North Scottsdale Opportunity

Looking for a home with a large yard in Scottsdale?  This just might be your place. The Tuscan-inspired home is nearly 5,000 square feet & situated on 1.6 acres.  The backyard currently consists of a large pool & spa.  Let your landscapingimagination run wild!  How do you spend your time outdoors?  Whether you prefer serene desert gardens, a built-in bbq & bar, fireplace, putting green or grassy play areas there is plenty of space here to realize your landscaping dreams.  

Click on the photo to view the slide show

 

Here’s what SonoranHouse.com likes BEST:

  • Huge covered patio
  • All bedrooms w/private baths
  • 4 car garage with extra space
  • Expansive windows in the living room
  • Salt water pool
  • Gated 5-home cul-de-sac
  • Circular and straight driveways
  • Desert surroundings; nearby amenities 
  • Lots of land, Lots of home, little price  

For further information or to view this home please contact susan@sonoranhouse.com

listing courtesy of Sonoran Properties GMAC

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Pick a Number, Any Number

That is not the best way to determine the asking price for your newly listed property.  Where do you need to look to find a starting point? Unfortunately, many Sellers look at what the neighbors are asking for their house.  Jon Griffith of Realty Executives wrote a great article on this subject. Read it here

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This Week’s Sonoran House 6/26/08

Picture yourself hosting a casual get together. Greetings and conversation start in the large comfortable living room. You put the finishing touches on the meal. Friends mingle in the kitchen and through the open French doors to the flagstone patio where dinner will be served. Picture yourself under the star filled sky among lush greenery enjoying the relaxing sounds of a waterfall as you cool off in your refreshing pool. Perhaps you are picturing yourself in this Sonoran House…

Here’s what SonoranHouse.com likes BEST about this home:

  •  2 French doors opening to the backyard
  • Beautiful flagstone patioFeatured Tour
  • Private yard w/no 2-story houses nearby
  • Lush landscaping
  • Flagstone ledge in pool
  • Warm & inviting colors
  • Easy access to 101 and 51
  • Proximity to Desert Ridge & future City North

For more info or to visit this home please let me know susan@sonoranhouse.com

listing courtesy of ReMax

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The Nose Knows

People are very aware of smells and they usually trigger a memory of emotion.  Researchers continue to explore the physiological and psychological responses we have to scents.  Great, but what does this have to do with real estate? Read More »

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Make Your House Larger

Put down the power tools, we’re not adding square footage, but you can visually enlarge your house.

Buyers love space. Closet space, counter space, storage space; there is no question about that. So when you have decided it is time to put the house on the market you are going to want to highlight this available space. If you have closets overflowing with fashion and counter tops housing everything AND the kitchen sink, that can all be remedied.

The fact is that you are moving and will have to go through all of your stuff at some point and pack it up.  Your best option is to start before the house even hits the market. Go through all of your closets, cupboards, attic space and storage boxes. Sort out the items you no longer want; items that you never use, clothes that don’t fit, broken objects, etc and determine if they are suitable for a friend, a yard sale, donation or the garbage. New space should be emerging. 

Buyers want to see that there is plenty of closet space. If yours is overflowing with unworn clothes and fashion that is out of style or just hasn’t fit in the last few years, find someone who wants or needs them.  Keeping your shoes and shelving organized will give the perception of more space. If it looks like you don’t have enough closet room Buyers will assume that there isn’t enough closet room for their items  either.   

Organize your pantry to allow some of the kitchen appliances that are on the counter top to be stored elsewhere. Buyers like to see that there is ample counter space available to prepare meals.  Clear off as much space as possible. Don’t forget to clean off the bathroom counters as well.

Take a good look at your furniture. Having over-sized sofas and extra chairs comes in handy when you entertain, but too much furniture in a room will make it look smaller. Take a good look around. Are you planning to use these pieces in your next house?  Perhaps the extra living room stools or dining room chairs can find a new home as well (your kids house?) or consider renting a storage facility. 

