Golf Communities

Neighborhoods with Community Centers…Look Before You Leap

I just finished touring a neighborhood with a client that is looking for a new home.  This person was convinced that the amenities of a community center were a necessity on their short list of features in a new home.  We toured the facility which boasted a heated pool, gym, tennis courts, etc., along with a lengthy list of social activities and the big one, basic cable.  The cost?  $200.00 per month.  Not a bad price if you are able to abandon the cost of your current gym membership and start working out basically at home; if you like tennis and want to swim year round in a public pool.  If all of these benefits aren’t going to be used however, carefully consider the cost.  If you are a member of a gym and decide to switch or change your work out and want to cancel the membership to save money, you can.  BUT, when you are living in a development where the HOA includes the amenities, you will literally have to move to end the cost of the frills.  Ask your realtor to get a comparison of the HOA for similar projects witha similar home and really consider if the cost is a savings, or just an unnecessary expense that will weigh down your pocketbook and curtail other extracurricular... 

Anthem, a Golf Community with Views Galore and More!

Anthem. An unincorporated city located just 35 miles from the the hustle and bustle of Phoenix. A beautiful and picturesque golf community with mountain and desert views everywhere you look. Located in the Sonoran Desert, this Del Webb community is one of Arizona’s best. With mountain views and incredible desert  sunsets this is the place you have in mind when you think of moving to Arizona. Especially this time of year! It’s 72 degrees right now! And it’s 4:30 our time. Oh my. With townhouses from $89,500 to Ultra Luxurious homes at $840K, there are homes priced for nearly everyone. Come on. Call me at 602-738-8236. Follow this link to learn more about what this awesome area has to offer you. http://www.clubcorp.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=PCH&MFCODE=AMGCC&SUBGRP=15 Michael Manning EXP Realty, LLC 602-738-8236 michael.manning@phoenixpowersearch.com  

So Your Offer has Been Accepted: Action Steps Following Accepted Offer

Order your home inspection immediately. Per the contract there is a specific number of day inspection period which begins on the date the purchase offer is accepted. You and your agent will have pre-determined the inspection period and listed it in the purchase offer. I can give you the name of two different inspections companies that I have dealt with in the past. HouseMaster 480-345-8570 Ecospec Home Inspections 602-332-7132 Home inspection companies will generally do an overview of the home. Making sure things work such as appliances, toilets, hot water heaters, fixtures, HVAC units etc. They are not specialty contractors.If you wish to have specialty inspections performed such as roofing, pool, lead based paint, radon gas etc. you will need to contact a specialty inspection company and/or a specialty contractor to have these types of inspections performed. Again remember to make arrangements for these inspections immediately following your offer being accepted and that they have been completed within your inspection period. I have an additional list of contractors and inspectors that I can provide you with if you wish, feel free to contact me anytime. Contact your lender if the... 

Hang Your Christmas Lights in Arizona

As I was driving along the other day I wondered where the idea of Christmas lights came from. Each year thousands of people spend countless hours preparing their homes with strands of lights and extensive decorations to ring in the holiday season. So I went on a quest to share the origins of Christmas lights with our EXP Realty travelers and home buyers, and share some of the excellent displays of holiday cheer in my neighborhood. Originally the custom was to decorate a Christmas tree with lights, but it wasn’t until the 1960s in the U.S. when tract housing become increasing popular that lining the eaves of homes with lights grew in popularity. Back in the 17th century a tradition of using small candles to light up the tree started. It took a couple of centuries before the practice grew in popularity and spread to Germany and Eastern Europe. Initially the candles were melted against the tree or attached with pins. Later in the 19th and 20th century candle holders were used and later lanterns which held the candles. With the advent of electricity Christmas tree decoration was ready to take a big leap. Towards the end of the 19th century; 1882 to be exact, Edward Johnson an assistant... 

