2013 Best of Scottsdale Award – Luxury Valley Homes Winfield Estates

[caption id="attachment_5348" align="alignright" width="271"] Scottsdale Real Estate Award[/caption]

Press Release - SCOTTSDALE September 5, 2013 – Luxury Valley Homes - Winfield Estates associates of West USA Realty has been selected for the 2013 Best of Scottsdale Award in the Real Estate category by the Scottsdale Award Program.

Each year, the Scottsdale Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Scottsdale area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 Scottsdale Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Scottsdale Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Scottsdale Award Program

The Scottsdale Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Scottsdale area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Scottsdale Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Scottsdale Award Program

About Jeff Daley

Jeff Daley, a REALTOR® and owner of Luxury Valley Homes representing buyers and sellers in the Valley of the Sun and associated with West USA Realty Scottsdale is a member of the international Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and has taken specialized training in the selling and marketing of upper-tier homes. He holds an MBA from George Washington University and a PhD, rose through the ranks to senior management within Lucent Technologies before taking early retirement in 1999 and starting his second career in real estate.  Jeff has won numerous awards in real estate, is a Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist, a member of the Millionaire Guild, is published in national publications, and is an instructor for real estate.  Daley is a decorated combat veteran serving two tours in Vietnam. He and his wife and managing partner, Jane E Daley, have their business in Scottsdale, Arizona where they specialize in real estate in Scottsdale AZ.  

Link to the Article: 2013 Best of Scottsdale Award - Luxury Valley Homes Winfield Estates at http://www.scottsdalerealestatearizona.com/?p=9502

2013 Best of Scottsdale Award – Luxury Valley Homes Winfield Estates

How To Package Your Home To Sell

 

[caption id="attachment_9235" align="alignright" width="230"] How To Package Your Home To Sell[/caption]

While it's true most buyers will personalize the homes they buy, they still look for a clean slate on which to plan their creative ideas. Most people don't have the time, imagination or money to cope with a run-down, untidy property. Don't know where to start on your home fix-up? Painting is an inexpensive way to freshen up your home's look and give it a "neutral palette" that buyers can create on. We would be happy to walk through your home with you, identifying areas that can be improved upon.

“Should You spend a lot of effort fixing-up your home because buyers want to put their own touches in the homes they buy?”

After a full day of house hunting, even the hardiest shopper has difficulty remembering each home visited. A selling display featuring your property's benefits is a great way to be sure your home stands out in the shopper's memory. We've used the following marketing strategies to successfully sell many homes. They could work for you too!

Creativity Counts

Your home's memory points can be mounted attractively on a poster or in a loose leaf binder or photo album and displayed on your dining table or near the front door.
Home shoppers appreciate a memory-jogging take-home flyer, summarizing the display information for later study. The flyer should always include the property address, price, brief description and agent's name and phone number.

Focus On Features

Each home will have its own outstanding features. When we talk about a marketing strategy for your home, we will consider what to include in your display and on the flyer. Here are some worthwhile ideas

Capital improvements

Include project description, year completed and your investment in the improvements.

Upgrades or replacements

List new appliances, paint, wallpaper, attic fan -- anything you've accomplished that buyers won't have to do after move-in. Mention special features and benefits. For example: "Easy-care kitchen range with self-cleaning oven, sealed burners, electronic ignition, digital controls; 1992."

Energy-saving features

Cite money-saving extra insulation, high-efficiency heating/cooling system, thermal double-pane windows, etc.

Average annual utility bills

Also mention affordable property taxes. Buyers want to know!

Floor plan

Show room arrangement and dimensions. New-home builders and renovators can often provide floor plans, or one can be drawn for your home.

House illustrated

Picture your home in your display and on the flyer. Architect's renderings may be available from the original builder.

Gardening highlights

Sketch the landscaping plan to show the work you've done. Identify trees and plants, especially if you have unusual ones. Provide photos of bushes and flowers in full bloom, if you're selling off-season.

Pre-listing home inspection report

Impress buyers with proof of your home's excellent condition. Show receipts for correcting any problems the inspector noted.

Neighborhood map

Highlight nearby schools, convenient transportation, shopping, parks, libraries, hospitals, and any other amenities or points of interest. Your kids can help color the map!

School data

Feature excellent schools. Mention honors and awards, good student-teacher ratios, sports and athletics, drama presentations, and special programs (i.e. for learning disabilities or English as a second language).

Neighborhood information

List neighborhood association dues (if any), annual community events, Neighborhood Watch programs, and the like. If yours is a friendly, quiet neighborhood, be sure buyers know it!

