Scottsdale Real Estate Blog

All About Buyers and Sellers in 2016 - Infographic

Here is an infographic of some real estate buyer and seller profiles of 2016 that I thought many people would find interesting.

Home Buyers

Age

Nothing really shocking to me about buyers.  It is interesting to see how the average age has changed since 1981.  I bought my first house in 1976 at the age of 22.  That house cost $18,000 and it didn't hit me at the time but instead of a 30-year mortgage, we were given a 10-year mortgage!  We were happy with our 10.5% interest rate.  I still drive past that house whenever I'm in the area.

Marital Status

I normally work with married couples but I do get single buyers.  In fact, I worked with a couple this past year (they never did buy, but that might be good) that had just started dating and I…

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A Quick Slideshow of Some of Our Marketing Techniques

The slideshow below is a quick version of some of the techniques we use to market your property.  For the full online version please click here (this version will give more detailed information for each slide).  

Our Marketing Plan - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires;

We will never ask our sellers to do something we wouldn't do to sell our own home. We've sold multiple properties ourselves.  It's not fun, especially when you live there. But we want to work with our sellers as a team to get your home sold in your time frame and at the highest price possible.

If you're thinking about selling your home please interview The Judy Orr Team.  Call us at 708-536-8200 or use our Contact Form.

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How Much Is Your Home Worth?

Click the photo above to go to the page for your instant market value.  This isn't just for homes in Cave Creek - it will change when you click on the page.  Just put your address in.  I've tried different home value programs and have come back to this one as it gave the closest value for my own home.  This value is based on sold and closed properties, which is what an appraiser goes by.

Buyers can also use this tool for a home they're interested in to see if the home is priced correctly.  However, I create a manual CMA for my buyers so they can get the best data available.

Keep in mind, this is an instant online value based on your location and the few quick questions for you to answer.  This will give you a price range and show you area…

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Generational Real Estate Trends for 2016

Below is an infographic from the National Association of Realtors®

As a baby boomer, I get confused about the generations that have followed me, so I'm going to list them:

• The Lost Generation - born 1890-1915 - I don't remember this generation, but my grandparents were in it - both are gone
• The Interbellum Generation - born 1901-1913 - I didn't realize generations could overlap
• The Greatest Generation - 1910-1925 - more overlapping - my parents were in this one
• The Silent Generation - 1923-1944 - my parents were also in this one
• Baby Boomers - 1945-1964 - My husband and I are in this one
• Generation X - 1961-1981 - My daughter & one son are in this generation
• Generation Y - Millenials - Gen Next - 1975-1995 - more overlapping…

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7 Things That Can Turn Buyers Off

I just read an article online regarding 7 things that can turn buyers off when viewing homes for sale. Sometimes sellers don't want to believe their agents when they try to tactfully explain these things to a seller when taking their listing. I'm going to review the 7 things in this article in my own words:

1. Pets - I just showed a Scottsdale home to buyers yesterday and no one from the listing brokerage mentioned the huge dog (looked like a mastiff) that was in a big cage in the empty dining room.I jumped when I entered the room and saw him. He didn't bark and barely moved, but this could have scared other agents and buyers right out of the house. He was a formidable though gentle giant who surely was not a watchdog but for his imposing size. There…

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Six Seller Pricing Mistakes

I just read a similar article in Inman News (you need a subscription), so I decided to put my own spin on it. Pricing is one of the most important factors in getting a home sold.  You'll hear location is #1, and that is also important, but homes sell all over - on busy streets, near train tracks, etc. They sold because they were priced correctly for their negative locations. The same goes for a home that needs a lot of work - if it's priced correctly for its current condition it will sell.

Setting Price Based on Active Listings vs. Sold Listings

I always have to remind Scottsdale real estate sellers that appraisers put the appraised value based on listings that have already sold and closed within the last 3 months (preferred, although they will go…

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Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About TOP HOMEOWNER TAX DEDUCTIONS THAT DECREASE YOUR TAX BURDEN

Top Tax Deductions for Homeowners to Reduce Your Tax Burden

It is impossible to avoid paying taxes without getting in trouble with the IRS, and we must all contribute our fair part. Paying your fair share, on the other hand, should not be an undue hardship. Because you pay both income and property taxes as a homeowner, your tax burden is twofold. Take advantage of these homeowner tax deductions to reduce that load and increase your tax savings. You can put your tax savings toward bills owed, home maintenance, saving toward an investment, or something fun.

Using Your Tax Deduction to Improve Your Home

Many people don't seem to have enough money to keep their homes in tip-top shape. Home maintenance is very important to keep larger repair…

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Looking For a Scottsdale Home in 2016?

We do work in more areas than just Scottsdale, so don't let the title of this post sway you.  Our hub is Scottsdale real estate but we will travel pretty far and wide to show you properties or list your home for sale.

It's the start of the New Year.  You might be considering purchasing a new home in Scottsdale or any other Greater North Phoenix location. You have many online resources to search for homes but did you know that sites like Trulia & Zillow don't have every home that's available listed on their sites?  They can also have outdated information.  

Along with them, some sites show properties that aren't actually for sale.  They think it's important to offer every existing address as they feel it makes their sites more relevant and important.…

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Why We Chose HomeSmart

The Judy Orr Team joined HomeSmart in April, 2014.  HomeSmart is the top real estate brokerage in Arizona and we can testify to that since we own a home in Scottsdale, AZ, and we see HomeSmart for sale signs all over.  The company has been cited as one of the fastest-growing brokerages with over 7500 agents in 13 states and 3 countries.

Before we ever joined HomeSmart when living in Illinois, one of our prior local independent brokerages was created based on HomeSmart's business model.  I had heard about HomeSmart as soon as I joined that company over 10 years ago (from the date of this post).  So when I started receiving e-mails about them franchising nationwide I was already familiar with the name.

I did a lot of studying on them before…

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How Important is Square Footage in Scottsdale Real Estate Sales and Value?

This is an older post that still holds value today. Please note, although I'm mentioning Scottsdale real estate, this article covers all real estate. Our company is based in Scottsdale and is our main city.  In fact, because I network with agents around the world, I've heard other agents stating the same thing.

Why Don't All Listings Have Square Footage Listed?

Until just a few years back, the square feet section in our MLS wasn't a required field, so most agents didn't bother with it.  It is now a required field but we can put in "0" if we're not sure what the true value is.  I will only post square footage if I have a prior appraisal, an original blueprint, it is listed in tax records or a folder/pamphlet from when the property was built.  Most of…

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