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