The State of the Market: There Is a Silver Lining.

AFFORDABILITY IS HIGH
The Housing Affordability Index measures the ability of a typical American family to qualify for a mortgage based on the median price for an existing single-family home. A score of 100 indicates that a typical family would have the exact amount required based on a 20 percent down payment and monthly payments of no more than 25 percent of their household income.

Currently , the index is at 135.2, which means the average American family not only can afford to purchase a home, but also will have excess money for living expenses. Another upside, highly desirable real estate markets such as California, Arizona and Florida are becoming more affordable.

SELECTION IS VAST
With more homes on the market, home buyers can be more selective than in previous years. During the recent market boom, limited availability and hight prices resulted in many people making offers on homes due to fear of being left out of the market. However, in this buyer’s market, house hunters can afford to take their time and make a choice they are fully comfortable with. 

THE UPSWING CONTINUES
Continuing the trend of increase existing home sales, 2009 is expected to produce an additional 6.6 percent increase in home sales. 2009 will be among one of the strongest transaction years in history with an estimated 5.74 million transactions. This year is also projected to boost new home sales to more than 600,000 transactions.

Existing homes sales prices are also expected to increase by 3.7 percent in 2009, with new home sales increasing by 4 percent.

Source: National Association of Realtors

$275000 – Beautiful St. In Remarkable Neighborhood

Beautiful St. In Remarkable Neighborhood
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 3321 E. Glenrosa Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Bedrooms: 4, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $325,000
Description: This is a four bedroom two bath ranch home with great potential. Located on a beautiful street in a remarkable neighborhood, this property has great potential to be a dream home again. The living room has an incredible slate fireplace. The one-time carport has been enclosed to form the family room. The original tile still sparkles in the kitchen and main bath. The home has a formal dining room and a corner kitchen booth. The large master bedroom features double mahogany closet doors that are also found in the second bedroom. The third bedroom has an outside exit. The fourth bedroom is brightened by a large picture window. Outside you’ll find a two vehicle garage, a backyard pool, block fence and many trees and plantings. The house, landscape and pool all need attention, but the potential for this property is obvious. To Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. ……………………………………………………Directions: From 32nd St. and Indian School Rd. go north to Glenrosa then east to the home at 3321 E. Glenrosa Ave. …………………………………………………….List Of Features: 1950 Block Ranch ~~ 4 Bedrooms ~~ 2 Baths ~~ 2,056 Sq. Ft. ~~ Pool ~~ Full Master Bath ~~ Washer/Dryer Included ~~ Formal Dining Room ~~ Eat-In Kitchen ~~ Breakfast Bar ~~ Arizona Room ~~ Separate Storage Area ~~ 2-Car Garage ~~ Fireplace In Living Room ~~ Patio ~~ Carpet and Linoleum Flooring ~~ Composition Shingle Roof ~~ Block Fence ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Electric Heat ~~ Cable TV and Internet Available

$145,000 Very Nice Conventry Home In TEMPE

Very Nice Conventry Home In TEMPE
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 1139 W. Greenway Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
Bedrooms: 2, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $145,000
Description: This Tempe ranch home has two bedrooms, two baths and a two car garage with storage and a workshop area. The living room features vaulted ceiling, plant shelf, vertical blinds, carpet and a wood burning fireplace. The spacious eat-in kitchen offers updated appliances, Corian counters, numerous oak cabinets and vertical blinds all under a vaulted ceiling. Arcadia doors and a doggie door lead to the covered patio and large backyard. The master bedroom features 2 sliding mirror closet doors, vertical blinds, carpet and a full bath. Both the master bath and the main bath have a cultured marble countertop over an oak vanity. Both the front and backyards are equipped with automatic sprinklers. The large grassy backyard is very private, surrounded by a block fence and no neighboring homes of two stories. It would be perfect for a pool. This home is convenient to I-10 and Arizona Mills shopping and entertainment. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. …………………………………………………….Directions: Go east on Baseline Rd past I-10 to Hardy. Go north on Hardy to Greenway, then west to the home at 1139 W. Greenway Dr. …………………………………………………….List Of Features: 1982 Ranch ~~ 2 Bedrooms ~~ 2 Baths ~~ 1,008 Sq. Ft. ~~ Range/Oven ~~ Dishwasher ~~ Disposal ~~ Pantry ~~ Full Master Bath ~~ Washer/Dryer Included ~~ Laundry In Garage ~~ Eat-In Kitchen ~~ Frame-Wood Construction ~~ Composition Shingle Roof ~~ Block Fencing ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Electric Heat ~~ TV Satellite Dish Owned ~~ Cable TV and High Speed Internet Available ~~ 2-Car Garage ~~ Separate Storage Area ~~ Fireplace in In Living Room ~~ Covered Patio ~~ Yard Watering System Front & Back ~~ Vaulted Ceiling ~~ Carpet & Linoleum

