Why Snowbirds Love Scottsdale in the Winter

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Kierland christmas tree photoHave you ever thought about living somewhere that doesn’t get cold and snowy during the winter? Or have you ever considered spending the long, cold winter months lounging around by the pool or playing a few rounds of golf in the sunshine? When it comes to life in Scottsdale, winter is when this area really shines. There are many great reasons to live in Scottsdale during the wintertime, and below, we’ve outlined some of the most important points that keep year-round residents and snowbirds alike happy all winter long.

Enjoy the Warm Weather

Winter can be a tough time to live just about anywhere, but when you own a home in Scottsdale during the colder months, you won’t have to worry about all the hassles of cold weather wear and tear on your property. It will be mild and warm all winter long, and you’ll love the great weather that attracts so many people during this season.

Lower Property Taxes

Many people choose to live in California to enjoy weather similar to the nice winter temperatures and climate that are available in Arizona. However, in California, property taxes are much higher and much more likely to make it difficult to afford living there. Living in Scottsdale during the winter means you can get all the great benefits of the climate with none of the pricing concerns, and you won’t have to worry nearly as much about the cost of property taxes.

No Snow

Want to live somewhere that never sees snow? Looking forward to a winter without having to dig yourself out of your driveway just to get to work? If so, Scottsdale is the place for you!

You Can Enjoy the Hustle and Bustle of Scottsdale in the Winter

Just because you don’t live in a place that gets a lot of cold weather and snow doesn’t mean you won’t get caught up in the holiday season when you live in Scottsdale. With so many snowbirds visiting the area during the winter and so many residents getting out and about while the weather is nice, you’re sure to find plenty to do surrounded by your fellow Scottsdale residents.

You can Check out the Golf Scene

Last but not least, the golf is great in and around Scottsdale during the winter. The weather is nice, and when you want to unwind after a tough day of house shopping, this is definitely the way to do it!

We can help you find the right home to meet your needs and lifestyle.  Click here to learn about northeast valley homes and neighborhoods and view homes for sale.

 

Tatum Highlands Open House Saturday 12/30/17 from 1-4pm

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Saturday 12/30/17 from 1-4pm in the Desert Ridge/Cave Creek area Tatum Highlands neighborhood at 4016 E Prickly Pear Trail, Phoenix, AZ 85050. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This immaculate, updated home has just been listed, and has 2 master suites and a pool. We hope to see you there.

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, let us know. We will send you listings for homes in your area of interest, and schedule showings for access to any homes that you would like to see

5 Quick Bathroom Updates to Sell a Home Faster

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modern bathroom photoIs your hoe not selling as fast as you would like, or are you getting ready to list your home for the first time? Either way, you’re probably looking for a way to get your property to snag the interest of potential buyers. There are a lot of different upgrades and changes you can make to your home to encourage people to look twice and even to make an offer, but the bathroom is a great place to get started with these. Check out the list below and see for yourself just how quick and easy it is to make some upgrades that will make your home sell faster than you may have expected.

New Lighting
Replace old, outdated, dirty, or damaged light fixtures with new ones that will make the space look bright and inviting. Be sure to choose something that matches the hardware and faucets in your bathroom to create a cohesive look. Always make sure the bulbs are new and functioning before showing your home.

New Paint
You may want to consider repainting everything in the bathroom, depending on what’s already there. A fresh coat of neutral colored paint on the walls and attention to repainting the trim around the bathroom can make a huge difference in its appeal to a buyer. Be sure to paint the cabinets if this is relevant to your particular bathroom, too.

New Hardware
Replace old cabinet handles and door hardware with new, stylish options that match your light fixtures. You may also want to go the extra mile and replace the faucets and showerhead with something new that matches and creates a flowing look throughout the bathroom space, too.  This is definitely recommended if you still have brass hardware and fixtures.

New Toilet
A new toilet may be the most expensive change you’ll want to make before trying to sell your home, but it can go a long way toward encouraging buyers to take a second look. Toilets are one of those pieces of your home that just do not age very well, but a nice, fresh, new toilet in an otherwise upgraded and clean bathroom will wow your potential buyers and give them the feeling of getting an added bonus if they decide to buy.

New Shelves
Many bathrooms are woefully lacking in storage space. By adding new shelves to yours, you may be giving your buyers something they truly want in a bathroom. Build shelves into existing cabinetry or hang durable shelves from the walls to give your bathroom some more storage options all around.

Are you considering selling your home?  We offer professional staging services.  Call us today to get started or click here to request a free home value estimate.

480.754.9477 or 480.754.9077

 

How We Determine Listing Price For Your Home

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Scottsdale house photoWhether you’re new to the world of real estate or you’re an old hat when it comes to listing and selling homes, there’s one part of the process that’s always more challenging than you may expect: coming up with the listing price.  It’s not a per square footage set point but a combination of the market trends in your neighborhoods, comps and what trendy features your home has that buyers desire.  I hope to pass along some of my favorite tips to you. This way, the next time you find yourself unsure about pricing, you’ll have some information to fall back on.

