Have you been searching for a home for six months? A year? Longer? If you have not found the home of your dreams (or, at least, the home of your needs) despite a protracted hunt, it’s time to come to grips with this stark reality: you are dreaming too big. The home buying process is…
home buyer archives
Agency and the Ascending Market
The role of a Real Estate agent in a transaction is an ever-evolving one. Remember sub-agency? No? That is a testament to how quickly and totally the job description has changed over the past couple of decades, with every passing generation bringing more empowerment to consumers and choices in levels of service. The relationship between…
Appraisers, Underwriters and the Artificial Suppression of Housing Values
In theory, an appraisal is an independent evaluation of a property by a neutral third party to determine its likely worth in the open market. In practice, it has become the de facto final word on a property’s worth, overriding the agreement between a willing buyer and seller. How is it that the guestimation of…
The Placeholder House
It wasn’t your first choice. It wasn’t your second either. In fact, the short sale you wrote the offer on was likely more a product of attrition than anything else. Short sales take time. Like most astute 2012 home buyers, you are all too aware that the offer you submit on an upside-down property will…
The Referral Responsibility: Are You a Man Or a Mollusk?
Classic risk aversion for the liability-phobic mandates that an agent make no actual referral to an auxiliary service provider in the course of a Real Estate transaction. Need a lender? Here are the names of three professionals. Need a home inspector? Sift through this stack of business cards and let me know who you choose…
Why Your Offer Loses
Tired of getting your teeth kicked in by competing buyers on the homes you try to buy? Wonder what sellers are thinking when they reject your offer time after time? You’ve landed on the right blog. Let’s take a quick look at a few critical components of an offer through a seller’s eyes to find…
Which Came First, The Real Estate Chicken (Purchase) or the Egg (Sale)?
One of the more confounding logistical quandaries that can arise in Real Estate is the classic chicken or the egg paradigm: Does one sell a house before knowing where he is moving, or does one buy a new house without having his current one sold? No doubt, the dilemma of which cap to doff first…
Follow you on Facebook? Sure! Wait … why?
I must confess, most solicitations to follow a local business on Twitter, Facebook or any other recently-sprouted head of the social media hydra are met with the same level of enthusiasm I once harbored for an extra trip to the orthodontist. Sure, I’ll “like” your fanpage! And maybe later we can head over to Dr….
Buying a Bank Owned Home in McCormick Ranch? Look up!
Are you shopping in the distressed aisle for your McCormick Ranch home? Make sure to look up. While the purchase of a bank owned home or a short sale tends to be fraught with a little more risk than a traditional resale transaction, it is important to note that buyers typically maintain inspection rights on…
New Construction Homes in and Around Scottsdale
Looking for new construction homes in Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area? You’ve come to the right place. Find your city of choice below and follow the links to a full list of all new homes currently listed for sale in the Arizona Regional MLS. ———————————————————————————————- New Homes in Scottsdale New Homes in Paradise Valley…
The Scottsdale Real Estate Glossary
When immersing oneself into the home buying or selling process, a consumer will quickly find him or herself inundated with an unfamiliar vernacular: Realtorspeak As we in the business have a tendency to forget that not everyone readily understands our acronym-heavy lexicon, the following is the CliffsNotes version of a Scottsdale Real Estate dictionary. Of…
Renting VS Buying a Home in Scottsdale: 2011 Edition
I find myself working the Scottsdale rental market more often these days than in years past. With a large percentage of the populace having been converted from homeowner to renter after selling a home short or losing it to foreclosure (thus, effectively eliminating themselves from the buyer pool for the foreseeable future due to credit…
Standard Bank Addendum
Standard Addendum to Purchase Contract Purchase Agreement for a First Bank of Asbestos (henceforth referred to as “Seller”) property is non-binding unless this addendum has been attached and fully executed by all parties. In the event of a dispute between the language of the Purchase Agreement (or subsequent addenda) and this addendum, the terms of…
Things I’m Not Doing During a Scottsdale Winter …
January 11th, 2011 … do you know where your tank tops are? It’s time to talk Scottsdale vacation homes, people. You see, while you are buried under two feet of snow, I’m mowing my lawn. In flip flops. As today is a bit nippy by Scottsdale standards, I went a little crazy and skipped the…
Market Value Versus Assessed Value: Where Not to Look for Your Home’s True Worth
Maricopa County property tax valuation notices go out in another month or so, and the reverberation of a couple million jaws dropping will once again shake the Valley of the Sun. Whether a new homeowner’s first tax valuation experience or a case of seasonal amnesia in longer-tenured residents, many succumb to reverse sticker shock upon…
“Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House?” – Scottsdale Real Estate FAQ
You have Scottsdale Real Estate questions. We have answers. Q: Is now a good time to buy a house in Scottsdale? A: Forgive me for answering a question with a question. Do you need a house? The best time to buy a house is when you need one. Conditions are advantageous for buyers who can…
What Do You Mean It’s Under Contract? The Listing Says “Active”
That is the G rated version. The working title was initially more along the lines of: “What the &^%$ Do You Mean the &^%$#&^ House Is Under &^%$^&# Contract? The &^%$#$@ Listing Says It Is &^%^&#%$ Active!” There is little more frustrating to the do-it-yourself consumer than outdated data. It’s hard enough to navigate unfamiliar…
Why Would the Seller Counter My Scottsdale Short Sale Offer?
