Over the past several years, the game and the rules of buying real estate have significantly changed. Today, the affordability and the ability of buying real estate in places like Scottsdale, Phoenix and throughout the Phoenix Valley Metro Area have changed. Unfortunately, the practices of lending have changed due to the significance of high foreclosures and short sales. They result the major losses in property values. Of course, the regulations have changed. Yet, the buyer is looking get the most of his or her purchasing value. Yes, the opportunities are there. When you are in the buying mode, you need to avoid significant mistakes.

Here are seven most common mistakes you need to avoid in buying real estate:

• Holding onto your home before buying real estate:

You must sell your home first! In this current market it may take longer to sell a home than you expect.  The one thing is, the lending process these days are strict, and there’s the possibility the loan could fall through because the buyer did not qualify to buy your home. Carrying that second mortgage is a major responsibility while you attempt to sell your sell your current home.

• Not addressing your Credit Score before buying real estate:

Lending practices and credit markets are tighter than ever these days. If you are looking for a lower interest rate, or most likely, getting a loan, you must have excellent credit score. If you have poor credit score, like a 580 score, then there maybe additional help for you. You can check your score at no additional costs.

• Skip the prequalification and pre-approval process before looking for real estate:

Not getting prequalified is a mistake of which you could be looking at homes well beyond your loan approval budget. Getting the preapproval will set you in a position to narrow your search based on your needs and the location you can afford. Plus, it’s a time saver for you and me as your buyer’s agent. Talk to a trusted lender and get pre-approved.

• Not knowing when to stay and when to walk away:

Yes, buyers have more power than ever in the negotiating process. Don’t fear to make a lower offer. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake of walking away because of a few thousands of dollars. Think of this way. A few thousands of dollars could translate to less than $100 a month on the mortgage. Not much money at all.

• Not knowing the total costs involved in buying real estate:

Many buyers, especially first time buyers need to know and understand the costs associated in buying a home. They include closing costs, title insurance, and lawyer fees as well as ongoing costs such as property taxes, homeowner association dues, utilities, and yard maintenance. Ask me or a mortgage representative to provide you with an average amount of additional closing costs so that you can work with them in your budget.

• Signing contracts with contingencies in real estate:

This could cost you big bucks if you make this critical mistake. Do not sign a contract allowing sellers stay in the homes for an extended period of time. You do not want to run the risk of losing your interest rate if you allow them to have extentions of staying in the home. If a deal falls through, then you are back to square one to search a home again. Have me explain the contract to you and explain any contingencies that are involved so you get a good understanding of what will occur.

• Not purchasing real estate protection plan:

When you purchase your home, you never know what problems may arise. Get at least a one year protection plan, or these problems will cost you big.

In conclusion of avoiding mistakes in buying real estate:

So buying real estate can be an exciting time of your life, but I want it to keep your anxiety levels down. If you are seeking real estate in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and throughout the Valley Metro Area, check out some of these homes:

Scottsdale (DC Ranch) Real Estate:

Showing properties 1 – 5 of 54. See more Dc Ranch community real estate.
(all data current as of 12/9/2011)

1. $399,000 : 20704 N 90th Place, Unit 1029, Scottsdale
   
   3 beds, 2.50 baths

   Home size: 2,074 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,355 sq ft

   

2. $425,000 : 18650 N Thompson Peak Parkway, Unit 1043, Scottsdale
   
   3 beds, 2.50 baths

   Home size: 2,430 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,375 sq ft

   

3. $799,000 : 9827 E Buteo Drive, Scottsdale
   
   4 beds, 3.50 baths

   Home size: 3,924 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,259 sq ft

   

4. $1,590,000 : 9810 E Thompson Peak Parkway, Unit 814, Scottsdale
   
   3 beds, 4.50 baths

   Home size: 4,600 sq ft

   Lot size: 42,334 sq ft

   

5. $539,000 : 9273 E Canyon View Road, Scottsdale
   
   4 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 2,563 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,513 sq ft

   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Scottsdale (Oldtown) Real Estate:

Showing properties 1 – 1 of 1. See more Old Town Scottsdale community real estate.
(all data current as of 12/9/2011)

1. $314,900 : 7770 E Camelback Road, Unit 3, Scottsdale
   
   2 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 2,377 sq ft

   Lot size: 4,404 sq ft

   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Phoenix (Desert Ridge) Real Estate:

Showing properties 1 – 5 of 15. See more Desert Ridge community real estate.
(all data current as of 12/9/2011)

1. $413,069 : 23321 N 41st Street, Phoenix
   
   4 beds, 2.50 baths

   Home size: 3,207 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,047 sq ft

   

