2 Bdrm/2 Bath House for Sale off I-10 in Phoenix at Cypress Landing!
1206 Sq Ft * 2002
$115,000 - UNDER MARKET and PRICED TO SELL!
6646 W Nez Perce St. Phoenix, AZ — I-10/67th Ave

Large backyard with side yard and RV Gate. Great starter home or investment property. Within minutes of the I-10 freeway.

Call Kelli Grant to see this excellent property for sale! 602-799-5420

2 Bdrm/2 Bath Condo for Sale in Salida Del Sol!
1298 Sq Ft * 2002
$239,000 - UNDER MARKET and PRICED TO SELL!
16801 N 94th St. #2044 — 101/Bell Rd

Spectacular mountain views from living room, bedroom and balcony! Desirable Scottsdale Area convenient to shopping, dining, entertainment, night life. Within 5 minutes of the 101 freeway. 2 bedroom split floorplan is perrfect for office or roommate.

Call Kelli Grant to see this excellent property for sale! 602-799-5420

2 Bdrm/1 Bath House For Sale Way Under Market Value!
$135,000
1015 E Brown St
Phoenix Arizona 85020

MLS #2982912

Huge Sized Lot (.19 acre) with RV Gate on quiet street near mountain preserve.

Contact Kelli Grant to see this property. 602-799-5420

There are many legitimate organizations that help consumers fix their credit, but others are just waiting to take advantage of those needing help.

In today’s world of easy credit, bad credit and heavy debts are not uncommon. For many people, debt and credit problems become unmanageable. If you are looking for help, beware of several common credit-fix scams. First, understand that if there are errors on your credit report, such as debts that aren’t yours, you can fix these errors yourself for free. But, if your report is correct and simply contains information that you wish wasn’t yours, there isn’t much you can do. Creditors can keep debts on your credit report for seven years, and there is no magic trick that will make them go away.

Keeping that in mind, watch out for the following, as presented by Bankrate.com:

1. We speak the credit bureaus’ language or know some secret regulation that can make unappealing items on your credit report vanish.

Remember that there is no such thing as a secret formula that corrects unappealing citations on your report to make them go away. Some companies offering these services will just take your money and disappear. Others will bombard credit bureaus with frivolous disputes, and while these items are under investigation, they may temporarily be omitted from your report, after which they will return. The company, however, will show you your miraculously “clean” report and collect its fee. Also, keep in mind that the Credit Repair Organizations Act forbids any company from accepting money until after it does what it has promised, says Susan Grant, director of the National Fraud Information Center. Remember that scams will usually ask for money upfront.

2. We’ll convince the creditor that you don’t really owe the debt.

This works similarly to the first scam. Companies will concoct a scheme for you to challenge the debt or will claim that they will issue a deluge of procedural requests that will persuade the creditor to drop the claim.“Federal agencies have described these schemes as bogus,” says Deanne Loonin, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. If you believe that you may actually have a defense with regard to a debt, you should consult a lawyer.

3. We will get you a brand-new, clean credit file. Remember that this is always illegal.

Companies may try to persuade you to apply for a new taxpayer identification number or employer identification number for the purposes of building a new credit history. This is a felony. Be especially vigilant of this one, because you may not realize what you are being asked to do because part of the con is not to explain the entire scheme. Besides being illegal, the “new” credit report would still list your name and address, which would still be connected to your old debts.

4. Call our 900 number for details on our credit-fix strategies.

This can be combined with any scam, and more than likely, the con artists will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, extending huge per-minute charges.

5. We’ll clean your credit fast and use our contacts to get you a credit card, mortgage or loan.

This is a newer scam, and one of the most costly. Consumers who really need money or loans are especially susceptible to this, and can be persuaded to pay huge amounts to the scam. Some companies mimic credit-counseling agencies or mortgage companies, and will hit you up again and again, until you have nothing left. Since there are legitimate non-profit groups that help educate consumers with regard to their credit, it is best to keep a tight hold on your wallet and be wary of any quick-fixes or big promises. A little reference-checking on the Internet should quickly reveal the legitimacy of any companies.

Generally, be wary of companies that initiate contact, outrageous promises or huge fees. You should also be careful of two common mistakes that are not scams, but are costly. Refinancing your home to pay off credit cards is a bad idea since your home is now on the line. Also, since you are entitled to free copies of each of your credit reports annually, be careful of companies that ask you to pay for them.

