I've always enjoyed helping people buy and sell land. Some REALTORS hate it. I don't know why. Sure, some land deals are a royal pain in the buttocks, but then again so are a lot of single-family home deals. And don't even get me started on commercial transactions! Land in and around Phoenix is going CRAZY! Here are a few true life examples: A couple bought 40 acres near Tonopah, AZ (50ish miles west of Phoenix) about 6 years ago for around $40,000. It's a nice parcel, mountain views, some … [Read more...]
Showing Homes in 108 Degree Heat
Showing homes in the Phoenix area in the summer time stinks. It's hot in Phoenix in the summer. This summer has actually not been so bad. We had one week where it hit 114, but other than that, 105ish has been the norm. But I digress... I was showing homes a few days ago in the heat of the afternoon. It was 108 degrees. That means that after about 15 minutes in the sun, the interior of a parked car reaches about 900 degrees. OK, it's not 900 degrees. But it's really hot. I put a thermometer … [Read more...]
Condos Going Kooky!
Wow. Just a few months ago, no one ever called, emailed or sent up a smoke signal asking about Condos. Now it seems like every day I hear condo talk. Investors are thinking about converting apartments to condos. First-time home buyers (who are rapidly getting priced out of single family homes) are thinking about buying condos. Part-time residents are wanting a condo for a second home. Parents want to buy their ASU student a condo instead of wasting money on a dorm room. … [Read more...]
Inventory up?!?!
Hmmmm... the last three weeks, listings on the MLS have *increased*. "So what?" you may be asking. Well, for months, the number of homes in the listing service has dropped, almost daily. What that means to a buyer or seller all boils down to basic economics--the law of supply and demand. If the "supply" (number of listings) goes up, demand should be down. Lower demand translates to lower prices and a buyers market. Now, we are nowhere near a buyers market in the Phoenix area. It is still a … [Read more...]
What’s the deal with loan officers???
OK, as a real estate agent, I have to say that loan officers are a pain in the rear. Now don't get me wrong, I know a lot of loan officers and some of them are great people. (and some of them are idiots--just like with any other group of people. Don't EVEN get me started on real estate agents!) But I can tell you one thing, FOR SURE. The loan officer involved in a real estate transaction is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON required to close a transaction on time. They are also the person … [Read more...]
The Phoenix Real Estate Guy was started by Jay Thompson, and I have a little blogging problem... he liked to say...