Rachel Anderson

Suntech chooses Arizona for new Solar Project.

Here is some great news for the Arizona economy. Suntech A Chinese-owned solar panel maker is planning to build a 100,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing plant in the Phoenix area.

This is huge for the economy and will initially bring 75 jobs to the local area and expand over the years to come. Suntech originally started with 15 states that were a consideration for this project, it came down to Arizona and Texas, Arizona won!

Here are some great links to read more information on the new compnay coming to the area.

www.suntech-power.com

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyM3IImsM90llBP3XCxeAQ92JJjwD9C0NUH00

Rachel Anderson

Passing of the bill SB1403

A new bill has passed in Arizona, SB1403, Arizona Renewable Energy Tax Incentive Program and it could mean a lot to the economy.  Passing of this bill has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs and of course using resources that are all natural.

Going green is the topic everywhere, but in Arizona has taken it even further.  This is going to be huge for Arizona and the future looks bright.

SB1403 provides incentives to out of state companies to relocate to the greater Phoenix area.  There are tax credit’s based on the number of jobs created and capital invested.

Please see the link below for more information. 

http://66.39.135.99/blog-gpec/?p=420

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Renewable-energy-tax-incentive-about-to-become-law-69556527.html

http://www.gpec.org/media/docs/News_Events/SB1403/AAED_Update_April09web.pdf

 

Rachel Anderson

480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

$8,000 Credit Extended and much more offered!

So we got the extension everyone so desperately needed to dive into home ownership.  The $8,000 tax credit is now extended until the end of April 2010.  Great news for those buyers who have contracts on homes that are short sales and haven’t heard anything. 

 This will allow you to continue to work with the bank and hopefully close by April 2010 of next year.  Lets all keep our fingers crossed for that.

Also, a $6,500 tax credit will be given to existing home owners if they buy another home.  This too will expire at the end of April.  By offering this it will also help stimulate the economy so everyone has an incentive to buy now.

These incentives won’t last forever, so don’t wait to “cash in”.  If you are considering purchasing a short sale home and want to use the tax credit, it is highly recommended that you enter into a contract at least 3 months before the bill is set to expire.

If you are looking to purchase your first home, or your 50th, give me a call and lets find what you are looking for together.

Take a look at this website for more updated information:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJJraNRE6DjWj2orF7SYJ12PADEAD9BPFFR01

Rachel J Anderson

480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

Some think Arizona is just desert.

If you are considering moving out to the Phoenix metro area. I wanted to post some pictures of the area.  This should give you a better feel of what Phoenix has to offer.

Here is a map of the local area, showing you where the different cities are located.   Chandler is a southern city and to get up to Cave Creek it is about a 2 hour drive depending on traffic.  Sun City is about 1 north from Phoenix.  The most central location is Scottsdale or Tempe.  In Scottsdale, standard home prices are $300,000-$400,000 for a 3bedroom/2bath.  Now this depends on where you purchase and if it is a foreclosure or a short sale.

This photo is of the Four Season’s Resort.  This unique Resort has so much to offer and is a destination many find hard to leave.  

“The resort – which features individual casitas as well as three restaurants, two pool areas, several tennis courts and an award-winning spa-and-workout facility – is perfectly integrated into the Arizona desert environment. Consistently a recipient of AAA’s prestigious five-diamond award, the resort provides nothing short of top-notch service and luxury amenities.” San Francisco Examiner, June 7, 2009

Some think Arizona is only desert with no lush landscape at all.  Even I was surprised when I moved here how green it actually is.  Arizona, has mountains, lakes, rivers and much much more to offer. 

If you are searching for a home, and not sure what area you are interested in. Here is a helpful map with zip code designations.  Get set up on a search today and let me know the zip code you are most interested in.  There are other zip codes in Phoenix, these are the top searched codes.

 

 

I hope you found this blog useful and when you do decide to make the move out to Arizona, contact me.

Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968 or rachel@phoenixpowersearch.com

Rachel Anderson

Realtors you should make sure your buyers are pre qualified.

