As the residents of Estrella Mountain Ranch themselves put it, “We’ve all come from different places and discovered something special here in the Sonoran Desert.  As we make our way up the hill along Estrella Parkway and approach two beautiful lakes and the scenic golf course framed by the Sierra Estrella Mountains, we know we’re home in a place unlike any other.”  The area around Estrella Mountain Ranch also offers a wide variety of events and activities.  Below are just 10 of those that are within 10 minutes of this inviting community:

Estrella Mountain Regional Park

Estrella Mountain Regional Park  comprises almost 20,000 acres, most of which is still pristine desert.  The developed area of the Park contains 8 major mixed use trails (hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding) of more than 33 miles, a 9.5 mile competitive track, campgrounds, two baseball fields and a large horse staging area.  The Park also boasts the county’s only grassy picnic area, a golf course, and a professional level rodeo arena.  The address is 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear.  The park is open 365 days a year.  Telephone: 623-935-2505.

White Tank Mountain Regional Park

At 30,000 acres the White Tank Mountain Regional Park is the largest in the County system.  The Park features extensive campgrounds, eleven major trails and a ten mile competitive track.  The barrier-free Waterfall Trail, though only one mile in length, is the most visited trail in the system, featuring trail-side petroglyphs, varied desert scenery and plants, and a seasonal waterfall.  The Park is located at 13025 N. White Tank Mountain Road in Wadell, which is about 10 miles northwest of Goodyear.  The park is open 365 days a year.  Telephone: 623-935-2505.

Sierra Estrella Wilderness

Bordered entirely on the north and east by the Gila Indian Reservation, Sierra Estrella Wilderness contains knife-edged ridge-lines, steep slopes, and rocky canyons, one of the most rugged mountainous areas of Arizona.  From September to March, you can enjoy any one or more of the following activities:  biking, boating, camping, caving, climbing, hiking/backpacking, water sports, picnicking, wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and more!   There are services and facilities that include campgrounds with showers, restrooms, and drinking water, a marina, rental cabins, cultural-historic sites and exhibits.

Golf Courses

There are numerous golf courses surrounding this area including Tuscany Falls at Pebble Creek, Palms Course, Fairways Golf Center and Eagles Nest at Pebble Creek.

Wildlife World Zoo

Located immediately north of Goodyear in Litchfield Park, the Wildlife World Zoo has Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals with over 2,400 individual animals representing more than 400 exotic and endangered species.  The state’s first Aquarium has now opened at the Zoo – 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park.  Their phone number is 623-935-WILD.

West Valley Arts Council

The West Valley Arts Council (WVAC) invites audiences of all art forms to include dance, music, and theatre.  In addition to public performances, WVAC is gaining recognition across the state and nation as a significant force in arts education.  The Council provides arts education and initiatives that directly serve more than 40,000 children annually.  Following are just a few of the programs WVAC provides:
WVAC Arts Advantage:  These 60-minute performances feature a variety of artists in order to expose elementary-age students to many art forms.  More than 1,000 students participate each year.  KidTix:  Free tickets are made available to selected WVAC concerts for students who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend.  Missoula Children’s Theatre:  This one-week residency for students aged 5-18 introduces participants to the world of live theatre.  The program starts with auditions and ends with a full staged performance of a classic fairytale.  Missoula fills a void for students who would otherwise have to travel outside of the community for theatrical experience.  You can check out their website for upcoming public events.

Events

The City of Goodyear sponsors seasonal events throughout the year to include the Family Concert Series where families can come together to enjoy some of the best bands in the southwest!  Families can bring lawn chairs and blankets as well as food and beverages and listen to a wide variety of musical performances for the whole family.   There are also on-site vendors available.  The concerts are FREE!

Skate Park

Come on down to the Goodyear Skate Park – located in the Goodyear Community Park at  3151 N. Litchfield Rd., Goodyear – for exciting demonstrations by skateboarding experts.  Check out the latest equipment at vendor booths & presentations.  Skate Fest takes place in the Spring here and includes raffle prizes, food and merchandise vendors, and music provided by a live DJ.

City Market

City Market takes place at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, on the 1st Saturday of every month from October through May (with the exception of March when Spring training takes place).  The market offers fresh produce, and arts and crafts.  The schedule and details can be found on the Goodyear Special Events website.

