Best U.S. Cities for Public Transportation According to Walk Score

I've been reading and posting a lot of lists lately.   Most national lists only name big metropolitan cities.  One negative of living in the Greater Phoenix area is the lack of public transportation, specifically trains. My husband and I grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and are used to having multiple train stations to get to downtown Chicago's Loop.

I used to work downtown Chicago and took the train 5 days a week. I'd have to drive to the station, park, and then wait for the train. It wasn't too fun in bad Chicago weather, with our terrible snow blizzards, black ice, and hot and humid summers. But I would rather have the train than have to drive every day in rush hour traffic.

The Top Five Cities for Public Transportation Are...

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Banks That Reject the Most Mortgages

When I saw the heading of the article I found online I couldn't wait to click on it. I get so many buyers that have been pre-qualified by their personal bank. A few buyers received a financial benefit from using their banks, like a lower interest rate or closing cost help. But most do not. In fact, many buyers go to one of the big banks because they don't realize there are other financial options.

Even if I give them my list of fantastic mortgage brokers, they've already spoken to someone at the big bank and for some reason feel like they need to continue with that lender. One of my most recent closings was a buyer that regretted making that choice, which happened to be Wells Fargo. With that said, here is a list of the banks that reject the most…

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Windy City Nights Video

Every once in a while I'll find something fascinating enough to share, and I'm pretty picky about what I put on my blog. Although this blog is about Scottsdale real estate, I grew up and lived most of my life in the southwest Chicago suburbs. My first real job was downtown Chicago and I had to take the Rock Island train to get there.

Once I finally visited my parents many years after they retired to Mesa, Arizona, I fell in love with this beautiful state. I especially loved Scottsdale and my dream was to leave Illinois and move to Scottsdale full-time. And here I am!

I have friends that moved out of Illinois and one of them seems to really miss Illinois, especially the Chicago downtown area. I met her in 7th grade and we grew up in the same…

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Is a Resale Scottsdale Home or New Construction Better for You?

Should You Buy New or Resale Scottsdale Real Estate?

Maybe your dream home in Scottsdale has Saltillo tile, a front porch with a beautiful water fountain, a tall palm tree in the back yard and an older saguaro in front, with an inground pool. You might need to look at existing homes vs. new ones because these few items can be very expensive additions to today’s new construction.

You might be surprised to learn that not everyone has a pool in the Valley. Most don’t want the upkeep, but personally, I couldn’t imagine not having one. That’s where I do my exercising.

Tall palm trees and saguaros aren’t going to be part of the landscaping you’ll get with new construction. Of course, you could spend the money to get established, grown plants, but…

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Debunking 20/20 Investigation Into Real Estate Tricks of the Trade

I was laughing out loud at an article I read about an ABC News 20/20 interview with some real estate agents and their claim of "blowing the whistle on shady real estate tricks." I'm not saying this stuff is never done and there are bad apples in real estate like any other business.

Here is my personal response to some of the so-called tricks based on interviews with 2 reality TV real estate agents, Ryan Serhant, the star of a Bravo reality show and Sandra Rinomato, the former host of Property Virgins on HGTV:

Bait and Switch

Serhant, an agent in New York City (which I've heard does not utilize an MLS like we do in Arizona and most other areas in the United States), states that agents keep listings up long after they've been sold.

My…

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Is Scottsdale Real Estate as Hot as D.C.?

The video below is a funny rap video put on by REALTOR® Brian Block, who works in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. It has always seemed like the D.C. market was hot compared to other areas, even when it was cooling off during the recession. According to Brian, in his area 'houses gettin' sold!"

I network online with a lot of other real estate agents nationwide on different real estate groups. Someone in the group introduced this video that I think is hilarious. 

How Does Scottsdale Real Estate Compare?

In the lower price ranges, Scottsdale real estate is pretty hot. For instance, a search for Scottsdale homes for sale priced under $200,000 brings up two listings, both Contingent (this means there is an accepted offer waiting for…

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Real Estate is Back! - Infographic

Prices and sales have dropped substantially since the real estate bust. Some areas like much of Florida, Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ were hit hard, with more than 50% decreases in home values.  The amount of annual sales has also decreased.

California showed decreases and popped back the quickest. Many areas in the state are back to a seller's market with decreased inventory and buyers wanting to still get a good price at low interest rates.

Low inventory across the nation is causing multiple offers on well-priced properties. Even in the Greater Phoenix area, we're seeing multiple offers in lower price ranges, and the best-priced homes in most any price range can sell quickly. Below is an infographic created by Active Rain (an online…

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Would You Buy a Scottsdale Home for a Valentine's Day Gift?

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.

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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Free Download - Holiday Entertaining Guide

We 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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The History of Thanksgiving: From the Pilgrims Through Today

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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