I have been talking about this for some time now, and those actively seeking a new home right now, know all about this.  If you have been thinking about getting into the market as a buyer, you need to have a conversation about this now so that you can be properly prepared.  I'll be happy to help

Sincerely,

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ 85050
www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

There are now currently 79 active listings of homes for sale in Desert Ridge (including specs).   These listings encompass all areas and styles within Desert Ridge.  Desert Ridge includes condos, townhomes and single family detached homes.  These properties include clustered homes with smaller lots, to golf course lots providing a wide range of lifestyles within the vibrant community of Desert Ridge.

Currently, the listings range in price from $190,00 to $699K and in size from approximately 1246 square feet with 2 beds and 2 baths to 4986 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.  Desert Ridge also includes many basement floorplans, which is something hard to find in many parts of the Phoenix area.  There are currently 78 properties under contract at time of writing this blog.

You can see the currently active listings by following this link:Desert Ridge Homes for Sale.

As new listings come to market in Desert Ridge, new posts will reflect the market activities.  If you are considering a purchase of a condo, townhome or single family home in Desert Ridge, please contact me to find out about my service guarantee and current market condtions.

Desert Ridge is a wonderful masterplanned community with "excelling" schools, convenient shopping, dining and entertainment and easy freeway access.  To learn more, visit www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ 85050
480-236-7374

This 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 is not an REO, short sale or investor flip. Lovingly remodeled 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 from top to bottom in 2011. This Mid-Century brick gem 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 is located in the Jackson Villa community of quaint brick homes in the Green Gables neighborhood, convenient to SR51,202I-10,Phoenix Children's Hospital downtown Phoenix & more. The completely remodeled Kitchen of this 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 features an all new layout with new cabinets, high end appliances, including an induction cook top, stainless steel fridge, modern design range hood, farmhouse sink and butcher block counters.The dishwasher of this 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 even has a cabinet front. Travertine tile in the kitchen and baths. Hi end laminate throughout the remainder of the 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006 looks like scraped wood! Both baths have been completely remodeled and the Hall shower surround features subway tile. New electric, new plumbing, new fans, new fixture and new doors grace this wonderful 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006. Dual Pane windows, dimension shingle roof and so much more. Creighton Elementary School District, Phoenix Union High School District by this 3 bedroom home in Jackson Villa Phoenix AZ 85006

Despite the disparity in prices, the atmosphere in the market is much like it was during the peak times.  Most properties in this price range are selling with multiple offers, most above list price and many the first day.  I got two offers accepted this week, and it feels like a miracle happened.  One of those has put in more than a dozen strong offers before this one was accepted.  The other, while luckily getting the first one offered on, quickly realized that the information I supplied in our initial meeting was spot on.  Before this offer, there were a few properties that they were interested in, but never got to offer on because they were off the market in a day. Some clients have busy schedules and can't get out to look immediately.

I have another client who has also put in more than a dozen different offers only to be rejected.  One of those last week was for a property that actually recieved 60 (yes that is sixty) offers.  Doesn't sound like a buyers market to me.

A big issue with this type of market is that offers are competing in a small range.  Appraisals are based off closed listings, and while adjustments can be made for market conditions, they don't provide a wide berth beyond the hard statistics.  Cash buyers are ruling the day because they aren't worrying about whether the property will appraise.

The upper end of the market, price wise, isn't feeling this yet, as there is still a large amount of higher end inventory.  Still overall, we should see continuing increases this year.  Adding to the demand are people who lost their homes in the early years of the downturn who may now be eligible to get new loans.  It continues to get interesting.

Not an REO, Short sale or flip, just a traditional sale! Wonderful 2 bed, 2 bath + loft townhome, located next to the pool in a quiet, private neighborhood. Fabulous location within 1 mile of Paradise Valley Mall, SR 51, Stonecreek Golf, and plenty of shopping. This lovely home features high ceilings for an open feel, galley style kitchen with marble tile counters and backsplash, two private patios with sliding glass door access. Dual Vanity in master, tile on 1st floor, cozy FP in great room, built in garage storage and work space and all appliances. All this and an attached 2 car garage!

