Phyllis Borchardt's (maricopahomes) Blog

Greater Phoenix May 2010 Market Update

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:55:40 -0700

This past week U S News and Investopedia featured the Phoenix area a one of the top cities in the country to purchase affortable housing. Phoenix This city has one of the strongest economies in the country right now, according to our experts. "Good universities in the area have provided a skilled and educated workforce, which has positioned Phoenix as a competitive force in business," says Bill Humphrey, senior vice president and managing director of XONEX Relocation, which provides global relocation services for transferring employees. "Phoenix is projected to see more growth, especially since the technology, green energy and healthcare/life sciences industries have started to put down roots in the area." Humphrey says houses that were selling for $500,000 before the recession are now in the $300,000 range.

April 2010 home sales Vs. April 2009 home sales (according to FlexMLS) Single Family Detached
	Apr-09	Apr-10
Total Sales (Single Family Detached Homes)	7,601	7,841
Between the price range of $1 to $199,999	5,807 (76%)	5,718 (73%)
Between the price range of $200,000 to $399,999	1,370 (18%)	1,596 (20%)
Between the price range of $400,000 and above	423 (6%)	527 (7%)
REO sales and percentage of total sales	5,115 (68%)	2,963 (38%)
Short Sales and Percentage of total sales	733 (9%)	1,678 (21%)
Normal Sales (NOT Lender, Short Sale or Pre-Foreclosure)	1,775 (23%)	3,215 (41%)

These numbers reflect my experience in our market. Properties in the under $200,000 price range still reflect the majority of homes sold across the Phoenix metro area. Prices have remained stable and/or increased in areas where the inventories have created a Sellers market vs the Buyers market in the past months. The most interesting statistics in this overview is the drop in the percentage of REO (foreclosure) sales in the past month vs a year ago. A drop of 30% and an increase in the number of Normal (not foreclosure or pre-foreclosure ‘Short Sale' properties). As we enter the spring home purchase season with families ready to make the move to get in their new homes by the start of the school year the coming months offer an opportunity for home buyers and sellers alike in our area.

Loan Modification Help or postponing the inevitable

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:56:23 -0700

At a time when one in eight home owners with a mortgage are "underwater" on the value of their home to their existing mortgage existing loan modifications are failing to prove an incentive for homeowners to stay in place. This afternoon, I again exchanged information with a home owner who received a loan modification and yet remains underwater and looking for a way out. Homeowner filed bankruptcy nine months ago and continued to feel the pressure of drop in home values in local market. Banks advise they are less than enthusiastic about the current voluntary program that the Department of Housing and the Treasury have put in place. Banks excuse, what about those whose payments are current that do not fit the "underwater" diagnosis. What do they do when an investment fails, they write it down. What is keeping the financial instiutions from offering the same to the hundreds of thousands of homeowners in need of a write down. Please share your thoughts. At this time after all the money that had been thrown at the condition we still appear to only be postponing the foreclosure of homes in our market. As my husband has advised on numerous occasions, it would have been more practical to issue a check to the indiviual homeowner allowing them to pay down their mortgage. All the rest certainly has not made a major dent in the problem. Phyllis Borchardt phyllis@westmarco-re.com Buckeye, AZ (623) 521-0790

Is this a sellers market or what?

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:41:09 -0700

I just ran the numbers for the first 24 days of May. Home sales in Maricopa county continue to surpass the sales of 2008. For the 30 day period ended May 24, 2009 8,400 homes were sold. This was a 72.5% increase over 2008. With multiple offers in place for homes in this market the inventory of currently Active single family home listings in ARMLS numbers less than 28,000. In January we had over 60,000 listings. Is this a sellers market or what? 2009 is a great time to purchase a home at very affordable pricing. Homebuyers and investors alike continue to purchase houses here in west Maricopa county. Add the NTE $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and this is a super time to purchase your first home.

All Real Estate is local Maricopa County 2009 home sales continue to break records

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:30:14 -0700

Today's Marketwatch headline: Existing-home sales fall 3% in March. Existing home sales in the greater Maricopa/Phoenix market continue to exceed 2008, breaking records; year to-date by 67.7%, in March by 79.8% and April to date at 79%. Current interest rates, the available distressed homes offered at prices from 2003 or earlier continue a trend that is making major inroads in the current inventory of single family homes. Today's inventory of single family homes is approximately half of the inventory on January 1, 2009.