Community services

Include helpful information such as days for recyclable-material and bulk trash pick-ups, availability of swimming pools, children's summer day-camps, adult education, and so on.

Should you fix up your home before you sell?

In a word, Yes. Improving your curb appeal will get prospective buyers out of their car and up to your door. That foyer or entryway that has ooh’s and ahh’s associated with the visual experience will set the stage in viewing the rest of the home. A little paint and attention to staging your home doesn’t cost a lot and it will pay dividends on the sale of your home.

 

How To Package Your Home To Sell

Scottsdale Real Estate the Importance of REALTORS® in Selling Homes

[caption id="attachment_9135" align="alignright" width="270"] Luxury Valley Homes Team[/caption]

Moving to a new location and buying a home along with and selling your current Scottsdale real estate can feel like a daunting task. It takes planning, and yes, a lot of work to make it happen successfully to your satisfaction. 

On the day you make the decision to sell your Scottsdale real estate; it will be important to align yourself with a Luxury Real Estate firm that can deliver on their promises. We are the Luxury Valley Homes experts and we have been performing in the realm of excellence for our past clients since 1999, and hold an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. We’ll determine the Scottsdale real estate market value, and implement one of the most potent marketing plans in the real estate industry to get your Luxury Valley Home sold.

We pride ourselves on providing you with excellent customer service, and our team is ready to roll out the red carpet for your Scottsdale real estate requirements. When you make the decision to sell your luxury valley home, we ensure your home is marketed in a positive light, making sure those special features are evident for that prospective buyer. Some of the many services we offer our clients include: Professional Photography, Professional Staging Advice, marketing your home on more than 60 global real estate portal websites and more.

[caption id="attachment_9137" align="alignleft" width="300"] What's My Home Worth?[/caption]

Our team at Luxury Valley Homes takes our profession seriously. You only get one chance to make that first impression to buyers, if you don’t get their attention on the first pass they are off and running to the next Luxury Valley Home that on the market. Each member of our team has had a successful career in the corporate world before entering the business of real estate. It gives us a unique cross industry perspective when working with interested buyers. Our team is well educated and believes strongly in continuing their education within the real estate industry. Our client testimonial reflects our professionalism and skills to get the job done for our clients. When you want a strong set of skills and full time real estate professionals, give the Luxury Valley Homes team a chance to earn your business.

Call us when you’re ready to sell your home at 480-363-4916 or drop us an email.

Members of National Association of Realtors®

Scottsdale Real Estate the Importance of REALTORS® in Selling Homes

Scottsdale Real Estate - Sellers Market: It Doesn't Mean Any Price Will Fly with Buyers

Market Puts Home Seller in Control – When Using Good Tactics

[caption id="attachment_9130" align="alignright" width="300"] Scottsdale Real Estate[/caption]

Many homeowners looking to sell Scottsdale real estate, once again find themselves in the driver's seat. Buyers outnumber available homes for sale in Scottsdale, Arizona, meaning that more sellers are getting list price -- or above -- on their homes, selling quickly and sometimes encountering multiple bids. Don't think, however, that the bubble is back. Buyers are optimistically cautious -- as are mortgage lenders -- but prices are not going through the roof.

True: The days of local sellers competing for buyers with expensive incentives and serial price reductions, offering to pay closing costs, desperately throwing in extra sweeteners are days gone by in Scottsdale. Yet serious buyers are out looking for homes to purchase right now, not just tire kicking. Today's buyers know exactly what they can afford, arrange financing early on and comparison shop to spot value like a laser. As a result, buyers are acting fast, making offers quickly and offering attractive bids on suitable, move-in ready properties.

Home sellers still can't pull the wool over buyers' eyes today. Smart buyers are prepared -- and savvy -- about homes, our local Scottsdale real estate market and the economy. Not only is it a great time to be a buyer, it's also a great time to be a seller. Here's how to use a seller's market to your advantage.

[caption id="attachment_9135" align="alignright" width="150"] Luxury Valley Homes Team[/caption]

Price

When it's time to sell your home, avoid the temptation to set your price as high as possible. Keep in mind, your asking price is only a marketing tool. The true value of your home is a balance between what a buyer today will pay, what is acceptable to you -- with appropriate terms -- and the ultimate appraised value. Setting the optimum "balanced" price requires more than just looking at recent sales of nearby properties. Home values can change daily, according to local economic events, interest rate changes and real estate market activity. As real estate professionals, we can help you construct the best listing price for your home because we keep a close eye on today's market.

