scottsdale real estate

Who will maintain my vacation property?

I have had so many clients ask me, “who will I have maintain my vacation property while I am gone?”  With so many  vacant vacation properties in Arizona, I thought it would be an easy answer.  There has to be a company out there that maintains vacation properties, right??

  As I researched companies in the metro Phoenix area I found that most offer rental management services, not maintenance services.  A lot of people don’t want their property to become a rental while they are gone. A client of mine rented out their property, thinking it would bring in some money and come to find out the management company rented to people who made the house into a old folks home. This made their neighbors hate them before they even moved in.

Inspections include:

• Verify security of the home by checking all doors and windows
• Check for weather damage
• Pests and insect infestation
• Monsoon/storm damage to home or property
• Run all faucets to insure plumbing traps do not dry out and prevent sewer gases.
• Run dishwasher, washer monthly to keep the seals from drying out
• Check status of water heater
• Verify A/C and thermostat are working properly
• Change air filters on a periodic periodically (customer supplied)
• Remove unsolicited newspapers from driveway, doorway, and mailbox
• Verify electronic timers are set and operational (if applicable)
• Email inspection reports and digital photographs
• Change batteries in smoke detectors, irrigation system, or other appliances
• Check phones for dial tones
• We will provide you with Storm Watch information and also perform a post storm inspection in case of severe weather.
• You will be notified immediately if a problem is identified during any inspection

 

Check out our website for prices and more information:

http://diamonddesert.com/

scottsdale real estate

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 Country Club Golf Course http://www.camelbackinn.com/

The Orange Tree Golf Resort http://www.shellhospitality.com/hotels/orange_resort/?chebs=gl_otgr

McCormick Ranch Golf Club http://www.mccormichranchgolf.com

You say you prefer activities other than golf then check out the art galleries and art walk in Old Town Scottsdale. Villa Antigua is just minutes from fabulous art galleries along Marshall and 5th Ave.  Here are just a couple to preview, there are many more in the area.

The Legacy Gallery  http://www.legacygallery.com/index.html

Art One Gallery   http://www.artonegalleryinc.com/

Scottsdale is also rich with annual events such as the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, The Annual Arabian Horse Show, the historic Parada Del Sol, and the Scottsdale Culinary Arts Festival. This Villa Antigua home puts you in the heart of luxury and culture. You can go for an energizing run or go out on the town in the evening for a fine meal.

For a tour of this home please give me a call.

Tim Broderick 602-741-0862 or email me at tim@phoenixpowersearch.com.

scottsdale real estate

$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

scottsdale real estate

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

scottsdale real estate

Went through a short sale or foreclosure, now what?

So, you have sold your home as a short sale, now what?  How do you rebuild your credit, how long will it be before you can purchase a home?  How long will your credit remain bad? 

Where do you live after you have been through a short sale?  Most sellers are trying to avoid a short sale on their home and are willing to work with you and your situation.  Apartment complexes are pretty strict on their credit scores and if your credit score is botched because of short sale or foreclosure you will pay more in rent a month.

Lenders are saying it can take up to 3-5 years to be able to purchase a house after a short sale.  Right now this is also the same for a foreclosure, but there have been discussions to go 5-7 years before allowing someone to purchase a home after a foreclosure.

There is different information out there and to get the most up to date information here are a couple of great websites:

http://www.foreclosurefish.com/blog/index.php

http://www.mortgagefit.com/credit-rating/credit-repair.html

If you are considering to do a  short sale here is a great website to help you get started.  Make sure your agent is experienced in Short Sales and knows the process very well.

Short sale guidance:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Short-Sale-Guidance&id=2249889

If you want more information or are looking to short sale your property get a hold of me at 480-309-7968 or rachel@phoenixpowersearch.com

scottsdale real estate

Why do I see more listings on Realtor.Com??

Some buyers wonder why they see so many listings on Realtor.com that match their search criteria exactly, but aren’t receiving it through the MLS search.  Buyers are questioning, “Is my Realtor sending me everything within my search criteria, and if so, why don’t I get some of the houses I see on Realtor.com?”

Realtor.com to my knowledge advertises every listing that is in the MLS system.  What they do not do, is weed out the houses that already have contracts on them, have expired, or have been cancelled. 

Realtors use what is called the “MLS” (Multiple Listing Service)  which has very strict guidelines.  Once a property has an accepted contract the listing agent has strict time lines to change the status from “ACTIVE” to “PENDING” or in many cases these days “AWC” (Active with Contingencies). 

Once a listing has changed into “AWC” or “PENDING” in the MLS system that automatically triggers a removal from the MLS search the buyers are currently on. However sometimes Realtors do include “AWC” in the buyers search. 

The reason that most Realtor’s do not include “AWC” in a buyers search is because at that time the house has an offer on it and is only accepting back up offers.  Most buyers want to view homes that don’t have contracts on them and want to be the only contract submitted on the property.

If you are currently looking for a home in Arizona, and haven’t contacted a Realtor, call me today and lets start a detailed search for you today!!
Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968 or rachel@phoenixpowersearch.com

scottsdale real estate

Why not buy a home over the internet?

Times are changing and with the amazing technology we can do pretty much anything. We truly never have to leave our house to buy anything anymore. Most of us have purchased something from the Internet, cars, clothes, furniture and now houses are included in that list. Why leave the comfort of your home to find the new home of your dreams??

In Arizona right now the temperature is around 111 during the day.  If you have a Realtor that knows exactly what you are looking for then why would you want to spend hours in the sun?

I have been out taking videos and and over 300 pictures for clients who are wanting to purchase a home in Arizona, but live in New York.  We found exactly what they wanted and they never left the comfort of their home.

We will get an inspection with detailed information and pictures and the owners will be here once the weather cools down a bit.

If you are thinking about purchasing home, let me set you up with a search today.  I can do for you what I have done for my other clients.
Rachel Anderson 480-309-7968 or rachel@phoenixpowersearch.com