Maricopa County Home Sales increase 10 times that of national market

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:23:01 -0700

Today, the National Associate of Realtors advised that across the country existing home sales increased at a rate of 5.l percent from 2008. Here in Maricopa county sales of existing homes increased by 56%. Over 10 times the increase across the country. Today's low interest rates, investor and home buyers with available cash resources are making this a fast paced real estate climate for all home buyers. Please give me a call or simply send an email my way for prompt, courteous and timely information about our area, available properties and purchase of same. Thank you Phyllis Borchardt, REALTOR® , e-PRO phyllis@WestMarco-RE.com RealEstate.com, REALTORS® cell 623-521-0790 efax 480-586-2280 "Whatever you can do, or dream you can - begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it". Goethe 2009 The best time to purchase a home in 40 years! Creating Repeat and Referral Business One Satisfied Client at a time!

Maricopa County Home Sales increase 10 times that of national market

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:19:35 -0700

Assocuiated Press WASHINGTON - Sales of existing homes rose from January to February in an unexpected boost for the slumping housing market as buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures. The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales of existing homes grew 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.72 million last month, from 4.49 million units in January. It was the largest sales jump since July 2003. Sales had been expected to fall to an annual pace of 4.45 million units, according to Thomson Reuters. Here in Maricopa county sales of existing homes increased by 56%. Over 10 times the increase across the country. Today's low interest rates, investor and home buyers with available cash resources are making this a fast paced real estate climate for all home buyers. It is my pleasure to assist first time homebuyers, investors and all others interested in purchasing a home here in west valley. Greetings from the "Valley of the Sun" Phyllis Borchardt, REALTOR® , e-PRO phyllis@WestMarco-RE.com RealEstate.com, REALTORS® cell 623-521-0790 efax 480-586-2280 "Whatever you can do, or dream you can - begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it". Goethe 2009 The best time to purchase a home in 40 years! Creating Repeat and Referral Business One Satisfied Client at a time!

Just Sold!!

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:15:28 -0800

Happy New Year! It was my pleasure to assist my clients relocating from the cold weather in upstate New York with purchasing their new home in Estrella Mountain Ranch. It would be my pleasure to assist you with the identification and purchase of a home in the greater Phoenix area as well. Phyllis Borchardt, e-PRO, REALTOR(623) 521-0790phyllis@westmarco-re.com

Current market conditions keeping you on the sidelines?

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:01:49 -0700

The current trials and tribulations of the home mortgage market stem from a re-pricing of risk (impacting the financial institutions and institutional investors who bear the risk for home loans). There is no shortage of mortgage money - this is not the case; as you have seen on television and/or on the internet, there are lenders desperate for customers. The major concern is that some kinds of customers are no longer eligible under the new rules, and others who remain eligible must now pay a much larger premium over the best price than was available in the past couple of years. Strategies for first time home buyers to consider include taking 401(K) and/or IRA dollars to use toward the down payment on your home. With two wage earners you could easily make up to $20,000 available toward the down payment on your home purchase. Be sure to check with your tax preparer, the withdrawal of funds for your home purchase still requires you to pay taxes on these dollars that were exempted from your taxes when you placed them in your IRA or 401(K). Maricopa County Home in 5 Bond program currently has funds available for families who meet the financial criteria and the 5 percent helps you with closing costs for a First Time Home buyer. First Time Home buyer is typically defined as one who has not owned a home in the past 2 to 3 years. As you are aware, there is a wide selection of homes currently available for your consideration and I would be delighted to make arrangements for you to visit any that have caught your eye. A wide selection of available homes, added to interest rates that remain at historic lows make this a spectacular time to purchase your home. Looking for suggestions on a lender to assist you with the financing of your home purchase? I have and continue to work with local lenders, who welcome the opportunity to assist you with your home purchase and will be pleased to share their contact information with you, Please give me a call or simply respond to this email with any questions and/or for any assistance you might find helpful at this time.Phyllis BorchardtAward Realty15332 W Bell Rd, #112Surprise, AZ 85374www.WestMarco-RE.com

