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buying a home: 2011 Market Report - 12/28/11 11:15 AM
As the end of 2011 approaches, I decided to do my year end blog a couple of days early.
The following table shows the year to date sales of real estate by agents during 2010, followed by 2011 figures.
I can't say it was an exciting year, but we did sell afew mor homes, 105 to be exact. Some things also remain relatively constant, the percentage of list to sales price for example.
As it was last year, the biggest factor this year for both selling price and days on the market is single family homes are much … (1 comments)
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buying a home: JUST LISTED! 18026 N. DESERT GLEN SUN CITY WEST - 09/27/11 11:42 AM
OPEN 9/27/2011 9:30 TO 12NOON
OPEN 10/1/2011 10:00 TO 2:00PM.
It is a great condo, central to all of the Sun City West amenities. Perfect for year-round or seasonal visitor, or for an investor looking for a rentable condo. Offered furnished for only $79,900.
Owners state that they have rented this home as a seasonal rental for up to $2000 per month during the popular winter months.
… (2 comments)
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buying a home: Is This a FRAUD? - 01/18/11 11:17 AM
It may or may not be fraud, but it is a total scam. Many people who bought homes last year are receiving letters that imply you should buy a copy of your property deed.
The problem is this company is charging $157 to get a copy of the deed to send you. Why is this a problem? You got one shortly after escrow closed. If you didn't the escrow/title company will gladly get one for you, or you can go to the Maricopa County Recorders Office and order an official copy for a nominal fee usually about $1.00 per page.
When … (4 comments)
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buying a home: 2010 Yearly Sales Summary, Sun City AZ Real Estate - 01/05/11 11:24 AM
This is it, the end of 2010 and the bigging of 2011.
The following table shows the year to date sales of real estate by agents during 2010.
To paraphrase Charles Dickens, It was NOT the best of times, it was NOT the worst of times.
The biggest factor this year for both selling price and days on the market is single family homes are much more desireable to today's buyer. In past years condos and houses sold at roughly equal numbers, and just a few dollars difference in price per square foot. Days on the market also verify this preference
… (0 comments)
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buying a home: Happy New Year from Sun City AZ - 01/01/11 03:01 PM
I thought I would post a few photos taken today, New Years Day 2011.
That is a picture from the clubhouse on Willowcreek Golf Course, yes that is snow on the peaks in the background.
As you can see, we suffer greatly here in the winter!
This is the view north on 99th AVE. near Beardsley Rd. in Sunny Sun City AZ. Makes you want to buy your vacation or retirement home here, doesn't it? And yes, Canadians are welcome here!
I wish all who read this a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
… (4 comments)
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buying a home: Found in the Wilds of Sun City AZ! - 10/02/10 10:50 AM
That's right folks, the first Minnesota License Plate of the season.
Why would I care? It is one of the first signs that summer is over and the fall season will soon arrive. Often this plate is the first sign that our winter residents will be here again. Why wouldn't they? We have over 300 days a year of sunshine, an abundance of things to do and see in this beautiful state.
The population of Sun City AZ comes from all over, but a large percentage comes from Minnesota. Come here for your retirement home and be among many neighbors … (2 comments)
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buying a home: A Letter to a Buyer - 10/01/10 11:19 AM
This is an exerpt from an actual letter sent to a cash buyer prospect today. This buyer, like many, has concerns about the housing market.
First, how is the market? Hard to say, yet seems like a little more buyer activity. Prices are low but seem to be stabilizing.
What to do? As far as the future goes, I can only quote one economist and the most successful investor the U.S. has ever known. The economist, John Kenneth Galbraith said, " economic forecasting exists to give astrology a good name" In other words, who knows. The investor is Warren Buffet. When … (0 comments)
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buying a home: How Much Home Will $600 a Month Buy In Sun City AZ? - 09/28/10 05:54 PM
Yesterday I posted that the Greater Phoenix Az area was rated number 1 in the nation for affordable retirement housing. You can read that post here.
I decided to do a little research and find out how many homes were on the market that could be bought for a house payment of $600 per month or less. I used the same criteria U.S. News & World Report did, which is the standard 20% down 80% loan. In other words, a conventional home loan.
There are 840 homes in Sun City AZ that are for sale. Of these there are 538 offered … (2 comments)
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buying a home: Number 1! Phoenix Area is Number 1 Place to Buy a Retirement Home!!! - 09/27/10 01:16 PM
U.S. News & World Report said in an article on September 24, 2010 that the Phoenix area was the number 1 place to buy a retirement home. You can read the article here.
The writer was investigating locations in the United States where you can buy a home for less than $600 a month. The writer also takes into consideration such amenities as golf courses, (over 200 in the metro, 9 in Sun City alone.), sports, hiking, and cultural events. The Valley of the Sun ranks high in all of these.
If you wish to consider retiring, the Phoenix area is … (1 comments)
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buying a home: Canadians Welcome in Arizona! - 09/24/10 12:55 PM
Canadians have long been a factor in the Arizona economy, with many coming to visit during their long cold winters. We also see some buying homes either as second homes or investment opportunities.
I was talking to a Canadian from Vancouver B.C. the other day. We were talking about homes for sale in Sun City AZ. His comments "homes are 1/10th the price in Vancouver".
The Canadian dollar is near parity now, making Arizona real estate very attractive to Canadian buyers again.
Today's (9/24/2010) Arizona Republic had an article about this phenomenon, you can read it Here.
Canadians have even … (2 comments)
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buying a home: Why Buy A Home Now? The Wall Street Journal Says So! - 09/21/10 12:32 PM
The news yesterday announced that the recession is over! Believe it or not, there are some compelling reasons to buy a new home now.
