Selling Scottsdale Real Estate

There is never a bad time to Improve your Credit Score

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:52:03 -0600

Whether you have poor credit or excellent credit - there is never a bad time to improve your credit score!

Your credit score is an extremely important financial tool. It provides access to the financing you need in order to buy a car, a home, or pay for college tuition, among other things.

When applying for a mortgage, every point in your credit score can make a big difference. Make Plans now to ensure your credit is accurate and begin to make increases on your score over time.

So, where to you begin?? First, at a minimum, you should review your current credit report for accuracy. Make sure the information on your report is about You. If you find something on your credit report that is incorrect or missing, you should dispute the mistake by contacting the credit bureaus directly. Take the initiative to begin the process of a dispute investigation. Free Trad Commission - Protecting You

Assuming that your credit report is accurate, look for ways to improve your score:

Payment History: 35% impact Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact. Late payments, judgments, and charge-offs have a negative impact. Missing a high payment has a more serious impact than missing a low payment. Delinquencies that have occurred in the last two years carry more weight than older items. If you’re struggling to catch up, contact your creditors to work out a payment schedule.
Outstanding Credit Balances: 30% impact. Outstanding Credit Balances: 30% impact.Of course, attempt to keep your balances reasonable. A high average balance will negatively affect your score.
Credit History: 15% impact. This marks the length of time since a particular credit line was established. A seasoned borrower is stronger in this area.
Type of Credit: 10% impact A mix of auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages is more positive than a concentration of debt from credit cards alone.
Inquiries: 10% impact Every time a lender runs your credit, an inquiry is recorded. This quantifies the number of inquiries (or requests for credit) that have been made on a consumer's credit history within a six month period.

If you do not have a credit card, get one. Unfortunately, it is one of the ways that the credit bureaus can monitor that you are able to handle credit effectively. Creditors need to determine how much of a risk you are and want to know how likely you are to repay the money they loan you. Your credit history helps them understand your payment history.
Do not however, get extended, Use it strategically, make small purchases that can easily be paid off monthly. In this somewhat depressed economy, it is sometimes difficult to not live on credit. Byt, at least, attempt to make the minimum payment required. Definitely pay more than the minimum if possible. it is better to attempt to pay off revolving debt rather than moving it around.

Unfortunately, negative credit items can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years (up to 10 years for a bankruptcy). But, it is never too late to begin the repair your credit. Keep all of your current accounts in order and pay them down as quickly as possible.

Your credit has improved??? Now is an excellent time to purchase real estate!

Home buying in the greater Phoenix metro area - search for your home here!

Take advantage of the extended and expanded tax credit gift!

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:31:37 -0600

Homebuyers have been given a gift! The extension and expansion of the tax credit provides time to still jump in to this ripe real estate market. And, there are some excellent choices available.

The FHA option of putting only 3 1/2% down is an excellent opportunity for those buyers who are 'cash poor' but certainly able and qualified to make the monthly mortgage payments. Often the final monthly mortgage payment is less than the cost of rent even without the additional benefit of deductible interest at tax time.

Now buyers have until April 30, 2010 to sign a purchase contract and until June 30, 2010 to close escrow.

HOW IT WORKS TAX CREDIT: Ten percent of the purchase price of a primary residence, up to a maximum of $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for others.

DEADLINE: Purchase agreements must be signed by April 30 and closings must be final by June 30. MILITARY: The deadline is extended by a year for those who have served outside the United States for at least 90 days from Jan. 1, 2009, to May 1, 2010.

INCOME LIMITS: Individuals who make up to $125,000 and joint filers with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full credit. Individuals with incomes up to $145,000 and joint filers with incomes up to $245,000 qualify for reduced credits.

HOW TO APPLY: Taxpayers can claim the credit on their federal tax returns. If the credit exceeds the tax bill, the government will issue a payment. Taxpayers who want immediate refunds can amend their 2008 returns.

The new deadline will

probably NOT be extended again. The market may never be as ripe as it is today. And the interest rates will continue to rise.

Actually, there is another gift - the gift of a ripe real estate market with many reasonably priced options to choose from.

Checkout the local Phoenix metro area market place and
begin your shopping now while these gifts are available.

Search the Local MLS by Map

Quarter 3 2009 - the 10 Highest Priced Zip codes in Maiccopa County AZ

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:26:34 -0600

The Arizona Regional MLS statistics for Quarter 3 2009 in Maricopa County compute an average sales price of properties across the valley of $ 182,200 in Quarter 3 2009. This was an increase from the average sales price of $ 174,900 in Quarter 2 of 2009.The market values are finally increasing. The numbers indicate that the bottom of the market was April 2009. The first time home buyer tax credit, low prices and historically low interest rates have all contributed to an increased consumer confidence stimulating the real estate recovery.

Below are the zip codes with the top 10 highest Average Prices for Quarter 3—2009.

