Are We Obsessed with Big Homes?
We Americans often think that bigger is better unless of course, you're trying to lose weight. But were always looking for the next big thing, and sometimes we literally mean the size of it. Did you know that the United States is in the top tier of house sizes...
7 Design Tips for Small Patio and Balconies
Just because you have a small patio or terrace doesn't mean you can't be the talk of the community. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a beautiful space you and your family or friends can enjoy. 7 Design Tips for Small Patio and Balconies #1....
Favorite Food Festivals and Food Fun Around Mesa
If you are a foodie you're probably following food trucks, the latest and greatest restaurants, and some of the hottest spots around Mesa. Here are our favorite food festivals and foodie events around the Mesa Arizona area. Queen Creek Food Truck Feastival. Running...
Inexpensive Upgrades That Look Like You Spent a Lot
Want to Impress Buyers? Take These Inexpensive Upgrades That Look Like You Spent a Lot There are a few ways you can make your home look like $1 million without actually spending $1 million. While these are not super cheap ideas, they can add a wealth of value to your...
10 Things Never To Leave Out During an Open House
Planning on having an open house to encourage buyers to browse your property? Open houses have gotten a bad rap over the years and some agents feel that they are not necessary. I feel that for the first week, an open house will get buyers interested, get the word out,...
5 Things to Know Before Buying a Home with a Pool
Pools can be fun and in our hot Arizona whether they are a relief most sunny afternoons, but buying a home with a pool might not be as glamorous as it sounds. There are some things to consider when touring and looking at homes with swimming pools. Here are five things...
7 HOA Rules To Avoid Violating
Living in the Scottsdale and Mesa Arizona area you'll find a lot of homeowner associations. Whether it's townhome associations, condominiums, or associations that manage gated or non-gated single-family home communities, HOAs are fairly common, especially in newer...
5 Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Neighborhood
When choosing the right home you're not just choosing the layout of the house, style, and architecture but the neighborhood as well. You don't want to neglect to check out the neighborhood before buying a home because the house might be amazing in the neighborhood may...
Comedy in Mesa Arizona
Did you know that we have some of the best comedy shows an improv theaters in the state of Arizona? Let's see what's happening just this month with comedy in Mesa Arizona. July 22 through September 14 is the level 1 Beginning Improv Workshop at the National Comedy...
Is a Mortgage Broker the Same as a Loan Officer?
Homebuyers have a lot of options these days when it comes to financing the real estate purchase. They can go through personal financing, owner financing, a bank or credit union, mortgage broker or loan officer but really what's the difference and which is best for...
What is an iBuyer?
Confused about how to sell your home? What the Heck is an IBuyer? And Should I Sell Them My Home? There is only one certainty in life… change, and the home buying/selling process is changing. Here in the Phoenix-metro area, we are at ground zero because...
How to Know Which Offer to Accept
While this might not be the dilemma for a lot of homeowners listing their property, in today's hot market, especially around the Mesa area, we are seeing a lot of multiple offer situations and it can get overwhelming for homeowners/sellers. Just this past week one of...
When to Lower Your Home’s Price
"When should we lower or reduce the price of our listed home?" This is a very common question especially in saturated markets or buying markets and because the market fluctuates and ebbs and flows, it can be a tricky situation to decide when to lower and reduce the...
5 Ways Not to Loose Your Mortgage
The last thing you want after being approved for a home loan is to find out your financing has fallen through. Once you are approved for a home loan you should basically freeze your finances and not do anything more until you close on your home loan. Too many...
You Lost Your Job | What Can You Do About Your Mortgage?
There's not much that sends you into a panic like losing your job. If you've recently been fired or let go, your monthly mortgage payment doesn't just stop. It might be difficult to keep up with your mortgage payment, even if you have unemployment benefits....
Can I Lose My Mortgage if My Homeowner Insurance is Canceled?
Homeowners insurance needs to cover your outstanding mortgage balance so if you no longer have that insurance equal to the balance, you are legally in violation of the terms of your loan. If you are in default according to the terms on your home loan, your lender...
5 Easy Steps to Getting Started as a Landlord
Choosing to be a landlord may not be an easy one but it can be a lucrative one if done correctly. If you're planning on buying a vacation home or property in the Mesa or Scottsdale area for cash flow income, or even a multi-family property, doing your research ahead...
