Staging a House versus a Condo

When it’s time to sell your home, you know that creating an attractive feel is critical to getting the highest offers on your home.  Regardless of what property type you have, staging is an important step in preparing for potential buyers to visit.  However, if you’re staging a condominium, the goals and strategies are somewhat different than if you’re staging a single-family home. 

Amount of Furniture

House – Less is more.  The goal is to open up walkways and make the buyer feel like each room has an abundance of space.

Condo – Strategic placement of existing furniture is critical.  Many potential home buyers struggle to envision how a bed and dresser would fit in a small bedroom, so showing that both fit comfortably is important to show the room is big enough.  Avoid clutter, but significantly less furniture may make it appear that the furniture cannot fit.

Personal Items

House – It’s important to remove most items that are unique to your family like family photos.  Potential buyers want to envision themselves in the house, and it’s difficult to do that if there are consistent reminders that this is another family’s home. 

Condo – The same logic for houses applies to condos.  Fewer personal items not only allows buyers to see this as their potential home, but also removes some clutter that can make the area look even smaller.  It’s also especially important to consider personal items in the bathroom, since buyers are likely to spend a significant amount of time looking at the size of medicine cabinets and other storage areas in smaller bathrooms.  Any medications should be removed and put in a safe place.

Amount of Small Objects

House – After removing personal objects, try to take out anything that you don’t absolutely need.  For example, if you’re selling your home during the winter, store all your summer clothes and only keep enough winter clothes for a short period of time.  The extra space in the closet will make the closet look significantly bigger.  The same idea applies to bookshelves.  If your bookshelves are filled to capacity, it looks like you’re forcing things together and so creates the appearance of clutter.  Open up shelves and use only a few decorative objects.

Condo – Everything that is true for houses is true for condos here, with an added concern.  In the kitchen of a condo, counter space is a luxury.  Store any appliances or spice racks that are taking up space on your counters.  The appliances you need, box or put in a cabinet for easy access, but they should not be out while the home is being shown.

Curb Appeal

House – Spruce up your garden, walkway, front door, and everything else that a prospective buyer will see from the outside.  Many home buying decisions are made on the way to the front door, so you want an attractive exterior.

Condo – With a curb, it may seem that curb appeal is irrelevant.  In fact, the appeal comes from the front door.  Make sure the door is well maintained, then take a moment to stand in the doorway and observe what the condo looks like.  The first thing that a buyer sees when the door is opened is one of the most important things in your home.  Add coordinated color, classic style, and anything else you can to make that first look breath-taking.

Picking the strategies that work for your property, can help speed up your selling process!

Phoenix Real Estate Update

When buying or selling a home, how the market is fairing can drastically change your expectations for home prices and quality.  The Phoenix market is experiencing 21.7% growth in home prices year-over-year, with things looking optimistic going into 2013. 

Median Sale Price

The median sale price is a good indication of whether homes are selling for their true value.  After hitting its peak median sale price in 2007, the Phoenix market experienced what others across the country have been facing, and the price dropped to a new low.  Since then, sale prices been creeping upwards, and this year the prices reached the level they had been before the boom of 2007.  In layman’s terms, the sale price is returning to normal.

Number of Sales

The number of sales in Phoenix for the past few years has fluctuated significantly, but is currently a little higher than it was before the recession hit.  Overall, fewer homes are for sale than they have been in the recent past.  Sellers have the opportunity to take advantage of this since there is less competition in the market.  Buyers may have less to choose from, but with an able guide, they can still find their dream home.

Average Price per Square-foot

Ideally, the average price per square-foot would stay roughly constant, with a slight increase over the years to indicate the home’s value is appreciating.  Prior to the recession, Phoenix followed this general trend.  Today, however, there is significant variation in price depending on the time of year, the house sold, and many other factors. 

This is both positive and negative for people trying to navigate this market.  It means that for the savvy and informed consumer, there are incredible deals to be had, on both the buyers’ and the sellers’ ends.  However, there are also homes that are selling for significantly more and significantly less than they regularly would, so a buyer or seller who is not well-informed or who is not carefully analyzing each property may end up spending more than the home is worth.

