RE/MAX is Alive and Well in Arizona

I was just looking at the sales statistics for 2008 in the Phoenix Arizona Metro Area.  For sales from January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008, RE/MAX led for total listings sold with a 13.31% market share over Realty Executives 9.80%, Keller Williams 7.73%, West USA 4.71%, Century 21 4.48% and Coldwell Banker 4.05%.  The figures are “listings sold” data provided by ARMLS (Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service).   

Arizona RE/MAX offices are independently owned and operated.  At Christmas time in 2007 the local offices of RE/MAX 2000 closed, causing many of our clients to think all of the RE/MAX offices were closing.  Through calls and emails; most of our clients realized it was just one office and the rest of us were still there for them.  With all of the negative press following that office closing, RE/MAX still maintained its number one position in the Phoenix Metro Area for listings sold in 2008.

Gilbert Arizona sales reflected a similar number one status for RE/MAX with a 14.24% market share of listings sold.  The rest of the order for 2008 listings sold in Gilbert Arizona were Keller Williams 12.20%, Realty Executives 6.37%, Century 21 5.21% and West USA with 3.31%.

What does this mean for you, the consumer?  Well, my first thought would be that you have a better chance of getting your home sold with a RE/MAX agent, but it’s more than just about the stats.  It’s about our training, education, marketing and experience.  It’s about offices like RE/MAX Alliance Group, the individual agents and the teams working together to make your real estate experience a good one.

To view the statistics for your Arizona city, use this link; http://www.realestate4gilbert.com/Selling_A_Home/page_1748450.html  and scroll down to the online reports section.

To search for Arizona Homes for Sale use www.Homes4AZ.com.

For Sale: 34982 N Camp Fire Circle in Morning Sun Farms Queen Creek Arizona

WOW, Interior Design Work is Done

• 2,497 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm single story - 4114645 MLS® $199,900

Morning Sun Farms, Queen Creek (Pinal County)  -  WOW! The Interior Designer owner has done all of the work for you! You just need to move in and enjoy. This home is situated on a Large Cul-De-Sac Lot with plenty of room for a Pool. The Mosaic Inlay at the front entry is just the beginning of what this home has to offer. The flooring was upgraded in 2008 with 20 in. Diagonal tile downstairs, wood flooring in the loft, new paint and blinds. The Two-way Fireplace adds a cozy feeling to the Family room that looks out to the Landscaped back yard. The Kitchen features an Island/Breakfast Bar, two Pantries, and Stainless Steel Appliances. Living room/Dining room combination w/Cathedral Ceiling, Family room and Large Kitchen downstairs. 3 bedrooms and a Large Loft upstairs.  When it comes to Queen Creek Homes for Sale, this one is a great value under $200,000. This home is not a foreclosure nor a short sale!  All offers will receive our immediate attention. See the photos, virtual tour and video to get a feel for this home.

Property information

Phoenix Winter Wonderland!

Yesterday, I was listening to our local Christian radio station, KFLR, and heard a song that epitomized the winter differential facing those of us in the desert southwest and the rest of the country. The song was played on the early morning Chris and Emily show. It is called Phoenix Wonderland and is sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland.

Living in the southwest has it's advantages over the winter conditions that face most of our country and our Canadian cousins up north. This Christmas, we are expecting rain, but normally it is mild sunny day.  The Phoenix metro area averages about 330 sunny days.  We do get snow in the mountain areas and views snow capped mountains can be quite scenic.

As I listen to the news this morning, I wonder how many people are thinking about "Global Warming" and when is it going to come back!

I do know about winter, having grown up in the midwest.  I was trained at an early age on the proper usage of the snow shovel.  The sound of the ice scappers echoing through the early morning air are a distant memory to me now.  You know we actually do get frost on our windshieds on cold mornings here.  We general just use the car's defroster to take car of it, though. To some it might sound like bragging when they here us say that we use heaters in the morning and air conditioning by the afternoon.