AZ Regional Multiple Listing System (ARMLS)
Top 10 Most Expensive Zip Codes Quarter 3, 2009
(more than 20 sales in the quarter)

City Zip Average price

Paradise Valley 85253 @ $1,711,400
Scottsdale 85262 @ $ 724,000
Scottsdale 85266 @ $ 638,200
Scottsdale 85255 @ $ 572,600
Scottsdale 85257 @ $ 557,900
Scottsdale 85268 @ $ 372,100
Phoenix 85045 @ $ 364,100
Scottsdale 85258 @ $ 360,700
Scottsdale 85260 @ $ 351,100
Scottsdale 85263 @ $ 350,500

Prices by zip code as computed by ARMLS are available for all zip codes in Maricopa and Pinal Conties.
Feel free to contact us for details of the other zip codes

The extension and expansion of the Tax Credit will continue to stimulate the real estate market with a goal of creating housing market self-sustainability. Today the pool of renters that can qualify to purchase a median priced home is over 16 million. This is definitely enough potential buyers to put a significant dent in to home value stabilization. It is a win-win situation for both buyers and sellers.

Search the Arizona MLS for properties in:

November Phoenix Real Estate Market Updat

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:21:23 -0600

November is here! Where do the years go anyway?

There is good news on the real estate front as the market is very active. Of course, the most active market remains in the lower price ranges but as these properties sell, the more expensive market will become the new hot spot.

Its official – President Obama signed the Homebuyers Tax Credit extension and expansion on Nov 6, 09.

So what about the numbers for October 2009? Do not believe everything you read in the newspapers or hear on the news as the data they receive lags the current market by about 3 months. We have access to the latest statistics on a daily basis and would be happy to furnish detailed info for a zip code, city or even subdivision. Do not hesitate to contact us for specific info.

Regarding the overall Phoenix metro market::

October 2009 research shows closings +8000 which is 50% above October 2008.

With 12,000 transactions still in Pending status, and with the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit thatwas scheduled to end this month, November should close a similar number.

If we top the high of 8,071 sales of November 2004 – this will be the most November closings ever.

At 78,000 YTD closings; 2009 is on track to rank as the 3rd highest year on record (should reach by Thanksgiving). We are already 30% above the total for 2008 and should end the year up about 50%.

Besides the YTD numbers, let’s look at the trends. The percentage of REO’s (Foreclosures) continues to drop both with Closed transactions at 44% and the Pending Sale category of 35%. There is currently a 38-day supply of Active REO’s. Short Sales (SS), on the other hand, continue to increase. SS Active Listings make up 25% of all Actives with another +6000 in the Active Under Contract status. October’s Closings were at 20%. But, with SS Pending’s totaling 31%, the closed % will increase. A further look at SS shows that the Days on Market (DOM) is approximately double of the non-SS DOM numbers. SS are slow to sell, as banks are overwhelmed with the volume and sluggish to review any offers. Unfortunately, many simply go to foreclosure auction before the SS sale is approved. However, the Good News is that the DOM for Closed SS has improved by almost 3 weeks in the last quarter.

The price numbers are continuing to ‘bump around’ with no consistent trend line. October’s Average Sales price was down about $4,000 to $171,000 and the Median Sales price was down $2,000 to $128,000. Both of these numbers are considerably above the yearly low of $159,000 and $115,000 respectively. The Average has been up and down for the past 4 months, with the Median down for the first time since April.

Overall Inventory – as you can see the inventory for the lower priced properties is minimal as compared to the highest priced homes. This graph supports the sales numbers showing that 90+ % of the sales are priced under $400,000. Homes priced under $300K are now considered a Buyers Market.

The Supply of Lender Owned Single Family properties priced under $300K is 27 Days
while the Supply of ALL Single-Family homes priced under $300K is now only 2.4 months.

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Specific numbers vary across the cities of the metro area. We can provide the details for the area you are interested n, just send an email or give us a call.

We are proud of our Broker Jim Sexton as he is always on the leading edge of the real estate community:
Congratulations Jim Sexton ...
Recipient of Phx Assn Realtors’ Continuing Service Award

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It's Official! - Tax Credit Extended!

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:53:06 -0600

It's Official --- President Obama signed the Homebuyers Tax Credit extension and expansion

Two Ways to Qualify for the Tax Credit

First-Time Homebuyers: First-time homebuyers (a person who has not owned a home for the last 3 years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for first time home buyers is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five years during the last eight years. Again, single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

What are the New Deadlines?

In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

Higher Income Caps

The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased. Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. The previous tax credit limited this income to $75,000. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Previously the income limit for married couples was $150,000. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit.

Maximum Purchase Price

Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000. The previous tax credit had no limit on the purchase price of a home.

The National Association of Realtors provides some excellent information to questions you may have:

Compare the differences between the current tax credit and extended and expanded version. (PDF: 30KB)

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Need a Phoenix metro area MLS Search?

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:32:43 -0500

Our Arizona Real Estate search options: Looking for an Arizona real estate search vehicle?

Search the MLS directly from our web page AZ-real-estate-sales.com - your comprehensive resource for buying or selling real estate in the greater Phoenix metro area.

