Surprise, Marley Park

Surprise Arizona is locate Northwest of Phoenx and is the sixth growing city of Arizona.   Surprise was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler, who named it Surprise.  She named it Surprise because she said ” be surprised if city amounted to much”.  If Mrs Statler could see Surprise now she would surely be surprised.  Surprise is now a beautiful growing and thriving city.  If you live in Surprise you never have to leave due to so much shopping and restaurants there.  Many buyers are attracted to Surprise due the houses are priced modestly and property taxes are the lowest in Arizona.  Looking at Surprise today sort hard to believe it used be the king of cotton.   Surprise Arizona has come a long ways with large shopping centers throughout, sports arena, and many parks it is hard to imagine cotton used to grow there.  Many of my buyers like Surprise and I find myself showing lots home there.  I visited an area of Surprise recently called Marley Park, new homes are under construction and some are ready for move in.  Marley Park has 40 acres of parks.  Marley Park community also offers the heritage campus with heritage hub, pool house, Heritage Park.  The city of Surprise is a great place to work, play and live.

Heritage Club

I hear this all the time “what should I offer”, I tell my buyers to offer their highest and best offer if they want to buy a house.  Recently I had a client that saw a house and it had all the things in a new home they wanted and need.  I advised my client that the house had an offer and was at the counter stage of the offer.  I explained to my client that if you to buy this house we need to put an offer in tonight before the  owner counter come back.  Well my buyers wanted to go home and think about the offer never called me back that night.  The next day their dream home was in pending status under contract.  My clients lost out on their dream house, I took them out to view other homes but that dream house was always on their minds.  My client now is hoping the dream house  contract will fall out of contract but this house is a regular sale.   Some good advice for all buyers, if you see a house you like put an offer in immediately, dream homes don’t last long on the market.  When buyers go out with their agents have all your necessary documents ready to go such as your earnest money check and proof of funds.  Signing an offer is made so easy now  for buyers, you don’t have print your offer  just sign them online with esign.  Most realtors want to make your transaction as smooth as possible.  So next time you are out with your realtor and see your dream house, put an offer in right away going home to think about your dream house will cause you to lose out.  If a buyer offer their highest and best offer, you most likely with get your dream house.

EVERYTHING is more difficult than it was a few years ago. Most of us (those that have managed to say in the business)…are working twice as hard for half of the money.

But I have been repeatedly pissed off (if you will excuse the term) about one thing or another ALMOST every time I have had to deal with a bank owned property when representing my buyer clients.

Here are  couple things that really irritate me and my clients:

NUMBER ONE: Inaccurate information in the MLS about the availability of the home. We have a special field in MLS to disclose if the property has offers in that are being considered.

This weekend I went to show homes to some folks who were visiting the area for a short while. They took the time to call their lender and get all of their ducks in a row to be ready to buy should they find a home that suited their needs. I, as any good agent would, called to arrange showings of several homes…and check to see if they were still available as noted in MLS.

There was one agent who not only would not return my call…but would not respond to texting or e-mails. Skeptically, I went ahead and showed my clients the home. Well…of course that was THE home for them…so we prepared and sent over an offer.

NOW that he got our offer, the agent replies that he has “a dozen or so” offers on the home and we should have presented our “highest and best” if we want to be considered.  I had a few well worded thoughts for him…thanked him for his time…and went out and did my job AGAIN and found my nice clients a home they were equally thrilled about.

BUT…it’s not like that’s OK. My clients and I would have done things differently had we know about the existence of offers. The listing agent simply did not care if he was wasting our time by not doing his job. After all, according to him he has “so many listings it is hard to keep track”. REALLY!!??

NUMBER TWO: Make sure utilities are on for buyer’s inspections…or at the very least make it known that the buyer’s will have to turn on the utilities themselves. I had an instance where my clients and I went to do the inspections and there was no power. AFTER I had called the listing agent to confirm when we were doing our inspections and being assured that the power would be on by then. AGAIN…a waste of time for me, my clients and this time the inspector as well.

Why am I writing this? Well…first…it feels good to get it out. And I am sure I have the support of  MANY of my fellow agents who would agree these are indeed two of the main issues when dealing with the banks.

BUT…why I am really writing this is to thanks a GREAT REO agent. Patty Borton. She was spectacular. She answered her phone and e-mails promptly. She followed up with us every step of the way. She made sure the home was well cared for during the escrow period. AND..she even had the AC turned on at a reasonable temperature for us!

HEADS UP to the many REO agents who are doing it NOT RIGHT. After this “crisis”‘ is over and you have no more REO listings…your fellow agents will remember how you performed and not be excited to work with you on any “regular” sales. Just know this…we have LONG memories!

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.

wages and weekends. Shining brightly more than 300 days each year.

The warm weather attracts an estimate $5 billion annually to valley economy.

Tourism also draws a steady flow of newcomers looking to settle down in the

Phoenix area.  For every three people come to valley 2 leave.  Nine months

of the year is beautiful spring like weather. The summers are hot reaching over

the 100 degrees but it is all dry heat except during monsoon season. Humidity

is almost none existing except during monsoon season.  Many people during

monsoon season sit watch the lightening in the evening such graphic sight

There are many economic opportunity in Metro Phoenix, many newcomers

are transferred or secured jobs once arriving. Phoenix offer leading private

sector employers including U.S Airway, Chase Bank, Samaritan Health System,

American Express travel related services,and many more. Among the many companies

with corporate or regional headquarters in the valley are Intel Corp, U Haul

International, Phelps Dodge Corp, and Boeing employment draw many newcomers

to the valley.

When the weekend comes many people in Metro Phoenix especially in the summer

time drive up to the lakes and nearby attractions.  There are 5 lakes driving

distant to the Metro Phoenix area.  Phoenix offer water-sking, power boating,

sailing and fishing. If you are not into a lot water sports drive up to the

Grand Canyon to cool off. The valley is a mecca for hikers and campers. Just

pick your mountains, Camelback, Piestewa Peaks, Papago Park which are favorites

due to they are so close to home. You can go horseback riding, hiking, or just

ride your bike. If your are looking for Phoenix real estate agent contact me at

888.897.7821 x 108 so you can I can help you find your new home in  Metro Phoenix.

Stephen W. Brooks

623-202-3833

“Casting about in MLS data for signs of a market bottom and subsequent recovery has proved elusive over 2009 and 2010,” the report concludes. “The one-step-forward-two-steps-back phenomenon has become all too familiar in our fragile recovery.”

• The PPI predicts that the median sales price of a home in November will be about $120,000, relatively unchanged from October. The median is expected to drop in December to $117,000, rise in January back to $120,000 and then drop once again in February fairly dramatically to $105,000.  The median is the number in the middle, so there are as many houses priced below the median as above the median.
• Average sales prices are projected to rise slightly in December but to fall in both January and February. The estimate is for the average price to be about $161,200 in November and drop to $145,800 in February.
• New inventory declined in October, but total inventory increased.
• October listings represent nearly seven months of supply making this a buyer’s market. A seller’s market is a four to five month supply.
• Pending foreclosures have been trending downward slightly for the past 12 months.
• Distressed sales, short sales and lender owned sales peaked in September representing 74 percent of total transactions. In October distressed sales represented 65 percent of the total.

For guidance on your specific needs, please contact me at 602-741-1325.  Happy holidays!