July Home Tip...Swimming Pools

Phoenix Metro Ranks #3 in Forbes Magazine!

Best cities to buy a home

While the overall housing market isn't on the upswing, these metros show long-term potential. According to a recent Forbes article, the top 10 cities to buy a home are:
1. Denver
2. Boston
3. Phoenix
4. San Diego
5. Los Angeles
6. St. Louis, Mo
7. Tampa
8. Philadelphia

Finally national media is catching up with what My Arizona Home Team has been seeing for the last several months. Homes are moving, especially foreclosed homes and short sales! Most have multiple offers on them and are being bid up, especially in the first time buyer price range. This is good and not so good. It's good in the sense that this helps the overall market. It's not so good in that it makes it tough for the first time buyers to win on offers they make. But don't dispair, we have strategies to beat the system! Give us a call. We can help!

3 Steps to save Money on Your Utility Bills This Summer

We all have experience paying a lot of money for our utility biils during the summer. Here are three cures to help reduce your utility bills and possibly save you a great deal of money.

Vent Covers – In most homes, there are rooms that rarely get used. A very simple and very cheap way to cut your cooling costs is to isolate those rooms from the rest of your home. To do this, you should close the vents in the room. The vents, however, rarely close well. To make the strategy effective, you should buy vent covers and place them over the vents. The covers are a form of plastic and keep cool air from coming out of the vents. Next, close the door to the room in question and leave it. By using this strategy, you can effectively make your home smaller by excluding the square footage that has to be cooled. The smaller the area, the small the amount of money to cool the home.

Windows – Windows are the single biggest energy wasters in your home. Your windows must seal tightly. If they don’t, heat will escape out of them causing your cooler to work overtime. If you make sure your windows fit tightly into the frame when closed, you can significantly cut the utility bill. It sounds like a small thing, but it really ads up.

Programmable Thermostat – Cooling your home accounts for more then 60 percent of your utility bill in the summer. While a cool home is necessary for basic living in the summer, the home doesn’t need to be cold all of the time. If there are periods during the day where nobody is home because of work or school, a programmable thermostat can be used to slash your cooling costs. Simply program the thermostat to turn off during the relevant time and turn back on before anyone gets home. Cutting four to eight hours off of your cooling needs each day will add up quickly on your utility bill.

The World's Oldest Rodeo

JUNE 29TH - JULY 5TH

Since 1888 cowfolk and non-cowfolk alike have travelled for miles around to see what all the commotion in Prescott, Arizona was all about. Every year all of that commotion gets bigger, the contestants become more daring and bold. When the bulls, the horses, the clowns come to town...well, let's just say you'll want to see
what's kicking up all that dust.
For more info, visit: www.worldoldestrodeo.com

Greater Phoenix is GREAT!

The Phoenix area was not even among the 100 most populous cities in United States just less than 100 years ago. It has now been at the top of the list for fastest growing cities during the last decade. Phoenix has recently become the fifth biggest American City with a population of nearly 1.5 million in more than 515 square miles. Because of this, there is a very strong buyer demand for homes throughout the entire Phoenix metro area.
People are moving to the Greater Phoenix Area every day. And why not? Here are just some fun facts we found and may be a few reasons why people decide to make Arizona home.
• Greater Phoenix is located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, which is widely considered the most ecologically diverse desert in the world.
• Greater Phoenix is home to more than 200 golf courses.
• Phoenix is one of only 13 U.S. cities with franchises in all four major professional sports leagues.
• The FBR Open, played each February at the TPC Scottsdale, is the best-attended event on the PGA tour, averaging more than 500,000 spectators.
• Greater Phoenix’s major industries are (1) high-tech manufacturing, (2) tourism, and (3) construction.
• Phoenix is home to the largest municipal park in the world. South Mountain Park and Preserve covers more than 16,500 acres and has more than 50 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
• Arizona is home to 23 reservations representing 21 different Native American tribes.
• University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the site of Super Bowl XLII, is the only stadium in North America with both a retractable fabric roof and a roll-out grass field.
• A Saguaro Cactus will take between 50 and 100 years to grow an arm. The saguaro cactus flower is the official state flower of Arizona.