Historical Homes Can Try For Registry

by Sadie Jo Smokey and Connie Cone Sexton

So, other than special street signs, what does historic designation get for the folks who live in the neighborhood? As with anything, tangible benefits depend on several factors, namely, if an owner-occupied property contributes to the district, if the district is just city or federally recognized, and how active residents are in the neighborhood and community.

For years the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office encouraged owners of pre-World War II homes to become city-recognized historical districts. The financial carrot is eventual national Registry recognition that would cut their property tax rate, although for some it has taken years to accomplish that.

But lately, owners of post-World War II houses are becoming curious about whether their properties are preservation worthy. Among the residents, those living in the northeast Phoenix Paradise Gardens development of homes designed by architect Al Beadle. Although Beadle and the developer parted ways before the development opened, the homes still bear much of Beadle’s distinctive sleek design.

Homeowners wanting historic status could face even more barriers today.

Barbara Stocklin, director of the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, talked about some advantages of historic status..”If you’re on the city registration, you can apply for city funds, but not a federal tax break,” she said.

“For the most part we hope and we kind of look to the neighborhoods to do it (national registry application). it’s a difficult process to do. You really have to hire a consultant, or have some really active residents.”

Because of outdated data for the 10 districts which were created between 1997 and 2006, the city paid a contractor to resurvey the properties. A draft version of the nomination, including photos of eligible homes and complete historic-property inventory forms should be completed by March.  

IRS helps homeowners deal with federal tax lien
   by J. Craig Anderson of the Arizona Republic

The Internal Revenue Service is making it easier for financially distressed homeowners to avoid having a federal tax lien get in the way of reducing their mortgage payments or selling their homes.

IRS officials expressed concern Tuesday that struggling homeowners who are behind on their federal taxes have not explored potential solutions such as refinancing, loan modification or a short sale because they believe a tax lien prevents them from doing so.

“We’re just worried the taxpayers won’t pursue these avenues,” IRS Director of Collection Policy Fred Schindler said.

“Taxpayers or their representatives, such as their lenders, may request that the IRS make a tax lien ‘subordinate,’ or secondary, to the lien by the lending institution that is restructuring  a loan,” he said.

They may request that the IRS ‘discharge” its claim if the home is being sold for less than the amount of the mortgage lien.

The discharge of a lien does not relieve the delinquent taxpayer of his or her responsibility to pay the taxes due, Schindler said. It merely removes the lien from a particular property such as a home so it can be sold.

The process to discharge or subordinate a tax lien usually takes about 30 days after submission of the completed application, IRS officials said, but they are working to speed up that process in wake of the economic downturn.

“We don’t want the IRS to be a barrier to people saving or selling their homes,” IRS Commissioner Dough Schulman said.

For information about how to discharge or subordinate a federal tax lien, call the IRS at 800-913-6050 or visit their website at www.irs.gov.

Promoting your Real Estate Blog

It occurred to me that since so many more Realtors are adding a blog to their mix of marketing endeavors, perhaps it would be helpful for me to share my top 3 articles I’ve read most recently on the subject. I read a lot of content regarding to search engine optimization and internet marketing because it’s become such an important part of what my team does, and I think it pays off.

I feel like I should preface this list with a simple disclaimer: you don’t necessarily need to become an internet marketing guru in order to get maximum results from your blog.