Movie Night At The BallPark

Do you miss the drive-in movie theater?  Well you can drive on over to Goodyear Ballpark and watch FREE, family-rated movies with your family and friends!  There’s a movie every month from May through October.  You can find the calendar of movies at the website.   Parking and admission are FREE and concessions are available.  Goodyear Ballpark is located at 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ 85338.

Need a title company or inspector?  I searched around for some reputable title companies and inspectors throughout the Phoenix Metro area.  These companies all provide the same basic service so the only thing that distinguishes them from each other is their reputation for quality service.  I based the  list below on favorable referrals.  I added some contact and company information.

Home Inspector: Buyers & Sellers Property Inspections LLC

AZ Cert.# 43362, InterNACHI Member, BBB Member
Website: www.BuyersSellersPi.com
Email: BuyersSellersPi@aol.com
Phone: (602) 703-9607
This company began in 2005.  The owner, Dave Hill, promises that a maximum of 2 inspections are scheduled per day.  Hill states, “Unlike commission driven inspectors, I like to take my time and provide you a quality, detailed inspection.  You will get your money’s worth at Buyers & Sellers Property Inspections!”  He even offers a link on his company website for you to check out the Standards of Professional Practice for Arizona Home Inspectors.  Hill also provides a report and summary that is easy to read and includes color photos.

Buyers & Sellers Inspections includes:

• FREE 90 day warranty for buyers and sellers
• FREE security alarm inspection
• Errors and Omissions Insurance to protect you!
• Scheduling the termite inspection for you as needed

Home Inspector: Sun West Home Inspections

Phone: (602) 999-8166
Email: azsunwest@cox.net

The owner of Sun West, Jose Martinez, strongly encourages clients to accompany him during inspections and to ask questions during the inspection process.  He guarantees customers will get a comprehensive report that is easy to understand, including digital photos.  Everything identified during the inspection is included in the report.  Jose’s clients say he is never in a rush and provides simple explanations and possible solutions to issues for customers.  They also say he is easy to work with and is very accommodating to client schedules.

Termite Inspector: SunWest Termite and Pest Management

Phone: (480) 964-3288
Address: 2505 N Bellview, Mesa, AZ 85203

This company began in 1988 and is based out of Mesa, AZ.  They provide termite inspections as well as a variety of pest control services.

Title Company: Fidelity National Title Company

Fidelity Title has branches throughout the valley in Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, and Goodyear.
The office referred to me is located at 60 E Rio Salado Parkway, 11th Floor, Tempe AZ.
Website: www.fntarizona.com
Phone: (480) 214-4500

Title Company: First American Title Company

First American Title started all the way back in 1889 in Orange County California.  The company has branches throughout the valley that are easily found on the web.  The one referred to me was the Tempe office, located at 2125 E Warner Road, #103 Tempe, AZ.  There is also a location on 7805 S Hardy Dr., #109, in Tempe.  I was told they have friendly staff and are very thorough.  They have a lot of offices making it convenient for clients to go to their closings as well as plenty of experience in underwriting title policies for other title companies.
Website: www.firstam.com
Phone: (480) 777-0614

In an effort to encourage sellers to short sale their homes rather than let them go to foreclosure, in  September the Arizona Department of Housing (AZDH) began accepting applications for a new program where they will offer $4,500 to sellers and 3% of the purchase price to buyers for help with closing costs on homes in short sale.  The new program is in response to lackluster participation in the existing program aimed at helping struggling homeowners modify the principal balance on their current loan.

The AZDH offers various programs to try and help struggling homeowners keep their homes as well.  Under the unemployment mortgage aid program, unemployed Arizona homeowners can receive temporary payment assistance for up to 24 months while they seek employment.  Additionally, those who qualify can apply for the aforementioned Principal Reduction Program. 

The Principal Reduction Program provides a loan modification utilizing principal reduction of up to $50,000 with a matching contribution from participating lenders to reduce the mortgage payment to 31% of the homeowner’s monthly income.  Participants must meet certain requirements, including eligible hardship, property type, loan balance, income level, and other conditions.