Fine Tuning

Next, we make price adjustments according to local market trends. How much have homes in the area appreciated over the last three to six months? Knowing this trend for properties like yours allows us to price ahead of the market. As home values rise, we may suggest that you price your home somewhat higher than the last few comparable sales to match the increased number of buyers in the market today. However, this approach is not appropriate in every situation.

[caption id="attachment_9131" align="alignleft" width="160"] Incentive for Buyers[/caption]

Incentives

Just because the market is improving doesn't mean you won't want to out-market other sellers with some incentives to get your home sold first. If you have something special to offer -- such as window coverings, an outdoor playground, garden equipment -- that you'd rather not move with, offer it in negotiations to trade for another point, such as price. We can work with you to help you determine what will get your home sold and what negotiation tools we'll need to employ. At the same time if you have something like a chandlier that you absolutely will not leave behind under any circumstantes, remove it before you market the home. Don’t let this become contentious during the negotiation process, you’ll wind up getting better results.

The Inside Scoop

In today's changing market, it's not possible for homeowners to track sales prices in an area with algorithm-driven public-data websites that use information 12 to 18 months or more after the fact. It's difficult for homeowners to get very recent sales information, to know exactly what amenities each sold home had and to learn what -- if any -- kinds of subsidies sellers provided in their contracts with buyers. That's why we make it our business to have the latest local information. We know in real time what area sellers are doing now to get their homes sold. Your asking price must take all these factors into account.better.

Give us a call for an informed, professional analysis of what your home can sell for in today's market.

Six Reasons Overpricing Does Not Pay For Today's Home Sellers

[caption id="attachment_9137" align="alignright" width="300"] What's My Home Worth?[/caption]

Even if you're in a seller's market, it doesn't mean any price will fly with buyers. Keep these tips in mind as you think about the price you set when listing your home for sale.

1. Most listing activity comes within the first 45 days a home is on the market. Overpricing means you'll likely miss that activity by discouraging qualified buyers who've seen similar homes for less.


2. A too-high price eliminates a whole class of buyers. Many buyers know just how high they can go and don't even look at homes priced above their price ceiling. A fair market price is the “best price”.


3. Overpricing helps sell other, more competitively priced homes first. Your home and listing price make them look better.


4. You waste time and suffer added weeks or months of stress as your overpriced home languishes on the market, preventing you from moving on to your next home.


5. Your home may eventually be seen as "stale inventory," suggesting structural or mechanical shortcomings (though none may exist), even after you've lowered your price. A further price reduction, below true market value, may be needed to sell your home.

If you do get an offer, the contract may fall through because the appraisal by your buyer's lender comes in too low. The buyer may not be able to borrow enough, or come up with enough cash, to proceed with closing.

Want to find out what your home is worth?

When you need help, we're as close as a phone call at 480-363-7944, or email.

Scottsdale Real Estate - Sellers Market: It Doesn't Mean Any Price Will Fly with Buyers

Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

[caption id="attachment_8975" align="alignright" width="300"] A Kitchen on a Budget[/caption]

It is possible to update your kitchen on a budget. Remodeling a kitchen can turn out to be one of the most expensive projects in a home, as the price of new cabinets, new appliances, new plumbing, new counters, and installation can all add up to a hefty price tag. Of course often a kitchen is what sells a home, and considering the kitchen is one of the most lived in rooms in a home this makes sense.

If you are considering selling your home and do not have a lot of money to pour into it to prepare it for sale, consider some low-cost improvements that will update your kitchen without breaking the bank.

The kitchen sink is a great place to start. Faucets are in and come in a wide variety of modern forms these days. A simple faucet replacement can make the area around your sink look new.

Cabinet knobs and drawer pulls offer another inexpensive kitchen upgrade. Every kitchen has them and changing the knobs and drawer pulls out can give a fresh look to your cabinets.

Examine the interior of your cabinets. Can you replace your current shelves with glide out shelving? Can the space inside your cabinets and cupboards be reconfigured without total replacement?

A lot of people feel that granite is the only way to go with counter tops. There are other options that are less expensive and equally attractive. Consider engineered surfaces if you counters must be replaced.

The more the bones of your kitchen remain the same the less expensive remodeling it will be. Updating kitchens and bathrooms is the most effective way to achieve a return on your investment.

The statistics for the 2011 – 2012 remodel cost vs. value model delineates cost-to-construction benchmarks for a set of common remodeling projects, then estimates how much of that investment will be recovered at resale in today’s market.

Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

Sell or Remodel Your Home

Sell or Remodel Scottsdale Real Estate

[caption id="attachment_7130" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Bathroom Remodel"][/caption]

Should sell or remodel your home be a fair question in today's market. Every year surveys confirm that homeowners get a better return on kitchen and bath remodeling than on any other home-improvement project. Although you may not get 100% of your investment back when you sell your home, kitchen and bath upgrades will help sell your home more quickly, and you'll get to enjoy the improvements until then.

It makes sense to splurge on luxuries you can afford if you plan to live in your home for a while. If you'll only be there a few years, however, maximize the return on your investment by choosing good-looking, less-expensive alternatives to high-priced finishes and appliances.

How To Get The Most For Your Money

Do the walls seem to be closing in on you? Are your cupboards and closets overflowing with stuff? Can you see more toys than flooring at your feet? If so, you need more space. And your choices are remodel your home, move to a larger one, or move to a home that you want to remodel.

How can you decide which approach is best for you? Start by considering your priorities. If you are basically happy with your current location, the relative cost of your options is likely to make the decision for you.

Wish List

[caption id="attachment_7131" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Wine Room Remodel"][/caption]

Take an inventory of your current house to determine whether remodeling will work for you. Look at each room. Do all of them need help? If so, remodeling may be too expensive and a move might be your only practical choice. If just one area of the house needs work that can be accomplished by bumping out a wall or adding on, then remodeling may be the correct move for you. Consider what you would have to do to the basic structure of your house to arrive at your dream home.

Cost

How much money can you afford to spend? Would you need a construction loan to remodel, or would you take money out of your home’s equity? If you must borrow money to remodel, will the cost of the loan, combined with your existing mortgage payment, be more than the monthly payments for a new home with the space and amenities you want? Moving may be easier and less expensive.

[caption id="attachment_7135" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Kitchen Remodel"][/caption]

Calculate how much it would cost you to replace your current home with one that meets your needs. What improvements could you make to your current home for the same investment? Will a new addition of, say, a master bedroom suite, be enough to satisfy your desire for a new look and more space? Or do you need more living space all over the house?

Is your desire for newer amenities the driving force for a new home? If you’re looking to modernize wiring and plumbing or increase hi-tech capabilities, it might be better to move into a house that already has these features.

Read more on this article at SELL OR REMODEL: How to Get the Most For Your Money

Sell or Remodel Your Home

Photography Is Crucial in Selling Your Home

[caption id="attachment_6890" align="alignright" width="400"] Exterior photo focuses on some architectural interest[/caption]

Photography is crucial in selling your home. Every shot should express a unique story about the home. It’s not good enough anymore just to take a photo of a room with your point and shoot camera or phone camera. The photos must depict exactly what it would feel like to live in each particular home. This is exactly what buyers need, and from a seller’s perspective that will have a direct impact on market stimulation and their bottom line. We found this especially important when working with Scottsdale real estate.

[caption id="attachment_6893" align="alignleft" width="300"] Maximize the visual effect and features of the kitchen[/caption]

The best results happen when looking at a scene and being able visualize what the finished product will look like is crucial. If you can't see what you are after in your mind's eye, it will be difficult to formulate an approach to get you there. Thankfully technology does a lot of the heavy lifting so a good Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, Wide Angle lens, Tripod and external flash will go a long way for creating a good result. If the upper tiers of photography are going to be attained, one must be prepared to spend a lot of time and money, as the investment in equipment in not cheap.

[caption id="attachment_6896" align="alignright" width="300"] Captures the view as you sit at your desk[/caption]

The composition is a main concern when shooting interiors, so in a manner of speaking where you (or your tripod) stand in the room is paramount. If you don’t get that right, you really have to work overtime to introduce enough redeeming qualities into the image to make up for a poor composition. All the rooms are important but the rooms that get the most attention in the home are the kitchen, master bedroom, master bath, and family rooms. It’s not unusual for us to shoot multiple angles of these spaces. So what determines my angle, it can be any number of things actually, every scene is different.

[caption id="attachment_6899" align="alignleft" width="300"] Captures light, bright, and warmth of Master Bath[/caption]

Generally speaking I start with the camera at about the eye level of a person sitting in the room, which is about 4ft. I usually go for a straight-on, one point perspective or shoot at a 90 degree angle toward a corner of the room. Wide Angle lenses often introduce a kind of distortion that stretches the corners of the frame. Composing around one of these two perspectives helps to minimize the impact of that. Ultimately, the angle is determined by what I feel is most aesthetically pleasing through the viewfinder of the camera after considering what I mentioned above.

