Understanding the Arizona Escrow Process - 11/30/08 07:44 PM
What is Escrow?   This is what takes place immediately after both the buyer and seller, assisted by a qualified Real Estate Agent, have agreed to the provisions of a contract and have signed that contract.  Escrow is defined as the holding of documents and funds by a neutral third party  pending the fulfillment of a particular condition or event.  The escrow holder has the obligation to safeguard the funds and/or documents until all provisions of the escrow have been satisfied and the contractual obligations by the Buyer and Seller have been met. Escrow is the disinterested third party, which makes them … (0 comments)

Sellers - First Appearances DO Count - 11/30/08 11:51 AM

Convenience & Availability
It is never 'convenient' to have your house shown. But, you should make an effort to allow for showings if possible. Most agents will attempt to give you at least a couple of hours notice.  However, sometimes a buyer sees the sign in your yard and is interested in viewing your home. If you are not cooperative, it is possible that the potential buyer will skip your home and move on to someone else who is willing to cooperate. The more exposure the faster your home will sell.
Why Use A Lockbox?           … (0 comments)

What is the True Market Value of your home? - 11/29/08 04:28 PM
It is What a Buyer is Willing to Pay for the Property Based on today's market. Based on today's competition. Based on today's financing. Based on today's economic condition. Based on the buyer's perception of the condition. Based on location. Based on normal marketing time. Based on showing accessibility   Properties That Sell in Today's Market: On a Scale of 1-10, The "10's" Are The Ones That Are Selling. How can Your property be a "10"? By improving the condition dramatically.    By offering good terms.   By improving the way the home shows.    By adjusting the price. Contact us to assist … (0 comments)

Information does not necessarily indicate knowledge - 11/28/08 02:17 PM
With the ever-increasing flow of data consumers are constantly mistaking information for expertise. There are several excellent sites for obtaining real estate data and advice and there are others that provide inaccurate housing information, statistics and predictions. The volume of information can be overwhelming and how do you know who to trust?
Be conscientious when you are seriously considering relocation to a new area. Review as much as you can about that area. Generally the local chamber of commerce will have a relocation package available to be sent to you. If you do not have a recommended Realtor in the new … (0 comments)

How much value will that remodel provide ?? - 11/28/08 01:37 PM
You have decided to stay put and implement some upgrades/improvements to your current home. But, where should you spend your money? What will bring the most value to you when you eventually opt to sell? The answers to these questions can vary depending on where you live. For instance, here in the Arizona desert, a private pool is a desirable amenity but probably not so in Alaska. A screened in porch would be an asset for the humid areas of the southeast. Of course, improvements that improve efficiency such as dual pane windows or solar water heater are always a plus in any … (0 comments)

What's Your Market's Median Home Price? - 11/25/08 02:53 PM
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases statistics on state-by-state existing-home sales and metropolitan area median home prices each quarter.
Locate the latest quarterly median home prices for your market, as well as the percentage change from the previous quarter, using this interactive map. 

Here in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, the median price of a single family home is now approximately $185,000 and for a condo the median price is $158,000.  However, the 7-year Housing Equity Gain   $63,900  and the 9-year Housing Equity Gain   $76,600. If you have owned your home for more than 5 years, you would have … (0 comments)

Why buy a home? - 11/19/08 09:53 PM
 All debt is not created equal.
While financial advisers almost reflexively urge consumers to avoid carrying credit card balances from month to month and to go easy on boat loans, car loans and other forms of debt, they usually make an exception for a mortgage used to buy your home. A home mortgage is one of the very best uses of credit. The fundamental reasoning is simple:   While you could save your money and buy clothes, cars and maybe even college tuition outright with cash, very few people could ever hope to save enough to buy a home for … (0 comments)

December in the Desert - 11/17/08 06:19 PM
The mild Arizona weather provides a perfect backdrop for many out door activities in December and throughout the winter season!
If your schedule is not already way too full in December, there are some great free fun family activities to take advantage of in 2008!
Arizona Public Service (APS) celebrating "Fantasy of Lights" is hosting 3 events:
1. Saturday, Nov 29, 08 from 5-9:00 p.m. - The APS Fantasy of Lights Electrical Parade will be marching along Mill Avenue in Tempe:  offering live entertainment, free kids arts and crafts, a light-up-a-luminary display and the arrival of Santa at the tree lighting at Centerpoint … (0 comments)

