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

Stephen W. Brooks

623-202-3833

Sales volume was down 6% from August while average pricing is also down 2.5% (price per square foot down 3%).  If you look at sales from Septeber ’09, sales were down 13% and pendings down 22% from last year.  Although this sounds bad, month to month pendings have been increasing about 4% so it seems buyer activity is keeping somewhat dependable and this will positively keep inventory moving if it can be sustained.  The supply on the market increased 2.7% from August, primarily by properties <$200k.  With this price range being attractive for investors, both for flipping and buy&hold, we could see an increase in buying activity by this sector of our market and since inventory is increasing, prices should remain favorable for quite some time.  Foreclosure notices are holding steady, which would which lends to increasing inventory (and hence maintaining favorable buying prices).

For my full Market Trends Report, please go to www.BethAHickey.com for a request.  I will not contact you outside of this report unless requested.

Is one of your resolutions to be a homeowner? Whether you are a first timer, down-sizer, moving upper or empty nester…you get the idea… it’s time to get moving! As a buyer, this may be the perfect time.

What is a Buyer’s Market with a Seller’s Twist?

Home prices are at an unbelievable low and with inventory high, this can be a great opportunity for a buyer. This makes for a great Buyer’s Market.

Currently, of the homes that are sold, about 60% are foreclosures. This means that the seller is most likely a bank, and has probably hired a company to represent them such as a property asset management company.

There is good news and bad news with buying a home that is bank owned. The good news is you could possibly get a great deal with listing prices many times lower than market value.

Here’s the Seller’s Twist: The bad news is that you MAY have competition and most likely, there will be a Seller’s Addendum that will be added to the contract and you the buyer will have to accept in order for the seller to accept your offer. And, believe me, if you as the buyer won’t accept the Seller’s Addendum, there is probably a buyer behind you that will. The most important thing is to know what the terms are, have your Realtor guide you through the process and minimize your risk as much as possible.

I believe that there are two main reasons the banks are pricing these properties so well. One, banks are not in the business to hold property. Due to this reason, they need to get these types of assets off of their books so they can loan funds. Two, a home that is priced well should get more attention. This most likely means multiple offers and what seller WOULDN’T like to choose the best, most qualified buyer at the best price for their property.

Currently, the most aggressive price point are homes under $200,000. As the home price increases, there may be competition, but usually not as much. So see, this is great news…but be ready to jump when you find a home that meets your needs. Why? You don’t want to deal with multiple offers, if you can help it. You want to have the ball in your court as much as possible. Of course, it’s like playing poker. You don’t want the seller to see your hand. Make sure your Realtor plays your hand to your advantage.

Three strategies to buying in today’s market:

1. Find a great Realtor, one who is available, answers the phone, has great communication, proficient negotiator, knowledgeable, motivated, honest, integrity, hard-working, reliable and most importantly knows they work for YOU!

2. Have your Realtor do an in-depth profile on what YOU are looking for and create an automatic search where you receive automatic emails. When a home comes on the market that meets your needs or a new price reduction has been made to your price comfortability level, you will be the first to know.

3. Be ready to move! Follow your Realtor’s advice on being prepared. If you are looking at homes, you should have your finances ready…whether that’s talking to a loan officer and getting prequalified or if you are paying cash, having proof of the funds and verifying the availability.

And remember, statistically, when spring rolls around, that time is considered the best time for a seller. Although currently, it is still considered a buyer’s market, there most likely will be more competition as we move toward spring….ESPECIALLY with the April 30th deadline for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (not just limited to First Time Home Buyers).

Home Buyers & Sellers: Have you considered buying or selling a home in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area? I have a great passion to help my clients in buying and selling one of their greatest assets. If you are looking for an agent with integrity, dedication & great customer service, please email me Jamie@TickledPinkHomes.com or call/text 480-734-1971. I would love the opportunity to help you in this exciting journey!

SPECIAL BONUS: How would you like to search the entire MLS, JUST LIKE ME?! Go to Scottsdale Arizona Homes For Sale and get started. It’s the same tool that I use and it gives you LIVE & MOST ACCURATE RESULTS. You’ll love it!!

SEARCH THE MLS HERE

Cell/Text: 480-734-1971
Email: Jamie@TickledPinkHomes.com
Jamie on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sistek
“Tickled Pink Is What You’ll be;
My Customer Service Is The Key”

Realtors: Is your Real Estate Career or Company taking you where you want to go?
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View this article at: http://tickledpinkhomes.com/2010/01/buyers-market-wsellers-twist-an-interesting-real-estate-concoction/

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

Information courtesy of PHX Shine On, the Official Travel Resource for Greater Phoenix

Just take a look at the temperatures that we average over the course of the next few months. The sunshine sets the stage to take part in all of the great activities here in the Valley of the Sun. Weather you are an avid golfer, tennis player, or just love to hike or bicycle; this is the place for you. The sunrises about 6 to 7ish in the morning depending on the month with plenty of day light to take in a winter league baseball game, a Arizona Cardinal football game, a Phoenix Coyote hockey game, or a Phoenix Suns basketball game.

