Would You Buy a Home in Your Sweetie's Favorite City of Scottsdale Arizona for Valentine’s Day?

Millions of people each year flock to the Scottsdale area to enjoy its beautiful weather, stunning Sonoran Desert landscape, and vibrant nightlife. If you're one of those people and are looking to purchase a home in the Scottsdale area, you're in luck. I help buyers sell and buy real estate in Scottsdale and surrounding areas. Whether you're a new resident or just thinking about making the move, I can help.

desert with Scottsdale homes in the background

Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? How about surprising your sweetheart by buying them a home in Scottsdale, Arizona! 

How did Valentine’s Day become a romantic holiday?

There are lots of competing origin stories for Valentine's…

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petition to force Fannie Mae to act responsiblyAs a member of the real estate group Short Sale Superstars, I have been made aware that Fannie Mae is not being realistic about the list and sale prices of their short sale properties. I was the listing agent for a Scottsdale for sale that was a short sale.  We listed at fair market value according to recent comparable listings.  We received a contract and the response from the seller's bank was that they wanted a price that never would have appraised.  There was no chance of selling it short with this bank.

There are no guarantees with short sales but it seems like Fannie Mae would rather foreclose with their unrealistic counter-offers. They are countering above BPO's (Broker Price Opinions) they are receiving. Most of the buyers I work with are not…

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free holiday entertaining guideWe would like to extend a wonderful free pdf booklet of the Holiday Entertaining Guide that was provided for us by Homes.com. This is 100% free and does not require your e-mail or anything and is safe to download. Please click on the link to download, not the picture. Feel free to share it with your friends and family.

The guide offers tips, a party checklist, some recipes, and more to help you through this and future holidays. My family team and I hope you have safe and happy holidays and be sure to contact us if you're interested in viewing Scottsdale homes for sale or real estate in any of the communities we serve. Last December was a busy month for us and we have also been busy this month. I remember showing homes last Christmas Eve, so don't think…

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thanksgiving food

Thanksgiving is one of America's most cherished holidays. It has a long and interesting history, dating back to the days of the Pilgrims. But what does the holiday actually commemorate? How has it changed over the years? And what are some of the most popular Thanksgiving traditions? In this article, we will explore the history of Thanksgiving from its origins to the present day.

Thanksgiving is a time-honored tradition in the United States, celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November. But few people know the history of this holiday.

The Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims were a group of English Protestants who fled England in 1620 and sailed to the New World on the Mayflower. They were seeking religious freedom…

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judy orr listed as 5-star real estate agent in chicago magazineI have been published more than the average Scottsdale REALTOR®. A story about one of my domain names was syndicated by The Wall Street Journal online and was all over the Internet. Because of that article, I was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, The Southtown-Star (who even sent a photographer), and participated on a radio show.

I have been interviewed for quite a few real estate-related articles in the Southtown-Star. I'm not the only one in the family that has been published. My husband Jimmy Herter appeared in a full-page article in The Homer Horizon and my daughter's cat Keeper just appeared as Pet of the Week in the same publication.

I had been contacted by Chicago Magazine but I really didn't understand it. In fact, I truly thought they…

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lion at Out of Africa zoo

I wrote this post on a Wordpress site many years ago and can only find one of the original photos, so this is an updated picture I took from one of my many visits to their newest location.

Before moving to Arizona, my son and I took a trip to visit my Mom in Mesa. One of our most memorable daytrips was to visit Out of Africa which was located in Fountain Hills, before its move to Camp Verde. At the time they were much closer to my Mom’s house in Mesa, AZ.

We’re animal lovers

My son Chad and I are true animal lovers. My Mom had mentioned Out of Africa Wildlife Park so without knowing what it was all about, Chad and I decided to make a day trip. It was 110 degrees that day and although the sweat was dripping down my back, I turned to Chad and…

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The process of becoming a homeowner is an exciting and often daunting one. The current economic climate has heightened the anticipation since, while it’s a scottsdale home soldwonderful time to buy a home. In fact, the government recently provided a tax credit to buyers (which is still available if you are a deployed service member). While the market is favorable and sellers are extremely motivated, many banks are tightening their lending requirements and loans can often seem hard to come by. Although USDA and VA loans may not be the first loans most potential home buyers normally consider when looking at home financing options, each can be a wonderful choice for a wide variety of lifestyles, budgets, and properties.

VA loans, which are backed by the US Department of…

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scottsdale homes for rent leaseWith money tight right now, as a landlord, you may be tempted to accept a late rent without charging a penalty to the tenant. After all, you are getting your rent money, and doing someone a favor, right? Actually, you may be starting a trend that could end in frustration, anger, and a long expensive legal battle. Here’s how to avoid all of that.

First, before the tenant signs on the dotted line, make it abundantly clear that you will not tolerate late rent payments, and that late rent is a very serious matter that will result in a certain financial penalty. Think of your 4th-grade teacher that seemed too strict during the first week, but you learned to love later. That teacher was setting the bar, laying down the rules, and putting fear in your heart –…

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watching scottsdale real estate on tvI caught a great "Buy Me" show on HGTV today that was shot in Chicago.  It was very interesting because one of the owners was a long-time veteran real estate agent that had her REALTOR® son list the home.

It was a very unique, custom-styled 3-story and although the homeowners seemed to acknowledge that they were looking for that special (needle-in-a-haystack) buyer, they were not cooperating with their son about staging the home and pricing it correctly.  And it kind of bothered me that as a real estate agent, the wife was one of the most difficult to convince.

She had a difficult time de-cluttering and kept items that her son tried to get her to store away.  And she wanted to try a very high price even after her son showed her comparables and tried…

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scottsdale home sellers

2016 Update: This was written in 2009 but most of it is true today.  Our market is better in 2016 than it was in 2009, so that's not as relevant, but the truth is, homes that aren't priced correctly for their condition can still sit on the market for a long time. Some of the items below can also thwart a sale.

I showed Scottsdale homes for sale over the weekend and also showed homes in Cave Creek. The first home was vacant new construction and the agent was holding an open house. She stayed out of our way and allowed me to show the home to my buyers, who know me and know I'm looking out for their best interests. One of these places was a nice home on a busy street.

The 2nd home showing was a whole different story. I was told the seller would be…

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