Chandler Arizona Real Estate Blog

Schnepf Farms Adopt a Peach Tree ~ A Peachy Keen Gift Idea

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:36:15 -0600

This weekend, my husband, grandsons and I stopped out at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek to visit our peach tree. Well, I guess it's not really OUR peach tree but rather the one we adopted for 2010.

It was a fun trip as the trees in the orchard had just been pruned and there was a real fall feel in the air. Not only that, we got to meet Farmer Schnepf himself who snapped this photo of us by our tree.

The boys are anxiously awaiting the Peach Festival in May next year and I'll also be inviting my clients for a day of peach picking at the orchard.

All the peach trees are organic. No pesticides, fertilizer of ANY kind have been used on trees or in the orchard for over 45 years! This year's trees are the Earligrande which are considered to have the BEST peach flavor, color and size.

So, if you're looking for a gift for the person in the Phoenix Metro area who has everything. My guess is they don't have their own peach tree. With your Peach Tree Adoption you'll receive:

an assigned tree with your name on it
a map of the orchard showing where your tree is located
notification of when your tree is being pruned so you can either participate or simply enjoy watching
10 free admissions into the Peach Festival, held one weekend in May.
notification when your tree is in bloom...which is left up to Mother Nature.
notification when your tree is almost ripe and suggestions of times to come out to your tree. You will have approximately 10 days to harvest your fruit. Schnepf Farms provides the boxes.
in a good year you can pick 200-300 pounds per tree. A typical year is 150-200 pounds per tree.

If you're interesting in adopting a tree for yourself or as a gift for someone else, don't wait too long. The deadline for adoptions is 2/28/2010. Visit www.schnepffarms.com Schnepf Farms is a nice country drive about 25 minutes straight east of Sun Lakes. View Larger Map

Amy Jones, Realtor, ABR, CNE, EPro, CDPE
Top Producing Realtor in Chandler, Sun Lakes, and the surrounding Phoenix East Valley.
Named one of the "Top 50 Real Estate Agents" by the Phoenix Business Journal

RE/Max Excalibur
4921 S. Alma School Rd
Chandler, Arizona

Visit www.AmySellsAZ.com for more information including free MLS search.
Visit www.PhoenixArizonaRealEstateBlog.com for a comprehensive Phoenix Area Blog.
Visit www.SunLakesBlog.com about living in Sun Lakes, AZ.
Visit www.hosted.cdpe.com/AmyJonesGroup if you're an AZ homeowner facing foreclosure.

December Top Ten Luxury & Condo Deals in the Greater Phoenix Area

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:29:29 -0600

My December Top Ten Luxury and Condo Real Estate Deals list is out! Click on the photo to see this month's top deals in the Phoenix Metro area include a 7800 sf Castle complete with a 700sf dungeon. Would you call that ‘perfect for an in-law”? Or how about a custom home situated on over 5 acres with “forever” views that sold in 2005 for $1,665,000 and is now listed at a bank approved short sale price of $784,900.

It’s a great time to be a buyer in the greater Phoenix area!

Disclosure Lawsuits on the Rise ~ Could Sellers be Forced to Buy Their House Back?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:18:37 -0600

Yes Mr. Seller, what your buyer doesn't know CAN hurt you.

More buyers than ever are alleging that a seller of a home failed to disclose a material defect in the home they purchased and these buyers are not asking for monetary damages. These buyers are asking the court for "rescission", to undo the contract by requiring the seller to buy the property back and compensate the buyer for any expenses to include repairs to the property and even interest payments on a loan.

According to an article by Andrew D. Lynch, Esq. on page 14 in this month's Arizona Journal of Real Estate & Business, "with declining market values and the resulting difficulty in proving damages, some buyers are using rescission and disclosure disputes as a way to undo a "bad deal" with the benefit of hindsight."