If you know the area and/or the specifics of what you are searching for, you can search by the traditional price range, # bedrooms, dwelling type etc. You also search by location / city. If you know more specific information, you can search by individual subdivision, MLS number or address by entering it to find the listing detail.

If you do not live in the greater Phoenix metro area and are unfamiliar with the cities encompassed within the Valley of the Sun, you can perform a simple map search. The map will provide the general layout of the metro area - here you can either click on the city you are interested in or you can scroll down to a listing of cities The list will provide the current volume of available properties and the average sales price for that city. These tools will give you the info you need to determine the areas most suited to your needs and price range.

To obtain additional information about a specific city - simply select the back to home page button . From the home page you can choose the Community Profile option to select the city(s) you want to research.

Once you have selected the city, you can quickly determine the volume of properties available and the average cost to buy or sell in a community by searching the Local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) from our Arizona Real Estate Web page.

Below is a sample of a result of a city search. You can then search by type of Home, Price Range, all properties in the city or the newest homes that have been added to the market - the results include - total listings available, Average Price, High Price, Low Price, average age of the properties and average price per square foot.

At this point, you have additional options available to further streamline your specific search - single story, number of bedrooms, pool etc.

These searches provide you with general and detailed information about the
current Phoenix / Scottsdale Real Estate Market!

Sellers are NOT becoming Buyers!

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:42 -0500

What is happening in the real estate market? Many of the properties being sold in the greater Phoenix metro area are vacant. Approximately 17,000 homes currently listed for sale on the local Multiple Listing System (MLS) are vacant. This is more than half or about 55% of the total properties listed in the MLS. Interestingly enough the vacant homes are selling quickly as approximately 82% of the closed sales have been vacant. This means that the “seller” is probably not buying. In many cases the “seller” is the bank who is trying to clear property off their books. Banks do not like to ‘own’ property. So, where did all the sellers go???? Are there sellers that are turning in to real buyers?

Unfortunately there are the high number of home owners losing their property to short sale or foreclosure. The resulting decrease in there credit score combined with the more stringent requirements to obtain a real estate loan in today's market, has greatly reduced the previous homeowners ability to purchase another home.

We are witnessing the classic supply and demand. They say you never know where bottom is until you are past it. For the past 3 years volume was high and prices came down. But, the market appears to be on the rebound. The number of sales is up 50% from 2008 and 66% from 2007. The volume of properties available has dropped from a high of approximately 56,000 to 31,700 today. Prices seem to be stabilizing for the past few months. The average home price is currently around $171,000 up from a low of $159,000. The reporting companies are stating that the market hit bottom (lowest price) in the late March /early April of 2009. The majority of buyers in today’s market place are first time home buyers or investors with cash. So if you are qualified or have cash, it is a great time to pick up a ‘good deal’.

Volume of Homes Sold by month

Search the Phoenix/Scottsdale Multipe Listing System
AZ-real-estate-sales

An Oasis in the Desert

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:46:49 -0500

The community of Arroyo Grande at Anthem Parkside is located in the foothills of northwest Phoenix metro area. This community is the last phase of Del Webb’s national, award-winning master-planned community of Anthem. This Pulte/Del Webb new build community which offers breathtaking views in a family oriented neighborhood is just minutes from beautiful Lake Pleasant and all of the activities of nearby Phoenix. A true retreat from the hustle and bustle of the large metro area. The homes are well constructed on large lots, many with view fencing. Homeowners in this community have access to all of the activities and amenities of the Community Center at Parkside. These amenities include a state of the art fitness center, indoor and outdoor basketball, Big Splash Water Park, swimming pools, sports fields and more!

Arroyo Grande is only about 9 miles from Lake Pleasant which is nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains about 30 miles north of Phoenix. This popular lake has 10,000 acres of water surface and over 50 miles of shoreline! The lake is primarily fed by the Aqua Fria River which carries rain and snow melt-off from the northern parts of Arizona including the Bradshaw Mountains. This lake was originally formed in the mid 1920’s when Waddel Dam was constructed. A new dam was built in 1992 which tripled the size of the lake.

On a warm summer day of 110 degrees the cool water can be quite refreshing! There are opportunities for a variety of water sports such as boating, jet skiing, water skiing, sailing, fishing and exploring the vast shoreline. There is also hiking, camping, picnicking and horse back riding. Something for everyone close to the metro area!

My buyers opted for a spec home in Arroyo Grande. Once we chose the spec home and executed a purchase contract, we investigated the Arroyo Grande community, the Anthem Community Center and were off to explore the surrounding area and the lake. They were very pleased to find such a beautiful home in an excellent community!

Check out the view from their back yard - surrouding this community is miles of open state land.

Not in foreclosure—but close?

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:59:47 -0500

Due to a variety of reasons, many of today’s homeowners are facing some serious hurdles in the current market place. Is your house worth less than you owe? Whether you purchased your home in the height of the boom and now your creative loan is about to escalate to a new monthly mortgage payment you cannot afford or if your job/business is suffering the effects of the recession, you can be pro-active about the future of your home ownership.

