Arizona Real Estate Journal

Send Out Cards revolutionizing greeting cards & their delivery!

2012-01-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

About SendOutCards

Since CEO Kody Bateman founded the company in 2004, SendOutCards has been changing people’s lives one card at a time. We are an online greeting card and gift company with over 50 million cards sent, making us the largest first-class mailing company in the U.S. and one of the fastest growing network marketing companies in the world. The prompting to reach out and touch someone’s life is something every person experiences. SendOutCards is enabling people to act on these promptings by providing a online service which helps you send personalized, printed greeting cards and gifts as a way to make a difference in the lives of others.

What We Do

Our unique online greeting card system enables people to act quickly on their promptings and we find joy in providing a tool that has proven to change countless lives time and time again. In less than 60 seconds, you can choose your custom card, add a personal photo, write your heartfelt, inspirational, or cheerful message and click send. We print, stuff, stamp and mail your personalized greeting cards to any postal address anywhere in the world, all for less than the average price of a greeting card at the store. Our gift selection is icing on the cake to this great service and allows you to go the extra mile to bring about another smile.
You can also make money with SendOutCards and build your way to financial success. By becoming a SendOutCards Independent Distributor, you can start your own business and make money every time people you bring into the company send greeting cards or gifts with the SendOutCards system. With over 60,000 independent distributors, SendOutCards wants to make it financially possible for people to act on life’s biggest promptings as they come.

We Help You Act on a Prompting
When you act on a prompting you can change someone’s life. Our convenient system lets you send that birthday, anniversary or thank you card without the hassle of pen, paper, stamps, envelopes or mailboxes. Sending a card has never been so easy! With just the click of a button, you can choose your custom card, add a personal photo, write your message and click send. We print, stuff, stamp and mail the physical card for you.

We Can Help Your Business
Whether you are a dentist, salesperson or office worker, there has never been an easier way to send a genuine thank you, reminder or follow-up card. Greeting cards can be powerful business tools to help make sure your business clients and customers know just how important they are!

We Keep You Organized

It can be exhausting to look up each address when sending a card. With our Contact Manager you can store all of your addresses in one place. When sending a card, simply select an address that’s been saved and we’ll do the rest.

We Make It Easy

By creating a campaign you can send the same card to as many people as you want - perfect for announcements, invitations and holidays.

We Remind You

Never forget a birthday again! With our reminder system you can store important dates like anniversaries and birthdays and we’ll remind you every time.

We Bring The Gifts to You

Don’t waste time running to the store to find a gift. With our extensive online Gift Catalog, you can choose from hundreds of gifts like chocolate brownies, gift cards and motivational books - all without ever leaving the comfort of your home.

With SendOutCards, there are 2 ways you can get started with this amazing company.

The first way is to become a SendOutCards Customer. Our Pay As You Go or Monthly Subscription options allow you to buy points at great prices! Once your points are purchased, you’ll have access to the SendOutCards system where you can create and send cards, gifts and amazing products from the SOC Photo Store.

Pay As You Go or Monthly Subscription

Our Pay As You Go or Monthly Subscription options allow you to buy points at great prices! Once your points are purchased, you’ll have access to the SendOutCards system where you can create and send cards, gifts and amazing products from the SOC Photo Store.

Select a Pay As You Go Plan

•Buy points as you need them

•Points available for as low as $0.49 per point

•The more points you buy, the cheaper the cost per point

Select a Monthly Subscription Plan

•Have points automatically purchased and added to your account each month

•Retail Pricing: 49¢ per point with a monthly subscription of $9.80 up to $31

•Preferred Pricing: 31¢ per point with a monthly subscription of $31 or more

The second way is to become an Independent Distributor (ID) for SendOutCards. The Independent Distributor Package offers the basic tools to get started in the business. Anyone, including customers, can become an ID if they wish to take advantage of SendOutCards’ powerful income opportunity. By becoming an ID, you can enroll customers and build a commissionable sales organization of IDs. There is no fee or purchase required to be an ID – only a refundable deposit.

IDs who are serious about building residual income become Marketing IDs (or MDs) by making a one-time purchase of the optional Marketing Distributor Package for $295, which includes powerful training and support tools. In order for an ID to advance in the compensation plan, they must sponsor other IDs who elect to become Marketing Distributors (MDs).

Complete with all the items in the Independent Distributor Package, the Marketing Distributor Package also comes with all the business-building products, tools, training and support options you need to maintain a successful SendOutCards business. In addition, the refundable deposit for becoming an Independent Distributor is waived when you purchase this optional package. The Marketing Distributor Package delivers the best value and allows you to take full advantage of the SendOutCards income opportunity.

Check out this 3 minute video on SendOutCards:
http://www.sendoutcards.com/dkmiller

For more information, go to:
https://www.sendoutcards.com/

Phoenix Open 2012 for Golf Lovers

2012-01-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is a golf tournament unlike any other. Annually sporting the largest galleries on the PGA TOUR, few tournaments can match the enthusiasm and excitement of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Tournament Dates: January 30 – February 05, 2012

TICKET INFORMATION:

General Admission | $25
• Ages 17 & under are free when accompanied by an adult.
• Tickets are available at the gate during WMPhoenix Open week; online here, or www.ticketmaster.com.

Sponsor Packages | $300
• 4 Transferable badges good for all week
• 4 Daily General Admission tickets on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
• 1 Reserved Parking Pass for the week
• Waste Management Phoenix Open souvenir program

Members Club | $1,800
Sponsored by Grayhawk Golf Club
• 4 Members Club badges per day each of the 7 days
• 4 General Admission tickets per day for each of the 7 days
• Complimentary beverages and light snacks in the on-course Members Club locations on 9, 12, 17 & 18
• 1 Reserved parking pass | good all week

Greenskeeper | $3,100
Sponsored by Oakley
• 4 Greenskeeper badges per day each of the 7 days
• 4 General Admission tickets per day for each of the 7 days
• Complimentary food & beverages
• 1 Valet parking pass | good all week

Clubhouse | $5,900
• 6 Clubhouse badges each day | Wed – Sun
• Complimentary buffet lunch and open bar
• 6 Greenskeeper badges per day | Mon – Tues
• 10 General Admission tickets each day for all 7 days
• 3 Valet parking passes | good all week

Chairman’s Club | $5,000
Access to six venues, all week long:
• Greenskeeper
• Members Club
• Clubhouse
• Skyboxes
• Corporate Village
• Birds Nest VIP
• Valet Parking

Birds Nest General Admission
— $25 (Wednesday)
— $30 (Thursday – Saturday if purchased in advance)
— $35 (Thursday – Saturday if purchased the day of show or at main Birds Nest gate)

Birds Nest VIP Admission $150
• Hosted bar and catered buffet each night of the Birds Nest, Wed – Sat

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO:
http://wmphoenixopen.com/

Today's featured home...

2012-01-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Immaculate home in GATED Golf community!

2012-01-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

The Benefits of Yoga

2012-01-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Now that the stress of the hustle and bustle of the holidays is behind us, you may want to learn a better way to relax and quiet your mind, as well as manage stress and improve your health. Yoga might be the answer.
Yoga can be good for beginners, because of the slow pace and easier poses. Engaging mind and body, yoga brings focus to your inner peace, helping the cares of your busy life melt away through poses that call on your concentration and balance.
Some of the benefits of yoga include upping your fitness level, weight loss and stress reduction. According to the Mayo Clinic, yoga may also help with some chronic health conditions such as depression, cancer, insomnia and others. It can also help reduce your blood pressure.
Even though yoga is usually safe for most people, start out slow, like you would with any other exercise program. Go at a comfortable pace and let your body tell you how far to go. Yoga shouldn't ever be painful.
Yoga can improve other aspects of your life, too, by increasing strength, flexibility, balance, and range of motion, making it less likely for you to injure yourself in day-to-day activities.
Consider adding yoga to your life, and feel the benefits for yourself. What have you got to lose?

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

Handcrafted Wood-Inlay Maps Designed by You

2012-01-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Want a great gift idea for that person who "has everything" or to really give a unique & personalized gift. These handcrafted wood-inlay maps are like a piece of art with their contrasting shapes of wood veneer...Simple & elegant & so fun to customize!

Wood inlay maps make beautiful gifts:

-For an anniversary, get that special someone a woodcut map of the spot where you first met, had your first kiss, or got engaged.
-For your boss or the company owner who worked hard to build that company where it is!
-For you.....where you live, where you went to college, where you work, the site of your favorite vacation, etc.
-For a friend or family member as a housewarming present or if they've just moved to a new city.
-For a client.
-Great Realtor gift to client for their new home & neighborhood!

What a great way to memorialize a special location & create a private bond between gift-giver and recipient!

Here's how it works......

Choose a Location
Choose a location anywhere in the world! Using our maps interface, you can make a map of any place that’s close to you or someone you know.

Frame your Design
It’s like photography: frame a composition around the place that you know. Several sizes are available.

Select Materials
We offer a wide selection of exotic hardwoods and patterns. Each map has a totally unique pattern of wood grain.

Purchase & Receive Your Map
Two weeks later, a gallery-quality production arrives at your door for handing or framing.

Other great ideas for WoodCut Maps:

Want your own coaster set? Woodcut map tabletop? Or a mural-sized wall? We can do it all! We’ll create a woodcut map to any specification you can dream up!

For more information or to order, go to: http://woodcutmaps.com/

Body Cleanse for 2012: The Lemonade Cleanse Diet

2012-01-11T13:14:00.001-07:00

Want to start anew for the new year? Try the much raved about Lemonade Master Cleanse Diet sweeping the nation! Beyonce has voiced that it was this diet that got her in shape for one of her past movies.

For 10 days or more (up to 40 days) do the following:

1) Start each day on an empty stomach with a "Salt Water Flush"
- 1 Quart of water (room temperature water & do not use distilled water) mix in 1-2 Tbsps of Non-Iodized Sea Salt (do NOT use table salt). Drink immediately. This flush can also be substituted with a laxative or the Smooth Move Senna Tea mentioned below in step 3.

2) Drink a minimum of 6 glasses (no more than 12 glasses) of the following "Lemonade Mixture"
Mix the following & drink immediately:
     - 1-2 cups of water (do NOT use distilled). Water can be room temperature, cold or heated for more of a "hot tea" experience.
     - 1/2 of a squeezed lemon (equivilent to 2 Tbsps of fresh squeezed juice from 1/2 of a lemon). Roll the lemon on a hard surface before cutting it to get it softened & juicy. Do NOT refrigerate the lemons. Do NOT use store bought lemon juice. Lemons (& limes) are known to be the richest source of minerals & vitamins of any foods known to man & they are available year round.
     - 2 Tbsps of Rich Genuine Maple Syrup (organic & Grade B or C are best for this recipe but Grade A will also suffice for a lighter flavor). Can be found at Sprouts markets or like stores. The Maple Syrup is a balanced form of positive & negative sugars & must be used & never substituted. This is where most of your daily calories come from as well as many of the vitamins & minerals needed. Do NOT use honey. For those who are overweight, less maple syrup may be taken; or add more syrup if wishing to not lose weight.
     - 1/10 Tsp of Cayenne Pepper (or more to taste; organic is preferred)
*Each ingredient serves a specific purpose so do NOT eliminate anything. The Cayenne Pepper breaks up the mucus & increases the warmth by building the blood for an additional lift. It also adds vitamin B & C to the diet.

3) At night, drink 1 cup of Traditional Medicinal Organic Smooth Move Senna Tea (any flavor, available at Sprout's markets or like stores) at least 1-hour before bedtime. This works as a laxative so be ready! :)

NO OTHER FOOD SHOULD BE CONSUMED DURING THE FULL PERIOD OF THE DIET (vitamin pills/supplements are also NOT needed & should NOT be taken).
Per Stanley Burroughs book The Master Cleanser, this diet is a complete balance of minerals & vitamins & contains all of the nutrition needed during this time.

You can & should drink plenty of water (NOT distilled) throughout the day as desired. Try to avoid drinking more than double the amount of Lemonade each day. Drinking enough water helps to wash out the toxins being released out of our body during the cleanse. It also helps prevent possible headaches as well as feeling of hunger or cravings that surface during the detox.

Every day of the Master Cleanse diet that you overcome the psychological need to eat, you feel a growing sense of control that motivates you to complete the process! The diet can be completed 3-4 times a year.

The purpose of the diet is to:
-eliminate toxins & congestion that have formed in any part of the body.
-cleanse the kidneys & digestive system.
-purify glands & cells throughout the entire body.
-eliminate waste & hardened material in the joints & muscles.
-relieve pressure & irritation in the nerves, arteries, & blood vessels.
-build a healthy blood stream.
-keep youth & elasticity.

Use this diet when:
-sickness has developed (for acute or chronic conditions).
-the digestive system needs a rest & a cleansing.
-overweight has become a problem.
-better assimilation & building of body tissue is needed.

Happy Cleansing!

How to Shed Those Unwanted Pounds in 2012

2012-01-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

To lose those unwanted pounds this year, give AZ Pro Physiques a try. It's a local personal training company in Gilbert, AZ that can give you the personal attention you need to get the body you've been wanting. They provide a comprehensive program that includes one-on-one training with one trainer who guides your entire program. A custom meal plan is created for each client and cardio and supplement plans are also provided. Sessions are as low as $30!

Felicia Romero, Owner & Trainer

Free Fitness Assessment

Meet with a personal trainer for your free fitness evaluation, nutrition consultation, weight and body fat testing and free one-on-one training session. Not sure what it's like to work with a personal trainer? Test it out for free.

Address

1522 S. Gilbert Rd. Suite 103 Gilbert, AZ 85296

Hours Of Operation

Open 7 days a week with no set hours
Contact Info

Email Address: azprophysiques@yahoo.com

Telephone: (480) 917-7767

How to Ring in the New Year Arizona Style 2011/12

2011-12-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for something memorable to do this new year's eve, come join in on one of the hottest events of the year:

Fiesta Bowl Block Party in Tempe:
Known as one of the biggest block parties in the country & named by USA Today as one of the top ten places in America to ring in the new year. Live music (Gin Blossoms, Sawyer Brown, DJ's, etc), food, magic shows, beer garden, outdoor dance arena, activities for kids, fireworks (10:00pm & midnight), confetti blast, & more!

Price: $20 at the gate or $20 + service charge online.
$16 in advance in advance at Safeway Stores if purchased by December 30th.
Tempe residents are aligible for discount tickets.

Location: Downtown Tempe (Mill Avenue District). Entrance gates locations: Mill Ave & University Dr; 5th St east of Mill Ave; 5th St west of Mill Ave; 3rd St & Mill Ave. The METRO light rail's last trip is at 2:00am.

Beautiful home in a GATED Golf community!

2011-12-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Great Reasons to Compost

2011-12-16T09:00:00.002-07:00

Have you been thinking about composting, but aren't sure how to begin? Or maybe you think it could be time-consuming and smelly? (Not true, by the way!) Well, read on and check out these good reasons for composting.

Composting Can Save You Money

If you’re a gardener, your compost pile can save you money by taking the place of expensive fertilizers.

That Stylish Composting Pail!

Fashionistas will love the look of the new, designer-styled composting pails that will dress up any kitchen. And, they are equipped with charcoal filters, so no onion or garlic smells can leak out.

Compost Makes a Garden Thrive

There’s no better soil amendment than compost. It makes clay soils more porous and helps sandy soils retain water. Gardens that are composted produce higher yields of healthier fruits, vegetables and flowers.

It’s Good for Mother Earth!

Across the nation, landfills are overflowing, and the EPA estimates that roughly 25% of the garbage in landfills is

made up of yard trimmings and food scraps. That's over 60 million tons each year that could be recycled into compost!

For more information on composting, visit:

http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/composting/basic.htm

http://www.howtocompost.org/info/info_composting.asp

Residential Real Estate in Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

2011-12-15T09:00:00.001-07:00

1-19 oz. can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1 Tbsp. diced jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed

1 Tbsp. lime juice

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1 large tomato, chopped and seeded

1 garlic clove, minced

1-12 oz. can kernel corn, drained

OR

1-1/2 cup thawed frozen corn kernels

1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Cover and chill at least 2 hours to

blend flavors. Serve with your favorite chips. Makes 4 cups.