If you were to stand in the center of Scottsdale and spit in any direction, chances are good that you’d hit a home with negative equity. Thus if you’ve been shopping for a home, chances are equally good that you have come across a short sale listing or fifty along the way. If you are…
Is That Scottsdale Home Really For Sale?
Is that Scottsdale home really for sale? It sure looks like it is. There’s a sign in the yard, property information on the internet, an asking price and everything. The comings and goings of Real Estatey type people with wide eyed gawkers in tow confirms that the quaint Spanish hacienda is looking for a new…
No, That Is Not My Listing. Yes, You’ve Come to the Right Place.
A disconnect that will sometimes occur when a Scottsdale Real Estate consumer lands here on the Scottsdale Property Shop site, not all of the properties you see listed for sale here fly under the banner of Realty Executives. Matter of fact, of the forty some thousand home listings that you can trawl in our home…
You’ve Been Lied To: The Scottsdale Real Estate Market Does Not Favor Buyers
The current Scottsdale Real Estate market does not favor buyers. I repeat, the current Scottsdale Real Estate market does not favor buyers. Allow me to explain. For months, if not years, you have been told that the glut of housing inventory here in the greater Phoenix area makes for a buyer’s market of epic proportions….
The Interest Rate Boogeyman: Today’s Buyer Must Think Like Tomorrow’s Seller
So you have 20% to put down for a single family home in Scottsdale AZ. Your FICO scores are higher than Willie Nelson on Bob Marley Day in Montego Bay. You have been gainfully employed in the same W2 position with the same company for years. The American Express card with a $124 balance and…
Why Is This Scottsdale Home So Cheap?
“What’s the deal with this house? Why so cheap?” I field some derivation of this inquiry on a fairly routine basis from buyer clients. Typically, they have stumbled across a property listing online, or possibly in the ARMLS portal I have set up for them (provides for user log in and review of all homes…
The Scottsdale Unified School District
The Scottsdale Unified School District is one of the primary drivers for relocation to Scottsdale, Arizona. Consistently ranked at the top of school districts across the state, it is little wonder that many new Arizona residents with families opt to begin their searches for a new home here. With composite test scores that outpace state…
Scottsdale, AZ Relocation Guide
Despite an uneasy economy at large, Scottsdale, Arizona maintains its stranglehold on a coveted relocation address. Official population counts from the end of 2009 put our grown-up resort town at 230,000+ residents and climbing (projections of nearly 250,000 total residents by 2014). For those of you keeping score back in Delaware, that’s a 10% increase…
“Is the Gypsy Next Door an Illegal Alien” and Other Questions Your Agent Cannot Legally Answer
There are things that you, as a home buyer, want to know about a prospective new neighborhood. Are the schools top shelf? Is there shopping nearby? Do the neighbors hold a semi-annual Scott Baio look-alike contest? For the most part, your agent can help you find the answers to your questions (though determining a victor…
The Day the Deal Stood Still
The closing table is no place for incompetence. The crescendo to a Real Estate transaction, the signing of loan documents and the final settlement statement is representative of a successful navigation of the escrow obstacle course. If it were a cinematic experience, an empowering musical score would soar over the montage of conquered struggles that…
What Do You Mean My Home Warranty Doesn’t Cover That??!!