Being well informed of market conditions can make your home buying or selling decisions easier. 

Holiday Home Marketing

With feasts to prepare, guests and trips to coordinate, and presents to wrap, the last thing you want to do is spend an inordinate amount of time preparing your home to be viewed by potential buyers.  Check out these easy tips and tricks to help your home remain show worthy, without forcing you to sacrifice the holiday spirit.

Use lights strategically

When you decorate outside, keep two things in mind.  First, big, bulky decorations might be a turn-off to some buyers, so keep your decorations at a tasteful minimum.  Second, consider any architectural features you want to highlight, and use lights to do that.  If you have a great archway, illuminate it with a string of lights.  Interweave lighting into your hanging vines.  You can use the lights to help focus the buyers eyes to the big selling points of your yard.

Build an Oasis

When coming in from the cold, buyers want to feel completely welcomed.  An easy way to do this is to make the environment warm.  Right before your home is going to be shown, turn the thermostat up a few degrees.  If you have a fireplace, light a fire (assuming someone like your agent will quickly be there to make sure it’s a controlled flame).

Show off with your Tree

Please do not try to do this by buying the biggest, bulkiest tree available.  This will make your home look small and may even seem tacky.  Instead, use your tree to show off your house.  If you have tall ceilings, get a tree that almost reaches the top, drawing buyers’ eyes upward.  Try to find a skinny tree, so the room won’t lose any depth while holding it.  And consider decorating it using a single theme – this will make the room look complete and well put together.

Decorate to Sell

You know that your home has beautiful features.  Use your decorations to draw the buyers towards those parts of the house.  If you have a fantastic mantle, consider laying a holiday vine across it.  Bold colors draw the eye, and the holidays are a chance to point a big neon sign to the part of your home that will be huge selling points (figuratively, of course).

Use the Smells of the Season

In addition to a warm welcome, nothing makes a potential buyer feel more at home than inviting smells.  A simple way to win their affection is to leave a pot of hot apple cider or hot chocolate simmering on the stove right before you leave, with a few mugs to the side to make it clear everyone’s welcomed to partake.  The smell will permeate the house, and the gesture will be appreciated.  The buyer will feel that this house is a place they’d like to call home in the winter.

All in all, try to create an inviting atmosphere while maintaining a tasteful décor.  Highlight the aspects of your house you’re most proud of, and help the buyer see what a wonderful home it truly is.

Where to Look For the Real Dirt...

Okay, not geographically where.  Whether its Phoenix real estate you’re looking at, Tucson, or anywhere in-between,  even when you have narrowed your choices down to an area and to just two or three homes, there are sources of information that you may not have thought of, that can help you evaluate if a house is your ideal future home.  Here are a few of those sources of information.

Inside the House - Obvious, right?  But what are you looking for?  Besides the layout, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, there can be several indications that this house might have some damage that’s worth looking into.  Any water damage can be a sign of plumbing, drainage, or flooding problems.  Pest problems can show up as smells or even as damage to the wood. 

Outlets can give a quick check as to whether older houses have been modified with modern safety equipment.  Look for three pronged outlets and a test/reset switch.  Both are relatively new, so show there has been some attempt to bring the electrical system up to date. 

Before you buy a house, be sure to have it inspected by a reliable professional who can give you an estimate of what repairs and maintenance will cost.

Current Homeowners - Some home sellers provide disclosures to prospective home buyers.  Your real estate agent will obtain these if they’re available.  They will discuss the problems the home has had and what’s been done to repair them.  If there’s something that has been frequently repaired, it will likely continue to need maintenance in the future.

Even without a disclosure, homeowners can provide helpful advice.  If you intend to remodel, mention your vision to them.  It’s possible they had the same thought, but ran into some problem or unexpected cost that prevented the remodel.  Knowing if your options are limited is important.