Are you in the market to purchase a house?  Do you want to go look at houses, but don’t want to prove that you are qualified to buy what you want?  I have experienced a lot of buyers wanting me to show them houses, but are unwilling to speak to a lender or show me a bank letter stating they are pre qualified.

Buyers should always be pre qualified before heading out to look at houses.  If you are a serious buyer, why would you want to go out and waste your time looking at houses that you don’t even pre qualify for?

I have worked for some car shows in the past and before they even let buyers register they have to provide, a bank letter of guaranty stating they can purchase the car they want, a valid ID, proof of insurance and much more before they are even allowed in the door.

Now why don’t we as Realtors expect our buyers to prove they are pre qualified?  Why do we spend hours with clients, and expect them to know the process of buying a house?

I remember purchasing my first home.  I lived in DC and I was so tired of renting so I headed out to buy my first home. The way I found my Realtor was driving up and down streets looking for an office.  Once I found the office, I spoke to a Realtor who got a copy of my drivers license, called a lender and made sure I was pre qualified before even walking out the door with me.  It didn’t make sense then, but it does now.  She took the time to make sure I wasn’t wasting my or her time.  Now how can I be mad at that?

I am a Realtor making a living selling homes, not showing homes.  I am looking for serious buyers, just as you are looking for a serious Realtor.

Contact me so we can work together in getting the job done.

Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

Dolce Vita, a retirement community worth moving into.

So you want a community that suites your lifestyle, but doesn’t restrict you in any way.  You want to live in a community where other people are your age and have the same interests…

A list of events fill their calendar at Dolce Vita, so you will never find yourself with nothing to do.  Amenities include: 33,000 sq ft clubhouse, including a beautiful ballroom, book filled library, workout facility, craft room with kiln, billiards room, card room, computer center, and movie theatre.

It is located at the base of the superstition mountains,  beautiful views and a well planned community await you.

Rated in the nation’s top 100 communities.

Where to Retire Magazine

The best, new active adult community we’ve seen

Builder/Architect Magazine

Close to shopping, activities, culture and entertainment.

Visit their website for more information: http://www.dolce-vita-az.com/

Contact me today to make an appointment to view their lovely properties.

Rachel Anderson

480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

List of items you will need to get your short sale closed quicker.

I know what you are going through, I feel your pain and I want you to know I am here to help you.

Are your mortgage payments at least 3 months behind?  Have you received that dreaded letter, Trustee Sale?

As a Realtor, I have sold many short sale homes, more on the buyers side, but also on the sellers side.  I know what you are going through and I can advice you what to do and help you list your home.

DO, keep your house clean and free of clutter

DO NOT, punch holes in walls

DO, keep up with your HOA payments as much as possible.

DO NOT, strip away any of the appliances

DO, get a hold of a Realtor (Rachel Anderson) and allow me to help you.

REMEMBER: Your Realtor will give you an estimated sales price based on the comps in the area, however it is ultimately up to the bank(s) to come up with a sales price.

Here is a list of some of the items you will need to get ready if you are considering a short sale before the foreclosure.

2 most recent pay stubs

2 years of the most recent tax returns

2 most recent bank statements

A hardship letter describing why you can no longer keep up with your payments. There are some other items you will need and some banks require specific paperwork, but this will get you started.

Get a hold of me today to get your house on the market before the foreclosure goes into affect.  Short sales are better on your credit then a foreclosure, and it doesn’t hurt to try.

Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

WOW, no more FHA 90 day waiting period on flipped foreclosures.

Ah great news, I have had so many FHA buyers want a home that has been flipped, but can’t wait the 90 day seasoning period.  If you are not familiar with this, here is out it works.  An investor will purchase a foreclosure, rehab it, and put it on the market as soon as it has been flipped. There are stipulations to this and not all homes will qualify.  But it does open the door a little for buyers with an FHA loan.

The way the old way would work, is the home had to wait a 90 day seasoning period to qualify for an FHA loan.  This would limit FHA buyers to homes that were in really bad shape or a short sale.  In this market that is the majority we see, so when a home comes on the market that has already gone through the flipping process it is nice because most home buyers want a “move in ready” home.  A lot of people can’t see past  holes in the walls, missing light fixtures and all of the appliances are gone. 

