There really is a lot of positive news behind the sobering headlines about the housing market over the past couple of years, according to the CEO of Long Realty, “Arizona’s Real Estate Company.”

Rosey Koberlein, herself a transplanted Pennsylvanian and Ohioan, believes that the Tucson-area real estate market, and golf course homes in particular, are weathering the storm in the housing industry far better than most sections of the country and while the “first half of 2008 will be continue much like ’07, I expect significant improvement in the second half of  ’08.”

Prices have also held much firmer for golf course homes than other higher-end properties, according to Koberlein, with less than a 10% rollback in prices from the highs of 2005 for homes near golf courses, while there’s been up to a 36% price reduction in other homes in the $500,000-plus category. That’s great news, long-term, for those considering moving near one of the spectacular courses in the Tucson-Green Valley area.

The good news, short-term, for those considering a move to this slightly-lower-profile golf mecca (Tucson’s population just surpassed the 1-million mark, but really still considers itself a “big, small town”) is that there are far more homes to look at all over southern Arizona now, on and off golf courses, than in the speculative period just past. But Koberlein also believes that’s all the more reason why folks considering a move need a realtor with the resources of a company like Long Realty more than ever.

“In 2005, we were looking at what we consider a 60-day inventory of homes,” says Koberlein. “In the internet era, when up to 80% of people now begin their home search on the Web, there were only 50-100 homes available in their primary preference then, and by the time they made a couple of other cuts, they were down to only 5-6 homes to sort through. But with more than three times that many homes on the market at any one time now, it can be overwhelming to the consumer, especially if they live outside the Tucson area, to really know how to find the best place to satisfy their priorities.

That’s where the 80 years of Long Realty experience comes into play. Their agents throughout Arizona and into Mexico have been through it all, good times and lean. And yet for an “old school” realty firm, you should see their 21st Century technology, beginning with their amazing Web site, www.LongRealty.com. Everything from loan pre-approvals to test scores from different communities to recommendations on home services (through their Long Advantage program), not to mention virtual tours of the many homes they show all over Arizona and even into Mexico. There’s even access to agents who speak foreign languages on their site to help make the process more comfortable.

Koberlein believes golf course real estate is not just a great investment, it’s a great lifestyle. “Even for those that were drawn to a particular home or community because of its golf access, golf is really only one element of that lifestyle experience,” she says. “There’s a sense of comfort and beauty that even non-golfers appreciate, and that common thread is something you don’t find in most neighborhoods, even some of the most elite ones.”

Besides the abundant wildlife you’re likely to find in a Tucson neighborhood, everything from the famed roadrunners to rabbits, even the occasional bobcat or javelina, one of the great little secrets of golf neighborhoods in the desert, especially in the summertime---they’re actually cooler than other communities with all the grass, water and tree cover!

And right now, according to Koberlein, there’s never been a wider variety of golf course real estate available, from $120,000 townhomes to a $4.8-million estate, with some exceptional values in the $300,000-$400,000 range.

As it is for any other kind of real estate, location’s still the most important criteria when looking for a golf course home, more than just which fairway you’d prefer. The other amenities of a golf course community will, in the long run, be just as important as the course itself, so be sure to checkout the clubhouse facilities, dining options and social activities available that meet your desires in a golf course lifestyle. There’s also the additional perceived safety and prestige that comes with living in one of the gated golf communities.

Then there’s the bigger picture of that “big, small town”. With a thriving arts community, all of the atmosphere and amenities of being the home of the University of Arizona, and its diverse economy with an unemployment rate under 4%, Tucson is one of those places you see just getting better as it matures. And besides the obviously gorgeous desert geography, Tucson’s also got everything from the Pacific Ocean to Mexico and the White Mountains within just a short drive.

With 8 decades of history to draw on, Long Realty is certainly in it for, and with, area residents for the long haul. The Long Realty Cares Foundation was established in 2002 and has contributed well over a million dollars in support of 135 different non-profit organizations in the area. Many sales associates voluntarily donate a portion of their commissions to the foundation, besides volunteering with many charitable organizations, adding a unique dimension to Long’s connection to its community.

Sound like the kind of people you want to make your partner in your next home search, or maybe become their next neighbor?  Behind the scary headlines, there’s a fabulous opportunity to catch the next real estate wave. And that golf course home you’ve dreamed about might never be more attainable than it is right now. Learn more by calling Long Realty at (520) 918-1616 or (800) 354-5664 toll free or visit www.LongRealty.com.