tucson real estate for sale: August 2008 Tucson Homes Sales Statistics and Prediction - 09/18/08 04:27 AM
Tucson home sales for August were nothing spectacular, yet not horrible considering the current market. TAR/MLS reported 903 official sales. Which was 13 sales below what I predicted eight months ago. However, not all the numbers were in when the monthly report is prepared. As of today there were 917 sales. Which was one over what I predicted. I predict September will see a significant decrease to 750 homes. Seasonally home sales decline in the fall and winter months in Tucson. September generally sees a 17% decrease in the number of homes sold when compared to August sales. October should see … (0 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Zillow Zestimates Make Up Your Mind - 09/26/07 01:51 PM
When I listed my clients beautiful home Zillow’s Zestimates priced it a $189,000. My clients priced at $196,000. just below the comps. When they dropped the price to $189,900, Zestimate dropped to $186,700. Now that they are dropping the price to $186,900, Zestimate comes back with a $180,350. Yet the exact same house down the street with no upgrades, not kept as nice is Zesitmated at $94,0000. In the word’s of our son, “What’s up with that?”
The market is tough enough without bad information going out to buyers. I keep track of all the sales that are comparable to … (5 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Desireable Northwest Countryside Community - 09/16/07 03:03 PM
Desirable NW community with optional HOA for only $40/mo. Large back yard facing common area. Close to restaurants, shopping, golf with easy access to I-10. Head to Phoenix without touching downtown freeway construction. Dual cooling. Homes in this community sell for thousands more. A little TLC and this is a great home for the savvy buyer. Seeing is believing, come see this home today. Fam/Rec room not in sq footage. Range price $179K-$199K.
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tucson real estate for sale: What Does Golf and Selling A Home Have In Common? - 08/29/07 02:10 AM
As a golfer I see a lot of similarities between golf and different aspects of life. There are so many good books out there about golf that relates to life.  Everything from Zen For Golf to Fairways of Life. Both of which I have read and recommend.
As a Realtor I started looking for how golf and real estate compares. What does selling a home and golf have in common?
Stepping up to the tee unprepared without practicing you have no idea where the ball is going to go. You want it to fly straight down the fairway and not land in … (4 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Home Buyers Wanted! - 08/27/07 10:28 AM
I had a dream last night that I was standing on the street corner with a sign saying, “Home Buyers Wanted.” It was too real. With the scare we see every day on the news about the real estate market, it makes it tougher for Sellers to sell their home. For a few months I have run statistics on home sale for specific communities for my Buyers. I like seeing trends to give both sellers and buyers a comprehensive idea of what the market it doing in their area to help them with their decision making.
I suspected early that everywhere … (1 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Are You Crazy, What Do You Mean Range Pricing? - 08/25/07 06:37 AM
We have all heard about the Drew Carey game show Power of 10. Contestants must pick a range on the scale for their answer. With each question the range decreases. Similar concept of pricing items within a range has been used on The Price Is Right for years. Pricing a home in a real estate market that has cooled down is tough. How much is too little and how much is too much? With old school fixed pricing it gets harder to determine what is the right price. Miss the mark and your home becomes an Expired Listing waiting to happen. … (5 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Tierra Vista Living - 08/18/07 05:52 AM
Great two story home minutes from Raytheon, I-10, downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona. Large den that can easily double as a guest room with a Murphy bed. MORE INFORMATION
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tucson real estate for sale: Tucson Real Estate - July 2007 Sales Report - 08/14/07 12:14 PM
Tucson Association of Realtors released their official report for July 2007. Reported home sales were lower than I anticipated with an official number of 1,098. I checked this morning and the adjusted sales were 1,137. Didn’t quite hit the mark of 1,233. This is the most I have been off since I started predicting sales in January 2006. Anyone can speculate on the cause. Was it the tightening of mortgage requirements may be one factor to the reduction? Was it the negative reporting from the media can be another factor adding to the fear some buyers may be feeling? Were some … (0 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Tucson Real Estate Fantastic Condo - 08/03/07 02:44 PM
This is a great little condo that is priced under $83,000. One bedroom, second floor with a private patio view overlooking the pool area and the Catalina Mountains in the distance. Close to DMAFB, shopping, parks, malls, theaters, and bus routes. This is a great home in a great location.

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tucson real estate for sale: Tucson Real Estate Must See Great Price - 08/03/07 02:27 PM
Reduced to only $186,900. Miss this home and you've missed a great opportunity. Priced below comparable sales. An extraordinary home, with tile and stained concrete floors, upgraded cabinets, polished nickel door/bath fixtures, Den, fully landscaped w/timed irrigation front/back, no neighbors behind. This is a truly exceptionally well maintained home that is the pride of the neighborhood. Close to shopping and schools. Short drive to DMAFB, Raytheon, UofA, and downtown.

