Real Estate Quotes for the Ages: And Yours? - 04/26/10 10:50 PM
_________________________________________                               __________________________________________                                                                   _______________________________________________"Everyone says buying your first apartment makes you feel like an adult. What no one mentions is that selling it turns you right back into a child."Anderson Cooper "Landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed."Karl Marx"It's tangible, it's solid, it's beautiful. It's artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate."Donald Trump             "I've never lived in a building without my name on it."Ivanka Trump"The question is not do you take money out of stocks and put it into real estate, or the reverse. There's so much money out there looking for a home. … (3 comments)

Movies About Real Estate: Got Some? - 04/26/10 10:19 PM
                   Ok, so...do you know any movies Hollywood has produced about real estate?
Sure you do! We all do. Take a moment to consider.
Here are some, and as soon as you hear them, you will say ‘Oh, I knew that!'
When it comes to fights about bad guys going after property rights, here are some classics:
Sons of Katie ElderThe Big CountryThe Magnificent SevenMcCabe and Mrs. MillerShane
                                              And how about that ‘bad' villain Lex Luthor in Superman, who wanted to sink California by pushing the San Andreas fault to the brink and own beachfront property in Nevada!How about that baseball … (7 comments)

Still Read a Paper? Shout Out if You Do! - 04/26/10 09:46 PM
    I don't. Not me.Maybe at the auto repair shop, or traveling at a hotel when internet access is not available the same as when you are home.   You are becoming the minority if you are still reading a hard copy paper. The industry has been in a decline for years, but it has even accelerated with the recession.There are reports out recently that many of the largest newspapers have lost readership. Among the largest newspapers, it does not matter whether it is the weekday or Sunday paper; both have been on a fast track decline. Wow, how's that for job … (40 comments)

Home is Gone, But HOA Still Has Bite - 04/26/10 09:13 PM
                                          
In Chandler, AZ a man lost his home and had his mortgage debt discharged by a bankruptcy judge. But the catch is that the bank has not foreclosed yet on the property. And, since the former resident is still on the record as the owner, the HOA is assessing him HOA fees and legal fees.
How about that!
Paul  was a commercial real estate agent and left his home when the real estate market tanked and he could not pay his bills. A little known part of the law says that the HOA can go after the owner of … (1 comments)

Mesa AZ Residential Housing Trends 4-26-2010 - 04/26/10 04:09 PM
                                                        The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Mesa, AZ to be 447,541 in 2006. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson. The population change from 2000 to 2006 was an increase of 12.5%. The number of Housing units in the official 2000 count was 175,701; the Homeownership rate in 2000 was 66.4%, very close to the State average.  Approximately 50% of the population is of working age, between 18-65 years old.
Residential Housing in Mesa, AZ as of 4-26-2010The Mesa housing market offered 3,529 Active listings, for an Average List Price of … (0 comments)

Gilbert, AZ Residential Housing Trends 4-26-2010 - 04/26/10 04:03 PM
                                    
 
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the Town of Gilbert, AZ to be 191,517 in 2006. Gilbert is the 7th largest city in Arizona, Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa being the top three. The population change from 2000 to 2006 was a dramatic increase of 73.9%. The number of Housing units in the official 2000 count was 37,007; the Homeownership rate in 2000 was 84.9%, approx. 20% higher than the State average.  Approximately 56% of the population is of working age, between 18-65 years old.
Residential Housing in Gilbert, AZ as of 4-26-2010The Gilbert housing market offered 2,019 Active … (0 comments)

Chandler, AZ Residential Housing Trends 4-26-2010 - 04/26/10 01:56 PM
                              
 
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Chandler, AZ to be 240,595 in 2006. Chandler is the 5th largest city in Arizona, Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa being the top three. The population change from 2000 to 2006 was a dramatic increase of 35.9%. The number of Housing units in the official 2000 count was 66,592; the Homeownership rate in 2000 was 73.6%, approx. 9% higher than the State average of 67.5%.  Approximately 60% of the population is of working age, between 18-65 years old, compared to the County average of 64%.
Residential Housing in … (0 comments)