2. $449,000 : 4018 E Adobe Drive, Phoenix
   
   5 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 3,507 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,405 sq ft

   

3. $195,000 : 5450 E Deer Valley Drive, Unit 1012, Phoenix
   
   2 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 1,246 sq ft

   

4. $369,391 : 4314 E Hashknife Road, Phoenix
   
   3 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 2,306 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,900 sq ft

   

5. $374,790 : 4312 E Knudsen Drive, Phoenix
   
   4 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 2,528 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,261 sq ft

   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Phoenix (Biltmore) Real Estate:

Showing properties 1 – 5 of 5. See more Biltmore community real estate.
(all data current as of 12/9/2011)

1. $275,000 : 5747 N 18th Street, Phoenix
   
   3 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 1,527 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,540 sq ft

   

2. $345,000 : 5136 N 31st Place, Unit 647, Phoenix
   
   2 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 1,319 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,315 sq ft

   

3. $494,999 : 2544 E Missouri Avenue, Phoenix
   
   5 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 2,996 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,377 sq ft

   

4. $550,000 : 3125 E Claremont Avenue, Phoenix
   
   3 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 2,879 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,272 sq ft

   

5. $625,000 : 3114 E Claremont Avenue, Phoenix
   
   4 beds, 2.50 baths

   Home size: 2,509 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,133 sq ft

   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Cave Creek Real Estate:

Showing properties 1 – 5 of 293. See more city of Cave Creek real estate.
(all data current as of 12/9/2011)

1. $217,500 : 4628 E Roy Rogers Road, Cave Creek
   
   4 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 2,564 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,422 sq ft

   

2. $1,150,000 : 7926 E Grapevine Road, Cave Creek
   
   3 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 3,062 sq ft

   Lot size: 6.83 ac

   

3. $215,000 : 6512 E Windstone Trail, Cave Creek
   
   3 beds, 2.00 baths

   Home size: 1,710 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.16 ac

   

4. $224,900 : 4619 E Laredo Lane, Cave Creek
   
   4 beds, 3.00 baths

   Home size: 2,132 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,625 sq ft

   

5. $224,900 : 4944 E Roberta Drive, Cave Creek
   
   3 beds, 2.50 baths

   Home size: 1,963 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,290 sq ft

   

Clear clutter away from rooms, clutter make the rooms look smaller and of course the buyer will think that the rooms are small too. The kitchen counters should be clutter free also.  furniture that is not used put in storage.   Move your furniture around in your home, sometimes the dining room become the office.   Potential buyers need to see each room has a purpose.

Rent furniture or accessories to fill in empty spaces.  Most furniture will show wear  and tear you may want to rent some newer looking furniture, you can also rent accent pieces like vase, dishes and more.

About the program:

America’s Home Buyer Solution Gift Program is designed to provide eligible homebuyers a gift of up to 2.5% of the sales price to be applied towards the FHA down payment and/or allowable closing costs for the purchase of a home.

Targeted towards quality affordable housing, approved homebuyers can purchase a home for as little as 1% down payment. The program also allows for the remaining 1% down payment to be gifted from any FHA allowable source.

The program is offered exclusevely through The Lending Company, a Direct Endorsed US Housing and urban Development lender. There is no requirement for the gift to ever be repaid. It is offered in concert with an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

This is not a seller-paid down-payment assistance program and the seller is not required to participate.

Program Benefits:

• The program provides up to a 2.5% gift to FHA qualified home buyers
• Remaining down payment is as low as 1% (as above, if market conditions allow, down payment from borrower may be as low as 1/2%)
• Seller can and is encouraged to contrbute towards the closing costs to further assist the homebuyer
• Income requirements match USDA Income Guides
• Competitive interest rates
• Flexible FHA approval guidelines
• Not limited to first-time homebuyers
• Standard FHA appraisal
• Owner Occupied purchase only
• 1 units allowed
• FHA approved condominiums allowed
• Loan limits match FHA guidelines for each county
• Minimum credit score of 640
• Successful credit restoration allowed
• Automated AUS/DU approve/eligible determination required
• FHA qualified Non-occupant co-borrower/co-signer allowed
• No prepayment penalties
• Must complete approved Home Buyer Counseling Course
• Must meet income guidelines for approval
  Call Jeff Thomas (602-610-4030 jthomas@thelendingco.com) with the Lending Company to see if you qualify for this great program, and then callTheBrooksteamaz.com to find your “Dream Home”.
  Stephen W. Brooks
  623-202-3833
  www.thebrooksteamaz.com
  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brooks-Team-AZ-Realtors/178283375540777

Well…the atmosphere was what one would expect….totally western. Mounts on the walls and boots hung from the ceiling.

