house with dollar sign inside and crossed arrows around percent sign - Home Prices down Interest Rates up - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - Arizona Elite Properties 602-999-0952

Fixed Mortgage Rates Remain Stable… but for how long?

Fixed mortgage rates remained steady, aiding homebuyer affordability amid a tight supply of for-sale homes in many markets, according to the recently released Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). Survey results show the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.62 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week, down slightly from last week when it averaged… Read More

Being Prepared, for Home Buyers - Bill Salvatore, Realty Executives East Valley - 602-999-0952

Video: Home Buying and Maintenance Advice

I totally agree with the tips in this video. In fact I would take the first bit of advice one step further. ‘Scope out the neighborhood’ is something I tell all of my buyers but my opinion is that you should WALK the neighborhood, at least twice, once in the evening and once during the… Read More

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Surprise! Tell-Tale Signs That Your Home May be Less Energy Efficient than You Think

Believe it or not, keeping a home warm in Arizona can be almost as much of an issue as keeping it cool. Air Conditioning has gotten so efficient that our scorching summers are not nearly as much of a challenge for A/C units as they used to be. But in spite of the mild winter… Read More

girl with flag - THANK YOU - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - Arizona Elite Properties

Thank You Thursday honors Operation Welcome Home… and Katie

Our next door neighbor Katie was about 5 when we moved in and we watched her grow into a remarkable young lady. Katie’s family has always had good reason to be proud of her, but this week the entire city of Gilbert can be proud as well. Katie has been working with Operation Welcome Home… Read More

Flipped, remodeled, upgraded, repair, house - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valey - 602-999-0952

2016 is the Year of the Remodel

Through the economic downturn, appraisers were not considering the worth of many remodeling projects. Updated roofs, structural components and systems still carried weight but improvements in kitchens, bath, flooring and the like were largely ignored. Lately it’s been noticeable that most upgrades including cosmetics, are again being factored in, as was the case before the… Read More

two people riding bikes at sunset in front of a home - Vacation Home, Second Home, Recreation, Active Adult - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - Arizona Elite Properties

Video: Vacation Home Investments

Arizona is a highly desirable vacation spot and second homes are popular here. Of course the weather is the primary factor but golf, baseball spring training, State and National parks, outdoor recreation, Active Adult communities and luxury resorts all play a major roll.  Check out the video below for some great thoughts on buying a… Read More

Mortgage rates, mortgage regulation, money, house - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - 602-999-0952

5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Financial Position in 2016

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home in 2016, there may be no better time than right now. Mortgage interest rates are incredibly low, and though our Real Estate Market has certainly recovered, it’s still not out of reach of the average home buyer or first-time buyers.  If home buying is not in the… Read More

Home Gone Green? You May Be Eligible for Tax Credits

Homeowners who have invested in energy-efficient upgrades, such as fuel cells, geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, solar panels and solar-powered water heaters, may be eligible for the first credit. Homeowners who have invested in energy-efficient improvements like insulated roofing, windows and doors may be eligible for the latter. Did you make your home more… Read More

Real Estate Market Statistics graphic, Arizona Real Estate Market Recovery - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - Arizona Elite Properties

East Valley Real Estate Market continues its upward trend.

Real Estate Market Update for Gilbert and Chandler AZ – week ending March 14, 2016 Gilbert AZ – Average price per square foot is $141 this week, up slightly from this same period last month. See the complete Gilbert Real Estate Market Report for week ending 3/14/16 here. Chandler AZ – Average Days-on-Market (90) has… Read More

Senior Neighborhood, Active Adult Community, Elderly Housing - Bill Salvatore, Realty Excellence East Valley - Arizona Elite Properties - 602-999-0952

Retiring Homeowners FAQ: What The Heck Is A HECM?

With the number of retiring homeowners projected to expand seemingly exponentially in the coming years, I went on a quest for more ideas on how to maximize your Real Estate investment to help underwrite retirement expenses. For your consideration: the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) – a Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) reverse mortgage program, which… Read More