Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Phoenix Home

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

If you're buying a home, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself in order to make informed decisions.

• How is the neighborhood? Even if you move from area to area, some others can be completely different even within a short amount of distance. I recommend prospective buyers visit the neighborhood at different times of the day to fully experience what it feels like.

• How are the schools? How does this particular district compare to others in the Phoenix area? We can give you a report with condensed information about this.
• What are the average utility bills? How does it compare to other properties in the area? They could range widely.
• What are the age and cost of major items? I’m talking about air conditioning, the hot water heater, and others. It’s important to consider how old they are, to determine when they should be replaced later on.

If you have any questions, reach out to us via email or phone. We’d be happy to help and talk with you!

Real Estate News for Phoenix Buyers, Sellers, and Investors

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Today we are here to answer the question “What’s been going on in the Phoenix residential real estate market?” The answer really depends on whether you are looking to invest, buy, or sell.

If you’re an investor and you already own a rental property already, now is a great time to buy another. Rental rates are continuing to go up across the board and vacancy is at an all-time low.

If you are a buyer or seller, the strength of the market depends on which price range you are looking in. In the $300,000 and below range, we are in a seller’s market. In the $300,000-$600,000 range, we are in more of a balanced market. In the $600,000+ range, we are in more of a buyer’s market. However, there are pockets in each price range where there is a lot of inventory, and you can still get a great deal on a home in Arizona.

If you want to know more about those pockets or what’s going on in your specific area, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to speaking with you!

The Best Time to Sell in Phoenix

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Lately, a lot of people have been asking, "Should we put our home on the market now, or should we wait until after the holidays?" In other words, when is the best time to sell?

Ultimately, it really depends on what's going on in your neighborhood and how many homes are currently on the market. Most people wait to list until after the holidays, which means your property will face more competition once the holidays are over.

We try to evaluate whether we can position your home better during the holidays since there is less competition. Buyers look for the property with the best amenities for the lowest price, and with fewer homes on the market, your property could be just the one they're looking for.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We can help you figure out if now is the best time to sell. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Can You Get a Good Return on Your Investment When Getting Your Home Ready to Sell?

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Most homeowners have a simple question before listing: "How much money should I put into my property before I put it on the market?" We have a free home sellers guide that addresses this topic head on. This document will tell you exactly what repairs will yield you the highest return. If you're interested in it, we would be happy to send it out to you!

A simple way to look at this topic is to use the $500 or $1,500 rule. If you can repair something major to the appearance of the exterior or the interior (kitchens, bathrooms) for $500-$1,500, it's probably worth doing! We've found that massive repairs and huge remodeling projects don't get the returns that make them worth it when it comes to the final sale price of the home.

Before undertaking a big project, make sure it's going to net you a big return. If you need help determining that, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, don't hesitate to give me a call. We're here to make your life in real estate as easy as possible!

How Can a Home Inspection Save You Money Down the Road?

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

The home inspection is one of the most important parts of the home buying and selling process. When you hire an inspector, you want to work with the best out there.

You want an inspector who will look at three things: safety, structural, and mechanical. They will not look for cosmetic items, but big-ticket items that could cost you a whole lot of money down the road. These include roof issues, plumbing, and electrical, among others. 

Bottom line: make sure you get a quality home inspection so you know what you're getting into and what to expect on either side of the transaction. If you have any questions about this topic, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you!

Five Things to Consider When Looking at a Phoenix Home

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

We want to give you a little advice on what to look for when you're viewing homes in Phoenix.

1. Location: Do you like what you see? Does the neighborhood have the amenities that you desire? Is the home near a busy street? Does your home face a school or an empty lot? 
2. Neighborhood: Does the area suit your needs? Are people taking care of their properties and is there a HOA?
3. The yard: Outdoor space is becoming increasingly important to buyers, so if this is important to you, ensure that the space fits your needs.
4. Size and floor plan: Does the floor plan flow to where you can easily move around from place to place? The layout is important, and it's not something that can be changed once you move in. 
5. Condition of major components: We're talking about the heater, plumbing, roof, and electrical systems. You need to know that these systems work in order to avoid a major disaster down the road.

Hopefully you can remember to look for these things when you're out viewing properties this summer. It's a great time to buy a home in Phoenix!

Beware of Overpricing Your Home in Phoenix

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Today I'd like to speak about the dangers of overpricing your home in Phoenix when you're trying to sell it.

If you think about it, the price of your home is its #1 piece of marketing and advertising. It's also what can make or break a deal.

A lot of sellers believe they can price a home high and then come down if they don't receive offers, but this is a risky move.

Buyers are often off-put by homes that are priced too high, and they kind of take it as an insult that you think they would pay that much for a home. They will also begin to wonder why the home has not sold, and they will likely think that something might be wrong with the roof or the foundation.

In this case, it will sit on the market, become stale, and probably sell for much less than you hoped for.

The best thing to do is to price the home correctly the first time, and you can do this by pricing it right at or just below the market value.