It's important to remember that sellers have a duty (in Arizona it's a law) to disclose material information about a home including any defects, pest infestations or past repairs. I actually bought a home once that was infested with scorpions which the seller had not disclosed to me (another blog for another day).

It's more important than ever to err on the side of OVER disclosing (is there such a thing?) when you're selling your home.

Homes for sale in Ocotillo in Chandler, AZ

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:25:42 -0600

Ocotillo is one of Chandler's most desirable neighborhoods due to it's location and resort feel. The Ocotillo community features the World-Class Ocotillo Golf Club in addition to miles of lakes, mature trees, lots of green grass, aw well as as several shopping centers and restaurant offerings. Ocotillo is located just 3 miles South of the 101/202 junction which makes for easy commuting.

Of course, commuting isn't an issue if you're employed by some of the Valley's largest employers, including Intel and Orbital, which are located within a mile of Ocotillo.

There are currently 96 single family homes for sale in Ocotillo ranging in price from $179,700 for a 1657sf single story home that's listed as a short sale in Ocotillo's Silverlake Community.

The highest priced home for sale in Ocotillo today is a spectacular 9688sf estate built in 2002 on a golf course lot and featuring 5 bedrooms, 7 baths, guest house and negative edge pool. The home is a work of art and really can't be described with mere words. (I'd be happy to send you a copy of the listing!) Did I forget to mention the price? A mere $2,900,000 and completely furnished with a full price offer. Bring your toothbrush and live like royalty.

Of those 96 listings, 11 are offered as bank-owned properties and 17 are listed as short sales. My office is located in the Fulton Ranch Community in Ocotillo and I've listed and sold many homes in the Ocotillo community. I'm here to help if you'd like any further information about the area!

Sun Lakes Annual Golf Cart Christmas Parade & Show ~ December 4, 2009

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:35:36 -0600

It’s that time again! Time to get your golf cart all dressed up for Christmas and head on over to the newly remodeled Palo Verde Country Club at 5:00 on Friday, December 4, 2009.

Santa will present the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners of the most creative golf carts with a cash prize ($100, $75 & $50) so don’t wimp out on the decorations!

At 5:00 there will be that famous FREE hot turkey soup and a specialty bar will be set up with some great drink choices. Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will be passing out candy and toys to the children.

At 6:15 the golf carts will make their way to the Cottonwood Country Club where the Christmas Show ill be held in the far East parking lot. The show will start at 7:00 pm and will be highlighted by a performance from Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hatches an Egg presented by the Sun Lakes Community Theatre. Students from Hamilton High will be performing some Christmas favorites and there will be a performances by others including the Flashbacks Tap Company.

Cookies, Coffee, Hot Cocoa & Hot Cider will be served on the patio of the Cottonwood ProShop, so bring the kiddies, your camera and enjoy a Sun Lakes, AZ Holiday Tradition!

Do you want to list your home...or do you want to sell it?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:38:09 -0600

When you decide to sell your home, do you want an agent who is honest with you, or do you want an agent who will list your home for the highest price?

I recently met with a seller who was interviewing agents to sell his home. During the listing presentation, I provided him with sales data that showed what the home would likely appraise for, which was, of course, less than he thought it was worth.

I explained that the market simply would not support a higher price and due to my professional standards, I could not list the home for the price he wanted to list it for. I also explained that overpricing his home would simply cause him undue stress as it would result in a few showings and no offers. Further, we would waste valuable time in a declining market and he would end up selling the home for even less in a number of months than if we priced the home appropriately now.

I received a call from Mr. Seller telling me he had listed with another agent at a substantially higher price than I had recommended. He said he really liked everything I would have done to sell his home, but just couldn’t agree with my pricing. I wished him the best.

It’s been 4 months. Mr. Seller’s home is still on the market and has recently been reduced to $15,000 less than I had suggested he list it for. The listing is now considered stale and I’m really wishing Mr. Seller had listened to me. I’m pretty sure we would have had his home sold by now and for considerably more than he’s going to end up getting at this point.