So you were a good little boy scout and extracted a home warranty policy out of the seller during the negotiations for your recent home purchase. Or perhaps, unable to coax the relatively small potato item out of the seller, you opted to take your agent’s advice and spend the $300-500 to purchase one yourself. …
Preston Hills in Scottsdale, AZ
Preston Hills is a two phase custom home subdivision of North Scottsdale renowned for its beautiful architecture, large homes and generous lots at a more palatable price point than many neighboring subdivisions of similar caliber. Located along the Shea corridor near 104th St, the neighborhood is convenient to everything that Scottsdale has to offer. Preston…
You Gotta Know When to Fold’em: The Expiring Tax Credit & You
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! Are they good and fired up? Great, now turn them off. As one knocks around the internet here in late April of 2010, he or she cannot go two clicks without encountering manic encouragement to purchase a home “BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE,” or proclamations that “TIME IS RUNNING OUT” to take…
Can You Afford That Bank-Owned Bargain?
There really are some amazing deals floating around the market right now, just make sure you can afford them.
What Do You Mean I Don’t Get My Keys At Closing?
It’s true. In Arizona, you will rarely get the keys to your new home at the closing table. Despite the fact that you wired in the balance of your down payment funds or marched a cashier’s check into the title company on what you thought was the penultimate day, the home is not yet yours
First-Time Home Buyer Credit & Short Sales Do Not Mix!
By now, even the most procrastinating of first time home buyers understands that the end is nigh. The end of the $8000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, that is. While rumors abound about a possible extension past the current deadline, rumors also persist that man did not actually walk on the moon in 1969 (if you…
The 12 Steps of Real Estate Recovery
You have a problem. Your family sees it. Your friends see it. At the eye of the storm, only you lack the perspective to clearly recognize the wake of wanton destruction spawned by your vice. Despite your feeble protestations to the contrary, you need help. Your addiction does not end with you. It touches the…
Grinding to a Halt: The Art of Killing a Deal
Winning a negotiation is not about bullying the other party. It’s about bullying them politely.
“It’s Only a First Home” (and other bad advice).
The oil refinery next door isn’t really all that loud if you plug your ears and scream. Sign here, please.
There Sure is a lot of Crap Out There
There are thousands of listings to peruse in the current Scottsdale Real Estate market, but you might want to pack a HAZMAT suit and a snorkel if you want to see them all.
How Long Do I Have to Back Out of a Deal?
Contrary to popular opinion, the inspection period is not a “free look.” The lowdown on the rights and responsibilities of the buyer during this critical phase.
Has Housing Found It’s Legs? The Summer (And the Chicken) Will Tell.
Is the local housing market in the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale area poised for a recovery? The tic-tac-toe playing donkey says, “sorta.”
Reverse Prospecting: Tout Your Housing Needs Directly to Sellers!
Waiting for the right home to hit the market is so 2008. The Real Estate industry has typically utilized the Internet to entice buyers with property. Why not entice sellers with qualified buyers?
Desert Oasis: Your Guide to Scottsdale Waterfront Homes
Is there water in the desert? You bet! You just have to know where to look. Follow our guide to waterfront living to find your new home in a Scottsdale AZ lakefront subdivision.
Short Sales, Foreclosures, Resales … Huh?
Times were you looked at a few houses, found one you liked and made an offer to the current owner. After a bit of haggling, you settled on a price that both parties could live with and away you went. Easy as pie. In the current landscape, however, buying a home is not always that…
New Construction Vs Bank Owned Homes – A Brewing Battle?
It is an inevitable starting point for many buyers right now. Before I can finish saying hello, I am bombarded with requests to see bank-owned and short sale housing. Frankly, were we to change places, I would most likely do the very same. I am aware enough of the opportunities this market has created in…
Scottsdale Arizona Golf Courses
A few highlights from the 174 (and growing) public golf courses in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Phoenix Mountain Preserve
As part of my continuing series of things to do in and around Scottsdale, Phoenix and Paradise Valley, Arizona, today’s edition is devoted to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. As the Valley has been beset by rapid expansion and development, political forces have been at odds over the preservation of our native land. Victories for conservationists have…
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