Let's Play Golf in Sun City, Arizona

It's Tee Off Time!



Did you know that Sun City has 8 golf courses?  There are five regulation and three executive courses that span 1,100 acres and are within 6 miles of each other.  They are open to homeowners and the general public.  A number of tournaments are held during the year.

To learn more go to:  http://suncitygolfing.com.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY

         

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

All Dressed Up:

 Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

·         Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.

·         Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.  Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.

·         When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

·         If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.

·         Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts. 

 Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

 Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

                                                              

Sun City Arizona, Your Home Away From Winter!

Sun City is located in the Valley of the Sun, just 17 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. It is a master-planned community developed by Del Webb designed for active adults. 

 The climate in the valley of the sun has approximately 312 clear, sunny days each year. It only rains about 7 ½ inches per year. It does get warm in the summer, but with low humidity it´s tolerable. Besides everything is air Besides everything is air Besides everything is air

conditioned! 

You can enjoy bowling, billiards, tennis, handball, racquetball, shuffleboard, bocce ball, miniature golf, fitness gyms, swimming, slow pitch softball and horseshoes, just to name a few. There are arts & crafts rooms for every hobby imaginable. The residents can use all of the above facilities for a nominal annual recreation fee. 

 

The lifestyle here is casual, southwestern and relaxed. Nowhere else does the "ENJOY LIFE" attitude flourish as it does here. Everyone living in the Sun Cities has moved here from somewhere else. They have come from every state in the union and some foreign countries, as well. You owe it to yourself to come to Arizona, look us over, and visit the Northwest Valley of the Sun. You may even want to move here, I did!

                                                                       

 

 

No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you

Tell Me About Credit Scores

Your credit score influences the credit that’s available to you and the terms (interest rate, etc.) that lenders offer you. It’s a vital part of your credit health.

When you apply for a mortgage – lenders want to know what risk they'd take by loaning money to you. When lenders order your credit report, they can also buy a credit score that’s based on the information in the report. A credit score helps lenders evaluate your credit report because it is a number that summarizes your credit risk, based on a snapshot of your credit report at a particular point in time.

Credit scores are often called “FICO Scores” because most credit bureau scores used in the U.S. are produced from software developed by FICO (Fair Isaac and Company). But it’s important to understand that not every credit score you can buy online is a true FICO Score.  FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850. That FICO Score is calculated by a mathematical equation that evaluates many types of information from your credit report, at that agency. By comparing this information to the patterns in hundreds of thousands of past credit reports, the FICO Score estimates your level of future credit risk.

What Is PMI?

What is PMI?

Lenders typically require a down payment of at least 20 percent of the purchase price. Private Mortgage Insurance makes it possible for a homebuyer to obtain a mortgage with a down payment as low as 5% and for low-to-moderate income homebuyers as low as 3%. Private mortgage insurance may be also required when buying a second home or refinancing an existing mortgage with cash out. Mortgage insurance protects the mortgage lender against financial loss if a borrower defaults.

Low down payment mortgages are becoming more and more popular. Mortgage insurance allows borrowers to purchase a more expensive home than they might otherwise be able to afford. With lower down payment you retain more for home furnishings, or buying a car or other investments.

Typically, a portion of the mortgage insurance premium (depending on the premium plan chosen) is paid up front at closing, and the rest is paid as part of the monthly mortgage payment. Under an annual plan, a borrower pays the first-year premium at closing. Monthly plan allows homebuyers to pay 1 or 2 month's mortgage insurance premium at closing. With single premium plan a borrower need to pay a one-time single premium. Some mortgage insurance plans adds the amount of the mortgage insurance premium to the loan amount. In that case, borrowers make no mortgage insurance payment at closing and the first insurance payment is made with the first mortgage principal and interest payment.

The mortgage insurance premium is based on loan to value ratio, type of loan, and amount of coverage required by the lender. The good faith estimate of closing costs provides the estimated premium and monthly cost for the private mortgage insurance coverage.

It may be possible to cancel private mortgage insurance at some point, such as when your loan balance is reduced to a certain amount - below 75% to 80% of the property value. The law in certain states requires that mortgage insurance be cancelled under some circumstances. But because of the wide variation in lender, investor and state requirements, it is necessary to find out the specific requirements for cancellation before you commit to paying for mortgage insurance.

Mortgage insurance should not be confused with mortgage life insurance, which is designed to pay off a mortgage in the event of the borrower's death.