The new Valley Metro Light Rail Coming-Out Party! - 11/16/08 02:58 PM
 The much anticipated running of the light rail with using state-of-the art light rail vehicles with a modern, streamlined design is almost upon us. After years of planning, construction and endurance of torn up streets, the trains begin to operate on December 27th !   
The big event will be celebrated by a ‘coming-out’ party from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free train rides until 8 p.m. on the 27th . Free rides will continue through December 31st. Nine large scale celebrations and several smaller festivities are scheduled along the 20 mile alignment. The fun begins at the Sycamore & Main Street station in … (0 comments)

About Arizona USA - 11/15/08 10:29 PM
So where exactly is Arizona??? Situated in the western region of the US, te hstate of Arizona offers a diverse topography from desert plateaus to high mountains and the deep gorges of the majestic Grand Canyon. Arizona is one of the Four Corners states, situated south and east of the Colorado River.  Arizona borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, touches Colorado, and has a long international border with Mexico. Arizona is the sixth largest state in land area.   Nickname:  "The Grand Canyon State" Became 48th State: Feb 14, 1912 Population: 6,166,318 (estimated 2006) - the 20th most populous state in the … (0 comments)

Scottsdale Arizona -- Traditional Real Estate Sales vs Foreclosures Octber 2008 - 11/15/08 09:44 PM
The foreclosure market varies greatly across the valley of the Sun. According to Realty Studies associated with the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, there is a total number of 39,055 traditional sales and 28,755 foreclosures across the valley so far in 2008.    In October 2008 - Scottsdale had 160 foreclosed properties and 385 traditional properties sell. Although this was an increase from the October 2007 numbers (45 foreclosed and 445 traditional properties); Scottsdale is one of the cities with the fewest overall number of foreclosures.   
Scottsdale Resale Volume 2007 - 2008   Scottsdale Resale Median Price … (0 comments)

My newly acquired e-PRO designation! - 11/14/08 03:13 PM
As a former computer programmer, I thought I knew a lot about computers. So, needless to say, I was somewhat humbled by the vast amount of information available that I was unaware of. In this ever evolving ‘computer age’ the technology advances are increasing is available. Sometimes too much info is so overwhelming that you don’t even know where to begin. I am truly excited and amazed at how much I learned from this class that I can now effectively incorporate in to my real estate business to benefit both buyers and sellers!   The e-PRO Internet Technology Certification Program which teaches Realtors … (0 comments)

The Window of Opportunity - 11/13/08 12:35 PM
When a home is first entered in to the real estate resale market, there is an initial surge of interest that should be maximized! Therefore, your property should be priced realistically from the start. It’s no secret that price is everything and overpricing discourages buyers than any other single factor. Starting too high and dropping the price later fails to generate as much activity.     So, What Is the ‘Right Price’??    Many factors will determine your home's best asking price and the current real estate market has a lot to do with it. A good agent can help you determine the … (0 comments)

The Scottsdale, AZ Gated Community of Stonegate - 11/13/08 11:29 AM
Stonegate is a gated community of 916 single-family homes with a resort lifestyle, including tennis courts, large pool and spa, playground, beautiful community center and natural hiking trails. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!   Conveniently located in north central Scottsdale, the southern portion of this exclusive boarder the Indian reservation offering miles of open spaces and city light views. The active community association offers a wide variety of opportunities for involvement. There are tennis tournaments, yoga classes, swim classes, special events such as community BBQ, Holiday Parties for children and adults, and the Spring Fling.    
The Stonegate communities Include: · Belcourt: 78 homes by Geoffrey … (0 comments)

Phase one of CityNorth® Grand Opening Thursday, Nov 14, 08 - 11/12/08 04:50 PM
The much anticipated new shopping / business center CityNorth® is now set to open it’s doors! This new urban community will feature distinctive neighborhoods, each with its own personality   This new development is easily accessible situated adjacent to the Loop 101 freeway at the intersection of 56th Street and Deer Valley Drive in the Desert Ridge master planned community of Northeast Phoenix.    Phase One of CityNorth, High Street: The phase one High Street section of the 144-acre urban community will include approximately 47 retail stores and seven restaurants encompassing nearly 180,000 square feet.   Some of the retailers include Talbots, D&G Designs, … (0 comments)