Since that listing appointment, I’ve listed and sold several homes. These sellers wanted to sell their homes and understood the need to be priced right. They weren’t simply looking for an agent who would list their home for the highest price. Consequently I was able to sell their homes for full price or very close to it and all of them sold in a matter of no more than a few weeks.

So, what do you want to do? Do you want to list your home or do you want to sell it?

Real Estate Predictions ~ Does Anyone Really Know?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:53:40 -0600

I've decided. I want that mystical Real Estate Crystal Ball for Christmas this year.

I know it may come as a shock to you, but a real estate license doesn't come with a crystal ball. Nope, not a single fortune cookie either.

If I had a dollar, no...make that a nickel, for every "fortune telling" request I've had, I could have retired years ago. Questions like "when is the market going to rebound?" "When will my home be worth what it was in 2005/2006?" "Should I sell now?" "Should I buy now?" "Should I wait till next year?"

It makes me smile that there are so many so-called real estate experts in the world who are "predicting" the bottom of the market or the year the market will be back to "normal". The truth of the matter is NO ONE KNOWS! Really. NO ONE.

When the Chandler, AZ real estate market started it's crazy run back in early 2000, no one predicted it. It just happened. I was there and it was insane. I listed a house in Warner Ranch on Saturday and had a bidding war with over 30 offers by Sunday. The street in front of the house was lined with cars and had a circus-like atmosphere when I stopped by to check on things. Yep, in the blink of an eye, we were out of houses to sell. Supply and demand kicked in. Everybody wanted what no one could get and just like the famed Cabbage Patch Doll of the 80's, people were fighting with dollars over homes. We had no warning. It just WAS.

We can all look at the economic signs and compare those signs to what has happened historically and yes, there are some people who do that for a living, so they are probably more qualified than most, but really, folks, it's still just an educated guess. Will some of them get it right. Odds are, yes, some will. Now, don't go asking me which ones. I'm still waiting for that Crystal Ball.

Should I list my home during the holidays? I've got a secret for you.

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:26:11 -0600

"Should I list my home for sale during the holidays?" It's a question I often hear this time of the year and the answer is "it depends".

It depends on how much you'd like to be inconvenienced during the holidays. It depends on whether your ok with strangers coming through your home if you have gifts under a Christmas tree. Let's assume you're ok with all that. There's one big factor you have to remember when selling a home in Sun Lakes, AZ.

Sun Lakes, AZ as well as all the the other Active Adult Communities in the area are unique in the real estate market. The busiest home selling and buying season for these communities is in the fall, winter and early spring months due to the influx of visitors to the area. So, your home is going to have the highest visibility during these times.

But what about the holidays? The holidays are prime time for potential home buyers to visit the Phoenix area. Many of these visitors don't even know they'll be looking for a home until they get here and fall in love with our Winter weather. So here's the secret for you...no matter where you live in the Valley... most home sellers wait until after the holidays to list their homes for sale, so inventory tends to be lower during the holidays than it will be in January-March. That means there will be less competition for your home!

So the holidays can be one of the BEST times to sell your home ~ But keep that under your hat if you don't want to spoil your advantage!

Tagged as: best time to sell home, selling sun lakes home

Thankful in Chandler, Arizona

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:40:07 -0600

I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Ralph says it best:

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

God bless.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the East Valley's Best Kept Secret?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:20:19 -0600

Well, I guess it's not a secret anymore. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is soon to begin a $9.4 million expansion of the facilities as the airport becomes a favorite of the East Valley Travellers.

