When you're looking for an activity for the whole family, you will find that you can visit famous lighthouses from near and far in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.  And, it won't take you long to discover that there are more lighthouses in Lake Havasu than any other city in America.  Visiting all these fully functional light houses will keep you busy for days. 

There are more than 15 lighthouses that sit along the shores of the lake that were built to the specifications of the most famous lighthouses along the East and West Coasts.  The city is even planning for several more.

Some lighthouses in Lake Havasu City you may enjoy visiting:

Lake Havasu Marina Lighthouse - This lighthouse is located at the Lake Havasu Marina entrance.  It was actually the forerunner to the Lighthouse Club formation and the inspiration that set the Lighthouse Club Plan into action.  This lighthouse is also a valuable aid to the lake's navigation.

West Quoddy Light - You will find this lighthouse on the Island at the west end of the Bridgewater Channel.  This is a replica of the West Quoddy light that is located in Lubec, Maine, the furthest lighthouse in the Northeast.

Cape Hatteras Light - Located in Windsor State Park, this lighthouse replicates the Cape Hatteras Light in Buxton, North Carolina, which currently is the tallest brick lighthouse in the U.S. standing at 193' tall.  However, the Lake Havasu City replica stands at 30' tall.

Robert Manning Light - This lighthouse is located on the Island at the entrance to Crazyhorse Campground Marina.  It is a replica of the Robert Manning light that is located in Empire, Michigan. 

Buffalo Main Light - You will find this lighthouse at the south entrance of the Bridgewater Chanel.  It is a replica of an architecturally stunning tower at the entrance of the Erie Canal that was built in 1833.  The original stood at over 66' before it was replaced with another breakwater light.

Split Rock Lighthouse - Located on the Northwest corner of the Site Six Channel, this lighthouse is a replica of the Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior.  

There are many more lighthouses to visit, but this is just a taste of what you can expect.  You can visit famous lighthouses across the country all in Lake Havasu City.

You're looking to purchase a new Lake Havasu City home.  You hire a fantastic Realtor® who really listens to what you are looking for and finds you a great home.  In fact, they are so good that they have actually found you two that you fall head over heels for.  So, how do you choose which home will be the right home for you?  Consider the following:

Weigh the pros and cons of each home carefully.  Things to consider for each choice include the price, location, school system, possible repairs needed, square footage of home, how each floor plan fits in with your current family and possible future plans, the neighborhood, how noisy the streets and neighbors are, what the comparables in the neighborhood are and good old-fashioned gut intuition.  It's good to visit a home on different days of the week and at different times of the day to get a good sense of how much activity and noise goes on throughout the week.  Talk to the neighbors to get their take on the neighborhood.  They can provide some valuable information.

Think about the future.  It is possible that you will be in this home for several years to come.  So, you will want to think about future scenarios that may come up to help determine which Lake Havasu home would work for you.  Do you have kids or are you planning to have them soon?  You may want to investigate the school system and see which one better fits your needs.  You may also want to consider which home is closer to schools in your area.  Do you have elderly parents that may be moving in with you in the next couple of years?  Make sure to take the floor plan into consideration.  A one-story home is easier than a two-story for elderly people to get around in.  But, if a two-story home has a bedroom on the main floor, this can work as well.

What makes the best financial sense?  Talk to your Lake Havasu City Realtor® about getting comps of the neighborhood: home values, etc.  They will have the most up-to-date information available.  Ask them if this house is in an up-and-coming neighborhood or if it is on the downward spiral.  Find out if either home is overpriced for its respective neighborhood.  Will either home need any major/minor repairs or updates?  If they do, how many and how much money will it cost?

Separate your "needs" from your "wants".  Prioritize what you really truly need in a home to help determine which house fits those needs.  You may want a pool, but if the roof of the house needs replaced, you may want to reconsider that at this time.

Use your team.  Feel free to talk to your Realtor®, friends, family, lender, etc. when deciding on which house to go with.  While you are the one making the final decision, it can be helpful to hear another perspective.

When it comes down to it, you are the only person who can choose the right home for you.  By considering all the factors above, you should be able to more clearly define which Lake Havasu home purchase is best for you.  Just let me know how I can help!

With the temps heating our summer on up in Lake Havasu, many people are getting into the spirit of warm weather.  Therefore, I've got some simple décor switches that will help lighten your Lake Havasu City summer right up. 

Replacing dark accessories with bright, light accessories is a quick and simple way to lighten anyone's mood.  You can switch out your heavy winter drapes or curtains for sheers.  If you're a hunter with "nature" wall hangings, you can replace them with something botanically themed.  These are cost effective and effortless ways to welcome the beautiful summer sunlight and nature into your home.

When updating your décor, you will want to spend your redecorating dollars on things that will give you the highest impact for the lowest investment.  That saying, wall décor can be changed up easily by taking down a dreary picture and replacing it with something bright and colorful.  It will help give the room a different look and feel.  Nature inspired wall accents are a great way to start. 

Find your style in colorful or light hued fabrics to help bring in the summer sun through your windows.  Look for lightweight fabrics that won't block the beautiful sun rays.  Blinds can be very effective for keeping the sun at bay on extremely hot days. 