If you have questions about how to nail the price the first time, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to help you sell for top dollar in Phoenix!

Is Renting a Better Option than Selling?

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Welcome back everyone, I am excited to talk to you about today's topic, "Should I sell my home or rent it out?"

When you ask yourself this question, you need to consider a few things first before you make your decision. The first is, "Do you want to be a landlord?" You have to get into the mindset of a landlord, knowing that you will have occasional calls and other things to deal with on the property. 

The next thing to ask yourself is "What is your Payment?" and "What Would the Property Rent for?" We always want our clients to have positive cash flow, so we want to make sure your rent is a little higher than your payment. A few hundred dollar buffer after expenses is what we want.

The final thing we want to look at is whether your property would be an ideal rental. Typically, as prices go up, rent goes up too. If you want to invest in real estate, you should be sure you are making a wise investment first. 

These are just a few of the things you should consider before deciding to become a landlord. If you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We would be glad to help out!

Can You Trust Zillow to Find the True Value of Your Arizona Home?

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Today, we want to discuss an important topic in our hot market. As more and more buyers flood the Arizona market, people are turning to online evaluation sites like Zillow to find their home values. Today, we answer the question: How accurate are Zillow's home evaluations?

There is no way a computer can do what a human can do when it comes to evaluating a home's value. There are a lot of factors that go into a home's value, and some of them can only be accounted for by physically visiting the property, which a computer is obviously incapable of. For example, location, configuration, and the condition of a property can only be evaluated by a real person!

If you would like to get a true, accurate home evaluation, or if you have any real estate questions, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to give you a hand any way we can!

Why Should You Know About These 3 Common Contingencies?

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

Today, I want to discuss contingencies in the purchase contract. There are three really big ones I want to remind you about:

1. Loan: Any buyer buying a loan has to be approved. Even if you were approved initially, if something changes with your credit you could add a contingency that allows you to get your earnest money back.
2. Appraisal: The property has to appraise. Even in today's competitive market, where some buyers have to offer above list price, the property still has to appraise. This contingency will protect you from paying WAY too much.
3. Inspection: In Arizona, you have 10 days to do your due diligence and make sure you know everything you can possibly know about the property. 

As always, if you have real estate questions of any kind, give us call or shoot us a quick email. We service the entire Arizona area, so don't hesitate to reach out to us for help, wherever in this great state you might be!

Phoenix: The Tale of Two Markets

Looking to buy in Phoenix?  Get a full home search, 

Looking to Sell in Phoenix?  Get a free home value report

I think a lot of people are confused as to what is actually happening in the Phoenix real estate market.

The truth is that if your home is worth less than $350K, the market is absolutely on fire. If you're looking to sell a home in this range, you can expect multiple offers from buyers. A friend of mine recently listed their $280,000 home, and they got 15 offers and 
sold for $300,000 in just a couple of days!

If you have a property worth more than $350K, you should take a look at the days on market to determine how quickly you might be able to sell the home. It's a much different market for homes that are worth more.

This isn't such great news for buyers, but there are deals out there. You just have to be quick and prepared to pull the trigger at all times. You can take comfort in the fact that interest rates are sitting at historic lows, so you have a chance to buy a good home at an affordable price.

If you need help buying or selling this summer, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Should You Consider Buying an Investment Property in Phoenix?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Hey everybody, welcome back to our blog. Today I am excited to talk to you about investment real estate. Right now is the best time to get an investment property in the last few years, with low interest rates and fewer cash buyers in the marketplace. Before you go out there looking for a property that will give you some positive cash flow, we want to dispel some myths first. 

Many people say if you buy an investment property, your tenants will destroy the house and you will have a ton of problems. That is simply not the case. I would tell you that it is up to you how much time you want to put into the home, but the myth of the bad landlord isn't true. 

I use a property manager on my investment properties and don't have to spend more than an hour a month making sure everything is in order. It's really about picking the right property more than anything else, and now is the perfect time to go out looking. Those cash buyers aren't around like they were in the past, and we are starting to see some really good deals on investment properties in Phoenix now. 

If you are thinking about buying an investment property, give us a call or send us a quick email. We would love to answer any questions you may have and help you get your home sold faster and for top dollar. Talk to you soon!

What Methods Do We Use to Sell Your Home?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

I am excited to share some strategies with you today that we use to get your home sold. In today's world, your first showing isn't taking place at the open house, it's online. This is where our process begins. We start with professional photography and take over 50 perfect photos from every corner of your home. We then add a virtual tour of your home, and share the files on 85 different websites in 6 different languages all across the internet.

Next, we go to the sites that people use to search for homes in your area, whether it be Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, or any other site. We feature your home on these sites, so anybody looking for homes there will see your home more than anybody else's.

Finally, we direct mail everyone in your neighborhood, and call 250-500 of your neighbors, who we have found to be a great source for buyers. 