But you DO want to get results, right? That said, it’s very easy to get sucked into the world of internet marketing, especially if you’re a detail-oriented person. Don’t let it distract from your core business of selling property. Internet marketing is the same as any other industry…it’s an entirely separate industry. Just like auto repair. If you’re like me, you’re not going to spend your time replacing the fuel pump in your car. You’re going to hire a professional. At the same time, it sure is helpful to at least know what a fuel pump is, who’s competent at doing the repair and what type of charge to expect. Internet marketing is the same. You don’t need to do all this stuff yourself, BUT it is advisable to spend an hour a week for a while getting versed on the basics of the business. If you run a team, you may not produce every cma your team does, but if you didn’t even know what a cma was, you’d be in trouble.

Likewise, if you operate a blog and don’t know the difference between a tag and a category, or if you don’t know what a robot.txt is…you should figure it out, because these are just a few of the very basics in promoting a blog. I hope these articles help:

1.    3 Alternatives to Promoting Your Blogs Homepage That Convert First Time Readers to Loyal Ones…click here.
2.    10 Ways to Find Readers for Your Blog By Leveraging Other Online Presence…click here. 
3.    3 Successful Bloggers Share their Blog Tips [VIDEO]…click here.
4.    What Quantum of Solace Can Tell Us About Information Architecture…click here.

I know I said 3 articles, but there’s 4 here. I decided to add the fourth one, because I just really liked it. it’s a bit more technical but very good ideas.

$215000 Charming Home In Woodlea Hist Dist (Woodlea Historic District)

Charming Home In Woodlea Hist Dist
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 919 W. Glenrosa Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Bedrooms: 2, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $215,000
Description: Put this charming home in the Woodlea Historic District on your list of “Must See” homes. You are welcomed to the property by wonderful trees, a green lawn, and a front porch with its original mail slot. Step into the living room with its large corner window, round portal window and roman shades. Notice the stunning caramel concrete floors that are featured throughout much of the home. Eat in the dining room with its contemporary light fixture and large window with roman shades, or in the kitchen breakfast area. The updated kitchen includes refrigerator, range, microwave, dishwasher and disposal, beech wood cabinets, concrete counter with glass block backsplash, all brightened by a corner window over the sink. One bedroom has a great corner window; the other has French doors with side panels which lead to the backyard. The serene backyard cannot be missed. There is a covered patio with Saltillo tile and a sparkling pool surrounded by flowers and greenery. The property has numerous trees including apricot, pomegranate, lemon and orange. There is a 2 car garage plus a carport. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. ……………………………………………………Directions: Go north on 7th Ave past Indian School Rd. to Glenrosa Make a left and go west to the property at 919 W. Glenrosa Ave. …………………………………………………….List Of Features: 1941 Ranch ~~ 2 Bedrooms ~~ 1 Bath ~~ 977 Sq. Ft. ~~ Separate Bedroom Exit ~~ Range/Oven ~~ Dishwasher ~~ Disposal ~~ Microwave ~~ Refrigerator ~~ Washer/Dryer Included ~~ Laundry in Garage ~~ Formal Dining Area ~~ Eat-In Kitchen ~~ Concrete Floors ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Gas Heat ~~ Cable TV Avail ~~ High Speed Internet Avail ~~ Ceiling Fans ~~ Covered Patio ~~ 2-Car Detached Garage ~~ 2-Car Carport ~~ Historic District ~~ Shake Roof ~~ Bock/Chain Link Fence ~~ Pool

$130000 Amazing 4-Bedroom Tuscan Style Home (Maricopa)