Bank Owned Home!

Bank owned...GREAT price....Location, Location, Location!

Investors Target Arizona's Foreclosured Homes

Investors are zeroing in on the distressed housing market in Arizona. According to the research firm MDA DataQuick, nearly 4 out of every 10 homes sold in the Phoenix area in April were snatched up by absentee buyers, which typically constitute investors or vacation property purchases. Based on the company's market data, that homebuyer segment is up 50 percent from late 2007, and is nearly equal to the investor ratio during the 2005 peak.
According to a Phoenix-based real estate investment firm, now is the perfect time to invest in residential real estate. The firm says that the return can range from double- to triple-digits, depending on risk tolerance.

-As discussed by Carrie Bay on 06.22.09

SUMMER TIME!

June 21st is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year!

Did you know...The word solstice is derived from Latin and means the “sun stands still.” It refers to how our star — the sun — for a few days, appears to rise and set at the same location and hover at the same spot at noontime during the solstice.

Watermelon is a favorite summertime snack. Per capita watermelon consumption in 2007 was 16.2 pounds. U.S. watermelon production in 2008 totaled 4.3 billion pounds.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month. More ice cream is sold in July than any other month. In fact, compared to other nationalities, Americans eat more ice cream, around 5.5 gallons per person each year.

Michelle Gardner

GREAT FORECLOSURE $44,900

Wow! Take a look at this amazing Bank Owned Property! 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, and 2 Car Garage close to everything! This home is situated at the foot of the Superstition Mountains inside a cozy little neighborhood in the Tempe School District. It is within minutes of shopping, golf, Mill Ave nightlife, Arizona State University, and the Sky Harbor Airport. What more could you ask for? New carpet and paint throughout makes this home a steal for any investor, part time Arizona resident, or first time home buyer.
Call Tara for more details. 602-690-3214

Economic Update

On Tuesday, June 9, the Commerce Department said wholesalers reduced their inventories by 1.4% in April following a 2.4% drop in March. Economists had forecast a 1.1% decrease in April. It was the eighth straight monthly decline. Sales at the wholesale level fell 0.4% in April after a 2.4% decline in March.

According to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, store sales rose 0.2% in the week ending June 6 compared to the previous week.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the trade deficit rose 2.2% to $29.2 billion in April, from a revised $28.5 billion in March. The deficit is running at an annual rate of $361.1 billion compared to $695.9 billion in 2008.

Retail sales rose 0.5% in May following a revised 0.2% decline in April. The gains were largely fueled by auto purchases and the rising cost of gasoline. The May report was the largest increase since retail sales rose 1.7% in January following six straight monthly declines.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 24,000 to 601,000 in the week ending June 6 from a revised figure of 625,000 in the previous week. The number of people continuing to claim jobless benefits in the week ending May 30 rose 59,000 to 6.82 million. Also, the previous estimate for the week ending May 23 was revised from a drop of 15,000 to an increase of 6,000.

The Commerce Department reported that total business inventory decreased 1.1% in April following a revised 1.3% drop in March. It was the eighth straight monthly decline as retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers sought to cut inventory. Sales fell 0.3% in April, pulling the stock-to-sales ratio down to 1.43.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on the housing market index on June 15, housing starts and industrial production on June 16, and consumer inflation on June 17.

Gas Tracker

I found this page on KPHO's website. It gives great information on what's going on with the gas prices and where you can find the cheapest gas in the Valley.

http://www.kpho.com/gas-tracker/index.html

I hope that some of you will find it useful!

STRIPPERS BEWARE!

A Surprise resident suspected of stripping his foreclosed home of fixtures and other equipment was arrested Tuesday for a common crime that has been ignored too long, Surprise officials said.
The items removed from the home included an air handler, air conditioning unit, oven, stove top and dishwasher, reported by the Surprise police. The estimated cost of repairs due to damage to the home could reach $20,000, Surprise police Chief said at a news conference earlier this week. The police are not tolerating this type of criminal behavior and it has been noted that the arrest was an attempt to deter those who believe stripping a foreclosed home is ok. It is not.
Investigators later submitted the case to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. A grand jury indicted the man on charges of criminal damage and defrauding a secure creditor, giving police probable cause to arrest the former Surprise resident about 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9th. It is important that residents are made aware that it is illegal to cause any damage to a home or remove any fixtures from a home that is in foreclosure. In this particular case, the suspect was booked into jail on suspicion of criminal damage and defrauding a secured creditor.