Andorra Credit Repair Corporation is one reputable agency that you can contact with additional questions.

Your annual free credit report can be obtained at AnnualCreditReport.com. This site is sponsored by the three major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. You set up a log in and password, and it tracks the date and will remind you to pull your report again on the anniversary the following year.

Your Primary Home is First.
Buying your own home gives you a place to live and teaches you the cost of home ownership, financing and market conditions. You receive tax benefits and an asset that you can sell, many times for a profit. You will also learn about property maintenance and build your own network of professionals who can prove to be invaluable when investing. Finally, your first home could later turn into your first investment property! When you decide to upgrade or get a bigger house, you might be able to keep your first home as a rental property. Consult your real estate advisor to find out if your house would make a good rental property.

Knowledge is Key.
Being a savvy investor takes more than just buying up properties. Having a good knowledge base goes a lot further than a “sixth sense” for good deals. Use the Internet, read books by reliable authors, and attend investment groups and college courses. These are all good resources to learning the best investment practices. You should also tap into other successful real estate investors and real estate agents for information.

Professional Help Is Essential.
Although you may not think you need help, a trustworthy and honest professional may be the partner you need. When it comes to spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I’m sure you want to invest it wisely. You go to a dentist for your teeth, a CPA to prepare your taxes, a doctor when you feel sick….so why would you think a realtor is any less necessary as an important professional to include on your family team? Real estate is usually what people spend the most money on in their lives and yet they’ll take short cuts and risk losing thousands of dollars trying to be an expert on their own. Realtors manage real estate transactions every day, whereas you may only handle one every few years.

Management companies take the pain out of property management. For instance, managing a rental property takes a lot of time, and you will need to be prepared to make repairs, resolve issues and advertise for renters if you are taking on the task yourself. In the long run, a management company may be just what you need. Use the referrals of friends, family and associates to find reliable, honest professionals to help you.

Know the Market.
Before you invest, research the local market thoroughly. There is no universal real estate “bubble.” Each market is different, and has different fluctuations and trends. One market may be good for rental income but not appreciation, while another market may be excellent for appreciation but not for rental income. There are endless variables, and it is important for you to know exactly what you’re getting into. Remember that one area is never the same as another area. Even within your local market, different neighborhoods may have their own fluctuations and pros and cons. Turn to your realtor for advice about your intention and what neighborhoods and areas will best reach your goal.

With these basic tips under your belt, you are ready to venture out into the investment arena. Happy investing!

$258,000
4 Bdrm/2 Bath
1676 sq ft
MLS #2932288

Needs TLC. New pool pump. Excellent neighborhood and desirable area. Big lot with swimming pool and big backyard with grapefruit tree. NO longer a diving pool, only 5 ft deep. Good home for an investment, fix up, first time home buyer. NO HOA! Close to all amenities…shopping, dining, golf. Scottsdale Fashion Square within minutes. Freeway within 5 minutes with easy access to Phoenix. Family estate sale.

Gorgeous brick fireplace in living room/great room open to the kitchen

View of Wilshire St from front yard

There are a number of good reasons why buying a home makes good economical sense regardless of the housing market.

1. Homeowners build equity in their homes that can be used as collateral for a home equity loan, or as part of a retirement plan when you finally downgrade into a smaller home.

2. Built up home equity can also be used for putting money down toward your next home.

3. Prolonged home ownerships brings with it equity growth in the form of debt reduction and general inflation.

4. Even if the market starts declining, history tells us that this will only be short-lived, and the market will start increasing again.

5. By using your income to pay off your mortgage, your income is in effect working for you. The opposite is true with renting.

6. One of the biggest benefits to having a mortgage is that, in most cases, the interest portion of your mortgage payment is tax deductible, which can save you a lot of money every year.

Making the decision to invest in such a way is never going to be easy, but by looking sensibly at the market, and by really considering whether the advantages above apply to your specific situation, you are able to make a more informed decision!

It’s a ‘Buyer’s Market’ so jump in and get a great house that you own for the same amount you are renting! The dreaded down payment has deterred many qualified buyers. Coming up with a down payment can be the hardest part of affording a new house, especially if this is your first home. The good news is that there are more than just a couple of ways you can do this. We’ll take you through the top 10 ways, according to MSN.com, that will enable you to come up with that down payment!