The Neighborhood - If a neighborhood association is present, that’s great.  It means the area is a community and will likely act to increase the security and feeling of the neighborhood as a whole.  Be sure to visit a few blocks in every direction.  A noisy or smelly site nearby can be a significant disadvantage.  Also, talk to neighbors.  They generally don’t have a vested interest in selling the house, so will often talk openly and honestly about problems in the area.

The News - Is the area prone to flooding?  Robberies?  News stories will often show dangers you weren’t considering.

The Paperwork - Ask for utility bills, tax bills, and any documentation of improvements to the house.  A cheap improvement may not be a lasting one, so consider all costs spent and to be spent.

Working with a real estate professional to find your dream home, will save you research time and ensure you are armed with all relevant information to size up a home’s real fit for you. 

A Festive Entryway

Like many enthusiastic holiday celebrators, you’re probably starting to decorate your home in reds and greens, hanging stockings, and plastering pictures of jolly red med all over your walls.  Outdoors, you may have even broken out the tallest ladders and adorned your roof and bushes with festive lights.

Whether you have a full front porch, or just a basic door, with these easy techniques you can add some holiday cheer to encourage your guests to get in the holiday spirit too.

Use Greens

You already know the tradition of hanging a wreath on your front door, but you don’t have to stop there. Include a large red bow on the wreath to add color.  For a subtle emphasis, wrap Christmas lights around the foliage so your wreaths really pop.  The lights that twinkle will really make your door turn some heads, even from the street as cars drive by.

For something different, hang a basket filled with white, purple, and soft red flowers.  Adding some moss to the base will give it a splash of green and complete the look.

Use Lights

Decorative Christmas lights are very fun, but you don’t really want to put them right at the entryway.  If you do, people will be distracted by the blinding brightness.  Instead, consider an elegantly simple solution – candles.  If you have a patio, place a candelabrum as a centerpiece on a table.  For smaller areas, put a thick white candle on either side of the door, with or without a candle holder.  When the sun sets, light the candles for a stunning holiday feel.

Use Garden Tools

By incorporating a rustic feel into your holiday decorations, you can highlight the tradition of the season.  Consider adorning your front stoop with old-fashioned rakes and watering cans.  Then hang a few bold colored Christmas bulbs from the gardening equipment and place pine cones around the base.  To combine the rustic feel with illumination, use iron lanterns with lit candles inside.

Use planters

Many people already decorate their front stoop with potted plants, and a few minor changes can turn those planters into sources of holiday joy.  Replace summer flowers with evergreen branches by burying the ends of each branch in the center of the planter and allowing the green branches to form a base. 

Try using a variety of different evergreens so you get different shades of complimentary colors.  Branches with red berries are a definite plus.  To add depth, incorporate ivy and boxwood.  These holiday plants tend to be thicker, so the plants get a rounder, full feel.  Finally, adorn the decoration with a floppy red bow or sparkly orbs to really catch the eye.

All relatively easy ways to add heaps of holiday cheer!

The Holidays: Phoenix Style

With December right around the corner, we’re inundated with images of icicles, snowmen, and people bundled against the cold.  It’s easy to think you have to live in a frigid area to feel like you’re part of the holidays.

Don’t despair!  Phoenix has enough festivities to get you into the holiday spirit, while still giving Santa a welcomed reprieve from slippery ice and frostbite.

Cut down your Christmas tree

Just because evergreens aren’t native to Phoenix doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect Christmas tree.  One great way to be part of the holidays is to cut down your own tree.

However, if you’re hoping to visit one of the national forests for a truly natural tree, it’s probably too late.  There’s an extensive permit system required, and there’s just not enough time.  Luckily, Christmas tree farms are already popping up everywhere.  No permit required – just find your tree and start chopping.

Visit Light Festivals

While it’s great fun to travel the neighborhood and see how your neighbors have decorated their homes, don’t neglect the professionals.  The Arizona Celebration of Lights is open every night during this season, and features extensive displays of holiday lights. 

Other light shows are nearby, and are definitely worth a trip, such as Glendale Glitters, Las Noches de las Luminarias (in the Desert Botanical Gardens), and the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights.

