I never thought I would ever live in Northwest Arkansas. I was born in Bayonne, NJ (across from New York City), also lived in St. Louis, MO and most recently in Chicago, IL. I always thought of myself as a “big city” person. I planned on staying In Chicago the rest of my life. What happened? I realized that although I really liked the many attributes of living in Chicago, the quality of my life there was no longer what I wanted. I was tired of the increasing traffic and the escalating real estate taxes. The non-monetary aspects of living that meant a great deal to me were slowly eroding. I spent many hours at work and 2-3 hours a day commuting because of the traffic. I spent plenty of time inhaling car exhaust fumes but had very little time available to spend with my friends, cats and dogs, reading or going off with my camera to do nature photography.

A friend suggested that I take a look at Northwest Arkansas and I did. I found the four seasons but not the extreme cold, wind and snow that often occurred during Chicago winters. It is hotter longer here but just about everything is air conditioned. A little common sense about staying outside when it is very hot, some sunscreen and summer isn’t bad at all. Northwest Arkansas is in the Ozark Mountains and the colors of the fall season are magnificent. Spring is also beautiful. Flowers bloom earlier and more often here than in Chicago. The birds are numerous and bird feeders in your yard will provide an opportunity for you to view species of birds you may not have seen before..

Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest growing parts of the U.S. It is home to Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville was ranked as the 3^rd best mid-size city for doing business in the May, 2006 issue of Inc. Magazine. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) located in Bentonville opened on November 1, 1998. It serves Northwest Arkansas passenger and cargo needs.

As far as shopping goes, you can find just about anything you possibly would want to buy at the Northwest Arkansas Mall. J. C. Penney, Sears, Dillard’s, Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, LensCrafters and Zale’s Jewelers are a few of the stores in the mall. There is also a large Barnes and Noble bookstore across the street from the mall. Ethnic restaurants? No problem. There are a variety of excellent restaurants in Northwest Arkansas as well as those serving American cuisine. You won’t go hungry looking for a place to eat here.

Housing is available from about $150,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in the Fayetteville area upwards to $500,000+. If you like golf, there are a variety of golf courses in Northwest Arkansas, some with housing options. There are also several retirement communities. Real estate taxes here are considerably lower than in many other parts of the U.S.

A Local Introduction

As a real estate professional, Claudia believes it is not only her duty, but a privilege to introduce people to the Northwest Arkansas area and help them make the most of living here. She also knows that finding your new home is just one of the tasks that face you when you're relocating. Her goal is to coordinate everything as smoothly and efficiently as possible here, while you're wrapping up the final details of packing up and moving out of your current home.