The history of interest rates have been up and down.

I am writing this as a "food for thought article" Please take it as that...

The history of interest rates have been up and down-- that is their nature. As the economy changes so does the interest rate. It is not a natural thing for either to be up for too long or down too long... it must change with the times. 

I think that has been forgotten. in the past 10 years or so-- as a healthy economy needs to grow so does the views about it.  When the stock exchange continues to see new records broke though month after month-- I question the validity. 

The American dream has always been (as long as I can remember) to own your own home- to be the person who reaps the benefits of ownership. To control one's life by knowing what your mortgage will be for a lifetime. God Bless America to allow that right of ownership- to allow each citizen the right to have a piece of the american dream.  

Below is a chart showing the past interest rate and some comments about what the nation was going through at the time... thanks to Chris Butterworth for the chart.

    We can see that, while the entire decade had extremely low interest rates, the rates started ticking upward in 2018 before falling again in 2019 (thank you, Fed.) We’ll have to see where rates go in the 2020’s, but it does seem like they would have to skyrocket before we could really consider them “high”. As an average of 6-8% is the average. 

A look back in time:

1970s - Real estate was relatively flat (as was every part of the economy), with rates averaging about 9% before spiking up to 18% in 1982.

1980s - Real estate was a go-go, with the market growing fast and furiously while rates trended downward but averaged about 12% for the decade.

1990s - Another big-time growth decade, with rates averaging about 8% on a somewhat downward trend. The decade started with a slight downturn in 1991, and ended with a stock market bubble amid Y2K concerns of a world-wide computer meltdown.

2000s - The biggest boom and bust in our country’s history, caused by greed throughout the system (from top-level bank executives all the way down to regular home buyers) and aided by “liar loans” and subprime lending. Rates dropped significantly over the 10-year span, but averaged about 6%.

2010s - Housing growth rebounded nicely, both in new construction and existing home sales. This was helped by rates hovering near 4% for most of the decade; the lowest interest rates in history.

Overall - we’ve had 50 years of exciting news, crises, boom and bust cycles, international concerns, technological breakthroughs, etc., but through it all real estate has continued to increase in value, making the cost of a loan negligible. 

My wish for us going into the next decade is to have that realization- to have that dream come true for more people... and I will fight hard to make it a reality!  So, if your dream is to own a home-- no matter what your credit rate, or your savings account-- I want to hear from you, so we can get you on the right path to home ownership!  Elaine Beery 480-570-1912

Consider buying a home with a pool? What do you need to know if you are considering it.

So many times, I have had folks come to Arizona and say, “I would like a home with a pool”.  Before you go that route, please think.  Because after about 2-3 years those same people come to me and ask me to sell their home because they are tired of being a slave to the pool.

 When decided to move to Arizona, you will see a lot of homes have a pool out here, but here are a few things to consider when buying a home with a pool.  

·         If the pool is heated, you can have all year enjoyment. But usually it is heated by electrical and that will jump your bill up about $200.0/$400 a month. (depending on how much you heat it)   

·         If the pool is not heated, then you will most likely not use it for only about 6-7 months of the year (typical usage is from May through September), depending on your tolerance of colder water. But will have to maintain it every month by adding chemicals and keeping the water level up and cleaning it. Average cost $50-120 per month.  Measure the cost with the usage to see if you feel it is worth it.  You can hire a pool company to come out each week or biweekly or you can do the maintenance yourself…but that is about a 2 hour time commitment.  

      **My recommendation  for a good quality Pool company is Troy  http://www.azpoolcarepros.com/   480-699-2566

Remember, the city can fine you if your pool is not taken care of and becomes a heath hazard.

·         There are safety measures you must take by law if you have a pool.  Here is a good website to find out the current requirements; http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/pool_rules.htm  and check with the city you plan to purchase the home in as they may have additional rules/laws.   

·         With safety measures come liability—be sure to talk with your insurance company to see what your home insurance will cover, and how much a year will it be, usually homes with a pool are more expensive. 

·         If you decide to get a home warranty on your home, check with the company to see if you will need extra coverage for a pool and what they cover like; the pump, the electric panel, the valves, etc., etc., and  if it is a salt water pool do they cover the salt cell?

