That one thing you might be missing to set you above the rest
With over 90% of home buyers searching online for a new home your home must make a great first impression. The first impression is a lasting impression! In a buyers market sellers compete with sellers. If buyers are not impressed what they see online they will move on to the next listing. Ready, Set, Stage! works with you and your Realtor to put your home on the “must see” list for today’s home buyers. We offer a marketing plan and photos to assist with the sale of your home.
Prescott Water Quality
Often, when talking to folks interested in Prescott real estate, the subject of water comes up. It only makes sense that people would ask about water in the famously arid state of Arizona. In fact, I once had a housemate from Mesa that would call our state “Aridzona, home of heat”. Guess there are a lot of unemployed comedians too.
Water in Arizona has been at the forefront of public water policy in our country for quite some time, and for Prescott homes there is no exception. This year’s 2009 water quality report details important information about our Prescott drinking water. The City of Prescott opted out of CAP (Central Arizona Project), the Colorado River water supplies enjoyed by the
cities like Phoenix and Tucson. Homes in Prescott were awarded an allocation (A.R.S. §45-555E), what is called an assured water supply in exchange for not using supplies from CAP.
Regardless of where you eventually purchase your real estate, Prescott water supplies are managed and can be accessed with reasonable confidence going forward. In a state where water is precious, there is a public policy in place to address the issue. Please let me know if you have more specific questions on water matters, always glad to help.
Step 2, Step 3, then Step 1
For a surgeon, that would be make incision, perform operation, then sterilize.
For a pilot, that would be throttle engines, depart, then get cleared for takeoff
For a real estate client, that would be look at houses, make offer, then qualify for financing.
Let’s first acknowledge the first two examples could be life or death situations. However, in the real estate business, it makes as little sense to shop without qualifying for financing. Lenders are more strict then ever, with some brokers reporting less than half of all loan based transactions being completed to closing.
Often, folks will visit town with the understanding that they are “just looking”, which is fine, and I am always happy to show people around the first time out from out of town without intent to buy. However, here is what happens all the time: a perfect housing opportunity will present itself, and it is difficult to execute without financing, especially on the weekends.
Do yourself a favor, and contact one of our local lender stars before shopping or visiting. With a loan pre-qualification in hand, you can be ready to write a contract if you choose. Please contact Realty 2000 for a tour appointment. Prescott AZ area is a wonderful place to live and work. Looking forward to your visit.
Prescott Az Home Equity and Effect on Local Market
Oftentimes buyers will ask me why in Prescott Arizona homes prices have not fallen as quickly as they have in Phoenix AZ area. The short answer would be since there is a higher concentration of Prescott Arizona retirement homes and quite naturally there would be a larger equity position for the owners bringing their nest egg into the local Prescott real estate.
That fact is both good and bad for home buyers in our area. 
First, the buyer should be encouraged that our area has more real estate is purchased the old fashioned way: money down with some financing. Second, most local retirees hold their real estate long term, adding stability to our market.
However, as buyers look for favorable pricing, so much of the inventory remains out of reach. Consider someone that has a 40% equity position in their real estate. It is unlikely they would take a capital loss unless they absolutely needed to exit their position.
Currently, most buyers are looking to bid on Prescott foreclosures as a way of entering the market in Prescott. Bank owned homes tend to put pressure on regular sellers, therefore lower pricing. Give me a call or email, Scott Baxter, broker, Realty 2000, 928-771-2000 for discussion and detail. Always glad to help out.
Prescott AZ Lender Stars: Reach for them!
First Published here Feb 13, 2008
Now more than ever, the financing part of any real estate transaction is critical. With lending criteria tightening and home valuations declining (for now), lenders are reviewing standards regularly. Therefore real estate agents need to constantly enhance their lending resources for their clients. At Realty 2000 Town & Country we are doing our best to provide those resources.
As a continuing segment in our Stars series, tonight we present to you – The Lender Stars. Now keep in mind as agents we are discouraged from recommending or endorsing professional services. However, we are often asked to provide guidance in many different aspects of the real estate transaction. That is how the Stars Series got started: to inform our friends and clients about professional services we have used successfully in the area.
Understand that the following vendors are in no way affiliated with Realty 2000 Town & Country nor does this list constitute an endorsement or recommendation of professional services as your satisfaction and results may vary. Please compare services diligently.
Here are lenders that we have worked with, all of them know us, and have done loans with Realty 2000 in the past. Best thing for you to do now is to call them, introduce yourself, tell them Scott Baxter with Realty 2000 Town & Country sent you and let them know that you would like to get prequalified, and later on, preapproved for financing. Tell the lender if you are looking for manufactured homes as that may affect the loan.
Make sure to ask for a GFE (Good Faith Estimate) so you know the cost of the loan. Also, make sure to compare the same loan programs (apples and apples), and please let us know if you have any questions, Realty 2000 Town & Country as always is happy to help out. In last name alphabetical order, and the @ symbol is replaced with (at) to reduce SPAM:
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Full Name: Theresa Baca
Company: WJ Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp.