What is a Green home? - 11/12/08 02:17 PM
Green building has both economic and public health benefits. Although energy-efficient technology is catching on, building green isn't second nature yet to real estate owners. However, as the technology progresses and the standards evolve over time, the general public will become more aware of the benefits. This type of home will eventually become the ‘norm’. Will states eventually adopt of a new Green Building Code? California is leading the way at this time. The future will tell. A Green Home typically meets one or more of these criteria: · Constructed with generally non-toxic building materials · Energy efficient · Solar energy · Recycled content materials - salvaged, refurbished, refinished or reused … (0 comments)

Best to be a ‘preapproved’ Buyer in Today’s Market - 11/11/08 04:16 PM
With the recent return to much needed tighter lending standards, it is advantageous for today’s home buyer to be ‘preapproved’ not simply ‘pre-qualified’ for a mortgage before you begin your home search. With decreasing home values and the volume of foreclosures, lenders have tightened terms/credit standards on prime home mortgages. They are now taking a more cautious stance to ensure that the borrower can actually afford their loan and that they will not default on their loan. It is definitely more difficult to obtain a new loan in today’s market than it was in the midst of the lax restrictions and nontraditional mortgage … (0 comments)

Nov 2008 Phoenix Real Estate Statistical Summary - 11/09/08 05:26 PM
Statistical Summary of today's residential resale market in the Phoenix metropolitan area
October MLS activity is still strong: both sales and pending sales are higher than at this time last year. The inventory continues to hover around the 55,000 range. Among active listings: 65% are normal, 17% are in pre-foreclosure, 18% are already owned by a lender. Among October MLS sales: only 48% were normal, 10% were in pre-foreclosure (mostly short sales), while 42% were lender-owned. It’s still a great market for buying, as long as you have capital, good credit and don’t need to borrow more than 90% of the money. I … (0 comments)

First Time Homebuyers - 11/09/08 01:02 PM
 The current Buyers Market conditions provide the perfect opportunity for the qualified first time home buyer to be able to get a foot hold in property ownership. The inventory is higher than ‘normal’, the interest rates remain low and sellers are willing to negotiate! Even though the lending standards may have tightened, first-time buyers can now qualify for a loan and handle the monthly mortgage payment.
  Buying a home for the first time can be overwhelming, but as with anything else in life, the right preparation brings about good results. Remember, the right home for you is one you want … (0 comments)

What is a Personalized Real Estate Search Web site? - 11/08/08 10:53 AM
If you are thinking about buying or selling residential real estate in a specific state/metro area, a Personalized Real Estate Search web (Portal) site can easily be created for you.   This is a web site that can be set up by a Realtor based upon your housing requirements/needs. Once the site has been created the existing properties meeting your search criteria are uploaded to your site. In Arizona, your personalized search activated on the Arizona Regional (ARMLS) flexmlsis executed twice daily. Any new properties meeting your stipulations are automatically added to your site. Any time you log on to your web page the … (0 comments)

Are You Confused? Short sale - Foreclosure - Real Estate Owned Properties - 11/06/08 08:48 PM
Are you confused??   What exactly is the difference between a ‘short sale’, ‘foreclosure’ and ‘Real Estate Owned Property (REO)’? How do the banks/lenders handle each type of scenario?  
The process of buying a home from a bank is different than buying it from a private party -- it is slower, and there is more paperwork. The added confusion of the current ‘bail out’ has also now contributed to this slow down. · The  Short Sale: involves buying a house for less than the amount the seller owes the lender. To qualify for a short sale, the property must be the seller’s primary residence and he must … (5 comments)

Be an Informed Buyer - 11/01/08 10:10 AM
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) is an excellent source of real estate consumer information. Here you can research Mortgage Basics,  Mortgage and Housing Fraud, Foreclosure Avoidance, view the latest Housing Price Index across the US, research and compare many of the major metro areas on a quarterly price index and much more.  Check out your state/city.
Another source of valuable for real estate information and resources is the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  Research the latest news affecting the real estate industry or review their guides to Home Buying or Selling. 
The Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) … (0 comments)

 
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Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate

Scottsdale, AZ

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Realty ONE Group - Scottsdale

Address: 9366 East Raintree , #101, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260

Office Phone: (480) 948-0550

Cell Phone: (602) 402-8594

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Selling Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is a comprehensive resource for both Buyers and Sellers to get to know more about Scottsdale Arizona as well as other parts of the Phoenix metro area Real Estate market.

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