Gorgeous Short Sale Listing in Queen Creek (Maricopa County)

Take a look at this gorgeous new short sale listing in Queen Creek (Maricopa County).

This was a former model home for Elite Homes. Tons of upgrades!

Price: $145,000

Sq. Ft: 2,303

4 Bedrooms + Den; 2 Bath

Premier Lot next to greenbelt.

Granite Countertops

Upgraded Cabinets w/crown molding.

Call Leah for more information: (480)330-6242.

Gilbert Fireworks! Fun for the Whole Family!!

Gilbert's Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration

Where?
Mesquite High School located at 500 S. McQueen Road in Gilbert.

When is it?
Saturday, July 4th from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled to start at 9 p.m.

What will happen?
Contests, games, inflatables for the kids, community exhibits, and the grand finale fireworks display. Food, rides and novelties are also available for a charge.

What does it cost?
Free admission and free parking. Bring cash for rides, amusements and refreshments.

What else do I need to know?
No alcohol. No smoking. No pets. No coolers, cans or bottles.

For more information, visit the Gilbert Rodeo Park web site.

Going Green May Help Sell Your Home

It's becoming the buzz word in housing -- "green" homes are what many buyers are interested in these days. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as much as 90 percent of home buyers think that energy efficiency is a very important factor when shopping for a home. These same buyers are also very interested in environment-friendly features including having housing close to parks, public transportation, and well-designed neighborhoods with sidewalks.

The National Association of Home Builders Remodelers (NAHBR) -- a council of NAHB -- says that most homeowners choose green remodeling projects to help conserve energy. NAHBR recommends the following top ways to increase energy efficiency.


Install appropriate insulation in area to be remodeled.

Install high-efficiency windows instead of those that minimally meet the energy code.

Seal all exterior penetrations in areas being remodeled.

Purchase only Energy Star®-rated appliances.

Install only low-flow water fixtures.

Upgrade to at least an Energy Star®-rated water heater, or better yet, a tankless water heater.

Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford and make sure it is correctly sized for the area you want to condition.
But going green can seem like a huge challenge. There are so many products and things to consider. And if you're selling your home you may wonder if going green is going to give you more or less green in your bank account. NAHBR says that "72 percent of consumers report energy-efficient features in a home would influence their purchase decision." The council also adds that "61 percent of consumers would spend more than $5,000 upfront to save on utility costs." And, consider this, there are approximately 125 million single-family homes in the U.S. but most were built before energy-efficiency developments, which means if your home has newly renovated green remodeling, it can be a buyer's dream. Featuring your green renovations when you list your home for sale could give you that added value and unique market advantage.

How to get started. Deciding to make your home green doesn't have to be overwhelming nor do you have to make the entire house eco-friendly. Try things like installing energy-efficient lighting such as compact fluorescents. Also, change out any old appliances that are using up lots of energy.

Once you've done this, compare your utility bills so that you can show the reduction to your real estate agent. Your agent can then point out the energy-savings to potential buyers. With utility bills on the rise, any savings can be a major influence on buyers. If they see that similar homes cost more to operate than yours, you will at the very least grab their attention.

Get rid of energy-hog appliances. Sometimes homeowners don't want to replace an appliance because they are selling their home, but replacing an energy-hog appliance can be a cost-effective way to increase the value of your home. Energy Star-certified appliances use less energy and are more efficient to operate. Many of these appliances are 10 percent to 50 percent more efficient than standard models.

Don't forget to sell what you can't see. Insulation isn't something homeowners often think to promote, but, if your home is well insulated, it can be a big selling point.

Make it a healthy home. Going green isn't just about saving money; it's also about preserving the earth and our lives. Many people suffer from allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities. For instance, if you have placed pollen screens on your home, be sure to promote that feature. It will likely be considered an added bonus.




(Realty Times, June 8, 2009, by Phoebe Chongchua)