While this could be good news for struggling homeowners, the largest servicers and lenders are not required to accept any terms issued by the AZDH and have only agreed to 6 modifications in the state to date.

Still for those who qualify, these programs could help homeowners save their homes from foreclosure as well as salvage their credit.  Worth looking into at http://www.housingaz.com/.

Ever wonder what the advantages are to having a good REALTOR?  What can they do for besides just find you a house?  The list below will gives a broader view of the numerous advantages to working with a reputable, experienced REALTOR.  A REALTOR will:

• Go over your home requirements, wants, needs and desired locations
• Provide information on all homes available in the areas of your choice
• Find all homes that meet your needs
• Be your source for answering questions
• Show you the areas and homes you select while also locating schools, businesses, shopping areas and recreational facilities
• Help in negotiating the purchase of the house including the right price
• Prepare the purchase contract and necessary addenda for the purchase of the home according to your instructions
• Prepare a complete estimate of settlement costs for a home you wish to make an offer on
• Introduce you to several financial lenders and help obtain the best terms for the purchase of your home
• Submit all offers and counteroffers on the home promptly
• Coordinate inspections and walk-throughs of a desired home
• Promptly communicate the status of your transaction while in escrow

So you can see how a good real estate agent can make life so much easier when you are searching for just the right home.  Especially for first time home buyers.  They will also communicate with the listing agent for any necessary communication with the sellers, can recommend good home warranty companies, insurance carriers, help you gather information, and much, much more. 

The Phoenix real estate market is hot right now so contact Show Appeal Realty and get a reputable, experienced real estate agent to help you find just the right home for you with everything you want and need at just the right price!

There was an increase in home prices for the fourth month in a row as of July around most of the nation. According to the S&P/Case-Shiller index, there was an increase in home prices month over month from April – July which is typical during spring and summer seasons. Of course, we are not in a typical market so even with an increase in home prices, most markets are still struggling to return to their levels a year ago.

Home Buyer Tax Credit

Notably, price increases during this time were also spurred by the June 30th deadline of the federal government’s home buyer tax credit incentive. It’s also noteworthy that foreclosure filings have been decreasing month-over-month and when that happens it contributes to an increase in home prices since distressed property sells for far lower prices than typical homes.

Consumer Confidence Index

Even the Consumer Confidence Index is a bit unstable and unpredictable right now. It did increase somewhat in July to 59.5, but then had a decline again in August to 45.2 followed by a minimal increase in September to 45.4.

Economists note that there are a variety of conflicting signals in the current market. Overall, they predict that with weak employment growth, global economic crises, and low consumer confidence overall, the housing market will still see some bleak months as the year comes to a close.

Phoenix Home Prices Still Declining

For those of us locally, home prices are in more of a decline than other states nationwide. In fact, Phoenix and Las Vegas were the only two places in the housing market nationally where prices actually declined in July. Compared to a year ago when Phoenix prices had declined 8.8 percent in the same time period.

So, when checking out the national market and price trends, we have to remember, that we are not among the “norm.” What that does mean however, is that Phoenix is still a great place to buy homes at very low prices.

I saw an interesting report today about whether it’s more economical to rent or own homes in Maricopa and Pinal counties.  It had a comparison ratio of median purchase price to median annual rent.  The lower the ratio, the better it would be to own a home.  The higher the ratio, the better it would be to rent.  Ratios of 15 or lower favor owning a home.  From 16-20, there’s no significant difference.  Anything over 20 means renting a home is the way to go.

All 25 cities surveyed in Maricopa and Pinal counties have a ratio where owning is more beneficial.  The lowest ratio is in Florence (5.0), followed by Coolidge (5.5). Phoenix was third, with a ratio of 5.9.