What I could NOT get past though was that the place was REALLY dirty. I am not a “clean freak”…but dust bunnies were literally hanging from the ceiling everywhere…including over our table. I don’t think the place has ever been cleaned. The sun coming in the open door literally “highlighted” the dust and dirt.

BUT…it was now past dinner time and we were all ready to eat…so we ordered. The menu was interesting…American food on one side and Mexican on the other.

Our experience did not get any better from this point. We ordered from a waitress who was very clearly inexperienced. My niece, who waitressed her way through college, noted that it seems the girl had no training and should just be shadowing someone more experienced.

Well…we were all trying to be patient…but when our food was not served after forty-five minutes…we asked to see the manager. He apologized and said we could have a round of drinks on the house. We did…and then waited another fifteen minutes.

When we did get our food…no one was raving. My husband’s $18 steak was NOT rare as ordered…not even pink. I will say my nephews chicken fingers were good tho…  :)

The atmosphere was entertaining however. Here are some random pictures of the place.

We were there so long that the band started…so at least there was a little dancing!

All in all…I would say that Cave Creek has MANY great local places to grab a bite…but I do not think I would recommend this place for anything other than maybe a couple beers and some country dancing. And wear you old jeans you don’t mind getting a bit dirty!

As always… if you are looking for a GREAT agent to help with your real estate needs please e-mail me at Adele@GreaterPhoenixHomes.com or give me a call (or text) at 602-504-3898 or 888-897-7821 x 114. Plus, I have a GREAT search tool on my web site that gives you the ability to search the entire MLS…just like agents do. Very COOL!  Go to Metro Phoenix Homes and check it out! YOU can create and save as many searches as you would like…and it is THE SAME SEARCH I DO AS AN AGENT! You will LOVE it!

THIS IS THE BEST MOST ACCURATE SEARCH OF OUR LOCAL MLS

ATTENTION AGENTS…Is your Real Estate Career or Company taking you where you want to go?
Need MORE business?  Need MORE leads?  What has your company done for you lately?
Ask Me Why… I joined eXp Realty

“I love you Arizona, your mountains, deserts and skies”… it’s a verse from  a song written by the state balladeer, Dolan Ellis, about beautiful Arizona.  But it should be the words spoken by every endurance rider in the state of Arizona and surrounding states.  Especially this year… 2011 is offering many exciting new Arizona endurance rides!  Here is a list of the 2011 Arizona endurance rides:

We started off the year with a huge bang!  Rusty Toth, and accomplished endurance rider, hosted the 3 day Resolution Ride that took place in Scottsdale Arizona.  Kevin Myers, also an accomplished endurance rider, and on the Easy Boot team assisted Rusty Toth in putting on a great New Years ride from their home in Rio Verde.  Although the weather gave them fits, the riders had a great time and the horses did fantastic!  Rusty was able to get riders from as far east as New York and as north as Oregon.  Other states represented were Colorado, Utah, California, New Mexico, Oregon and New York.

We next jump to February and the Springdale Romp hosted by long time endurance rider Ray Sansom.  The ride will take place in beautiful Safford, Arizona on February 3rd,4th,5th, a day off, then on 7th,8th,9th.  This ride promises to be beautiful!

We then move on to the spring ride, Old Pueblo, hosted by Marilyn McCoy on the Empire Ranch in Sonoita, AZ.  I last participated in this ride in the fall.  The grass was knee high, the flowers were incredible and the fields of sunflowers were amazing!  Don’t miss this ride March 11th,12th and 13th. 

On March 26th, for the second year, the Lucky Pup Ride hosted by Heidi Vanderbilt will take place at the Benson Ranch, also named Lucky Pup Ranch.  This is a beautiful ranch with the most gracious host!

April brings us and new ride being sponsored by Julia and Michael Elias of Prescott, Arizona.  The Prescott Chaparral Ride is staged at the incredible L-Bell Ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona. I have ridden these trails and they are some of the most beautiful in the state.  If you did not know better, you would think you were at a cattle Ranch in Colorado or Wyoming!  With Michael and Julia at the helm this should prove to be the first of many rides in this unique part of Arizona.

As the summer months bring warm weather we move to our neighboring state of New Mexico.  These rides are all just a days drive from Phoenix and offer fantastic scenery.  Ride the Divide is May 26th,27th,28th, and the 29th in Quemando, NM.  Quemando is located very near the border of Arizona.  Not far from Pine Top and Show Low.

Then in July, Roger Taylor puts on the Fort Stanton Multi-day Ride in beautiful Camino Del Bosque, NM.  This ride will take place on the 10th 11th and 12th a day off, then the 14th 15th and 16th.  This is the sight of the AERC National Championship Ride held in August, making this a good time to try out the trails before the championship ride. 

