Blog

COVID-19 took a massive bite out of 2020. Luckily, our Lake Havasu real estate market remained strong through it all. But many of the events we usually enjoy during the spring and summer took a hiatus for now. By no means should you interpret that to mean a dull time in Havasu. The lake is always open and ready for social distancing fun. And the thousands of acres of desert land surrounding our fair town begs for some exploring. Fortunately, October brings high-intensity watersports action with the IJSBA 2020 World Finals.

What: IJSBA 2020 World Finals
Where: Crazy Horse Campgrounds
When: October 5th to 11th
Admission: Free for spectators
Contact: Jim Russell, DSM Events, via email

IJSBA 2020 World Finals in Havasu

Nothing keeps racers away from competing on Lake Havasu, not even a global pandemic. For almost 40 years now, athletes from all over the world converge on Lake Havasu City to see who is the best out on the water. In addition to the races and the ever-popular freestyle competition, visit vendor row for fantastic commemorative merch and more. And, for the 21 and over crowd, enjoy an adult beverage at one of the beer stands. Food will also be available for purchase on-site.

Safety Precautions in Place

To keep both riders and spectators safe, organizers put certain precautions in place for the IJSBA 2020 World Finals. They plan on taking the temperature of all riders and their team members each day of the event. Any rider that tests positive for COVID-19 before the race will not be allowed to compete. They encourage any rider who does not feel well to stay away from the event. Spectators must wear masks. If you forget yours at home, they will be made available at the venue. Prepare to be screened at the gates.

Attendance and Parking Fees

Spectators pay nothing to attend any day of the event. Even parking remains free for the first two days. A shuttle runs between the parking lot and the event grounds. But, beginning on Wednesday, October 7th, parking costs $10 per day on the 7th and 8th. One the 9th, 10th, and 11th, parking costs $20 per day. Plan on attending on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday? Purchase a weekend parking pass for $40. All parking fees must be paid in cash to the parking attendant on-site. Beware: if you park in a no-parking zone, expect to receive a very expensive ticket courtesy of the LHC Police Department. For more information, please visit the IJSBA website.

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu City Events by Admin
No Comments »

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu Market Reports by Admin
No Comments »

Even before the COVID-19 global pandemic hit the US, we saw home office space trending upwards. According to a Stanford study, 42% of the American workforce worked from home. Of course, that was in the midst of massive shutdowns of non-essential businesses. Even after Governor Ducey reopened businesses, many companies opted to allow their employees to continue to work from home. And that trend shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Our local secondary schools begin their school year with remote learning next month. Meanwhile, elementary schools start back up with a hybrid model of learning. All of these things mean more time spent on the computer working in some capacity from home. Therefore, you need to create dedicated home office and school spaces in your Havasu home so that everyone can complete their workload effectively.

Creating Home Office/Home School Spaces

Home Office

The ideal home office space includes a door to shut out any regular household noise (dishes clattering, dogs barking, children playing, etc.). An extra guest room provides the perfect location for this space. If the room must perform double duty (guest room/office), consider installing a Murphy bed or a day bed. Murphy beds fold up into the wall for quick storage. Day beds cost less but can function as an added seating area when not occupied by guests. If neither of these is an option, install a wall-mounted desk to save on space.

For a little bit more money, consider installing a chic shed outside. Fit it with air conditioning, electricity, and internet access for a dedicated office area. This can also be utilized as a music studio, artist studio, gym, or yoga room. That not only increases the living area of your Havasu home (and potentially increase your home’s value), but it also provides an excellent selling feature when you list it on the market in the future. Just make sure that you check with the local building department to see if you need a permit first. (Buildings over 108 sq ft may require a permit.) And, if you set it too close to the house, it is considered an extension of the home, which requires a permit. You want to make sure any building you set on your property complies with all building department rules. Otherwise, you might end up having to tear it down when you decide to sell. It’s always better to safe than sorry.