Here’s a look at the rest of the cities surveyed and their ratios, in ascending order:

• Casa Grande, 6.3
• El Mirage, 6.5
• Glendale, 6.7
• Tolleson, 7.0
• Avondale, 7.8
• Mesa, 8.2
• Buckeye, 8.3
• Maricopa, 8.3
• Laveen, 8.7
• San Tan Valley, 8.9
• Goodyear, 9.1
• Peoria, 9.1
• Tempe, 9.1
• Chandler, 9.7
• Surprise, 10.1
• Sun City, 10.5
• Gilbert, 10.8
• Litchfield Park, 11.2
• Queen Creek, 12.8
• Sun City West, 14.9
• Scottsdale, 15.6
• Fountain Hills, 15.8

Six Reasons to Buy a Home Instead of Renting:

1. Why pay your landlord’s mortgage payment with interest when you could spend the same amount of money in this market and own your own home?
2. Property taxes and mortgage interest are both tax deductible.
3. You don’t have to adhere to the landlord’s restrictions about how you decorate, landscape, or upgrade your home.
4. Owning a home can provide you and your family with a sense of stability and comfort.
5. When you own a home, it’s your asset – build equity for yourself, not your landlord.
6. Buying a home in today’s market is just like buying a stock when it’s low and selling it when it’s high – homes will greatly increase in value when the market inevitably turns around so there’s a great chance to profit here.

So as I’ve been saying, it’s a buyer’s market here in Arizona.  The list of reasons goes on and on.  Ultimately, with unconventionally low rates and prices, and a surplus of inventory, you can’t go wrong with buying a home here today.  Add in foreclosures and short sales, and you have quite the buyer’s market.  So, snatch it up folks!

Tempe, Arizona – a city named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece – is a landlocked college town alive with excitement and vitality and is growing rapidly.  Bordered by Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, and Mesa, Tempe is Arizona’s seventh largest city and the home of Arizona State University (ASU), the third largest university in the U.S.  The university boasts nearly 50,000 students from all over the nation and students from more than 120 countries enroll each year.

Tempe is a vibrant city with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, entertainment, and retail.  In downtown Tempe near the university, Mill Avenue provides all of these amenities and more.

Tempe has a diverse economic base as well with over 750 high-tech firms that employ a workforce of more than 6,000 highly trained people.  The U.S. Airways corporate office is located in the city along with other major companies such as Chase Bank Card Services and Motorola.

But Tempe is not just a great place to find a job, it is a blend of corporate activity, manufacturing, residential neighborhoods, and recreation.  Some of the top Tempe attractions include the Tempe History Museum, the ASU Art Museum, Sea Life Arizona, Kiwanis Park, Tempe Beach Park, Big Surf and many, many more.  Families have found Tempe provides a wide range of housing and a well-rounded environment for children.  With affordable Tempe housing costs and the lower cost of living in Phoenix compared to the rest of the nation, buying a home anywhere in the Phoenix area is a great real estate investment, but Tempe is a prime location with its reasonable housing prices and community spirit.  Tempe offers a variety of homes to suit every lifestyle from a home on the lake, to a ranch-style home with corrals, to trendy condos, there is something for everyone.

Not only does the city boast the Sun Devil Stadium but also Tempe Diablo Stadium Complex which was extensively renovated in 2005.  The stadium and all of its facilities overlook Gene Autry Field and the beautiful Marriott Buttes Resort.  Not only is the complex one of the more picturesque facilities, it is one of the most accessible complexes in the Phoenix Metro area.

The Tempe area is additionally known for its cultural festivals.  Some of the largest festivals in the Southwest are held here.  The Tempe Festival of the Arts is just one example.  Held each Fall and Spring, the city streets are closed and artists and crafts vendors set up their tents along with food and commercial vendors.  Musicians come to play their tunes and everyone is welcome to enjoy the festivities for free.

So as you can see, Tempe has much to offer employees, students, tourists, and residents alike.  When you add the gorgeous Arizona weather and the equally enticing surrounding areas like Phoenix and Scottsdale, it’s easy to see why the population of Tempe is growing rapidly.  Come join the fun and thriving opportunities in Tempe, Arizona!

Trying to sell a home in today’s market can be much like trying to sell swampland in Florida!  Sellers are having to fix up, price down, and sit and wait for their house to sell.  Sellers can offer incentives to try and sell their home but both buyers and sellers have to ensure that they don’t exceed the lender’s allowable seller-paid assistance.  In the end, the condition and location of the home are the major selling factors.  But, with the right incentives, sellers may be able to do less and get more for their home.  Bottom line is how low the seller is willing to go, incentives included, to sell their home.  Here are six of the most common incentives used by sellers today:

1.  Pay Points (Buy Down Rate)

Sellers can offer to pay mortgage points for a buyer.  One point is 1% of the loan amount, charged as prepaid interest.  Instead of having an interest rate at 6% for example, a seller could offer to pay points so that the rate is only 4%.  This can be huge for the buyer because it not only allows them to worry less about when they should “lock in” their interest rate but is also an indication to the buyer that they are basically getting better than the market rate.  In addition, the buyer is saving money over the life of the loan AND seller paid points are typically tax deductible when the buyer goes to file taxes next.  How many buyers could resist all of this?