One option allows for loan restructuring/modification. This is an opportunity to obtain new loan terms for your existing mortgage. You principal balance is not reduced but new terms are negotiated presumably to decrease your current monthly mortgage payments. Be careful who you deal with as this industry remains largely unregulated. Unfortunately, many times this simply delays the eventual loss of the home.

Another option is the short sale. A short sale typically is executed to prevent a home foreclosure. In a short sale the bank agree to forgive a portion of the owners principal balance due. The home is sold at the current market value which is usually significantly less than the mortgage and the owner is basically forgiven the debt.

The last option is to simply walk away and let the bank foreclose/take the property back.

All of these options lead to consequences for the homeowner.

Be Pro-Active. If you see potential problems in the future, don’t wait until you receive that threatening letter from the bank. Begin researching your options early in the process. Ideally even before you even miss any mortgage payments. Avoid the run around from the bank. Consider qualified legal representation for advice regarding lender negotiations and debt settlements. Understand your risks and rights. Legal council can analyze your situation and offer a variety of possible solutions and strategies designed to reduce the negative impact on your credit and to ensure that your legal rights are protected.

Call today to find out how to get a No Cost legal consultation today!

Office: 480-948-0550 **** Toll Free: 866-464-2140

Upcoming Summer Events in Scottsdale

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:18:50 -0500

School is out, kids are home and the warm weather has officially arrived. Time for Summer in the Sonoran Desert! For those of us to live here year round lovingly referred to as "Desert Rats", this is just another opportunity to enjoy our heat.

For those hearty soles who love golf,set those tee times are set earlier in the morning or in the late afternoon. What an awsome opportunities to play on those very expensive courses at quite reasonable prices! Do you think these exclusive may help improve your game?

The Scottsdale Parks and Recreation division opens registration today (June 1) to enroll in a variety of classes. If you want to learn a new hobby, how about ceramics, jewelry making, painting, sewing or dance? For those who prefer more strenuous activities, there are aerobic classes, swim classes , tennis lessors & leagues or hiking adventures. How about learning CPR or cartoon drawing? There is something for everyone-they offer a wide variety of activities for pre-schooles to teens to seniors! Check it out and consider signing up for the various opportunities available through the Scottsdale park and recreation division.

There are a assortment of summer camps for kids! The Scottsdale Music Camp, the Boys Girls Clubs of Scottsdale Summer Camp, Hubbard Summer Sports Camp, the Scottsdale Unified School District offers summer academic/enrichment camps or how about the Young Chefs Academy?

The free concert series hosted by McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is available to the public Sunday evenings from 7:30 - 9:00 pm through July 5th. Get your blanket or chair and listen to local bands under the stars. The train and Carousel will be operating for kids and parents alike. The Botanical Gardens is presenting its annual Jazz in the Garden 2009 Concert Series. Kierland Commons offers a Summer Concert Series. This event for the entire family is held every Saturday evening from June 6 - July 25 from 7 - 10pm (excluding Saturday, July 4th).

Thinking about how to get out of the heat for some cool entertainment? There are many neighborhood movie theaters offering great kid summer movie series. Tickets only cost minimal and they show some fun kids movies like Shrek, Curious George, and Shrek2...

If you have some time off and don't want to go far, many of the local upscale resorts are offering ubelievable deals to stay for a few nights. You can be pampered while the kids take advantage of the fun pools and activities.

Of course, there is always the Phoenix Zoo, various museums,summer arts and craft fairs, Rawhide and the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball.

So, enjoy the sunshine and take advantage of some fun summer activities.

If you are considering a move the the Valley of the Sun - please use this map search to find homes currently listed for sale in Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix metro area

Google Profile Page -- Google Web Page

The Latest AZ Regional MLS Real Estate Report

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:25:19 -0500

The Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System (ARMLS) just released their real estate report for Quarter 1 2009. The information is relevant to the overall market health. The Trends article, “Changing Season, or Changing Market”, is interesting and provides definitions for some of the frequently used real estate terms we are hearing lately. For instance, when you hear statistics referring to “Months Supply’, this is defined as the inventory divided by the number of sales in the most recent period (or supply / demand). Most ‘experts’ agree that for our area a 4.1 months supply is the norm – meaning the monthly market supply does not favor either buyer or seller.

There are many reports available computing current ‘Months Supply’ as well as other pertinent real estate statistics for individual cities and zip codes. If you would like more details for a city or even a specific zip code, feel free to contact me for additional information.

The Economic and Market Watch Report for Quarter 1 2009. – compares Q4 2008; Q1 2009 and projects Q2. 2009.

The real estate market actually started to boom in April and May with record numbers of home pending and closing escrow. As of 5/06/09, there are an amazing 12,438 Single Family Homes PENDING sale And a total of 13,870 total properties Pending in the MLS. Now the Valley-wide Months of Supply is at 4.1 months supply. A whopping 94% of the sales were under 400,000. Many of the short sale and foreclosure properties are being sold, often with multiple offers. There area actually areas of the valley that are now considered a 'sellers market'.