If you want to enjoy a full day, try the Phoenix zoo.  Spend the daylight hours visiting the animals, then enjoy a festive light show after the sun sets.  It’s a great day for the whole family.

Enjoy the Snow

If you need that snowy night to know it really is the holidays, Desert Ridge Marketplace is perfect for you.  Every night from 7-8, it will actually snow!  It’s man-made, of course, but it’s hard to care when you’re trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue.

Not enough snow?  On December 8^th, Desert Ridge Marketplace will actually have 35 tons of snow – perfect for making snowmen and even having a snowball fight.

Ice Skate

Winter is the perfect time to put on a pair of skates and hit the ice.  If you’re in Phoenix, track down a CityScape location.  Every night there’s an adult skate, and plenty of places to sit and watch the show if you don’t want to get on the ice yourself.

Winter Wonderland at W Scottsdale will transform its outdoor pool into an ice skating rink.  With snowfall every hour, you’ll know winter is finally upon us.

From all your friends at Fidelity National Title Agency, have a great holiday season! 

Creative Thanksgiving Tables

Decorating your home in fall colors and giving your food all the right spice is second nature for many Thanksgiving hosts.  What comes less naturally is giving your table a fully decorated feel.  With some simple strategies, you can make your home look as if you spent all week slaving over the perfect arrangement.

Stay Thankful

Keep the Thanksgiving spirit alive by printing out the phrase “I am Thankful for…” on several colorful pieces of paper.  Try using hard card stock to enhance the durability.  Then place one card at each table setting, inviting each guest to fill in the blank.

Stay Traditional

Sometimes the best fashion is the oldest one.  Embrace the history of the holiday by using an old wood piece as the base for your center piece, then decorating it with fall colors.  Not into wood?  Use lace fabrics to remind guests of how Grandma used to do it.

Stay Colorful

Orange and reds make the season come alive.  Adorn the wood with pumpkins, candles, and other strong colors.  Consider leaves (real or otherwise) in festive colors to string the length of your table.  The line adds great continuity to your setting.

Stay Young

Don’t forget the kids table!  Try a candy or cookie centerpiece shaped like a turkey.  It’s beautiful to look at while they eat and creates a fun dessert.  You can also place some crayons with Thanksgiving colors and a paper table cloth or placemats to encourage them to draw some holiday scenes.

Stay Natural

So many natural pieces are Thanksgiving colors this time of year.  (Where do you think the color scheme came from?)  Use that to your advantage.  Vegetables and leaves are a given, but you can use smaller objects for a more understated look.  Try surrounding off-white candles with smooth brown and red stones.  You can also sprinkle nuts around the table for a beautiful look that also provides a tasty snack.

The perfect Thanksgiving table needn't be complicated or difficult.  Try to compliment the simple, natural feel of the holiday, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Crystal Ball 2012: Technology Panel

Moderating the Technology Panel, is John Angelo.  After working for two of the world’s Fortune 50 Companies, John brings real-world corporate and professional knowledge to the business of real estate. A 30+ year Phoenix resident, his wealth of both traditional and “street” education coupled with an unprecedented resume of bold experiences help to round out and fill John’s business background. John complimented his ASU Broadcasting degree with an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1996.In between both, John spent over two years working in Nicaragua in the United States Peace Corps. He has been an active Realtor® since 2003 along with his wife,  Amy Angelo.

David Camp brings to the panel a unique operational and sales management background. David has exercised his management expertise in the startup company, small company and Fortune 500company environment. Since 2007, David has served as the CEO and Founder of Reflect Resources, focused on internet marketing and enterprise software solutions to large real estate companies. David has consulted with large real estate companies such as Home Services of America (a Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate), Fidelity National Title Agency, RE/MAX and Prudential franchises. David served as President and COO of Comstock Net Services, providing real estate websites and internet marketing software solutions. Under his leadership, the company grew its revenue 75% and was sold to Fidelity National Information Solutions (FNIS) in 2002. At FNIS, David served as Senior Vice President of Outsourcing Solutions. In this role, David consulted with real estate companies to reduce operating cost and implement enterprise software solutions offered by FNIS.