San Tan Valley, AZ Buyers Are to Sure to Love San Tan Valley, AZ Houses for Sale

Set SMART Goals

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

To be truly successful, you need to set and pursue SMART goals. Write them down, and then check them to make sure they are:

• Specific: A specific goal is much more likely to be accomplished than a general goal. Make the goal detailed and well defined.

•Measurable: Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the goal. Set criteria that can be tracked and inspected.

•Achievable: Make your goal attainable, but challenging enough that you must grow and expand to reach it.

• Realistic: A realistic goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work, and that leads to important, suitable results.

• Time-Sensitive: Make your goal deadline driven. A goal with no time frame tied to it has no sense of urgency.

Real Estate for Sale in Higley Groves, Gilbert, AZ

Great Gift Ideas & Deals for Christmas

2011-12-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

Doing some last minute Christmas shopping? Well, here are some great deals & gift ideas for that special someone:

-Victoria's Secret has FREE Shipping today (12/13) on ANY order (no minimums): Code VSFREE + FREE Slippers with PJ Sets. They have more than just lingerie! They have great PJ sets, cute undies, yoga pants, velour sweat outfits, great eye shadows & lispticks, perfume, & more! http://www.victoriassecret.com/

-Dick's Sporting Goods has their "Friends & Family" deal of 10%-25% Off your Entire Purchase (some exclusions apply): Ends tomorrow (12/14) in stores only. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/

-Sephora today (12/13) is giving away $15 free with a $50 minimum purchase. They have gifts for both him & her. Great shaving kit gift sets for him + colognes; Tons of Beauty products & Makeup Lines for her! Email offer. http://www.sephora.com/

-Tigerlilly Trunk Show clothing boutique is having a 1-day blowout sale 12/15 (10am-6pm) on great clothes for her! 2144 N. Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ 85225

-Ballard Designs is having a killer sale on tons of home furnishings & a great price on their adorable icon totes (item#AM979): $12 (reg. $20) http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

-Cost Plus World Market today only (12/13) has all of their framed art 50% off!! http://www.worldmarket.com/

-ULTA has 20% off your entire in-store purchase (exp's 12/24)...Check your mail for Coupon. http://www.ulta.com/

-Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic: Today only 30% off online (code: HOLIDAY)

-Costco: in stores for $80 they have $100 Gift Cards to "Fox Concept Restaurants" including Modern Steak, True Food, Culinary Dropout, Blanco, Bloom, Zinburger, Olive & Ivy, & more!

Happy Shopping!!

Protect Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2011-12-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an extremely toxic gas that is invisible, ordorless and colorless. It is the byproduct of incomplete combustion of carbon fuels in heaters and furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves and ovens. CO is often called the “silent killer.” Because it can’t be seen or smelled, the toxic fumes can incapacitate or kill people and animals before its presence is detected in a home. CO is responsible for an average of 450 deaths and 20,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. annually. As of 2011, thirty states require carbon monoxide alarms in homes to combat the serious threat of CO poisoning.

Here are some safety tips to help protect you and your family:

• DO have fuel-burning systems and appliances inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season.

• DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device.

• DON’T idle the car in a garage, even if the garage door is open.

• DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors – even in a fireplace.

• DON’T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.

• MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home.

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

Handwashing Awareness

2011-12-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

Washing your hands is the best way to prevent most respiratory and gastro-intestinal infectious diseases. National Handwashing Awareness week, the first full week of December, is intended to raise awareness of disease prevention by keeping clean hands.

Dr. Will Sawyer, Infection Prevention Specialist, says to make your home a safe zone. When you come home, decontaminate!

Wash your hands right away when you get home from shopping, errands, school, or work. There are diseases that you cannot see on all surfaces – don't bring them into your home.

Keep your hands out of your eyes, nose and mouth, also known as the T-Zone. These areas are where germs can directly enter your body.
Here are a few reminders from henrythehand.com on how to keep you and your family from getting sick, especially during the holidays:

Wash your hands before and after you eat.

Don't touch the T-Zone.

Don't sneeze or cough into your hands. Sneeze or cough into your elbow or grab a tissue.

Enter into the New Year healthy by being a champion hand washer!

Real Estate for Sale in Mesa, AZ

Holiday Luminaria Event at Desert Botanical Garden

2011-12-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Las Noches de las Luminarias

The Valley’s best holiday event comes to life at the Garden with more than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags and 10 musical groups performing nightly. Luminaria offers guests a choice of 22 nights in December, including dates between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Dates: December 1st-30th (December 8-11, 15-23, 26-30)

Times: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Advance Tickets: Call the Garden's box office at 480/481-8188

Ticket Prices:
General Public- $25 for adults, $12.50 for children (ages 3-12) (children under three are admitted free)
Garden Members- $20 for adults $10 for children (ages 3-12) (children under three are admitted free)

Meal Tickets (optional):Adults - $16.50 Inclusive of tax
Children -$8.95 per Child (12 and under) – Inclusive of tax

Nightly Musical Entertainment

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Maricopa County Pending Foreclosures for November 2011

2011-11-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

The following line chart shows the inventory of properties in foreclosure on a weekly basis from 2002 onwards. The inventory of foreclosures pending represents the number of properties which are scheduled for sale by the trustee at some point in the future.

Inventory is increased by 1 whenever a notice of trustee sale is issued. Inventory is reduced by 1 when a trustee sale is cancelled. Inventory is also reduced by 1 when a trustee deed is issued to either a third party or the beneficiary (i.e. the lender). If the trustee deed is issued to the beneficiary then this adds 1 to our REO inventory and it no longer counts as a foreclosure pending.

The data is for the county of Maricopa and includes all real estate property types, including land and commercial. A commercial parcel counts as 1 foreclosure even if there are multiple structures within that parcel.

Each year is shown in a unique color and you can use the colored buttons to select which years are visible. Place the cursor over a circular plot symbol to see the date and value.
This chart has weekly updates.

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

Top 10 companies hiring this week

2011-11-22T09:00:00.002-07:00

Top 10 companies hiring this week

Good luck job hunting!

1. UPS

2. Macy’s

3. Chipotle

4. Chrysler-Mopar

5. Morgan Stanley

6. Bed, Bath, & Beyond

7. Hewlett-Packard (HP)

8. Extendicare health Services

9. Panera Bread Company

10. Yellowbook

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

FHA Loan limits restored!

2011-11-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

The reinstated FHA loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families in 669 counties in 42 states and territories, where the average loan limit reduction after the reset last month was more than $68,000. The provision reinstates the FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local area median home prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in the highest cost markets, the floor will remain at $271,050. However, Congress chose not to apply the loan limits restoration to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie-and-Freddie-backed mortgages will remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices up to $625,500.

The bill also provides for a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through December 16, 2011.

Give us a call with any questions.

Real Estate for Sale in Mesa, AZ

EASY Pumpkin Pie Recipe

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want a Pumpkin Pie but don’t want to slave in the kitchen??? Try this EASY recipe.

Prep Time: 5 Min

Total Time: 3 Hr 10 Min

Makes: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

½ teaspoon salt

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 ¼ cups evaporated milk or half and half

2 eggs, beaten

1 Pillsbury® Pet-Ritz® frozen deep-dish pie crust

DIRECTIONS
1 Heat oven to 425°F. In large bowl, mix filling ingredients. Pour into pie crust. 2 Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 40 to 50 minutes longer or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 2 hours. Serve or refrigerate until serving time. Store in refrigerator.

How Much Did Your 1967 Dollar Buy in 1984?

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

According to the statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, your 1967 dollar would buy only 28.5 cents' worth of goods in 1984.

This is an average for all goods and services.

What's interesting is to look at individual items and see the change in price between 1967 and 1984.

Television sets, for example, had a ZERO PERCENT increase in price during the 17-year span ... while, on the other end of the scale, the cost of a hospital room increased 560.7%!

In between the two extremes ...

The cost of ground beef . . . up 159.7%

The cost of sirloin steak . . . up 180.9%

The cost of a home . . . up 203.9%

The cost of coffee . . . up 268.9%

The cost of furniture . . . up 297.6%

The cost of fuel oil . . . up 559.9%

It may (or may not) be significant to note that the cost of women's and girls' clothing increased only 61.8% while the cost of men's and boys' clothing increased 90.7% (a sign of increasing male vanity ... or are women simply better shoppers)?

You can also be the judge in determining the significance, if any, in the fact that the cost of whiskey increased only 53.3% while the cost of nonalcoholic drinks went up a whopping 331.7% - and that the cost of eating at home went up 167.7% while the cost of eating out went up 232.6%.

One final set of statistics which we'll toss in to the endless debate on whether to rent or own your home . . . the cost of residential rent increased 147.2% between 1967 and 1984, while the cost of home maintenance increased 309.6%.

Whew! Wouldn't it be fun to compare those numbers to the cost of the same things in 2011? ... or maybe not ...

Click here to Search ALL new homes in the Valley of the Sun!

Energy Efficient Mortgages

2011-11-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

In recent years the federal government has increased incentives for home energy-efficiency through increases in tax credits for solar panels, solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, heavy-duty insulation, windows, air conditioning and other similar home enhancements.
This appears to be the beginning of a much larger push by the government towards green housing. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a new generation of energy-efficient mortgages will soon be rolled out, starting with FHA loans that offer 5 percent larger mortgage amounts to people who plan to undertake energy-efficiency improvements.

Under these new loans, for example if you qualify for a $200,000 FHA mortgage to purchase a standard house, FHA lenders might now might be able to offer you $10,000 more upfront -- a $210,000 loan amount -- if the extra money is used to substantially lower the property's annual energy consumption.

Additional incentives are also being considered, including giving applicants credit on their qualifying incomes for a home loan in exchange for documentable savings in annual energy expenditures.

In addition, the House of Representatives has also passed a massive energy-conservation and emissions-control bill. Among other items, this bill contains a subsection devoted to creating incentives for consumers and federal agencies to build and finance more energy-efficient dwellings. This plan will include initiatives for:

- The FHA is directed to insure a minimum of 50,000 new energy-efficient mortgages during the coming three years. An energy-efficient house is defined as one in which energy consumption is reduced by 20 percent after renovations.

- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are directed to develop new mortgage products and more flexible underwriting guidelines to reward energy-conscious borrowers and builders.

Plans to also help establish a secondary market for energy-efficient and location-efficient mortgages for moderate- and lower-income homebuyers for conventional and FHA loans are currently being pushed. This new generation of loans would increase the qualifying incomes of applicants by at least one dollar for every dollar of projected energy savings from renovations, green construction or efficient design.

There are also many more complex elements to the proposed changes including initiatives to have these properties properly valued by appraisers, state government intervention and moving homes to a more energy efficient grid altogether and away from traditional energy sources that will be part of the future of "green" loans.

Some of these plans may take effect soon, while others may take much longer to roll out. However, it appears that the future will put an emphasis or at least some incentive on a "greener" home.

Light the Night Light Leukemia & Lymphoma 5k Walk in Tempe

2011-11-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk funds lifesaving research and support for people battling cancer.

Event Info:

Greater Phoenix Walk

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Festivities Begin: 5:00 PM

Tempe Arts Park

700 W. Rio Salado Parkway

Tempe, 85281

Rain OR Shine!

Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in over two hundred communities each fall across North America.

Anyone can take part - children, adults and seniors are all welcome. This is a casual fundraising walk with no fitness requirements. There are many ways you can help. You can register to walk individually or as part of a team; just make a donation online; or become a volunteer or sponsor/partner. See local walk sites for time and date information.

Every walker is encouraged to become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help support the work of hundreds of the world's best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

To learn more about Light The Night Walk: http://www.lightthenight.org/

November is American Diabetes Month

2011-11-04T14:53:00.002-07:00

With nearly 26 million children and adults in American living with diabetes, and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country. Yet, most Americans don’t consider diabetes a serious matter. They feel it is someone else’s responsibility; someone else’s problem.
Recent numbers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint a desperate situation of where we are at, and where we are headed:

• Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.

• Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.

Now is the time to act.

Become Involved in American Diabetes Month® 2011

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to rally individuals, communities and families to Join the MillionsSM in the movement to Stop Diabetes®. This year, the American Diabetes Association is asking individuals to take a pledge and raise their hand to Stop Diabetes.

Beginning November 1, the public can take action by taking the American Diabetes Month pledge on Facebook.

Here are other ways you can become involved:

1. Attend an American Diabetes Month event in your area

2. Visit www.stopdiabetes.com

3. Call 1-800-DIABETES

4. Text JOIN to 69866 (standard data and message rates apply)

Real Estate for Sale in Higley Groves, Gilbert, AZ

Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

2011-11-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

Baking holiday cookies is a time-honored tradition for many families. Unfortunately, It can also be a time-consuming chore to bake enough varieties for your holiday cookie trays. The solution? Host a holiday cookie exchange party!

Here’s how it works:

Invite friends who also enjoy holiday baking to bring a large batch of one type of cookie to the party (a dozen cookies for each attendee, plus a dozen for guests to enjoy). This gives everyone the desired variety for their holiday parties (yet only requires baking one recipe) and the host has instant refreshments to serve to guests!

Have participants bring copies of their recipe to share, and remind them to bring containers for transporting their cookies home.

Prepare a large table spread with a decorative cloth to display the cookies.

Play seasonal music and serve at least one holiday beverage such as egg nog or hot mulled cider along with coffee, tea, juices and, of course, milk!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

Happy Energy Awareness Month!

2011-11-02T09:00:00.002-07:00

Tips for Saving Energy this Fall and Winter

With winter setting in across the nation, EPA encourages Americans to continue to take action to save energy and cut heating costs this winter:

Maintain heating equipment: Dirt and neglect are the number one causes of heating system failure, so be sure to maintain your equipment. Now is a good time to schedule a pre-season checkup of your heating equipment with a licensed contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance. Check your system’s air filter every month and when it is dirty, change it. At a minimum change it every 3 months.

Use a programmable thermostat: Regulate your home’s temperature while you’re away or asleep by using one of the convenient pre-programmed settings on a programmable thermostat. When used properly, programmable thermostats can save you up to $180 every year in energy costs.
Seal air leaks in your home: Sealing air leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a significant impact on improving your comfort and reducing energy bills. If you are adding insulation to your home, be sure to seal air leaks first, to ensure you get the best performance from your insulation.

Utilize the ENERGY STAR Website (www.energystar.gov): Use ENERGY STAR’s Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home's energy use to similar homes across the country and see how your home measures up. ENERGY STAR’s Home Energy Advisor can give recommendations for energy-saving home improvements for typical homes in your area.

Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products: Whether you are replacing light bulbs or appliances in your home, ENERGY STAR qualified products can help you save energy and reduce energy bills. The label can be found on more than 60 types of products ranging from heating and cooling equipment to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Real Estate for Sale in Mesa, AZ

New Home Search

2011-11-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there are currently 433 New Home subdivisions in the metro Phoenix area? And, that last month there were 1,119 spec homes? Why wait to build, when you can get a new home that is almost completed & you may still be able to pick out the flooring! According to the National Association of Home Builders; newly built single family homes rose 5.7%! This marks the fastest pace of new home sales in the past 5 months!

We have a detailed search page on our NEW website that will allow you to search for new homes & look at floorplans that meet all your needs!

Check it out today! Click here to search new homes!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

The Real Costs of Halloween Home Disasters: Serial Killers, Phantasms, and Floods of Blood
HouseLogic estimates the home repair costs in Poltergeist, Scream, The Shining, and other horror classics. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Posted by
Kym Peters
602-810-1413

2011 Arizona State Fair

2011-10-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

2011 Arizona State Fair

October 14 - November 6

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Looking for something to do today??? How about the state fair? Only 1 week left to enjoy all that the fair has to offer!

Here are today's specials:

• Happy Hour Friday Oct. 28
1/2 price admission and $2 rides, games, & select food items 'til 6pm
Park FREE and Ride the Shuttle to the Fair

Free parking is located between 18th and 19th Avenues and Washington and Jefferson Streets. Fairgoers with disabilities can also park free of charge in any of the ADA designated parking areas surrounding the State Capitol. Shuttle hours are Fridays after 6:00pm and Saturdays & Sundays beginning at 10:00am. The shuttle will pick up patrons in the designated area near the Capital lot and will drop off patrons on the north end of the fairgrounds. Shuttle service will run until one hour after the fair closes.