Bottom line, the market is improving! The good news for the housing market is that the indicators are pointing to a healthy home sale activity for the second half of this year.

Search the Scottsdale and Pheonix Multiple Listings for properties currently listed for sale.

So, What are the odds that the dog could flood the bathroom?

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:13:16 -0500

I must admit that our little rescue dog , Heidi, is adorable and very sweet. This is probably the only reason that she remains ‘our dog’ these days.

She is a lovely dog but has separation anxiety whenever we leave the house without her. Needless to say, during the past year since her adoption, she has trained us to attempt to figure out the things she could possibly get in to while we are away. So much for screens.

Lets put it this way, she is banned from the house because she either chews something or carries it around so we cannot find it. She is also banned from the pool yard because she loves to chew on the sprinkler system. The little fountains are sorta fun. Since we have an acre lot we allow her to patrol the large back patio and yard beyond the gated pool area. She is also allowed to be inside in bathrooms that has her doggie door to the back yard. After finding a variety of items in the back yard, I have learned to remove everything from this bathroom’s counters and the towel racks. The toilet bowl cleaner brush is safely locked in the shower and the toilet paper is set high on an empty towel rack. One of Heidi’s favorite pass times is toilet papering our yard. This is especially fun if the automatic sprinkler system comes on.

Anyway, one morning last week I left the house for a short period of time. I returned to find water running out from under the bathroom door! I opened the door to discover the sink clogged and the faucet on full blast!

Ok it was my mistake, the previous day I had set a new roll of TP on the bathroom counter intending to put it in the cabinet later. Unfortunately, I forgot to do so. The result? Well, my guess is that Heidi discovered the TP roll on the counter and immediately jumped up to play with her treasure. She is an excellent jumper! She must have somehow knocked the roll in to the sink basin. And in attempting to get it out, she managed to turn the water faucet to the ON position. Just in case you are wondering, wet toilet paper makes and excellent drain plug!

I came home to a sink over flowing, water running down the hallway (fortunately tile) and cabinet drawers filled with water. It took me several hours and lots of towels to finally clean up the mess.

Now, the question. Should I confess to Gary what had transpired or simply be quiet? I did manage to not say anything until the following day/ There were just too many tell tail signs - small pieces of TP that glued down to the back patio, the warped drawer that would not close completely and the musty smell. I finally explained the event reminding him that ’some day’ he would think this was funny! Of course at that moment, he did not see the humor and I got my lecture about what could have happened if I had been gone for an extended period of time , about how the dog would have to be in her cage when we were away etc.

He immediately removed the drawers so the warped pressed wood would dry and hopefully fit in to their place again. Then he got our large fan and set it up to begin to dry out the cabinets. Fortunately Arizona is a very dry climate! All has ended well with the bathroom and hall show no effects of any water damage.

Doesn't she look innocent:-)

So, what do you think would be the probability of this happening????

Sellling Scottsdale Real Estate - our talented client discovers her Southwest Art Talent!

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:35:50 -0500

I have to say that I love meeting all the diversified and talented individuals whom I am fortunate enough to assist in buying and selling homes here in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I met Donna and Herbert when I was a relatively new Scottsdale Realtor. We became fast friends and kept in touch for several years. Finally, Donna convinced Herbert that they just had to move to Arizona. So, we began a search for them and their pets. They now have a lovely home in north central Scottsdale and have not regretted moving "west".

We have remained good friends. I asked Donna if I could share her story as she has blossomed in to a wonderful southwestern artist. Below is her story. Please view more of her work her work at this site.

Donna Leonard is a transplant from Northern Virginia and moved to Arizona in 2006. She has always loved to paint but never had any formal training. After a few nudges from her neighbors who love to paint, she enrolled in a few classes at Scottsdale Artist School and the Via Linda Senior Center. That was enough to get her started and she developed a theme of painting cowboy portraits in oils. She loves the western scenery and will soon branch out into painting landscapes and desert life as well.

Donna entered a juried show at the Scottsdale Artist School and was chosen to exhibit her painting in the Best and the Brightest show in 2008 http://www.scottsdaleartschool.org. She is also on the 2009 www.gamblincolors.com site after entering a black and white portrait. She is currently entering more contests.

She lives in Scottsdale with her 21 birds and Pomeranian (and her wonderful husband of course)

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Scottsdale Real estate Sales - search for homes in Scottsdale AZ

Cromford Real Estate Stats now available for Phoenix metro area

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:47:37 -0500

The Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System (ARMLS) has made the Cromford Report available to subscribing Realtors. This report provides detailed information to track the history and current status of the greater Phoenix residential resale market and offers unique insight into its future direction. It is an excellent tool for Realtors to provide up to date sales statistics and current market snapshots.

The greater Phoenix metro area statistics are favorable as sales are increasing and the market inventory steadily decreases. The local real estate market is most active in the $250,000 & less price range as investors and first time home buyers have jumped in to the market. The current Phoenix inventory is at 4.1 months supply, which is considered ‘normal’ for our area. Other areas/cities range in inventory. A variety of individual stats for a specific city or zip code can be computed. Feel free to contact me for the detailed information you are interested in researching.