The 10 Best Marie Kindo Tips to Change Your Life
I've been a little obsessed with Marie Kondo and her tips for organizing your life now that Netflix has a series on her. This woman is amazing and can pretty much organize your entire life and household in a week. While I have learned quite a bit of tips, such as...
Could Climate Change Actually Affect Your Home’s Value?
Climate Change? It's always nice and warm in Mesa Arizona so a couple of degrees here or there may not make an impact. But could global warming, AKA climate change, actually affect your home's value? While we might not be affected here in Arizona, I'm reminded of that...
What Happens When You Inherit a House with a Mortgage?
Someone in your family unexpectedly passes away and lo and behold, you now inherit the house along with the mortgage. What do you do now? Just because the homeowner or mortgage holder passes away before paying off the mortgage, the mortgage does not go away. So who's...
Can Someone Under 55 Live in a 55+ Community?
We have a lot of active adult communities in Mesa and surrounding areas so this is a pretty common question. Can someone under the age of 55 live in a 55+ community? First of all, why would someone live in a 55+ community if they are not over the age requirement?...
Arizona Renaissance Festival 2019
The 31st annual Arizona Renaissance Festival is currently going on through March 31 at 12601 E. US Highway 60 in Gold Canyon. Admission is just $28 and $18 for children five through 12. It reoccurs weekly on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This unique...
Should We Really Have an Open House?
Are open houses even a thing anymore? Do they really sell a house? Are they just setups for nosy neighbors and burglars? These are just some of the questions I often get asked when it comes to open houses, so let's break this down. Open houses were really a way to...
How to Sell a Tenant Occupied Property in Mesa
We have a lot of homeowners around the Mesa area that rent their homes various people throughout the year or even on a seasonal basis. So, how do you sell a home that already has tenants? This can be one of the biggest challenges in figuring out how to sell this...
Fun Mesa Events for March 2019
From Farmers Market to kid events, there's a lot of stuff going on this March. Here's a list of fun events happening around Mesa Arizona for March 2019. Motorcycles on Main – happening at 1 N. McDonald Street in downtown Mesa, get ready for a parade of motorcycles...
How to Find a Home That Works for Your Medical Needs
You want your home to feel comfortable and finding a property that caters to your health and well-being can be a huge priority! According to US Senses Bureau report, over 12% of non-institutionalized Americans are living with a disability so it only begs the question,...
Bank Statement Loans are Perfect for the Self-Employed
Bank statement home loans are the new stated income loans. Back when the subprime mortgage bust ruined just about everyone in the housing market, many lenders were conducting unethical practices by using stated income as the proof of income for home loans. But now,...
Facts About Credit Scoring and a Home Loan
The way credit companies score a potential borrower seems to change year-by-year and the three big guys, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are technically all the same company with various scoring methods. If you research online, you'll find hundreds of different...
The Unrealistic Expectation of Real Estate Photos
Have you ever seen online listing photos of the property only to see the place in person and the images simply don't match? It's important to take amazing photos of a property if you're planning on selling it, but if those photos are simply unrealistic, you'll have a...
Who Actually Comes to Open Houses and Are They Necessary?
Is an open house even necessary these days? In our "smart phone" world, people have the technology to take virtual tours, look at everything about a house, and even browse the neighborhood via Google maps, so is an open house even essential to the home selling...
Common Home ‘Improvements’ That May LOWER Your Home’s Value
The last thing we want to do is devalue our home, especially when we think we are improving it. But there are some common home renovations that homeowners dues that can actually have a negative impact on their value. If you're planning on selling or just don't want to...
4 Parental Home Buyer Regrets
Have kids? Looking for a new house? This article is for you. This post, adapted from a Realtor Magazine article, talks about four common regrets that buyers have if they have children. Children definitely bring a whole new set of rules and priorities when it comes to...
7 Design Trends Buyers Will be Looking for in 2019
Convenience and comfortability seem to be one of the top things on people's 2019 design list. As we head into the new year, sellers and homeowners might want to take a couple of minutes to understand what buyers are looking for so you can plan, prepare, and stage your...
Buying a Vacation Home in Mesa for Christmas?
Okay, maybe you're not buying home or a piece of real estate for Christmas, but you might be thinking about purchasing in the new year and if you're looking for a seasonal home, vacation property, or just want to get out of the cold this time of year and into the...