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

ArizonaExperienceRealty.com is LIVE!!!

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our new website is up and running! Please check it out, there is a multitude of information for buyers and sellers! You can search for homes new and resale! You can even look at the new build floorplans! Feel free to give us feedback or ideas on what you would like to see on our site! We want it to be as interactive as possible. We are here to serve!

Thank you and we look forward to your feedback

Arizona Experience Realty

CELEBRATE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

2011-10-25T14:32:00.002-07:00

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about the importance of early detection. More and more women are getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline. Encourage the women in your life to get mammograms on a regular basis.

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

Looking for Something Fun to Do???

2011-10-19T18:58:00.002-07:00

Looking for something fun for the family in the month of October? Schnepf Farms is a great place to go! Now, through the end of October (Thursday-Sunday) Schnepf Farms is having their Pumpkin and Chili Party. Pack up the kids and head on over. Below is a map of all the fun! For hours of operation and directions go directly to their website at: http://schnepffarms.com/.

Explore More Home Properties For Sale In Circle Cross Ranch San Tan Valley AZ

Check Out More Home Properties For Sale In Johnson Ranch San Tan Valley AZ

2011-10-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

542 S HIGLEY RD 43 Mesa, AZ 85206

$122,900

1,353 square feet

2 Bedrooms

1 Car Garage
55+ Subdivision with Community Pool, Clubhouse, & more!

MLS#4552576

Perfect for winter visitors who are wanting a fantastic winter retreat/second home to relax or play, or a local buyer looking for a great place to live year round!
Enjoy the active adult (55+) lifestyle of Camino Del Rey, best kept secret in Mesa! Community boats pride of ownership!

-Gorgeous, well maintained home.

-Room addition added to home for extra square footage for office/den (the addition is permitted).

-Remodeled Master Bath w/granite countertops, antique bronze fixtures & beautifully tiled shower.

-Kitchen has tiled countertops, gorgeous backsplash + pullout shelves.

-Nice touches through-out: Wainescoting, Window seats w/extra storage, Plantation Shutters, Vaulted Ceilings, Bay Windows, Soft Water System, & Built-in Garage Cabinets.

-All appliances convey.

-Tiled flooring through-out most of the home.

-Exterior painted in 2010.

-Charming backyard w/artificial turf & beautiful Texas Laurel trees/jasmine/rosebushes/yellow bells.

-GREAT LOT-No homes behind & close to the clubhouse.
Subdivision Info:

-Heated Community Pool/Spa

-Clubhouse loaded w/activities: pot lucks, bingo, cards, golf outings, shuffleboard, billiards, library, lounge w/fireplace, etc.

-GREAT LOCATION close to freeways, golf, hospitals, dining & shopping.

-Buyers must be 55 years or older (age restricted). This is an owner-occupied community

For more information or to tour the home, please contact:

Leah Hamman

Arizona Experience Realty

480.330.6242

Email: HammanTeam@cox.net

More pictures:

Phoenix Winter Grass Time

2011-10-17T17:46:00.001-07:00

This may not look like much - but this is the fruit of mine and my husband's back breaking labor! To finally make it through the heat of the summer with a view of a nice lawn offers a sense of maybe "it's not that hot". Because if it was, then our green grass would be brown - right? Now that were going into the nice part of the year, I wanted to show a photo of our winter grass. Years past, we have hired someone to come in and put this in and found that a bit of hard labor is all it takes. I've also included a link for you to view for additional information on how to put in your own winter lawn - enjoy!
http://www.evergreenturf.com/lawn-care/fall-over-seeding.php

Tract Home Builder Changes Design to Meet Needs of Today's Social Living

2011-10-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Finally a tract home builder has planned a nice design to accomodate a "mother-in-law" suite seperate but connected to the main home. When considering living arrangements of many households with older parents and yes, adult children, I often times find myself looking for homes with a basement or an additional master bedroom suite to fit the needs of my home buyers. Most of us know that homes with basements in the Phoenix metro area are far and few between, and looking for an affordable dual master bedroom suite home can sometimes meet the same fate. Lennar homes, a nice tract builder has come up with a great design that offers spacious main living with seperate "in-law" quarters connected by a single interior door. This additional home offers a single car garage, full kitchen and living area, nice size bedroom with one bathroom, laundry area, patio and it's own entrance!
Contact me if you would like additional information about this new home concept.
Kym Peters, SFR
Arizona Experience Realty
602-810-1413

Arizona Haunted Houses 2011

2011-10-07T09:00:00.010-07:00

Here is a list of Arizona Haunted Houses for 2011.

Happy Halloween!

Buckelew Farm Terror in the Corn

Haunted House in Tucson AZ

Imagine finding yourself alone in a dark and foggy corn field in the middle of the night that has come to life with your worst nightmares. You will be put to the test and will be left gasping for air. See you there.
http://buckelewfarm.com/
13th Floor Haunted House

Haunted House in Phoenix

The world famous 13th Floor Haunted House has come to Phoenix! Created by nationally recognized and award winning haunted house designers the 13th Floor will transport you to new levels of fear. Prepare to be terrified by 60,000 square feet of horror, 2 epic haunted attraction walkthroughs for one all inclusive price. Located at I-17 and Bell Rd. behind Hooters.
http://13thflooraz.com/

Crypt Haunted Attractions-Fiesta Mall

Haunted House in Mesa Arizona

The Crypt Haunted Attractions features 2 haunted houses, THE CRYPT and THE ASYLUM. Moving back to the East valley, new home Fiesta Mall. Fiesta Mall is located at 1445 W. Southern Ave, Mesa AZ 85202, just off US 60 Superstition Freeway and Alma School Road.
http://www.hauntedaz.com/

Haunted House and Hayride

Haunted House in Phoenix AZ

If you dare, join us for the 10th Annual Haunted House and Hayride at Ahwatukee Park. The visitors who survive the hayride through the haunted hayfield will be guided through the remainder of the haunted house.
http://www.ahwatukeehoa.com/item_list.asp?subcat=172&subtitle=Haunted+House+and+Hayride

Jack and Jills Haunted Hill

Haunted House in Phoenix

Jack and Jill went up the hill but never came back down.....you might not either!!! Come to our 6th year of scares and see exactly why they were never seen again!!
http://www.jackandjillshauntedhill.com/

Doomtown

Thursdays, Wednesdays, Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. A Kreepy Kidz Zone includes carnival games, crafts, a mummy race and food like s'mores, pretzels and hot apple cider. A mechanical bull, gold panning, petting zoo and deadman's drop are also featured. For a little more scare factor, see the Legend of the Zombie Hunter stunt show, visit Dr. Von Schlock's electric chair or take the Train of Lost Souls on a spooky train ride. The scariest attractions are Digger Payne's Return of the Prodigal and the Beheadin' on Main Street and Buried Alive. On Sept. 23, military personnel and their families are admitted for free, and Radio Disney makes a guest appearance from 6 to 8 p.m. Kids can dress up and trick-or-treat Oct. 29-31. Open 5 p.m. Sept. 21-25 and 28-30 and Oct. 1, 2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23 and 26-31. Closes at 10 p.m. Wednesdays and at 11 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and on Halloween night, Oct. 31. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Gila River Reservation. $15 for Doomtown pass, $5 per single attraction. 480-502-5600.

www.rawhide.com/doomtown.html

The NEST Haunted House

7-10 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 24 through Oct. 31. Housed under an enormous white tent on Rawhide's back lot, this haunted house is organized in four parts: a hall of mirror and foggy graveyard entrance, a 3-D house, a dark maze and the namesake attraction, the Nest. The attraction's fictional back story is set in a rural Arizona town where guests encounter reborn serial killer Jacob Kell and his many victims. Freakish characters greet guests along "Monster Midway," Rawhide's Main Street that leads to this haunted house. Visit the website for discounted VIP Tickets. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Gila River Reservation. $25-$40.

480-502-5600

http://www.frightened.com/

Chambers of Fear Haunted House

7-10 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. Presented by Graveyard Entertainment, this haunted house was voted "Top Haunt" by The Arizona Republic in 2010. Discounts and special nights are offered. Among the highlights are car shows Oct. 8 and 15, and Phoenix Suns Operation Orange Oct. 13. Visit website and click on the promotions/coupons link for complete event details. Additional events feature live animals, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and music provided by bands and DJs. Hours are 7-10 p.m. Halloween night, Oct. 31. Bell Mar Plaza, 11340 W. Bell Road, Surprise. $30 for R.I.P. fast pass and T-shirt, $25 for R.I.P. fast pass, $18, specials and discounts offered.

623-255-6896

chambersoffear.com

facebook.com/chambersoffear

twitter.com/chambersoffear

Fright Nights

7-10 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Golfland evolves into a chilling site for Halloween thrill seekers featuring the Gauntlet Haunted House, voted "Best Indoor Haunted House" in 2010 by Phoenix New Times. Also available is Spooktacular Golf, Golfland's 18-hole miniature golf course that has undergone a terrifying transformation. See website for complete schedule. A Fear Feast of two slices of pizza and a drink is available. Mesa Golfland/Sunsplash, 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. $29.95 for the unlimited fear and fun package, $12 for the Gauntlet, $6.95 Fear Feast, $6.82-$7.82 for Spooktacular Golf.

480-834-8319

www.golflandfrightnights.com/

Ghost Tours

7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 1 through Dec. 10. Ghosts of Phoenix tour guides take attendees on an hour-long tour of the Hotel San Carlos, a historic hotel that's been featured on Travel Channel's "Weird Travels" and rated on Horror.com's list of "America's Top 10 Haunted Hotels." The walking tour takes attendees to areas not open to the general public, such as the basement and manager's apartment. Reservations are required. Bring a camera. Hotel San Carlos, 202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $13, $7 for children ages 8-12.

602-414-0004

ghostsofphoenix.com

AZ Field of Screams

7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1-31. Brave a haunted corn field maze planted over an old cemetery where the dead are now seeking revenge on anyone trespassing their grounds. Pay half-price admission on opening night Oct. 1. Also open Halloween night 7 to 11 p.m. Tolmachoff Farms, 5726 N. 75th Ave., Glendale. $15.

623-386-1301

http://www.azfieldofscreams.com/

Dark Scares Haunted Attraction

7-10 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m.-midnight Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1-31. New themes, props and effects are featured at two haunted attractions. Visit House 666 on the Lane for ghostly sightings and strange noises. Escape from the soulless blood thirsty heathens from Eastern Europe at Le Carnaval des Non Morts (Entertain the End) Dark Scares covers more than 10,000 square feet. For age 13 and older. Open October 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 20-23 and 27-31. Visit website for more details. Mesa Riverview, 1061 N. Dobson Road, Mesa. $15, special days and prices offered.

480-452-2783

http://www.darkscares.com/

Monsterland

6-10 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, Oct. 7-31. Monsterland is a state-of-the-art haunted attraction, loaded with CGI, animations, laser, strobe and water effects. Look for London's Underground Haunted Museum, Resurrection Cemetery, Spooky Swamp Bayou, CastleVania's Torture Lab, Dr. Wulfenstein's Dungeon, Lost Catacombs Temple and jurassic crystal caves. The Dungeon Gift Shop sells apparel and unique, spooky items. Children can dress in costume and enjoy "lights on" trick-or-treating from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturdays. A New Leaf receives a portion of proceeds Oct. 7 and Johnjay and Rich from KISS-FM (104.7) appear Oct. 13. Call or see website for more information. Monsterland Horror Museum & Attractions in downtown Mesa, 100 N. Center St., Mesa. $22, $15 for children, $10 for "lights on" trick-or-treating.

480-461-3300

monsterlandaz.com

Pioneer's Haunted History

6-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 28-30. A celebrated gambler from Arizona's colorful past greets and introduce guests to a ghoul guide who takes attendees on a 90-minute exploration into a Pioneer Twilight Zone where haunted historians relate legendary stories of Southwest disasters, murders, hangings, and lost loves. Many of the buildings at Pioneer Living History Village have been moved from their original locations in remote areas of Arizona and some have seen horrible deeds performed so it is believed the ghosts of the past still reside. Call for reservations. Pioneer Living History Village, 3901 W. Pioneer Road, Phoenix. $11.

623-465-1052

http://www.pioneeraz.org/

Howl-o-Ween:

6:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29. Enter the zombie graveyard, escape an alien invasion and take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the darkest and most terrifying corners of the zoo. Haunted trails, trick-or-treating and DJ music are featured. Recommended for age 8 and older. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. $8, $6 for members.

602-273-1341

www.phoenixzoo.org/events/special_events/special_events_detail.aspx?ARTICLE_ID=100782

Terror Nights

6:15-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 28-30. Tour this residence and see Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis from the "Halloween" films, killer clowns, zombie alley, a haunted graveyard (pictured), the beast in the cellar, Jason and other scary surprises. Donations are accepted and part of proceeds benefits Tempe Community Action Agency. Non-perishable food donations are also accepted for those in need during the upcoming holiday season. (Photo courtesy Richard and Darlene Stoudt) Terror Nights, 511 E. La Donna Drive, Tempe. Free, donations accepted.

480-755-0259

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Terror-Nights/157207600964517

Night of Impending Doom

5-10 p.m. Oct. 29. This privately owned, scary haunted house features thrills, including strobe lights, smoke, actors and zombies in small enclosed rooms. Appropriate for families. Customized experiences are available for smaller children. See website for more information. Dungeon of Doom, 3836 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix. Donations accepted.

480-298-0786

nightofimpendingdoom.com

Halloween Extravaganza 2011

5-8 p.m. Oct. 29. Guests can ride a pirate boat, get spooked in a haunted room, see Alice's wonderland, jump around in a bounce house and create something at the arts and crafts booth. Families receive prizes and treat bags for the kids. Scottsdale/Paradise Valley Family YMCA, 6869 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. $10 per family.

480-951-9622

www.valleyymca.org/scottsdaleparadise

Halloween Haunt

8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 29. The center's multipurpose rooms are transformed to scare even the bravest who dare to enter. Last year's haunted house featured an autopsy room, electric chair room and a fog-filled graveyard. Designed for kids age 13 and older. Parents may bring younger children, however, discretion is advised. Purchase tickets at the front desk upon arrival. Anthem Community Center, 41130 N. Freedom Way, Anthem. $5.

623-879-3011

http://www.onlineatanthem.com/

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

Residential Real Estate in Finley Farms, Gilbert, AZ

Real Estate for Sale in Higley Groves, Gilbert, AZ

Fire Prevention Tips

2011-10-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Arizona Experience Realty’s Monthly Maintenance Tips

October 2011

Fire Prevention Tips

“In the U.S. someone dies from a home fire roughly every 134 minutes.”

Tip #1: If you have younger children, practice the stop, drop & roll method.

Tip #2: Always sleep with all bedroom doors closed, in the event of fire, it helps to hold back heat and smoke.

Tip #3: Purchase an ABC type extinguisher for extinguishing all types of fires.

Tip #4: Plan and practice an exit plan with your family including 2 ways out of your home.

Tip #5: Never leave home with a clothes dryer running.

Tip #6: With the upcoming holiday season, be careful not to overload

electrical outlets, extension cords and power strips.

Tip #7: Keep volatile chemicals separate from the home.

Tip #8: Check all wires and cords for damage and cover all unused electrical outlets.

Tip #9: Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Tip #10: Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and have them tested monthly.

Arizona Experience Realty . (480) 240.9724 . www.ArizonaExperienceRealty.com

With over 35 years of General Contracting experience our brokerage has been recognized as the top construction and energy efficiency Real Estate experts in Arizona.

Residential Real Estate in Johnson Ranch, San Tan Valley, AZ

Slight Improvement in Mortgage Rates

2011-10-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

There has been a great deal of movement in mortgage rates recently partly due to uncertainty about an expected new Federal stimulus program. Federal officials offered little details about such program. In the end, the result was merely a small decline in mortgage rates for the week.
In efforts to help boost the economy, the government is expected to begin purchasing additional Treasury securities. An important question is how large will the program be? Investors expect the government to reveal the details of the program today at its next FOMC meeting. Comments from Fed officials indicate that they are still discussing what approach to take. The government may decide on a fixed quantity over a set time frame, or they may select a more flexible program in which they decide how much to purchase. Mortgage rates have already benefitted from investor expectations for the program, and they likely will remain highly sensitive to changes in the outlook for the government's plans.
last week's housing sector data generally showed modest improvement.While foreclosure issues were in the spotlight, September Housing Starts increased to the highest level since April. The October NAHB Home Builder confidence index rose to 16 from 13 in September, which was the first increase in five months. "Builders are starting to see some flickers of interest among potential buyers," according to the NAHB.

Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

Fantastic Mesa, Arizona Home For Sale in 55+ Community

2011-10-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

542 S HIGLEY RD 43 Mesa, AZ 85206

$122,900

1,353 square feet

2 Bedrooms

1 Car Garage

55+ Subdivision with Community Pool, Clubhouse, & more!

MLS#4552576

Perfect for winter visitors who are wanting a fantastic winter retreat/second home to relax or play, or a local buyer looking for a great place to live year round!

Enjoy the active adult (55+) lifestyle of Camino Del Rey, best kept secret in Mesa! Community boats pride of ownership!

-Gorgeous, well maintained home.
-Room addition added to home for extra square footage for office/den (the addition is permitted).
-Remodeled Master Bath w/granite countertops, antique bronze fixtures & beautifully tiled shower.
-Kitchen has tiled countertops, gorgeous backsplash + pullout shelves.
-Nice touches through-out: Wainescoting, Window seats w/extra storage, Plantation Shutters, Vaulted Ceilings, Bay Windows, Soft Water System, & Built-in Garage Cabinets.
-All appliances convey.
-Tiled flooring through-out most of the home.
-Exterior painted in 2010.
-Charming backyard w/artificial turf & beautiful Texas Laurel trees/jasmine/rosebushes/yellow bells.
-GREAT LOT-No homes behind & close to the clubhouse.

Subdivision Info:
-Heated Community Pool/Spa
-Clubhouse loaded w/activities: pot lucks, bingo, cards, golf outings, shuffleboard, billiards, library, lounge w/fireplace, etc.
-GREAT LOCATION close to freeways, golf, hospitals, dining & shopping.
-Buyers must be 55 years or older (age restricted). This is an owner-occupied community

For more information or to tour the home, please contact:

Leah Hamman
Arizona Experience Realty
480.330.6242
Email: HammanTeam@cox.net

More pictures:

USDA Rural Loan Update

2011-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

USDA is officially going to have a monthly “mortgage insurance” similar to FHA that will be effective October 1st. This will increase payments on USDA loans.

There is still time to get in with no down payment & no mortgage insurance...call us today! 480-240-9724

Please see below and let us know if you have any questions.

Rural Housing Up-Front Guarantee Fee Reduced, Annual Fee to Be Implemented

Pursuant to Public Law 111-212, Section 102 (July 29, 2010), the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may collect from the lender under the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) an annual fee not to exceed 0.5% of the outstanding principal balance of the loan for the life of the loan. The intent of the annual fee is to make the SFHGLP subsidy neutral, thus preventing the need for taxpayer support of the Program.

According to Rural Development (RD) Administrative Notice (AN) No. 4551 (1980-D), effective October 1, 2011, the SFHGLP will be subject to an annual fee of 0.30% of the outstanding principal balance while the up-front guarantee fee for purchase transactions will decrease from 3.5% to 2%. The up-front guarantee fee for refinance loan transactions will remain at 1%.

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

August Real Estate Market Snapshot

2011-08-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Today, August 18, 2011

There are 27,627 available residential properties on the market in Maricopa & Pinal Counties.

There are 22,438 single family homes; 10,586 are short sales; 3,336 lender owned (foreclosure) homes; which leaves 8516 “traditional” homes listed (not a short sale for foreclosure).

From August 1 to August 18 there have been 3,883 homes sold & there are 20,042 that are pending (waiting on short sale approval or waiting to close).

As you can see from the attached graph...home inventory (homes on the market) has been dropping every month since last November, 2010. This is beginning to force prices up & there are multiple offers for most listings.

Rates for today, 8/18/2011 (30 year fixed with 0 points) in the Phoenix area are 3.91% APR—4.92% APR

Rates are low , home prices are raising...Time to get off the fence!

Call or email TODAY & ask us to set you up with your own website. It will email you each time a new home comes on the market that meets your custom criteria. You can look at it 24/7!

E-mail: Info@AzExp.com

Office: 480-240-9724

Pool Safety

2011-08-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Too often, firefighters hear people say, “it was just a few seconds.” Unfortunately, just a few seconds is all it takes for a child to drown. Drowning is the leading cause of death in Arizona for children under the age of five.

Most of these children drown in their own backyard swimming pool, but others drown in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, dog water bowls, canals and ponds. Small children are top-heavy, and they don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of one of these dangerous situations. Even if the child survives the incident, they are often left with permanent brain damage.

Drowning and near drowning can be prevented, and you can help! Anyone involved with the supervision of children needs to be aware of the dangers associated with any body of water. Below are some useful tips to prevent these needless tragedies.

• Know where your children are at all times

• Use an approved barrier to separate the pool from the house

• Never allow children to be alone near a pool or any water source

• Have life-saving devices near the pool, such as a pole/hook, or flotation device

• Keep large objects such as tables, chairs, toys, and ladders away from pool fences

• Post the 9-1-1 number on the phone

• Do not allow children to play around the pool and store all toys outside the pool area

• If you leave the pool area, take the children with you

• Always have a “designated child watcher”

• Learn to swim

• Never swim alone, or while under the influence of alcohol or medications

• Never swim when thunder or lightning is present

• Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water.

Higley Groves Gilbert AZ Realty: A Wise Option

Thinking of Buying a New Home???

2011-08-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

When you go to a builder’s subdivision to look at homes don’t be confused and think the sales person is on your side or looking out for your best interest. They are there for one reason only… To represent the builder and to sell you a home!!

 I represent you and your interests at NO COST to you. The price of the home is the same with or without my help.

 I will be working with you throughout the construction process… providing consulting on lot selection, home options, energy efficiency options, inspections at framing and final walk-through and overall construction quality. NO OTHER REALTOR OFFERS THIS SERVICE.

 The sales person is an employee of the builder working as THEIR agent to protect their interests. They do NOT represent you. EVER!

 The sales person rarely has an understanding of the construction details, or quality, of the home they are selling. They simply are good at telling you what the home and the options cost. They have NO IDEA whether or not the home they are selling is well built or “just thrown together like the other 200 homes in the subdivision.” ALL BUILDERS ARE NOT EQUAL.

 The sales person rarely has an understanding of energy efficiency or its benefits both while you live in the home and when you sell it.

 The quality of your home is no better than the superintendent. He rarely pays attention to the details that affect the present AND FUTURE value of your home.

 The sales person is concerned about the price of your home today. I am concerned about its cost today and its value in the future—When the equity goes into your pocket.

Call us today...we can help! 480-240-9724

Finley Farms Gilbert AZ Real Estate: A Fantastic Investment

Seasonal planting & maintenance calendar for August

2011-08-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

• Selectively thin fruits on citrus to enable remaining fruits to ripen larger and sweeter.

• Remove fire hazards.

• Clean leaves and plant debris. Trim branches overhanging roof areas. Keep plants near the house trimmed and properly irrigated.

• If your tomatoes and peppers have made it this far-late this month, trim tomatoes back by one third of their height and peppers lightly to encourage a fall crop. Use Start-n-Grow fertilizer and water in well.

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

10 Reasons to buy a house...

2011-07-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

4th of July 2011 - Fireworks Displays - Free Admission

2011-06-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Below is an alphabetical list of FREE fireworks displays in the Phoenix area. Please enjoy your Independence Day!

Ahwatukee-Red, White and Boom
July 3

Buckeye - Old Fashioned 4th of July
July 4

Casa Grande- 4th of July Family Fun Day
July 4

Cave Creek - Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at Harold’s Corral
July 3

Chandler’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
July 4

Gilbert's Fire in the Sky
July 4

Goodyear's Star Spangled Fourth
July 4

Maricopa - Great American Barbecue
July 4

Maryvale - Light Up the Sky in
July 1

Mesa - Arizona Celebration of Freedom
July 1 and 2

Peoria - Lake Pleasant Celebration & Fireworks
July 3
Note: free admission but there is a $10 parking charge

Phoenix - Freedom Wireless Fabulous Fourth
July 4

Scottsdale - W Scottsdale Celebrates
July 3

Surprise's Annual July 4th Celebration
July 4
Free admission. Ticketed event, limited number of tickets.

Wickenburg Fireworks & Family Fun Celebration
July 3

Arizona Experience Realty, LLC...NOW OPEN!

2011-05-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Our new office is open. Come in & visit! Our address is:
2235 S. Power Rd. #118
Mesa, AZ 85209
We are in the Kiowa Village shopping center
On Power between Baseline & Guadalupe

http://www.azcommunitydirectory.com/137180-Mesa-AZ-RESCity.aspx

Beautiful 3000 Sq.ft. Condo with Large Balcony! Amazing Pool and Beach Views!

2011-03-23T13:29:00.002-07:00

Amazing Upgrades Make this Condo Absolutely Unbeatable! Everything You Need and More!!

2011-03-23T13:28:00.002-07:00

Incredible, Brand-New Ground Floor Condo at Las Palomas Phase 2! Only Steps Down to the Pool and Beach!

2011-03-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Arizona 2010 Election: Proposition Results

2010-11-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

ARIZONA PROPOSITIONS 2010 RESULTS:

Prop 106 (The Right to Purchase Health Care Services): YES
Prop 107 (Preferential Treatment or Discrimination Prohibition): YES
Prop 109 (Hunting and Fishing: The Right to Hunt): NO
Prop 110 (State Trust Lands: Voter Input on State Land Transactions & Military Base Stuff”): NO
Prop 111 (Lieutenant Governor): NO
Prop 112 (Initiative Petitions: The “Signature Filing” Amendment): NO
Prop 113 (Secret Ballot for Union Elections): YES
Prop 203 (Arizona Medical Marijuana Act): NO
Prop 301 (The Land Conservation Fund: Conservation Fund transfer to the General Fund): NO
Prop 302 (Early Childhood Development and Health Programs: The First Things First transfer to General Fund): NO

Results showing 100% of the precincts reporting may still be undecided due to ongoing tabulation of early voting ballots.* Results are unofficial.Sources: Results for county, local and school board races from Maricopa County Recorder's Office;
Results for federal & state races from Arizona Secretary of State's Office.

Looking to buy a home in Gilbert, Arizona? Take a look at available homes in "The Estates at the Spectrum"
Estates At The Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ Locals Delight in Estates At The Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale

Last Updated: November 3, 2010 @ 1:04PM (MST)

2010 Election Results

2010-11-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

                         Democrat             Republican

US House         185 seats               239 seats
US Senate         51 seats*               46 seats
AZ Governor    42% Goddard          55% Brewer
AZ US Senate      35%                  59% McCain

* includes 2 independents who caucus with Democrats

For Arizona, initial election results show that Jan Brewer (Republican) will likely be re-elected as governor. Brewer beat Terry Goddard (Democrat candidate) with 56% of votes from 13% of the precincts reporting. Earlier this year, Brewer garnered approval from voters after signing a tough immigration law.
2008 Presidential nominee John McCain (Republican) will likely serve his fifth term in the Senate with 59% percent of votes from 23% of the precincts reporting. He beat Rodney Glassman (Democrat), a former Tucson city councilman.

       US SENATE RESULTS 2010
STATES:                        WINNERS

Alabama:                       (R) Richard Shelby

Alaska:                                         -

Arkansas:                       (R) John Boozman

Arizona:                         (R) John McCain

California:                       (D) Barbara Boxer

Colorado:                                     -

Connecticut:                   (D) Richard Blumenthal

Delaware:                       (D) Christopher Coons

Florida:                          (R) Marco Rubio

Georgia:                         (R) Johnny Isakson

Hawaii:                                         -

Idaho:                                           -

Illinois:                                          -

Indiana:                          (R) Dan Coats

Iowa:                              (R) Chuck Grassley

Kansas:                          (R) Jerry Moran

Kentucky:                       (R) Rand Paul

Louisiana:                       (R) David Vitter

Maryland:                       (D) Barbara Mikulski

Missouri:                        (R) Roy Blunt

Nevada:                                     -

New Hampshire:             (R) Kelly Ayote

New York:                     (D) Charles Schumer

New York:                     (D) Kirsten Gillibrand

North Carolina:              (R) Richard Burr

North Dakota:                (R) John Hoeven

Ohio:                              (R) Rob Portman

Oklahoma:                      (R) Tom Coburn

Oregon:                                      -

Pennsylvania:                               -

South Carolina:                 (R) Jim DeMint

South Dakota:                   (R) John Thune

Utah:                                 (R) Mike Lee

Vermont:                           (D) Patrick Leahy

West Virginia:                    (D) Joe Manchin

Wisconsin:                         (R) Ron Johnson

Looking to buy in home in Gilbert, AZ? Try "The Spectrum"
Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

Happy Halloween from ENERGY STAR!

2010-10-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

This Halloween, keep the chills down to a minimum and save energy and help protect the environment with ENERGY STAR. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program is here to help you make a difference in the fight against climate change while you save money on home energy bills. And, with winter and the end of daylight saving time quickly approaching, Halloween is the season when many of our energy-saving tricks come in handy to help deliver treats of ongoing money and environmental savings.

"Trick for Heat"

Check your heating system's air filter every month, and change the filter every 3 months. Remove leaves, dirt, and other debris from around outdoor components, such as heat pumps, to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup, and if it's time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned the ENERGY STAR.

Protect Yourself from Vampires

"Vampire power," or standby power, refers to the electric power consumed by electronics & appliances while they are switched off or in a standby mode. ENERGY STAR qualified electronics and appliances use a lot less energy in standby mode. EPA also recommends that you turn off electronics when they are not in use, such as computers and televisions. Plugging all your electronics into a power strip makes this easy — just flip the switch to power everything down at once!

What's Lurking in Your Attic?

Probably cold air. Seal air leaks around your home to keep the cold out and the warm air in. The biggest air leaks are usually in the attic or basement, but also around doors, windows, vents, pipes, and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping to seal the leaks. Add more insulation to prevent heat loss and make your home more comfortable this fall.

Don't Be Left in the Dark

Now that daylight saving time is ending, remember to swap out those old incandescent lights with new, energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs that use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer. Also, start preparing for the holiday season with ENERGY STAR qualified decorative light strings, utilizing LED technology for extra savings, long-life, and durability — plus they're just as pretty. You can even get orange ones for Halloween!

Don't Waste Your Heat on Ghosts

By properly using your programmable thermostat you can ensure that you're not unnecessarily heating the home when you're away or asleep. Programming a lower temperature for when you go to work or run errands throughout the week and/or when you go to sleep at night can save you up to $180 a year in energy costs. Check out EPA's fun Programmable Thermostat Tool to learn how easy it is to set for savings.

Reduce the Chill with a Ceiling Fan

By switching your ceiling fan to pull air upward versus push air downward, you'll actually be helping circulate the warm air down into living spaces. This will make better use of your heating and allow you to lower the thermostat to save energy while maintaining your comfort.

Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

Most Desireable States to Live in the US

2010-10-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Since 1997, The Harris Poll has been asking people each and every year, "If you could live in any state, except the one you live in now, what state would you choose to live in?"
The most recent results are as follows.
California was voted #1 to top the list of most popular states to live in among Echo Boomers (now ages 18-33) and Gen Xers (ages 34-45). Hawaii is the top pick for Baby Boomers (ages 46-64) and Matures (ages 65 and over). Hawaii used to be in the top 5 for Echo Boomers but has since dropped in rankings for this age group. Arizona placed 5th out of all 50 states.
Across the age groups, here are the Top-10 states:

1. California
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Colorado
5. Arizona
6. North Carolina
7. Oregon
8. Texas
9. New York
10. Washington

For available properties in the Estates at Spectrum in Gilbert, AZ, click here:
Estates At The Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ Locals Delight in Estates At The Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale

Foreclosure Moratorium Ending

2010-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Bank of America recently issued a halt on their foreclosures suspending foreclosures in parts or all of the country because of sloppy paperwork and improper oversight of the avalanche of loans that went bad.

