As most of you have seen the Real Estate market over the last few years has had its ups and downs. Once again we are in a “change”. The market now is low on inventory, what does that do to the market, besides making it harder for buyers to find homes? We hope it makes the prices stabilize. It will also make it possible for all those people who have made their payments and stayed put in their existing home to sell and possibly move up.
This is also changing the way agents do their job. As we have said before, the bank owned market made for some interesting real estate agents. We saw real estate offices that were only open “normal” business hours. Something new that had never been done before are agents that were only available 9-5 M-F. We found this very strange, but when you are making bank and don’t have to work weekends – who would not want to do this. The answer: the clients! Having to wait for weeks if not months to see if your offer on a property that is sold as-is is accepted. Not a fun process.
Now that the market is changing and we are seeing more traditional sales clients, both buyers and sellers need better representation. We have encountered listings that the agent has never worked in a traditional market and do not represent the seller or buyer correctly. Asking for things that do not follow Arizona real estate guidelines and potentially cause problems for both buyer and seller. Brokers and agents that are not educated on a “normal” market.
At Arizona 360 Realty we are educated to work in all markets and pride ourselves on being up on market trends and making sure our clients are represented in the best possible way. Listing your home with us will make the experience smooth and you will always be notified of trends, changes and the overall market feel. Buyers are also represented with the most current data and market trends available. We pride ourselves in treating every client with personal service.
Please visit our website or give us a call so we can sit down and discuss personal service geared for your needs. We represent both buyers and sellers on a personal level.
www.sellaz360.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A big thank you to our clients!
Thank you!
In the month of April Arizona 360 Realty had some great closings. We had both friends that became clients and clients that became friends. We had bank owned sales as well as conventional sales. We just want to say thank you to all of our clients, past present and future.
The relationship that is established between the client and the agent is important. The majority of the time this relationship, if it did not begin as a friendship, certainly ends as one. Establishing trust in your agent is critical to a successful closing. Knowing that your agent and the Brokerage that back them, are always looking out for your best interest. Our experience guides the client.
The exciting part of this relationship is that it is NEVER the same. Both the people and the property are always different, and each situation is unique. That is why it is vital that we build a team of people and business that can help establish a successful closing. Lenders, title companies, inspectors are a few of the people that have extensive experience that help guide the transaction. We also have a great network of service people including handy man and repair people to help with your home.
Most clients learn quickly that while a quick Google search will give you the answers to life’s most burning questions, in Real Estate the web does not always give you the answers you need to close your new home. But we at Arizona 360 Realty have the resources to get the answers. Thank you for letting us guide you to your closing.
The market here in Arizona is changing every day, and we at Arizona 360 Realty tap into vast amounts of information to make each transaction successful. Mutual respect between the Broker and Client makes for a successful closing! Thank you to all our clients that trusted us to guide them through a successful closing. Your trust in our expertise is vital and proves to us that you respect our professionalism.
And of course we would appreciate any referral that you could give us. Our business is built on word of mouth from happy clients. Over the years we have had many return clients, as well as referrals. Thank you in advance for any business you send our way.
Either visit our web site at:
www.sellaz360.com
or call
480-719-0360
Friday, March 30, 2012
Hot weather!
With the weather heating up, we thought we would cover some items that you find in home in Arizona. These items are not always found in other parts of the country, or if you have not owned a home you might not be familiar with them.
Many homes here in the Phoenix Arizona area are equipped with Heat Pumps, according to Wikipedia:
Heat pumps have the ability to move thermal energy from one environment to another, and in either direction. This allows the heat pump to effectively bring thermal energy into an occupied space, or to take it out. In practice, this is always done in the opposite direction of a temperature gradient. A heat pump works in the same manner as an ordinary air conditioner (A/C), which itself is a type of heat pump. In the warming mode for a space, a heat pump effectively reverses a refrigeration unit so that the warm radiator is inside the space, rather than outside.
For warmer areas like Arizona they work well, not great for heating in cold weather, but great for the A/C.
