Home prices are rising slowly and interest rates have remained incredibly buyer-friendly so far in 2016, yet there is still some hesitation in the market. A bit of mortgage credit reform is long overdue. I’m thinking that government over-regulation and a recent history of tight mortgage credit standards is scaring the affordable-price and entry level… Read More
Realty Excellence East Valley
Gilbert passes Chandler as average home prices inch upward
After remaining fairly stable for several weeks in a row, home prices in Chandler, Arizona saw a slight increase. Not surprising as this is the beginning of our busy season. See the complete Chandler Real Estate Market Update Report for the week ending March 21, 2016. Until this past week, the average home price in… Read More
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
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
Video: Designer Tips to Make Your Home Look Expensive
Many of the more upscale homes on the market today are minimalist – no frills, sleet surfaces, soft natural pallets with pops of color, and nearly bare walls. If you’re looking to stage your home for sale, keep these things in mind as well as the tips in this video. ~Bill == == == Shopping… 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
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
20 Ways to Spring Clean the Natural Way
(Family Features)—Spring cleaning on the agenda? Don’t break out the bleach—reach for vinegar, a non-toxic cleaning solution, instead. It’s less expensive than commercial products, and has much more use value. “Cleaning with vinegar has always been an effective way to banish dirt and grime in kitchens, bathrooms, the garage and the outdoors,” says Mike Smith,… Read More
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
Video: Visual Design Tricks for a Brighter Home
Hanging curtains at ceiling height, hardwood flooring with lines leading away from the door, furniture that doubles as storage, all of these things can contribute to making living areas look more spacious. As explained in the video below, natural and bright lighting also helps. I always tell my Home Seller clients that one of the… Read More