Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win – April 1st Deadline!


We’re holding a giveaway! Let’s take a look at all the details. 

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We’re doing something a little differently today. Instead of our usual educational content, we’re excited to announce that we’re giving away a new YETI Soft Cooler Hopper. The deadline to enter is April 1, but this is no April Fool’s joke. To qualify, all we ask is that you give us just one online review. Entering to win is really that simple! If you aren’t familiar with YETI products already, allow me to tell you a little bit about them. They are basically the gold standard right now for outdoor apparel and products. The soft cooler we’re giving away is one of their signature items. As I said before, entering to win is as simple as leaving a review on any one of our three review pages. I’ve provided the links to these pages below:
For each review you leave us, we’ll put one registration into the drawing. So if you review us on all three sites, you’ll be entered three times.

We’re giving away a new YETI Soft Cooler Hopper, and entering to win is simple.

The winner will be announced April 2, so be sure to enter by the deadline and stay tuned! If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The State of the Market Address: Where Are We Headed?


What does the trajectory of the state of our market look like this year? I have three key points to discuss.

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In light of the State of the Union address that the president gives at the beginning of every year, I’m going to give a State of the Market address. There will be three main points to cover which will dictate the trajectory of the Arizona housing market for 2018. The first point to address is the current rise of mortgage interest rates. We’ve been fortunate to have the rates be as low as they have been, but, according to Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the days of the sub-4% interest rate are now over. The question now is whether a 5% interest rate is still a good rate. Absolutely it is! When I purchased my own home back in 2008 at a rate that was less than 6%, I was ecstatic. Traditionally, that is a very good rate. The next point is the lack of inventory. As of right now, there are 10% fewer homes on the market than there were just a year ago. As demand increases, supply either remains steady or decreases, causing a pinch in the market that actually makes your house worth a little more. Home values are increasing, so if you want to take advantage of that, now is a great time to sell.

According to Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the days of the sub-4% interest rate are now over.

The third point to discuss is the fact that mortgage applications are also increasing. According to a study, applications in January alone were up 4.1% year over year. We’re seeing increases in refinances as well, not just purchase loan applications. The increase in applications is primarily from the addition of refinances; the study shows that new home purchase loan applications have remained steady. What does this mean for the trajectory of the state of the market this year? It means that we’re going to have a pretty good market, overall. Even if you’re looking to buy in this seller’s market, historically, this is still a good time to do so because you can still lock in a 30-, 20-, or 15-year mortgage at 4% or just a little above. There’s one more thing to remember: If you’re a homebuyer looking for down payment assistance, there are plenty of loan programs with Maricopa County that will allow you to have a free down payment up to 5% if you qualify by making less than $88,000 per year and having over a 640 FICO score. It’s free money, so take advantage. In addition, we negotiate with the seller to pay your closing costs so that you can go to purchase a home with nothing out of pocket. If you have any questions or would like our help, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be glad to assist you.

3 Energy-Saving Tips This Winter


Even the desert gets cold sometimes. Here’s how to keep your energy costs low when it does.

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We’re fortunate that it doesn’t ever get too cold here in the desert, but we all know that it does get chilly at night around this time of year. Here are three tips to help you save some money on energy costs in your home during this time:

1. Get a draft snake. You can get these in a ton of different designs, and they fit right under your door to help keep warm air in and cool air out.

Draft snakes come in many different colors and designs.

2. Reverse the ceiling fans. Most of us don’t do this, but it’s a really good tip. Cold air tends to hang around your feet. By reversing the fan, you bring that cold air up and make the home warmer. The best part is that it’s so easy. There’s a switch on your fan that will reverse it.

3. Flush your water heater. By simply draining this, you can get rid of a lot of sediment and particles that tend to build up and cause the system to run less efficiently

I hope these tips help out. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.