Pools are very enjoyable out here in the heat of our summer.  But do your homework before you buy and you will find yourself relaxed and at ease, floating away an afternoon.  If you don’t the same afternoon could be filled with all sorts of things you didn’t expect.  

Smart Phones- cheap is not bad anymore!

Don't Be Afraid of Buying Budget Phones Anymore

For the past few years, the smartphone flagship wars have pushed phone technology to new highs. And what goes up, must come down, which means that technology for less-expensive phones gets better. In fact, the processor chipset used in Google's Pixel 1 is no longer available, even though the phone is only 3 years old. A 3-year-old flagship phone is now surpassed by most affordable phones on the market.

What this means is that a budget-minded consumer now can buy a phone for $300 that outperforms a phone that once sold for $650 at release. There's no more "settling" for a budget phone because they outperform phones of recent vintage.

Once upon a time, smartphones were slow and reluctant to respond to more than a single press of the finger on an app. Trying to switch apps quickly or process a command ate up precious time.

The solution was to spend a lot of money on a high-end smartphone and deal with the fallout. That included watching as the technology becomes dated, the phone battery wears out, and the phone slows down as it gets older. Add the fast depreciation of the value of the phone, and it soured a lot of people on the idea of buying a flagship phone. But low-end phones weren't much better.

It's true that budget smartphones weren't the best in terms of performance. Everything about a budget phone felt cheap, along with its slow performance due to a low-end chipset. All of that has changed as smartphone technology has advanced and made low-end chipsets cheaper to produce. Budget phone manufacturers took advantage of this and started to design phones that run as well as flagship phones of recent vintage. A budget-minded buyer now has the opportunity to buy a phone that is fast, has a battery with staying power, a high-quality display, and durability at a price that's nice instead of outrageous.

Source: Digital Trends

Halloween Decor Trends

Decorating for Halloween is a tradition that many families take part in year after year. As with most traditions, though, the decorating trends that dominate Halloween change from time to time. Giant inflatables and laser light shows were all the rage just a few years ago, but now things are starting to shift a bit more toward subtle. The over-the-top Halloween decorating style will likely never fully go away, of course; there’s at least one house in every town that goes all out with its display and people always love it. If you’re looking for something simpler (and easier on the power bill), here are a few trendy options to keep in mind.

Candles

With the right candleholders, basic white candles can add a spooky ambiance that hearkens back to older Halloween traditions. Specialty candles are available that are carved to look like bones or horns as well. No need to go overboard with effects-candles, such as those that “bleed” when lit; just a few tapers burned to different lengths and then extinguished serve as the perfect subtle candle accent to your other decorations.

Pumpkins

What would Halloween be without pumpkins? While the traditional jack-o-lantern is still great, there’s an increasingly common trend to display uncarved pumpkins as well. White pumpkins are also seeing an upswing in popularity to really help set your decorations apart from the norm.

Halloween Wreaths

Also seeing an increased popularity are Halloween wreaths. Coming in a variety of styles, these wreaths have a lot more room to experiment than more traditional Christmas wreaths because of the generally spooky nature of the holiday. You can DIY a wreath yourself or buy one of multiple pre-made varieties to give your home a really unique Halloween look.

Lighting and Signs

Halloween lights have been growing in popularity in recent years, providing a decorative option that can be enjoyed even once the sun goes down. Signs, both lighted and non-lighted, are also firmly establishing themselves as Halloween must-haves. Combining the two can give your home a unique look that neighbors can enjoy both during the day and after the night descends.

Window Décor

Instead of going all-out with inflatables, animatronics and big clunky pieces made of plastic and rubber, an up-and-coming trend is to make use of silhouettes in front of plain curtains to give your decorations a more subtle flair. Some homes even take this a step beyond, using white sheets or similar coverings on the interior windows and then using creative lighting and figure placement to actually cast shadows onto the waiting windows. The shadow puppet feel gives the effect an extra layer of spookiness.

Black and White and Purple Trappings

While black and orange are the dominant colors of Halloween, a big trend in recent years has been to move away from the orange and embrace the holiday’s darker tones. White is used for contrast, with the predominant colors in decorations being black and dark purple. Splashes of other colors may be added as well, but the black, white and purple theme is definitely striking.