Fireplaces can be used in the summer for added décor.  Clean it out of all ash and debris and then add your favorite green plant.  You can also give your fireplace a light-hearted feeling by adding an electric powered fountain. 

Your outdoor living space can be one of the best summer treats if it's not too hot to enjoy.  While Lake Havasu City experiences very hot days, the evening is a great time to spend outside with family and friends or just relaxing.  Comfortable outdoor accessories will help make it more enjoyable.

Simple switches to your décor can make a huge difference with your daily mood.  And keeping your décor fresh can also be very helpful when selling your home.

As things change, we must learn to adapt.  Now that the tax credits have ended and probably will not be renewed, it is a good time to learn to adapt to the new real estate industry.  

The up-front mortgage insurance premium of FHA loans went from 1.75% to 2.25%.  FHA announced that it was reducing the seller allowance from 6% to 3% earlier this year, but they have not announced a date that it will go into effect.  However, fellow agents, this is a window of opportunity for you to start talking to buyers and sellers while they still exist. 

If a seller does not want to give the maximum, they can still offer more than the proposed 3%.  Some sellers may even agree to 4% or more.  These allowances can be promoted on the Internet, at open houses, in MLS, on property flyers, and anywhere else to attract the attention of buyers. 

Even if a seller has not committed to pay the financing allowances, the buyer can still negotiate with them in their purchase offer.  The allowances can be used to pay for buyers' closing costs, buy down the interest rate, pre-paid items, or a combination of the three. 

In extreme cases, when the seller is willing to pay 6% financing allowances, a buyer can apply it to a 3/2/1 buy down, where the payments in the first year are 3% less than the note rate, 2% less the second year, and 1% less the third year; leaving around 2% to be applied to the buyers' closing costs. 

This is an FHA standard program.  Conventional and VA loans also allow financing allowances, but the maximum amounts are limited to 4% and 3%, respectively.  Every mortgage company is able to provide these types of loans.  However, some choose not to.  Now, real estate professionals can use this information to help them understand this opportunity.

This Monday, May 31, 2010 is Memorial Day.  There are a few Memorial Day events going on in Lake Havasu over the weekend that you may find interesting.

May 28, 2010: Fourth Friday Backstage Cabaret - London Bridge Resort Convention Center (1477 Queen's Bay, Lake Havasu City), 8pm.  The City Center Entertainment group will be performing "Boot Scootin' Boogie".  Tickets are only $20 per person.  For more information, please call 800-595-4TIX or visit the City Center Entertainment website.

May 29, 2010: Lake Havasu Vehicle Swap Meet - London Bridge Plaza Parking Lot (London Bridge Rd & Paseo del Sol, Lake Havasu City), 8am-4pm.  Held at the site of the normal Sunday Swap Meet, this will be the final Lake Havasu Vehicle Swap Meet until the fall.  There will be cars, trucks, trailers, ATVs, boats, parts & accessories, motorhomes and more.  No car dealers are allowed to sell there vehicles here.  Admission is free for all onlookers.  Sellers need only pay $15 per 10'x18' space.  Sellers check in at 6am.  First come, first served.  For more info, please call Al de la Pena at 928-854-2733 or email him at rivbiz@npgcable.com.

May 30, 2010: Soldier Statue Dedication - Wheeler Park (McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City), opens at 4pm, event starts at 5:30pm.  As part of the Soldier Statue Dedication program, there will be a Memorial Day celebration, dedication of plaques, dedication of soldier statue, patriotic displays, speakers, presentation and entertainment.  Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.  There will be a small amount of chairs available.  So, it is recommended that you bring your own with you.  For more info, please contact Larry Robinson at 928-814-6551.

So, if you are looking for something to do over the Memorial Day weekend in Lake Havasu, those are a few suggestions for you.  Finally, on Monday, May 31, 2010, all Americans are encouraged to stop whatever they are doing at 3pm local time to pause for a moment of silence in memory of those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of our country.  God bless them.

Vicki Lind, your Lake Havasu City real estate specialist

Pending home sales have increased again in March, confirming that an upswing of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season.  The Pending Home Sales Index forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March rose 5.3% to 102.9%, which is 21.1% above March 2009, when it was 85.0%.  This also follows an 8.3% increase in February.  However, the data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually have a delay of one to two months. 

Many believe that favorable and affordable conditions have been working with the tax credit, which has helped stabilize the market.  Although now, many experts believe that there will be measurably lower sales in the second half of the year and into 2011.  But they also expect home sales to become self-sustaining if the economy can add jobs at a respectable pace and see home values stabilize. 

Another strong encouragement is the improvement in the availability for second home and jumbo mortgages as bank balance sheets strengthen.  It's now a matter of time before lending of non-government-backed mortgages open up once again. 

For more information about the Pending Home Sales Index, you can visit www.realtor.org.  Let us all hope this encouraging news continues on its current path and the real estate industry will be make a strong come back.

