Saturday, June 11, 2011
Dream Home in AZ
To potential out of state (country) buyers. When you are looking for your dream home here in Arizona, don't limit yourself when searching. Be open to suggestions, for instance, if you are looking for a home with a heated pool in the community which can be sometimes hard to find.......perhaps a hot tub/jacuzzi/spa in your own back yard is a possibility for you! Then you have hot water in winter, and as the season changes...cool water in summer!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The great state of Arizona
I love my state! From the cactus to the pine trees, this state pretty much covers all geographic types and climates. Love learning about all the ghost towns and wild west stories. Maybe that is why I enjoy being a Realtor so much. Captive audiences while showing and telling about AZ! Poor souls!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
More Banks Pay to Fix Up Foreclosures for Resale
More banks are investing thousands of dollars to fix up foreclosures in trying to spur sales and appeal to a broader buying pool. Banks have inherited plenty of foreclosed homes that have everything from water damage, mold, broken windows, and missing plumbing fixtures.
But while banks used to be hesitant to invest much money in fixing up these homes, more real estate pros say that banks are heeding their suggestions for repairs and seeing the benefits of how a little investment can make these properties more sellable. As such, they are paying for new paint and carpet, refinishing damaged floors, replacing old windows, and repairing leaky roofs.
They hope to extend the foreclosed homes’ appeal past traditional investors and professional rehabbers. For example, home buyer would have trouble securing a mortgage on homes that lenders deem “uninhabitable” because of needed repairs.
The banks interest in fixing up these properties also can help the overall real estate market because the foreclosed properties can sell at a higher price.
Real estate agents say they are making more suggestions to banks on how to spruce up the properties. First, they identify the target customer for a property. For example, if the home will likely appeal to owner-occupant, agents may recommend fixes such as paint to $25,000 kitchen remodel.
Source: “Banks Fixing Up Foreclosures to Spur Sales; Strategy Aims to Give Them Broader Appeal, Reduce Big Inventory,” The Chicago Tribune (March 13, 2011)
But while banks used to be hesitant to invest much money in fixing up these homes, more real estate pros say that banks are heeding their suggestions for repairs and seeing the benefits of how a little investment can make these properties more sellable. As such, they are paying for new paint and carpet, refinishing damaged floors, replacing old windows, and repairing leaky roofs.
They hope to extend the foreclosed homes’ appeal past traditional investors and professional rehabbers. For example, home buyer would have trouble securing a mortgage on homes that lenders deem “uninhabitable” because of needed repairs.
The banks interest in fixing up these properties also can help the overall real estate market because the foreclosed properties can sell at a higher price.
Real estate agents say they are making more suggestions to banks on how to spruce up the properties. First, they identify the target customer for a property. For example, if the home will likely appeal to owner-occupant, agents may recommend fixes such as paint to $25,000 kitchen remodel.
Source: “Banks Fixing Up Foreclosures to Spur Sales; Strategy Aims to Give Them Broader Appeal, Reduce Big Inventory,” The Chicago Tribune (March 13, 2011)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Builders Promote New Homes vs. Foreclosures
Builders across the country are tweaking their marketing to make a point that foreclosures aren’t always the good deals everyone thinks they are and can come with plenty of pitfalls if buyers aren’t careful.
Builders are warning buyers to be careful before they buy a foreclosure, which they say often come with unknown repairs, limited selection, and headaches in working with banks.
New-home sales have suffered as the industry has faced five consecutive years of declines after reaching record highs the five previous years. The high number of foreclosures sitting on the market are driving new construction to a halt in some places.
That’s why builders like Lennar Corp. are trying to spread the message to buyers that purchasing a foreclosure might not be such a good deal. On the home builder’s Web site, they are featuring a special page devoted to “Buying a New Home vs. a Foreclosed Home,” which outlines the benefits of new construction, such as home warranties, energy efficiency, and customized options.
Likewise, Shea Homes and Phoenix-area builder Fulton Homes are promoting new homes with a "foreclosure cost calculator" on their Web sites, which lets customers calculate potential costs.
"There are hundreds of people who purchased homes from us that have been lured in by low prices on foreclosures, have tried to purchase those homes and have been outbid by investors," says Ken Peterson, Shea's vice president of sales and marketing. "Or, they waited months to get an answer back on `can I get this short sale, can I get this foreclosure,' only to discover that they didn't get that home."
Source: "Homebuilders Try to Draw in Buyers by Pointing Out Pitfalls and Risks of Buying Foreclosures," The Associated Press (March 5, 2011)
Builders are warning buyers to be careful before they buy a foreclosure, which they say often come with unknown repairs, limited selection, and headaches in working with banks.
New-home sales have suffered as the industry has faced five consecutive years of declines after reaching record highs the five previous years. The high number of foreclosures sitting on the market are driving new construction to a halt in some places.
That’s why builders like Lennar Corp. are trying to spread the message to buyers that purchasing a foreclosure might not be such a good deal. On the home builder’s Web site, they are featuring a special page devoted to “Buying a New Home vs. a Foreclosed Home,” which outlines the benefits of new construction, such as home warranties, energy efficiency, and customized options.
Likewise, Shea Homes and Phoenix-area builder Fulton Homes are promoting new homes with a "foreclosure cost calculator" on their Web sites, which lets customers calculate potential costs.
"There are hundreds of people who purchased homes from us that have been lured in by low prices on foreclosures, have tried to purchase those homes and have been outbid by investors," says Ken Peterson, Shea's vice president of sales and marketing. "Or, they waited months to get an answer back on `can I get this short sale, can I get this foreclosure,' only to discover that they didn't get that home."