The table below provides a detailed statistical analysis of today's residential resale market in the Phoenix metropolitan area as of May 21, 2009. The figures shown are for the entire Arizona Regional area as defined by ARMLS. All residential resale transactions recorded by ARMLS are included.

Geographically, this includes Maricopa County, a large part of Pinal County and a small part of Yavapai County. All dwelling types are included. For-sale-by-owner, auctions and other non-MLS transactions are not included. Land, commercial units and multiple dwelling units are also excluded.

Explanation of Column Headings

ST = SHORT TERM TREND - The arrows in this column indicate the direction of the change between TODAY and LAST MTH
LT = LONG TERM TREND - The arrows in this column indicate the direction of the change between TODAY and LAST YR
Color code: The background to the trend arrow is colored green if the direction is favorable for sellers and is colored red if the direction is favorable for buyers. It is colored yellow if the change was zero. If the circle is white then the statistic is neutral for both buyers and sellers.
TODAY means the date given at the top of the page.
LAST MTH means the same date last month.
LAST QTR means the same date three months ago.
LAST YR means the same date one year ago. 2 YRS AGO means the same date two years ago.

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Only 10 days remain

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:59:59 -0500

The ‘Chihuly—The Nature of Glass’ - blown glass exhibit currently at the Arizona Desert Botanical Gardens will be displayed through May 31, 2009.

This display of unusual and creative glass art sculpture is well worth the visit. Dale Chihuly's work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. This is his first exhibition in an outdoor desert environment. His creative art work is quite amazing. We arrived early enough to view the glass sculptures before sunset and then also took in their beauty after the sun went down. Mr. Chihuly has created a variety of glass works are displayed throughout the gardens.

The colors are vibrant and the detail is amazing. His innovative glass creations are magnificent. I can only imagine how long it must have taken for him to create, transport and set up this exhibit. Not to mention, that many are displayed in the middle of some very thorny cacti! The event is fun for all - you can view not only the glass exhibit, but also experience the beauty of the red buttes of Papago Park and the wide variety of desert plants maintained throughout the Desert Botanical Gardens 50 acres! The gar

den is Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world. only 10 days left - plan your tirp soon.

Arizona is a great place to live, work and play!

More photos on Flickr

Have we hit the'bottom' real estate market in Phoenix?

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:16:47 -0500

The Bottom? I suppose your guess is as good as mine. The only way to know if you have ‘hit’ the bottom in the real estate market is when it begins to rise again. There definitley has been a boost in sales as many of the foreclosures and short sale properties are selling. Even new homes sales are increasing slightly. The interest rates remain historically low, the inventory is shrinking and first time home buyers cashing in on the opportunity to own by taking advantage of the first time home buyer $8,000 tax credit. This sounds good and we are definitely moving in the right direction but the recovery will probably be slow.

So what are the real estate ‘goo-roos’ and ‘experts’ saying?

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said May 5th that the economy appeared to be stabilizing, but warned that a real recovery is still months away.

The Cromford Report: stats report “Current Pending sales are the highest ever recorded-let’s say that again the HIGHEST EVER RECORDED yes that includes 2004 and 2005.”

A May 2009 ASU study indicates that there is a glimmer of hope that house prices are getting close to the bottom.

The good news is that many of the short sales and foreclosures are finally being removed from the market which is slowly encouraging non-stressed property owners to begin to list their homes for sale. Bottom or bottom line, due to the drop in home values over the past year+, it is still a good time to purchase a property here in the Valley of the Sun.

Search the local Scottsdale and greater Phoenix area real estate listings

Gary and Claudia Scott, realtors

Scottsdale AZ Real Estate Market March 28, 2009

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:05:36 -0500

Location, location location. Finally Scottsdale Arizona is once again affordable..

Of the 5,800+ listings currently available in Scottsdale 1,566 are priced over million dollars while only 128 are priced below one hundred thousand with the majority of 4200+ properties priced between. There is a great variety of options in this prestigious city from modest condo to multi million dollar mansion, there is something for everyone. This market now provides an excellent opportunity for that snowbird to actually purchase a property rather than rent during the desirable high season.

There are currently 768 properties in escrow and a total of 827 have closed escrow since Jan 1, 2009. The volume of properties in escrow continues to increase as more buyers are entering the market. Many of the more reasonably priced properties are being purchased. The inventory is remains high compared to the traditional market average-there are some excellent opportunities available.

This is a snapshot of the MLS for Scottsdale AZ real estate sales statistics for March 28, 2009:

Saarch the MLS for properties for sale in Scottsdale AZ

Who said there would be no foreclsures in Scottsdale AZ?

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:43:13 -0500

Scottsdale Arizona a town of affluence and golf courses. Many people thought this upscale area would be immune to the foreclosure epidemic spreading across the country. However, the numbers prove differently. Although there are not as many distressed properties as other citiies, Scottsdale does have is share of forclosure problems.