2.  Pay Closing Costs

Sellers can offer to pay various costs in closing to entice the buyer such as taxes, title fees, and insurance.  Closing costs can range between 2-7% (according to Freddie Mac) so many buyers will be swayed by aid in paying these costs.  Especially if they’re struggling to make a down payment.  This has become almost expected by buyers here in Phoenix, as sellers compete in the market.

3.  Pay Toward Down Payment

A great incentive for buyers is having part or all of their down payment paid by the seller.  Especially for first time home buyers and those who just don’t have the additional cash.  Buyers should remember however, that they will probably end up financing the extra amount because in order to do this, the seller will probably be less likely to come down as much on the price.

4.  Buy A Home Warranty

Buying a home warranty for the buyer is a good seller incentive since it can include major things in the home such as plumbing and cooling and heating systems.  Those of us who live in Arizona know how valuable the cooling system is for example!  For just a few hundred dollars typically, the seller is offering the buyer peace of mind as well as incurring the cost of the warranty.  In these instances, the buyer may want to choose the home warranty company and should certainly understand the coverages and terms of the warranty.

5.  Pay HOA Fees

Sellers typically pay for HOA transfer fees and the like in escrow but they can also offer to pay for upcoming HOA dues and other HOA fees as an incentive to the buyer.  Here in Arizona as an example, HOA fees can include the transfer fee, dues, sometimes additional maintenance fees, and if there is more than one community association involved, this can double the fees altogether.  So the seller can save the buyer thousands of dollars in fees with just HOA costs alone.

6.  Pay Broker Fees

Sellers can also offer to pay for any broker fees associated with the buyer’s loan.  More than 90% of buyers in the market today are represented by a broker who requires a broker fee.  Depending on the price of the home, this can be pretty costly and having it paid for pretty appealing to the buyer.  Not to mention that by including this in the offer, the seller is also likely to have brokers showing their home more since a broker’s incentive will make the home stand out among the multitude of listings out there right now.

8.  Price Reduction

Reducing the price is probably the most common buyer incentive.  If a buyer is stalled between two similar properties, they will surely go with the one that is cheaper.  Sellers should definitely try other incentives first before reducing their price such as including an HD TV or some furniture with the house.  If all else fails, price will definitely be a good motivator.

It used to be that buying a home was the most solid investment a person could make.  Not so anymore.  Buyers today have more trepidation than ever.  But there are things you can do to minimize the risk of purchasing a home:

1)  Get a mortgage loan with a fixed interest rate

Statistics show that adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are increasingly popular because of their low initial rates.  Terms on ARMs are also more lenient today with lower lifetime interest rate caps for example.  However, ARMs are not as stable and thus, less comforting – to newer home buyers especially.  The rate may be higher initially but you know it’s never going to change.  With ARMs the rate can change after a specified period, sometimes significantly.   The market is sure to turn around and when it does, ARM loans will prove to have been a higher risk investment than fixed rate loans and rates will surely increase dramatically.  Not to mention that with a fixed rate loan, you know what you will pay for the life of the loan, which is a guarantee an ARM loan cannot promise.

2)  Have a plan

As I’ve mentioned on some other posts, when buying a home today, it’s wise to consider where you’ll be 10 years from now.  In this market, you should avoid buying something you’ll grow out of in 5-10 years, or that you can’t afford if there is a substantial life change such as a loss of employment.  The volatility is still around folks and probably will be for some time so you won’t want to try to sell your home in such a market.  Try to buy at an affordable price and look at homes that you know will sustain you for at least 5-10 years.  Consider your location as well.  The harder hit the area in the recession, the longer it will take to recover.

