Home Design Trends to Watch in 2018

We frequently get questions from clients who are taking on decorating and remodeling projects and want to ensure their dollars are invested wisely.

Which looks will last for years to come, and which ones will feel dated quickly? What colors and styles are most popular among buyers in our area? How can I add the most value to my Scottsdale home for sale?

So we’ve rounded up some of the hottest trends in home design to help guide you through the process. Whether you’ve planned a simple refresh or a full-scale renovation, making smart and informed design choices will help you maximize your return on investment … and minimize the chance of “remodeler’s remorse” down the road.

WHAT’S HOT NOW

While 2017 was all about millennial pink, brass…

2151 Views, 0 Comments

Scottsdale Real Estate 2018: What to Expect

As we head into a new year, the most common question we receive is, “What’s the outlook for Scottsdale real estate in 2018?”

It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners also want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is that a strong U.S. economy, coupled with low unemployment rates, is expected to drive continued Scottsdale real estate growth in 2018. However, changes on the horizon could significantly impact you if you plan to buy, sell or refinance this year.

SCOTTSDALE HOME VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE

Get ready for another strong year! U.S. home values and sales volume will continue to rise in 2018.

Experts agree that Scottsdale home prices will increase in 2018, but predict a slower rate…

1373 Views, 0 Comments

Tips on Buying a New Home

Following is a guest post written by Lance Mohr, a Tampa, Florida REALTOR

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting feelings anyone can dream of. However, it is not as easy as you might think. Having a lot of money is not all that matters. There are other factors to look into when buying a new home. Even the most luxurious property has its own drawbacks because there’s no such thing as a “perfect home”. Nevertheless, through several years of real estate experience, we have come up with various tips to guide you in choosing the home that adequately fits your style, needs and financial resources, may it be brand new or pre-owned.

Come up with a clear description of your ideal home. This way you have a clear understanding before you and…

1502 Views, 0 Comments

How Scottsdale Real Estate Agents Would Sell Their Own Home

I was going to update the original post I made about how I would sell my home back in 2008 (link below in Related Links).  But I would have had to make so many changes and updates that I figured it would be best just to start a new post.

De-cluttering and Staging

You need to know your competition

Before putting any home on the market sellers need to declutter, de-personalize and "stage" their homes.  This doesn't always cost money.  Today's buyers have a selection of similarly priced flip homes and regular re-sell properties.  Many times, even if the flip home is priced a bit higher, it's worth it as the new owners couldn't update a competitor home for less than the flip.  Some flips are completely redone - almost like new construction. …

1349 Views, 0 Comments

Realtor.com Results Summit 2017

The only time I had been to Las Vegas was in August of 2002 when my husband (and Team Member) Jimmy Herter and I got married. It was a whirlwind trip and we had 41 guests that traveled to Vegas to attend our wedding in the Viva Las Vegas Chapel.  It was fun but a busy time and although we visited a few other hotels/casinos, we were pretty much stuck on the strip.

So when we heard that Realtor.com was having a conference in Las Vegas, we decided to attend, especially since my grade school friend and REALTOR®, Karen Kostoff, lives nearby in Henderson and was also going to attend.  I wasn't expecting to have as much fun as we did.

Our Room at The Cosmopolitan

View from the balcony of our room on the 29th floor of The Cosmopolitan Hotel

We got…

1962 Views, 0 Comments

Assessed Value vs Market Value of Your Scottsdale Home

Understanding a home’s true market value is about more than pictures, software assessments, and price-per-square-foot. Whether you’re a current homeowner thinking of selling or are house-hunting, it’s crucial you understand what factors affect home valuation. By partnering with a local market expert, Scottsdale home sellers will avoid pricing their house out of the market (the kiss of death in real estate) and buyers will ensure they get a good deal on their next home.

So, how do you accurately calculate a home’s value? After all, the value a home that is assessed by its town and county and the one it’s given when it’s listed are often dramatically different from one another. Which one is accurate and what does it all mean? Read on to learn more.  …

1899 Views, 0 Comments

What is Your Scottsdale Home Buying Power?

The first thing you need to do before ever contacting a real estate agent to start showing you homes is to find out what you can actually afford.  Many agents won't take you out until you can show them a pre-qualification letter from a lender.  And sometimes if the agent has never heard of that lender, or it's an online lender that isn't trustworthy, the agent will ask you to get pre-qualified by their preferred lender.

Then there are some agents that will show you a couple of homes to get to meet you, but once you've seen some they will ask you to get pre-qualified before they show you any more.  I have done that and some of those buyers, who thought they were fully qualified, ended up falling in love with a home I showed them, only to find out…

677 Views, 0 Comments

Top 5 Home Design Trends of 2017

You can usually spot new design trends by looking at new construction, especially new subdivision models.  Most builders keep themselves up-to-date with current decorating styles.  One builder I met said they will build one spec home using a cool tone (grey) and the next one with a warm tone (beige).

The current trends are all about utilizing rich color, maximizing texture, and creating comfortable interiors you can’t wait to relax in. Use these trends to get inspired to makeover your home’s interiors and create spaces you love that also appeal to your personal style. Remember, if you plan to sell in the next few years, you may want to avoid doing anything dramatic and instead incorporate small changes that would appeal to buyers.  We plan on…

1824 Views, 0 Comments

5 Tips to Increase Your Scottsdale Home’s Value Up to 28%

Great curb appeal not only makes your home the star of the neighborhood, it can also improve its value and help you sell it for more. Whether you’re thinking of listing your home or just want to make your home the envy of your neighbors, here are several ways to increase your home’s curb appeal.  Download a pdf here.

1. Make your home’s exterior look like new.

For many potential buyers, the condition of the exterior of a home can offer clues to the condition of the interior. The first place to start when boosting curb appeal is the exterior of your house.

Paint.  Paint is the best way to make your home appear newer. While you can paint your home yourself, if it’s large or more than one story, consider hiring a professional.   FHA financing,…

1784 Views, 0 Comments

How Will Higher Interest Rates Affect the Housing Industry?

Interest rates keep going up on a day to day basis.  As I'm writing this, rates are above 4%.  We haven't seen that figure in a while!  

So before anyone panics, I'd like to go down memory lane to when I purchased my first house.  We were given a 10 year mortgage at 10.5% interest with a 20% down payment (the 3 bedroom, 1 bath single level home on a crawl in in a Chicago suburb called Evergreen Park cost $18,000).  We made it into a cute little dollhouse.  We didn't balk at 10.5% interest - those were the going rates.  But look at that low price!  In only about 3 years we sold it for $47,500 - those were the days.

I remember when the market went wild when rates fell to 8.5%.  It was definitely a seller's market at that time.  It was difficult for…

1345 Views, 0 Comments