However, a recent press release was issued stating Bank of America will be lifting this moratorium as soon as next week. Per Washington (AP) ...Bank of America said Monday that next week it plans to resume seizing more than 100,000 homes in 23 states...
... analysts expect this move by Bank of America, the nation's biggest bank, will give way to an industry-wide effort to push ahead with a wave of bank foreclosure properties that have depressed the housing market. Banking analyst Nancy Bush of NAB Research said that other lenders are likely to follow suit. She states,"We'll be back to square one by the end of the year."

For available homes in Spectrum in Gilbert, AZ, click here:
Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

New Listings Analysis

2010-10-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

Sellers:

Statistics for the month of September showed a slight decrease of 139 new listings over the prior month. This means there were 11,116 NEW properties entering the market – they could be traditional sales OR they could be distressed sales. Sellers need to pay attention: a substantial amount of competition still remains on the market – it will potentially show its impact through fewer showings, fewer offers, and more competition for the attention of serious buyers.

Buyers:

This is important news for buyers, as it means there are still more homes entering the market. It is very important that you continue to spend time with and listen to your real estate professional to develop your strategy for succeeding in a market that is constantly changing. Be prepared: as fewer homes enter the market, there will definitely be more competition for the best values.

Click her for Mesa real estate info: Mesa AZ Realty: A Great Investment

Distressed Sales Analysis:

2010-10-12T16:02:00.001-07:00

A bank owned/foreclosure home is one that the seller no longer owns – it has been taken over by the
lender(s) who had a note on the home. Short sales are homes where the seller is negotiating with the bank to “forgive” a portion of the debt in order to avoid foreclosure.

September statistics showed a significant increase – a 39% increase – in the number of sales that were foreclosure properties. There was a 30.5% decrease in short sales that closed, and 43.6% decrease in the number of “traditional” sales. Again, continue to monitor this whether you are a buyer OR seller, as it provides the information on trends in home sales that will impact your success.

for information about Higley Groves real estate click here: Higley Groves Gilbert AZ Realty: A Wise Option

September Market Analysis

2010-10-12T15:55:00.001-07:00

The month of September shows a 9.1% decrease in the number of closed sales over the prior month. This is the lowest number since February of 2010. For the 4th month in a row, the number of closed sales are lower than the same months one year ago. With the recent changes announced by banks who are stopping the foreclosure of homes, this will be an important trend to watch.

For buyers, this means you may have less competition for the homes that are currently on the market. When you combine this with the great loans available, this could be the very best time for you to begin or finalize your search for a home. Should we see inventory drop because of the recent decisions on foreclosures, that could mean more competition for homes that are on the market … and more competition could potentially mean higher prices for you. Continue to watch these numbers, as it will help you and your real estate professional understand what type of incentives and assistance you may or may not be able to request.

for information about Finley Farms real estate click here: Finley Farms Gilbert AZ Real Estate: A Fantastic Investment

Arizona Taco & Tequila Festival this Saturday, October 9, 2010

2010-10-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Arizona Taco Festival at the Scottsdale Waterfront on October 9th, 2010. Over 30 teams will be competing for $7,500 cash and taco bragging rights. Other contests: anything goes taco, best guacamole, and salsa. There will be plenty of tacos & drinks to go around. Bring the whole family, kids under 12 get in free!

LOCATION: Scottsdale Waterfront, (7125 E. Via Soleri, the lot across from Olive & Ivy).

DATE: Saturday, October 9, 2010
TIME: 10:00am-5:00pm
TICKET PRICES: $10 General Admission
$50 VIP (entitles you to any combination of 10 food or drink items inside the Macayo’s VIP Tent with a special boutique Corrido Tequila Bar. Guests of this area will also receive a swag bag valued at $250.
$10 Tequila Expo
(kids under 12 are FREE)
Food samples will be $2 each; Tequila samples, margaritas and Mexican beers will be available for $4-$12. Select proceeds from all profits will benefit Waste Not.
PRIZE MONEY: $7,500
COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

Tacos: Chicken, Beef, Pork, Fish

Sidecart Throwdown: Salsa, Guacamole, Anything Goes Taco, Best Booth Design

ON-SITE ACTIVITIES:

Macayo’s VIP Tent
Boutique Tequila Expo
Lucha Libre Wrestling
Salty Señorita Main Bar Experience
Hot Chili Pepper Eating Contest
Kids Zone with hourly piñata beatings
Tres Agaves Margarita Competition
Live Music
Chef Interaction

FOOD PARTICIPANTS:

Barrio Cafe
Barrio Cantina
Blanco Tacos & Tequila
La Hacienda at The Fairmont
Chelsea’s Kitchen
Papi Chulo’s
Los Olivos
Mission
El Toro BBQ
Cien Agaves
Los Sombreros
Ticoz
My Nana’s “Best Tasting”
Salty Señorita
Mi Salsa
Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen
Dos Gringos
St. Francis
The Heard Museum
San Felipe’s Cantina
Waltz and Weiser’s Whiskey Bar and Cantina
SWB, A Southwest Bistro
La Tolteca
Aunt Chilada’s at Arizona Grand Resort
Chronic Tacos
Petite Maison
Fuego Bistro
Z-lantro Fresh Mexican Grill
Carte Blanche Gourmet Tacos
AZ Barbeque

TEQUILAS:

1921
Cabo Wabo
Cazadores
Clase Azul
Corzo
Corrido
Cruz
Cuervo
Don Azul
Don Julio
Don Ramon
El Charro
El Grado
El Jimador
El Mayor
Espolon
Gran Centenario
Herradura
La Pinta
Los Nahuales
Maestro Dobel
Milagro
Patron
Riazul
Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine
Semental
Siete Leguas
Sol De Mexico
Tequila Ocho
Tres Agaves

For more information visit: http://aztacofestival.com/

To view available homes in Gilbert's "The Estates at Spectrum" visit:

Estates At The Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ Locals Delight in Estates At The Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale

Cupcake Festival this Sunday, October 10, 2010

2010-10-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Get ready for a Cupcake Celebration of epic proportions this Sunday. Celebrating creative bakers, talented chefs, local businesses, and some of the Valley’s best restaurants all wrapped up into one delicious day. Join in on the first ever CupCake Love-In Festival celebration this Sunday at Hotel Valley Ho. Enjoy cupcakes from over 30 venders including Gilbert’s The Coffee Shop at Agritopia, whose bakers won a $10,000 prize earlier this year on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” Cupcakes might have been a trend in the beginning but are here to stay! More and more bakeries around the country are specializing in them and the public is still going crazy for them. Come join in the fun!

Date: October 10, 2010

Time: 11am – 3pm

Location: Hotel Valley Ho
6850 East Main Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Tickets: $10 (in advance)
$15.00 (at the door)
FREE Admission for children under 6!

Activities:

Cupcake sampling from local bakeries, cupcakeries, restaurants & pastry chefs
Kidʼs Decorating Station
Cupcake Judging Competition
Cupcake T-shirts made while you wait
Cupcake Eating Contest
Great Raffle and Door Prizes (Raffle Tickets $1 each; Wear your Cupcake Love-in T-shirt on the day of the event and get $5.00 in raffle tickets.)
Photo Booth

Participants:

Below are all of our fabulous participants that will be showing off their tasty talents at the event!

21 Cakes
Amy’s Baking Company
Arcadia Farms
Barb’s Bakery
Bloom
Bourbon Steak
Butter & Me
Cafe ZuZu
Candyland Cupcakes
Chestnut Lane
Classic Cooking School
Crybaby Ranch
The Cupcake Cafe
Gluten Free Creations
Hello Muffin
Honeymoon Sweets
La Dolce Pesca
Liberty Market
Lisaʼs Catering & Cakes
Modern Steak
Nothing Bundt Cakes Scottsdale
Olive & Ivy
Posh
Scratch Bakery
SweetArt Bakery
Tammie Coe Cakes
The Coffee Shop ($10,000 Winner of the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars")
Tracy Dempsey Originals
Victorian Cake Company
Wicked Kitchen

Charities:

Proceeds benefit: Singleton Moms & Safe Haven for Animals.

For more information visit: http://cupcakelovein.com/

For Homes in Gilbert, "The Spectrum" visit:
Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

How Will a Short Sale, Foreclosure or Bankruptcy Affect Your Credit

2010-09-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Below is a breakdown of time frames for different types of loans (these underwriting guidelines are subject to change) and how your credit will be affected.

FHA Loans

Short sale: 3 years or less depending on certain conditions

Foreclosure: 3 years

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: 2 years from discharge date

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: 1 year

Conventional Loans

Short sale: 2 years with 20% down & certain additional conditions met

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure: 2 years with 20% down & certain additional conditions met

Foreclosure: 5 years

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: 4 years from the discharge date

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: 2 years

VA Loans

Short Sale: No established time frame but assume at least 12 months

Foreclosure: 2 years

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: 2 years from the discharge date

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: 1 year

To find out if you qualify for a new loan to purchase a home in The Estates at the Spectrum, please contact your area expert realtor Leah Hamman (480) 330-76242.

To view avaiable homes in The Estates at the Spectrum, click here:

Estates At The Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ Locals Delight in Estates At The Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale

FHA Loan Changes Effective October 4, 2010

2010-09-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

FHA will be making changes to its upfront and annual mortgage insurance premium structure. The changes will apply to all new FHA loans issued on or after October 4, 2010.

The changes include:
Annual MIP increases from 0.50% to:

0.85% of the amount borrowed with 95% LTV or below
0.90% of the amount borrowed with greater than 95% LTV

Upfront MIP decreases from 2.25% to

1.00% of the amount borrowed

Example: Using a $200,000 mortgage with 3.5% down payment:

Upfront MIP falls from $4,343 to $1,930
Monthly MIP rises from $82 to $146

To see if you can qualify for a loan for a home in The Spectrum in Gilbert, please call your area expert realtor Leah Hamman (480) 330-6242 who can put you in touch with a knowledgeable lender at no charge.

To view what homes are available in Spectrum, click here:
Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

Arizona Restaurant Week 2010: Sept. 18th-26th

2010-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again for Foodies to partake in the annual tastings of Arizona Restaurant Week which kicks off this Saturday. Restaurant week is one of Arizona's most highly anticipated culinary events of the year and was developed to showcase the outstanding culinary scene throughout the state. Over 150 restaurants are participating this year including the renowned Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, Cork, Lon's at the Hermosa, Deseo, Estate House, Olive & Ivy, Fleming's, Ruth's Chris, Durants, Ko'Sin, Modern Steak in Scottsdale, POSH, Morton's The Steakhouse, Different Pointe of View, Cielo, Melting Pot, Zinc Bistro, Top of the Rock, Roka Akor, The Keg, Salerno's Restaurant & Pizza, The Greene House, Prado, BLT Steak, The Chart House, Bloom, Bluewater Grill, Roy's, Sapporo, Talavera at Four Seasons Resort, Sushi Roku, and many more. New to 2010 is the inclusion of Gluten-free options.
The price point is either $19, $29 or $39 per person and includes a 3-course meal (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). What a perfect way to participate in Arizona's finest fare at a special discount price. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time. To find out more, visit: http://www.arizonarestaurantweek.com/

The Town of Gilbert is showcasing two of the esteemed restaurants participating in Arizona's Restaurant Week. For available real estate in Spectrum located in Gilbert, click here:

Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale: A Super Investment

Wells Fargo No Longer Extending Foreclosure Dates for Short Sales

2010-09-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

Due to recent industry changes, Wells Fargo will no longer be granting any extensions for short sale close dates or postponing foreclosure/trustee sale dates. Wells Fargo will be honoring extension letters dated 9/14 or earlier, but no further extensions will be granted. Files must close by the expiration date on the original approval letter or they will be removed. If your approval expires 9/15 or 9/16, you will have 48 hours to get Wells Fargo the final HUD for approval and close.

Interested in buying a short sale, foreclosure or re-sale in the Estates At The Spectrum in Gilbert, click here:
Estates At The Spectrum, Gilbert, AZ Locals Delight in Estates At The Spectrum Gilbert AZ Houses for Sale

Mortgage Rates Beat Tax-Credit Benefits

2010-09-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

Homebuyers today can potentially save several times more money in interest costs than buyers who took out a mortgage in early April and claimed an $8,000 homebuyer tax credit. Yet buyers, who rushed to meet the April 30 deadline for the federal tax credits, appear much less eager to borrow at the lowest interest rates in 60 years.

Mortgage applications for home purchases are 42 percent below the pace seen in April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Home resales dropped 27.2 percent in July from June, according to a report Tuesday from the National Association of Realtors.
Someone taking out a $240,000 mortgage today at a 4.42 percent interest rate could save $33,287 in interest costs over the life of a 30-year loan. That's four times the $8,000 credit used by a first-time homebuyer who financed at 5.21 percent in early April.

So why aren't more people buying now?

Timing offers one explanation. Buyers earlier this year, not knowing rates would drop, took the best deal available to them at the time. That soaked up future demand, which more optimistic forecasts hold should return as lower rates persuade buyers to get off the fence. Because few people stay in a home or keep a mortgage for 30 years, the time needed for monthly mortgage savings to match the $8,000 credit is another consideration, said Cameron Findlay, chief economist of LendingTree.com. On a $240,000 mortgage, a buyer would need to stay put for almost six years for monthly mortgage-payment savings to match the upfront credit. Studies in behavioral finance support the idea that people will go for a payout upfront versus a payout spread over a long period that is worth more.

Uncertainty leads to stagnation

Given the choice between a 10 percent pay raise when inflation is 12 percent or a 4 percent raise when inflation is 2 percent, respondents almost always go for the bigger raise, even though it means they will lose ground, said Greg Salsbury, an executive vice president with Jackson National Life Distributors in Denver. Rather than seizing opportunities, many people also tend to freeze up when there is too much uncertainty. "Unemployment, the deficit and the overall economy are impacting people's decisions disproportionately," Salsbury said. "There are a lot of things in play." Some mortgage brokers and bankers argue against complicated explanations about why buyers are missing in action. "The majority of my borrowers used the $8,000 tax credit toward the down payment, and the seller paid closing costs," said Marilyn McConnell, a mortgage adviser with Cherry Creek Mortgage. Lower interest rates don't help those buyers who can't come up with the needed down payment or who are trapped in a home they can't sell without taking a loss.

Deflationary expectations

Selling at a loss is psychologically hard, even if you realize the lower payment on the next property will make up for it over time, said Denver resident Shanti Klemm. "We'd love to buy a new home, but we have to sell first. It's a Catch-22," said Klemm, who estimates her family will lose $25,000 by selling its condo.
Another more worrisome explanation is that consumers expect further declines in interest rates or home prices. A survey from real-estate website Zillow.com found that a third of homeowners thought home values in their area had more room to fall. If prices are headed lower, the rational thing to do is to wait for the better bargain. But deflationary expectations, like inflationary ones, become self-reinforcing.

During the housing boom, people bought homes because they worried that prices would rise the longer they waited. Flip that around, and people may now be waiting to buy because they expect prices to go lower.

Top 5 Reasons Homeownership Trumps Renting

2010-09-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

The seemingly endless run of bad housing news is discouraging some potential home buyers from considering a purchase. But the truth is that the advantages of homeownership have very little to do with investment gains. The best things about owning a home have a lot more to do with personal comfort and satisfaction.
Here are five of them:

· Be your own landlord. The bank can only kick you out if you don’t pay; a landlord can be much less dependable – deciding to sell the property or choosing to live there themselves.

· Paying the principal is forced savings. Yes, it’s possible that home prices will fall further. It is also possible that your 401(k) will lose value. But over the long haul, both are likely to enjoy modest gains in value.

· Fixed-rate mortgages never rise – and eventually you pay them off. With mortgage rates at record lows, people who buy now are locking in real bargains.

· Good schools. Family-sized rentals are harder to come by in areas with excellent public schools.

· Spacious properties in pleasant neighborhoods. Sizable homes in attractive communities are almost always owned – not rented.

Different drug problem….

2010-09-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a meth lab had been found in an old farmhouse in an adjoining town & he asked this rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have a drug problem when we were growing up?”

I replied; I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of a teacher or preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds and cockelburs out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help our some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed!

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us!!