Allegiant Airline just announced it is adding 2 more destinations to the 18 it already services from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the East Valley. Pasco, Washington & Wichita, Kansas have been added to Allegiant's destinations starting Sunday. Cities serviced now include:

Bellingham, WA (BLI)
Billings, MT (BIL)
Bismarck, ND (BIS)
Cedar Rapids, IA (CID)
Eugene, OR (EUG)
Fargo, ND (FAR)
Grand Forks, ND (GFK)
Grand Island, NE (GRI)
Grand Rapids, MI (GRR)
Great Falls, MT (GTF)
Medford, OR (MFR)
Missoula, MT (MSO)
Pasco, WA (PSC)
Peoria, IL (PIA)
Rapid City, SD (RAP)
Redmond-Bend, OR (RDM)
Rockford, IL (RFD)
Sioux Falls, SD (FSD)
Springfield, MO (SGF)
Wichita, KS (ICT)

Many of my clients from the northern regions, including Canada already utilize the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport when coming in to their vacation homes or when flying in to select a full time residence. It's location in the East Valley is perfect for a quick commute with few traffic woes. So, if you're planning a trip to the East Valley, check it out!

Frying your turkey? How you can help the environment.

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:46:45 -0600

Frying up a turkey this Thanksgiving? If you live in or around Chandler, AZ, you can recycle that used turkey oil by donating it to AZ Biodiesel, a Gilbert-based alternative fuel manufacturer.

AZ Biodiesel is turning leftover grease from local hotels, restaurants and hospitals into fuel that costs 30 cents less than standard diesel fuel and boosts fuel efficiency by as much as 3 miles to the gallon.

Add to that the fact there there is no downside to biodiesel fuel production, the only byproduct is glycerin which can be used in dust abatement projects.

If you'd like to donate your used oil now through December 7, you can drop it off at one of the 7 Gilbert Firestations and at Big Earls Greasy Eats in Cave Creek.

You can donate your used oil year round at the Biodiesel manufacturing plant located near Cooper and Guadalupe Rds in Gilbert, so stop clogging your drain and make your used cooking oil work for the environment!

Homes for Sale in Sun Lakes, AZ ~ A Real Estate Update

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:07:39 -0600

It's time for a real estate update for Sun Lakes, AZ. Now that our winter visitors are returning and people all over the world are looking for a great Active Adult community to retire to, or simply live during the winter months. Sun Lakes is definitely that place!

So, how many homes are for sale in Sun Lakes? Here are some details~

There are currently 274 homes for sale in Sun Lakes, AZ.
Homes for sale range in price from the lowest priced home:

$69,900 for a lender-owned 1680 sf 2 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home located in Sun Lakes #1

to the highest price home:

$725,000 for a 3800sf 2 story home with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths and a guest house and a pool situated on a golf course lot in Oakwood Country Club.

There are currently:

Homes priced under $100,000 ~ 10
Homes priced $100,000-$199,999 ~ 75
Homes priced $200,000-$299,999 ~ 103
Homes priced $300,000-$399,000 ~ 60
Homes priced $400,000-$499,000 ~ 15
Homes priced $500,000-$599,000 ~ 10
Homes priced $600,000-$699,000 ~ 0
Homes priced $700,000-$799,000 ~ 1

The Sun Lakes community hasn't been hit too hard by the foreclosure market, however there are currently 13 homes listed as short sales and 10 homes listed as lender owned.

If you're a Sun Lakes homeowner facing foreclosure, I invite you to visit my foreclosure help website for helpful information or give me a call to discuss how I might be able to help you.

Homes are selling! There are currently 49 homes that are "Pending" and 32 homes have sold in the last month.

If you'd like to learn more about the Sun Lakes Lifestyle, give me a call at 480-250-3857. I'd love to tell you why I love living in Sun Lakes!

"Packages From Home" ~ A great way to show our military heroes we care

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:10:10 -0600

I recently posted a blog entitled "Giving Back ~ Do you and How". So many of you posted the ways you are giving back to society, both locally and abroad and my heart was so touched by the causes...some of which I'd never heard of.