Home Schoolroom

The dining room table worked just fine for homework. But, when your child must spend the entire school day remote learning, it just won’t do. Perhaps the easiest way to create a dedicated space for homeschooling is by clearing out one corner of your child’s bedroom. Set up a desk with shelves and organizational units to hold homework, projects, school supplies, etc. Let your child decorate baskets or shelving units to customize the space. Keep anything distracting (toys, artwork, photos) out of the area so they can concentrate on the task at hand. Allow them to move to the bed or another room for things like silent reading or art time. Mixing up the scenery helps keep kids from getting bored. Use your imagination to help stimulate their minds. Then neither one of you will drive the other one crazy.

If you decide your current Havasu home just isn’t big enough to fit your new lifestyle, contact the Sunstone Realty Professionals. We’ll help you sell your current property and find you something that better fits your needs.

Filed under: Blog, Home Improvement by Admin
No Comments »

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu Market Reports by Admin
No Comments »

Hundreds of thousands of people flock to our city each year to play on our lake. Boating has become synonymous with the Lake Havasu lifestyle. Unfortunately, some people don’t heed boat safety tips or are unaware of some of our local laws when out on the water. Before your next outing, read some of these Havasu rules of the lake to avoid potential problems.

Havasu Rules of the Lake

Arizona Boating Laws

Police officers patrol the water often, especially during high traffic times. Alcohol impairs your ability to operate a boat just as much as it does when operating a car. So, don’t drink while out on the water if you are in charge of steering the boat. No one should be on the bow while underway. You must be at least 12 years old to operate a motorized watercraft in Arizona. But, if you go to the California side of the lake, you must be at least 16 years old. Heed “no wake” zones. All motorized watercraft must yield to any non-motorized watercraft (canoes, kayaks, etc.). All boaters must keep to the right (like cars do on land). That means you travel in a counter-clockwise motion around the lake. Any boat that tows someone behind them (waterskiing, tubing, etc.) must have at least two people on board the vessel at all times. Kids under 12 must always wear a life jacket/vest while on the water. The same goes for anyone being towed behind a watercraft. Towing starts after sunrise and stops after sunset. If you are involved in an accident with another watercraft, stop, exchange contact information, and provide aid if necessary.

Required Equipment for Watercraft

Arizona law requires the following safety equipment installed on most watercraft when out on the lake:

• Life jackets or vests (one per person onboard in their appropriate size)
• Throwable flotation device
• Fire extinguisher
• Flame arrestor (for all motorized vehicles except ones using an outboard motor)
• Blower (except open boats)
• Navigation lights
• Muffler
• Horn
• Flares, flags, and other devices for use to signal when in distress

Safety Tips

Always, always pay attention to what’s going on all around you at all times. Smaller vessels should yield to larger ones. You’re harder to see. So, for your safety, stay out of a larger vessel’s way. If you see watercraft towing someone or something, give it a wide berth to avoid collision with people in the water. When the motor is running, stay away from the back of the boat. The emissions coming from the motor can be very toxic. Also, stay away from the prop. Sit only in the designated seating areas on a watercraft. Anywhere else could cause injury to you or damage to the boat itself. If you see someone in distress in the water, make sure you can physically help them before diving in. Panicked swimmers tend to “climb up” someone helping them. In turn, this could cause both of you to drown. If you’re unsure whether you can physically help them get to safety, throw them a personal flotation device and bring them to your boat that way. Finally, don’t litter. You will be subject to fines. Plus, it’s really gross.

It’s not required, but, if you’re interested, you might want to try taking a boat safety course from the Arizona Game & Fish Department. They’re available online. Heed these Havasu rules of the lake to ensure you and your guests stay safe while they play. Remember to follow social distancing guidelines. It’s best to go boating with people you currently live with in order to limit your potential exposure to COVID-19.

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu City Blog by Admin
No Comments »

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu Market Reports by Admin
No Comments »

Farmers markets have grown in popularity over the past few years. We like to support local farmers and artisans while providing the freshest meat, produce, and dairy to our families. KAWS facilitates the meeting place for farmers and the public twice every month at the Lake Havasu Farmers Market.