1. Ask for help. Parents, friends and relatives may all be willing to give you a loan with favorable rates – with parents, that often means no interest rate, and no strict timeframe. If a loan (or gift) doesn’t seem feasible, maybe they would be willing to co-sign the loan.

2. Use your other assets – either by selling them, or by borrowing money against them. This can include things like cars, boats or bicycles, as well as stocks, or trinkets, such as heirlooms, or vintage trading cards.

3. If you have life insurance with any built-up value, you could cash in that value, or possibly borrow against it.

4. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you can take out $10,000 from your IRA, penalty-free, to put toward your home purchase.

5. You can also borrow against your retirement funds.

6. Sometimes you can get help from a non-profit organization, such as a church. There are loans out there that will let you put a lower down payment down, as long as a non-profit organization puts in part.

7. Increase your income by getting a second job or doing some freelance work (such as cleaning houses…)

8. If you can make it work, change your withholding taxes in anticipation of being able to deduct the interest. This will give you more take-home pay, which you can start saving!

9. Offer to give something other than cash for the down-payment. This could include offering the seller something like a car or a boat in lieu of the down payment, or it could be your services; for example, you could offer to do landscaping in the person’s new home, or give them automobile services, or do their taxes! (For the record, I don’t necessarily concur with this method. Unless the seller is carrying the note, this is a mute point…unless you’re talking about the closing costs.)

10. Finally, you can look for options that don’t require a large down payment. Such options include loan programs such as VA or FHA. Another option is to purchase a foreclosure property, which can often be had with little or no down payment. You can also consider getting an 80:20 loan, where you essentially have two loans; one is the regular mortgage on the property, and the other is a loan for the down payment – even through these are separate loans, they often come from the same lender.

The most important tip is to ask questions! As they say, the only dumb question is the one that didn’t get asked. There have been so many changes in the mortgage industry over the past 6 months. Go to a trusted financial resource or lender and ask what programs are available. There are a lot more options than people are aware of! It can be scary to think you need to find thousands of dollars for a down payment, but hopefully one of the above methods will make things a little easier to face!

Today’s market has brought about the illusion that buyers hold all the cards and can offer whatever they “feel” is a good price for a house and that every seller should appreciate whatever they can get and be happy someone wants to buy their house. To all the buyers out there, “Control yourselves! Your ego may just possibly force you to lose a great new home for your family. You are not ‘king of the hill!” To all the sellers, “Hire a professional realtor who knows how to sell a house, listen to your realtor -it’s what they do for a living, and for the love of “Pete”-do not take offensive offers personally!”

With the market having such high inventory and either stagnant or declining prices, buyers are making ridiculously low offers to the point that it offends the seller so much that the seller won’t even counter on principle alone or they counter back at full price. I’ve seen it over and over again and whether you agree with it or not, it is a FACT. Some sellers get so ticked off that they refuse to even sell the house to the inquiring buyer at all. Again, this is not made up material for a good article, it is really happening!

First and foremost, when looking for your next home, you should hire a professional realtor. There are several benefits in it for you, and you don’t pay the realtor. We are in the business of managing the biggest asset that most people own on a day to day basis. We are experts in negotiations, real estate laws and the transaction process which could quickly turn sour if you don’t have someone looking out for your best interests and who knows which questions to ask and what to watch out for. If you don’t have one yet, call me!

Determine the seller’s motivation. As a realtor, I know how to expertly get this information with stealth like precision. As a third party who is not emotionally involved, I can see things clearer. And, I will ask the seller’s realtor a myriad of questions and then listen closely for clues to their individual situation. Such as ….the seller has already purchased another home, the house has been on the market over the average days on market for the neighborhood, their relocating to another state…..etc.. All of these things are key factors to their level of motivation to sell.

Explain your offer. I have often included a cover letter explaining my reason and/or my client’s reason for coming up with that number. Sometimes, having the buyer actually write a letter to the seller making their point is a positive step. They can express their interest in the home, the positive aspects that make them want to make it their home and also their concerns about the market conditions and dropping values… I recently made an offer on a house that was in an estate sale and needed a ton of improvements. I wrote the letter to the listing agent about how our intention was to fix it up and sell it right away. With that said, the only way we could possibly buy the house after calculating the estimated costs of improvement, would be to get it at XYZ price and that we had no intention of offending the owner’s family….but if they wanted to get rid of it immediately, we could pay cash and close in 2 weeks. It worked.