What sets a good agent apart from an average agent?  I am sure that you will hear ten different answera if you talk to ten different people.  So, this isn't going to cover everything.  But one of the things that will separate them is the range of services offered to clients. 

Almost everyone of my clients asks if I know someone that could help them with.......... Fill in the blank, it could be anything.  The obvious choices are lender, attorney, title information, as well as painter, plumber, electrician and more.  I work with a lot of out of town buyers, mostly Canadian, and I try to anticipate the questions that typically get asked, and even have a lot of general info on my web site to help.  The questions usually revolve around the differences in the buying process from locale to locale, tax issues, legal questions and market conditions. It's interesting that I never hear anything about how they should exchange money and pay for the purchase.  Most, are paying cash, and occasionally, I'll get someone looking to take a loan.  I have lenders to refer.  But, most of my clients are content with changing their money through their bank and typically complain after the fact about how much the bank charged or that the exchange wasn't what they expected.  After negotiating a price for the home to get the best deal, many people often waste money on the exchange rate.

Yesterday, I met with representative of FIRMA Foreign Exchange, and I will be happy to refer them to my clients looking to save on the exchange.  They were referred to me by other referral partners.  Obviously, how much a client can save will depend on how much the purchase is and what rates their banks are offering, but it is nice to have a choice.

What it comes down to is that I want my clients to find the best property for their needs, at the best price in the market and with the least overall costs to close.  Having the right partners and referrals can make all the difference to keeping everyone happy.  By the way, I typically recommend two or three for any one field simply because personalities vary and I want my client to pick who they are comfortable with.  I am happy to have another aspect of the business covered for my clients.

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate

Phoenix, AZ

There were 16 sales during the month of February.  These inlcuded condos and single family detached homes.  There were 10 condos ranging in price from $164,000 to $301,666 and in size from 1246 to 1884 sq. ft.  All condos were 2 bed/2 bath. Average sold price per foot ($/ft) was 162.39 and the median $/ft was $155.48. Average sale price was $243,177 while the median was 252,500.  Average days on market was 97.

There were 6 single family homes ranging from $135,000 to $651,000 and from 1394 sf to 5050 sf. The average $/ft was $147.19 and the median was $150.21.  The average sale price was $426,833 and the median sale price was $482,500.  Average days on market was 43

Comparing year over year, sales for February were down considerably from Feb. 2011, which saw 41 sales.  But, the average price per foot saw significant increases.  The overall average price per foot increased almost 13.5% from $138.09 to $156.69. 

Price per foot was up 11.3% from January over all as well, but sales were down from January's total of 27  There were apparently MLS glitches when I put together last months numbers. At the time I originally blogged, only 11 sales were showing for January.  There are currently 77 properties under contract.  44 of those are short sales.  There are 92 active listings as of the writing of this blog.

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ
480-236-7374

There are now currently 92 active listings of homes for sale in Desert Ridge (including specs).   These listings encompass all areas and styles within Desert Ridge.  Desert Ridge includes condos, townhomes and single family detached homes.  These properties include clustered homes with smaller lots, to golf course lots providing a wide range of lifestyles within the vibrant community of Desert Ridge.

Currently, the listings range in price from $145,00 to $709K and in size from approximately 1246 square feet to 4289 square feet.  Desert Ridge also includes many basement floorplans, which is something hard to find in many parts of the Phoenix area.  There are currently 78 properties under contract at time of writing this blog.

You can see the currently active listings by following this link: Desert Ridge Homes for Sale.

As new listings come to market in Desert Ridge, new posts will reflect the market activities.  If you are considering a purchase of a condo, townhome or single family home in Desert Ridge, please contact me to find out about my service guarantee and current market condtions.