The garage is usually the first place people think to store the extras, this may not be your best option.  More and more people seem to be driving larger cars and trucks.  Buyers want to see that there is room in the garage for their vehicles and it is a bonus to have attached storage cabinets or an for a work bench, sink and a place for bikes, recyclables or lawn mower. 

When you take the time to organize you will be surprised at all of the extra space you already have!

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Make Your Home Available

This is serious news if you are serious about selling your home in this market.

If an agent wants to show your home, say YES.  Sounds like a no-brainer doesn’t it?  But that is not always how it happens.  Most times agents will call early in the day or the day before to schedule a showing.  But occasionally that doesn’t always work.  Sometimes a call will come at the last minute.  Or perhaps they will try to schedule an appointment during dinner or your favorite show or at some other inconvenient time. It is really important to be as accommodating as possible.  If an appointment is turned down or Seller needs to reschedule, chances are the Buyers will NOT reschedule. There are so many homes for them to choose from.  They value their time and prefer convenience and they simply may view other homes and find one they like before they get back to yours.

This is why it is of the utmost imporatnace to keep our house in “show-ready” condition. Hopefully you have properly prepared your home for the market and have things organized so that it is no problem for a last minute appointment. ?

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Considering Buying a Home in this Market?

Thinking of purchasing a home? Here’s why we think NOW is a great time to buy. Read More »

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Marshmallow Skies

Having a cloud on Title does not conjure up images of puffy white cotton shapes in bright blue skies. It looks a little more like red tape. A cloud on title occurs when there is a claim, condition or encumbrance that impairs the title to real property. Luckily, this can be eliminated. The title is researched to ensure that no one else is claiming ownership and that it can be transferred to another party. This is one of the many jobs of a Title Company.r. Buyers also need to take responsibility as well and read through their documents and ask any questions they have regarding the escrow process. Your Realtor is also your trusted advisor and will work together with your Escrow Officer to ensure a smooth closing. Generally, a quitclaim deed or legal action is needed to straighten out any discrepancies. From there it should be clear skies and smooth sailing to a successful close of escrow.

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The Rules

According to MONEY Magazine, “There’s no guarantee that prices have hit bottom yet - but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a great deal now.”
Amanda Gengler of Money Magazine put together a list of rules for home Buyers including the following: 
“Rule 4: Don’t buy cheap; buy good schools

By now you’ve heard from somebody who knows somebody who got a great deal on a foreclosed property. But when you buy a house, you’re also buying into a neighborhood. And foreclosures tend to be bunched in areas where residents and speculators alike took out exotic mortgages to get into homes they subsequently found they couldn’t afford. That’s not a recipe for stability. Prices and quality of life could both decline further.

Similarly, avoid developments that popped up in the past few years. They too likely have a lot of owners with risky loans and little equity, says Mike Larson of Weiss Research. Instead, go for areas with highly rated schools. They generally fare better during downturns, and that pattern is holding today, according to a recent study by real estate site Trulia.com.”

She is spot-on in saying that you are also buying into a neighborhood. That goes back to the old addage of location, location, location.  Take a look around the area. How are the schools? Are the freeways convenient without being close enough to supply noise and congestion? Is there easy proximity to parks, recreation, shopping, dining and your office? How does this location fit your lifestyle? A low price does not necessarily mean a good deal.?

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Is The Right Time to Buy Now? Or Now? Or What About Now?

Since Valley homes have rapidly increased in price just to be followed  by a slowdown, many Buyers are trying to make the most of the purchasing power and buy a house right as the market “hits bottom”.  The funny thing is, we never know when we are at the bottom until we are on the upswing looking back. Read More »

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Another Reason to Price Your Property Properly

Wow, say that 3 times! Often forgotten about, the Appraiser plays an important role in the sale of a home.Before taking a listing a real estate agent will conduct a comparative market analysis on the property and present the information to the Sellers. Ultimately, the Sellers have the right to choose the asking price and the agent can in turn choose not to represent the house if they feel it is priced too high. We are in the business of “selling” not “listing” homes and we spend time and money working towards that mutual goal we share with our Sellers. Besides the “comps” the Sellers need to be aware of the power of the appraisal, which the agent may have failed to mention. When purchasing a home most Buyers will Read More »

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Big Incentive or Lower Price?

