Search For Tucson Homes - From Any Mobile Phone! - 12/31/09 11:58 AM
Have you ever been driving around a neighborhood, wishing you could see more detail on a particular home...but didn't want to go home to pull it up on the computer?  Now you can search for Tucson homes from any mobile phone - complete with pictures & info...FOR FREE!
All you need to do to get started is text TKREAL to 87778.  You'll get a text back with the link to download your own app, right to your phone to use anytime you wish!  You can search by neighborhood, community, zip code, property type, map - and it is GPS enabled, so … (4 comments)

Give Yourself A Present in 2010 - Tucson Weather & Incentive To Buy A Home - 12/21/09 02:53 PM
Living through a Tucson Winter can be pretty delightful - especially when you are getting a fat check from Uncle Sam for buying a home! 
 
 
Sure - folks have probably already heard about the extended tax credit for homebuyers...but lets get one thing very clear:  it isn't just for first time homebuyers anymore.  With Tucson's home prices making the real estate market virtually "ON SALE" - and getting up to $8000, first time homebuyers can really give themselves a nice present.
Current homeowners looking to upsize or downsize can get up to $6500...and you don't have to sell … (6 comments)

FIRPTA: Protecting U.S. Markets or Preventing Foreign Investment? - 12/21/09 08:42 AM
Could repeal of FIRPTA help the recovery of this nation's real estate market?  In this morning's Globe St. News, the subject was FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act), the 1980 measure that adds a layer of tax on the sale of any real estate owned by a non-citizen of the U.S.
The article cites a study by two economists that calls for a reform of FIRPTA to encourage more foreign investment in the United States real estate market.
Would it be so bad, since the U.S. real estate market is basically "on sale," to encourage investment groups from abroad … (2 comments)

Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Series P A S S - 12/11/09 11:57 PM
Dale Baker is a home inspector par excellence (now if only we could get him to move to Tucson, huh?).
He writes very informative and helpful articles for people - not only about home inspecting, but maintenance and safety issues.  This is the first of a 12-part series on Fire Safety.  It is written with 1st Time Homebuyers in mind, but anyone can get good info from this series.
Via Dale Baker,The #1 Home and Commercial Properties Inspector-in NH&VT-on AR (Baker Home,Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting ):
Home Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers Series P A S S, Introduction to this … (3 comments)

FHA To Make It Easier To Finance Condos (at least temporarily) - 12/11/09 11:35 PM
FHA is going to make it easier to finance the purchase of a condo - at least temporarily.
In an article by Marilyn Alva, Investors Business Daily reported today that the new loan guidelines released by the Federal Housing Administration on Monday will relax the restrictions that have kept condos from being purchased by buyers with low down payments.
While FHA's new guidelines will ease back to 30% of units sold (from 50%) before the possibility of approving loans in condo projects, there is also a new clause that will allow condo associations to have "right of first refusal" to turn … (4 comments)

How Froggy Is Your HOA Feeling? aka "The Rising Dues Blues" - 12/03/09 08:16 PM
HOA fees in Tucson are rising (as well as other places).
Working with some first time homebuyers lately, we were comparing the rates that a few different homeowner associations were charging for similar benefits in the same general part of town.  After a little discussion and some serious digging, it was found that one HOA had more than doubled their fees in the past 24 months - from $17 to $44, while others had risen a little and a few had no increase yet...but they will be.
Why the differences?
Could be a bunch of different reasons, but the general consensus … (3 comments)

 

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