Buy or Sell Homes in South East Valley of Arizona

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

If you’re looking for a home either new or a re-sale- in the South East Valley of Phoenix; including Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, or San Tan Valley you’ve got a lot of choices. Here are 10 communities in no particular order. I think they are worth checking out for your consideration if you are looking for a resale home.   1.      Dobson Ranch – Built between 1973 and 1999, this well-established community offers easy access to freeways, walking distance to schools, and year round community events. Dobson Ranch offers tennis courts, community pool, golf course, meeting space, and programs for all ages. 2.      Val Vista Lakes – Located in the heart of the fast-growing, family community of Gilbert, Val Vista Lakes offers more than 24 subdivisions and lakeside views, and a community center with heated pool and beach with sand, where you can enjoy special events with family and friends. 3.      Augusta Ranch – Located in Mesa, Augusta Ranch offers golf, good neig

Many banks will give you a pre-qualified letter-- but that is not enough if you are buying a home in Arizona.  It is important to understand why you must do your part before looking to buy a home- this will save you many headache and will give you the best chance to buy your dream home when you do find it.   If you are planning on buying a home in the next year, there are a few things you should do before you start looking: decide on the neighborhood that will provide you with good schools and a reasonable commute to work; get your credit reports and confirm all the information is accurate; and learn the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved mortgage loans. What Does Pre-qualified Mean? The first thing you need to know is that being pre-qualified for a mortgage does not guarantee you will get one. When a lender sits down to talk to a prospective buyer, they will ask questions about the buyer's credit, assets, and income. It's important to note that no v

Some highlights: 24% of all recent home buyers were single at the time of purchase 47% of single men cite the desire to own a home of their own as the primary reason to buy. 18% of first time buyers were single woman  If you have been thinking of owning your own home- I LOVE helping first time buyers get on the right path so down the line you have the right home for your needs...Never any pressure, and always making it a fun experience!   

It's important to remember that the first house you buy isn't likely to be the one you'll live in forever.   Instead, you might consider looking for a starter home when you are tired of renting and unable to afford your dream house. Approaching the house-hunting process with this caveat in mind will allow you to forgive some of the property's shortcomings and put you in a good position to profit when you resell the home. Here are a few tips to consider: Investigate the Neighborhood While it might seem like a good idea to take advantage of the potential profitability of an up-and-coming neighborhood, you likely won't be living in your starter home long enough to see a major shift. Instead, look for your first home in an already established, safe neighborhood because it'll probably keep its desirable status, and this can be an advantage for you when you want to sell your house in the future. Many first-time buyers are also in the process of startin

Buying or selling a home is an investment in your financial future. Making sure you have the right real estate agent to meet your needs will help your transaction run smoothly and get you the outcome you desire whether it’s selling your home at a certain price point or buying your dream home. Here are six great questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent:       1.   Are you a full-time agent? You might like Aunt Sally’s friend’s daughter but if she does real estate part-time, you might not get the level of customer service you desire and deserve. I recommend working with a full-time agent who can dedicate more time and effort to your transaction. (Yes, I am a full-time real estate agent. If I am not buying or selling homes, I am not making money)       2.   Are you a member of the National Association of Realtors? REALTORS® must abide by the NAR Code of Ethics and state regulations. They must also complete continuing education. (Yes, I am a member of NAR and a REALTOR

You have dreamed about owning a home.  You have  saved for the down payment. Now it’s time to start looking for a house that’s right for you. It seems overwhelming to think about location, features, and other factors and that’s okay. That’s why you hired a full-time real estate agent; they can help you find a place to call home.  Here are 6 top things to consider:         Budget . No matter how badly you want the big house on the hill overlooking the lake, if it  isn't  in your budget, it’s not the house that’s right for you. Stay within your budget so you’re not house poor after purchasing your home. You will still have moving expenses, furniture purchases, and possible renovations, not to mention date night or nights out with friends and family.         Lifestyle . Think about how you live your life. If you travel a lot, you might purchase a condo because it is less upkeep. If you have dogs, you might want a yard and if you have kids you might opt out of a home with a p

Lender's are expanding requirements taking the stress out of using gift funds to purchase a new home. Gifts/grants are now allowed to be considered part of the borrower's own funds. Entire 5% down payment can be gifted by another person. Private mortgage insurance is required, yet premiums are lower than on a comparable FHA loan.  Meaning your monthly payment is lower!   Seller or lender credits for closing costs are allowed. Gifts of equity are allowed. Wow- now is the time to start looking for the home you have been dreaming of, no matter if you are a first time home buyer, or just want to change to a  different  home--this program is for you!   Contact me today to put your gift funds to good use in purchasing a new home!

There are many homes for sale in Arizona.   Finding a great deal is the hard part, some have great features but there is something wrong structurally, or structurally it is sound, but there are so many other factors that are not desirable. Here are 4 things you can do to quickly find the diamond in the rough. 1.        Find a full time Realtor to have them help you in your search.  (Yea, I know this seems self -serving but REALTORS are educated in the market and the ins and outs of purchasing homes and can help so much through the entire process). 2.          Get pre Qualified (different than pre-approved) by a licensed mortgage broker, they are held to a higher standard than the regular (big Bank ) loan officers.  Make sure you will be dealing with one person the entire time during the process. This is a real factor that I have seen become quite frustrating for many a buyer- as once the loan is going through it’s process they are passed to different people and no one knows th

Have you ever considered paying off the mortgage on your home in two biweekly payments rather than one monthly payment? It might seem like this wouldn't make a difference, but the truth is that biweekly payments really do add up more quickly.   Since there are 52 weeks in a year you will end up making 26 payments in total – which is equal to 13 months rather than 12. This means that your mortgage will be paid off more quickly and you will save money on interest payments in the long run.  This arrangement might be the best for you when it comes to paying off your mortgage quickly and saving money, but it’s important to consider the possible disadvantages before you make the decision. Cons of a Biweekly Mortgage Payment ·                   Often lenders do not offer biweekly services free of charge. You will be required to pay a registration fee as well as paying biweekly charges. ·                   If your budget doesn’t allow the room to pay more toward your mortgage eve

It’s important to do as much research when you can when you’re preparing to buy a home. And while it’s necessary to read up on everything you can before you begin searching, it’s also important to have a quick-to-access home buyer’s checklist. I’ve listed all of the key things you will want to look out for and ask about while you are house-hunting, so be sure to print this out or pull it up on your smart phone – to guarantee you cover everything you need to assure you find the perfect home! Step One: The Home Here is everything you will want to look over and ask about for each house that you look at: ·          Square footage ·          Number of bedrooms ·          Number of full baths ·          Number of half-baths ·          Condition of walls (interior) ·          Closet/storage space ·          Kitchen storage space ·          Basement –if applicable ·          Fireplace ·          Cable TV/Internet ·          Exterior appearance (condition of outdoor