Grand Canyon Railway reveals state's grandeur

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:37:29 -0700

Phyllis BorchardtSpecial for The RepublicAug. 17, 2007 12:00 AM Too often, we think a vacation needs to be an extended trip to a faraway place with an exotic name.But there are lots of natural wonders in our backyard, and short overnight trips can be a real shot in the arm to a spirit in need of a recharge.Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon and booked a trip on the Grand Canyon Railway. In my book, the Grand Canyon is one of those places that take your breath away. Friends and acquaintances we have met since we moved to the Phoenix area a couple of years ago have given this trip rave reviews. We were not disappointed. After our drive to Williams, we stayed at an inn and, when we arose in the morning, enjoyed our breakfast at a local diner. Promptly at 9 a.m. we boarded our assigned coaches. When we arrived at the South Rim, we were directed to the various tours and programs. We opted for the Grand Canyon Historic Village Walking Tour and gleaned some history of the Canyon prior to returning to the El Tovar Hotel for coffee on the patio while we waited for our return trip.The train departed promptly, the trip back to Williams included a Wild West surprise, and upon our return, we were greeted by a brass band playing music in keeping with the theme.The three-hour drive back to Phoenix went by quickly, and we returned home with new memories about the Grand Canyon and plans to return for another visit, perhaps a raft trip on the Colorado River, to again enjoy the majesty of "our" Grand Canyon.

Obtaining funding for your home purchase in current market

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:58:14 -0700

After an eventful couple of weeks for the mortgage industry, you are wondering what it all means to you as you consider your real estate plans. Here are some answers:Q Will I still be able to get a mortgage? A One of the widest-held misconceptions that the current problems will have a negative impact across the entire mortgage spectrum. So far, borrowers with decent credit histories who can document their income aren't being shut out from getting a loan. What is getting harder to come by are Alt-A mortgages, which often don't require income documentation. And jumbo loans -- those that exceed the $417,000 conforming limit and thus can't be purchased by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae -- are getting more expensive. Q Can I still get a no-down-payment loan? A People tend to incorrectly group no-down-payment mortgages together with subprime. There are still programs that can get prime borrowers into mortgages with little or no money down. However, these loans now require strong credit, verifiable W-2 income and healthy assets in reserve. Homeowners whose tax returns include large write-offs, such as small-business owners, will have a much harder time qualifying. Q Should I be concerned if I currently have a subprime mortgage? Subprime loans are not the end of the world ... unless you are at the end of the term and your payment is set to adjust sharply upward, said David Podgursky, a Florida-based mortgage broker. By looking ahead -- preferably a year before the reset date -- borrowers can improve their credit and consider their options so they aren't saddled with monthly payments they can't afford.Please give me a call or simply respond to this email with any questions you might have and/or feel free to contact me with recommendations for lenders to assist you with your real estate plans.

60 Minutes attack isn't enough My broker took the time to respond to local press commentary

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:31:00 -0700

Real estate column on licensing laws full of errorsDenny ElmesMy TurnJun. 28, 2007 02:38 PM This is in response to Greg Swann's column ("Consumers hurt by licensing laws," June 8) that ran in several of The Republic's community business sections.I own a medium-size real estate company of about 140 agents in Arizona and have been practicing real estate for more than 37 years. Unfortunately, Swann's column is filled with misrepresentations and unfair generalizations. First of all, any person who does even a small amount of research will quickly see that licensing laws are not relegated only to a licensee's ability to obtain a license. The laws create responsibilities on agents and brokers, who are held to high standards to protect the interests of their clients. Swann's claim that "the model legislation for real estate licensing laws in every state was written by the National Association of Realtors." is just one of many glaring errors, outright misrepresentations and/or generalizations. Licensing regulations and laws are written by several governing agencies, not the least of which is our state-appointed real estate commissioner; not the National Association of Realtors.Swann's claim that "the alignment of government and business in one conspiracy after another against the consumer is a nearly universal outcome" is quickly exposed as a ridiculous statement when you browse through the commissioner's rules at www.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_04/4-28.htm or the Realtor Code of Ethics at www.aaronline.com/ForRealtors/EthicsArbitrationAndMediation.Swann says, "It is not an exaggeration to say that a broker's license is a license to steal." That's not an exaggeration, that's an outright lie. Brokers are frequently audited by the Arizona Department of Real Estate, and those who mistakenly or intentionally violate federal, state or local laws are subject to a host of disciplinary actions, including loss of license, huge fines and harsh prison sentences. Swann's closing statement attempts to generalize the industry to scare the reader into thinking that real estate practitioners are "haphazardly trained but licensed by the state to wreck your financial life forever." And this comes from a man who ends his article with, "Gregg Swann specializes in West Valley real estate."Isn't it time we gave the public a dose of truth, instead of scare tactics and misrepresentations? The truth is most brokers and agents are hard-working, honest, ethical professionals, who have chosen an honorable vocation and work diligently to treat everyone fairly and honestly.

