually averages a total of 6.08 inches of rainfall, however in 2017, Tucson brought in a staggering 8.57 inches of rain — the highest in the state that year.

Find out how to prepare for the monsoon season by following these tips.

Shelter from the monsoon season in a home built to withstand such weather. Fairfield Homes builds quality homes with floor plans that work with the land and provide the most stunning desert views. Get started today!

 


Fairfield’s newest luxury community, Vermillion at Rancho Vistoso, is now open! The luxury Southern Arizona home builder of over 40 years introduces this gated community at the northwest corner of Moore Road and La Canada. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Tortolita and Catalina mountains from your customized forever home.

There are 29 homesites available starting at $460,000 with customizable plans ranging from 2,199 to 3,795 sqft. Choose anywhere from 2 to 6 bedrooms, 2 to 4.5 baths, and 2 to 5 car garages. Also available is a wall of glass door sliders that optimize views of the picturesque Southern Arizona mountains. 

Let’s build your dream home together in the beautiful mountainous areas of Tuscon. Learn more about the Vermillion community at Rancho Vistoso today, call 1-800-830-5135 or visit fairfieldhomes.com/vermillion

Read our press release in realestatedaily-news.com.

 

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