Home Buying trends and demands are constantly changing. We share information and current real estate market conditions in Arizona with our clients as we help them find a home to meet their needs and lifestyle.

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Indispensable Role of an Experienced Realtor

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The real estate market can be a complex and challenging landscape to navigate, whether you’re selling a property or searching for your dream home. In such a competitive market, it is crucial to have the guidance and expertise of an experienced realtor, especially one affiliated with a top real estate team.

In-Depth Market Knowledge: An experienced realtor possesses an intimate understanding of the local real estate market, including recent trends, property values, and neighborhood dynamics. They can provide valuable insights into the right pricing strategy, ensuring that you make informed decisions while selling or purchasing a house. Realtors associated with top real estate teams have access to a vast network of professionals, enabling them to gather comprehensive market data and make accurate assessments.

Extensive Network and Resources: A realtor affiliated with a top real estate team brings along an extensive network of professionals, including mortgage brokers, home inspectors, contractors, and other agents. This network becomes an invaluable resource during real estate transactions, as they can recommend trusted service providers, negotiate on your behalf, and streamline the entire process. With their connections and resources, an experienced realtor can facilitate a smoother, more efficient transaction, saving you time and effort.

Skilled Negotiation Techniques: Negotiating the terms of a real estate deal can be a daunting task for individuals without experience in the field. A skilled realtor possesses excellent negotiation skills honed through years of practice. They act as intermediaries, representing your best interests and ensuring that you secure the best possible deal, whether you’re buying or selling. Their expertise in negotiations, coupled with their knowledge of market conditions, can help you achieve favorable outcomes and maximize your investment.

Effective Marketing Strategies: Selling a house involves more than just listing it online or putting up a “For Sale” sign. An experienced realtor understands the importance of effective marketing strategies to attract potential buyers and generate interest in your property. Realtors associated with a top real estate team have access to advanced marketing tools and technologies, enabling them to create compelling listings, professional photographs, virtual tours, and targeted advertising campaigns. Their expertise in marketing ensures that your property receives maximum exposure, increasing the likelihood of a quick and profitable sale.

Expert Guidance and Support: Navigating the complexities of real estate transactions can be overwhelming, particularly for first-time buyers or sellers. An experienced realtor acts as a trusted advisor, guiding you through every step of the process and offering professional support. They explain complex legal documents, provide expert recommendations, and address any concerns or questions you may have. With their experience and knowledge, they can anticipate potential pitfalls and help you avoid costly mistakes.

The decision to hire an experienced realtor affiliated with a top real estate team is an investment in your peace of mind and financial success. Their in-depth market knowledge, extensive network, negotiation skills, marketing expertise, and professional guidance are invaluable assets throughout the buying or selling process. By entrusting your real estate transactions to a seasoned professional, you gain a competitive edge, ensuring that your interests are protected, and your goals are achieved.

3 Reasons Why You Should Still Buy a Home When Interest Rates are High

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While high interest rates may make buying a home more expensive in terms of mortgage payments, there are still several reasons why it can be advantageous to purchase a home even during such times. Here are the top three reasons:

  1. Long-term investment: Buying a home is often considered a long-term investment. Over time, the value of real estate tends to appreciate, which means that even if you have higher interest rates initially, you could still benefit from the potential increase in the property’s value over the years. This appreciation can provide you with substantial equity, allowing you to build wealth and potentially gain a return on your investment when you sell the property in the future.
  2. Stability and control: Owning a home provides stability and control over your living situation. When you rent, you are subject to the landlord’s decisions regarding rent increases, lease renewals, and potential evictions. By purchasing a home, you have more control over your living environment, and you don’t have to worry about sudden changes or disruptions in your housing situation. Additionally, you have the freedom to personalize and make changes to your home according to your preferences.
  3. Tax benefits: Homeownership can come with various tax advantages. One significant benefit is the ability to deduct mortgage interest from your taxable income, which can help reduce your overall tax liability. Additionally, property taxes and certain home-related expenses may be tax-deductible. These tax benefits can provide financial relief and potentially offset some of the costs associated with higher interest rates.

It’s important to note that the decision to buy a home should be based on your personal financial situation, goals, and market conditions. While high interest rates may impact your affordability, they may also reflect an overall robust economy, which could present other opportunities for financial growth. Consulting with a financial advisor or mortgage professional can provide you with personalized advice based on your specific circumstances.