TNSTAFL -- There's no such thing as a free lunch!

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 06:26:43 -0700

American home owners have used the equity in homes to finance upgrade to larger and well appointed homes, finance toys including SUV's, boats, and the list goes on. It's been quite a ride, but the piper must be paid.Now that home appreciation has flattened out in most markets I note that mortgage lenders continue to promote refinancing while the chickens are coming back to roost for homeowners who unwisely selected refinancing packages including interest only (negative amortization, adjustable rates, of course), pre-payment penalties and other costs that are currently fueling the marketplace with distressed homes. Distressed homes are not limited to those who utilized sub-prime lenders.From what I've read recently, the U.S. home building industry is looking for a bleak market until 2011. Sadly, real estate is cyclic and looking at another four years of a distressed market for existing home sellers and home builders alike will take a toll on the American economy.Add to that the escalating costs of fuel for our must have vehicles we can only hope that when the cycle corrects and starts up again that the home building industry will indeed design "GREEN" and offer solar panels to make the next generation of housing more energy independent of fossil fuels as we convert our transportation mode to independency of imported oil.

Be a Better Planet

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:32:14 -0700

Tis the age of global warming. We ready every day about the concerns. Yet each time I am out and about town in my travels as a realtor I see lots of gas guzzling vehicles out there. Here in the Phoenix area there are major concerns about air quality. Here in the desert where people used to move to minimize health concerns like asthma. Why not join the Yahoo campaign to "Be a Better Planet". You can learn more and log in at: http://better.yahoo.com/planet/As realtors and concerned citizens we can each do our part to indeed "Be a Better Planet," one community at a time.Phyllis Borchardthttp://www.westmarco-re.com/

Tips in This "Buyers Market"

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:51:22 -0700

As a buyer, you now have plenty of choice, as well as the upper hand in negotiations. You also still have the benefit of low interest rates.You can't be sure that a house you buy today won't lose more value before prices recover, but if you can pay well below what sellers were getting last year, you've already built in a comfortable cushion against price drops.Free yourself to act fast. Contact a lender and obtain a pre-approval for your home purchase. This will provide you with a price range for your home purchase and of equal importance when you identify a home you will be in a position to make the strongest offer possible. If you need suggestions on lenders please give me a call or simply respond to this email and I will be pleased to share some contact information for lenders that have been most helpful to my clients.Know how strong you are. The longer a house has been for sale, the more powerful your position as a bidder. "Time on market is a good indication that someone is likely to be really hungry." Please feel free to contact me for the full details of a home's listing history, complete with time on market and any asking-price changes.It would my pleasure to be your Buyers Agent and I will work exclusively on your behalf. Please contact me for a copy of my Buyers Passport which you can take with you when you attend open houses and advise the agents you have hired me as your Buyers Agent. New home communities are a bit less receptive. It is important that I am in attendance at your first visit and register as your agent. Wield your power. If you see a house you like, chances are you can find another one that is similar. Exploit that advantage. Make demands you never would have dared ask for in crazier times, such as requiring the seller to make repairs or the builder to throw in free upgrades. Don't be afraid to start with an offer that's 15 percent below asking price.

North Central Phoenix Family Home

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:28:26 -0700

Bring the family, this is too good to last!!! Wonderful family home on large corner lot. No home owners association in this neighborhood. Nearby schools. Nicely maintained. Has a 253 SF Arizona Room/Den with fireplace and A/C (not included in SF). Low maintenance desert landscape front and back with 5 fruit-bearing citrus trees in backyard, plus an oval above-ground pool. Ceiling fans throughout. Washer and Dryer stay. Storage cabinets in 2-car garage.1928 W Bluefield Ave | Phoenix | AZ | 85023· 3 Bedrooms· 2 Bathrooms· 1053 sq ft + 253 sq ft Arizona Rm/Den not included in sq ft · 5 fruit bearing citrus trees · Above ground pool· 2 car garage· No HOA· MLS #2743414

Home Buyer Tips in this "Buyers Market"