Numerous hiking trails are available throughout the community for hikers. Check out all the hiking trails at this website: http://www.visitphoenix.com/visitor/index.cfm?action=trails

It is a great time to check out the lakes for the boating and fishing enthusiast. Following is a list of the different lakes in the area.

Bartlett Lake: http://www.bartlettlake.com/lakeInfo/about.php

Saguaro Lake:  http://www.saguarolakemarina.com/maps.html

Canyon Lake: http://www.canyonlakemarina.com/

Lake Pleasant: http://www.go-arizona.com/Lake-Pleasant-Arizona

Roosevelt Lake: http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/roosevelt_lake/index.html

Apache Lake: http://www.apachelake.com/

So if you are considering a move away from the cold and into the sunshine consider the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. I will be happy to assist you with a temporary housing rental and ultimately your new home purchase. Arizona is definitely the place to be. Please give me a call if I can be of service.

Tim Broderick 602-741-0862 or toll free: 888-481-4447 ext 126 or by email at tim@phoenixpowersearch.com

Now that we have that cleared up, let us get down to the nitty gritty.  This is a beautiful neighborhood in an up and coming part of town.  Homes in the neighborhood were built in or around 1999, at the base of two beautiful “mountain” peaks (too small to be a mtn, yet too big to be a hill…at least for this Arizonan).  Other immediate amenities include Fry’s Food & Drug, a variety of restaurants (Italian, Sushi, McDonald’s, Pizza, Subway), a neighborhood Wal Mart, dry cleaning, Bank of America, Fletcher’s, a MONSTEROUS church, and other well off neighborhoods consisting of multi million dollar homes.

It is located 3 miles from the Loop 101, and 5 miles from the I-17, which will take you anywhere in the city at a greuling pace (as long as no one is on the side of the road changing a tire).  Hot spots nearby are Arrowhead Mall (10 minute drive), Shops at Norterra, Thunderbird Conservation Park, the 500 Club Golf Course, and the BRAND NEW Wet n Wild waterpark, to name a few.  check out a bird’s eye view!

SCHOOL INFO:

• Elementary-  Las Brisas

• Middle-  Hillcrest

• High-  Mountain Ridge

Current market analysis for this neighborhood:

• 1 Active listing- REGULAR RESALE, 4bed2bath, 1854 square feet @ $194,600

• 5 closed listings within the last 3 months- ranging from $145,000 to $176,000

If interested in purchasing in this neighborhood, I am confident I could negotiate the price of the only active listing down at least 15K (depending on the conditions of your situation/offer, of course)

Want to live here?  Want to live somewhere nearby?

Call Colin Stevens directly @ 623-399-0804 or email him at Colin@PhoenixPowerSearch.com

One thing I have noticed in first time home buyers is uncertainty. In a market like ours with TONS and TONS of homes available, it is even more complicated, as there are those thoughts racing through the back of your head…“Is this the best deal?” “What if there is something better” “What if I end up not liking this one?” “Do I really need this many square feet?” “Do I want this many bedrooms?” “why are there so many to look at” …Sound familiar?

To help ease these uncertainties and to keep you confident in your search, I have found that you will definitely need the following: TRUST, DETERMINATION, and PERSISTENCE.

TRUST your instinct. In my experience with 1^st time homebuyers and in my own search, I have found that you will know if you like a house within the first 30 seconds of being inside. Your gut will tell you almost immediately, so LISTEN TO IT! Once your gut has communicated, be prepared to ACT QUICKLY for one reason in particular.

• You do not want to lose your top pick by hesitating. If you lose it by being outbid, or failing to come to an agreement, at least you got the opportunity and you went out swinging. Losing your favorite is one of the most discouraging events a 1^st time home buyer can experience.  In today’s market, it is bound to happen, so tough skin is required=]

TRUST your REALTOR. This is one of the most important factors in choosing a REALTOR, not just for 1^st time homebuyers, but for every buyer. I suggest interviewing a few of them IN PERSON. Although technology greatly helps in your search for your first home, NOTHING can replace face time and getting to know your REALTOR; how they act, how they portray information, how you mesh with them, etc.

In case you are unaware, in today’s market there is a good chance you will get outbid or lose out on quite a few homes before securing one. This is where your much needed PERSISTENCE and DETERMINATION come into play.

On that note, TRUST your instinct, TRUST your REALTOR, and KEEP AT IT!

Happy Home Hunting!

contact Colin Stevens directly at 623-399-0804 or colin@phoenixpowersearch.com

There are teams from all over the valley playing. If you love baseball then Arizona is the place for you.