In an article on September 16, 2010 the Wall Street Journal gave ten good reasons to buy a home now. You can read the original here.
In spite of all of the publicity about the greater Phoenix market being foreclosure driven, the Sun City Neighborhood has very few foreclosures. You won't have to worry the homes you will look at are stripped or occupied by squatters. It also means that your purchase will probably not be impacted … (2 comments)
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buying a home: I Answer My Phone, Part Deux! RANT!@ - 09/19/10 12:25 PM
On September 14th, I wrote a post about answering the phone as a Real Estate Agent in Sun City. You can read it here.
Today, September 19th, two more posts on the same subject were featured. You can read them here, and here.
Obviously, the sage continues and will be an issue for a good long time. I can almost understand the agents who are foreclosure specialists. They often have large listing inventories and are required to check the condition, organize and pay for the needed repairs and maintenance, and manage a huge flow of paper. I do wish these agents … (5 comments)
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buying a home: Where is the Market going? Why are the headlines so bad. - 09/14/10 02:44 PM
For the many who get their news from the newspaper and tv, headlines often look scary. Doom, Gloom and the sky is falling.
I know the times are tough, but it isn't the Great Depression yet, and probably won't become one either. Keep in mind that the mass media sells disaster easier than good news. They always have and always will.
Here is a link to the Keeping Current Matters blog discussing the reason the NAR Pending Sales figures will decrease. See it here. It isn't a bad analysis of the situation we face today.
My own experience is I have … (0 comments)
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buying a home: I Answer My Phone! - 09/14/10 01:31 PM
Why is it important for me to tell you about this?
I got a phone call yesterday from a prospective buyer. We talked about his needs, I set him up to search the MLS on ListingBook, answered his questions about homes in Sun City AZ. He then said " I called 6 agents over the weekend, none answered and none have returned my call". REALLY?
If you are looking for an agent to help you buy or sell a home in Arizona's Sun Cities, call me, I'll answer!
I have survived in this business since 1998, I'm still here, … (5 comments)
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buying a home: My Short Sale Tale - 03/30/10 10:31 AM
Unlike most of my short sale experiences this is a good one. It was on a 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath property with a pool in Surprise AZ.The keys to this success were as follows:
The buyer client was mellow. The property was unique, (why would I show an ss when I could work 5 others just like it?) The property was in EXCELLENT condition. The listing said "Lender approved SS and price" The listing agent DID HER JOB!!!! Sellers were cooperative to the best of their ability. I cannot stress how important the pre-approved price was, as well as the cooperation … (3 comments)
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buying a home: Today's Good News - 01/29/10 07:49 PM
Just a couple of nice items in today's news.
Fourth quarter GDP up 5.7%, highest improvement in six years. Let us hope it continues.
Meritage and Lennar have both announced grand openings on NEW developments in the Phoenix area for tomorrow. 1/30/2010. This is HUGE to me. New home building means JOBS.
In my Sun City Neighborhood, I have personally had several of the best open houses since 2000. I have said for a couple of years that there was a pent-up demand building, and it seems that it may be starting to buy.
I look forward to doing my market … (0 comments)
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buying a home: What I Do For A Living - 01/27/10 02:14 PM
I just posted a list of 180 items that a real estate agent does for clients. By no means is this an exclusive list, but it will give buyers and sellers of homes an idea just how complex real estate is.
If you are considering buying or selling a home in today's market, give this a read. If you are considering buying or selling a home in the Sun City Neighborhood of Arizona, Give me a call.
View it here.
… (2 comments)
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buying a home: Introducing a New Service for Buyers and Sellers - 01/25/10 11:50 AM
Search the MLS almost like an agent!
Do you, like many people, want to do your own home search? I am introducing a new website, Suncityhomes.listingbook.com.
I will allow access, respect your privacy (no email spam from me), remove you from any and all mailings immediately upon your request with no argument or hassles. How much better can that be?
Home Buyers, you get to control all of your initial property search. Who would know better than your what suits you?
Home Sellers, you can get immediate information on properties that are in competition with yours. Make an informed decision with … (1 comments)
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buying a home: Liquid Sunshine and Oregon Buyer - 01/21/10 05:51 PM
We had 2 days of liquid sunshine (rain) and looking for 2 more before the winter storm track changes. Obviously a rare occurrence in Sun City AZ, since we have 320 days of sun each year.
Rain days in Sun City are almost local holidays.
I told the buyers who were having a home inspection today that we arranged the rain to make them feel at home. We do aim to please here.
I always encourage buyers to have a home inspection, and a rainy day is good. We know the roof works!
… (1 comments)
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buying a home: Good Reasons to Buy a Home Today! - 01/13/10 12:21 PM
This post listing 5 Great Reasons to Buy a Home Today was just posted by Steve Harney. Steve is a great real estate trainer/analyst, and tells us why he is so happy that his son just bought a home. There is good information for all in this post.
Read it Here.
… (1 comments)
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Jim Little, Your Sun City Arizona Realtor
Sun City,
AZ
More about me…
Ken Meade Realty
Address: 17001 N. Del Webb Blvd, Enter your address line 2 here, Sun City, AZ, 85373
Office Phone: (623) 977-1776
Cell Phone: (623) 521-6768
Email Me
My comments and opinions for the northwest Maricopa county and the Adult communities there. Specializing in Del Webb's Sun City, Sun City West, and Sun City Grand, and the neighboring communities of Surprise, El Mirage, Peoria and Glendale Arizona
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