One of those causes is an organization that was brought to my attention by Steve Bodwin is called Packages from Home. (www.packagesfromhome.org). I invite you ALL to visit this site to see how you can say "thank you" to our active duty military and our veterans. A great cause for the holidays and every day!

Their mission directly from their website :

"The mission of Packages From Home is to send care and comfort packages to deployed American military heroes who are stationed in active duty theaters around the world, as well as to facilitate activities that elevate morale of all veterans."

Annual Sun Lakes Rotary Pancake Breakfast ~ November 15, 2009! Here at last!

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:36:34 -0600

It's time for the Annual Sun Lakes Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast, this Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the Sun Lakes Country Club (25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd). Come one...Come all...and bring your appetite!

This is just one of the fundraisers that enables the Sun Lakes Rotary Club to continue their work in the community which includes STRIVE, Choices, and the Dictionary Project. The Rotary Club also supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley & Neighbors Who Care.

Silent Auction and Raffle will also be held during the breakfast.

Maybe the best pancakes in the Valley and they're served ALL YOU CAN EAT! The breakfast includeds regular pancakes, blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, OJ and coffee.

Breakfast begins at 7:30am and will be served until 12:30 pm giving both early and late risers an opportunity to feast!

Tickets are $5 and are available from any Sun Lakes Rotarian or you can contact me and I'll tell you where you can purchase tickets.

Veterans Day Observance 2009 in Sun Lakes, AZ

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:47:02 -0600

The Sun Lakes Veterans Day Observance will take plat at 11:00 am on Wednesday, 11/11/2009 in front of the flagpole at the Sun lakes Country Club, 25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd (Just South of Riggs Rd).

Keynote speaker will be Arizona Attorney General, Terry Goddard who served as four time Mayor of Phoenix and was a Commander in the Naval Reserves where he served 27 years.

Sun Lakes, AZ is home to six veterans' organizations. Participating in the Veterans Day Ceremonies this year are the American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine League, Korean War Veterans and this year's coordinator of the event, the Jewish War Veterans.

Lunch will be served following the event in the Navajo Room of the Country Club.

May each of us remember not only on Veterans Day, but every day, those Veterans who are no longer with us, those who are and those who are currently serving.

Giving Back. Do you and how?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:19:56 -0600

Whether you call it paying it forward or giving back, it's something that can change your life. So tell me do you? By sharing how you give back to your community or the world, you may just encourage others to do the same. Maybe instead of crying over what we don't have, we can reach out and give what we do have...our time. It doesn't take a lot of money, just a caring heart.

I just compiled my photos from the trip I took to Armenia as part of a Medical Mission team. A trip like this...whether it be around the world or around the corner to a place where people are in need...is life changing. It puts things in perspective and you will find the little things we gripe about really ARE little things in the grand scheme of it all.

So, if you have a chance today...tomorrow...or whenever, reach out. Share your time and compassion with someone who can use a smile, a hug or something as small as a warm blanket. The world will be helped and you will find your life to be better than it's ever been. I promise.

I hope my photos of my mission trip to Armenia touch your heart~

Is the IRS holding money for you?

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:14:24 -0600

Are you missing a tax refund by chance? Apparently, the IRS is holding tax refunds in excess of $123 MILLION Dollars. These are refund checks that were mailed out but returned to the IRS due to incorrect mailing addresses.

The IRS reports having 3,237 returned income tax refund checks from Arizona residents alone. The checks average 1178 each. You'd think if you had a refund coming, you'd miss it when it didn't show up. Here's a link to the checks returned in Arizona. Why not check to see if your name is there...might jog your memory about your missing refund check.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/11/09/20091109irsrefundlist-CR-CP.html

If you live outside Arizona, you can check with the IRS "Where's my refund" page. You'll need your Social Security number along with the exact amount of your refund check. I don't know...Seems to me if you know exactly how much your refund is, you probably know you haven't received it. But then again, I'm terminally logical.