In addition to the Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League playing here during the regular season, we (the Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona) are host to Cactus League Spring Training for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers.

This weekend, local youth teams 18 years and younger have converged on Peoria Sports Complex to battle it out for top honors. The Peoria Sports Complex is the Spring Training home to the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. The kids are thrilled to be playing on the same fields that the big leaguers play on. Baseball Club Teams from as far away as Queen Creek, Chandler, and Ahwatukee made the trip across town to play in this Labor Day tournament. The since of community and family fun was at an all time high. You could just about here the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ballpark” resonating in the air. The kids had access to major league batting cages, bull pens and practice fields.

Please use the link below for more information on the Cactus League Spring Training. There are also links for individual ball parks around town. So chose your neighborhood based on your favorite team and after I have helped you close on your new home I’ll see you at the ballpark. By the way The Outlaws are in first place in this weekend’s 16 and under tournament bracket and will be playing for the championship on Monday. Shoot me an email and I will let you know how it turned out.

http://www.springtrainingonline.com/ includes both Cactus and Grapefruit League info.

Peoria Sports Complex http://www.peoriaaz.gov/sportscomplex/sportscomplex_main.asp

The Cubs play at Hohokam Stadium located in Mesa, Az http://hohokamstadium.com/Home.aspx

http://camelbackranchbaseball.com/ Home of the LA Dodgers located in Glendale, AZ

Brewers play at Maryvale Baseball park in Phoenix http://www.mlb.com/spring_training/ballpark.jsp?c_id=mil

The Oakland As play in Phoenix at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium http://mlb.mlb.com/spring_training/ballpark.jsp?c_id=oak

http://www.tempe.gov/diablo/ Tempe Diablo Stadium home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium/springtraining.asp Scottsdale Stadium home to the San Francisco Giants

If you have any additional questions please give me a call. For additional information on homes available in the Phoenix and Scottsdale Metro Area please call:

Tim Broderick @ 602-741-0862 or toll free @ 888-481-4447 ext. 126.

You can also reach me by email: tim@phoenixpowersearch.com.

First of all, when sending a wire transfer, even if in US Dollars, the wire will often times come in about $15 to $50 LESS than what you wired!  This is because both reserves may apply a fee when transferring the money, unbeknownst to you.  It is always a good idea to send a little more, just in case.  Title companies will refund whatever is left over, we promise!

Also, when depositing a Canadian check…if the check does not reference directly on the face of the check a US Bank, the check may be returned by the bank.  As well, if the check does not state the words “US Dollars” on the face of the check, it may deposit as Canadian funds, making your escrow short somewhere between $400 and $600!!  It is always best, in my opinion, to wire, even if those fees are withdrawn by the reserves.  That way you know immediately what the deposit is.  Whereas, a check may take sometimes several weeks to physically deposit.  This could cause a delay if the title company is unable to verify whether or not it will deposit as US dollars or Canadian dollars.

When delivering items over-night to Canada, plan on the delivery taking a minimum of two deliver days.  There are many “rural” areas in Canada where that delivery may take even longer.  Particularly if there is a loan, it is very important to ensure that the documents are sent out in plenty of time.  For Example:

Loan documents come in at 3pm, making it TOO LATE for the title company to prepare a HUD, have the lender approve it, and get a package out FedEx.  Now the package leaves the next day…Friday.  It doesn’t arrive until Tuesday because of the weekend.  The buyer signs very timely, but the package does not leave Canada until Wednesday and is delivered back to the title company on Friday.  Documents arrived at title Thursday a WEEK AGO!  AND, now the documents have to be sent over-night to a lender, arriving there on Monday.  The lender then takes 48 hours to review documents and funding takes place Wednesday, 9 business days from the day the documents arrived at escrow…Wow!  It is VERY important to communicate both with your escrow officer and your loan officer from the very beginning.

One last thing…I have learned that Canadian Credit Reports are not as readily available as credit reports are here in the US.  They can sometimes take two or three weeks to obtain.  This will have Quite an Affect on your loan approval time.  If your lender needs a Canadian credit report,  ask that they order it even if you don’t have an offer on a house yet.  That way if they need an update, they can order it at the time the offer is put in, and have it in time to draw docs.

When there is a loan involved, you may want to plan on that minimum 45 day escrow.

When there is no loan, allow the full 10 business days for the HOA (Home Owners Association) to respond to title, and from there docs go out…two days there…one day out…two days back.  So about 2 ½ weeks, maybe less, if the HOA is timely.

This has been a limited over view of items to take into consideration when planning on buying a home in Arizona. If you have any additional questions please give me a call. For additional information on homes available in the Phoenix and Scottsdale Metro Area please call:

Tim Broderick @ 602-741-0862 or toll free @ 888-481-4447 ext. 126.

You can also reach me by email: tim@phoenixpowersearch.com.