For those that are shoveling snow this winter, take heart, you could be here next winter cleaning out your pool.  We do have plenty of Gilbert homes for sale! www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com

Here's a link to the clip from Chris and Emily's morning show. http://www.myflrmedia.org/audio/morning_show/ce_december19c.wma

Arizona Homes for Sale - Arizona Real Estate Update

Welcome to the Cassady Team's "Arizona Real Estate and News Update".

Today's Featured website is http://www.azforeclosuresforsale.com/.  This Cassady Team website is dedicated for Chandler Arizona homes for sale and includes Foreclosures and Short Sales.

Today's Real Estate News: New Mortgage Aid Plan: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27660450/

                                          US Might Widen Foreclosure Help Plan: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27681193/

These two articles are about how the government is trying to develop a plan to help homeowners through this mortgage crisis. Both articles deal with ways to swap risky mortgages with safer US backed loans. The second article talks about a new changes to the 300 billion dollar plan that took effect October 1st.  Loan modifications play a big part and can help for stall many foreclosures.  Keeping homes off of the foreclosure market will help stop falling market prices.  Market prices are directly effected by foreclosures and short sales.

Tip of the Day: When selling your home, neutral colors are always "in".  Your colorful designs may limit your buyer pool. A few gallons of neutral paint could help your home sell faster and at a higher price.

Arizona Homes for Sale - Real Estate Update Nov 11

Welcome to the Cassady Team's "Real Estate Update". Our purpose is to share the daily real estate news and information about homes for sale in the East Valley and the Phoenix Metro Area. Our office is located in Gilbert Arizona and we serve the entire Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Today's Featured website is http://www.azforeclosuresforsale.com/.  This Cassady Team website is dedicated for Arizona homes for sale that are Foreclosures or Short Sales.

Today's Real Estate News: Homeowner denial: My home is gaining value; This article, on MSNBC, is a good read for anyone planning to sell their home.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27648884/

                                           New Breed of Investor Looks to Housing market; In this article, on MSNBC, talks about investors returning to the Las Vegas and Phoenix real estate markets. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27518326/

Both of the above articles show what we have been seeing recently in the home sales statistics. When selling your home, it's still the big three things that will get your home sold. Location, Condition and Pricing. Selling means pricing your home for today's real estate market not the one from 2005-2006.  That can be hard choice for those that owe more than their home is worth.

There are new government programs and information for home owners that find themselves facing a possible foreclosure. Loan modifications and short sales are just two of the ways to avoid foreclosure. If you are one of the many, that are having trouble making your payments, don't just sit back wait for foreclosure.  Seek advice from a qualified real estate professional or a HUD counselor.

Tip of the Day: Staging can help your home sell.  You can do some simple staging by removing clutter and extra furniture.  Since you are planning to move anyway, why not pack away the some of the items you are not currently using. 

Arizona Homes for Sale - Real Estate Update

Welcome to the Cassady Team's new "Real Estate Update". Our purpose is to share the daily real estate news and information about homes for sale in the East Valley and the Phoenix Metro Area. Our office is located in Gilbert Arizona and we serve the entire Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Today's featured website is www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com.  It is the Cassady Team main website offering easy access to all of the homes for sale listed on the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS).

Tip of the Day: Insulate your garage door. Home Depot offers a insulation kit that is easy to install and help can keep the temperatures in your garage to a manageable level. A two car garage door can take 2 kits. Last spring, I installed the kits and noticed a sharp decrease in the temperature inside during the summer months.  The adjoining rooms seemed to stay cooler this summer.

Today's Real Estate News: In an article in the Phoenix Business Journal the author speaks about buyers from Canada helping boost the valley home sales market.  http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/othercities/phoenix/stories/2008/11/10/focus5.html?b=1226293200^1729469&brthrs=1

We have had a number of Canadian buyers in town and the team members enjoyed helping them find homes here in the East Valley.  Canadian banks now offer mortgages in US dollars for real estate purchased here in the US.  Currently, our local mortgage companies are asking for large down payments to finance home purchases for our northern neighbors.  We do always welcome cash real estate transactions.  Of course, cash does makes it easier to bargain for the lender/bank (REO) owned properties. 

