Scottsdale Real Estate Blog

Home Decor Trends for 2021

I always wonder how trends and fashion get started.  I know clothing designers have their fashion shows, but how long does it take for those fashion trends to drip down to the public?

I feel the same with home decor trends.  Who starts these trends?  How long does it take for a specific design to take hold?  I also know there are design shows, but those aren't always for the public.  I guess a lot of home decor trends get to the public through home magazines sold in supermarkets and stores.

Another way for these trends to be discovered by the general public is to visit new construction models.  That's where the gray and white trends started, along with white cabinets (usually Shaker style, but not always), and different wood or wood laminate…

709 Views, 0 Comments

Carefree, AZ Desert Gardens

Jimmy and I decided to do something fun today, but it was getting late on a Sunday and we know how quickly many places close.  Out of a few ideas, we chose to go to Carefree, Arizona, which we're very close to.  Our purpose was to really see the Desert Gardens.

We've been to Carefree multiple times, but this time we were going to focus on the Desert Gardens.  I tried explaining to Jimmy that the gardens were in the town square and we'd been there before.  But for some reason, he was expecting something else.

I knew that it was a small area (I did my homework).  But when we've gone there prior we really didn't take our time.  It was always just a quick walk-through.  The last time we went was to visit the post office and the resale shop in the…

916 Views, 0 Comments

New Year, New House?

It's still not too late to make some homeowner's real estate resolutions for 2021.  Inventory and interest rates are at historic lows and prices keep climbing.  But even with higher prices, the low-interest rates still help with your buying power.

Home Buyer Resolutions

Work on getting mortgage-ready - figure out your current home buying power.  Your credit score is a big part of qualifying for a mortgage.  Ask for a free credit report from the annualcreditreport.com website. 

Your credit will need to be at least 740 for most lenders, and the lower the score, the higher your interest rate might be.  This is why you need to do this before you start actively looking at homes.  Many agents won't even take you out to see places unless you've been…

1030 Views, 0 Comments

Tips for Searching for the Perfect Home

The process of finding your perfect home can be exciting at times, then feel completely overwhelming, and then become inspiring again, and sometimes all in the same day. With the current coronavirus pandemic making everything seem that much harder, there is even more to keep in mind- from setting up virtual home tours so you can scope out prospective homes remotely to what the pandemic might mean for your changing needs.

The good news is that there are plenty of tricks, tips, and resources available to assist you with the sometimes daunting process, so you can focus on the important things- and know what to keep in mind.

Let’s take a look at some top tips to help guide you through your search for the perfect home.

Search Within Your Range

…

1160 Views, 0 Comments

What do Historically Low Interest Rates Mean for Scottsdale Real Estate?

When I purchased my first house at the age of 22, we didn't bat an eye at the 10.5% interest rate for my first mortgage.  We were also required to put down 20% and it was only a 10-year mortgage (not our choice).  That house also only cost $18,300, and our monthly payment was around $210.00 total (including taxes).

I didn't think I'd ever see rates this low. And I'm talking about 6%, 5%, 4%, and 3%.  So I never expected less than 3%, but that's what happened in July of 2020.

Did you know that in 1971 the average mortgage rate was 7.31%?  I was a few years out from owning my own home, and interest rates were higher when I bought, but in my 37+ years in the real estate business, 7% was a good rate.  In fact, at one point in time, around 2012,…

715 Views, 0 Comments

5 Reasons Winter is a Great Time to Buy or Sell Scottsdsale Real Estate

There is a common misconception that you should put your house on the market in winter.  But that's not necessarily true.  There are some advantages for both buyers and sellers of Scottdale area real estate to buy and sell in the fall and winter months.

There are people who need to buy and sell throughout the year.  Sometimes, people planned to do it during the summer but for whatever reason, things got pushed back.

I remember when we bought a Scottsdale townhouse, our first property in Arizona, I figured the real estate market would be the opposite of our prior state of IL.  I thought more people would buy a home in Scottsdale during the winter because the weather was usually nicer then.  Our agent, who also hailed from IL, said that wasn't the…

643 Views, 0 Comments

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, AZ

We visited the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, AZ, for the 2nd time.  A woman that was there said she's lived in Arizona for 42 years and this was her first visit because she didn't know it existed.  We'd love to spread the word.

The first time we went, it was just Jimmy and me.  This time we took our son and our granddaughter.  I missed the available reservation for 2:00 on Christmas Eve so we went the day after Christmas at 10:00.

You have to set an appointment as you are taken into groups with a guide.  Although she had a mask on this time because of the pandemic, I think it was the same guide that took us through the first time a few years ago.

This is a true animal conservation center and sanctuary

Although I…

1350 Views, 0 Comments

Share the Spirit of the Holidays - Starting at Home

2020 Has Been a Rough Year

Holidays just aren't the same this year.  My son and my grandsons were going to visit us for Christmas but they can't now because my son's employer won't allow out-of-state travel.  Some people are asking why he told them where he was going.  They have the right to ask, and they did.  He has a great job and didn't want to risk losing it.

That was the final word.  But it was a roller coaster of yes, he could go, then no, he can't go, back and forth.  Just before the final "No", he was told he could go as long as he had a clear Covid test prior to returning.  I was so excited, but now that's not happening.

It's Hard to Keep the Spirit this Year 

I'm sitting at home, which is now sparsely decorated since we're still…

506 Views, 0 Comments

How to Keep Your Home Safe for the Holidays

There are so many dangers when we're out and about, especially during the continuing Coronavirus outbreak, which is spiking once again. We want and need to feel safe in our own homes.

Although this post is made during the holiday season, these tips are not only to help you keep your visitors to stay safe (if you have visitors this year), but to keep you and your family safe throughout the year.  Here are 12 tips to keep your home healthy this holiday season and all year long:

1.  Home Lighting

This is something I'm guilty of.  We have plenty of lights in our house, but as a night owl, I'm up late and tend to walk around in the dark.  Since I've broken my hip (not because of the dark), I always tell myself not to trip over anything.

Make sure…

559 Views, 0 Comments

What You Need to Know About Virtual Home Tours

Although virtual tours have been used for many years for foreign and out-of-state buyers, they have become more popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.  During the pandemic, some buyers want and need to make a home purchase, but they don't want to take the risk of going into multiple strangers' homes.

Many home sellers took their properties off the market because of the pandemic.  This is why Scottsdale real estate, including Cave Creek, Carefree, North Phoenix, and Paradise Valley, plus many areas in the United States, have such low inventory.

Agents have suggested that sellers allow the listing agent to take a virtual tour that can be sent to potential buyers and their agents, or the sellers can just allow the selling agents to go through their…

604 Views, 0 Comments