The Ultimate Guide to Central Arizona

An easy flight from LA, or a scenic, very doable road trip, Arizona is an incredibly unique destination worthy of a visit. Whether you’re wanting a quick vacation escape, are looking to invest in a new property, or are even curious about relocating your family - central Arizona offers limitless possibilities.

From endless golf courses to scenic waterways for river rafting, and beautiful mountains, deserts, & canyons for hiking and horseback riding, the central region of Arizona offers myriad outdoor activities that promote a relaxed and balanced life. Professional sports teams, vibrant culinary scenes, an emphasis on arts and culture, and upscale shopping experiences bring all the touches of a modern destination and have made Arizona increasingly alluring in recent years for many lifestyles.

Neighborhood Highlights:

Scottsdale:

The star of Maricopa County, this central city is the destination for fine dining, shopping, beautiful hotels, and spas - Scottsdale is actually home to more destination spas per capita than any other US city. Fantastic medical care, arts and commerce, and many celebrated corporations’ headquarters have also put Scottsdale on the map as a prime spot to not only visit, but move to.

Paradise Valley:

This centrally located, desirable city in Maricopa County is a Phoenix suburb worth seeing. Mummy Mountain Estates and Tilyou Ranchitos are specific neighborhoods to explore if you have real estate in mind.

Cave Creek:

Another Maricopa County city just south of Phoenix filled with golf courses, a 3,000-acre regional park, trails, ranches, desert gardens, and, of course, a cave!

Fountain Hills:

An upscale city in Maricopa County - that celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Stevie Nicks have ties to.

Goodyear:

This Maricopa County city is another suburb of Phoenix - low crime rates and high-quality education, plus close proximity to fine dining and shopping make this area an alluring spot.

Litchfield Park:

Known for its many parks, this Maricopa County city is just 20 miles west of Phoenix. Popular attractions include extensive golf courses and even a zoo, aquarium, & safari park.

The East Valley:

This Phoenix metropolitan area of Maricopa County includes cities such as Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, as well as Queen Creek, which is part of both Maricopa and Pinal counties. Known for being home to Arizona State University and many community colleges, all major cities here are also known for their museums and performing arts centers.

The West Valley:

This area includes the cities of Peoria (in Maricopa and Yavapai counties), Surprise (Maricopa County), and Glendale (Maricopa County).

Phoenix:

Arizona’s capital is the largest city in the state and one of the largest cities in the US. As the cultural hub of Arizona, Phoenix is an incredibly popular tourist destination with museums, fine arts, architecture, fine dining, professional sports franchises, and much more to see and enjoy.

Just a stone’s throw away…

From the downtown Phoenix area, it is:

• 1 hour to North Scottsdale

• 1 hour to Payson

• 1.45 hours to Sedona

• 1.5 hours to Prescott

• 2 hours to Flagstaff

• 2 hours to Tucson

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Curious about real estate in Arizona?

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Latest Links: October 30, 2020

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“The $61 million sale price is, by several million dollars, the most ever paid for an Orange County home, and one of only three residential transactions to ever break the $50 million barrier.”

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Source: Realtor.com

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First-Time Homebuyers: The Complete Guide

Buying your first home is something so exciting, something to celebrate… don’t let it be something daunting! Here are my tips to keep you as prepared and knowledgable on the process as possible for a smooth transaction:

Before you do anything else, your first step is to speak to a lender.  Find out all the different options you may have in order to purchase a home.  

1. Figure out 3 different shopping prices. Being able to confidently know the range you can afford is key.

1st - to purchase a single family home (No HOA dues)

2nd - to purchase a condo/town home with HOA dues. This will bring your shopping prices down, as you will need to have enough extra money to pay for the monthly HOA dues

3rd - to purchase a duplex, triplex or 4-plex, as that will make your shopping price go up if you live in one unit and rent out the other units.  Renting the other unit(s) would bring income that would help pay for the mortgage.  

2. Then get the pre-approval letter from your lender.

3. Keep extra money for buyer closing closing costs. (When the buyer is making an offer, they will need to put a minimum of 3% down as a security deposit.)

4.

5. Call me to help you find your dream home and submit an offer for you.

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3 Major Contingency Periods to Think About:

1.  Inspection Contingency (defaults to 17 days but could be shorter or longer depending on the circumstance) 

You have the option to waive this contingency.  This allows the buyer to do all their do diligence in making sure the home is what they think it is.  This also includes going to the city to check on possible permits if there were any additions done to the home.  A buyer can purchase a home that has had an addition to it without permits, but that is a risk the buyer is taking knowingly.  They buyer may also request a list of repairs or a monetary settlement from the seller based on their inspections.  The seller can also refuse or counter.

2.  Appraisal Contingency (defaults to 17 days but could be shorter or longer depending on the circumstance) 

You can always waive this contingency as well.  The bank calls out for an appraiser anytime someone is getting a loan.  If the appraisal comes in lower that what the buyer offered, there are several options, 1) the buyer asks the seller to drop the price (which you are not seeing in today's market), 2) the buyer has to come up with the difference in order to get the loan,  3) the buyer can back out and cancel the escrow (as long as it is within the contingency period)

3.  Loan Contingency (defaults to 21 days but could be shorter or longer depending on the circumstance) 

You have the option to waive this contingency as well. The buyer may cancel escrow and receive their full security deposit back as long as it is during the contingency periods.  Should there be another type of contingency period (waiting for the seller to get documents/permits, etc.) you can always request a contingency based on the circumstance.

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Buyers Remorse

Sometimes buyers get caught up in the frenzy of multiple offers and comes in extremely high, just to get their offer accepted.  After then thinking about it and get cold feet, they back out.  It is a waste of everyone's time.  It is important to make sure you really wants the house and are happy with what you are offering and ultimately, paying for it. Take time to consider the decision from all sides before submitting your offer.

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