Nadine Kagan Wilson is the owner of Moxie Consulting, a full service marketing firm specializing in internet marketing for the real estate industry. Moxie has the unique experience and skill set in both real estate and marketing, as well as capabilities in new media, to help their clients gain greater exposure and visibility with their target audiences to help drive revenue. Moxie's clients include Title companies, Real Estate Brokerages and Lenders. Nadine's career began in the advertising industry, where she managed print, radio and television campaigns for retail, banking and real estate clients. Using her knowledge in marketing and account management, Nadine then took a position with Fidelity National Information Solutions and served as Director of Account Management, implementing and managing Real Estate lead generation websites. From there, Nadine helped star tan internet marketing consulting firm that specialized in real estate internet marketing solutions. In 2007 Nadine founded her own company, Moxie Consulting, and works with clients across the country on their internet marketing campaigns.

Neil Lokare is a Partner and the chief strategist at Helios Media Marketing and a WordPress guru. He enjoys helping clients improve their web presence and gain better exposure on the internet. He loves movies, marketing, metaphysics, and maps. Neil has a bachelor's in Economics and US History from ASU and is working towards a Master's in Computer Science.  Besides the Helios hat he wears, Neil admits to spending way too much time watching the Oakland A's, making music, and trying to cook. 

At 18 years old, Ryan Marshall hit the ground running, obtaining his real estate license, and hasn’t slowed down since.  Within 3 years, Ryan rose to the top in the competitive southern California market. Looking to expand his real estate horizons, in 2001 Ryan co-founded DirectLender.com, acting as CEO.  He also founded a wholesale lending company known as IRES Funding.  Ryan then created a small boutique brokerage, American Home Purchase Center and began to focus on a long time dream to bring the real estate industry into a more technological and efficient space. This was the starting point of what was soon to become Benutech, Inc, which works to create the most innovative and productive tools and systems for the real estate industry available.

Fidelity National Title Agency and Lawyers Title have worked to provide not only a panel that specializes in marketing real estate online, but also that pioneers new technologies and their applications to reach and maintain new audiences for all real estate endeavors.

Crystal Ball 2012: The Builder Panel

Dean Selvey

Dean Selvey, owner of Arizona Builder Sales, will moderate the Builder Panel, bringing his 31 years of experience to this year’s Crystal Ball.  Mr. Selvey has extensive experience in all real estate building projects, even inviting Canadian investors to begin development in the US with his help.

Greg Burger

To introduce the panel, Greg Burger, the co-owner of RL Brown Reports and Builders Research Institute, will bring his experience in market analysis into a development perspective.  He has insights pertinent to all builders and developers, and is an expert on the data produced by his firm.

Linda Rossi

As the marketing director of Toll Brothers, Inc., Linda Rossi has significant experience in the marketing and promotions, including marketing toward developers.

Warren Peterson

Warren Peterson is the Vice President of Sales for VIP Homes.  Mr. Peterson was integral to VIP Homes’ emergence as a hybrid builder of custom and track homes.  He is able to

navigate every step of a raw land being turned into 

a custom home.

Ken Peterson

Ken Peterson has served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Shea Homes’ Arizona Division for nearly 20 years.  While focusing on customer service, he has attained the highest local and national awards in the home building industry.

Pierette Tierney

Working as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Phoenix division at Taylor Morrison, Pierrette Tierney has gained and contributed significant experience to the largest privately-owned homebuilder in the United States.

Craig Ahlstrom

Craig Ahlstrom, the Chairman and CEO of the Farnsworth Development Company, not only works with individual plots of land, but in fact specializes in the development of whole communities.  He has particular experience working on active adult retirement communities, and is currently working on assisted living apartment complexes.

Tom Kirk

Tom Kirk oversees Camelot Homes day-to-day operations as both the company’s COO and CFO.  He draws on over three decades of experience in real estate development, homebuilding, management, and finance. 

Drawing on the experience of these panelists you’ll be provided keen perspectives and useful insights into the difficulties and strategies of engaging in a development project as well as information on products, trend, and communities valley-wide. 