3)  Pay attention to the home inspection

A home inspection will be done before the purchase of your home is final.  Not only should you know what is on this report, you should know how much it’s going to cost and who is going to be responsible for that cost.  There are some items that sellers may be required to pay for, so find out what those are and make sure they are addressed before closing.  Inspectors generally look at structural elements such as roofs and foundations, plumbing, electrical items, and major appliances.  You can inquire with your agent for more information.  There is typically an objection period before the closing where you can address items that are unsatisfactory (require repair).  You can also request more specialized inspections.  Just as with home warranties, you can reduce risk by being aware of and understanding the home inspection and by possibly paying for other inspections up front.  Be sure to communicate with your agent to find out what the home inspection contained and what you will or will not be responsible for.

4)  Ask about the HOA

Find out if there is a homeowner’s association (in Arizona there almost always is), and become familiar with their guidelines.  Think about how this may affect you in the long run and possibly even make you want to move out.  I’ve had some interesting experiences with HOAs.  One that did not like the breed of dog we owned and tried to make us get rid of him.  One that after 7 years of on-time payments and not one request, refused to remove trees on common land that had become overgrown and shed into our pool!  These kind of things can actually make you second guess your purchase.  And as mentioned earlier, this is not a market you want to second guess in.  You could lose a lot of money by doing that today.

5)  Get a home warranty

Buying a home warranty can alleviate a lot of stresses to homeowners, especially first time buyers, by covering the major parts of the home and appliances alike.  This can be paid in escrow for a few hundred dollars on up, depending on coverage, and for the one time fee you can get a year or more of coverage on all major appliances, furnaces, water heaters and more.  Then by simply renewing it, you can keep your coverage from year to year.  There are a plethora of home warranty companies in the valley such as Fidelity Home Warranty.  You can inquire with your real estate agent or check with a home warranty company directly for more information.  For a relatively inexpensive cost in closing you may buy a lot of piece of mind down the road.  In some cases, the seller may even agree to pay for the warranty.  Talk with your agent to see what you can negotiate.

It’s always important to be aware of these things when you’re buying a home and even more so if you want to minimize your risk.  Communicate with your agent about your concerns and the resources that are available to help you avoid risk and have some peace of mind when you make what is sure to be one of the most important purchases of your lifetime.

When it comes to real estate in the past you’d always hear, “location, location, location” and that was the key to finding the right property.  Recently however, studies show that for today’s home buyers lifestyle options are now a higher priority.  Things such as health and safety, family-friendly neighborhoods, and cultural activities are the prominent factors for home buyers in buying their homes.  Not that location doesn’t matter anymore, but today’s home buyers seek a sense of belonging in a community as well as creating a desirable lifestyle with the home they buy.

Of people who were surveyed on the subject about 84% were homeowners and an additional 10 % had plans to buy within three years.
Here are some survey results:

•    Ease of commuting by car: 38%
•    Access to health and safety services: 34%
•    Family-friendly neighborhood: 33%
•    Availability of retail stores: 32%
•    Access to cultural activities: 21%
•    Public transportation access: 19%
•    Nightlife and restaurant access: 18%
•    Golf-friendly area–access to golf courses: 6%

For sellers this is an opportunity to target buyers based on their priorities and interests.  Much like a business who targets their market so they can build a brand and solicit to consumers, now sellers can do the same thing.

Often sellers focus on the upgrades and amenities in their homes.  Even though those things are relevant, any home can be upgraded.  Being in a great location near shopping, public transportation, or in a nice neighborhood is a huge plus and not always easy to find.

When showcasing a home, sellers should highlight these types of advantages.  Homes can be showcased in videos on social media sites and giving a taste of the neighborhood in a well-produced video can be a great marketing tool.  This type of storytelling can really increase interest in your home and, ultimately, the sales price.  Showcasing your home, neighborhood, and nearby restaurants allows potential buyers an opportunity to imagine the things that they would do if they lived in your home.  In today’s visual society many properties are viewed first, (and sometimes exclusively) on the Internet, so it’s worth making what buyers see online persuasive and valuable.  Seeing the home and what its surrounding area has to offer in a video is as close as buyers can get to actually experiencing it.  The next step is literally stepping into your home for a closer look.

A little extra effort and promotion to highlight what’s important to buyers may be just the ticket to make a sale faster and get you the price you’re hoping for!