The local Scottsdale Arizona residential real estate tax records indicate that a total of 2,031 homes are in foreclosure and scheduled for auction in Scottsdale from March 24, 2009 and on. Note: that not all homes in foreclsure are listied for sale in the MLS. The MLS (March 24, 2009) has a total of 5,925 active listings of these 1,172 are short sale/lender owned/foreclosure properties. The asking price of MLS distressed properties in Scottsdale ranges from $49,900 to $3,495,000! A buyer has a wide selection to choose from!

Here are the Scottsale tax record auction foreclosure properties by zip code:

Scottsdale by zip code: Total 2,031 properties
Schdeuled Residential Real Estate Auctions

zip code	# foreclosures
85250	110
85251	255
85254	331
85255	331
85257	197
85258	136
85259	136
85260	238
85262	197
85266	100

Search the Scottsdale MLS by zip code:
South Scottsdale 85250
South Scottsdale 85251
South Scottsdale 85257
North Scottsdale 85254
North Scottsdale 85255
North Scottsdale 85258
North Scottsdale 85259
North Scottsdale 85260
North Scottsdale 85262
North Scottsdale 85266

Sentimental Journey—a night in the 40’s

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:02:05 -0500

Dinner, dancing, a dance contest and a costume contest provided a pleasant evening of entertainment for all who participated. The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hosted “A night in the 40’s Big Band Dance” last night in the Arizona Wing Hanger Museum at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona.

The open hanger and mild temps are perfect for the evening of fun. The B-17 Sentimental Journey among other WWII aircraft and memorabilia provided the backdrop for this nostalgic event. I must admit that I was not here in the 1940’s (close though) but a celebration of the sacrifices of the military and a reflection of era is a tribute to the men and women who preserved the way for us today.

The US Marines opened the event by proudly presented the flag for the National Anthem.

Early entertainment provided musical melodies including Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Country from the war years performed by the Kathy Donald Jazz Ensemble. Brownies and coffee for dessert topped of a great dinner provided by Taylor Rays.

The costumes were amazing and some of the military uniforms were actually donned by those who proudly wore them in the 40’s. The costume contest is always a fun spectacle as the variety and originality are quite vast. From Rosie the Riveter and Carmen Miranda to the ‘All American Family’ & a variety of armed forces uniforms - all who participated were dressed to reflect the era. The ‘All American Family’ won this year. Not everyone who dressed in the flavor of the era joined in the contest. So, the friends we went with decided that next year we should also join in the fun and dress for the occasion…..we have a year to figure out what or who we want to be and then search for just the right clothes! Photos to follow next year :-)

The Sun Lakes Big Band performed a wide selection of Big Band Music from the war years including Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller among others. It was fun to dance and equally as much fun to watch the dancers. Our group concluded we may want to look in to group dance lessons so that we felt more comfortable dancing to some of the swing music. That should to be fun!

There were 2 dance contests. One for those 15-40 and the second for those 41 and older. It is amazing how talented both groups were! Even with our dance lessons, I don’t think we could compete with these couples. We will be quite content to sit and watch the contests again next year.

It may take a while for some of those catchy tunes to leave my brain! “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”, "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time", “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree”….

Watch for the dates of this annual event next year!
Arizona is a great place to live and play!

See more photo on our flicker account http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyandclaudia-scott/

Scottsdale AZ Real Estate Sales Feb 2009

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:22:54 -0500

Scottsdale and Paradise Valley MLS real estate statistics for all property types sold in February 2009:

Total of 168 single family homes sold in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley

· Total of 156 single family homes in Scottsdale

· Total of 23 single family homes sold in South Scottsdale

· Total of 133 single family homes in North Scottsdale

· Total of 83 patio homes, townhomes and condos sold in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley

· Total of 77 patio homes, townhomes and condos sold in South Scottsdale

· Total of 34 patio homes, townhomes and condos sold in South Scottsdale

· Total of 43 patio homes, townhomes and condos sold in North Scottsdale

The Numbers by Zip code

Search the MLS for properties by zip code:

- South Scottsdale 85250
- South Scottsdale 85251
- South Scottsdale 85257
- North Scottsdale 85254
- North Scottsdale 85255
- North Scottsdale 85258
- North Scottsdale 85259
- North Scottsdale 85260
- Paradise Valley 85253

Play Ball - Spring Training in AZ

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:25:41 -0500

The Cactus League is now in full "swing" as the professional and want-to-be professional baseball players descend on the Valley of the Sun to practice for the 2009 MLB season. It is a fun time for all baseball lovers. The stadiums are smaller, the players are closer to the fans, autographs are easier to obtain and there is an excitement in the air.

We traveled to Peoria Stadium, spring training home of the Seattle Mariners, for a game against our beloved Arizona Diamondbacks. The weather was perfect, slightly overcast making it less bight and in the mid 70's. Unfortunately the Diamondback's were on the short end of the stick losing 11 to 7 but the atmosphere and entertainment made the trip across town worth it!