Phoenix, AZ Residential Housing Trends 4-26-2010 - 04/26/10 12:05 PM
                                    The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Phoenix, AZ to be 1,512,986 in 2006. Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona, Tucson and Mesa rounding out the top three. The population change from 2000 to 2006 was a dramatic increase of 14.5%. The number of Housing units in the official 2000 count was 495,832; the Homeownership rate in 2000 was 60.7%, approx. 9% lower than the State average of 67.5%.  Approximately 62% of the population is of working age, between 18-65 years old, compared to the County average of 64%.
Residential Housing in Phoenix, AZ as … (0 comments)

Tempe, AZ Residential Housing Trends 4-26-2010 - 04/26/10 11:42 AM
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Tempe, AZ to be 169,712 in 2006. Tempe is the 8th largest city in Arizona, Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa making up the top three.       
           The population change from 2000 to 2006 was a dramatic increase of 7%, reflecting the land locked city boundaries. The number of Housing units in the official 2000 count was 67,068; the Homeownership rate in 2000 was 51%, approx. 16% points lower than the State average of 67.5%. This is a reflection of the  growing Arizona State University student population.  Approximately 75% of the population … (0 comments)

Informative Real Estate Trends In Maricopa County, AZ - 04/26/10 11:22 AM
Maricopa County is the largest populated county in Arizona according to the US Census Bureau. A total of 61% of the population (4,023,132) of Arizona lives in Maricopa County. The population increased 31% from the year 2000 to 2009. Another interesting fact is that in the year 2000, which was the last Census count, the homeownership rate  was 67.5%. The Median house price in 2000 was $129,200; the County Statistic in the latest report above shows the Ave. Sold Price in the County to be $182,068. The numbers are not exactly comparable, but provides a fairly close estimate of the major … (1 comments)

Real Estate Stats Update: Mesa, Arizona 2010 YTD vs. 2009 YTD - 04/21/10 11:49 PM
                                                                    
Statistics to Consider (Jan-April, 2009 and 2010)Single Family, Detached homes in Mesa, ArizonaThe market statistics for Single Family homes for the first 4 months of this and last year show some noteworthy trends.
Total Active property listings decreased 10% from the prior time last year. Granted it was only 4 months time, but the time frame was identical. This is good news in that prices were firming up.New Listings increased in 2010 by 6% over the prior year. Largely due to the short sale and bank owned properties that hit the market, it may indicate the speed of short sales is … (0 comments)

Real Estate Word Origins: Etymology... You Said What? - 04/21/10 04:48 PM
                          Honey, did we just sign a ‘dead pledge' to buy our house?
Believe it or not, you probably did!  There are many real estate industry words we use in everyday life that have very intriguing histories. 
Etymology is to study the true meanings and values of words. Let's take a moment to do just that. Here are some common words we use every day in the real estate industry.
MortgageFor example, the word for ‘mortgage' comes from Old French used in the 1300's; ‘mort', means ‘dead' + gage, means ‘pledge'. So, if you pay it off, it dies, and if … (2 comments)

Seeking Courage: Is there a Lion in Your Future? - 04/21/10 09:40 AM
                                                  How much courage is in your genes? A small or LARGE portion?We admire courage in others. President John F. Kennedy wrote a book many years ago ‘Profiles In Courage' that became very popular. The cowardly lion in ‘The Wizard of Oz' went from a shaky to strong heart in the 1939 movie.
We need to collectively have courage to help get through this rough decade of change. Here are stated some wise words of wisdom to stimulate our minds to ‘have courage.'We can have Courage in Tough Times
‘Courage is grace under pressure'  -Earnest Hemingway
‘Whatever you do, you need … (2 comments)

2010 Census: Where is Everyone? - 04/21/10 08:46 AM

                                                                                                     U.S. Census 2010
The initial results are in. Looks about like it did ten years ago. Here is the great plan:
Step One: Mail out census forms to every household. Approximately two-thirds of the public in Arizona have returned the census forms that were mailed to them as of mid-April. And, slightly more have done so nationally.
Step Two: Locate and find the other one third.
It was easy for the Federal Government to cause Step One to happen. Just mail out the forms to everyone and see who replies. Step Two is to call out the people's ‘army'. … (1 comments)