Another type of cooling you can have here in Arizona is an evaporative cooler; here is what Wikipedia has to say:
An evaporative cooler (also swamp cooler, desert cooler and wet air cooler) is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from typical air conditioning systems which use vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles. Evaporative cooling works by employing water's large enthalpy of vaporization. The temperature of dry air can be dropped significantly through the phase transition of liquid water to water vapor, which requires much less energy than refrigeration. In extremely dry climates, it also has the added benefit of conditioning the air with more moisture for the comfort of occupants. Unlike refrigeration, it requires a water source, and must continually consume water to operate.
This type of cooling cost next to nothing to operate, but cannot be used in the “monsoon” weather we have in the mid to late summer. When showing homes many people ask “what is that?” when they see an evaporative cooler. There are several types of evaporative coolers, investigate the type that would be best for you. These types of coolers are great for work spaces like garages and workshops too.
Of course one of the best hot weather tools is the swimming pool. A large number of homes here in Arizona have swimming pools. There is nothing like taking a dip in a refreshing swimming pool on a hot summer night. There are many types of swimming pools, filters and accessories. Many people care for their own pools and many pool service companies offer inexpensive packages if you choose to go that route.
Our landscape can also be different, and water saving plants are a must here. We also have winter lawns and summer lawns. We have seasonal plants with flowers that thrive in the heat. Many of our winter plantings do not survive the intense heat of the summer. So as spring comes to an end its time to change the look and feel of our lawns. A trip to a local nursery can give you insight to plants that thrive either in winter or summer. It seems that the big box type home improvement stores stock plants that fit more into the country as a whole, so we recommend a local nursery to learn what types of plants to invest in.
Sun shades are another great investment for homes here in Arizona. They also come in all shapes, sizes colors and materials. They can be a big money saver in the summer months, blocking the sun’s rays from heating the interior of you home can really cut your energy cost and make for a more comfortable environment.
Ceiling fans we feel are a must. Air movement makes an otherwise stagnant area feel much cooler. For a relative small investment you can again save on energy cost. For rooms without ceiling fans, they can be installed relatively easy and at a low cost. Often you need a licensed electrician to install a ceiling junction box and fan if none are available. But many homes here are equipped with needed wiring.
Of course one option is a summer get away home in the cool pines of northern Arizona. Many people do not know that a short drive north of the Phoenix area cooler areas are abundant. Arizona has abundant forest areas. We can help you find the perfect get away too!
Contact Arizona 360 Realty to help you on the search for your Arizona home. It might be an energy efficient home here in the Phoenix area or a vacation home or land in a cooler area. Or maybe it’s time to list your existing home and make a change. Let us help you in your search. Visit us at www.sellaz360.com.
Many homes here in the Phoenix Arizona area are equipped with Heat Pumps, according to Wikipedia:
Heat pumps have the ability to move thermal energy from one environment to another, and in either direction. This allows the heat pump to effectively bring thermal energy into an occupied space, or to take it out. In practice, this is always done in the opposite direction of a temperature gradient. A heat pump works in the same manner as an ordinary air conditioner (A/C), which itself is a type of heat pump. In the warming mode for a space, a heat pump effectively reverses a refrigeration unit so that the warm radiator is inside the space, rather than outside.
For warmer areas like Arizona they work well, not great for heating in cold weather, but great for the A/C.
Another type of cooling you can have here in Arizona is an evaporative cooler; here is what Wikipedia has to say:
An evaporative cooler (also swamp cooler, desert cooler and wet air cooler) is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from typical air conditioning systems which use vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles. Evaporative cooling works by employing water's large enthalpy of vaporization. The temperature of dry air can be dropped significantly through the phase transition of liquid water to water vapor, which requires much less energy than refrigeration. In extremely dry climates, it also has the added benefit of conditioning the air with more moisture for the comfort of occupants. Unlike refrigeration, it requires a water source, and must continually consume water to operate.