Know the Hidden Costs of New Construction

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Buying new construction can seem like a good way to avoid a lot of the headaches that come with older homes. With things built to your specifications and brand new everything, you’ll pay a lot less in decor and maintenance costs. But new builds do have some hidden costs that could end up putting a big dent in your wallet.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Understand that the model home is like the top trim package on a car–it has all of the upgrades. And those upgrades probably cost thousands of dollars. When you tour the model home, pay attention to the things that will definitely be in your house like the layout.

2. Know what’s included in the base model. Some base models come with appliances and all of your home necessities included while others come with just the bones of the house. It depends on the builder, but you need to know exactly what you’re walking into.

3. Read the warranty. Not all builder warranties are the same, and they will cover different things. Make sure you understand what will and won’t be covered so you aren’t surprised down the line.

4. Use your own agent. The agents working at the new construction are the builder’s agents–not yours. That means they work to get the builder the best deal possible, even at your expense. Protect yourself and get a fair deal by hiring your own buyer’s agent.

If you’re looking for an agent to make sure you get the best deal while buying new construction, just send give us a call! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

new construction

5 Outdated Real Estate Tips

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There are many real estate myths out there that need to be debunked! Here are five pieces of real estate advice to IGNORE:

1) MYTH: Spring is the best time to sell. FACT: The best time to sell is when you’re ready. Don’t rush a major decision when there are perks to selling your home at all times throughout the year.

2) MYTH: FSBO saves you money. FACT: Real estate agents are experienced and knowledgeable about home pricing. A good agent can help you get more ROI on your investment.

3) MYTH: Higher list price = higher offer. FACT: Pricing your home accurately will generate interest among the right buyers, and may even lead to a competitive bid and higher offer price!

4) MYTH: Open houses sell homes. FACT: Open houses can be a helpful tool, but your agent should have a broader marketing strategy that also includes social and digital marketing.

5) MYTH: The first offer is always the best offer. FACT: Lots of factors come into play here — contingencies, closing date, down payment amount. Review all the terms of every offer — don’t just pick the highest offer price.

Have more questions? Give us a call, we are here to help! Give us a call, we are here to help! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Mortgage Pre-Approval Letters

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A mortgage pre-approval letter is not a guarantee your loan application will be approved, but pre-approval at least shows the seller you mean business and are likely to secure the financing needed to seal the deal. Furthermore, some sellers require a pre-qualification or pre-approval letter before they will consider or accept your offer.

Depending on the mortgage lender you work with and whether you qualify, you could get a pre-approval in as little as one business day, but it usually takes a few days or even a week to receive – and, if you have to undergo an income audit or other verifications, it can take longer than that.
Mortgage pre-approval letters can last anywhere from 30-90 days, so it’s important to check with your lender prior to submitting any offers to make sure your letter is valid. The letter expires so lenders know exactly where your finances stand prior to buying a home.
Have more questions about mortgages? Give us a call, we are here to help! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

What to Know About Property Taxes

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First-time homebuyers, this ones for you! Property taxes are an important thing to consider when you’re looking at homes because they can add a lot of money to your monthly mortgage payment. The amount you pay in property taxes depends on the property value and where the property is located since each state and city has a different tax rate. If you have a mortgage, your property taxes are usually wrapped into your monthly payment. If you’ve paid off your mortgage or bought in cash, you are still responsible for paying the tax and the bill will usually get sent by mail. When you’re looking at homes, pay attention to the mortgage breakdown to see how the property taxes add up.

Have any other questions about property taxes? Give us a call! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

3 Expert Tips on Making the Most of a Favorable Market

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Good news: whether you’re thinking about buying or selling, there is still plenty of time to take advantage of the low-interest rates and high buyer demand. While sellers are positioned slightly better than buyers with the demand for homes higher than the supply, there are still some complexities involved in getting to the closing table. Here are a few things that we want you to keep in mind to help you make the most of the real estate market, whether you’re entering it as a buyer or seller:

1-Start the process as early as you can to allow for the unpredictable. For buyers, that means having a pre-approval letter in hand before you start house hunting. For sellers, be sure to meet with a real estate agent a few months before you want to sell so that you can develop a game plan.

2-Speaking of game plans, it’s important to have one if you’re buying or selling. If you’re buying a new home, decide what you are willing to compromise on. If a backyard, garage, and fireplace are non-negotiable, will you settle for a smaller kitchen and no extra bedroom? If you want to sell your home and buy a new one, remember that the market is competitive for buyers. I’ve seen home sellers list their homes, only to be unable to find a new one. Do you have a contingency plan in mind, whether it’s a short-term rental or staying with family?

