Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market July Update- June 2017 Stats

Here is the Monthly Real Estate Market Report for June 2017, which shows 9,569 homes sold in the month of June compared to 8,969 homes in June 2016. This is a 6.7% increase for the number homes sold year over year. And the average sale price is up 6.1% year over year, while the amount of listed homes is down by 12.7% to 17,809 from 20,404 in June 2016. Demand continues to remain strong, and the supply of listed homes continues to fall, with the average days on market down to just 62 days. (Click on the image below to view the full Market Report)

Click here to see the full June 2017 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, as the strong market now is good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and helpful articles. Talk to you soon.

Imperative Home Inspection Repairs

estate gate photoMost home inspection will reveal a list of things that need repairs and/or replacements and this is where the second round of negotiations begin.  If you are not buying a brand new home, the home will most likely need some cosmetic touches but this is not where your focus should be. Sellers are usually willing to at least make some changes or improvements to the condition of a home before they sell it, and as long as you feel like you’ve got some bargaining power in terms of your offer, it’s a good idea to see if the seller will take care of at least a few of the problems that your home inspection has shown. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the most common issues you should ask about.

Infestations: Whether you’re talking about termites, rats, bats, squirrels, or any number of other creatures or insects that could be infesting a home, if your home inspection returns results of any type of infestation or pest problem, you can request that the seller take care of this before the home is sold. Although some sellers will be unwilling to do so, most will realize that they probably won’t be able to sell the home until this problem is resolved anyway.

Mold or water damage:  Mold and water damage are both major issues that your seller should be willing to fix before the home is sold. Some types of mold are much more dangerous than others, and if possible, it may be a good idea to find out if the mold in the home is of a dangerous variety or not. Either way, it’s best if you can talk the seller into repairing any water leaks or cleaning up any mold before you sign.

Structural issues:  If the roof or foundation of the home are seriously damaged, you can request that the seller fix these problems before you buy. In some cases, if a home inspection turns up these kinds of problems, the seller may choose to re-list the home on an as-is basis instead, rather than having to fix the structural problems going on. Some sellers, however, will be happy to fix the problems before they sell.

Lead paint and radon levels:  If a home inspection shows high levels of radon or lead paint present in any part of your home, your seller should be notified and you should absolutely request that this be resolved. Although sellers are not required by law to fix either of these problems, they are required to disclose lead paint if they know about it beforehand. Many sellers don’t realize their home has lead paint, and most are willing to take care of it when a home inspection shows that is is present. Radon mitigation is almost always something the seller will need to cover before a home can be sold.

Are you looking to buy a home in the east valley?  Fill out this form and create a custom home search based on your own search criteria. 

Grayhawk Tesoro Open House Saturday 7/29/17 & Sunday 7/30/17 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Saturday 7/29/17 and Sunday 7/30/17 from 1-4 pm both days in North Scottsdale’s Grayhawk Tesoro neighborhood at 19475 N GRAYHAWK DR 1158, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This home has been completely updated. We hope to see you there.

Also, if you would like to see homes in other Scottsdale neighborhoods such as Grayhawk, McDowell Mountain Ranch, DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, McCormick Ranch, Desert Mountain, Troon, Sonoran Hills, Desert Ridge, Terravita, etc, please let us know. We can send you listings for homes in your area of interest, preview homes for you and schedule showings for you to see any homes that you would like to see.

Requests To Avoid From Your Home Inspection

pool photoWhen it’s time for you to buy a home, you probably already know you’ve got a home inspection coming up in the near future. It’s very important to get a home inspection done before you finalize anything in the home buying process, but just because the inspection turns up some problems, that doesn’t mean you have to rely on the seller to solve all of them. Check out the list below to help you figure out which home inspection issues you can take care of yourself instead of risking losing the home of your dreams by asking the seller to do it for you.

Cosmetic issues in the home or yard:  No home is going to look perfect when you buy it, especially if it’s been lived in previously. It’s unrealistic to expect the seller to take care of cosmetic problems, especially if those problems are subjective. Even if it’s something everyone agrees on, such as paint that’s chipping badly on the exterior of the home, plan to take care of this yourself.

Removal of external buildings:  If you buy a home that has sheds other small external buildings on the property, you usually shouldn’t talk to the seller about removing them before you buy. In some cases, the seller will be fine with it, but in a seller’s market it’s usually best to assume you’ll need to take care of this on your own.

Outlets that don’t work:  There are usually outlets in older homes that don’t work, but this is something you can take care of yourself after you purchase the home. This isn’t something to get hung up on when you’re trying to make a deal with the seller, especially since it’s a low-cost fix.

Concrete floor cracks:  Cracks in concrete floors or sidewalks are to be expected, especially if you’re looking at an older property. As long as there are no cracks in the walls, you should have no issues going on if you see concrete floor cracks. Always have a home inspection to determine if there are any structural issues you need to know about.

Repairs under $100:  Even a home that’s only a few months old probably has something going on that could stand to be fixed or upgraded, but if you’re trying to get your seller to take care of little things under $100 per repair, try taking a step back. Think of it from the seller’s perspective. Would you want to deal with a buyer who is making a lot of unnecessary requests before signing?

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Would definitely recommend to anyone in search of a home

Written about Cheryl & Chris Park on Zillow 7/13/17

Rating: 5 stars – Highly likely to recommend

Great experience with working directly with this real estate agent (Cheryl), supremely reliable, always on time, follows up in timely fashion. Would definitely recommend to anyone in search of a home.

