buyers: Two Breaches Don't Make a Right... - 08/30/09 11:34 PM
We do a lot of transactions that involve buying or selling properties that are ‘distressed’ properties.  The dictionary defines distress as:  a state of extreme necessity or misfortune.  A distressed property might be anything from a vacant, bank-owned home, a pre-foreclosure that involves tenants being forced to move, or a traditional sale where the sellers are forced to sell and must walk away from a large down payment that has been lost to them in a declining market.  Currently, 60%-70% of all homes closing in the Phoenix Metropolitan area would fit into this category.
Distressed sales are never ideal for the … (0 comments)

buyers: Census Data Confirms 3/20/08 Arizona fastest growing still... - 03/20/08 09:07 AM
US Census data released today shows Maricopa County was the fastest growing county in the United States from July, 2006 - July, 2007.  Maricopa County consists of Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Glendale, Gilbert, Peoria, or what others commonly refer to as the Metro-Phoenix area; if you live here, we just call it the "Valley" which is short for the "Valley of the Sun".... 
The second fastest growing County is outside of New Orleans where people are continuing to move back after cleanup from Hurricane Katrina continues.  The third fastest growing county is....you guessed it - Pinal County, Arizona.  Pinal County … (4 comments)

buyers: Is it a DEAL or is it a HOME? - 03/10/08 11:04 PM
I had some client's that looked at a home a few months back that they really liked.  In fact, I could tell as soon as they walked in that there was that excitement that comes from the realization that 'this could be the one'.  Unfortunately for them, it happened to be the first home I had selected for them to view...  Being new to the process and being determined to get the best deal, they held off.  I told them at the time that the home was priced very well, at nearly the bottom of the market for that area and … (8 comments)

buyers: Arizona Real Estate Transfer Tax? - 03/10/08 10:30 PM
For all of you Arizona natives you might be thinking, "What is a Real Estate Transfer Tax?"  If you are from the East Coast or one of the other states that currently have a real estate transfer tax, you more than likely have had the opportunity to experience this tax first hand.  A Real Estate Transfer Tax is a tax on transferring real property (your home) to another entity (i.e. a buyer).
So who cares?  We are one of the 14 states that don't have this tax.................yet.  Every time the state of Arizona gets in the red they set up a 'blue ribbon committee' … (1 comments)

buyers: What Investors know: Don't wait for the bottom of the market! - 03/08/08 10:46 AM
There has been a lot of buyer anxiety rampant in Arizona the last year and a half and with good cause.  Prices have declined and there wasn't any indication that the bottom was anywhere near.  I believe we now have indications of a bottom and I wanted to share my thoughts on the matter.   By looking at stats, talking to professionals in Title, Lending and other REALTORS, and being involved in the Arizona Real Estate market full-time ...it is a logical conclusion that this is the time to buy - period!  While many potential buyers are waiting for the absolute bottom they fail to realize is that … (4 comments)