Green Your Dorm Room with ENERGY STAR

2010-08-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

While outfitting your dorm room this fall, remember to look for environmentally friendly products. An easy way to find products that you can trust as good for the environment is to look for the ENERGY STAR. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy efficiency requirements set by EPA, so they use less energy, save money, and help fight climate change. From laptops and printers for your schoolwork, to TVs and mini fridges for your study breaks, ENERGY STAR products make it easy for you to make a difference. Here are a few tips to help you shop “green” for back to school:

ENERGY STAR Lighting: If a table lamp is part of your dorm decor, make sure that it’s ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR qualified lamps use less energy mainly because they integrate compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) which use 75 percent less energy than regular incandescent light bulbs.

ENERGY STAR Computers: A high-performing computer is a must for school. With ENERGY STAR, you’ll know you’re getting a computer that is good for the environment and comparable in performance. Whether you choose a desktop or laptop, a computer that has earned the ENERGY STAR uses up to 65 percent less energy and can still satisfy all your school demands. If you’re also in the market for a printer or other office products, you can look for ENERGY STAR, as well. If all imaging equipment—printers, faxes, scanners, etc.—sold in the United States met ENERGY STAR requirements, annual savings would grow to nearly 4 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to emissions from more than 700,000 cars.

ENERGY STAR Mini Fridges: How cool is it to keep your food and drinks in an ENERGY STAR, energy-saving mini fridge? You get easy access to the “energy” you need while using less of it in the process. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use 20 percent less energy than non-qualified refrigerators so you can enjoy your break knowing you are doing something good.

ENERGY STAR Electronics: No dorm room is complete without an ENERGY STAR qualified entertainment system, right? With all that work, everyone needs some time to decompress and with ENERGY STAR qualified TVs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Players, and speakers, you can really relax—not only from your work, but also knowing that your electronics are using less energy, even when they are off. That's because ENERGY STAR specifications for TVs, and other electronics, are more efficient both when the TV’s off (in standby mode), and when the TV’s on (in active mode). But you will never miss that extra power since even the latest and greatest in TV technology can earn the ENERGY STAR. What you will notice is how good you feel helping the environment. If each TV, DVD, and home theatre system purchased in the U.S. this year had earned the ENERGY STAR, we would prevent more than 6 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions from 570,000 cars!

East Valley housing more affordable

2010-08-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

By: Catherine Reagor - Aug. 8, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Amid the worst home-building slump in more than two decades, location has once again become the most important factor for metropolitan Phoenix's new-home buyers.

After being pushed to the extreme edges of the region during the housing boom, young buyers are finding that prices have come down far enough to make homes in popular suburbs affordable

The lower prices are driving sales of new homes in the more-desirable areas of the East Valley, and those sales may signal the beginning of the next cycle in the home-building industry, which has traditionally fueled much of Arizona's economy.

Nearly half of the 6,000 new houses sold in the region so far this year are in the southeast communities of Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert. First-timers, who no longer have to go out to the Valley's farthest flung developments to afford a new house, are the biggest group of buyers in those areas.

Because fewer homebuyers are heading out to the region's fringes, homebuilders trying to make money in the downturn and compete with foreclosures have had to find land in closer-in communities and cut costs and prices to be able to sell houses.

The strategy shift has helped several of Phoenix's homebuilders survive the real-estate collapse and keep the area's once huge new-housing industry alive. It also has opened the door for younger buyers to afford new houses in southeast Valley neighborhoods near freeways, shopping centers and better schools that only three or four years ago were out of their financial reach.

"People can now buy new homes in Chandler and Gilbert for half of what they cost during the boom or even pre-boom," said Jay Butler, director of realty studies at Arizona State University. "Most of the homeowners who paid the higher prices years ago aren't leaving, either."

Residents who bought in these East Valley suburbs before the downturn are likely upset at the drop in home values. But they still like their neighborhoods, and with fewer foreclosures, their more-established communities remain attractive places to live - another benefit drawing new buyers.
Read more at:
http://www.azcentral.com/business/realestate/articles/2010/08/08/20100808arizona-real-estate-east-valley-housing.html

Thinkg about Buying a home?

2010-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

For buyers, this means fewer homes are selling … which could mean that you have a little less competition when making offers on homes. With many banks making sure homes are FHA-approved, there is good news for buyers that the market would like to see more primary home buyers over investors. Continue to watch these numbers, as it will help you and your real estate professional understand what type of incentives and assistance you may or may not be able to request.

Give us a call today....we can help! 480-889-1424

Thinking about selling your home?

2010-08-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

The month of July saw a 22.8% DECREASE in the number of closed sales. This is the lowest number since February of this year. There is no doubt that the tax credit expiration has had a dramatic impact on this; however, if you removed the months where we had the tax credit in place, the numbers for July are fairly consistent with the prior months of 2010. This will be an important trend to watch … it means fewer homes are selling at a time when inventory is increasing. This could potentially mean that sellers have less control in today’s real estate market.

Call us today for more detailed information about your neighborhood. 480-889-1424.

2010.Aug.6 FHA Update: Principal Reduction by at least 10%

2010-08-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON, DC 20410-8000

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING-FEDERAL HOUSING COMMISSIONER

August 6, 2010

MORTGAGEE LETTER 2010 -23

TO: ALL APPROVED MORTGAGEES

SUBJECT: FHA Refinance of Borrowers in Negative Equity Positions

On March 26, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced enhancements to the existing Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) refinance program that will give a greater number of responsible borrowers an opportunity to remain in their homes. These enhancements are designed to maintain homeownership by providing borrowers, who owe more on their mortgage than the value of their home, opportunities to refinance into an affordable FHA loan. This opportunity allows borrowers who are current on their mortgage to qualify for an FHA refinance loan provided that the lender or investor writes off the unpaid principal balance of the original first lien mortgage by at least 10 percent…

To read these mortgagee letter and any attachments in their entirety, please visit: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums To Change

2010-08-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

There is more change on the way for FHA mortgage insurance premiums, after legislation from the House of Representatives this past week was passed, allowing for an increase annual mortgage insurance premiums. That change will go into effect September 7, 2010.

All FHA loans have two types of mortgage insurance premiums that serve to protect HUD, which backs FHA loans, to insure themselves over potential losses on mortgage. Those are, the upfront mortgage insurance premium, which is paid is added to the loan amount borrowed in a lump sum at closing. Add the annual mortgage insurance premium, which is paid for on a monthly basis with one's mortgage payment.

In April, the upfront mortgage insurance premium was raised from 1.75% to 2.25% of the loan amount being insured, making FHA loans more costly upfront for borrowers. For instance, if you were taking out a $200,000 loan, this translated to an increase in your upfront mortgage insurance premium in the amount of $1,000.

However, recently Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has said that if they were given the authority to increase the annual mortgage insurance premiums, that they could reduce the upfront mortgage insurance premiums to as low as 1%.

That brings us back to the current, legislation, HR 5981, which has been now approved allowing HUD to raise the statutory cap on annual mortgage insurance premiums from 0.55% to 1.55%.

HUD was quick to respond and the mortgage insurance premiums are already scheduled to go into effect September 7th. HUD plans to increase annual premiums for FHA mortgage insurance to 0.85% for borrowers with loan-to-value ratios of up to 95 percent and to 0.9% for borrowers with higher LTVs. In addition, the upfront mortgage insurance premium as well is set to drop to 1%.

The way premiums are currently structured, a borrower taking out a $200,000 loan with the 3.5% minimum down payment pays an upfront premium of about $4,500, plus $1,100 a year in annual premiums.

In addition, the upfront premium roll back to 1% would mean that a borrower would pay an upfront premium of about $2,000, plus $1,800 a year in annual premiums. The $700 increase in annual premiums would translate into an additional $58 a month on their mortgage payment.

So, if you are waiting to buy…you may want to get in on the low rates now…give us a call today @ 480-889-1424.

Debunking Credit Score Myths

2010-07-26T09:00:00.002-07:00

In March, ING Direct bank commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct an online survey of 1,042 parents of children age 17 years and younger.

The survey discovered more than half, 56 percent, of those surveyed thought bouncing a check or paying a fee for having non-sufficient funds in their bank account would reduce their credit scores.

Wrong.

Credit reports typically don't include information about checking and debit accounts, nor non-sufficient fund issues unless they somehow impact an attached credit account.

Also one in five (21 percent) thought checking their credit scores would hurt credit scores. Nearly as many (18 percent) thought accessing their credit report, would hurt their credit scores.

Wrong and wrong.

Obtaining your credit report and credit score has no bearing on your credit standing.

In fact, you should check your credit reports regularly. Every year, federal regulations allow you three free credit reports (ONLY through AnnualCreditReport.com), one each from the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

If you visit some other sound-alike, come-on web site, instead of AnnualCreditReport.com, expect to pay for credit services you may not need in exchange for that so-called "free" report.

From AnnualCreditReport.com, get the three free reports all at once if you haven't seen them for years. Otherwise get one from a different company every four months to regularly monitor your credit report for errors, identity theft, black marks you may need to work on and other issues.

For your credit score it will cost you a nominal fee (it's worth it) paid to each of the three credit reporting agencies.

A credit score -- virtually always examined by lenders when you apply for a mortgage, credit card, car loan, other credit, even homeowners insurance and other financial accounts -- is a numerical rendition of your creditworthiness.

Scores range from about 300 to about 850. The higher the number the more likely you are to get credit and the more likely you are to get cheap credit. Your score should be at 760 or above to land the best interest rate, according to FICO, a leading credit scoring system provider.

Debunking the myths

To help debunk credit score myths, misunderstandings, misdirection and to stop financial behaviors that could be passed onto future generations, ING Direct and Experian developed five tips to help parents separate fact from fiction.

Practice what you preach. Simple financial behaviors such as paying your bills on time will keep your credit in good standing and will allow you to obtain better interest rates on big asset purchases like a house or car. Lead by example.

Start early. When you kids start to ask you to buy things for them, it's time for the "money talk." Later, introduce more complex credit topics with stern statements like "credit is not free money." Talk about interest rates, paying on time, paying off balances and saving money.

Make credit a family affair. Let children in on household financial discussions that reveal the true cost of necessities. Sit them at the table during budget and bill paying sessions. Explain the fallout from making poor financial decisions.

Set family financial goals. Teach children how money doesn't grow on trees. Show them how to save for things they desire rather than accessing credit to spend money they do not have. It's a way to encourage your children to set financial goals and work towards achieving them. Children savor things more when they put in the time and effort to purchase items with their hard earned cash.

Explain the difference. Talk to children about the differences between needs versus wants, especially at times when they want you to give into impulse buying. During grocery store visits, show kids the difference in prices between name brands and generic brands as a way to expand on this lesson.

Written by Broderick Perkins

Buyers Should Be Careful About Credit Use Prior to Closing

2010-07-24T09:00:00.002-07:00

Buyers and their agents need to be aware that it is a very bad idea for buyers to increase their credit balances or to open new lines of credit shortly before they close escrow on their new home. More specifically, they should avoid such activity during the period of time between loan application and closing. This is because policies under Fannie Mae's Loan Quality Initiative, effective June 1, 2010, requires lenders to "refresh" a borrower's credit report just prior to closing.
Here's what happens: Bill and Betty Buyer are excited to make an offer on a home they just love. They realized that they are stretching, but the loan officer has pre-qualified them and is confident that they will receive full loan approval. When formal loan approval comes, then, they are ecstatic. In eager anticipation of closing, they visit their favorite furniture store and purchase (that is, charge) a new bedroom set, dining room furniture, and a sectional that will be perfect for the family room. It all adds up to a pretty penny, but they are confident that they will be able to pay it off in a timely manner. Things are going well at work. What could go wrong?

Well, here's one thing that could go wrong: Following FNMA's guidelines, the lender runs an updated credit report on Bill and Betty just before closing. With their newly-acquired credit balance, Bill and Betty no longer meet the required debt-to-income (DTI) ratio in order to qualify for their loan. The loan is pulled. Sadness reigns.

Fannie Mae's Loan Quality Initiative was introduced in a lender letter February 26, 2010. The letter noted that, during the past three years, the need had been highlighted "for an improved approach for working with lenders to deliver loans that meet Fannie Mae's underwriting and eligibility guidelines." In other words, the loans that had been delivered to Fannie Mae turned out too often not to meet Fannie Mae guidelines. Regrettably, this tended to be discovered well after Fannie Mae had purchased the loan. The idea of the Loan Quality Initiative, which was to become effective June 1, 2010, was to focus "on capturing critical loan data earlier in the process and validating it before, during, and immediately after loan delivery."

Borrower qualification was not the only issue of concern. Among others were determining owner occupancy, verification of social security numbers, a new policy on excluding certain entities from Fannie Mae loans, and updated quality-control requirements.

Technically speaking, the Fannie Mae guidelines do not require that updated ("refreshed") credit checks be performed for borrowers. Fannie Mae states that "It is the lender's responsibility to develop and implement its own business processes to support compliance with Fannie Mae's requirements on loans delivered to Fannie Mae." But, in the same memo, Fannie Mae does provide "tips for lenders to consider." One of those tips is "Refreshing a credit report just prior to closing."

Does anyone think that a lender who sells its loans to Fannie Mae is going to ignore such tips? Hardly.

The tips point out that not only might a refreshed credit report show newly-acquired debt (as in the example), but also that it may show new credit inquiries. "Credit inquiries listed on the credit report should be investigated to determine whether the borrower did in fact open additional credit resulting in repayment obligations." Don't go buy a new car until after you close.

Given recent history, it would be unreasonable to fault Fannie Mae for tightening up its procedures in every way possible. Buyers just need to remember that loan approval is based on statements of income and liabilities at the time of the loan application. If those factors change materially prior to closing, it is likely to be discovered and it could undo a deal.

Congratulations on your new home, and go ahead and buy new furniture; but wait until after escrow has closed.

Written by Bob Hunt

June Round Up: Rates Hit an All-Time Low

2010-07-22T09:00:00.002-07:00

In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.69 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending June 24, 2010, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.75 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.42 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.13 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.20 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.87 percent. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.84 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.89 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.99 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.77 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.82 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.93 percent. This is the lowest the 1-year ARM has been since the week ending May 6, 2004 when it averaged 3.76 percent.

"Mortgage rates for all but traditional 1-year ARMs hit all-time record lows this week in our survey while activity in the housing market slowed in May following the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "Freddie Mac began collecting rates for 30-year fixed loans in April 1971, 15-year fixed mortgages in September 1991 and 5-year hybrid ARMs in January 2005. The record low for traditional 1-year ARMs of 3.36 percent occurred during the week of March 25, 2004.

"Both new and existing home sales showed unexpected declines in May. Existing sales fell 2.2 percent, compared to the market consensus forecast of a 6.0 percent gain, based on figures published by the National Association of Realtors® . Sales of new homes fell 32.7 percent to an annualized rate of 300,000 units, which was the largest monthly drop and slowest pace since records began in 1963, according to the Census Bureau ."

Men and Women Agree in Home Must-Haves

It’s true. Men aren’t looking for exactly the same things women are when they go home shopping.

A survey of 1,000 home shoppers concluded that while about an equal number of men and women sought green features – about 27 percent – and 35 percent of both sexes put a high priority on a home office, there is disparity in the desire for other features. Both sexes did agree on the biggest turn-offs: structural damage, bad odors, a busy street, and an awkward floor plan.

Here are the top 10 features most desired by men:

• Garage or designated parking space, 85.5 percent

• Master suite, 79.8 percent

• Ample storage space, 71.2 percent

• Guest bedroom, 70.2 percent

• Large closets, 64.2 percent

• Outdoor entertainment area, 63.4 percent

• Gourmet or updated kitchen, 59.1 percent

• Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen, 55.2 percent

• View, 44.5 percent

• Large yard, 43 percent

Here are the top 10 features most desired by women:

• Garage or designated parking, 87.7 percent

• Master suite, 77.8 percent

• Ample storage space, 72.7 percent

• Large closets, 68.7 percent

• Outdoor entertainment area, 64.2 percent

• Guest bedroom, 63.9 percent

• Gourmet or updated kitchen, 61.8 percent

• Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen, 56.1 percent

• Large yard, 43 percent

• Wood floors, 40.9 percent

What to Leave for the New Owners

A quick check list of items to leave for the new owners of your home.

• Owner’s manuals and warranties for appliances left in the house.

• Garage door opener.

• Extra sets of house keys.

• A list of local service providers — the best dry cleaner, yard service, plumber, etc.

• Code to the security alarm and phone number of the monitoring service if not discontinued.

• As a courtesy, you could provide numbers to the local utility companies.

