Oh, Bank of America...Have You Met Customer Service? No, I Didn't Think So.
on Oct 26, 2009This is a story that despite being fraught with difficulties, has a happy ending. It is partially about the difficulties we sometimes experience with short sales; it is partially about the hoops one must go through to obtain a loan, but mostly it is...

How local should your real estate agent be?
on Sep 23, 2009 in buying a home in Arizona sellilng a home in Arizona selecting a real estate agent picking a real estate agent We recently closed escrow on a home in the city of Buckeye that we helped a first-time buyer secure. They kindly sent a note thanking us for helping to make the experience as smooth as possible. They also stated how glad they were to have stuck with...

Fannie Mae, But Then Again, Mae Not.
on Aug 6, 2009Real estate owned (REOs) form a large part of the inventory in the Valley of the Sun, for reasons that have been written of many times. In a nutshell, meteoric price rises fueled by speculators, followed by catastrophic price plummets equals mucho R...

Jump Starting the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area Housing Market
on Jul 23, 2009Recently, I have been working with a young couple looking to buy their first home in the Buckeye area. I believe I have mentioned this before, but it is possible to purchase a good-sized four bedroom home, less than 4 years old, for around $100,000.

Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area Real Estate Markets Begin to Stir. It's Alive!
on Jun 30, 2009My regular readers will know that I am not a fan of government intervention. Rarely, if ever, does it result in a better product, good or service. Typically, it adds cost and bureaucracy. Having said all that, as a Realtor, it is also my job to st...

Code of Ethics Woes in the Phoenix Real Estate Market
on Jun 10, 2009A recent ethics investigation demonstrated a Phoenix area Realtor did not act in the best interests of his/her client.Recently, a Phoenix area buyer ran into a spot of bother with his Realtor. Obviously, the reporting named no names, so this anonymo...

Strippers Arrested In Phoenix Area Real Estate Scam
on May 31, 2009Well, there's a headline I never thought I would write. But it's not what you think. As a Realtor, some of the worst homes we sometimes see, are bank-owned. In other words-Foreclosures. It never ceases to amaze me that some folks, admittedly a minori...

Why No-One Likes A Short Sale
on Apr 19, 2009Short sales, along with foreclosures are a large part of the Phoenix area real estate market. Here are some tips to guide you through the minefield.The general consensus is that short sales, where the owner owes more than the home is worth and asks...

Pending Sales Are Up In Phoenix
on Apr 8, 2009A rise in pending transactions bodes well for the future of real estate in the Phoenix metropolitan area.As we have noted in the past, the free-market, when it is allowed to operate always has and always will re-dress the housing market. You may not...

Pricing Is Key; Always Was, Still Is.
on Apr 2, 2009Pricing your home to sell is always a main factor in marketing your home. The sagging Phoenix real estate market makes it vital.The old adage in selling real estate was always, "Location, location, location". While that still holds true to a large...