Sometimes the room needs a bit of staging. We always encourage our clients to have their home cleaned and staged for the photo shoot. When using Wide Angle lenses it can see the scene differently than the human eye. I will often slide furniture to the side or remove large decor pieces that distract from the image. These things can look great in the room when physically standing there, but wide angle focal lengths produce a different result than what you see in person. I also like working with a Stager on the homes I shoot. Issues like de-cluttering, furniture arrangement and decor are usually handled by the stager. Of course if there is something that is obviously ruining an otherwise good shot I will take the time to remove or rearrange it.

[caption id="attachment_6901" align="alignright" width="300"] Example of bringing the outside indoors[/caption]

One of the biggest challenges with photographing interiors is the dynamic range, or the range form the darkest area of the scene to the brightest. This is especially true for scenes that have windows in them. With this in mind, you want to shoot the room at a time when the light outside is close to the light inside. This usually means dusk, or dawn, or an overcast day. My personal approach is to use multiple off camera lights, or strobes. This way I can bring up the interior luminosity to more closely match that of the exterior. More than once we have had to make an extra trip at a different time of day just to get the right lighting for the effect we’re looking for in that room.

We’re sometimes asked when is the best time of day to shoot the home. This really depends on the direction the home faces so there is no single answer, but as a general rule of thumb we try to find a time where the sun is at our back and shining on the front of the home. This usually means mid morning or late afternoon. If you have a north facing home to photograph, we suggest trying to do a twilight shot where you photograph the house immediately after sunset. This can give a very pleasing effect of the home glowing from within and you get a nice gradient in the sky from one side to another.

[caption id="attachment_6904" align="alignright" width="575"] The photo screams an invitation to sit, enjoy the company of family and friends[/caption]

Whether you are buying or selling Scottsdale real estate, the Luxury Valley Homes team is here to assist you. Email or call us at 480-595-6412 and we will be happy to help you find a house you can call home.

The photos used in this article were taken by Iran Watson who is a professional photographer, member REPAI, the April 2012 Real Estate Photographer of the Month, and the 2012 PFRE Real Estate Photographer of the Year Award he’s also a highly accredited Real Estate Agent in Atlanta. Iran's Atlanta Real Estate Photography site. We attempt to emulate the best of the best and in our opinion Iran is a good photography role model.

Photography Is Crucial in Selling Your Home

Winfield Estates | Winfield Real Estate in Scottsdale Arizona 85266

Winfield Living

[caption id="attachment_6174" align="alignright" width="300"] Winfield Estates Community Pool[/caption]

Winfield is a guard gated resort residential community in North Scottsdale, with Carefree and Cave Creek just a short distance to the north. The Boulder resort is just north of Winfield and Terravita is on the west side of Scottsdale Road.

The community is anchored by the Winfield CommunityClub House that offers dining, a magnificent fitness center, luxury locker rooms, Olympic size beach entry pool with lap lanes, eight Tennis courts and so much more. Winfield less than a mile from the Summit, Terravita, and Boulders shopping and 15 minutes away is the regional shopping center of Desert Ridge.

[caption id="attachment_6177" align="alignleft" width="300"] Winfield Estates Community Tennis Courts[/caption]

Homes in Winfield or Montesano

If you are interested in homes for sale in Winfield or Montesano you will find a number of options, despite our currently low inventory.

There are actually 4 variations of homes in Winfield that make up this area. The area was designed to maximize the natural area open space (NAOS) and developed with the Townhome, Patio home, Semi-Custom home and in the Montesano area is reserved for the Custom home. Winfield and Montesano have a total of 511 one story homes to maximize privacy, many have mountain views or back to the NAOS.

Homes range in size from 1,424 SF up to ~ 5,280 SF on beautifully-landscaped lots of varying sizes from offer 2 or 5 bedrooms and up to 4.5 baths. Many homes are located on cul-de-sacs adding to the feeling of privacy and community. You can find more information on the home designs by going to Winfield Model floor plans.

Nearby Winfield

[caption id="attachment_6196" align="alignright" width="300"] Winfield Estates Clubhouse Lobby[/caption]

If like gold you’ll have lots to choose from. Within five miles there is seven golf courses. An example of those are Terravita, Boulders, Rancho Manana, and Legend Trails, to name a few.