When Realtors see homes that are already “flipped” with all of the “must haves” we find there are a lot of other people interested as well.  I just closed a deal on a flipped property with a conventional loan with 10% down.  The listing Agent was sceptic that we could close a conventional loan with only 10% down, but it closed in 30 days.  So it’s nice now to see we can do FHA loans on flipped foreclosure properties without the 90 day seasoning period.

Below is more information on the new revision:

On Friday, FHA announced the suspension of the anti-Flipping 90-day waiting period.

Prior to September 14, 2009, FHA products were denied to buyers purchasing homes from investors that buy homes, rehab them, and sell them within a 90-day period. Previously, the only option to purchase these homes was through conventional financing (which requires a higher down payment) or a cash-only purchase.

This revision allows home buyers to expand their market when searching for a home and gives them the opportunity to secure a much lower down payment.  More investors and buyers will be encouraged to purchase homes due to this major change.
Take a look at the revision:

Section 203.37a(b)(2) of the FHA regulations, 24 CFR, is hereby waived for a period of one year, September 14, 2009 through September 13, 2010, with regard to sales of previously foreclosed or abandoned properties acquired and resold by for-profit and non-profit entities using funding from and performing under agreements with state and local government agencies under the NSP program. 

http://www.nls.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/waivpropflip.pdf

If you are in the market to purchase a home and want more information on this.  Please contact me today, Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968

Rachel Anderson

Labor Day

 

Labor Day, what is it and what does it mean to me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Celebrated on the first Monday in September, Labor Day honors the contributions workers have made to strengthen the prosperity and wellbeing of America. While today’s holiday is marked with leisurely activities including parades, picnics and pool-time, a look back at history reveals the struggles many individuals endured to achieve the American dream.

1900 – 1909:

 

 

 

 

1910 – 1919:

 

 

Trade unionists from around the post-World War 1 world created the International Labor Organization in 1919.Union members worked for passage of legislation banning child labor while craft and automobile workers were among the first to join together in unions.

Source: http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/history/history/100years.cfm

For more information and to see years 1920-1999 click on the link below:

http://www.thewiseagent.com/secure/database/AZ_111/rsellshomes/Septembernewsletter09.pdf?tm20099211381

Rachel Anderson

480-309-7968

 

Filed Under: East Valley, Market Watch
Tagged: day, labor, Labor day, Rachel Anderson, september, september 1, what is labor day, when is labor day

Rachel Anderson

Realtor Safety, are you playing it safe?

September 2, 2009 by Rachel Anderson · Comments 

Realtor’s and home owners, are you playing it safe when it comes to showing your house to potential clients?  Have you ever had someone stop by your house, knock on your door and ask to see your house?  Have you ever let a complete stranger in without second guessing yourself?

Well, if you have answered yes to one of those questions,  you aren’t playing it safe.  The other day in Glendale, AZ a home owner was out watering his front lawn, when he was approached by a couple about seeing the inside of his property.  The home owner did as he was told by his agent, and referred the inquiry to the agent who was representing him.  After some casual conversation, the owner changed his mind and let the couple in to view the property.

The couple distracted the home owner by asking what was on the floor.  Once the owner looked down to see what they were talking about he was attacked from behind and beaten severly.

I am posting this not to scare you, but to raise a red flag when you are dealilng with people you do not know.

I used to pick clients up from the airport, without knowing who these people were.  I would show up, take them out to view homes and drop them off at their hotel room.  Never once thinking I could be in danger.  I haven’t had a horrible situation, but I have learned to be much more aware of who I am dealing with.

I now meet all of my clients at the office and get copies of their Photo ID.  I ask questions and make sure they are who they say they are.  I  no longer take clients in my car to view properties. Once inside the home, I follow the client and never put myself in the corner or in a situation I can’t get out of.

Think smart and always raise a red flag if something doesn’t seem right.

 

Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968

Filed Under: Phoenix, Real Estate Agents
Tagged: home owners, murder, Rachel Anderson, Realtor, red flags, rjaarizona, safety

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