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tucson real estate for sale: Manufactured Home Loans - Are They Getting Tougher To Get? - 08/01/07 11:22 AM
Tucson Real Estate In our weekly office meeting the managing Broker mentioned that manufactured home loans may be harder to get. A few of the big names pulled out of conventional lending for manufactured homes. There is a definite need for manufactured home lenders. I have heard this before and wanted to know more. After all manufactured home loans is a billion dollar business. A lot of owners and potential buyers would be stranded without manufactured home loans. Is the pull out of lenders myth or fact?      Read the rest of this entry »
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tucson real estate for sale: Seven Steps To Home Selling A Home In Tucson - 07/30/07 09:33 AM
Selling a home in Tucson Arizona may be slightly different than selling a home in other parts of the country. However, the basics are similar. Home selling is not complicated when you take the seven steps to sell your home. I have prepared 7 steps to walk new home and experienced sellers through the process of home selling.
Home Selling 101 - Motivation. What motivated you to sell your home? Knowing your motivation helps you to comprehend where you stand in the market.
Home Selling 102 - Pricing. Knowing the market and how to price for that market is critical. Over … (3 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Who Else Wants To Know How To Attract Buyers To Listings? - 07/28/07 12:56 PM
Its astonishing how many homes are on the market that poorly portrayed. Every REALTOR® should go to their local community college and enroll in a photography class. Some of the pictures are unbelievable. There are a lot of good pictures for buyers to see. Many look like they were taken by a professional photographer. Some look like someone took disposable camera and just shot whatever. This is what buyers see as their first impression of the homes we list. I am no professional photographer, however, I do have a sense of what may look better.
National statistics tell us that anywhere … (4 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Tucson Real Estate - Home Selling 106 - 07/24/07 04:12 PM
Now that your home is on the market, what should you expect? If priced right and in a desirable location, you should have buyers wanting to see inside your home. If over priced or in a poor location, all the effort in the world will not work. Within the first week you should know if you were prepared and your home was priced right. If there are no calls to show and no REALTOR® is wanting to preview…the writing is on the wall…pay attention to it.
Availability - Homes that buyers can easily access and see get more viewings. Strict time … (1 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Tucson Real Estate - Home Buying 106 - 06/24/07 04:07 PM
Due Diligence and Inspections
Due diligence is addressing issues like insurance, surveys, legal access, easements, prior use of the property, zoning restrictions, CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions), etc.
Inspections are primarily concerned with physical condition, operating condition, infestation, safety, etc.
Seller Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS)
In Arizona, ask for an SPDS. This is where the seller is required to inform you of any physical problems, repairs or concerns with the property; what services you can expect to receive; etc. Failure to disclose is the number one cause of litigation. Comparing the SPDS with the inspections is advisable.
Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE)
Ask for a … (0 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Housing Slump - How Is It Effecting Tucson? - 06/21/07 09:48 AM
Tucson Real Estate Holding Its Own
With our nation looking at a housing market slump, Tucson is feeling the pinch, but not as bad as most areas. What has helped the Tucson market is the 2,000 or so people moving here every month. Which helps rentals as well as home sales.  
In the Arizona Daily Star today analysts predicted a recession on the horizon. Tucson has always remained strong during economic down turns. There is a good reason why so many people move here. Though the market hasn't bottomed out yet, it is close. By the time anyone notices it, we will be on the … (0 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: April Home Sale Update For Tucson - 05/20/07 01:21 AM
I reported Who Else Wants To Know About Home Sales In Tucson? on May 11th about the available statistics at that time for homes sales in the Tucson area. Better numbers are in. Actual home sales were 1,329. Though lower than I anticipated, when compared to previous years, excluding the frenzy years, Tucson's real estate market remains strong. 
Tucson's MLS reported only 1,280 sales for the month. Its hard to get the numbers out when so many are late turning information in. As of May 19, 2007 the MLS search for April sales shows what I reported, 1,329.  
Days On The Market (DOM) fell … (0 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: You Can Sell Homes In A Buyers Market Tucson - 05/16/07 11:14 PM
You Can Sell Your Home In A Buyers Market Tucson  
What can you do? With a significant number of homes falling into foreclosure the selling of your home only gets more challenging. If you think foreclosures don't effect you think again. Buyers are salivating over the deals they will get from short sales and foreclosures. It definitely effects not only how much your home may sell for Tucson, foreclosures also effect how fast your home will sell. Buyers are looking for WIIFM (Whats In It For Me?).  
Is it impossible? No. If you have a REALTOR® to work you are one step ahead of the game. You'll have access to … (2 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: 60 Minutes - What Everybody Ought To Know About Real Estate Commissions - 05/13/07 03:32 PM
Today I watched a tabloid style presentation from 60 Minutes about Chipping Away At Realtors' Six Percent. There are dozens if not hundreds of people incarcerated for this perspective of preconceived notion. During my 20 plus years in the Criminal Justice System I was taught to investigate to find the person innocent. If s/he is guilty that guilt will stand out. 60 Minutes took a very slanted approach to the subject she reported on. The questions posed to the REALTOR® were more like an interrogation.  
First, not all commissions are 6%. Some are lower, some are higher. I have listed numerous homes for 7%. … (5 comments)

tucson real estate for sale: Price, Price, Price. What Are Some Sellers Thinking? - 05/06/07 02:30 PM
Attune to location, location location, is pri$e, pri$e, pri$e. The Tucson real estate market is overwhelmed with overpriced homes. Two examples, first is a home I showed my clients yesterday. Lovely homes, well maintained, great location. Everything in this gated community in Oro Valley is selling for an average of $153 a square foot with a low of $136 and a high of $162. OK, square footage is not the gospel, but, it is a good bench mark to start with. The seller is asking $242 a square foot.   
Second home, again in Oro Valley. The seller is asking $254 per square … (0 comments)