• If it’s a condo, leave information on how to contact the condo board.

Have You Checked Your Property Taxes Lately?

With most mortgages today, the lender collects money not only for monthly interest and principal payments, but also for home insurance and property tax payments. The money is kept in an "escrow" or trust account for your benefit.

In the usual case you will receive information from your insurance carrier that the premium has been paid. Also, the local government will send out a form listing property taxes and showing that they have been paid by your mortgage lender.

However, with millions of loans outstanding, it sometimes happens that tax and insurance payments are not made on a timely basis or not made at all. It can also happen that such bills have been paid but not properly recorded.
Written by Realty Times Staff

Choosing The Best Home

2010-07-19T09:00:00.002-07:00

After weeks of searching for your next home, you now have it narrowed down to two great options. One offers a shorter commute, but the other offers more square footage for your growing family. How can you make the best choice?

There are several strategies you can employ in your decision making process. Above all, be confident in your decision making abilities. "The fear of making serious decisions is a new kind of fear, called decidophobia," proclaimed by Walter Kaufmann at Princeton University in 1973. Worry and procrastination do nothing to aid the process, so buyers, be confident that you will make a sound choice.

Pro/Con list: In this case, you are deciding between two houses as your prospective home. For each house, divide a sheet of paper into two columns: pro and con. Be realistic about what the positive and negative factors would be for each purchase. Considerations could include: price, location, schools, repairs, square footage, floorplans, street noise, neighborhood value, comparables, and gut intuition.

Brainstorm scenarios: Chances are, whatever house you decided upon will be your residence for many years to come. Try and think ahead to situations that may arise in the future, and how each residence would affect those situations. Do you have aging parents that could move in? If so, then which house provides the best floorplan for this? Planning on having children? Check out ratings on local schools.

Do the math: Business executives might call this the "cost/benefit analysis." Buying a home is a huge financial decision, and while personal preferences (e.g. location, schools, square footage) all come into play in homebuying, many purchases are based on what makes the best financial sense. Discuss numbers and neighborhood comparables with your real estate agent. One home may be a smaller dollar amount, but the other may be a better deal in the long run. Some neighborhoods are up and coming, while others have come and gone. Are either homes overpriced or underpriced for their neighborhoods? Do either homes need repairs or updates?

Priorities list: Yes, you know you want the pool, landscaping, granite counters, close proximity to work, extra bath, and the list goes on. But when push comes to shove, and it might, what items are your priority, really? For some, driving a longer commute is worth having a larger house or a cheaper price. For other buyers, the exact opposite can be true.

Change perspectives: Sometimes you simply must step out of your own shoes to see a situation clearly. There are many different ways to approach this decision. You can look at it from an emotional point of view (which home do you love), an intuitive view (what does your gut tell you), and even a devil's advocate view (what if). Experts consider this the "Six Thinking Hats," introduced by Edward de Bono in a book of the same title, where you put on six different hats during a decision making process. Try and see the buying process from the perspective of your spouse, your children, friends, and even your worst enemy.

Finally, be realistic in your own abilities. While the final decision rests on your capable shoulders, you should rely on the professionals that are by your side. This includes your agent, lender, attorney, and even your family. And while you are the final say, remember that you have a team to help give you information to fuel that sound decision.

Written by Carla Hill

How To Make Buyers Want Your Home

2010-07-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

You love your home but when it comes time to sell, you have to share the love. In the other words, you have to make your home be seen in the eyes of potential buyers as their home. That can be tricky.

But if you do some of the basic things such as clearing clutter, creating light, bright, and open space, adding curb appeal, removing personal items (family photos, trinkets), fresh paint, and clean or new carpet -- you'll be on your way to attracting serious buyers.

Let's look at specific areas that create widespread appeal inside the home.

Here are some of the top areas to improve: countertops, flooring, built-in furniture, and old-style attached fixtures such as those big sheet mirrors in the bathroom. However, when making these improvements, there's one important consideration.

Functionality is the greatest concern cited by homeowners, according to the latest poll conducted by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

"The functionality of a home is very important, especially over the long term, as many homeowners in this economy have opted for remodeling over moving to new homes," says NARI National President Paul Zuch, CR, president of Capital Improvements.

So let's explore the areas I mentioned earlier and see how improving these items can lead to greater interest in your home. Countertops are fixtures in homes. So making sure that you select the best material to endure the daily wear and tear is important. If we're talking about the kitchen, for instance, there are many options: granite, tile, recycled glass (for a green option), solid steel, composite stone, butcher block, laminate, and even concrete. Yes, that last one sounds surprising but concrete is being used for countertops and laminate isn't necessarily trying to mimic other materials anymore. Instead, homeowners are embracing laminate's own unique high-tech look. The popular trend is a mixing of several styles creating a blended custom look for the kitchen. But in the end, functionality will rate highest for potential buyers. All of the countertop materials mentioned above have advantages and disadvantages when it comes to maintenance and usage; make sure you completely research the material before selecting it for your home.

Fixtures are an important area to improve. "People know a lot more about design," Laura Kirar from Larua Kirar-TRU Design told the Alexandria Times. These days, quirky, eclectic styles from international trends are becoming more prevalent in the United States. However, push the envelope too far with quirkiness and you just might lose a potential buyer. What's important to know is that buyers are paying attention to fixtures. If you have damaged or worn out faucets or lighting, it's best to replace them before showing your home. Also, replacing those big, nothing-special sheet mirrors with some framed mirrors can add a unique look without costing very much. While you don't want to have to spend a lot just before you sell your home, remember that these seemingly small items can have a great impact on improving buyers' interest in your home.

Flooring is a big interest for buyers. Wood floors are still very popular. Many Realtors say buyers are looking for hardwood floors. That's partly because they endure and don't go out of style. However, if they're damaged it can be a drawback because buyers may focus on how much work it will take and cost to do the repairs.

Built-in furniture can improve a home. Built-in bookcases and entertainment centers can save space and help make the room look larger. However, there's a downside. Built-in furniture isn't easily movable. So, potential buyers will have to really find the furniture useful and suitable for their needs. "It's all about personalization—homeowners want to know that their space can be converted easily into a different space in the future," Zuch said in a press statement by NARI. And that's what buyers want as well—the ability to make your home theirs when the sale closes.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua

Most affordable popular retirement locations

2010-07-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

The real estate downturn has turned some very popular retirement destinations into bargains. To determine where the prices are most attractive, U.S. News & World Report examined price-to-income data for 384 metropolitan statistical areas. This expresses the relationship between owner income and home values.

Here are 10 retirement havens where homes are most affordable by this measure:

1. Bend, Ore.

2. Napa, Calif.

3. Fort Meyers, Fla.

4. Fayetteville, Ark.

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

6. Santa Fe, N.M.

7. Punta Gorda, Fla.

8. Phoenix, Arizona

9. Santa Cruz, Calif.

10. Burlington, Vt.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (07/08/2010)

Current Mortgage Rates

2010-07-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today's mortgage interest rates are at an all time low. This is an incredible time to buy!!

30 yr fixed: 4.57%

15 yr fixed: 4.07%
1 yr adj: 3.75%

(U.S. Daily Averages)

Call or email to find your dream home today or to find your next investment property.

Leah Hamman

Keller Williams Integrity First Realty

My Arizona Home Team

(480) 330-6242

Email: HammanTeam@cox.net

Custom Home in Goodyear on 2 acres, Price Reduced to sell!

2010-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Price : $379,000

Bedrooms : 3

Bathrooms : 3

Square Foot : 2,710

Lot Size : 2+ acres.

County : Maricopa

Property Type : Custom Single Family Detached

Year Built : 1998

MLS Number : 4337980

3 bedrooms + Den + Dining Room!

SOUTHWEST STYLE CUSTOM HOME BEAUTY SITUATED ON 2+ ACRES OF ELEVATED HILLSIDE W/AMAZING CITY VIEWS*PERFECT FOR THE RURAL BUYER WHO WANTS A TRANQUIL SETTING YET A SHORT DRIVE TO THE CITY*HOME LOADED W/CUSTOM UPGRADES*VIGAS BEAMS*SALTILLO TILE*BEEHIVE FIREPLACE W/CHARMING SUNKEN-IN SITTING AREA*SNAIL SHOWER*WALK-IN CLOSETS*ICEMAKER*PERFECT FOR HORSES RIDING*COUNTY ISLAND*CLOSE TO PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY FOR YOU RACE FANS.

Keller Williams Integrity 1st Realty : Mesa AZ 85209 :
480-330-6242

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T09:00:00.002-07:00

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Summer Travel Trips

2010-07-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

As you get ready to travel—even if it’s a short trip, like 4th of July weekend—don’t forget to take these few easy steps at home before you leave:

• Turn up your thermostat to 85 degrees (unless you’re leaving pets at home, of course). Experts agree that the energy saved from turning your thermostat up in the summer while you’re away is greater than the energy used to cool your house back down after you return.

• Close window blinds and shades to block out the sun’s heat. It’s amazing how much indoor heat simply comes from the heat of the sun though the windows. Most ENERGY STAR qualified windows reduce the “heat gain” into your home more than typical windows do, without reducing the visible light. You get the light you need without the uncomfortable heat.

• Aside from those one or two lights that you may want to leave on for safety, make sure everything else is turned off—all lights, ceiling fans, the alarm on your radio, and other small appliances.

• Perhaps the best thing you can do to save energy this summer is to choose hotels that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR label. Follow the link to find the hotels listed which use at least 35 percent less energy and emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than other hotels—making a stay with them a carbon-saving experience. Here is the hotel link: http://tiny.cc/nu970

Give us a call with any questions; 480-889-1424

Mortgage Modification Plan For Unemployed Begins July 1st

2010-06-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

President Obama's administration's foreclosure prevention efforts have been work in progress as we continue to deal with issues in the housing market. This past March, in reaction to the fact that on top of sinking home prices, unemployment issues have also hurt borrowers' ability to repay their mortgages, a mortgage assistance program for the unemployed was announced. That plan will go into effect very shortly, with a start date of July 1, 2010. Under the new plan servicers would be required to offer forbearance plans to all qualified jobless borrowers for at least three and as long as six months. Under the plan, the unemployed could see their monthly payments reduced to 31% of income or less or even suspended entirely.
Borrowers must meet HAMP eligibility requirements as well as submit evidence that they are receiving unemployment benefits. They must also be in their first 90 days of delinquency.
After the assistance period ends, homeowners would be evaluated for a loan modification or foreclosure alternatives, such as short sales.
This plan is as we mentioned just around the corner, but we will have to wait to see how effectively this new initiative is put into action.

Fannie Mae LQI Credit Update

2010-06-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

There have been some changes and upcoming changes regarding the re-pull of a credit report a few days before closing.

Mortgage lenders are likely to begin ordering a second full credit screening immediately before closing. This report will be designed to find out whether the borrower has obtained, or even shopped for, new debt between the date of the loan application and the closing. The added debt could render the borrower ineligible for the mortgage because they now appear unable to handle the payments without a strain on their household budget. When pulling the last minute credit report, lenders are also looking for things like new credit accounts, increased credit lines, increased balances on existing accounts, undisclosed or newly recorded liens, second mortgages, etc., anything that may have changed since the initial application that might impact the borrowers debt-to-income ratio. Fannie Mae instructions say that "lenders must determine that all debts of the borrower incurred or closed up to and concurrent with the closing" are considered in the final loan analysis.

How should home buyers and refinancer's prepare for the credit check procedures? Follow one rule: abstinence. Between the application for a mortgage and the date of closing, resist spending. Don't apply for new credit unless it has been discussed in advance between the borrower and lender and a green light is given.

Decline in Available Rental Properties while the Demand for Rentals Increases

2010-05-18T00:19:00.002-07:00

People looking for family-size houses to rent in Phoenix-area neighborhoods have far fewer choices.
Since September, the number of available rental homes in metropolitan Phoenix has dropped by 40 percent, and probably even more than that when it comes to three- to four-bedroom homes in desirable neighborhoods.

The sharp drop is another ripple effect of the foreclosure crisis.
At first, foreclosures increased the number of houses in the rental market. And people who lost homes to foreclosure or short sales, or who just walked away from underwater mortgages, found they could rent similar-size houses, often in the same neighborhood, for less than their mortgage payment.
In many of the region's newer neighborhoods, even tenants with bad credit could negotiate lower rents and how long they wanted to stay.

But in the past few months, as more of those former owners became renters, demand for those three- to four-bedroom rental homes climbed. And as lenders foreclose on more homes but are slow to resell them, the number of available houses has dropped. When houses do come on the rental market, rents are rising and landlords of family-size homes are receiving multiple offers and filling houses in days.

"The demand for single-family rentals is clearly outstripping the supply, causing an unprecedented fall in the inventory of available rentals," said metro Phoenix housing analyst Mike Orr, who publishes the Cromford Report. "The trend shows no sign of stopping."

Orr said many Phoenix-area apartment complexes still are having a tough time attracting tenants, but rental agencies managing homes have waiting lists.

Rental search

Melissa Flores is a mother of three who lost her Avondale home to foreclosure in January. Ever since then, she has been looking for a house near her children's elementary school. Flores has made offers on more than a dozen three-bedroom homes in Avondale and Surprise. But each time she lost out to other renters who were either willing to pay more or had better credit records.

"I knew people who lost homes and rented houses blocks from their old home," she said. "I thought at least I could keep my kids close to their school and friends."
Eight months ago, according to Orr, there were 5,460 rental houses listed on the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. Now, there are about 3,100. Not all metro Phoenix rentals are listed on the MLS, but market watchers say rental activity on the Realtor-run site is representative of the overall market.
"The rental market is really tight for decent-sized homes now," said HomeSmart real-estate agent Brett Barry.

Barry recently searched north Phoenix for a family who lost a home in the area to foreclosure. There were only four houses available with monthly rents that the family could afford. Six months ago, Barry said, the family would have been able to choose from at least 20 rentals in the area.

The rental market isn't nearly as competitive for small houses or condominiums, market watchers say.

Dave Zundel, co-owner of Phoenix rental-management firm HomeLovers, said many investors immediately opt to buy lower-end homes, thinking those houses will draw the most renters.

In fact, he said, the upper- to middle-income type of home currently is considered the rock-solid investment for landlords.

"We don't have enough of those homes available for rent now," Zundel said.

Forecast

Metro Phoenix foreclosures and short sales hit a record in March. But the number of rentals available for the displaced homeowners from those deals isn't climbing at the same pace.

Flores heard that more three-bedroom homes may soon be up for rent in her old neighborhood as investors like the one who bought her home turn houses into rentals.

A year ago, investors were buying a few thousand homes each month and turning them into rentals. But now, lenders are holding on to more of their foreclosure homes as they work to catch up on a backlog of delinquent mortgages. So, the number of houses in the pipeline to possibly become rentals has dropped.

What had only recently become a pattern among displaced homeowners - renting in their old neighborhood - is now far less of an option. And even when houses come on the rental market, rents are now running close to or above comparable mortgage rates.

"If the rental inventory continues to fall in this way," Orr said, "it is very likely that average rents for homes will start to rise in the not-too-distant future, something that hasn't happened for a very long time."

Keys To Qualify For A Home Purchase Loan: What You Need In The Current Market

2010-05-12T00:02:00.000-07:00

With home prices having decreased significantly, and the lowest interest rates in a generation, home affordability has dramatically increased. As a result we have seen a tremendous increase in the amount of new buyers ready to purchase a home now. However, the main question that many of them have is what do I need, in order to be able to purchase a home in the current market?
This answer will vary slightly, but here are a few things that everyone will need to be able to qualify for a home purchase currently. This is a good starting point to gauge your ability to purchase now or you need to get a few things in line before you make the move.
1) DOCUMENTED INCOME: In the current marketplace you will need the ability to document your income. If you work a regular job where you receive hourly or salaried pay, one month's pay stubs and your last 2 years W-2's will suffice. If you are self-employed or receive commissions as part of your salary, then expect to have to provide your last 2 year's full tax returns. The bottom line however is that in the current market lenders will want you to be able to document and fully prove any income you state you receive.
2) 620 Credit Score: While credit standards are still more lenient on programs such as FHA financing or VA financing for Veterans as opposed to conventional financing, the minimum is now a 620 credit score. This is a practice that many lenders have implemented and will soon be an across the board requirement. If you score is below this level, you will be best served to begin the process of evaluating and repairing your credit score, prior to being able to purchase a home.
3) DOWN PAYMENT: While there are a select few programs that will allow for 100% financing (Veterans Administrations Loans, USDA Rural Housing), the majority of all purchase loans will now require a minimum of a 3.5% down payment for FHA financing or 5% for conventional financing. This number increases if the property is a second home or investment property.Therefore, down payment must be saved up for most buyers prior to purchasing a home.
With home buying on the rise, these are just some of the many items to consider when purchasing a home and qualifying for a home loan in the current market. There are many good home loan programs available and if you are prepared and ready, then purchasing a home in the current market, may be easier than you think.