Feeling Smart?: Video 'Did You Know?' - 04/21/10 01:56 AM
If you are feeling smart, or if you are getting left behind by kids in Junior High, you are right.
Just wait, it will get worse.
We live in Exponential Times.
Just how fast is the world changing? VERY FAST
                 
Social Media  Social Media is designed to be pushed through highly scalable platforms, just like this one on You Tube. It is a way to get content from the common producers to the masses. It is the way to get 'user generated' content out to the world. Business has been quick to jump on social media to understand how … (4 comments)

Future Thoughts: Great Minds - 04/21/10 01:38 AM
What's in a future thought? What are some great minds conceiving?                                            
                                                                                                 
"Nobody can really guarantee the future. The best we can do is size up the chances, calculate the risks involved, estimate our ability to deal with them and then make our plans with confidence."  -Henry Ford II
"It is better to have a hen tomorrow than an egg today."  -Thomas Fuller
"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."  -Thomas Jefferson
"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."  -Abraham Lincoln
"The danger … (5 comments)

The Stumble and Blunder Family: Stay Clear for Retirement - 04/20/10 04:15 PM
                                    Planning to retire soon? Want to. Or better put: Planning to retire ever? Some day.The current economic cycle may not give us enough time to get back up to a point that we can retire properly. But, here are some fairly common retirement blunders we can avoid with some action on our part:
• Do you ignore your company 401(k) plan? Try to at least contribute enough to receive the company match. Some companies match a significant amount. You give $100, company gives $25. That is a 25% return on your ‘invested' savings
• Do you pay attention to your … (2 comments)

Putt, Putt: Good for Resale? - 04/20/10 09:29 AM
What amenity would you choose for your backyard? Pool, spa or sports court, or ???
How about a putting green? Why Not.  Maybe a 3-hole putting green with a chipping station? Sure. How would that go over with the friends, family and neighbors? Probably very well, expecially with the guys.
                          
Reasons to Choose a Putting Green
• The Resale FactorThe higher resale is an important reason to choose this amenity option.  It is far less expensive than a swimming pool.  Experts have estimated your investment will return a dollar for every dollar invested. Can't say that about a swimming pool, where … (7 comments)

Superstition Spring Statistical Market Report, 4-18-10 - 04/19/10 01:48 AM
Superstition SpringsStatistical Market ReportApril 18, 2010
 
The Superstition Spring community has:
2,348 homes 320 businesses 4.5 sq miles 14 lakes 11 parks 6 bridges Consider the benfits of Superstition Springs living. Call Bryan Watkins @ LRA Real Estate today for more information.
… (2 comments)

Social Tube: YouTube Rocks Your Search - 04/19/10 12:51 AM
Marketing Tools on YouTube 'Rock' your name and ranking.
How do you market your name and business? Stand Up and Stand OutThis video can set you apart from your neighborhood real estate specialist. And, why not? I work hard.
We need to Stand Up and Speak Up. Our voice alone is not loud enough. Therefore, we can use video sight and sounds to speak for us. This note is not for Real Estate Agents. It is credibility to our client and prospect base. … (10 comments)

Avondale, AZ Home For Sale- 11567 W Madison St - 04/16/10 12:44 PM
… (2 comments)

Superstition Springs Market Listings: 04-14-2010 - 04/14/10 09:54 PM
                                        
Bryan Watkins sells Superstition Springs in Mesa, Arizona, is a large community located in the East Valley of Phoenix Metro. We present the current Statistical Market Listing Report based on the local MLS.