These are just a few of the strategies in our 151 point marketing plan that we use to get your home sold. As always, if you have any questions, reach out to us by phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Is an "As Is" Home Sale?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Hey everyone, welcome back to the blog. Have you heard the term "as is" when it comes to a home sale? An "as is" home sale is basically when you sell a home and a buyer agrees to purchase it "as is." This eliminates the need for you to do repairs, but a lot of people think it gets you out of liability in the future. There is a lot of confusion about this, so we hope to clear the air today.

We only recommend "as is" sales for sellers that don't have the money or don't want to put repairs into the property. It doesn't get you out of having to disclose any known defects with the home, but it can get you out of paying certain costs. It's a good strategy for the right seller in the right market at the right time, but there are some dangers associated with it.

If you have any questions for us, we are always here to help. Give us a call or send us an email, and we will get right back to you. We can't wait to hear from you!

When Is the Best Time to Sell Your Arizona Home?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Welcome back, everyone. Today we are answering the question: "When is the best time to sell my home?"

It's always an interesting balancing act when it comes to selling a home for the most money possible in the shortest amount of time. If you are reading right now, spring is the best time. More homes sell in the first half of the year than in the rest of the year. 


Especially in our current market, which is shifting more towards a seller's market every day, properties that are clean, nice, and ready to go are selling very quickly. 


With our marketing and sales expertise, our clients are often selling their homes in days and everyone is selling in less than a few weeks.   

If you have any questions about how this market could be advantageous to you, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Why Should You Have a Warranty on Your Arizona Home?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today's topic is home warranties. One of the best ways to ensure you don't have any huge out of pocket expenses or repairs is by having a home warranty.

We work with two great home warranty providers, Fidelity National Home Warranty and National Home Warranty. Both do a great job.

With a home warranty, your back is covered when it comes to unexpected repairs. Instead of having to pay a $1,000 repair for a broken air conditioner, if you have a home warranty, all you are dealing with is a $60 service call. A home warranty ensures that you will be covered when it comes to large, out of pocket expenses.

You may think a home warranty sounds too expensive, but trust us, you will be able to afford it if you work with us. If we do not save you $10,000 on your home purchase, we will pay your home warranty for you.

If you have any questions, we are always here to take your call or answer your email. We serve the entire state of Arizona, and look forward to hearing from you soon!

How Fast Is the Moving Process in Phoenix?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Thanks for joining us once again. Today we want to answer a few questions we get frequently from buyers, "How quickly should I move?" and "How quickly do I have to move?"

Before you even think about buying a home, you need to figure out your goal (your end date). Pick a date that you want to be all moved into your new home, and stick to a plan that will help you get there.

We typically want to put your home on the market about 90 days before you want to move. Our market is pretty balanced, so homes are taking under 30 days to go under contract, and sales are closing within another 30-45 days on average.

Now, for the question of how quickly you have to move. In Arizona, you can be in your property up until the date of the closing, but we recommend you get out of there at least a week or two beforehand.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Are You Drawing in Buyers with Your Home's Curb Appeal?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Today we are very excited to talk to you about curb appeal, specifically, how important it is to the sale of your home.

There is probably not a single bigger factor that will affect the value of your home more than its curb appeal, or how your home looks from the curb. The best and cheapest investment you can make to improve the appeal of your home is investing in a new coat of paint. It's amazing how clean and crisp a new coat of paint can make your house look.

Next, take care of landscaping. Clean up the yard and the porch, and make sure the property is pristine. It's the first impression buyers have on your home, and you want it to be good. We can't stress curb appeal enough. You want to make sure your home looks perfect not only on the inside, but on the outside as well.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would be more than happy to help.
 

What Are the Most Important Repairs for My Phoenix Home?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Of course the goal of every home seller is to sell their home quickly for the most amount of money possible. You also want to have your home in the best condition possible to sell. You could make a ton of expensive repairs, or you could pay attention to a few key details to really get the most bang for your buck.

In our experience, there are four areas where repairs bring huge returns: Kitchen, bathroom, flooring, and paint. Meeting with a home staging expert should help you zero in on your best options for improvements.

In addition to this, you want to make sure your home is clean and de-cluttered, with a lot of natural light during the day. 

If you have any questions for us, we would love to help you out. Just give us a call and we'll get right back to you. 

Is Your Personality Preventing Your Home Sale?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Greater Phoenix real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.
Today's topic is an interesting one: Is your personality keeping your home from selling??

When you sell your home, you want to make it show-ready, much like a model home. If your home is cluttered with personal items and photographs, it makes it harder for a potential buyer to picture them and their family living in the space. After a while, we all acquire personal "stuff" that doesn't fit with our goals in the home-showing process. Getting this stuff packed up and stored away is key, and will go a long way in helping your home sell quickly and for a good price. 

A few other things you may want to consider improving inside of your home are paint and carpet. Buyers appreciate a fresh coat of paint and clean, new carpet. We aren't a huge fan of spending money if it won't return your investment, but in terms of keeping your home clean, neat, and bright, these tips will help you get more money for your home in less time. 
If you have any questions for us, we would love to share some advice with you. Just give us a call or send a quick email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!