Here are our featured properties

2010-05-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

Call us today for more information or to schedule a FREE appointment!

480-889-1424

How Your Credit Score Is Affected By Short Sales & Foreclosures

2010-05-06T10:38:00.001-07:00

Missing mortgage payments will hurt your credit score, that is a given. However, as the number of short sales and foreclosures has increased over the past few years, the question has been just how much missing payments on your mortgage affects your credit score.

In a recent report from Fair Isaac, the company that developed FICO scores, estimates were revealed for some of the point score declines following various mortgage delinquency scenarios.

Here are the average hit your credit will take in each of these scenarios:

30 days late: 40 - 110 points

90 days late: 70 - 135 points

Foreclosure, Short Sale or Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure: 85 - 160

Bankruptcy: 130 - 240

The reports indicate that even one missed mortgage payment can have a significant impact on the credit score of a borrower, but the real tipping point comes when accounts get to 90 days or later past due, as statistics show that this is when accounts are least likely to ever be paid current again.

Of course, other factors come into play as well. As someone with limited credit will be hurt more, then someone with a large amount of accounts and a good long standing history may be affected differently as well.

In addition, someone with a less than perfect credit history and a lower score may also have less room to drop then a person with a higher credit score as well.

In addition, in a note interesting to the current state of the market, it was revealed that even if a borrower were able to walk away from their home with a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure and not necessarily miss many payments, their credit score could still be hurt significantly. That is because if it is reported that the account was settled for less than the full balance, a serious delinquency is calculated into the person's credit score, regardless of how many payments they missed.

Of course, the absolute biggest effect on credit score occurs in cases of bankruptcy as the credit bureaus treat this with the biggest impact on credit scores.

While none of this news is information that may come as a major surprise, this is the first release of estimates of the affects of foreclosure and short sales on borrowers credit reports. For those that unfortunately have to deal with these hardships it will definitely take a major toll in the short term on credit. However, like with most things, with the proper management, you credit score can rebound with solid financial planning and responsibility going forward. After a hardship home ownership can occur within just a few short years with the right planning.

Call us today for more information at 480-889-1424 or e-mail us at MyAzHomeTeam@aol.com

Rebound Forecast in Valley Housing Market this Year

2010-05-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Valley's new-home market is on its way to recovery, according to a University of Arizona forecast.

The UA Economic and Business Research Center report predicts that new-home permits in metro Phoenix this year will jump 54 percent from last year to 13,320. Then, permits will more than double to 28,060 next year.

That is still a long way from the Valley's peak building years of 2004-05 when close to 60,000 new homes were built in each of two straight years.

The university's forecast predicts that new-home permits will fluctuate from 35,000 to 40,000 annually from 2012-16.

That would appear to be a more sustainable number than 60,000 permits annually, especially with the Valley's expected population growth.
Cassidy Turley/BRE Commercial, in its latest Phoenix Housing Market Report, notes the metro area will grow from 4.2 million this year to more than 5 million in 2015.

Longer term, Arizona is expected to grow to 16 million by 2050. That is up from 5.1 million in the 2000 census.

Cassidy Turley's report also notes some strengths as well as concerns about the Valley market, including foreclosures, job losses and low appraisals of homes.

On the plus side is affordable housing. Six out of 10 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2009 were affordable for families earning the Valley's median income. That is much better than in California but less affordable than in other Sun Belt markets, such as Albuquerque, Dallas and Houston.

Office market coming back

The Valley's office market is on it way to recovery, but it has a long way to go, according to a first-quarter report from CB Richard Ellis.
Office vacancies in the quarter were up nearly 3 percentage points from a year ago to 25.6 percent. That is the highest rate in 19 years.

Plus, the vacancy rate has been climbing for 11 consecutive quarters.

But for the second straight quarter, the office market has had positive net absorption, meaning that new tenants have taken more space than have been lost by tenants leaving office buildings.
Office development, meanwhile, has come to a halt.

Scottsdale vacancies high

Scottsdale's office vacancy rate is 28.4 percent, nearly 10 percentage points higher than downtown Phoenix's rate.

However, Greg Mayer, CB Richard Ellis senior associate, said Scottsdale is on the rebound.

"It's arguably the hottest submarket we have," he said. "Vacancies are high but have been falling for three quarters."

Scottsdale had net absorption of 315,570 square feet of office space in the first quarter. Only Phoenix's central business district had more absorption at 438,725 square feet.
Among the major new tenants in Scottsdale are the global shipping company APL and Yelp, an Internet site that allows consumers to review businesses.
APL took 70,000 square feet at the Max at Kierland building, 16220 N. Scottsdale Road. Yelp is leasing 28,000 square feet at the Galleria Corporate Centre, 4343 N. Scottsdale Road.

Scottsdale's average lease rate was $23.62 per square foot, slightly higher than the Valleywide rate of $23.36.

Mayer said tenants should be locking in their leases.

"You don't want to be late to the market," he said.

What Happens When The Home Buyer Tax Credit Ends?

2010-04-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

As we sit, the current homebuyer tax credit is now almost officially a thing of the past, as contracts must be signed by April 30, 2010 for first time and existing home buyers to take advantage of the tax credit. The question now becomes, what happens now that the home buyer tax credit is going away?

Certainly, while the tax credit has not been the cure all for the housing market, it has helped home sales and urged many new buyers to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity. Now that it is going away, the looming question is how will affect the real estate market?
The immediate answer is that there will perhaps be some home buyers who go back to the sidelines and decide to wait to purchase, but that may or may not be the case and if someone is looking to purchase there are still many factors in their favor to purchase now.
· Interest Rates still remain at historical lows, but all indications point to interest rates rising over the next 12 to 24 months. Even if home prices do not rise much in this period, homes will become more expensive to finance in the coming year. Not too mention the increased fees we continue to see from the FHA and other lenders who are making financing more expensive going forward.
· Foreclosures still abound in the current market making for inexpensive homes. How long this last is anyone's guess, but it will probably not be forever.
· Perhaps some additional tax credits will surface in the near future. With still many issues to work out in the market the government may bring some additional tax credit back to the market.

What this means is that even though the home buyer tax credit may be going away, it doesn't mean right now is not an opportune time to purchase as there are still many reasons to buy in the current market. If you are looking to purchase, now may be the time to contact a mortgage broker to begin the prequalification process and real estate agent to begin searching for homes.

Qualify for 5% Down with only 680 credit score

2010-04-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

5% DOWN PAYMENT

With only a 680 mid score (down from 720).

Until now, buyers needed to have a 720 middle score to qualify for mortgage insurance. Buyers can now obtain mortgage insurance with just 5% down and a 680 credit score for conventional financing!*
Once again, this is perfect for homes that cannot go FHA or for borrowers who want to avoid paying 2.25% up front mortgage insurance.

Financing is available for second/vacation homes for just 10% down. A 720 score is required for second homes.
*For purchase of primary residence only, 41% max ratio

There is still time to qualify for the tax credit!

2010-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

TAX CREDIT OVERVIEW

Who Gets What?

First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000 Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

What are the New Deadlines?

In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

What are the Income Caps?

The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased.

Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

What is the Maximum Purchase Price?

Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000.

What is a Tax Credit?

A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed.

Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual’s primary residence.

How Much are First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Eligible to Receive?

An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500.

If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000.

Who is Eligible fort FTHB Tax Credit?

Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible.

This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has owned a primary residence in the last 36 months, neither would qualify. In the case where an individual has owned property that has not been a primary residence, such as a second home or investment property, that individual would be eligible.

As mentioned above, the tax credit has been expanded so that existing homeowners who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years are now eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

How Much are Current Home Owners Eligible to Receive?

The tax credit program includes a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Can Homebuyers Claim the Tax Credit in Advance of Purchasing a
Property?

No. The IRS has recently begun prosecuting people who have claimed credits where a purchase had not taken place.

Can a Taxpayer Claim a Credit if the Property is Purchased from a
Seller with Seller Financing and the Seller Retains Title to the
Property?

Yes. In situations where the buyer purchases the property, even though the seller retains legal title, the taxpayer may file for the credit. Some examples of this would include a land contract or a contract for deed.

According to the IRS, factors that would demonstrate the ownership of the property would include:

1. Right of possession,
2. Right to obtain legal title upon full payment of the purchase price,
3. Right to construct improvements,
4. Obligation to pay property taxes,
5. Risk of loss,
6. Responsibility to insure the property, and
7. Duty to maintain the property.

Are There Other Restrictions to Taking the FTHB Credit?

Yes. According to the IRS, if any of the following describe a homebuyer’s situation, a credit would not be due:

• They buy the home from a close relative. This includes a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild. (Please see the question below for details regarding purchases from “step-relatives.”)

• They do not use the home as your principal residence.

• They sell their home before the end of the year.

• They are a nonresident alien.

• They are, or were, eligible to claim the District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit for any taxable year. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)

• Their home financing comes from tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)

• They owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase of your new home. For example, if you bought a home on July 1, 2008, you cannot take the credit for that home if you owned, or had an ownership interest in, another principal residence at any time from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008.

Can Homebuyers Purchase a Home from a Step-Relative and Still
be Eligible for the Credit?

Yes. As long as the person they buy the home from is not a direct blood relative, the purchase would be
allowed.

If a Parent (Who Will Not Live In The Property) Cosigns for a
Mortgage, Will Their Child Still be Eligible for the Credit?
Yes, provided that the child meets the other requirements for the tax credit.

*It is always important to speak with a qualified tax advisor if you have any questions regarding how the credit can affect your own personal tax situation.

Please call us so we can refer you some names of qualified individuals to assist you regarding tax issues.

480-889-1424

New Changes to FHA Loans- MIP Increasing

2010-03-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

As announced in HUD Mortgagee Letter 2010-02), effective for FHA loans with case numbers assigned on or after April 5, 2010, FHA will collect an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) of 2.25%. This policy change will increase premiums for purchase money and refinance transactions, including streamline refinance transactions.

Ø Applications that do not have an FHA case number assignment date prior to April 5, 2010 will be subject to the new up front mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) factors.

Ø Applications that are disclosed with the lower UFMIP factors and do not have a case number assignment date prior to April 5, 2010 will be required to re-disclose to increase the UFMIP to the borrower within 3 days of the change circumstance event, or no later than April 8, 2010 to comply with Regulation X.

Ø FHA programs NOT impacted by the new UFMIP factors at this time are listed below.
o 248 Indian Reservations

o 247 Hawaiian Homelands

Please note: There are no other changes to the FHA loan program that will go into effect on April 5, 2010.

USDA Funding Expected to Run Out by April

2010-03-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

The USDA Rural Housing Program is a 100% financing, no down payment home loan program for homeowners purchasing homes in certain designated areas throughout the country with populations that are generally below 50,000 people per designated geographic area. Here in Arizona this includes areas such as Arizona City, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Queen Creek, Maricopa, Waddell and even parts of South Gilbert. It is an excellent option for buyers purchasing in these areas and has some of the lowest borrower default rates of all government backed loan programs. However, the latest announcement from the USDA is that all of the available funds for the program (which are appropriated on an annual basis) are expected to run out by the end of the April.

The message the USDA provided was the following:

This message is to notify you that program funding for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program will likely be exhausted by the end of April, 2010.

Once funding is exhausted, the Agency will not issue Conditional Commitments "subject to receipt of appropriated funds." This is because it is not certain when additional funding will be available.

Now it is not uncommon for the USDA to run out of funds before the end of the year for their home loan program, but this usually occurs in September, right near the end of the Government's Fiscal year. Therefore, there is generally not a delay in borrowers obtaining USDA home loans. However, this year will be different, because it appears that unless the USDA receives a large influx of emergency funding we may not see this home loan program available again until the end of 2010.

Of course now it will be up to the government to take action to help to fund the program or have the option of USDA home loans taken away from buyers who were planning on using this program to purchase a home.

Looking for bank owned homes????

2010-03-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

We can help!

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Gorgeous Turn-Key Queen Creek Home!

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For additional information text 49581 to 79564. Or call 480-889-1424 to speak to one of our team members.

This Queen Creek Home is DRIPPING in life style!

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Just click the picture above for more details!

Arizona Real Estate Journal

Send Out Cards revolutionizing greeting cards & their delivery!

Phoenix Open 2012 for Golf Lovers

Today's featured home...

Immaculate home in GATED Golf community!

The Benefits of Yoga

Handcrafted Wood-Inlay Maps Designed by You

Body Cleanse for 2012: The Lemonade Cleanse Diet

How to Shed Those Unwanted Pounds in 2012

How to Ring in the New Year Arizona Style 2011/12

Beautiful home in a GATED Golf community!

Great Reasons to Compost

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Set SMART Goals

Great Gift Ideas & Deals for Christmas

Protect Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Handwashing Awareness

Holiday Luminaria Event at Desert Botanical Garden

Happy Thanksgiving

Maricopa County Pending Foreclosures for November 2011

Top 10 companies hiring this week

FHA Loan limits restored!

EASY Pumpkin Pie Recipe

How Much Did Your 1967 Dollar Buy in 1984?

Energy Efficient Mortgages

Light the Night Light Leukemia & Lymphoma 5k Walk in Tempe

November is American Diabetes Month

Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

Happy Energy Awareness Month!

New Home Search

Happy Halloween

The Real Costs of Halloween Home Disasters: Serial Killers, Phantasms, and Floods of Blood

2011 Arizona State Fair

ArizonaExperienceRealty.com is LIVE!!!

CELEBRATE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Looking for Something Fun to Do???

Explore More Home Properties For Sale In Circle Cross Ranch San Tan Valley AZ

Phoenix Winter Grass Time

Tract Home Builder Changes Design to Meet Needs of Today's Social Living

Arizona Haunted Houses 2011

Fire Prevention Tips

Slight Improvement in Mortgage Rates

Fantastic Mesa, Arizona Home For Sale in 55+ Community

USDA Rural Loan Update

August Real Estate Market Snapshot

Pool Safety

Thinking of Buying a New Home???

Seasonal planting & maintenance calendar for August

10 Reasons to buy a house...

4th of July 2011 - Fireworks Displays - Free Admission

Arizona Experience Realty, LLC...NOW OPEN!

Beautiful 3000 Sq.ft. Condo with Large Balcony! Amazing Pool and Beach Views!

Amazing Upgrades Make this Condo Absolutely Unbeatable! Everything You Need and More!!

Incredible, Brand-New Ground Floor Condo at Las Palomas Phase 2! Only Steps Down to the Pool and Beach!

Arizona 2010 Election: Proposition Results

2010 Election Results

Happy Halloween from ENERGY STAR!

Most Desireable States to Live in the US

Foreclosure Moratorium Ending

New Listings Analysis

Distressed Sales Analysis:

September Market Analysis

Arizona Taco & Tequila Festival this Saturday, October 9, 2010

Cupcake Festival this Sunday, October 10, 2010

How Will a Short Sale, Foreclosure or Bankruptcy Affect Your Credit

FHA Loan Changes Effective October 4, 2010

Arizona Restaurant Week 2010: Sept. 18th-26th

Wells Fargo No Longer Extending Foreclosure Dates for Short Sales

Mortgage Rates Beat Tax-Credit Benefits

Top 5 Reasons Homeownership Trumps Renting

Different drug problem….

Green Your Dorm Room with ENERGY STAR

East Valley housing more affordable

Thinkg about Buying a home?

Thinking about selling your home?

2010.Aug.6 FHA Update: Principal Reduction by at least 10%

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums To Change

Debunking Credit Score Myths

Buyers Should Be Careful About Credit Use Prior to Closing

June Round Up: Rates Hit an All-Time Low