The Mariner fans were very excited with their newest player Ken Griffey Jr who walked a couple of times, had a hit and scored twice. Fortunately for the Diamondbacks, the professionals from last year came through with several hits and batted in 5 of the 7 runs. We were introduced to recent signee infielder, Ryan Roberts who had 2 hits and a walk. It is always fun to get a look at some of the minor league prospects. We were sitting toward left field and were impressed with Brandon Watson who made 2 spectacular catches.

All in all is was a fun day at the ball park and we are looking forward to the upcoming season!

The Cactus League Spring Treaining Facilities

Search for a home or condo in the Phoenix metro area

Scottsdale real estate sales by zip code Feb 2009

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:24:01 -0500

Now is an excellent time to enter the Scottsdale Real Estate market. The local market continues to be sluggish but is slowly showing signs of life. According to the MLS statistics, there was a total of 5,935 properties listed for sale in Scottsdale as of March 1, 2009 with a total of 410 properties in escrow from Feb 1—March 1st and 258 (4%) closed sales during the month of February.

The MLS sales for Scottsdale zip codes for February 2009 are:

Search for properties in these zip codes by selecting the MLS hyperlink below:

**************************************

AZ-real-estate-sales.com

Phoenix metro area real estate snapshot Feb 27, 2009

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:52:35 -0600

The greater Phoenix metro area encompasses several cities that are right next door to each other and extend over 80 miles from east to west and 40 miles from north to south . The area is in Maricopa County which is the fourth largest county in terms of population size and the 14th largest in the continental United States, covering over 9,220 square miles. The metro area has grown rapidly over the past several years offering a wide variety of affordable housing and desirable climate.

In this ever changing market, where are we today? The current real estate market inventory is 50,052 properties listed for sale, 11,308 properties in the escrow process and 4,376 have sold (closed escrow) thus far in February 2009. The number of sales continues to increase and the inventory is being reduced. At this time last year there was 56,000+ properties listed for sale.

There are some excellent ‘deals’ to be had in this market. Houses have become affordable again. FHA loans with only 3.5% down payment are a great way to get in to a home. New home buyers also now have access for up to $8,000 tax credit. Combined with the historically low interest rates, now is a good time to test the market to see if you qualify for your dream of home ownership.

Below is a snapshot of the Scottsdale, Phoenix, North Phoenix and the Southeast Valley Housing market —
February 27, 2009
Select a hyperlink below to search the local MLS for properties in the city selected.

City	# Listings	Average asking Price
Carefree	210	$1,164,494
Cave Creek	549	$789,515
Chandler	2,108	$320,211
Desert Hills	85	$488,411
Fountain Hills	843	$739,462
Gilbert	2,159	$312,408
Mesa	4,307	$240,880
Paradise Valley	612	$2,930,440
Phoenix	12,399	$251,956
Queen Creek	1,756	$202,188
Scottsdale	6,105	$928,653
Sun Lakes	312	$287,051
Tempe	982	$325,689

Tax Incentives to stimulate Energy Savings and Green Jobs

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:20:19 -0600

The new $789 billion stimulus plan has added provisions designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes and tax Incentives to encourage energy savings and create green jobs.

Some of the benefits include:

Providing $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. Some estimate that this could help save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.
Extending and expand tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation.
Provide more than $30 billion for energy initiatives
Expanding tax credit for plug in hybrids
Funding for Energy Star program offering tax credits to consumers purchasing new, efficient appliances.
Provide $20 Billion over 10 years Tax Incentives to for energy Savings and Green Jobs by promoting energy-efficient investments.
- permitting businesses that place new renewable energy facilities in service during 2009 and 2010 to claim either a 30 percent investment tax credit.
- increasing clean renewable energy bonds for State and local governments.
- Allotting $500 million for research, labor exchange and job training projects to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

The complete list of what is included in the 2009 stimulus plan can be found at Economic Stimulus Package in Detail

The Future is now - Help for First-Time Homeowners

Gary and Claudia Scott - Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate (John Hall & Associates) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:17:12 -0600

The just signed and sealed…a $787 Billion Stimulus Plan made up of tax cuts and spending programs aims at reviving the US economy! A first-time home buyer is one who has never owned a home or a person who has not owned a home in the three years prior to the qualifying purchase.

The new advantage for first-time home buyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 it that they may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit! A tax credit is very different than a tax deduction – a tax credit is equivalent to money in your pocket, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income. There are, however, some limitations: the tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years. The credit can be applied to purchases made from 1/01/09-12/01/09.

The stage is set. This tax credit incentive along with the large inventory of homes currently at 2004 bargain prices combined the historically low interest rates (The30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.04 percent this week, a drop from last week's 5.16 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year rate averaged 6.04 percent,) makes this a perfect time for first-time home buyers to get in to the real estate market and become home owners!

View the Scottsdale – Phoenix MLS for condos and townhomes

View the Scottsdale – Phoenix MLS for single family homes

The Scotts Sell Arizona

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