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund ~ How you can help AND receive a tax credit

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:39:03 -0600

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund was established to assist Arizona military families with any financial crisis that may occur.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have produced combat veterans who are faced with severe injuries not comparable to previous conflicts. In many cases, long-term medical care is needed, requiring families to be by the side of their military hero. Cash-strapped families must pick up the tab for travel, lodging and household expenses while their family member undergoes rehabilitation.

In the worst scenario, when military families lose a loved one in the line of duty, they are frequently faced with devastating financial hardship. Unforeseen expenses add to the stress of tremendous loss. Families suddenly have to restructure their lives and manage day-to-day bills, all while laying their hero to rest.

Military families and the issues they face is something that's near and dear to my heart. Not only are these brave men and women fighting to keep our country safe, my dad was a 20-year retired US Navy WWII Veteran, so I know first hand the sacrifices these families make.

A donation to the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund will not only benefit our local military families, you can also claim the donation (up to $200 single filer/$400 joint filer) in a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.

If you'd like to donate, it's simple to do. Just download the contribution form. Fill out the form and mail it in with your check attached and you will be sent a receipt you can use to receive your state tax credit.

Don't wait too long if you want the tax credit. According to their website, the total donation tax credits cannot exceed 1 Million Dollars.

You have to pay your Arizona State Taxes anyway, so why not tell them where to use the money? Oh...and don't keep this a secret. Please share the news!

Note: I'm not a tax professional and you should consult your tax advisor for specific tax advice.

The voiceless victims of foreclosure.

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:19:30 -0600

It's a sad reality. When people lose their homes, they often have to relocate to a rental property where they can't take Fido, Fluffy or Tweety. This has resulted in an increase in the number of abandoned pets in the Valley.

A group of Valley Real Estate Agents have founded the not-for-profit www.lostourhome.com that helps find homes for animals left behind when homeowners leave their homes. Believe it or not, we often walk into homes where the owner has left a bag of opened dog food and a tub of water along with their dogs, who are probably wondering where everybody went. Lost Our Home has over 100 pets available for adoption.

Maricopa County Animal Care Center receives around 200 animals a day and is the Nation's second largest animal shelter. Visiting the site you'll find all types of animals available for adoption. Dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits, horses, llamas, goats and reptiles...there's probably not a single species that hasn't been affected by our current economy.

Let's not forget our friends without a voice. I invite you to to take part in a couple upcoming fundraisers for our furry friends ~

Arizona Humane Society
What: Pet-a-Palooza and Stadium Stroll
When: Nov. 7
Where: Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Cost: Registration for stadium stroll is $25 per walker, and tickets to Pet-a-Palooza are $10.
For more information, visit www.stadiumstroll.azhumane.org
For donations, the Arizona Humane Society has a wish list on its Web site, www.azhumane.org.

Arizona Animal Welfare League and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
What: Walk to Save Animals
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14
Where: Tempe Beach Park at Tempe Town Lake, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe
Cost: Suggested minimum donation $25.
For more information or to register, visit www.aawl.org or call (480) 423-1511.

My picks for the top ten luxury real estate and condo deals in the Phoenix Metro area.

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:42:14 -0600

My list is out! Check out my picks for the top ten condo & luxury real estate deals in the Phoenix Metro area. This month's list includes homes in Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills and Mesa. Click on the photo below to see what I feel to be some of the top ten deals in the Phoenix Metro area.

Have you ever lived in a haunted house? Tales of the unexplained.

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:42:31 -0500

Since it's Halloween, I thought I'd share my experience living with "my" ghost Henry.

Let me say first, I'm not into the paranormal, but there were definitely some spooky occurrences that took place in my 60 year old house back in Kenosha, WI where I lived with my little dog, Merffy.