Source: "Homebuilders Try to Draw in Buyers by Pointing Out Pitfalls and Risks of Buying Foreclosures," The Associated Press (March 5, 2011)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy 99th Birthday Arizona!
In honor of Arizona's birthday this website will provide some fun filled facts of our great state!
http://arizonainformation.info/fun-facts.htm
http://arizonainformation.info/fun-facts.htm
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Top 10 Reasons Phoenix will Prosper in 2011
Courtesy of the Mortgage Advantage
Top Ten Reasons Phoenix Will Prosper
Most of us begin the day with our favorite morning beverage and tune in to our very own live-in horror story: The U. S. Economy.
Phoenix has withstood additional blows with negative press, but all in all 2010 showed small signs of recovery for our great state.
2011 will be even better, here are the top ten reasons Phoenix will have a prosperous 2011:
10. Phoenix's unemployment rate dropped below the National average to 8.5% in December, 2010 and is expected to slowly decline. Technology and resort-leisure jobs are still the go-to jobs in Arizona, unless you open a pawnshop.
9. Arizonan's love to shop. Wal-Mart is Arizona's largest employer employing over 30,000 people.
8. Arizona is all grown up by implementing their very own stock index called The L&D Arizona Composite Index. It is compiled of companies headquartered in Arizona and publicly traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ.
7. We are not depending on the 5 C's that have defined our state for decades: Citrus, Cattle, Cotton, Copper, and Climate. History Lesson: All five are incorporated on our state symbol.
6. Green is the word! Solar and Algae are the buzz words for fuel sources in the 21st Century. Both industries are continuing to anchor themselves in our state. If oil prices continue to rise, and stay high, we may finally be forced to mass-produce cleaner and more effective alternatives to our oil addiction. Segway's are not the answer if you wear high heels and worry about your toupee.
5. China's inflation may be the U.S.'s windfall: the cost of our goods will become competitive. The Chinese don't want to buy goods labeled "made in China."
4. Our border state geography is a benefit for legal exports and imports from Mexico, Arizona's largest trading partner. According to azcentral.com, exports to Mexico topped $5.9 billion and imports $5.2 billion in 2008. That is a lot of Chihuahuas.
3. The Phoenix metro-plex offers the most affordable housing in the U. S. With rock bottom prices and low interest rates (stop whining, no, they're not at 4% but still pretty darn low) make for an unbeatable combination. Also, families who lost their homes in 2007 and 2008 may be able to re-enter the mortgage market this year.
2. We have the Grand Canyon. Air traffic through Sky Harbor increased in 2010 over 2009.
1. Arizona is not Green Bay or Pittsburg. With the brutal winter in many parts of the U.S. and Canada, pictures of our sunshine will continue to entice people to visit and stay awhile.
No matter what the circumstances of our economy, it will be up to us to energize 2011 and help make it a great year.
Top Ten Reasons Phoenix Will Prosper
Most of us begin the day with our favorite morning beverage and tune in to our very own live-in horror story: The U. S. Economy.
Phoenix has withstood additional blows with negative press, but all in all 2010 showed small signs of recovery for our great state.
2011 will be even better, here are the top ten reasons Phoenix will have a prosperous 2011:
10. Phoenix's unemployment rate dropped below the National average to 8.5% in December, 2010 and is expected to slowly decline. Technology and resort-leisure jobs are still the go-to jobs in Arizona, unless you open a pawnshop.
9. Arizonan's love to shop. Wal-Mart is Arizona's largest employer employing over 30,000 people.
8. Arizona is all grown up by implementing their very own stock index called The L&D Arizona Composite Index. It is compiled of companies headquartered in Arizona and publicly traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ.
7. We are not depending on the 5 C's that have defined our state for decades: Citrus, Cattle, Cotton, Copper, and Climate. History Lesson: All five are incorporated on our state symbol.
6. Green is the word! Solar and Algae are the buzz words for fuel sources in the 21st Century. Both industries are continuing to anchor themselves in our state. If oil prices continue to rise, and stay high, we may finally be forced to mass-produce cleaner and more effective alternatives to our oil addiction. Segway's are not the answer if you wear high heels and worry about your toupee.
5. China's inflation may be the U.S.'s windfall: the cost of our goods will become competitive. The Chinese don't want to buy goods labeled "made in China."
4. Our border state geography is a benefit for legal exports and imports from Mexico, Arizona's largest trading partner. According to azcentral.com, exports to Mexico topped $5.9 billion and imports $5.2 billion in 2008. That is a lot of Chihuahuas.
3. The Phoenix metro-plex offers the most affordable housing in the U. S. With rock bottom prices and low interest rates (stop whining, no, they're not at 4% but still pretty darn low) make for an unbeatable combination. Also, families who lost their homes in 2007 and 2008 may be able to re-enter the mortgage market this year.
2. We have the Grand Canyon. Air traffic through Sky Harbor increased in 2010 over 2009.
1. Arizona is not Green Bay or Pittsburg. With the brutal winter in many parts of the U.S. and Canada, pictures of our sunshine will continue to entice people to visit and stay awhile.
No matter what the circumstances of our economy, it will be up to us to energize 2011 and help make it a great year.
Consumer Confidence Rises in January
Consumer Confidence Rises in January - Anticipation of improved conditions in business and the job market caused consumer confidence to inch up in January. Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, reports that “consumers have begun the year in better spirits. As a result, the Index is now near levels not seen since last spring (May 2010, Index 62.7). Consumers rated business and labor market conditions more favorably and expressed greater confidence that the economy will continue to expand and generate more jobs in the months ahead. Income expectations are also more positive. Although pessimists still outnumber optimists, the gap has narrowed.” Read article:
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20110201_confidence.htm
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20110201_confidence.htm
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