This is a question I get asked almost daily and like most of us in the business, we know its coming, we are prepared with data and stats and folders full of info, but yet I am always a bit caught off guard when it hits me. Whether its from friends who know I am in Real Estate and want to just shoot the breeze, or family who dangle the potential of someday using me as their Realtor to get me to do things like, help them move or watch their dogs or baby sit for them or from Clients who really truly want to know because it affects their decision making process, I never know exactly what to say.

It’s not unlike the age old question of “Is the glass half empty or is it half full?”

The real answer to that question is…Depends who is ‘pouring’ and who is ‘drinking’! Right? I mean..if your pouring…then..of course its half full…but if your drinking, then well, it will appear to be half empty.

So the answer to the question of “How is the market” would then have to depend on who is “Pouring” and who is “Drinking” or in other words…it depends on who is “Buying” and who is “Selling”?

So, if you are a seller, then right now, the answer to the question is…Its not so great. In fact, its probably one of the worst times in recent history to try to sell a home. Not only are prices at all time lows, but there is a ton of inventory and you are competing with Banks who have cut rate prices on foreclosed homes, and you are dealing with Short Sale Sellers who are looking to get out from oppressive mortgages and are in a hurry to sell and willing to do anything or sell it for anything the bank will let them out for. So if you are a seller right now, then the picture being painted is no Picasso.

However, if you are Buying a home right now, then well my friend…the market couldn’t be better!

Not only are prices at an all time low, but there are a ton of homes to choose from and many of them are being listed by banks and sellers who are ultra motivated to get it off the books. (Sound familiar?) well, its the exact same set of circumstances that I just laid out as reasons why you shouldn’t sell. But now, those very same reasons are ideal conditions if you are on the other side of the coin.

So, if you are a buyer…not only are prices low, but so are interest rates, and my gut feeling is that they wont stay low for much longer. As a Country we are piling up the debt faster than they can print new money, so at some point that will all catch up and inflation is soon to follow and if you are a student of economy or you watch those cable money shows, you know that rising interest rates are soon to follow.

So if you are sitting on the fence thinking about buying a home, and you want to know “How’s the market?”

I would say…”It couldn’t be better”!

I just bought a home myself:)

No void remains empty forever, and the question at hand is ‘Can today’s existing real estate brokerages reengineer themselves into the right kind of new company to fill the void being created in the industry today?’”

For more information on the exciting opportunities we are creating for Real Estate Agents and the industry shift we are initiating contact me brian@phoenixpowersearch.com or call me immediately at 480-650-7712

With the average 30-year fixed rate falling to 5.17 percent, the number of total loan applications rose 4.4 percent over the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

We aren’t quite at the extreme lows we were seeing 6 months ago, but compared to 2003, when rates were as high as 6-7 percent, it seems like a gift and it’s certainly attracting more home buyers back to the fold.

Freddie Mac’s does a weekly survey and it showed that the lower U.S. mortgage rates may be due to the recent wave of positive reports that lean toward an economic recovery and a stabilization in the troubled housing market.

All of this is good news for HomeBuyers!

For more information feel free to contact me 480-650-7712 or email me brian@scottsdaleparadise.com

• Headlines and titles generate traffic (For formatting, keep under 70 characters)
• Pictures – Immediate attention grabbers
• Short Paragraphs – Don’t be afraid to break a thought into more than one paragraph
• Bolding The Killer Sentence – Ensure the casual reader gets the point
• Lists – Attention getting 101 (It’s easiest to use the BULLET & NUMBER list options in the post editor)
• Make your posts easy to scan
• Get to your point & break long extended entries into multiple posts
• Always Point to your Blog Post as many ways as possible via Links in Mass emails to your DataBase, Twitter, Facebook, ActiveRain etc.etc.etc.

Limited Dual Agency (as defined by Arizona’s Dept.of Real Estate)  - Is a relationship in which a real estate agent or broker represents both parties in a transaction.

Do you know dual agency is ILLEGAL or a banned practice in 35 out of 50 states in the country?

Do you know that limited dual agency is ALLOWED in Arizona? 

Do you know that by calling a for sale sign in a front yard, you are potentially creating or getting closer to creating an implied limited dual agency relationship with the listing agent?

Do you know that the listing agent will always have a superseding Fiduciary Responsibility to the SELLER? 

What is Fiduciary?

Fiduciary duty – The relationship of trust that buyers and sellers expect from a real estate agent.  This would include the ability to advocate and negotiate on the behalf of your clients best interests.

How can a listing agent who is Fiduciary to a seller, possibly also be looking out for a buyer’s best interest at the same time?

Using a Dual Agent to represent both you and the seller in a real estate transaction, would be like someone using the same lawyer as the person who is suing them in a civil court case. Would anyone in their right mind do that? Then why do buyers use listing agents to help them make offers, write up contracts, and help them buy the very same home, that they are trying to sell?

