Scottsdale Real Estate Blog - Home Buying

Signs You're Ready to Buy Your First Home

Ever had a friend who was the life of the party? You know the type, fun, loud, felt like when it came to the game of life, he had won the charisma jack-pot? Back in my old college days, that used to be Party Pete. If there were fun to be had, he would be leading the charge. A few years after graduation, he decided to start his own business. Vows were given, and promises were made that nothing would really change...I haven't seen him in years. How do the past adventures of good old Pete equate to homeownership, I hear you cry? Let's take a small philosophical leap together. At the heart of it, life is about progress and change. What more significant step can one take than to buy a new home? But how do you know when is the right time? We have provided a…

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Buying a House in Arizona Remotely—a Step-by-Step Guide

House shopping can be a wonderful experience, especially if you are not in a rush and can have some fun browsing and visiting all your potential dream homes. However, for those moving between states who cannot physically be present for viewings, it can be somewhat challenging and stressful. If you are buying a house in Arizona remotely, you will need some guidance and help from experts in the field.

Where to begin?

You have taken the first step and chosen Arizona as your destination—good for you. If you have already decided on a specific city or area, one of the most complex parts is over. Whether your relocation is a joyous occasion or a necessity, it is bound to cause anxiety. Like with any big undertaking, it is a good idea to start planning…

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Do I Really Need to Work with a Scottsdale Real Estate Agent to Buy or Sell a Home?

I've been a licensed REALTOR since 1983 and I've been in Buyer's Markets, Seller's Markets, and everything in between. 2021 is the wildest Seller's Market I've ever witnessed. I don't remember seeing such low inventory, and it seems to be nationwide, not just in the Scottsdale real estate market. Homes are selling in a day without much, if any, marketing from their agent.

Buyers Definitely Need an Agent

Since most Scottsdale homes for sale are listed in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), the only other choice for a buyer would be to purchase a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). If you're considering that then you might want to hire a real estate attorney to have some kind of protection. Arizona contracts are lengthy with a lot of paperwork. Would you…

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Get Your Real Estate Purchase Offer Accepted by Using Knock

Are You Tired of Losing Out on Real Estate Offers?

Are you making offers on homes you love but you have to sell or close on your current home first?  This is happening to most buyers all over the nation, and the real estate market in Scottsdale, Cave Creek, North Phoenix, Carefree, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley are just as crazy, if not more so.

When we recently sold two of our personal homes, we received 18 offers in 1 1/2 days on one and around 8 in 1 day on the other.  That means with the 18 offers there were at least 17 buyers that did not get the home they wanted.  I know it's even more than that because several agents said their buyers loved our home but they didn't want to be involved in a bidding war.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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The New Normal: A Strong Housing Market Expected to Continue into 2021

2020 has given us a gut punch like no other that most of us have ever experienced. The housing bubble bursting was bad for real estate, but I was able to survive it like I've survived several recessions in my long history as a licensed real estate agent. The strong really do survive!

I received a phone call this past Spring when Covid was getting widespread publicity and government mandates were starting. It was a woman wanting to see a house for sale that was either my listing or something that showed up on my website.

She questioned the price and stated that because of the pandemic and a pending recession, home prices will be going down. I tried to explain to her that the only time (in our lifetime) that prices went down was during the Great…

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Avoiding Damages on Moving Day: This Is What You Need To Know

Everyone is nervous about something bad happening on moving day. The majority of the mishaps one might hear and read about are, fortunately, very preventable. Supplies and know-how make the packing process a breeze, and turn moving day from a stressful trial to little more than a usual chore. Adding a few extra items to a pre-move checklist and learning a few tricks of the trade helps anyone prevent damages during their move, no matter how far their items will travel.

Avoiding Damage to Your Items

The packing process for fragile items is mainly uniform. First, the items should be coated with some sort of protection. We recommend wrapping items in bubble wrap or packing paper. The added layer of protection helps absorb any shocks caused in motion…

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Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Your Dream Scottsdale Home

It is easy to become overwhelmed when you enter the Scottsdale home buying market. Friends, family, colleagues, and even acquaintances will give you their opinions if you are a first-time homebuyer. While most of them are looking out for your best interest, they are not fully aware of what is happening in the current housing market, since most of them have probably not bought a home in many years.

It is important for you to be prepared and have your own questions ready. No matter what other opinions you are getting, you are the one buying the home and your comfort level will help make your final decision. Here are three important questions to ask before you purchase a home.

1. Why am I Buying a Scottsdale Home?

Regardless of the finances, it…

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