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:20:55 -0700

As a buyer, you now have plenty of choice, as well as the upper hand in negotiations. You also still have the benefit of low interest rates.You can't be sure that a house you buy today won't lose more value before prices recover, but if you can pay well below what sellers were getting last year, you've already built in a comfortable cushion against price drops.Free yourself to act fast. Contact a lender and obtain a pre-approval for your home purchase. This will provide you with a price range for your home purchase and of equal importance when you identify a home you will be in a position to make the strongest offer possible. If you need suggestions on lenders please give me a call or simply respond to this email and I will be pleased to share some contact information for lenders that have been most helpful to my clients.Know how strong you are. The longer a house has been for sale, the more powerful your position as a bidder. "Time on market is a good indication that someone is likely to be really hungry," Please feel free to contact me for the full details of a home's listing history, complete with time on market and any asking-price changes.It would my pleasure to be your Buyers Agent and I will work exclusively on your behalf. Please contact me for a copy of my Buyers Passport which you can take with you when you attend open houses and advise the agents you have hired me as your Buyers Agent. New home communities are a bit less receptive. It is important that I am in attendance at your first visit and register as your agent. Wield your power. If you see a house you like, chances are you can find another one that is similar. Exploit that advantage. Make demands you never would have dared ask for in crazier times, such as requiring the seller to make repairs or the builder to throw in free upgrades. Don't be afraid to start with an offer that's 15 percent below asking price.

LEGACY PARC STARTER HOME

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:04:34 -0700

Home is Where Your Heart Is!!The home with the red star at the front door16243 W Maui Lane | Surprise| AZ | 85379 MLS#2738059SUCCESS IN SHARINGAwesome starter home, includes all appliances and freezer in garage. Wonderful floor plan with ease of movement through the home easy access from garage to kitchen and laundry adjacent to bedroom area. Master suite has full bath & large walk-in closet. Kitchen features oak cabinets, microwave, electric range and refrigerator. Great room sliders open to the wonderfully appointed back yard with an extended brick patio surface offer a relaxing oasis for after hours. Chandeliers in kitchen and great room go with seller. · 3 Bedrooms· 2 Bathrooms· Original Owner/Occupant· Lovingly maintained and it shows· All appliances stay· Delightful brick patio and low maintenance desert scape· List other features here · MLS # 2738059Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Buyer to verify all information .Phyllis Borchardt, Award Realty, (623) 521-0790$239,000

Homebuyer Tips

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:44:28 -0700

As a realtor® I am committed to assisting families identify and purchase their home offering them an opportunity to realize their vision of the American Dream. Increased home prices have made these opportunities a bit more challenging and I find satisfaction in sharing community resources with potential home buyers. Today, online and community resources are available to assist First Time Homebuyers and I would like to share the following: Should I buy my home or continue to rent? GinnieMae offers an online resource. Go to: www.ginniemae.gov/rent_vs_buy/rent_buy_calc.asp? Am I ready to buy a home? GinnieMae offers you an opportunity to review and format into a worksheet your monthly income and expenses, determine how big a loan you can afford and how buying a home will affect your monthly budget. www.ginniemae.gov/1_learn/ready_to_buy.asp? I have a troubled credit history how can I obtain a loan? There are numerous nonprofit organizations that can assist you in working with the credit rating agencies and your creditors, including: Neighborhood Housing Service, (623) 932-9077, Chicanos Por La Causa, (602) 269-6485, Credit Counseling Centers of America, (602) 279-9222. I don't have a lot of money to make the purchase, is there any help available? There are local and national programs available to help with some of the down payment and closing costs you will need. Shop for your loan, check with at least 3 (three) lenders and ask them to assist you with qualifying for community assistance funding through the AmeriDream program http://www.ameridream.org/. Maricopa County offers First Time Homebuyer assistance with funding their purchase through a program called "Home in 5." http://www.mcida.com/home-ownership/programs.aspx Also compare costs and interest rates and negotiate the best deal for you and your family. How do I make an offer once I have confirmed my ability to purchase a home? The steps toward home ownership include: choosing a real estate agent, putting together a wish list of the things you want in your home, development of a check list to use when you look at available homes. I've found my "Dream House," what next? Discuss the offer process with your realtor, once the offer is accepted you will need to obtain a home inspection, shop for insurance for your home and last, but most importantly, once your lender has approved your funding sign the "closing documents" and make the home yours. You will find links and additional information about these steps at http://www.hud.gov/buying%20/index.cfm