Desert Ridge is a wonderful masterplanned community with "excelling" schools, convenient shopping, dining and entertainment and easy freeway access.  To learn more, visit www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ 85050
480-236-7374
www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

Once again the weather is supposed to be absolutely glorious this weekend.  So get out an have some fun.  Of course hiking one of the Phoenix area mountains should always be on your list if you want physical activity, but there is so much more to do inside and outside.  Here are a few events to consider:

It's a familiar refrain at this time of year... The Birds are Back!  It's time for the Chandler Ostrich Festival. The 24th Annual Ostrich Festival will again take place at Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park at the corner of McQueen and Germann (2250 S. McQueen Rd. - just south of the Loop 202 San Tan freeway at McQueen). March 9-11 For more info click here

The Phoenix Art Museum is always a great place to visit to feed your eyes and soul on fabulous art. This weekend you can actually feed your palate and stomach too! Check out Devoured!   Devoured, an independently edible award-winning culinary event, is a luscious showcase of Arizona's finest independent restaurants, chefs, wineries and industry purveyors in a distinctly Phoenix setting – Phoenix Art Museum. Inspired by Local First Arizona, Devoured brings together the culinary leaders that are establishing metro Phoenix as a premier culinary destination. March 10 & 11 from 11A-3P.  For more details click here

Looking for a free event, check out the Litchfield Art and Culinary Festival in Litchfield Park.  Experience the legendary lure of the Southwest through a celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts. Whether you love fine dining, superior wines, extraordinary art, or you just love the relaxed ambiance of outdoor festivals, this is your destination.

Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11    9-5 both days  For more info click here

Whether you want an organized event or just want to get out on your own, there is plenty to do.  Have a great weekend!

Do New Construction Buyers Need a Realtor?

By Andrew Hill @ www.NewHomeSource.com

As gas prices rice, unemployment remains steady, and economies around the world remain shaky, nearly everyone is asking themselves, “How can I save more money?” Due to the bursting of the housing bubble and the subsequent “buyer’s market,” many Americans, with the funds to do so, have decided to snatch up a house while prices are low. However, the lingering fear of economic fallout leaves new home buyers especially tight-fisted with their money in an effort to not lose a single hard-earned penny in the transaction.

Sound familiar? If you’re one of the many people in the market for new construction, then you may be surprised to hear that the best way you can save money is by hiring a realtor. Really? Absolutely!

What many home buyers- and even some homeowners- don’t realize is that realtor’s commissions are 100% paid for by the seller! What does this mean to the buyer? It means that by foregoing the services of a realtor under the assumption that it will cost you money, you are actually setting yourself up to lose money in your home purchase.

Fair enough. But let’s say you just don’t like dealing with realtors. Furthermore, you meet the home builder’s agent who seems to want to give you a great deal on the home. Think again. Coming into the deal without representation won’t give you a bit of sympathy from these agents. Much like a court case, they are hired to represent the interests of their client, the builder. The builder and builder’s agent won’t cut you a 3% deal because you’re lacking an agent. They’ll simply pocket the profit, with the agent possibly getting a higher sales commission.

A realtor’s job as your agent is to represent your needs and the wealth of knowledge and resources that an agent brings to the table is far too valuable to pass up. During the transaction, your agent will strive to get you the best deal possible, sometimes even influencing the builder to bend on those “non-negotiables.” A good agent will also insist that you have a quality home inspection. Without such insistence, you could potentially buy a new home that had not been inspected, only to see it fall apart later because you skipped on consulting a realtor.

So if you’re looking to save money in your next real estate venture, then why wouldn’t you use a realtor? Whatever your needs may be, make sure to contact Adam Tarr for quality real estate assistance.

Scottsdale, the "West's Most Western Town" is home to the annual Parada Del Sol.  Enjoy a weekend of boot stompin' fun.  Activities include PRCA sanctioned rodeo, dances, live music and children's activities.  This is an official Centennial event! 