Medical resources in right on the corner and of course Scottsdale Medical Center and the Mayo Hospital are less than 20 minutes away. Not far away is two major lakes, Pleasant and Bartlett. Lake Bartlett is adjacent to Tonto National Forest Park. In short it’s a convienent location to everything while being located in a beautiful quiet neighborhood.

Searching for a Winfield or Montesano Home for Sale?

You can use our Arizona Multiple Listings Service (with all the homes listed in the Maricopa County MLS) to search for all Winfield real estate homes for sale.

If you need a customized list based on YOUR particular criteria including budget, just let us know and we will make it happen.

Article: Winfield Estates | Winfield Real Estate in Scottsdale Arizona 85266 is brought to you by Luxury Valley Homes team in Scottsdale Arizona

Winfield Estates | Winfield Real Estate in Scottsdale Arizona 85266

Nationally Sales of New Homes Increase to Match Two-Year High

[caption id="attachment_4864" align="alignright" width="300"] New Home Building on the Rise[/caption]

The operative word here is, national sales of new homes rose more than projected in July to match a two-year high. An important fact to remember is that real estate is geographical in nature and while the west may have stunning increases, elsewhere in the U.S. may not be as stellar.

THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Sales climbed 3.6 percent to a 372,000 annual pace, following a 359,000 rate in June that was higher than previously estimated, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Last month’s rate was the same as in May, which was the strongest since April 2010. The median forecast of 72 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a rise to 365,000.

Buyers are returning to the market to take advantage of cheaper properties and record-low mortgage rates, helping to boost orders at new home builders. Competition exists from foreclosures, unemployment exceeding 8 percent, and limited credit pose hurdles to a more pronounced rebound.

Some prognosticators believe the demand could continue to climb right on into 2013.

• Sales of new houses were up 25 percent from a year ago – Source: Commerce Department


• The median price for a new house decreased 2.5 percent in July from the same month last year, to $224,200.


• The value of all U.S. homes climbed 1.8 percent in the second quarter from the previous three months, the biggest gain since late 2005. Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency

Sales of new homes, tabulated when contracts are signed, are considered a timelier barometer than purchases of previously owned dwellings, which are calculated when a contract closes. Newly constructed houses accounted for 6.7 percent of the residential market in 2011, down from a high of 15 percent during the boom of the past decade.

The NAR figures also showed distressed sales, comprised of foreclosures and short sales, in which the lender agrees to a transaction for less than the balance of the mortgage, accounted for 24 percent of existing-home purchases. The share was less than the prior month and down from 29 percent in July 2011. Of those, 12 percent were foreclosed houses and 12 percent were short sales.

You can review the local August 2012 financials for the Scottsdale real estate area at Maricopa County Real Estate Market Watch.

Nationally Sales of New Homes Increase to Match Two-Year High

April Price Rise Makes for Another Increase

April’s Price Rise Makes for Another Increase in Home Values

Nationally, housing prices have bottomed and are on the rise. Asking prices on for-sale homes were 1.9% higher in April than one quarter ago. A 0.5% month-over-month rise in April, on top of month-over-month price increases in March and February, makes for three months in a row of rising asking prices, after adjusting for typical seasonal trends. In fact, prices have been stable or rising for the past eight months, except for a dip in December 2011. This marks a new milestone: asking prices were 0.2% higher in April than a year ago. Before April, prices were still falling year-over-year.



Not only are rising prices starting to look like a real trend: they’re also coming to a market near you — if they haven’t already. Asking prices increased year-over-year in 44 out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, with Miami and Phoenix leading the charge.

Why these markets? One factor is job growth, which boosts housing demand. Miami, Phoenix, Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills (suburban Detroit) and Denver all saw strong employment gains in the past year. Another factor is the big price declines after the bubble, which attracted house hunters and investors searching for bargains to those markets. Most of the metros with the largest price increases in the last year had huge price declines during the bust, including Phoenix, Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills and the four Florida metros in the top ten. But among the metros with the largest price declines over the past year, only three–Sacramento, Las Vegas and Fresno–had huge overall price drops after the bubble burst.



 



Note: Rankings based on the year-over-year changes in asking price among the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas.

Seattleites, take heart: in the most recent quarter, most of the metros with year-over-over price declines have turned around. Prices rose quarter over quarter in 92 of the 100 largest metros, including in Seattle, Las Vegas and Atlanta.

April Price Rise Makes for Another Increase

Short Sales Takes a Fast Track

Bank of America Improves Short Sale Procedures

Bank of America is making changes to its short sale procedures and introducing an improved task flow within the short sale technology module from an private online system called Equator. The goal: to reduce the timeframe for a short sale decision to less than three weeks.