Crystal Ball 2012: The Bank and Broker Panels

The Bank and Broker Panels Fidelity National Title Agency and Lawyers Title have assembled for Crystal Ball 2012, will provide their professional “in-the-trench” insight.

Reginald Givens

Reginald Givens will act as moderator of the Bank Panel.  Mr. Givens, Foreclosure Assistance Administrator with the Arizona Department of Housing, is working on the implementation and continuing development  of the State’s foreclosure prevention program, Save Our Home AZ, which is  a part of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund. Mr. Givens successfully coordinated the State’s Your Way Home AZ program which is a part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.  Additionally, he works on the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure with much needed loss mitigation counseling.  Through the combination of these programs, Mr. Givens is helping to bringing stability back to our housing market.

Elena Celestine, AVP-Short Sale External Engagement, Bank of America is an expert not only in short sales, but also in Equator.  Additionally, she is a well known national trainer and educator, helping real estate professionals understand the banking process significantly better.

Tracy King

Tracy King, Short Sale Manger, Wells Fargo Bank, began her career in the banking industry in 1994 and has had the opportunity to oversee loan origination, underwriting and appraisals groups throughout her career.  Ms. King works with Realtors to utilize a short sale through Wells Fargo as an alternative to Foreclosure.  She currently focuses on the Arizona, Texas and Washington marketplaces and works primarily with the Wachovia, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Financial and the FHA portfolios. Ms. King has helped thousands of Realtors and homeowners come to a successful short sale resolution with Wells Fargo.

Jeff Caicco

Jeff Caicco, SVP Default Services, CitiBank, heads the Citibank Short Sale department, responsible for overseeing all programs and portfolios nationally. Mr. Caicco has been involved in the mortgage industry for over a quarter of a century, spending over 14 years specifically dedicated to mortgage default servicing. 

Chris Eymann

Also on the panel are David Spencer, REO/ASA/Short Sale Specialist, Chase Bank and Chris Eymann, Owner, SellWholesaleHouses.com.

Moderating the Broker Panel will be Melissa Shapiro, SVP Sales & Marketing, Fidelity National Title Agency, Maricopa County, and John Foltz, SVP Sales Manager, Lawyers Title, Maricopa County.

Mark Stark

Bringing more than 25 years of industry experience to the panel is Mark Stark, CEO, Prudential Americana Group & Prudential Arizona Properties.  Mr. Stark is responsible for the company’s overall strategic vision with an emphasis on growth and retention of its quality sales professionals.  Mr. Stark began his career as an agent in 1985 and five years later joined the management ranks of the company.  He shortly thereafter earned the privilege of running his own branch office, which at that time was the lowest producing office in the company.  Under Mr. Stark's leadership, in less than 3 years, his team transformed that office into the highest performing office. In 1997, he became a partner and CEO of Prudential, Americana Group. In 2004, Mr. Stark acquired 100% ownership in the company and remains its sole owner today.

Jeff Sutherlin

Jeff Sutherlin is not only the President of United Brokers Group, he is a co-founder, helping to turn an idea into a successful business.  Though he has significant experience in sales, his passion is helping other brokers improve their skills as much as possible.  Prior to starting his career in real estate, Mr. Sutherlin was in high tech, with Intel Corporation where he earned his MBA and became their Program Manager for safety, engineering, and quality projects worldwide. 

Kyle Wyloge

Kyle Wyloge, Owner, Momentum Brokers, has a heritage in both real estate and Arizona, opening his own brokerage company at the age of only 23. Mr. Wyloge’s personal area of focus has been working with investors and since mid-2008 he has represented over 500 purchases at auction in Arizona and Colorado. His firm has been successful in assisting investors in average annualized returns of 41% on their capital. With recent changes in the market and a shift towards long term hold investments, his firm has started property management and assisting investors in obtaining average net returns of 11%. 