Prepare yourself for rejection or heavy negotiating. This is where your realtor can offer a TON of value to you. We can negotiate hard enough to get the very best price the seller will offer, but not so much that we will tick the seller off. I always try to verbally discuss the offer price and situation with the seller’s realtor. I guess it’s that “good ‘ol boy” philosophy of doing business with a handshake. I have had positive results when the other realtor and I can talk through an offer before getting it finalized on paper. It keeps it personal and there are certain things you just can’t convey on a piece of paper, such as the client’s good intentions and genuine nature.

“Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.” -Beatrix Potter

Breathe New Life Into Your Home!

A new year brings plenty of opportunities for new beginnings, so why not give your home one? Whether you are about to put your house on the market or are just a bit bored with your surroundings, some simple changes can make a world of difference.

Slap on Some Paint
Try something different and stay away from boring beige or wimpy white. Or, at the very least, use the more muted colors with vibrant accent colors on one or two walls. “We’ve gone through an era of everything being very muted and quiet and what we see with the younger generation coming up is that we’re really going to use lots of colors,” says Dixie Lovejoy, owner of Arizona’s Apple Interior Systems, Inc. “Colors on the walls, color on the furniture, such as lime greens, browns, oranges and bright reds.”

A fresh coat of paint will give your home an instant lift since it makes guests (or buyers) feel that your home is clean and well-kept. “Paint is a very inexpensive way to do something new and not have your house seem dated as time goes on,” Lovejoy explains.

Go Big or Go Home
When purchasing accessories, buy bigger and buy less. “People used to buy accessories on a very small scale,” says Lovejoy. “In our office, one of our slogans is: bigger is better.” She means that things like pots, vases, flower arrangements and fountains should all be larger. Replace a lot of knickknacks with one big focal piece. You will make a statement with your decorating rather than making your home look cluttered.

Pillow Talk
Accent pillows are a key home décor item that no home should be without. Pillows can tie together your home’s look, harmonizing colors from the painting above your fireplace with the antique wingback chair. “Accent pillows are kind of a key to all design that ties everything together,” Lovejoy says.

Sliding Away
Sliding glass doors and even French doors are disappearing in newer homes, says Lovejoy. Their replacements are doors that virtually vanish and allow greater access to the outdoors. Installing these doors can replace the eyesore that some sliding glass doors can be. “They actually can slide all the way into a pocket that’s built into the wall or stack on top of each other so it becomes one small window on the left or right side, but the rest of your house is all open,” explains Lovejoy.
Homeowners want more than the typical three-foot opening that French doors or sliding glass doors give. “The newest trend is opening up a 12 to 22 or 30 feet of glass,” says Lovejoy. “It gives you almost the lanai effect like you have in Hawaii where the inside and the outside all become one.” This look is ideal for homeowners who entertain a lot or host big events. These doors allow you to essentially merge the inside and the outside of your home.

The Outdoors Becomes the Indoors
Connected with this trend is the growing trend to decorate the outdoors like the indoors. Patios and decks with fireplaces, couches, chairs and even drapes and pictures are not uncommon and can blur the line between the inside and outside of your home. Today’s designers are incorporating big patterns into velvets and sheer materials on outdoor furniture that still holds up to the elements. These materials allow you to hose off your outdoor couch or chairs or vacuum them to remove dirt or stains.

With Flooring, Hard Is In
Carpeting is on the decline, says Lovejoy. Traditionally, homes have had carpeting in bedrooms and tile or wood in other areas. This is changing to homes that have hard flooring in all parts of the home to create a flow between the different areas of the home, as well as between the inside and outside. “That way, when you open up your house for entertaining, the patio or the lanai on the outside, or your sunroom, has the same surface as the house so you get that huge expanded feeling,” says Lovejoy.

Going hand in hand with this trend is the prominence of rugs. Of course homeowners want some soft areas in their homes, like near couches or beds.

If you need a referral for a quality, reliable painter, designer or other contractor, please contact Kelli!