Comparative Market Analysis
The first and most important thing I do when trying to price a home for sale is to run a comparative market analysis check. This means I’m looking at homes in the area that have been listed recently and are similar in size and amenities to the one I’m pricing. From there, I’ll narrow down my results to houses that didn’t sell, houses that are still for sale, and houses that have sold. This will help me figure out, respectively, what price is too high for the area, what price is competitive, and what price is successful. The last category is the most important, but all three can help me figure out a reasonable price for a new listing. I’ll usually go with something like an average that falls into this range in a reasonable way.

Current Market Conditions
If houses in the same area are not selling well, that may mean I’ll need to adjust the listing price a bit lower. On the other hand, if buyers are eager to grab up anything in the area, I can encourage the price to go a little higher. Good neighborhood amenities can make a difference, too, including shopping, dining, parks, playgrounds, and more. And of course, the condition of the actual street on which the home is located can make some changes in the price, too.

Additional Home Features
Last but not least, I’ll consider the home’s features or lack thereof to figure out what may be a good asking price. If the home has a garage or a lot of bedrooms, it may drive the price up a bit. However, if the home only has one bathroom, for example, the price may dip a little because this is often seen as a negative by many buyers. I’ll also see which features have been demanding more buyer attention in the area recently when I consider this part of the pricing process, too.  Also, most home buyers love move in ready homes equipped with the latest design trends and luxury features. Tiled and wood floors are always preferred over carpeting; natural stone countertops, upgraded appliances, hardware and current kitchen cabinet trends will sell a home faster than a lower priced home with same floorplan in your neighborhood.

We offer professional staging services to get top dollar for your home.  Are you considering selling your home?  Get started with a free home value estimate or contact us today!

480.754.9477 or 480.754.9077

A Few Tips When Traveling With Pets

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Frontier Town Cowboy statue photoWhen you’re planning an upcoming move or just taking a trip, you may not think twice about bringing the family pets along. You’ve got packing, buying and selling, and tons of other changes to make, but don’t forget about your furry companions in the midst of all the moving chaos! Pets can be difficult to relocate, depending on the type of animals your family has, so it’s always important to brush up on the best tips and suggestions for ensuring that your animals have the smoothest and safest relocation experience possible.  After all, they’re members of the family, too, so don’t leave them out when you’re making plans for how to handle your big move.

Identification and Certification
Whether you’re going to be traveling with your pets by car or by air, you need to make sure you have everything within quick and easy reach before you set out for your new home with your furry friends in tow. Make sure your pets’ identification tags and paperwork are either on your pet’s collar or in your purse or other nearby travel luggage. ID tags should include your pet’s name, your new address, your name and a telephone number. You should also consider getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already.

Collars, Leashes, and Carriers
Your pet should always be wearing a collar and kept on a leash or in a carrier when traveling. Once again, this is applicable when traveling by vehicle or by air. You may think it’s alright to put your pet in the car without a collar or leash on, especially if you’ve got a pet who loves to ride in the car. However, a long trip and a lot of chaos and confusion could cause your pet to jump out of the vehicle at a pit stop, and having identification on will make it much easier for you to find your furry friend if this happens.

Food, Water, and Pit Stops
Always provide your pet with plenty of food and water when traveling. And if you’re driving, be sure you stop for potty breaks as often as necessary, too. You wouldn’t expect your kids to hold it for more than a few hours on the road at a time, so don’t expect the same from your pets. Cats will need access to a litter box in the car, while dogs will be happy to just stretch their legs and do their business on a leashed potty break.

 

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market December Update – November 2017 Stats

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Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for December 2017, which shows 7,187 homes sold in the month of November compared to 6,905 homes in November 2016. This is a 4.0% increase for the number homes sold year over year. And the average sale price is up 8.7% year over year. The amount of listed homes is down by 12.9% to 18,448 from 21,025 in November 2016. Inventory of listed homes is still well below last year at this time. And demand continues to remain strong going into the Fall/Winter. The average days on market is down 13.7% from November 2016 to 63 days. (Click on the link below or the image to view the full Market Report)

Click here to see the full November 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 this fall/winter, as the strong market continues to be 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.

Tatum Highlands Open House Sunday 12/3/17 from 1-4pm

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We will be holding an Open House this weekend on Sunday 12/3/17 from 1-4pm in the Desert Ridge/Cave Creek area Tatum Highlands neighborhood at 4016 E Prickly Pear Trail, Phoenix, AZ 85050. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This immaculate, updated home has just been listed, and has 2 master suites and a pool. We hope to see you there.

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, let us know. We will send you listings for homes in your area of interest, and schedule showings for access to any homes that you would like to see.