Amazing 4-Bedroom Tuscan Style Home
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 45694 W. Dirk St., Maricopa, AZ 85239
Bedrooms: 4, Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $130,000
Description: This amazing Tuscan-style Maricopa Meadows home is priced to sell. It offers a spacious 2-level floor plan which includes four bedrooms, large loft and two and a half baths. The openness of the first level offers exceptional entertaining opportunities with a living room, family room, dining room, kitchen and the breakfast area with its arcadia doors leading to the covered patio and backyard. The carpeted living room features a dramatic vaulted ceiling. The family room is brightened by lots of windows, and has an oak railing leading upstairs. The kitchen is ideal for the serious cook. Clean, bright and spacious, it offers oak cabinets, pantry, green marble Formica countertop, an array of appliances and an over-the-sink window with a view of the backyard. The first level also finds a half bath, laundry room and an attached two vehicle garage. Upstairs are four bedrooms, a full bath of the hall and a large loft room overlooking the entrance and the living room. All bedrooms have carpeted floors, ceiling fans, blinds and closets with double sliding doors. The master bedroom has a large vaulted ceiling, walk-in closet, wood blinds and a full bath with double sinks, separate tub and shower and an oak vanity with sculptured marble top. Exterior features of this home include a dessert front landscape, a rear covered patio that leads to a grass back yard with several trees and shrubs along with raised planters. The backyard is framed by a block fence. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. …………………………………………………….Directions: From Phoenix take the I-10 east to Hwy 347 in Maricopa. Go west on Edwards Ave, south on Hogenes Blvd, east on Tuplip Ln, then south on Dirk which curves to the property at 45694 W. Dirk St. …………………………………………………….List Of Features: 2005 Tuscan ~~ 4 Bedrooms ~~ 2.5 Bath ~~ 2,362 Sq. Ft. ~~ Two Levels ~~ Master Bath Separate Shower and Tub ~~ Walk-In Closet ~~ Washer Dryer Hook-Up ~~ Eat In Kitchen ~~ Dining in Living Room/Greatroom ~~ Inside Laundry ~~ Family Room ~~ Loft ~~ Range/Oven ~~ Dishwasher ~~ Disposal ~~ Microwave ~~ Refrigerator ~~ Pantry ~~ Cable and High Speed Internet Available ~~ Ceiling Fans ~~ Multi-pane Windows ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Gas Heat ~~ Tile Roof ~~ Carpet and Tile Flooring ~~ Children’s Playground ~~ Biking/Walking Path ~~ Vaulted Ceilings ~~ Water Softener ~~ Drinking Water Filer System ~~ Covered Patio ~~ Front and Back Watering System ~~ 2-car Garage ~~ Electric Opener

$115000 Contemporary 3BR/2Bth – Priced To Sell ! (West Plaza)
Contemporary 3BR/2Bth – Priced To Sell !
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 3902 W. Palo Verde Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85019
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $115,000
Description: This contemporary 3 bedroom 2 bath home is situated on a corner lot of a private street. The living room is brightened by a large picture window. The family room is adjacent to the kitchen and features a dining area and arcadia doors to the covered patio. The kitchen offers Formica countertops, numerous pine cabinets, range, refrigerator, disposal and dishwasher. There is also an exit to the covered patio from the kitchen. The three bedrooms are all carpeted and have closets with bifold doors. Bedroom features also include ceiling fans, original light fixture and a full master bathroom. The laundry is located off the patio, and the home has a solar hot water system. The front yard features a curved drive leading to a 2 vehicle carport, large shade tree, and a split rail fence framing the lawn. The large backyard has three large shade trees and is surrounded by a block fence. …………………………………………………….Directions: Go west on Bethany Home Rd to 39th Ave, then south to Palo Verde Dr and west to the home at 3902 W. Palo Verde Dr. …………………………………………………….List Of Features: 1966 Block Contemporary ~~ 3 Bedrooms ~~ 2 Baths ~~ 1,380 Sq. Ft. ~~ Range/Oven ~~ Dishwasher ~~ Disposal ~~ Refrigerator ~~ Full Master Bath ~~ Master Bedroom Downstairs ~~ Washer/Dryer Included ~~ Inside Laundry ~~ Dining in Living Room/Great Room ~~ Family Room ~~ Solar Hot Water Heater ~~ 2-Car Carport ~~ RV Parking ~~ Corner Lot ~~ Covered Patio ~~ Yard Watering System Front & Back ~~ Skylight ~~ Water Softener ~~ Carpet and Vinyl Flooring ~~ Painted ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Electric Heat ~ 3+ Existing Telephone Lines ~~ Cable TV and High Speed Internet Available ~~ Ceiling Fans