Which would you choose? Realtor.org posted an article about Buyer incentives. Potential problems are many. Using their example, if Sellers offer a $40,000 car with the house as an incentive, the house is still going to need to meet appraisal. Another example they use is offering a decorating allowance if there is a purple bedroom. You see this all the time for carpet allowances. Why not just paint the purple bedroom a more neutral color? And instead of offering a $10,000 carpet allowance, I think there would be Read More »

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Interesting Reading…

In case you didn’t get to read the paper, here is the article of the week. What do you think?

The Housing Crisis is Over — Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal, By Cyril Moulle-Berteaux
May 6, 2008

The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now.

How can this be? For starters, a bottom does not mean that prices are about to return to the heady days of 2005. That probably won’t happen for another 15 years. It just means that the trend is no longer getting worse, which is the critical factor.

Most people forget Read More »

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Absolutely Stunning in Tempe Lakes

Living Area5200 S Lakeshore Drive #207, Tempe AZ

Featured Tour

This stunning home is perfectly situated in the quiet lake community of Harbour Village. Enjoy the open & spacious floor plan with abundant windows, 2 fireplaces & large balcony. The stylish eat-in kitchen features new stainless steel appliances. this home also boasts 2 very large bedrooms and a 2 car garage. Walk to the pool & spa or lake for relaxation.

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Was it Lights Out for You?

First there was Earth day and now there is Earth Hour. Were you a participant? Read More »

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The Cart Before the House Part II: Prioritize

It is an exciting time when you are ready to search for your new home. There is anticipation of making memories in new surroundings and transforming a house into a home that reflects your taste and personality. But don’t jump the gun. There are steps you should take before you even step foot out of your own front door. Read More »

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The Cart Before the House Part I: Pre-Approval

Are you excited to look for your new home? Feel ready to make a move? Are you sure? Read More »

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Why Renting Costs More than Owning

A large portion of the renting population out there face a few fears about owning a home.  It will cost too much.  If I don’t pay my mortgage, they’ll take my home.  I don’t have the money for a down payment.  The list goes on.  This article is designed to show you that owning is cheaper than renting, long term.

Let’s consider a couple in their 20’s renting a 2 bedroom apartment in Scottsdale with an annual combined income of $40,000.00.  For the sake of this article, we’ll leave out non-discretionary spending such as utilities, phone bills, car payments, etc., and we’ll focus solely on a comparison of rent vs. mortgage. Read More »

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Top 10 Places for Home Bargains

Phoenix NightscapeAccording to Matt Woolsey of Forbes magazine, the following are the top 10 places where you can still find a great bargain on a home:

  1. Salt Lake City, Utah. The fastest growing job market where real estate developers have produced more supply than demand.
  2. Raleigh, North Carolina. It seems the developers all over the country built too many homes too quickly. More supply equals lower prices.
  3. Orlando, Florida.
  4. Charlotte, N.C. A high inventory and growing financial industry.
  5. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - The Valley of the Sun has a high foreclosure rate but the weather is calling you. Thousands move here every year regardless of the supply of homes. With 50,000 homes on the market, there are plenty of good deals for you to choose from and now is the time to buy.
  6. Seattle, Washington. The weak dollar has allowed the port city to profit even with a slowing housing market.
  7. Las Vegas, Nevada. A recent statistic showed that 40% of the homes in Las Vegas were in foreclosure at the end of January, 2008.
  8. Jacksonville, Florida. Inventory is declining.
  9. Richmond, Virginia. Even with only one foreclosure per 1103 households in Richmond, compared to 1 in 33 in Detroit, there are still plenty of homes on the market.
  10. Houston, Texas.

Moving to Phoenix? Call us today and we can set up a FREE no-obligation consultation.

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What You Need to Know About Moving

Moving can be a stressful time in your life.  Make sure you have all of the information you need to make your move as smooth as possible.  We’ve outlined a few tips that can really help you: Read More »

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