Archive for June, 2009
6 Tips to Cooling and Heating Your Home Efficiently
June 30th, 2009
Categories:Home Ownership
Summer’s here and I thought it would be fitting to write about heating and cooling your home efficiently… however, those of you in Arizona using the heater this time of year, should probably seek some help… that or close the freezer and fridge already!
The average home uses half of their energy to heat and cool the home. With such a big portion of the energy bill going towards heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), it pays to take sometime to make the home more efficient when it comes to heating and cooling.
6 Tips to Cooling and Heating Your Home Efficiently
- Change your air filter regularly
- Get an annual HVAC tune up
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Seal your heating and cooling ducts
- Consider installing Energy Star qualified equipment
- Ask about proper installation of your new equipment
-
Read the rest of this entry »
| Comments: 1 Comment »
The Closing Table – What to Know
June 29th, 2009
Categories:Home Buyer Education
Once the contract has been accepted its time to focus on getting across the finish line. Often the anticipation of moving in creates a rush to wrap up the transaction as quickly as possible.
No matter how exciting the finish line may look, it is important to keep in mind the most critical part of the transaction occurs at the closing table. Once you sign the loan documents and record title, the home is yours along with all the responsibilities and any details hidden in the paperwork, which is all too often over looked.
Here is an outline of what is covered in this article:
- Preclosing Procedures -What the buyer and seller need consider and do before closing
- Closing Figures and Fees – What to numbers to look for and double check
- Prorations - And explanation and definitions
- Closing Time – What to expect when it comes time to sign your loan docs and who should be there
- Sample Closing Statement – Get a sneak peak at what you’ll be looking over
- RESPA and Closing - RESPA is on your side and here’s why
- Closing Table Resources – Links to the U.S. Department of Housing
-
| Comments: 1 Comment »
4th of July Fireworks Events in Gilbert
June 24th, 2009
Categories:East Valley News
-
Where are the fireworks celebrations this year?
While some places such as MCC have decided to cancel their celebrations this year, we have found several other places that are continuing to invest in celebrating Independence day regardless of today’s economy.
Here’s a list of places to watch the fireworks celebrations in the East Valley along with maps and directions. Read the rest of this entry »
| Comments: Please leave a comment.
Realtors, an Educated Crowd?
June 24th, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Is the real estate industry filled with professional, educated and experienced Realtors? Or are they just a bunch of high school dropouts?
Arizona is home to over 63,000 Realtors. Ready for another surprising statistic? According to ARMLS, just over 9,000 homes were sold in Arizona last month… which means there are 7 Realtors for every home that sold last month. Which clearly points out there are far too many Realtors in this industry and not enough of them are serious about their career Read the rest of this entry »
| Comments: 1 Comment »
Market Value vs Market Price
June 23rd, 2009
Categories:Home Buyer Education
Appraising a home is a very detailed and methodical way to reach an opinion of value. While an appraiser is skilled at acquiring the most relevant amount of information possible and using that information to determine the value of a home, there is always a human factor involved with the market price.
To put it simply, a home may be valued at a certain, number but it will always be the home buyer that determines the price it will sell for.
Market Value
The goal of an appraiser is to estimate the most probable price a home will sell for in the current market, this is referred to as the market value. The market value has three assumptions about the transaction.
- The sale occurs in an open and competitive market
- The buyer and seller both act prudently and with knowledge
- The market value depends on the price not being affect by unusual circumstances
These additional factors are essential to determining Read the rest of this entry »
| Comments: 1 Comment »
Appraisal Resources
June 23rd, 2009
Categories:Home Buyer Education
Here are a list of website with information regarding the appraisal industry.
Websites
- American Society of Appraisers
- American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
- Appraisal Foundation
- Appraisal Institute
- International Right of Way Association
- National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers
- National Association of Master Appraisers
| Comments: Please leave a comment.
Three Approaches to Real Estate Value
June 23rd, 2009
Categories:Home Buyer Education
Appraisers use three methods to determine the value of a property. Depending on the property, each approach will be more relevant or less relevant to the value of the property. Appraisers will often use a process called Reconciliation which takes into consideration how well each approach applies to the property being appraised.
Here are the three approaches to value:
- Sales Comparison Approach
- Cost Approach
- Income Approach
Method 1: Sales Comparison Approach
This is also known as the market data approach and is Read the rest of this entry »
| Comments: Please leave a comment.