Starting Saturday, April 14, real estate professionals working with BofA will be required to submit five documents for short sales initiated with an offer:

• Purchase Contract including Buyer’s Acknowledgment and Disclosure


• HUD-1


• IRS Form 4506-T


• Bank of America Short Sale Addendum, which includes the Agent Certification form


• Bank of America Third-Party Authorization Form

The acknowledgement and disclosure form, short sale addendum, and the form for third-party authorization are available through the company’s online Agent Resource Center.

The third-party authorization form is a new standardized document developed specifically for BofA. Previously, the lender accepted third-party authorization forms in differing formats and from a variety of sources when transacting a short sale.

Bank of America says it recognized a need for greater compliance and consistency with this important document and has now created its own form to standardize the third-party authorization process. The two-page document requires signed acknowledgments from all borrowers and designated representatives in a short sale. Beginning April 14, BofA will accept only the official Bank of America Third-Party Authorization Form for short sales.

The bank’s new short sale process will enable real estate agents, brokers, attorneys, and other short sale specialists involved in pre-foreclosure transactions to complete tasks such as document collection, valuations, and underwriting simultaneously. With these steps running concurrently, the timeline from initiation to closing is reduced. In fact, Bank of America says it will now be able to provide a decision on a short sale offer in 20 days. Typically, BofA’s short sale process has taken anywhere from 45 days upwards.

In continuing to streamline the decision process, should the buyer walk away from the sale, Bank of America is giving agents five days to submit a backup offer. Previously, the backup offer window was 14 days. Interested buyers are limited to two counteroffers and will receive a response from the lender within three days. BofA notes that all email messaging between designated selling agents and their Bank of America short sale specialist will continue to occur within the Equator system. Agents will receive a standard notice via email to log into the system and retrieve their messages.

Bank of America’s short sale and REO executive Bob Hora says the company expects short sales to continue to increase and is taking steps to ensure it is providing decisions quickly and real estate agents are alerted of status as soon as possible.

If your underwater of experiencing the pressure of a possible foreclosure, give our team a call for help. Want to know more before you call> Visit  Short Sale Help at http://www.shortsalehelpscottsdalemetroarea.com

Short Sales Takes a Fast Track

Most Luxurious Homes among the Luxury Homes

Most Luxurious Homes Amoung the Luxury Homes

[caption id="attachment_613" align="alignright" width="375"] Scottsdale Estate For Sale[/caption]

Forbes hailed this 27,125 square foot home as the most expensive home in Arizona, which sold for a whopping $35 million. The property has five bedrooms, two one-bedroom apartments and seven bathrooms. It comes with a 24k gold sink, Italian limestone, indoor tennis court, an indoor swimming pool, and the usual patios, skylights, wet bar, four fireplaces, and the list just goes on. This beautiful home also has an air-filtering system that cleans the outside air that comes in. The house was built for those who are prone to allergies. Located in Northern Scottsdale, the property lies within some of the most exclusive real estate in Arizona and offers spectacular views of Pinnacle Peak. This estate may come with a hefty price but it has plenty of space to go around with the rich luxurious features.

A dream for all but a reality only for some. A large-scale million dollar estate, obviously, doesn't come cheap and it usually is not within the average American's budget. Of course, there are a few who are greatly endowed that it would seem that their dream home is only a rub away from the magical lamp.

Scottsdale Estates is known for its beautiful luxury homes. With Carefree Estates, beauty and affordability come in single packages. There are prices are for anyone and everyone's budget – tight or loose.

They say, luxury comes with a price, but with the Luxury Valley Homes Team, you'll be sure to find a great variety of homes that fit your lifestyle.

Most Luxurious Homes among the Luxury Homes

Desert Mountain Real Estate | Desert Mountain Estates AZ

Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona is a multi-gated community with guarded gates that assures impeccable security for its members. This 8,000-acre luxury community is located in far North Scottsdale on the border of Carefree and the Tonto National Forest and nestled at the base of Apache Peak. With elevation ranging from 2,400 to 4,500 feet above sea level, Desert Mountain enjoys clean crisp air and immaculate lands.

Desert Mountain real estate features a brilliant mixture of homes, from the attached cottage to the ultimate in custom homes.

[caption id="attachment_1124" align="alignright" width="330"] Desert Mountain Luxury Estate[/caption]

Desert Mountain is one of the world's premier private, residential communities in luxury real estate with outstanding recreational amenities. The community of Desert Mountain is dubbed as one of the "World's Best Golf Communities" in 2000 by the Robb Report. For 20 years and counting, Desert Mountain has garnered more than 80 awards of excellence in the field of golf, commercial and residential design.