This type of cooling cost next to nothing to operate, but cannot be used in the “monsoon” weather we have in the mid to late summer. When showing homes many people ask “what is that?” when they see an evaporative cooler. There are several types of evaporative coolers, investigate the type that would be best for you. These types of coolers are great for work spaces like garages and workshops too.
Of course one of the best hot weather tools is the swimming pool. A large number of homes here in Arizona have swimming pools. There is nothing like taking a dip in a refreshing swimming pool on a hot summer night. There are many types of swimming pools, filters and accessories. Many people care for their own pools and many pool service companies offer inexpensive packages if you choose to go that route.
Our landscape can also be different, and water saving plants are a must here. We also have winter lawns and summer lawns. We have seasonal plants with flowers that thrive in the heat. Many of our winter plantings do not survive the intense heat of the summer. So as spring comes to an end its time to change the look and feel of our lawns. A trip to a local nursery can give you insight to plants that thrive either in winter or summer. It seems that the big box type home improvement stores stock plants that fit more into the country as a whole, so we recommend a local nursery to learn what types of plants to invest in.
Sun shades are another great investment for homes here in Arizona. They also come in all shapes, sizes colors and materials. They can be a big money saver in the summer months, blocking the sun’s rays from heating the interior of you home can really cut your energy cost and make for a more comfortable environment.
Ceiling fans we feel are a must. Air movement makes an otherwise stagnant area feel much cooler. For a relative small investment you can again save on energy cost. For rooms without ceiling fans, they can be installed relatively easy and at a low cost. Often you need a licensed electrician to install a ceiling junction box and fan if none are available. But many homes here are equipped with needed wiring.
Of course one option is a summer get away home in the cool pines of northern Arizona. Many people do not know that a short drive north of the Phoenix area cooler areas are abundant. Arizona has abundant forest areas. We can help you find the perfect get away too!
Contact Arizona 360 Realty to help you on the search for your Arizona home. It might be an energy efficient home here in the Phoenix area or a vacation home or land in a cooler area. Or maybe it’s time to list your existing home and make a change. Let us help you in your search. Visit us at www.sellaz360.com.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Make buying foreclosures easier
We have talked about Home Smart before in the Blog, and now they have done something that we feel make buying a foreclosed home easier. As of February, Home Smart has a new contract login for buyer’s brokers. How this works is when you make an offer on a Home Smart home, your broker (we hope its Arizona 360 Realty!) logs in to the Home Smart Web site and uploads your offer. Then Home Smart reviews and then submits to the listing agent.
You may be asking “why does this make buying a foreclosed home easier?” well there are many answers to this question but in our opinion it makes for fair competition. In the past the offer was submitted to the listing agent, often this was on a weekend, and as many of you have experienced the new style of listing agents don’t work on weekends. Not only does this become difficult because as a buyer’s broker we could not get answers if there were any current offers on the property. So on Monday when the listings agents’ assistant enters the offer in whatever order they feel is best, the buyers offer could be at the bottom of the pile despite the fact that it was submitted early in the weekend. Not to mention the home could have many offers, not making for a fair submittal. With the new web based submittal as your buyer’s broker we can see how many offers and when they were submitted. And the listing broker has no control on when the offer is submitted.
We here at Arizona 360 Realty do work weekends, nights or whenever you need the job done. We have the experience and knowledge to help you with home buying. Contact us today at (480) 719-0360 or visit our website at www.sellaz360.com. We are also on Facebook, search Arizona 360 Realty.
You may be asking “why does this make buying a foreclosed home easier?” well there are many answers to this question but in our opinion it makes for fair competition. In the past the offer was submitted to the listing agent, often this was on a weekend, and as many of you have experienced the new style of listing agents don’t work on weekends. Not only does this become difficult because as a buyer’s broker we could not get answers if there were any current offers on the property. So on Monday when the listings agents’ assistant enters the offer in whatever order they feel is best, the buyers offer could be at the bottom of the pile despite the fact that it was submitted early in the weekend. Not to mention the home could have many offers, not making for a fair submittal. With the new web based submittal as your buyer’s broker we can see how many offers and when they were submitted. And the listing broker has no control on when the offer is submitted.