September 1-5, Dave Nickelson puts on his 5 day ride in Bryce Canyon, Utah. Only eight hours from Phoenix.  This is a must do ride offering incredible scenery and trails.  Take your camera if you go!

October brings the unique and challenging ride that has been a cornerstone for endurance riders and runners… Yes, I said runners… from all over the state.  Ron Barrett has been hosting this ride for… well for a long, long time.  The horses race the runners on a 50 mile ride, a 25 mile ride and they have a fun run/ride of 12 miles!  It’s always fun to see who is going to win- the horse or the rider- hence the name Man Vs Horse.  Come to Prescott, even if it is just to watch the fun.  This ride takes place the first weekend in October!

The next weekend is the Grand Canyon ride… another “Duck” ride.  This ride is held at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.  The yellow leaves from the Aspens fall into the pines and make it look like Christmas decorations in the reflection of the fall sun.  You literally ride along the rime of the canyon at times and the views are beyond words.  Close your eyes and you may feel you are riding in a western movie!

Marilyn McCoy will be hosting a fall ride in either September or November in Sonoita, AZ.

The last ride of the year is on November 19th at McDowell Mountain Park put on by the Arizona Arabian Horse Association.  This is great local ride and one that can help folks get a taste of endurance riding.  They always have someone giving a talk about how to get started in the incredible sport of endurance riding!  As we say in Endurance – To Finish is to Win!

My hats off to all the ride managers for all the hard work it takes to put on these rides!  If you are interested in learning more about endurance riding please give me a call or if you just want to look into horse property in Arizona- I am, of course- the riding Realtor!

My name is Kim Abbott and I am your Riding Realtor!  I specialize in the buying and selling of horse properties in the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Cave Creek areas.  I am a horse lover with a passion for endurance riding.  If you are looking for a reliable Realtor that understands your buying and selling needs, please contact me right away.  My phone number is 602-540-3719 and my email is kim@azhorseranches.com.  You can also view my featured listings anytime by going to www.AZHorseRanches.com. 

http://33024n53rdway.epropertysites.com/

GREAT HOME, GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD

• Priced at $699,000
• Built in 2005
• MLS #4514728

Turn-key ready is the best way to describe this meticulous home. This is the best lot in the neighborhood w/ open space on three sides and a resort like backyard that features a heated pool/spa, built-in bbq, outdoor kitchen, firepit and lush landscaping. Inside the upgrades are endless including slab granite, SS appls, travertine, custom paint, stacked-stone fireplace, in-wall surr. and spkrs, 12′ ceilings w/soffits and 8′ solid doors. Floorplan features split master, upstairs casita, and large 3 car garage w/epoxy floor. Nothing has been overlooked in this model perfect home.  DON’T MISS THIS ONE!

FEATURES:

• 4072 SQUARE FEET
• 5  BEDROOMS
• 4  BATHROOMS
• FAMILY ROOM
• FIREPLACE
• FORMAL LIVING/DINING ROOM
• TRAVERTINE STONE
• GRANITE COUNTERS
• STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
• CASITA
• HEATED POOL/SPA
• PRIVATE BACKYARD OASIS
• OUTDOOR KITCHEN
• BUILT-IN BBQ
• MULTIPLE SEATING AREAS WITH FIREPIT
• COVERED PATIO
• 3 CAR GARAGE
• GATED COMMUNITY
• GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD

Contact me by email at vicki.botkin@exprealty.com or by phone 480-213-4880 to schedule your showing immediately! CLICK HERE TO VIEW HOME

The Arizona Republic – November 23, 2010
About 100 people turned out to witness the groundbreaking of Cave Creek’s soon-to-be biggest retailer. The groundbreaking last week was the next major step toward bringing the town its first Wal-Mart store. The store is expected to open late next year on the southeastern corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway. Wal-Mart regional General Manager Scott Doepke said the new store will bring 300 jobs to the Valley. Mayor Vincent Francia said when the idea of a Wal-Mart was proposed to him, red flags went up. But, he said, to keep Cave Creek alive, an economic engine is needed. “Wal-Mart has its place in Cave Creek,” he said. “It begins, runs through, and has been decided by the people.” Wal-Mart bought 20 acres in 2008, and acknowledged its intention to expand into Cave Creek but had no immediate plans to build. The company held back amid forecasts of slowed consumer spending. About a year later, company officials were granted rezoning to allow construction of the store.

For all your real estate needs, call Vicki Botkin @ 480-213-4880

vicki.botkin@exprealty.com