If you have a question about a particular property, please call Bryan Watkins who sells Superstition Springs homes @ LRA Real Estate at 480.734.7878. Supersitition Springs is a popular residential community that features shopping, entertainment and quiet living.
All information is from ARMLS and believed to be current and accurate, but cannot be guaranteed.
… (2 comments)

Got Golf?: Want Golf?: Golf Home Update in Phoenix, See Tiger Woods - 04/13/10 10:53 PM
What would you pay to have your own place in the Phoenix Metro area? A reasonable price. Think it could be affordable? Maybe. Own your place free and clear for less than $50,000. Really?
We have famous people who come to worship the sun and golf links.This is Tiger Woods with a Hole In One on the 16th Hole at the Scottsdale, Phoenix Open in 1997
Yes that is correct. There are currently 3,700+ properties available on or near a golf course in the Phoenix Metro area. The lease expensive is listed at $23,900; the most expensive $27 million (How … (2 comments)

Wanna Drink?: Buy A Property with a Natural Juice Dispenser - 04/13/10 01:56 AM
OK. So you want to buy a property? And, what ‘extras' would you consider? Pool, putting green, barbecue, or ???
Consider a property with an automatic citrus juice dispenser! See how it can work:

Why not have it all? And show those neighbors who is the one to be envied. But, wait a minute. The neighbors also have their own automatic juice dispenser?  And it comes in ‘orange color?' Hmmmm... maybe you are not so unique on your street after all.
But you can still have it all and show the family and friends in other parts of the country … (8 comments)

R.E.V.C.N's (Real Estate Video Conglomeration Nation) - 04/13/10 01:06 AM
Well, here it is at last. My contribution to multiple screens of data feeds on Real Estate Investments, Fix 'N Flips, and other interesting news.
Catch Tiger Woods as he actually talks to a reporter. And, learn a tidbit or 2 for your next investor question from a client. I did.

Dedicated to all the hard working, dreaming and scheming amateurs who try their hand at an American Dream in real estate investing. Go Team! 
 
… (0 comments)

Fix and Flip: Where Do They Get The Money? - 04/12/10 11:38 PM

Heard of a fix and flip deal this week? Yeah. Sound interesting? Sure. But how and where do the fixers and flippers figure out how to do it and make it work? This is where experience and caginess will overcome youth and enthusiasm.
First, you have to buy the property. If the property is auctioned in Phoenix, you must have a $10,000 check or money order on hand just to bid on a property. No games here. And, you better have all the remainder of the cash ready to go to the auction company the next business day if and … (5 comments)

Biology Projects: Green/Brown swimming pools - 04/12/10 10:12 AM
  
Several years ago I received a knock at my front door. I opened the door to a man with a business card identifying him as an inspector for the city. He said ‘we have a complaint that your pool is green'.  There was and is a health warning about mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. Ever intrigued by process and information errors, I told him I was surprised to hear that. I said ‘let's go to the back yard and take a look.' We walked around the side of the house to find the back yard absent any pool. ‘Oh', … (5 comments)

Bike or Trike: Choose Your Method For Bike Month - 04/12/10 09:05 AM

So, I got my bike off the garage wall, pumped up the tires, stretched and hopped on. The reason is that this is Bike Month in Phoenix and 8 other cities. But, it also feels great here in Phoenix in April. Blue sky and 75-85 dry degrees are a constant every day.
The cities are encouraging residents to bike somewhere, anywhere. As we all help create and sustain a healthier environment, we will feel empowered if we can enjoy nature. When was the last time you biked to the store, to work, or to a friends house? We can't go 'over … (7 comments)

Got Gas?: Fireplace Gas Leaks Are Scary - 04/12/10 08:51 AM

Sound familiar? We were in escrow a few weeks ago and well past the inspection period. The home was listed and being sold in ‘AS IS' condition. We walked through the home with the Buyer for at least the 19th time, and stopped dead in our tracks: the faint smell of ‘natural gas' was distinctive and present. Although the Buyer could not smell it, we were certain of it.
 
A family was scheduled to move in within 10 days. We could only hope they would have smelled it too. We were friends with the family. The gas company gladly … (4 comments)

Party Time: Do You Like Neighborhood Block Parties? - 04/12/10 01:51 AM
                                                             
To party or not to party, that is the question.
Some streets are more of a natural party street. Ours is not. It is probably because much of the street works, and there are fewer small children. We have lived here for a few years, but no one has stepped forward to plan a neighborhood block party. I mean one with full on barbecue and lawn chairs and neighborhood kids running around.
 
