| If you really know your American history | | | | a particularly wise use of resources. |
| (and/or have ever read the book or seen | | | | It's also popular to have private |
| the PBS documentary Cadillac Desert) you | | | | swimming pools in climates such as we |
| understand full well that settlement of | | | | have here in the Phoenix area. Aside |
| the West and water issues are | | | | from tremendous drain on local water |
| inextricably bound - particularly in the | | | | resources, your Phoenix real estate |
| desert areas where many people choose to | | | | agent will advise you that a swimming |
| make a phoenix real estate investment. | | | | pool, while lifting your property's |
| The fact is that without water, there | | | | value, represents a considerable |
| would be no Phoenix AZ real estate - nor | | | | investment in terms of maintenance and a |
| the city of Phoenix proper, for that | | | | potential liability as well. The |
| matter. Fortunately, the Gila River is | | | | possibility of someone being injured or |
| nearby, as well as a number of creeks | | | | drowned in your swimming pool is |
| and reservoirs. Over 1300 years ago, | | | | something that home insurers take into |
| these enabled the Hohokam People to grow | | | | consideration when determining risk and |
| crops on the exceptionally fertile land. | | | | potential liability. |
| Almost a century before the time of King | | | | In general, when planning to settle down |
| Charlemagne, the Hohokam created a | | | | in Maricopa County, it's good to |
| highly developed civilization in the | | | | consider living in harmony with the |
| Valley of the Sun that endured for seven | | | | environment rather than attempting to |
| centuries. Their systems of irrigation | | | | adapt it to your own tastes. Choose a |
| canals formed the basis of the modern | | | | home with environmentally-friendly, less |
| metro area's water systems today. | | | | water intensive landscaping. Make sure |
| Those of you planning to invest in | | | | your home has low-flow toilets and |
| Phoenix real estate or settle down in | | | | shower heads - then learn all you can |
| the area will do well to remember | | | | about water conservation. The Arizona |
| however that Maricopa County is a | | | | Department of Water Resources at is a |
| desert. Water is a precious resource, | | | | good place to start learning about the |
| and in order to maintain the quality of | | | | latter topic. |
| life we enjoy in this area, it is | | | | Meanwhile, your Phoenix realtor can help |
| important to practice water | | | | you to choose the perfect home that will |
| conservation. | | | | meet the needs of your family while |
| Many Phoenix homes are landscaped using | | | | making a minimal impact on the |
| the native vegetation within | | | | environment and local water resources. |
| attractively designed rock gardens. | | | | Once you have chosen and settled into |
| While a home with a traditional lawn may | | | | the ideal home, you will come to |
| appear to have greater value, the cost - | | | | appreciate the unique ecology and beauty |
| both financially and ecologically - of | | | | of the Southwest desert on its own |
| maintaining a lawn will be high and not | | | | terms. |