There are three reasons why this December is a great time to buy or sell a home.
Selling a home? Get a free home value reportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, this December is a great opportunity to make your move in our market, and there are three reasons why.

First, you can take advantage of various tax breaks by closing before the end of the year. If you’re a seller, closing costs and home improvements are good write-offs you can take advantage of. If you’re a buyer, closing before the end of the year gives great incentives for next year’s taxes. Be sure to speak with your CPA if you want to know about all the tax advantages of buying or selling before 2019 hits.

Second, there’s less competition and people are more serious about their intentions. From the seller’s perspective, most other sellers prefer to put their home on the market after the holiday season is over. From the buyer&; ...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so we wanted to share a few of the things that we’re thankful for this year. We also wanted to give you an update on our upcoming pie giveaway.
Selling a home? Get a free home value reportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale
As you can see, our team is here today to give a special thank you for all of your support. This is the time of year where we like to reflect on all the success we’ve had and what we’re truly thankful for. A few members of our team wanted to share what they were thankful for this year, and we also wanted to let you know about our upcoming pie giveaway. We’ll be delivering apple and pumpkin pies to all of our past clients and friends this week and we can’t wait to see you. To see our full Thanksgiving message, watch this short video. ...

The average mortgage rate is at a seven-year high. Is this what’s behind the shift we’re seeing in the market?

Selling a home? Get a free home value reportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale
Today I’d like to address what the recent shifts in the mortgage rates mean to real estate. I’m hearing questions about this a lot from clients new and old about how this should affect their decisions moving forward.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate for someone putting down 20% with a 720 FICO score currently stands at around 5.25%. That's near a seven-year high, and almost 0.1% higher than just a year ago.

What impact is this having on the real estate market? It's certainly true that affordability is down. In fact, one estimate from June found that home affordability is at a 10-year low. This is translating into fewer home sales, fewer viewings, and fewer mortgage applications.

However, I don't believe that the shifts in the mortgage r; ...

Before you list your home on the market, there are certain areas of your home that you need to focus on first.
Selling a home? Get a free home value reportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale

Here are four areas of your home that you need to make sure are taken care of before you list so that you can maximize your sale price:

1. Make sure your home’s exterior shines. The last thing you want is a buyer looking online, let alone driving up to your neighborhood, and deciding they don’t even want to see the inside of the home because the curb appeal is so poor. Landscaping is a good idea, as is exterior paint. Even a quick cleanup around the outside of your home will help buyers get excited to walk through it.

2. Check your air conditioning. This is a critical feature, especially in Arizona. If the air isn’t on or working properly, buyers will get turned off. Make sure your filters are clean and your ducts are clear of dust and debris. Buyers ar. ...

When it comes time to list, sellers should be sure to avoid these six key mistakes.
Selling a home? Get a free home value reportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale

As Realtors, we truly want our clients to succeed. This is why when we see sellers making critical mistakes, we cringe. But which seller mistakes are the most egregious? Let’s take a look at the top six today.

1. Having a smelly home. Homeowners can become "nose blind" to the odors throughout their property, but buyers are sure to notice if they’re hit with the smell of a litter box upon entering the home. Getting an outside opinion before letting buyers in for showings and being willing to make changes, if necessary, could make a world of difference.
2. Giving your home too much personality. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves living in your property, and letting your home be a neutral, clean slate during showings is the best way to help them do so. Therefore, painting walls ...