Well, we decided it was about time. Shame on us for waiting so long.
 
So, neighbors have been talked to, invitations sent out, and RSVP's … (1 comments)

Rebate On Tap: Appliance Rebates Start Monday - 04/12/10 01:26 AM

Ready, set, GO!
You can be one of the lucky to receive one of the estimated 35,000 rebates that will be available in Arizona's $6.2 million program.  Probably all of the rebates will be exhausted that day, since it is has been promoted and the public is aware.
                                                                           
The Arizona Department of Commerce has assigned the energy office to manage this effort.  The deal is that the appliance must be bought in Arizona, and must replace an existing appliance.
 
You can find more about the rebates at http://www.arizonarebates.com
                                                                          
 
As is now customary, the rebates will … (2 comments)

Old Legends Never Die: Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in the Superstition Mountains - 04/12/10 01:07 AM
Come to Phoenix and look for Gold!
The Legend of the Superstitions is centered in the Superstition Mountains on the east side of the Phoenix Metro valley, near Apache Junction.

The federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area contains the Superstition Mountains, a mountain range that lies in this area. The Lost Dutchman gold mine is supposed to be a very rich gold vein located in the Superstition Mountains. The mine was named after a German ‘Jakob Waltz'. Although he was German, his background was confusing and he ended up being called ‘Dutchman'.  The word for German in the German tongue is … (4 comments)

You Decide: How We Made Our Fortune - 04/10/10 05:51 PM
It was actually quite simple.
We bought the perfect apple for just 10 cents,
spent the day cleaning and polishing it,
advertised and sold it the next day for just 25 cents.
We didn't stop just there.
With this we bought 2 more perfect apples,
spent that day polishing both of them
and sold them both for 50 cents.
And so it went on and on until we
had amassed a total of $8.00.
It was soon after that my wife's father
died and willed us $2 million.
 
… (8 comments)

You Decide: How We Made Our Fortune - 04/10/10 05:51 PM
It was actually quite simple.
We bought the perfect apple for just 10 cents,
spent the day cleaning and polishing it,
advertised and sold it the next day for just 25 cents.
With this we bought 2 more perfect apples,
spent that day polishing both of them
and sold them both for 50 cents.
And so it went on and on until we
had amassed a total of $8.00.
It was then my wife's father
died and willed us $2 million.
 
… (0 comments)

Smell Disaster: The 2 Worst Smells When Listing a House - 04/10/10 09:43 AM

The two worst smells when listing and viewing a house are: cat pee and cigarette smoke. Bold statement.Now, I realize that is a matter of opinion. But, there are not many other smells that our Buyers would walk out of a house for.
 
Cat Pee
Felinine is a chemical contained in the urine of mature cats. Both females and males excrete this chemical in their urine, but males by twice the amount. This chemical breaks down into smaller compounds that give the characteristic smell of car urine. It is not for us to know the chemistry details, only to … (33 comments)

Commercial Real Estate 2010: What? You want to begin a new career now? - 04/10/10 09:33 AM

From time to time I hear the comment, "I would like to get into commercial real estate". Residential agents have said it, and an airline pilot with 2 rental properties said it. Wow, a $1-2 million small property at a good commission rate, and think of the income potential! Big Money is calling!
But, this is 2010, and the commercial real estate market is in a major correction. It still sounds easy enough. But wait, there's more. Commercial real estate is a different animal.  Note that the average commercial real estate agent does not make any commission during the first year. Since … (0 comments)

Phoenix Light Rail Demographics: A Brief Story - 04/10/10 09:04 AM

The Phoenix light rail has been operational for just over one year now. Many people and businesses have asked about characteristics of this 20 mile stretch of real estate. Who lives in the light rail corridor? What are the characteristics of the people along the light rail tracks? Let's try and shed some light on some of these questions. I have done some research into the demographics of light rail corridors. Let's discuss several  demographic characteristics in the Phoenix light rail corridor for a few minutes. The area under discussion is one-half mile from each station. This data was gathered … (0 comments)