 For a schedule of events, check out the Parada del Sol website

Batter Up!  It's time for Cactus League Spring Training Baseball!!!  Games start this weekend for 15 Cactus League teams in 10 stadiums across the whole metro Phoenix area.  Sure, it's only spring training, but nothing beats the up close and personal feel you get when seeing a game in a spring training stadium.  For more info and schedules check out http://www.cactusleague.com/

Ready for some noise.  It's time for the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix Intl Raceway. March 2-4.  Multiple races through the weekend.  After last week's interesting Daytona, what will happen next?  No rain delays here!  For more info check out http://www.phoenixraceway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2011/Subway-Fresh-Fit-500.aspx

Quiet events more your speed?  Check out the Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival in Carefree.  More than 150 jury selected artists from throughout the United States and abroad display thousands of original pieces of art. You will find small to life-sized bronzes, paintings, pottery, photography, scratchboard, wood, clay, metal sculptures, glass sculptures and more.

Friday through Sunday, March 2-4.
This event takes places from 10am-5pm.
Click here for more info

Got a hankerin' for some good BBQ.  Head out to Surprise for the Surprise BBQ Festival.  Over 30 BBQ teams will come in from all over the country to battle for $10,000 in prize money, cooking their best chicken, pork, ribs, brisket. They’ll sell $2 samples of this competition BBQ all day! Throughout the festival, you’ll find full plates of BBQ, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and lots of fun food for the kiddos. Expect live bands, a huge kid’s zone, fun contests, rides, a whiskey tasting expo, and a lot more!

Saturday, March 3rd.11am-7pm.
Adult tickets are $10, kids under 12 are FREE.

For more info, click here

Of Course, don't forget the ongoing Renaissance Festival in Apache Junction.  Every weekend through April 1
For more info -

There is always something going on aside from these events.  Get out and enjoy!

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ 85050
480-236-7374
adam@WeAreAZRealEstate.com



There are now currently 88 active listings of homes for sale in Desert Ridge (including specs).   These listings encompass all areas and styles within Desert Ridge.  Desert Ridge includes condos, townhomes and single family detached homes.  These properties include clustered homes with smaller lots, to golf course lots providing a wide range of lifestyles within the vibrant community of Desert Ridge.

Currently, the listings range in price from $145,500 to $680K and in size from approximately 1246 square feet to 4289 square feet.  Desert Ridge also includes many basement floorplans, which is something hard to find in many parts of the Phoenix area.  There are currently 78 properties under contract at time of writing this blog.

You can see the currently active listings by following this link: Desert Ridge Homes for Sale.

As new listings come to market in Desert Ridge, new posts will reflect the market activities.  If you are considering a purchase of a condo, townhome or single family home in Desert Ridge, please contact me to find out about my service guarantee and current market condtions.

Desert Ridge is a wonderful masterplanned community with "excelling" schools, convenient shopping, dining and entertainment and easy freeway access.  To learn more, visit www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ 85050
480-236-7374
www.WeAreAZRealEstate.com

There were 11 sales during the month of January.  These inlcuded condos and single family detached homes.  The condos ranged in price from $158,000 to $249,900 and in size from 1386 to 1469 sq. ft.  All condos were 2 bed/2 bath.  The single family homes ranged from $186,000 to $695,500 and from 1444 sf to 5123 sf.

Comparing year over year, sales for January were down considerably from Jan. 2011, which saw 32 sales.  But, the average price per foot saw significant increases.  The overall average price per foot increased almost 13.5% from $124.68 to $141.51.  This breaks down for single family detached homes as a an 8% increase from $120.59 to $130.40 per foot. Condos/townhomes saw a 13% increase from $136.94 to $154.84.  Single family sales outweighed condos 3 to one in Jan. 2011, while the split was almost even last month.

Price per foot was up 2.25% from December over all as well, but sales were down more than half from December.  There are currently 32 properties under contract.  The overwhelming majority of those are short sales.  There are 80 active listings as of the writing of this blog.

Adam Tarr PC
Citywide Real Estate
Phoenix, AZ
480-236-7374
adam@WeAreAZRealEstate.com