I remember the evening Merffy and I were watching tv. Merffy sat up quickly and acted like he was watching a fly buzz around his head. Then he jumped off the couch, ran to the foot of the stairs and sat there looking up the stairs to the darkened second floor. I was mildly interested watching his escapades until after about 30 seconds his tennis ball came bouncing down the stairs on it's own. Ok....now I was more than mildly interested. I sat frozen in place with every hair on my head at attention and heart racing. Merffy picked up the ball, excited with tail wagging while expectantly looking up the stairway. That's when I gave my ghost a name. I called him "Henry".

Then there was the night I was taking a bath and heard a crash coming from the 1st floor. I jumped out of the tub, grabbed my robe and tiptoed down the stairs armed with a... plunger. Lying in front of the fireplace was a broken picture frame that had been sitting on the mantel. The weird thing was it had been sitting at the back of the mantle, behind some other frames where they still sat undisturbed. How had that broken frame jumped over the other frames? I chastised Henry for disturbing my bath and for breaking my favorite frame.

One morning I was sitting at the dining room table eating a bowl of cereal and reading the paper when I heard something fall in the kitchen. A coin came rolling across the wood floor and stopped at my feet. It was a silver quarter dated the year I was born (Yes..a pretty old coin). There were lots of unexplainable events that proved I was either losing my mind or there really was a ghost living with me... and no, I've never done drugs.

I miss Henry now that I'm living in Chandler, Arizona. I don't have a ghost here to blame messes and missing keys on...but I do have a husband....

I sold this Carriage Lane ~ Gilbert, AZ home in 2 Days!

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:44:52 -0500

Another listing sold in less than a week! This one sold in 2 days. Down market? I'm just not seing it. This home is located in Carriage Lane in Gilbert, AZ.

Sun Lakes AZ Homes for Sale including short sales in Sun Lakes AZ

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:28:36 -0500

There are currently 258 homes for sale in Sun Lakes, AZ.
Homes for sale range in price from the lowest priced home listed at $55,000 for a 1440sf 2 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home located in Sun Lakes #1

to the

highest priced home listed at $725,000 for a 3800sf 2 story home with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths and a guest house and a pool situated on a golf course lot in Oakwood Country Club.

The Sun Lakes community hasn't been hit too hard by the foreclosure market, however there are currently 11 homes listed as short sales and 10 homes listed as lender owned.

If you're a Sun Lakes homeowner facing foreclosure, I invite you to visit my foreclosure help website for helpful information or give me a call to discuss how I might be able to help you.

Homes are selling! There are currently 48 homes that are "Pending".

If you'd like to learn more about the Sun Lakes Lifestyle, give me a call at 480-250-3857. I'd love to tell you why I love living in Sun Lakes!

New Phoenix area Real Estate Scam. Renters BEWARE!

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:11:08 -0500

I received an email from the Arizona Regional MLS today informing its members of a recent scam in our local real estate industry.

The scam involves tenants moving into a pending short sale listing. The listing agent was surprised when she entered the listing to find tenants moving into the home and the seller had not rented the property to anyone. The tenants and their 2 children were physically moving in and had turned on utilities in their name. The sign and the lock box were removed, and all locks were re-keyed.

The tenants responded to a For Rent sign in the yard. They gave someone $1,800 as rent and signed a lease. The unfortunate victims of this scam are the tenants who were out $1,800 with no place to live.

Listing agents should monitor their listings closely and tenants should be cautious, investigating any supposed "landlord" thoroughly to ensure they actually have the right to rent the property.

I don't know if this is happening in any other part of the country, but it wouldn't surprise me. Sad but true.

Real Estate Sun Lakes AZ ~ Homes for sale in Sun Lakes AZ are selling!

Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:30:46 -0500

Don't let anyone tell you differently. I sold 2 homes in Sun Lakes, AZ just this past weekend. The winter visitors are returning and the Canadians are calling. It's a great time to be a buyer in Sun Lakes! The temps have cooled and the golf course is waiting for you! Visit Sun Lakes...you'll be SOLD on the lifestyle!!