View Foreclosure Listings from around the valley. www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com

 

Foreclosures In Gilbert Arizona

In an article in the Arizona Republic and on AZCentral.com, our RE/MAX Alliance Group foreclosure bus tour was featured.  The reporter, David van den Berg, had called me about the foreclosure market and I invited him to join our office's last bus tour.  It was a great experience for me and a chance for David to see the foreclosures first hand.

It's no secret that foreclosures and short sales have been on the rise. At the end of June, foreclosures and short sales (properties that require lender or corporate approval) were almost 25 percent of Gilbert's active listings. 

What does this mean for today's buyers?  With more completion, lenders are doing more repairs and preparing the properties for sale.  Buyers have a good opportunity to find the home of their dreams at a very good price.  Unlike short sale homes, which can take 6 to 8 weeks or more to get approvals from the lenders, foreclosure properties usually only take a few days to get an answer back on an offer.

In addition to our office's monthly foreclosure bus tour, mentioned in the article, I offer personalized tours of resale, short sale and foreclosures homes for sale.  You can preview foreclosure and resale homes on my website www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com.

Here is a link to the article written by David van den Berg. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2008/07/12/20080712ev-foreclosures0712-ON.html

 

Single Story For Sale in Settler's Point South

• 1,716 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $250,000 - Great Price Popular Model

Settler's Point South, Gilbert  -  Very popular vaulted Great Room floor plan is perfect for entertaining. This floor plan also has split master bedroom for privacy. The master bedroom and the 2nd bedroom both have walk-in closets. The kitchen-dining area opens to a large covered patio. The backyard features a waterfall and a mature grapefruit tree. Neutral tile in kitchen, entry, hallways & bathrooms. Greenbelt area located at the end of the block.

Property information

The Housing Crisis Is Over or is it?

An article in the Wall Street Journal declares that the housing crisis is over.  It is an interesting article and worth reading.  It compares today's market with those of the 70's 80's and 90's.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121003604494869449.html?mod=WSJBlog

The article has a lot of merit and the local statistics seem to support it.  Last fall, we had an 18 month inventory and today the Phoenix Arizona market area has about 11 months supply.  Gilbert has about a nine month supply of homes for sale based on sales of 302 in the past 30 days.  Currently, Gilbert Arizona has 2463 properties listed for sale.  Chandler has a similar inventory to Gilbert's with 2337 listings and 30 days sales of 304.  The Phoenix market area has 54,489 homes listed with sales of 5,034

We are still in a buyer's market and there are some really good homes for sale. This is a good time for first time home buyers to enter the market.  Investors have already started looking at picking up some good deals for future investment.  Affordable housing has been keeping a large segment of people out of the market and now might just might be the time for them to purchase a home.

Sellers still need to price their homes competitively.  Pricing is still the biggest hurdle in getting a home sold.  Condition plays a big part, but if a home is priced for todays market, it will receive more showings.  More showings equal more chances for offers.

If you are ready to start looking for a home or have one to sell, come to www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com, or email for an appointment.

Buy Low - Sell High

We have all grown up hearing the term "Buy low - Sell High"; great words of wisdom for the stock market, but in real estate that doesn't always work.  If you sell high, you end up having to buy high.  If you buy high in the stock market, you can set your account to sell if your stock drops beyond a preset percentage. In real estate, most of us are living in our investment and cannot just set a sell point when the market drops. If you are tired of riding the real estate market, you can choose to just cash out, take your losses and rent. 

If you can afford to make the payments and don't need to move for next few years then this market won't affect you much.  Yes, the value of your home has depreciated, but so have all of the other homes in your market. History shows that real estate moves in cycles and eventually your home will increase in value again.

Maybe you want to buy a new home, but have decided to wait until the market improves; you might miss the market bottom and the best pricing. 