Buying a home, is not like buying a pair of pants or a car. When you go to buy a pair of pants or a car, you use the salesman who is standing in front of those pants or that car. But what if that salesman was bound by some standard to say to you…

“Just so you know, I have a responsibility to get the best price for this car possible and I have no loyalty to you the buyer and all my loyalties and powers to negotiate or advocate are on the stores behalf and I can offer none of that protection to you?

Would you still feel comfortable buying that car? or that pair of pants?

Well, in Arizona, an agent is Duty Bound to tell you up front that if there is a chance that you are entering a dual agent relationship, that they cannot be your advocate or look out for you. 

Now, they are duty bound to be honest and fair dealings, but they can at no time offer you advice or their skills and cares in how to get you the BEST DEAL possible. As a matter of fact, if there were found to be doing this, they could get fined, and possibly lose their license.

So, where does that leave you the buyer? Are you left out in the cold? 

Absolutely not!

In Arizona you can use a BUYER’s AGENT.

In Arizona, we have a system set up where the listing agents are willing to share their pre-negotiated commissions with a buyer’s agent who brings a brings a buyer to the table.

In Arizona, a Buyer’s Agent has a FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

to the BUYER!

In Arizona, your buyer agent will bring your camp to an even playing field with the sellers camp, because now you have a professional who has all the same skill, care and ability to negotiate, advocate and work STRICTLY ON YOUR BEHALF!

The best part is, its basically no additional cost to use a buyers agent, because Buyer’s Agents get paid from the listing agents Co-Broker Commission Agreement. In most cases the Buyer’s Agent will actually save you money, by being able to help you RUN DETAILED MARKET ANALYSIS and COMPARATIVE PRICING on RECENT SOLDS. They will be able to find out the status of a home, if its a short sale, REO, or if they are just upside down in their financing or whatever they can find out that will be useful to your decision making process. 

A buyer’s agent will do everything they can to provide the buyer with as much information they have access to, to put the buyer in the strongest buying position possible.

Don’t go into one of the biggest and most important deals of your life without an agent in your corner.

Contact me today, if you are un-represented…and you are thinking of making a home purchase!

brian@phoenixpowersearch.com or 480-650-7712

Carefree Arizona Living

Easy Street and Ho Hum Rd.

“Ahhhhh…..Carefree, Az does it’s name more than justice” with the slow flow and easy breezy way of life that many people wait their whole lives to enjoy.

Proverbial “Easy Street” comes to life in this vibrant painted little 1 horse town.

 As far as cowboy towns go, this is one of my favorites. Established in the 50′s as one of the first Arizona master planned communities, the locals quickly realized there were sitting on a gold mine of scenic and historic property views.

Carefree Art Gallery

 OK, there are quite a few world famous GOLF COURSES in Careefree too, so if you want to play 9 or 18 and then hit the stores…im sure the Mrs. wont mind

So whether you want to just have a bite to eat at a small ”OFF the Chain” restaurant or you want to raid the art or silver mines, You CANT MISS in this town.

Carefree Sun Dial

FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN

ART LOVER

There are a ton of Sculptures and Public Artworks sprinkled throughout Carefree that you can take days looking at, but the most famous has to be the Carefree Sundial. 

According to Wikipedia:

The Carefree sundial, designed by architect Joe Wong and solar engineer John Yellot, was erected in the Sundial Circle plaza in 1959 and is the “third largest sundial in the Western Hemisphere” The sundial, which points to the North Star, is made from a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. It measures 90 feet (27 m) in diameter. The metal gnomon, the shadow-casting portion of the dial, stands 35 feet (11 m) above the plaza and extends 72 feet (22 m).

If this sculpture is too big for you to try to lug home, then dont worry, there are a ton of great local Art Gallerys  and atrtesian boutiques that have smaller peices that are sure to fit in your hatchback….

Pecos Bill Rides in Carefree

ok maybe more like your Ford F150..but still.

A must stop for any Art Collector is Arizona Territory – Sculpture Garden

 Or swing through the Spanish Villages, a cool collection of shops, restaurants and more gallerys.

Spanish Village

Whether your looking to pick up some art, a Tommy Bahamas shirt, or just spend some chillaxing time with friends and family.  Carefree is one of the best places on to accomplish it.

Tommy Bahamas

Geography

Carefree is located at 33°49′38″N 111°55′25″W (33.827198, -111.923483). It is bordered by the city of Scottsdale to the south and the town of Cave Creek to the west. Carefree and Cave Creek are often thought of as a single community.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.9 square miles (22.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,927 people, 1,389 households, and 995 families residing in the town. The population density was 330.8 people per square mile. There were 1,769 housing units at an average density of 200.0/sq mi

There were 1,389 households out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together,and 28.3% were non-families. The average household size was 2.11

In the town the population was spread out with 12.7% under the age of 18, 2.0% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 40.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $88,702, and the median income for a family was $105,699. (WikiDemographics)

For More Information on Carefree, Arizona - contact me directly: brian@scottsdaleparadise.com or 480-650-7712

We barely made it to our seats because we wanted to experience the whole place. On the very top level they have dedicated a large portion of the upper level to the “Sandlot”.

