Scottsdale Real Estate Blog - Judy Orr

Out of Africa Wildlife Park - Camp Verde

I’ve already written a post about my son and my first visit to Out of Africa Wildlife Park before it moved to its new location in Camp Verde, Arizona. On our first visit to the new digs, they had just moved and were still building. I loved it when it was a little dumpy-looking attraction (from the exterior, before we went in) in Fountain Hills and it’s even better now in the new Camp Verde location. It is so much bigger and what a difference for the animals!

Every time we have newcomers to Arizona we ask them if they'd like to visit Out of Africa Wildlife Park. This time my family was in for Thanksgiving from California. I was happy to introduce them all to Out of Africa.

Feeding the giraffe

We always try to get on this tour as soon as we get…

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How Decluttering Can Help You Sell Your Scottsdale Home

Get your home organized and decluttered because potential buyers are known to be put off by chaos and mess. Decluttering can help you sell your home, but you'll start over in your new house with a peaceful, clutter-free environment. For many of us, cutting back on possessions is challenging because many things have a sentimental value associated with them in the form of memories and experiences. In contrast, others simply feel comfortable in a home full of their favorite items. But now is the time to start thinking about selling. The hard truth is that you have to make the best first impression on potential purchasers who are not interested in or need your recollections.

Buyers choose a home they can easily picture as their own and value storage…

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9 Ideas to Recreate Your Outdoor Patio Space

Unless you really love sitting outside much of the time, which is a bit more difficult with our hot Scottsdale summers, you spend more thought and time in making the inside of your Scottsdale home designed the way you like it. Maybe comfort is your goal, or you love current design trends. I like mixing the two. 

For many people, their backyards just don't get as much love. Following are some ideas you can follow to make your exterior as comfortable and lovely as the inside of your home.

1. Create a comfortable sitting area

When we moved to our new house with a nice covered patio, my first thought was getting a u-shaped outdoor seating set. This set is all hooked together so it appears to be one large sectional. I sit on it almost every…

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Benefits of Owning Rental Properties

Are you on the verge of deciding to become an investor or make the decision to diversify your existing investments? Perhaps you have also zeroed in on real estate investing – rental properties specifically as the best asset to put your money into.

As someone just starting in real estate investing, what are the things you should know? What are the definite benefits of owning rental properties versus other types of assets? Do the benefits of real estate investing have the potential to exceed the benefits from investing in other assets?

This post makes a case for real estate investing as the preferred method for securing and growing your capital. In this article you will see why investing in rental properties is not just a strategy for increasing…

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11 Ways to Write a Winning Offer in Today’s Scottsdale Real Estate Market

Many buyers have stopped their home search after writing multiple offers with none being accepted. I've been licensed since 1983 and have never seen such a wild and crazy Scottsdale real estate Seller's Market. Buyers and their agents have had to think out-of-the-box to get their offers accepted. Some of these ideas are not recommended, but if you want to win a bidding war, using one or more of these ideas might be the trick to you getting your Scottsdale real estate offer accepted.

A high offer price will definitely get the seller's attention. But not all sellers consider just the price. I've heard some stories that sellers have accepted buyers who are planning on living in the home vs. big investors that will purchase the home and rent it out…

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7 Ways to Prepare Your Scottsdale Home for Summer

Summer is certainly a time for you and your family members to relax and enjoy your home. It is a fact that this is sometimes easier said than done. This enjoyment will be possible only if you take some measures in advance to prepare your Arizona home for summer. Since summer days are hot and humid, additional maintenance of your home is required. Therefore, getting ahead of the game can help you save money and improve your property’s appearance, coziness, and safety.

1. Be organized

Whether moving, packing, or unpacking, a successful home renovation also entails being well-organized. It is a fact that a home renovation project can completely interrupt your life. Therefore, learning how to prepare your Arizona home for summer is essential. To be…

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Buyers From the Midwest Facing Sticker Shock with Scottsdale Real Estate Prices

Late last year I received a call from a man who moved to Arizona for a job offer. He got my name from a prior client of mine in Illinois. He couldn't remember her name as it was from a series of friends and relatives that passed my name along to him because of my prior client's referral. I contacted my client to see if she was the one that referred him, and she confirmed. It was bothering me that he didn't know who it was since I always like to thank anyone that sends me a referral.

He was coming from my prior state of Illinois

In fact, he was coming from the same town we lived in before we moved to Arizona back in 2009. He and his wife owned a large house that they didn't have to sell. But even though they didn't have to sell that one to make a…

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Carlsbad Tavern Scottsdale

Did you ever go back to a restaurant that you thought you loved and remembered why you stopped going? That was the revelation when we went back to Carlsbad Tavern in Scottsdale after many years from our last visit.

Our friend, who used to live in Arizona, was visiting us and wanted to go there. He was the person that introduced Carlsbad Tavern to us many years ago. I had such good memories.

It looks cute as soon as you walk up to the entryway, which is nicely lit at night. Then you step into the pretty patio with a waterfall. I think the last time I went was with Jimmy and we sat on the patio at a 2-person table. And I think that was the time I ordered something and had a difficult time eating it because it was so spicy. But I forgot about that.

…

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Real Estate Outlook for 2022

There were signs in the fourth quarter of 2021 that the red-hot housing market was beginning to simmer down. In the month of October, only 60.3% of sales involved a bidding war down from a high of 74.5% in April. This is national data though, and I'm not sure it reflects the wild Seller's Market with Scottsdale real estate, where prices increased in the double-digit percentage points. While this trend could be attributed to seasonality, it could also be a signal that the real estate run-up may have passed.

Mortgage Rates Will Definitely Increase

Because I sell Scottsdale real estate for a living, I keep abreast of the market. I've been through multiple recessions, Buyer's Markets, Seller's Market (it went crazy when rates dropped to 8.5%), and…

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Why You Should Consider Selling in the Winter

The season you sell your Scottsdale home can have an impact on how much you get for your property and how quickly it sells. The season that has the most success in selling homes is spring. This is a good time of year for families moving to new school districts and is also more convenient weather for moving. Because of this trend, most people will recommend waiting to list your home until after the winter is over.

Winter Can Be a Great Time to Sell Scottsdale Real Estate

Avoiding the winter is a huge misconception in the housing industry and can cause homeowners to miss out on opportunities. Scottsdale winters give us great house hunting weather, unlike many other areas with freezing temperatures plus snow and ice.

It was terrible showing…

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