Rachael Richards

Rachael Richards, Team Leader/Franchise Owner, began her real estate career in 2005 and continues to increase her position among top producers. Her team is currently ranked in the top 1% for sales production. Top Agent Magazine recently featured Ms. Richards in a nationwide article and Who's Who In Business ranks her among the top 10 female agents in Arizona for 2011 and 2012. Along with her husband/business partner, she opened HomeSmart Select in early 2012, and is the first HomeSmart franchise in Maricopa County.

Frank Russo

Frank Russo, Designated Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Professionals, has been working with RE/MAX for over 15 years and in real estate for over 30.  He specializes in working with sellers and negotiating contracts.  In conjunction with his partners, Mr. Russo owns six RE/MAX Professionals franchises.

Russell Shaw

Russell Shaw, Owner, The Russell Shaw Group, Realty ONE Group, began his real estate career in 1978. He is both a GRI and CRS, as well as a past President of the Arizona Certified Residential Specialists.  Mr. Shaw is a Lifetime Member of the President’s Roundtable. One of his highest honors was being ranked nationally #28 in 2002 and #30 for 2003 of all participating agents in the United States for "Most Homes Sold" by the National Association's Realtor Magazine.

Our stellar panelists and moderators look forward to sharing insightful and engaging discussion with you!

Crystal Ball 2013: General Panel & State of the Market Update

Lawyers Title and Fidelity National Title Agency are pleased to bring Crystal Ball 2013 to you, a rare opportunity to hear presentations from a wide range of stellar real estate professionals, who have decades of experience within the industry. 

John Foltz

To kick off this exciting event, the General Panel will be moderated by John Foltz and Melissa Shapiro.  Both intend to facilitate a thoughtful and useful discussion on Arizona Real Estate.

John Foltz, Senior Vice President, Sales Manager at Lawyers Title Maricopa County, is one of the most recognizable faces in the industry.  During his more than 45 years as an industry member and leader, Mr. Foltz served in many leadership positions, including but not limited to: Designated Broker for 21 years, President for 12, at one of Arizona’s largest real estate firms and President of the Arizona Association of Realtors.  

Melissa Shapiro

Melissa Shapiro has 15 years of experience in sales, and has repeatedly shown herself to be exceptionally successful in the difficult field of real estate.  She currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Fidelity National Title Agency.  

Michael Orr, the director of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice at Arizona State University, will introduce the general panel.  His work provides daily insight into the inner workings of the Phoenix real estate market, which he makes available through the Cromford Report.

Judy Lowe

From the Arizona Department of Real Estate, Judy Lowe will be able to provide her unique perspective on the business of real estate.  Ms. Lowe has served as President of both the National and Arizona Association of Realtors and currently functions as the Commissioner of the Arizona Department of Real Estate.  Prior to this, she worked as a real estate secretary, broker, and business owner.  Her vast experience will provide thoughtful input into the discussion.

JoAnn & Joseph Calloway

Among the various real estate agents represented will be JoAnn and Joseph Calloway from Those Calloways.  They work to ensure a client focused business, adding their own personal touch to each home they sell. They have sold more than 4,000 homes, totaling in excess of a billion dollars, and walk their talk of "Clients First". Ms. Calloway negotiates every contract, and Mr. Calloway creates and oversees all advertising and marketing. 

Brian Gubernick  is one of Keller Williams Realty's top 50 producers in the world. Over the past 3 years, Mr. Gubernick and his team, Homehelper Consultants, have assisted nearly 800 individuals and families with their real estate needs. Mr. Gubernick is a respected authority on the short sale process and has instructed thousands of Realtors® across the nation. He has been featured in both Forbes and Money Magazines, as well as on various local television and radio programs.

Gina McKinley

Gina McKinley is the Designated Broker and Owner for RE/MAX Masters and the Team Leader for The McKinley Group. Ms. McKinley has worked hard to service her clients by obtaining designations and special education of Certified Distressed Property Expert, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyers Representative, Certified Investor Agent Specialist, and the Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Ms. McKinley has been recognized by RE/MAX International with the prestigious Hall of Fame Award and by the Southeast Valley Association of Realtors as a "Top 1%". 