Zombie Flamingos

While there has been a move away from some of the cheesier parts of the holiday, the kitsch of putting zombie flamingos on your lawn is a bit too fun to ignore. There are a variety of styles of flamingoes available ranging from silly to gory, giving you plenty of room to find birds that match both your personal tastes and decorating style. Best of all, they can be mixed with a few traditional pink flamingos to give everything a splash of color while totally buying into the Halloween fun.

Need Some Halloween Style?

If you’re not sure what sort of decorations would look best with your home, consider consulting a decorator who has experience with Halloween trappings. Not only will they help you pick the best décor options, but they’ll aid you in choosing accents that go perfectly with both your home style and the decorations you choose. If you need a referral to a great interior decorator, let me know, I can hook you up with one of the best!!  

And if you are thinking of selling your home and want to be in a new home the night before Christmas-- you still have time to make that a reality!  So contact me to see where your home is in the market- I bet you will be surprised!    

www.AzSellsHomes.com  is my website, it is a great place to start!  Or you can call or text me at 480-570-1912 

Is your house ready for an electric car?

While they aren’t quite dominating the automotive market just yet, electric vehicles are definitely seeing a rise in popularity. More and more consumers are embracing the vehicles as a stylish and more environmentally friendly way to get around, and charging stations are starting to appear in places such as hotels, rest stops and even shopping centers. There’s definitely a market for electric cars out there, and it’s growing.

If you’ve considered an electric vehicle before, you should stop and ask yourself if you’re actually ready for one. Here are 2 things to consider: (This isn’t a trick question or a suggestion that electric cars are somehow superior; it’s a legitimate question that you’ve probably never given a thought to).

1.) Electric vehicles need to be plugged in and charged somewhere, so you need to figure out whether your house is actually ready for an electric car.

2.) They cost more upfront, so your monthly payment is going to be more—will that out weigh the cost of putting gas in your car? Coming up with 40 or so dollars each week might be easier on your budget—just a valid question.

Electrical Access

A lot of garages have electrical outlets in them, but not all of them do. Even for those that do, they aren’t always conveniently located for plugging in an electric vehicle. Either way, this can be a big problem when it comes time to recharge your car. Without convenient outlets you will have to get creative while charging, and an electric vehicle isn’t exactly something you want to risk running a questionable extension cord to. When trying to determine if your home’s ready for an electric car, this is one of the big points that you need to consider. If you don’t have an outlet where you need one and aren’t willing to try some more creative parking options to get to the closest plugs, you may need to wire and install an entirely new outlet.

Can Your Home Handle the Draw on the Electricity?

Electric cars pull a decent amount of electrical current while they charge. This isn’t a major problem in many modern homes but depending on what else is on a circuit with the vehicle, you may end up tripping a breaker or blowing a fuse. In some cases, the added draw of the electric vehicle may actually push you into using more electricity overall than your main panel was designed to handle. If you live in an older house, you could wind up facing a lot of hassle with your electricity if you get an electric car. Depending on how bad the problem is, you may even need to get some wiring reworked or have a new service panel installed to handle the increased electrical requirements.

Charging Station Issues

While the points made thus far have dealt with basic charging options that plug into a standard electrical outlet, home charging stations are also an option. These stations recharge electrical vehicles much faster than chargers that plug into an outlet, though they also have to be installed before you can use them. Depending on where you live, there may be laws or ordinances restricting who can install an electrical vehicle charging station and where they can be installed. Permits and inspections may also be required, all of which will cost money in addition to the cost of the charging station itself and professional installation.

An Alternative Consideration

To reduce or eliminate the cost of recharging an electric car, some owners choose to install solar panels that provide power to a dedicated charging station. This can be a great option, as it eliminates long-term costs while also providing a greener method for keeping your car charged. Unfortunately, there may be restrictions or other ordinances surrounding the installation of solar panels, as well. Solar panels also often have a high up-front cost, though depending on the size of the panel you choose you may be able to keep this down.

Don’t Know the Answer?

If you aren’t sure if your home is ready for an electric car, it’s time to call in a pro. Jack with the Auto House at 480-262-1019 https://www.autohousetempe.com/  or Armando with Azul Electric 480-694-1339 can answer your questions and help you to get the car you are dreaming of. And heck if you decide your home doesn’t fit your car—will I can help with that!  See my new website at www.azsuperstars.realestate