When buying a home for the first time, many first-time buyers don't know just how important a professional home inspection can be.  It can actually be a vital tool in negotiating your offer price.  In many cases, resale homes have at least one defect of some type averaging $500 in repair costs.  A home inspection by a qualified home inspector is a perfect tool to help encourage home sellers to make these costly repairs.  Or you can make the needed adjustments in your offering price as a direct result from the inspection report.

Here are some tips that will help you make an educated decision when purchasing a home and get the best price possible:

* Research the Inspector - Don't hire just anyone out of the phone book.  Do your research and hire a home inspector with an excellent reputation and good credentials.  Be sure to ask how long they've been in business, about specific training and ongoing education and verify that they have liability insurance, which is also known as Errors & Omissions.  If they can't provide this information, then move on to the next.

* Ask to See a Sample Report - The credentials of the company and the quality of work is important.  A properly prepared report will include pictures and concise details that address all the various systems and accessible elements of the home.

* Inspect Any Additional Systems - Buying a home for the first time can be very overwhelming and many times you don't know what you're going to need.  Therefore, ask the inspector what additional services the company offers.  Some homes may have a septic system that needs to be inspected.  Many inspection companies will offer multiple services at a multiple discount.

* Be There for the Inspection - Ask the inspector if you can come along.  Most companies encourage this.  If the inspector discourages you from being there, you should look for another inspector.  A home inspection will not only show you what is wrong with the home, but it will also give you the opportunity to find out how various systems operate in the home.  

Following these few simple steps will help you get the most from your home inspection. Good luck.

These are the final days for buyers to take advantage of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.  If you are a first time homebuyer (someone who has not owned a Lake Havasu City home in the last three years), you have until April 30, 2010 to have a home in a binding contract contract in order to take advantage of up to $8000 in tax credit available or the $6500 tax credit available for current homeowners.  There are no signs that this already-extended tax credit will be extended again.

In order to qualify for the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, you must:

1. Have not owned a home in the last three years.
2. Are married with a combined income of less than $225,000 or single/married filing head of household with an income of less than $125,000.
3. Are purchasing a home to be used as a primary residence (no commercial properties, vacation homes or vacant land).
4. The sale price of the Lake Havasu City home must be no more than $800,000.

To qualify for the $6500 Tax Credit, you must meet all the above criteria except that you can have owned a home in the last three years.  If you make more money than the maximum accepted, you may be eligible for a partial tax credit.  Provided you don't sell the Lake Havasu home you purchase within three years, you will never have to pay the tax credit back.

Don't miss the final days for the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.  With the low prices, low interest rates and great inventory on hand, now is still the time to purchase your Lake Havasu dream home.

Vicki Lind, your Lake Havasu real estate specialist

Buying a fixer-upper without financing can be a scary thing in today's real estate market where short sales and foreclosures are plentiful.  But there is a program to help you with your fixer-upper financing. 

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan program has been around since 1978, but not many borrowers took advantage of the FHA's 203k program in 2009.  As a matter of fact, not many lending or real estate professionals are aware of the program. 

Through the FHA's 203k renovation financing loan program, borrowers can fold in $100,000 worth of repairs and improvements into $300,000 and $400,000 mortgages.  Using the renovation financing through the 203k program allows you to access the costs of needed repairs and improvements and have them included into the FHA federally-insured mortgage instead of having to come up with the cash separately.

This is the perfect loan for anyone who is buying an older fixer-upper or a foreclosure that needs work.  The renovation financing program allows you to purchase the home, finance the repairs or improvements and do it in a responsible way.

Although the 203k financing is not for everyone, when purchasing your Lake Havasu City real estate, check with your real estate agent, mortgage company, or bank for more details about the 203k program.  You may be able to put it to good use when it comes to buying your next home.

While some people are playing the trade-up game, others have decided to stay put and do some upgrading to their home instead.  And, in Lake Havasu City real estate, there are some popular kitchen and bathroom upgrades I'd like to share with those who are staying in their current home.

Popular Kitchen Upgrades:

* A recycling center - A place designated for cans, papers, glass, etc.  This can be in the form of a nook or even a cabinet.

* Renewable floors - For those who are environmentally conscious, there are renewable resources for flooring such as flooring made from bamboo and coconut palm trees.  Both of these are excellent green flooring options.

* Larger pantry space - As many homeowners are seeing the benefit of buying in bulk, we are requiring larger pantry space. 

* Renewable countertops - There is now a wide selection of eco-friendly countertops.  Some that you can find on the market include Paper Stone, Salvaged Hardwoods, Bamboo, Kirei Board, Recycled Tiles and more.

* Home office - You don't need a large area to have a home office.  All you need to do is dedicate an area big enough to set up a computer or laptop and a few office supplies.

Popular Bathroom Upgrades:

* Radiant heated floors - There are a number of advantages to heated floors.  It's more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating.

* Water-saving toilets - Water-saving toilets are quiet, save on sewer and water costs and never plug up.

* Doorless showers - As our worlds are more hectic, we more often choose to take quick showers.  Therefore, door-less showers are becoming popular for their design, their functionality, their sophistication and their elegance.

* LED lighting - Homeowners around the world are beginning to see that, with a relatively small investment, selecting the most energy-efficient lighting systems will enhance the beauty and comfort of any space.