Lake Havasu Farmers Market

That’s right. KAWS hosts not one, but two farmers markets at their McCulloch facility each month for the rest of the year. Their essential market (the smallest of the two) takes place from 8 am to 12 pm on the first Saturday of the month. Meanwhile, their larger market opens from 8 am to 12 pm on the third Saturday of the month. Come rain or shine. (But let’s be honest. We don’t see too many rainy days to worry about that.) Each market offers fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, and meat. This Saturday (June 20th), for instance, Fort Rock Farms brings their grass-fed beef in sirloin, chuck, tri-tip, and brisket cuts. Desert Hava Gardens features sugar-free jams to go on their fresh baked sourdough, whole grain, cinnamon swirl, and challah breads. They also sell gluten-free varieties. But that’s just a small taste of their selection. You need to come to the market to see for yourself.

The organizers of the Lake Havasu Farmers Market have been working with farms in Phoenix to put together a Farm Box program for the market. They’re still figuring out the final details as to how to put this all together. But, they’ll have a selection of what you can expect to see in their Farm Boxes at this Saturday’s market. So, you won’t want to miss it!

Tips for Safe Shopping at the Market

Farmers markets all across the state banded together to create safe shopping practices during this global pandemic. They urge everyone to keep socializing to a minimum, especially in a crowd. Talking to the vendors while shopping is fine. But keep moving along once your purchase is made so that others may shop while maintaining as much social distance as possible. Shopping lists help you navigate your way through the market quickly and easily. You might see less sampling available. Instead of picking up and putting down items, ask a vendor to handle them for you. This minimizes possible germ or virus transfer. And consider paying by debit card instead of cash. If you use cash, please use exact change. If possible, pre-order and prepay directly with the vendor ahead of time.

Remaining 2020 Farmers Market Dates at KAWS

Essential Market

• July 4th
• August 1st
• September 5th
• October 3rd
• November 7th
• December 5th

Larger Market

• July 18th
• August 15th
• September 19th
• October 17th
• November 21st
• December 19th

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu City Events by Admin
No Comments »

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu Market Reports by Admin
No Comments »

Our beautiful lake offers tons of fun both above and directly on the water. Boating. Tubing. Parasailing. Swimming. Jet skiing. Using a water jet pack to hover above the lake. So much fun! But did you know that our lake is teeming with fish just below the surface? Catfish, large and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and panfish all call our waters home. At this time of year, the catfish, panfish, and largemouth bass populations thrive. So, it seems like the perfect time for a Lake Havasu Teach a Child to Fish Day.

What: Pond Hopper Nation’s Teach a Child to Fish Day
Where: Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4
When: Saturday, May 30th, 8 am to 3 pm
Admission: FREE
Contact: Albert Talafuse, Pond Hopper Nation (214) 930-7515 or via email

Lake Havasu Teach a Child to Fish Day

Do you love to fish? Want to pass that love on to your children? Now that Governor Ducey allowed his Stay-At-Home Order to expire last week, businesses around Arizona started opening back up. Even so, social distancing and attention to hygiene (washing your hands throughout the day for 20 seconds at a time) remain the rule of the day. And the organizers of Teach a Child to Fish Day plan on adhering to those recommendations as well. In addition to fishing, Pond Hopper Nation plans on hosting several fun activities that are perfect for every age group. Bring the entire family to Lake Havasu State Park for a day of fun in the great outdoors. Even a mediocre day of fishing is pretty much better than a day at school or work.

Registration Information

Yes. It costs nothing to participate in Teach a Child to Fish. However, parents need to sign their children up to make sure there are enough materials for everyone to participate. As a bonus, Pond Hopper Nation promises a free rod and reel to the first 100 kids that register. So, visit Pond Hopper Nation’s website to get your child registered today!

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu City Events by Admin
No Comments »

Filed under: Blog, Lake Havasu Market Reports by Admin
No Comments »