Address: 8196 E Valley Rd, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Business: (928) 775-9330
Business Fax: (928) 775-9331
E-mail: theresab (at) cableone (dot) net
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Full Name: Vince Garcia (PRESCOTT, AZ based)
Company: VanDyk Mortgage Corporation
Address: 3923 S McClintock Dr Ste 408, Tempe, AZ 85282
Business: (480) 814-8733
Business Fax: (888) 345-2780
Mobile: (928) 899-1810
Email: vgarcia458 (at) vandykmortgage (dot) com
Visit Webpage
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Full Name: Jerry Jones
Company: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Address: 1781 E Hwy 69, Ste 28, Prescott, AZ 86301
Business: 928-778-7665 x107
Mobile: 928-308-2633
Business Fax: 928-778-7376
E-mail: jerry.s.jones (at) wellsfargo (dot) com
Visit Webpage
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Full Name: Theron Wall
Company: Wallick And Volk Inc
Address: 3615 Crossings Dr, Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86305
Business: (928) 778-7167
Business Fax: (928) 445-5308
Mobile: (928) 533-7473
E-mail: theron (at) theronwall (dot) com
Visit Webpage
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Full Name: Christoph Schweiger
Company: Sunstreet Mortgage, LLC
Address: 8426 E. Shea Blvd. #20 Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Business: (602) 325-3415
Mobile: (602) 327-1778
Business Fax: (480) 248-3206
E-mail: cschweiger (at) sunstreetmortgage (dot) com
Visit Webpage
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Prescott AZ Homes – Trustee Sales Remain High
Our local Prescott AZ Real Estate foreclosures remain high, while buyer interest across the broad range of Prescott homes pricing can be described as tepid at best. Many bank owned homes remain overpriced, but are often reduced rapidly, creating a feeding frenzy for buyers in the affordability range. If you are one of those savvy buyers, you are well served to have an Arizona Real Estate Broker that can focus your search on that sweet spot with automatic internet searches and daily email pushes into your email box.
Real Estate represents a great opportunity for buyers, and continued hardship for sellers: On Friday, the local newspaper “The Daily Courier” published 4 pages of legal notices, each entitled “Notice of Trustee Sale”. So while the smart guys on Wall Street and in Washington tell everybody how the economy is recovering, the evidence shows otherwise.
Sure, it stands to reason that in order to deleverage the bubble economy, loans that have been defaulted on need do to be foreclosed and sold by the bank. However, while unemployment and foreclosures remain high, it is difficult for most folks to hear that things are getting better while so many are experiencing financial hardship.
If you are in the financial position to qualify for a home loan and to look for Prescott AZ homes, now is the time to consider buying as pricing is attractive. Our beautiful town still offers great Northern Arizona recreation, good local shopping, plus a mild four season climate that we think is second to none. If you think now is the time to make your move, please contact Scott Baxter Arizona Real Estate Broker (928) 771-2000 with any questions you may have.
Photo Credit: respres on flickr.com
Homebuyer Tax Credit assisting sales in Prescott Real Estate Market
As most people have heard, the new federal tax credits for first-time homebuyers has been extended. A tax credit of up to $8,000 is available for first-time homebuyers through June 30, 2010.
In addition, a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years over the last eight years is available.
Fortunately for buyers looking to purchase homes in the Prescott real estate market the new tax credit coincides with recent lower prices seen throughout our area. For the first time were seeing some of the housing prices approach 2002-2003 valuations which is excellent news for buyers.
Sometimes buyers would like to get that credit in advance of the property purchase, however that is not allowed by IRS rules. You are able to take advantage of the tax credit in 2009 by filing with your 2009 tax return or you can file an amended 2008 tax return to obtain your credit. The credit is only allowed after the purchase of the property.
For more details please contact your lender or contact Scott Baxter at Realty 2000 Town & Country in Prescott AZ for lists of local lenders who can give you additional information. Meanwhile start thinking of that new home and contact me to assist you with your future plans. I can make arrangements to show you some listings in email or here in person, always glad to help.
Prescott Arizona Christmas
Welcome holiday revelers! Do we have a great 2009 celebration in store for you. As you may know, Prescott Arizona is known for annual festivities and gatherings throughout the holiday season.
2009 is no exception. This year’s fun filled events are sure to delight the whole family.
Come and join our family entertainment in Prescott Arizona that includes the Christmas parade, the Acker Music Night, and the not to be missed Courthouse Lighting Ceremony.
www.cityofprescott.net/events/
Light Parade – Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Please welcome the opening of the Prescott Christmas Season for downtown as the decorated floats with lights wind their way around the courthouse plaza.
Courthouse Lighting – Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Join the crowd for the traditional Christmas carols by the Yavapai schools choir & the reading of the Christmas story. Then see the plaza come ablaze with thousands of lights
Acker Music Night – Friday, December 11, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Musical acts in every participating business downtown. A real favorite in Prescott for the holiday season.
No Backup? I run backup hands-free while making coffee
For years, I yearned for a simple “don’t make me think” backup solution for my MS Windows laptop. Everybody needs to run regular backups. I have seen professionals weep over lost data back in my IT days.
Sure, I got one of those big external drives, now collecting dust in the garage. Never cared much for the software, plus I needed something to remind me. Is it so difficult to obtain truly helpful solutions?
Finally found a backup solution: Clickfree – Automatic Backup
It does everything I want it to:
- No software interaction, plug in the USB and it runs
- System Tray loads and reminds you to run Clickfree
- Software upgrades are also handled as a System Tray notification
- Device is small, just a little larger then a typical smartphone.
Backup is important, and I am glad to help out. Please leave a comment or tweet me @prescottscott if you want more product feedback.
Prescott Area Neighborhoods
Tomato Twitter
- The fascinating Prescott AZ 2009 Water Quality Report now available: blog http://bit.ly/9wOR7J or pdf http://bit.ly/9y7rUx
2 months ago - New Blog Entry: Step 2, Step 3, then Step 1 ...why order matters http://bit.ly/9tsLqO
5 months ago - New Blog Entry: Step 2, Step 3, then Step 1 ...why order matters http://bit.ly/9tsLqO
5 months ago - New blog article on how Home Equity positions support pricing of Real Estate in Prescott AZ http://bit.ly/9xfGsF
6 months ago