3-Finally, think about what you will do if you find yourself in a multiple offer situation. As a buyer, are you comfortable offering over asking? Including an escalation clause? How much earnest money are you prepared to offer? As a seller, think about whether you’re going to take the highest offer or if you’ll consider other benefits like a fast closing or lease-back until you find a new home?

These are all questions we can help you answer during our initial consultation. If you’d like to start planning your real estate goals, give us a call! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

10 Tips for Writing a Great Purchase Offer

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10 Tips for Writing a Great Purchase Offer in A Seller’s Market:

1-Submit a pre-approval letter with your offer.
2-Write a friendly offer. Don’t include demands with your offer that are likely to irritate the seller.
3-Put your best foot forward – simply put, write your very best offer!
4-Put down a healthy earnest money deposit. A larger earnest money deposit shows you are serious.
5-If you can pay “all cash” for a home, say so. This lets the seller know that your transaction is not dependent on receiving loan approval, which makes you a more attractive buyer.
6-Many standard real estate purchase contracts give the buyer a set number of days to perform inspections before the buyer is required to proceed with the transaction. If the default in your purchase contract is 17 days, try shortening that period to 10 days.
7-If feel comfortable risking your deposit, you might want to consider waiving contingencies such as those for loans, appraisals, or inspections.
8-Write a seller letter.If the seller has eight offers on the table, but your offer includes a letter that is personally handwritten by you, your offer will stand out.
9-Offer to close quickly. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, many sellers prefer to close within 30 days or fewer. If you can offer a 21-day closing time frame, for example, that might give you the edge you need to beat out the competition

.…and last, but not least…

10-Hire us as your Real Estate Agents! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Finding All the Homes For Sale

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Searching for a new home can feel like a daunting task, especially in the current Summer of 2021 market, but don’t let that deter you. There are more homes for sale than you may see at first glance, so be sure to take all 4 steps listed below to ensure you have seen ALL the homes for sale to find your next dream home!

Step #1 The Usual Suspects: Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com

The first place most home buyers begin to search is online with Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com where you search for current listings, coming soon listings, as well as pre-foreclosures…but don’t stop there!

Step #2 rDigz.com: Where Top Teams List Homes First

Download the rDigz app! The rDigz app not only has current and coming soon listings, it also gives a sneak peek preview of homes not yet listing on the market.

Step #3 Ask Top Listing Agents For Upcoming Inventory

Reach out to top listing agents in the area you are searching for. Local top agents meet with new sellers every week. These new sellers are often at least a couple weeks away from being ready to list their home for sale so they are not available to see on any searches yet. These are called “off market properties” that only their listing agent knows about.

Step #4 Ask Chris and Cheryl to Dive into Your Preferred Neighborhood

Chris and Cheryl will go above and beyond to find homes for sale in your preferred neighborhood. This may include mailing letters of interest to an entire neighborhood, or even personally knocking on doors in the neighborhood letting homeowners know there is a buyer for their home if they are considering selling.

When you’re ready to sell or buy your next home, call Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477!

 

Living in Troon

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Troon Village photoTroon real estate is just north of the DC Ranch community, wrapped around the northern foothills of Pinnacle Peak. The mountain preserve, with its massive boulders, provides breathtaking views and lends to a serene atmosphere. Because Troon North and Troon Village are located in the high Sonoran Desert, residents tend to enjoy slightly cooler temperatures.  

The Troon communities offer many subdivisions of townhouses, semi-custom homes, custom homes, and residential homesites, with both gated and non-gated options. Homes that are built along the mountainside offer spectacular views of the city, as well as the native desert scenery.  Luxury golf lot homes are available with The Troon Country Club and The Troon North Golf Club located within the area. The community tends to appeal to empty nesters and second homeowners, but there are plenty of families that live in the area as well. Children attend schools in the Cave Creek School District.  

Plenty of outdoor activities are available in the area, in addition to golfing. The Troon community offers a network of bike paths and trail easements to enjoy. There also are plenty of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding at nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Pinnacle Peak, and Brown’s Ranch. The Doc Cavalliere Park offers a shaded playground, basketball courts, and an open artificial turf field. If you would prefer relaxing poolside or pampering yourself, the Four Seasons Resort and Spa is only minutes away. 

There are many restaurant and shopping options available within the area, as well as the surrounding communities of DC Ranch and Grayhawk. The popular Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarters, and Desert Ridge Marketplace are just a few of the places a short drive away that provide many stores and restaurants to choose from. The Loop 101 freeway is easily accessible and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about a 45 min drive. 

When you’re ready to sell or buy your next home in Troon, give us a call! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

View Troon North homes for sale HERE and view Troon Village homes for sale HERE.