Villa Antigua Scottsdale Condo $169,900

This Villa Antigua Scottsdale condo is an absolutely gorgeous home, it looks like a model. This is luxury living at its best! It is very open and bright and is next to walking and running paths. It is nestled in a gated community with a fabulous clubhouse, two heated swimming pools, and a great tennis court. Also for your enjoyment there are barbecue and picnic areas, an exercise and fitness room and a business center. Numerous upgrades have been completed throughout the home. Updated AC unit in 2004, laminated wood floors, ceiling fans, faux wood blinds throughout custom Venetian plaster, wireless alarmsystem, and energy efficient window treatments in front of home. For more info and photos of this home please visit the Flex MLS link http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?rfq06yeiexi,12,1 This Villa Antigua home is located in the heart of Scottsdale. If your looking for golf your new home is located just minutes from numerous golf courses. Here are a list of just a few, and links (no pun intended) to the different clubs so you can arrange a tee time. Continental Golf Course http://www.continentalgc.com/layout9.asp?id=172&page=3239 Talking Stick Golf Club http://www.talkingstickgolfclub.com/index.php Camelback... 

Are you an FHA buyer but still “on the fence” about buying?

There have been many rumors flying around regarding the expected adjustments to the FHA loans provided. Do you want to use FHA financing due to the lower down payment requirements, experiencing some credit issues and or wanting to ask the seller to contribute up to 6% concession? If you are and are counting on utilizing FHA loan products for the purchase of your new home, but aren’t quite ready to get off the fence…You may want to re-think your current position. Per a recent article in the Chicago Tribune – FHA-insured mortgages have become the loan of choice — realistically, the only option available since the private mortgage industry’s problems arose — for consumers who are eager to purchase a home but don’t have a significant down payment or stellar credit history. Currently, borrowers have to make at least a 3.5 percent down payment and have a minimum FICO credit score of 500, but most participating lenders require borrowers to have a score of 620 or higher. Those lending requirements have meant a banner year for the FHA. It has insured almost 30 percent of home purchases — more than 75 percent of which are to first-time homebuyers —... 

Arizona Golf Course Communities-Seville Country Club

The Seville Golf and Country Club is located in Gilbert,Arizona. The Seville Golf Course is an 18-hole course measuring over 7000 yards. It offers clubhouse, banquet facility, sports club and pools that have spectacular views of the San Tan Mountains. Seville is a master planned community that boasts walking trails, a community clubhouse, lakes, playing fields and outstanding views.  There are currently 58 homes that are active in the MLS.  They range in price from the $100,000’s to $1.7M.  Click on the link below to view these Seville homes for sale. click here  

Buyer Needs A Home!

Buyer looking for a 3+ bedrm/3+bath 1 level home with a pool. $300K-$425K, prefers golf community. Looking at Estrella Mountain Ranch, Anthem, Anthem at Sun City, Litchfield Park. Contact Michael Manning  602-738-8236 michael.manning@phoenixpowersearch.com HomeSmart BuyerTours Team  

Call to Action! $8,000.00 Tax Credit Going Away!

The $8,000.00  Tax Credit is going to expire in just 60 days, on November 30, 2009. That means you, as a first time homebuyer will not be able to purchase a short sale. It will not close in time to take advantage of this fantastic program. And bank owned properties are getting very close to that time line as well.  Nearly 50% of the homes sold to first time buyers were sold because of this program. That has been a boon to our economy and a big help in reducing foreclosures and short sale inventory. When that inventory is reduced enough, builders will start building and people will start working again. This is not only important to the individual, but to our economy as well. It is very important for everyone, from potential first time buyers to Realtors, Lenders to New Home Builders to e-mail or call their Congressman. Tell them it is of the utmost importance that they work to extend this program. And the time is now! Let’s keep things going in the right direction. Please do it now. To make it simple, I have included Arizona Congress and Representatives web address’s and phone numbers. If you want me to write it for you just contact me with your info. I will be happy... 

The Highest Offer Doesn’t Always “Win”

When the market was at it’s peak, I witnessed agents writing offers on the hoods of their cars for a newly-listed home I showed to my clients. The agents and their cars were lined up like a Nascar race along the street.  It was one of the craziest experiences I have ever seen in my career! It appeared as if a gun had fired, and the Realtors were in a race to the “write an offer as fast as you can” finish line. My clients fell in love with this home and wanted to submit an offer. They were anxious that so many offers were being written right before their eyes on the driveway, but felt it was worth the competition to own this home. As the agents were scrambling for their pens and shuffling papers around, I was on the phone with the listing agent establishing rapport with her. I inquired and listened as she explained what was important to her seller’s in an offer. “A solid offer from a solid buyer” was what she told me. What did they really mean? Hmmm…This is where your Realtor needs to accurately read between the lines. We went ahead and offered full asking price (solid) because of the activity on the home, and I suggested a $10K earnest deposit... 

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