Desert Mountain offers 6 Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and Clubhouses, world-class, swim and fitness centers, award-winning golf-pro shops, the Sonoran Fitness Center & Spa, tennis facilities that includes hard compression, grass & clay courts, plus fine dining facilities and more. They offer 2375 Equity Golf Memberships, which translates to less than 396 such memberships per course across all six courses. The Equity Golf Membership to the Desert Mountain Club is currently $140,000. Many of the homes sold in this community will include this membership with the sale of the home.

Desert Mountain members have the most extensive golf practice facilities in Arizona. There are multiple pitching, chipping, putting and bunker areas, and four separate practice ranges with target greens. Desert Mountain's PGA-trained professionals are available to help members at any skill level.

Its Member Services presents the finest concierge services that equals to five-star hotels worldwide. This award-winning community clearly defines casual southwestern luxury living.

The children have not been forgotten as Desert Mountain is family-friendly, with a full calendar of children’s activities. If you like to hike there is over 9 miles of hiking trails within the community.

For inquiries on Desert Mountain real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, just Email or call us at 480-595-6412.

To view current listings go to Desert Mountain real estate listing

Desert Mountain Real Estate Scottsdale Arizona

Finding the Right Homes for Sale in Scottsdale

Finding the Right Homes for Sale in Scottsdale

When you are out looking for homes for sale in Scottsdale AZ, it might be a challenge if you’re new to the real estate market. You can make it easier if you have a good idea of what the criteria is that you want in your home. 

[caption id="attachment_1111" align="alignright" width="380"] Scottsdale Az Current Listing[/caption]

When you consider buying a new home, keep in mind that interest rates and home prices tend to move in opposite directions. Some people mistakenly believe buying a home is a bad idea when prices are up or when interest rates are high. In fact, either of those situations can create good buying opportunities. However today’s economy could hardly provide a better climate for the purchase of a home. Market prices for homes are at an historical low and interest rates are the lowest they have been in decades. Prices have actually had upward movement over the past few months. The housing market is bouncing back.

DO'S AND DON'TS FOR HOME BUYERS
Buying a home is not as simple as buying a new sweater, or even a new car. There are a lot of things you should know. Here are a few basics:

Do
• Ask a qualified REALTOR® to be your buyer's agent. The seller pays their fee but their fiduciary responsibility is to their client buyer by agreement.
• Project your future needs, as children multiply, or get older and move out.
• Review last year's tax and utility bills.
• Consider privacy for you and your spouse.
• Walk the property boundaries.
• Review the homeowner disclosure documents thoroughly.
• Purchase a home warranty for unforeseen breakdowns the first year.
• Keep meticulous records of home repairs once you move in for capital basis calculation once you sell.

• Get pre-qualified for a loan before you head out to find that house that meets your needs. This is a critical step to the home buying process.

Don't
• Accept as absolute truth statements by the seller. Document everything.
• Make verbal agreements.
• Look for a home without financing pre-approval.
• Make your moving schedule too tight.
• Buy the biggest home in a neighborhood -- it's usually the hardest to sell.
• Purchase without a quality home inspection.

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="alignleft" width="350"] Finding the Right Homes for Sale Scottsdale Az[/caption]

When shopping for homes for sale Scottsdale AZ and you’re working be sure and ask yourself what your commute tolerance is and tell your real estate agent. If it’s 20 minutes your real estate agent needs to know so they can make that part of the search algorithm. Are schools important, easy access to shopping, medical, and recreation are all important factors to consider.

Consider the home itself as an important part of your criteria. When looking for homes for sale Scottsdale AZ, or anywhere else, consider the absolute “must haves” that have to be part of the home, that is, number of bedrooms, baths, fireplace, garage, etc.; consider the “should haves” that is it should have a center island kitchen but if it doesn’t and everything else is good so it’s not a deal breaker; “nice to haves” that is if the house comes with something you like but it’s not on your must or should have list, it’s nice to have but you it probably does not deserve a monetary value when negotiating the sale price.

Most importantly when you're looking for homes for sale Scottsdale AZ, lean on your REALTOR®, they can turn your home quest from something daunting to an experience worth having.

For more information or questions call or email us. You can also visit http://www.scottsdalerealestatearizona.com our website for Scottsdale real estate.

Homes For Sale Scottsdale Az