Today's Market in Phoenix

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:45:52 -0800

Last week, I attended a continuing education program for agents. Our speaker advised that, "There are 45,000+ listings in the area, 22,500 genuine and the other 22,000 'fishing' for a buyer hoping for a large increase in equity!" At my exercise class earlier this week, one of my friends remembered that two years ago her friend received multiple offers on their home shortly after the sign went up. I advised her that the current market is a far different one. After a year of "Henny Penny, the sky is falling" media hype, our median home price in most areas of the valley has held steady and/or increased modestly. This in spite of builders offering "incentive packages" for their spec homes competing with existing home sales and a large inventory of homes available for consideration. Yesterday, one of the agents in our office commented that, "What is still needed in this market is buyers!" No argument there. . . Economic projections continue to advise that the population of our area continues to increase in excess of 100,000 people each year and they need a place to call home. We need to take a look at our marketing strategies and have a realistic picture of home values when we work with buyers and sellers. The reality of appreciation in real estate values is that over a 20-year period the typical appreciation is 5 percent per year. Vastly different from the 40+ percent experienced in the past two years or so. Add the fact that interest rates are creeping up from the historic lows, NOW is a great time to buy a well-priced home and many sellers are adjusting and/or willing to consider a reasonable price for their home.

Professional, Ethical Conduct

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:35:14 -0800

I received an email from a client today advising that they have received nasty grams from other realtors they interviewed prior to selecting me as their listing agent.What happened to losing gracefully?

AWESOME LITCHFIELD PARK FAMILY HOME

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:09:03 -0800

AWESOME FAMILY HOME CORNER LOT THAT SHOWS LIKE A MODEL. MR. CLEAN LIVES HERE. OPEN SPACE W/ 10' CEILINGS, CEILING FANS, DECORATOR PAINT, 19" STONE TILE. BEDROOMS & GREAT ROOM HAVE HIGH END CARPETING.GOURMET KITCHEN UPGRADES INCL. 42" CHERRY CABINETRY W/ISLAND, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS W/ BULLNOSE EDGE & BLACK UPGRADED APPLIANCES. MASTER BR. SUITE W/ RETREAT. MIRRORED CLOSET DOORS, DUAL SINKS & MED CABS IN BATH, FRENCH DOORS. #3 GARAGE W/ CEILING FAN & EPOXY FLOOR COULD BE FAMILY RM/DEN. LOW MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING FRONT & BACK W/ PATIO SLABS & SO MUCH MORE. PLUS LITCHFIELD PARK SCHOOLS CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

Maricopa County Update and 2007 Outlook

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:43:51 -0800

This holiday season is indeed a buyer's market in real estate here in Maricopa county. Since late 2005 resale home prices in the valley have reflected the sellers interest in obtaining the appreciation their neighbors enjoyed in the heated 2005 market. There continues to be a wonderful selection of homes currently available for home buyers in the valley. We are observing sellers willing to reduce the price of their listings by up to 10% making homes more affordable. Add to that the latest news on home mortgage rates from Bankrate.com: Fixed mortgage rates are sharply lower than five months ago, when rates were flirting with 7 percent. At that time, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate peaked at 6.93 percent, meaning that the monthly payment on a loan of $165,000 was $1,090. With the average 30-year fixed rate now 6.08 percent, the same loan originated today would carry a monthly payment of $998. Wishing my real estate peers and clients alike, 2007 a year filled with good health and prosperity for all.

A Twentyfirst Century realtor internally directed and other focused

Phyllis Borchardt (Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate) — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 13:54:38 -0700

I make it my business to conduct my real estate business as a internally directed person with self-chosen principles and standards. It is my philosophy to walk away from a commission rather than do something unethical. I actively pursue innovation because my businesses and clients benefit. When something fails, I own it and try again. In the end, for every failure I experience, there are numerous successes that give me a competitive advantage. My daily motto is: "What actions can I take today to stay ahead tomorrow?" To often, self-focused agent or broker cares only about how much commission can be generated rather than focusing on how their actions have long-term effects on their clients. Because they only focus on what's best for them, these individuals are the ones who give our profession a black eye. Their actions destroy the trust that many clients want to place in us. The self-focused individual only cares about "What's best for me and for my business?"As an other-focused individual I approach the business from a service perspective. My goal is to create win-wins for myself, my clients, and for the others with whom I work. This collaborative approach generates future referrals as well as a long-term sustainable business. I do my best to perform my responsbilities with integrity, i.e. they do the right thing, even when no one is looking. I willingly put my beliefs and desires aside to focus on how to be a trusted representative of the buyer or seller. My key question is "how can I create a win-win situation for both me and the people with whom I work?'