Each moment spent with Chris was educational, positive, professional, and even fun!

Written about Cheryl & Chris Park on Zillow 7/13/17

Rating: 5 stars – Highly likely to recommend

Chris was extremely patient and helpful during our 18 month search for a home in the Scottsdale, AZ area. Our search was complicated for us because we did much of it from afar and had no prior knowledge of the area. Each moment spent with Chris was educational, positive, professional, and even fun! Chris has an abundant positive outlook which helped us a great deal during the inevitable ups and downs of the search process. Once we zeroed-in on a home, he was especially helpful during the sometimes stressful negotiation and close processes. Highly recommended!

What to Consider when Buying a Home for Children

community park photoBuying a home for adults is a little bit different than buying a home with kids in mind, and when it comes to choosing the perfect home for the younger members of your family, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. While there are plenty of aspects to consider when purchasing your home, whether it’s your first time or you’ve been through the process before, the following hints should help you narrow down your choices a little more easily based on the needs of your kids.

School District:  It probably goes without saying, but one of the most important factors in choosing a good home for children is the school district in which the home is located. You will want to do a lot of research about the schools your child or children will be attending if you purchase a specific home. You’ll probably want to spend some time looking into this before you ever even put in an offer, but know that you’ll need to work quickly to avoid the home you’re interested in being purchased before you have a chance to research the area.

Safe Location:  Is the home in a safe location with walkable streets? Are their clear, well-kept sidewalks in the area, or would your children potentially have to walk in the road if they go outside in your area? Are there parks within walking distance? Is the home on a busy road, or is it in a pretty quiet neighborhood? Are there businesses in the area, and if so, are they safe and family-friendly businesses? There’s a lot to think about when it comes to the location of your potential new home, so take your time and check out the area.

Backyard:  Kids and adults both are sure to be interested in homes that have larger backyards, and if you’re a parent hoping to ensure the safety of your children, a fenced backyard is always the way to go. Even in a safe neighborhood, it’s safer to let your children play in a fenced backyard than in a front yard, so you’ll want to choose a home that is either already fenced or can easily be fenced shortly after you move in.

Stairs or No Stairs?  The decision to buy a home with or without stairs largely depends on the age of your children and whether or not you plan to have any more. Of course plans can always change, but if your children are old enough to walk up and down stairs without risking a fall and you aren’t planning on having anymore, then a home with stairs should be fine. However, if you have toddlers and babies in your family, you may want to choose a home without stairs for safety purposes.

We are local area real estate experts in the east valley .  Click here to learn about neighborhoods and view homes for sale listings. 

Five Things to Consider when Buying a Foreclosure

Scottsdale home photoBuying a foreclosure isn’t the same as buying any other type of home, and it comes with its own challenges and hurdles you might encounter during the process. With that said, however, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it might sound, and with the right information to back you up, you should be able to work through the process successfully. Check out the list of tips below to give you a few things to consider when you’re thinking about buying a foreclosure, whether this the first time you’ll be going this route or you’ve done it before.

  1. You will not be able to negotiate:  Most of the time, the bank is the one selling a foreclosed home. Because the home is owned by the bank and they want to make back what they can as quickly as possible on it, they aren’t going to be interested in negotiating with you on the price. Every now and then, you may be able to get a slight reduction in the price, especially if the home has been on the market for a long time. However, for the most part, you should expect to pay the asking price for a foreclosed home.
  2. You’ll be buying your home as-is: For many of the same reasons why the bank is going to be uninterested in haggling with you on the price of the home, they’re also not going to want to make any repairs to it before you purchase it. They simply want to sell it as-is, which means you’ll need to be okay with the condition of the home before you ever purchase it. That’s not to say you should skip having a home inspection done before you finalize everything, but keep in mind that this inspection is mostly going to be for your own benefit and you won’t be able to request any changes based on its findings.
  3. You’ll need a pre approval letter from your lender before you can buy:  Whether you’re borrowing from your bank or from another lender, the bank selling the foreclosure is going to want to see proof that you’ve been approved for a loan before you can finalize the buying process. Basically, they don’t want to end up selling the home to someone who can’t afford it, and they also don’t want to waste time trying to sell it only to find out, in the end, that you can’t buy it for one reason or another.
  4. You probably want to work with an agent who understands foreclosures:  Unless you’ve already been through the process of buying a foreclosure in the past and feel pretty confident about it, you need to work with a real estate agent who knows what they’re doing. An agent with experience in foreclosures will know all about the ins and outs of the process and will be able to help you streamline it as effectively as possible. You’ll be much more likely to be successful with your purchase when you go through an experienced agent.

The housing market is hot this year and there may not be many foreclosed homes on the market.  We are local area experts in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are.  We can find a home that meets your need and budget.

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Troon Village Open Houses Saturday & Sunday 7/8/17 & 7/9/17 from 1-4 pm in North Scottsdale

We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Saturday 7/8/17 & Sunday 7/9/17 from 1-4 pm both days in North Scottsdale’s Troon Village neighborhood at 11464 E DESERT VISTA DR, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This beautiful home has been completely remodeled. We hope to see you there.

Also, if you would like to see homes in other Scottsdale neighborhoods such as Grayhawk, McDowell Mountain Ranch, DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, McCormick Ranch, Desert Mountain, Troon, Sonoran Hills, Desert Ridge, Terravita, etc, please let us know. We can send you listings for homes in your area of interest, preview homes for you and schedule showings for you to see any homes that you would like to see