"Sell Low- Buy Low"

The real estate market generally lowers and rises in slow arcs unlike the stock market that has sharp ups and downs.  Even if you buy a home today and market goes down a little further, you will have a good chance for a gain when the market goes up again. You can choose to wait it out in your present home or sell now and wait it out in a new home.

Right now, we are in a good position to buy low and if you own a home, that means you will have to sell low.  Yes, your home has depreciated, but so have all of the other homes! 

If you are planning to move up to a larger home, this is a really good time.  Higher priced homes have gone down more than the lower priced homes.  Even though the higher priced homes depreciate at a higher rate, when the market goes up, they appreciate at a higher rate.

What position are you in?  Ready for a new home or are you a move up buyer?  Do you have a home to sell first?  If you have any questions, please call or email me.

Ed Cassady 480-229-6610 or Ed@EdCassady.com   www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com

Gilbert Foreclosure Bus Tour Saturday March 29

We are holding our second "Foreclosure Bus Tour" this Saturday at 10 AM.  We will touring a selection of foreclosure homes in the Gilbert area. If you would like to attend please email me at Ed@EdCassady.com or call 480-229-6610.

Here is a link to the FOX10 News report about our tour. Foreclosure Bus Tour Video

Our bus tour is a great way to look at a cross section of the Gilbert foreclosure market.  We will have a home inspector on board to answer your questions about the homes.  We will also have oa lending specialist to answer your financing questions.

If you would like to see foreclosure listings on-line, go to my website www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com.  Unlike most foreclosure sites, mine is free.  I can also set up automatic foreclosure updates to be sent to your email address.

Single Story For Sale in Settler's Point South

• 1,716 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $250,000 - Great Price Popular Model

Settler's Point South, Gilbert  -  Very popular vaulted Great Room floor plan is perfect for entertaining. This floor plan also has split master bedroom for privacy. The master bedroom and the 2nd bedroom both have walk-in closets. The kitchen-dining area opens to a large covered patio. The backyard features a waterfall and a mature grapefruit tree. Neutral tile in kitchen, entry, hallways & bathrooms. Greenbelt area located at the end of the block.

Property information

Do You Think It's a Good Time to Buy?

Are the prices are reaching a level where you think it might be time to buy?  There are a few steps that you need to do to prepare for your purchase.  Here is a short list of things to help you prepare provided by the National Association of REALTORS®.

 

10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership

1.      Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.

2.      Develop a wish list of what you’d like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.

3.      Select three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

4.      Determine if you have enough saved to cover your down payment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees average between 2 percent and 7 percent of the home price.

5.      Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.

6.      Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what’s best for you.

7.      Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan.

8.      Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment-assistance programs.

9.      Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.

10.  Find an experienced REALTOR^Ò who can help you through the process.

I think number 10 really should be the first step.  Whether you are a first time home buyer or just wanting to move up, as a full time real estate professional, I am here to help you. 

Ed Cassady

www.RealEstate4Gilbert.com

If Only I had an Extra Day....

How often do we say that?  How many projects have you put off for that extra day?  Well, today is an extra day, get to work!  It will be four years before we get another one.

Town of Gilbert holds 2nd Public Hearing for Handbill Ordinance

Last night the Gilbert town council held the second of three public hearings concerning the new handbill ordinance.  From what I read, it started with a complaint from one citizen with concerns about workers trespassing while leaving handbills.  Last night's hearing ended with the debate being more about trespass than handbills.  Council members also mentioned that the ordinance must cover everyone delivering advertisements or soliciting door to door, which would include neighborhood newspapers, phone books, church groups, charitable groups, and small businesses. 

In a time when the Town Gilbert is facing some economic hardships from the housing market, how much money and time is being expended on this issue.  We already have trespass laws on the books.  In a time when we need to bring our neighborhoods together, this law promotes isolation.  How welcome will neighbors feel with "no trespassing" signs on every house that wants to decline handbills?

Here are links to a  couple of articles about the issue:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/0225gr-counciladv0223.html

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/109899