Home Ownership: Have You Met an HOA Nazi? - 04/10/10 08:47 AM
Phoenix Metro has a long list of Homeowners Associations (HOA). With so many new subdivisions built in the last dozen years, you are very likely to buy your next home in an HOA. There are good points and reasons for an HOA to exist, but there are also times when the association can morph into an ‘HOA Nazi' (after the Seinfeld ‘Soup Nazi').
                                                            
We once bought a house in Morgan Hill, California. The CC&R's stated there were to be no sports equipment in the front yard. Of the 30 homes in the HOA, we counted fully 16 that had … (8 comments)

Agent Investors: Are Real Estate Agents Rental Property Owners? - 04/10/10 02:25 AM
We moved to the Phoenix Metro area six years ago. The house prices were very reasonable in our estimation, and we decided to buy some rental property homes.  As we inquired around in the real estate community to get a feel for the local area, we would routinely ask in our informal poll to real estate agents if they owned rental properties.
                                                          
The common answer? Oh no, we couldn't possibly. And why, we would ask? Well, it came out something like this: "we don't own rental property because our neighbor once had a brother who's father-in-law's sister's son once … (2 comments)

House sign: Has to be Scorpio - 04/10/10 02:14 AM
Every area of the country has issues with pests. Some are big and some are small. We have our fair share of pests in Phoenix, too. But, one that makes my hair stand up on end is the creapy-looking ‘scorpion.'
                                                          
We had a home listing on a half acre, with two dozen citrus trees. They clients had moved out, and the house was mostly empty and cleaned. There were a few last towels and miscellaneous pieces of clothing from kids lying around. I pickup up a small towel and shook it. Three scorpions fell out. It made me jump … (1 comments)

Smells Sell: Market a Home Successfully - 04/10/10 02:08 AM
What hits you first as you walk into your listing appointment, or showing a home with a Buyer in tow? One of the first things is the SMELL. Good, bad or neutral? Don't you agree that "Smells Sell?"

Can you tell when a smoker has lived there? Woah... How about a family of cats, with no litter box training? Disgusting! Ever just walked right back out the door? Yes!
Conversely, can you tell if there is a bread or cookie baker at home? Mr. or Ms. Clean? Different first impression, right? Because Buyers are so selective and picky in the … (2 comments)

Ace Agent: Property Detective - 04/10/10 01:56 AM
                                                                
As she walks into the room, her eyes dart around, looking innocent enough. But behind the laughing eyes is an experienced, efficient recording machine that probes every corner of the room. Ceiling scan for roof leaks: check. Age and condition of carpet: check. Termite tubes: check. Fresh paint in strategic locations: check. Cleanliness of home: check. And the list goes on as she glides from room to room, through the garage and outside the home to the yard.

Meet Ace Agent, Property Detective. No longer does she rely on just homeowner disclosures that can be incomplete. No longer … (1 comments)

LEED Advantage? Should Real Estate Agents Pursue a LEED AP Certification? - 04/08/10 02:02 AM
LEED Advantage 4-7-10 … (0 comments)

My Limerick to Active Rain Professionals - 04/07/10 11:15 PM

Dedicated to Active Rain
There once was a website that was built
To cater to agents and friends

It’s power and influence was felt
From your street to real estates’ end.
 
It features a large variety of commentary
Opinions, thoughts, and even ‘How To’s’,
You can find a large diverse community
Of real estate pro’s and affiliates for me and you.
 
It has a web presence that is powerful and deep
Including over 178,000 who now belong,
To talk and discuss their favorite topic
Called ‘real estate’,  with an outlook that is strong.
 
So let’s keep … (3 comments)

 
Bryan600a

Bryan Watkins

Mesa, AZ

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LRA Real Estate Group

Address: 637 S 48th St, Suite 201, Tempe, AZ, 85281

Cell Phone: (480) 734-7878

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