Nate Martinez

Nate Martinez brings insight from his 25+ years in real estate to the panel. He continuously attends seminars throughout the country gathering from and sharing ideas with the best agents in the industry and has personally trained hundreds of agents internationally.  Mr. Martinez strives to stay in the forefront of technology and is not afraid of "keeping in step with the times". His experience in negotiating contractsm be it short sale, foreclosure, or an equity sale, benefits his clients whewn buying or selling a home. 

This group of panelists will ensure a lively and informative client-centered discussion, don’t miss it!

Getting the Real “Dirt”

Whether its Phoenix real estate you’re looking at, or Glendale homes for sale, even when you’ve narrowed your choices down to just two or three houses, there is a massive amount of information that you need to obtain, understand, and evaluate to determine if a house is your future home.  Here are a few general sources of information.

Inside the House - Obvious, right?  But what are you looking for?  Besides the layout, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, there can be several indications that this house might have some damage that’s worth looking into.  Any water damage can be a sign of plumbing, drainage, or flooding problems.  Pest problems can show up as smells or even as damage to the wood. 

Outlets can give a quick check as to whether older houses have been modified with modern safety equipment.  Look for three pronged outlets and a test/reset switch.  Both are relatively new, so show there has been some attempt to bring the electrical system up to date. 

Before you buy a house, be sure to have it inspected by a reliable professional who can give you an estimate of what repairs and maintenance will cost.

Current Homeowners - Some home sellers decide to provide disclosures to prospective home buyers.  Your real estate agent will obtain these if they’re available.  They will discuss the problems the home has had and what’s been done to repair them.  If there’s something that has been frequently repaired, it will likely continue to need maintenance in the future.

Even without a disclosure, homeowners can provide helpful advice.  If you intend to remodel, mention your vision to them.  It’s possible they have the same thought, but ran into some problem or unexpected cost that prevented the remodel.  Knowing if your options are limited is important.

The Neighborhood - If a neighborhood association is present, that’s great.  It means the area is a community and will likely act to increase the security and feeling of the neighborhood as a whole.  Be sure to visit a few blocks in every direction.  A noisy or smelly site nearby can be a significant disadvantage.  Also, talk to neighbors.  They generally don’t have a vested interest in selling the house, so will often talk honestly about problems in the area.

The News - Is the area prone to flooding?  Robberies?  News stories will often show dangers you weren’t considering.

The Paperwork - Ask for utility bills, tax bills, and any documentation of improvements to the house.  A cheap improvement may not be a lasting one, so consider all costs spent and to be spent.

Working with a real estate professional to find your dream home, will save you research time and ensure you are armed with all relevant information to size up a home’s real fit for you. 

Small Bucks For Big Bang!

Home improvements should add both personal enjoyment and return on investment when you sell. You needn’t spend big remodeling dollars to add enjoyment and value to your home.  Improvements in storage, open floor plans, light and bright rooms, and curb appeal are some of the top things that draw buyers and will increase your own love affair with your home.

Look in a large percentage of home garages, and they resemble storage units.  It seems few homes have enough storage space, so anything you can do to maximize storage will boost home value. Storage improvements can happen in all sorts of ways, from making usable space out of wasted space, adding shelves, cubes, etc., to increasing closet and cabinet storage space with double rods, lazy Susan’s, racks, and other organization essentials.  

Lighting in a home can affect mood and livability while also accentuating the home's design and architectural features. You'll be amazed by how well-placed lighting can make your rooms more inviting.  Add lighting wherever there is a need, whether ambient, task, or accent lighting, and update old fixtures with newer models.

For improving natural lighting, replacing a standard window with a bay window makes a room feel larger and also lets in more light than a regular window.  For added storage and function, add a built-in window seat with a bench that opens. 

A small spruce up of your landscaping can make a huge impact in increasing curb appeal and bettering the first impression of your home. Trim overgrown landscaping, fill in bare spots, and add a bit of seasonal color.  An appealing, well-cared for landscape suggests to buyers that your entire home is equally well-cared for.

A modest investment and some weekend labor can help you net a better price on your home; worth it don't you think?!