We here at Arizona 360 Realty do work weekends, nights or whenever you need the job done. We have the experience and knowledge to help you with home buying. Contact us today at (480) 719-0360 or visit our website at www.sellaz360.com. We are also on Facebook, search Arizona 360 Realty.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Freddie Mac - Fannie Mae?
Hello bloggers, today we are going to look at Freddie Mac homepath and Fannie Mae homesteps. These are programs for buyers that help with several aspects of home buying. First let me give you a link to the web sites:
http://www.homepath.com/incentives.html
http://www.homesteps.com/homebuyer/offers.html
Check this out, both have valid offers for buyers. They both offer foreclosed homes for competitive prices and from our experience they are generally move in ready homes. Of course that is not always the case but most are in good condition.
The “first look” program for both, gives buyers, who are going to occupy the home, the opportunity to purchase the home before investors. In a competitive market this can be an important factor. They both also offer incentives. The last incentive program expires on March 15, 2012. But it is good to watch for the newest program offered by both. We can help you with that!
Friday, January 27, 2012
New Year – New Home? Call Arizona 360 Realty
With the coming of 2012 there seems to be lots of speculation, predictions and sometimes just plain crazy! But one thing is for sure, home buying in the Phoenix area has its perks. With interest rates very low and prices still it the affordable range, if you are in a position to purchase it is a good time.
At the end of last year we saw the inventory drastically reduce and the sell of conventional home sales increase. Giving existing home owners the opportunity to sell. With inventory low the possibility of home price increase good. Also many buyers were seeking the conventional purchase for the ease of the transaction as well as the possibility of purchasing a home that is not “as-is”.
We also hope to see some incentives for buyers and sellers this year to boost the market. These incentives are a great thing to take advantage of. One that is currently offered by the city of phoenix is down payment assistance. Here is a link:
http://phoenix.gov/residents/stabilization/nsp/programs/homebuyer/index.html
This program offers $15,000 for down payment as a “loan” according to the website is paid back at the sell or refinance of the home. Might be worth checking out.
The lending world is also changing all the time and new programs are offered. Check with your lender or we have excellent resources also. So contact us if you need help in the financing department.
Visit our website for Arizona 360 Realty at www.sellaz360.com , or give us a call anytime with questions, to let us know of offers you find helpful or if you need help in any type of real estate. We would also like you to leave comments or questions.
At the end of last year we saw the inventory drastically reduce and the sell of conventional home sales increase. Giving existing home owners the opportunity to sell. With inventory low the possibility of home price increase good. Also many buyers were seeking the conventional purchase for the ease of the transaction as well as the possibility of purchasing a home that is not “as-is”.
We also hope to see some incentives for buyers and sellers this year to boost the market. These incentives are a great thing to take advantage of. One that is currently offered by the city of phoenix is down payment assistance. Here is a link:
http://phoenix.gov/residents/stabilization/nsp/programs/homebuyer/index.html
This program offers $15,000 for down payment as a “loan” according to the website is paid back at the sell or refinance of the home. Might be worth checking out.
The lending world is also changing all the time and new programs are offered. Check with your lender or we have excellent resources also. So contact us if you need help in the financing department.
Visit our website for Arizona 360 Realty at www.sellaz360.com , or give us a call anytime with questions, to let us know of offers you find helpful or if you need help in any type of real estate. We would also like you to leave comments or questions.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy New Year! Welcome 2012
Hey everyone, it has been some time since the last blog, but with the New Year here it is time to blog. First we would like to say happy New Year to everyone. With 2012 here there are many rumors, ideas and opinions what the New Year will bring. One thing for sure is at Arizona 360 Realty 2012 is set to bring continued success. We plan on adding agents as well as a focus on advertising. 2011 was a big year and 2012 is going to be even bigger. So happy new year to everyone and please let us know if there is anything we can help you with or if you know anyone that need help in the real estate world – we are here for you!
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