 Its a giant KID ZONE that literally had lines of kids waiting to get in and run around and play.

They even have a  ”Toddler Zone”  that is perfect for your little shorties. My guy was just a little to short however, but he really wanted in.

“Next year little Buddy, I promise”

If you get hungry for something other than the usual ballpark fair,  Chase Field actually has a Friday’s Restaurant that has its own Box Seats section and is loaded with Flat Screens and tables that can see the field.

Hey, whats up Bobby Freeman (Musical Mascot).

No first Baseball game is complete without a trip to the Team Store!

and of course….the First Baseball Bat purchase…

 Louisville Slugger!

Nothing like taking in your first game.

The other day we had some Family in town, and when you live in Arizona, and have family in other states, especially back East, having Family in town is almost a monthly thing,  so we decided to take them to Old Town Scottsdale and walk around a bit.

 Scottsdale is regarded as an upscale tourist and shopping destination and as a representation of western American style. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as “a desert version of Miami’s South Beach” and as having “plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene”. 

 Eating & Shopping and Shopping & Eating are the main attractions to this vibrant little cultural hub. If you are into Art or Jewelry, Scottsdale’s Arts District is home to a high concentration of galleries showcasing some of the best Western and Southwestern art in the country. Throughout “Old Town”, shopkeepers sell quality Native American crafts, offering everything from hand-woven Navajo rugs to Zuni silver and turquoise jewelry.

One of my favorite things to do while visiting Old Town Scottsdale is the “Walking Tour”. scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/images/Downtown/Old+Town/Historic+Old+Town+Scottsdale+Walking+Tour.pdf 

Along the way you will really get to experience the full array of fun and festivities that take place in Old Town Scottsdale on a daily basis.

If you get tired of walking …you can always jump on a Horse Drawn Carriage Ride …

or catch the Scottsdale Trolley Car …to the Scottsdale Stadium or the Fashion Square Mall

When you want to take a break and get out of the heat or if your thirsty and you want to ”cut the dust” as Grandpa H. says…you can pop into a number of watering holes, one of my favorites is the “Rusty Spur” where you will have to squeeze into the saloon style doors to watch one of the live bands playing one of their favorite country, folk, or rockabilly songs.

http://www.rustyspursaloon.com/Home.aspx

One of the main attractions to Old Town is the Scottsdale Mall.

It is a beautiful park that is lined with Shops and Eateries and is buttressed by the ‘Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ scottsdaleperformingarts.org/  and the Hotel Oriental Mondrian. mondrianscottsdale.com/

The Scottsdale Mall is where on any given weekend you can find some sort of Festival, whether it be the world famous Scottsdale Culinary Fest, scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/

or the always packed Arts Festival, or any number of smaller venues. scottsdaleaz.gov/events.asp

For the real History Buff’s or even the novice, a real can’t miss along the Walking Tour is the “Little Red School House”, that has been turned into the Scottsdale Museum.

 scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/historiczoning/SHRrptLittleRed.pdf

There is something for everyone in Old Town Scottsdale…

You all come back now…”Ya Hear”!

 For more information on Old Town Scottsdale or anything else please contact me directly @ 480-650-7712 or email me brian@scottsdaleparadise.com

Great family and entertaining layout with beautiful finishes!!!Furnishings available by separate contract or will look at TRADE for Scottsdale or Paradise Valley Home.

Seller Can Carry Paper

Bed: 5 Bath: 6 Square Feet: 7373

Listed @ $3,600,000 will Look to TRADE for  Homes $1.9  and up.

or

If you have A property that you would like to POST ON THE HOUSE SWAP PAGE

Contact me: brian@phoenixpowersearch.com or 480-650-7712

My client has a 3 bedroom 1 bath house with detached garage, upstairs office, full bath, gas furnace, separate 200 amp service. Kitchen in main house has been completely remodeled with all stainless appliances (Jen Air) Granite counter tops, Marble mosaic floors.  Around 3000 total SF living space
 
The lot is 1.25 acres with pond in back. Across the street from Pine lake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Lake_(Washington)

Located 10 minutes from Costco Corporate headquarters, Employs aprox, 3500 people, 15 minutes from Microsoft, 20 minutes from Boeing, 30 minutes from ski resorts.     
 
Appraised last year for $700.000 The property is zoned R4 so you could build up to 4 homes on it.

If you would like to know more about this Home or the Details on a Swap

or

If you have A property that you would like to POST ON THE HOUSE SWAP PAGE

Contact me: brian@phoenixpowersearch.com or 480-650-7712