PREQUALIFICATION

Before you start looking at homes, you need to have some idea of what you can afford. You can get an idea of what priced house you can afford by doing some simple calculations on your own. But because of many different factors involved, including your own financial situation and variations in the qualification guidelines for different mortgages, the most easiest and accurate way to determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for is to talk to a lender. So, before you begin your search for a home, it makes sense to speak with several local mortgage companies to check your mortgage power and see whether you can be prequalified. Lenders can also help you decide the kind of mortgage that's best for you.

During the prequalification process a lender reviews your financial situation applying basic underwriting standards (such as housing and debt ratios) and provides an estimate of how large a mortgage you can afford.

Then the lender provides a prequalification letter or certificate indicating the maximum loan for which you would qualify, usually subject to a satisfactory property appraisal and further verification of income, employment and credit history. While it doesn’t obligate the lender to approve your loan, it’s a way to help ensure that you will apply for a mortgage loan within your price range. Generally, there is no fee for prequalification.

It is highly recommended that you get prequalified before you begin your search for a home because:

• When you are prequalified you have more negotiating power with the seller and can save thousands of dollars as a result of being in a better negotiating situation.
• Prequalified buyers will be given preference in case of multiple offers.
• Many real estate agents will not begin working with you unless you get prequalified.
• The prequalification can save you much time and trouble by making certain you are looking in the correct price range.

Prequalification through a lender doesn't have to commit you to finance your home through that same lender. Indeed, if anything it's simply a chance for the lending company to market its services.

Today many lenders can prequalify you online. When you have been prequalified, ask the lender how long it will take to get your loan approved. It will help you to determine the right closing date you should designate in your purchase agreement.

Your Home Has Sold. Now What?

Let's Have a Garage Sale!

You have an accepted offer on your home, now what?  You look around and feel daunted with how much packing you will have to do.  One solution may be to have a Garage Sale.  Not only will you get rid of some of the unnecessary items, but you may make some money at the same time!

Garage sale, yard sale, tag sale, estate sale, basement sale, house sale, porch sale— whatever you call it, they're fun to have and, better yet, have the potential to add substantially to your personal bottom line! However, as with anything that's worth having, there are a few steps and guidelines you should follow to give your sale the best possible chance for worthwhile success. Here are some of the most popular suggestions from garage sale experts—both buyers and sellers alike.

Before the Sale

• Find out if your area requires a permit or has any restrictions regarding garage sales.
• When choosing items to sell, a good rule to follow is sell anything you have not used for a while, or that you don't foresee ever using again.
• Pick your sale dates. The most popular days are Thursday through Saturday on a non-holiday weekend.
• Place a short ad in your local newspaper. This will attract people who wouldn't normally see your street signs.
• Invite a neighbor or friend to join in your sale—the more stuff you have to sell, the better! Plus, it's cheaper to split the cost of the newspaper ad with someone.
• Price everything! Prices should generally be 10-50% of the original price of the item, depending on condition and desirability.
• For pricing, use permanent markers and removable self-adhesive labels.
• Price items in increments of 25 cents for easy change-making.
• Anything damaged or not in working order should be marked "as is".
• Make signs to post on your front lawn and permissible street corners.
• Signs should be big enough to read while driving by—at least 24" by 24"—with short, large text.

Balloons and large arrows are also helpful to direct customers to your sale.


Setting Up Your Selling Space

• Sweep and tidy the area and/or make sure your grass has been freshly mowed.
• Wash dirty items. People will pay more for something that is clean.
• Display your treasures in like categories, i.e.; kitchen stuff on one table; toys in one corner; music and videos in one box, etc.
• Keep smaller, more expensive items close by so you can keep your eye on them.
• If you are selling electrical appliances, have an outlet or long extension cord handy.
• Arrange tables and items so that traffic will flow naturally without bottlenecks.

Make sure any items you don't want to sell are put away or out of sight.


The Big Day!

• Have lots of coins and small bills available to make change—at least $20 worth.
• Don't leave your money unattended—better yet, wear a fanny pack or carpenter's apron to keep it with you.
• Only accept cash, unless you're willing to risk getting a bad check.
• Have plenty of bags and boxes available, plus old newspapers for packing breakables.
• Be prepared for buyers who want to bargain. If it's early in the morning, or you don't want to bargain, just say you think it's worth that price, or that you may lower the price later in the day if it doesn't sell.
• Don't allow strangers into your house—unless, of course, it's an inside sale.
• To avoid any hassles later on, post a sign that says "All Sales Final".
• Have pleasant music playing softly in the background.

Smile, sell and enjoy!


After the Sale

• Consider donating unsold items to charity. Some will even make pick ups.

TAKE YOUR SIGNS DOWN! :)  

 

A Word On Closing Costs

When figuring out how much you will need at the closing for your down payment, don't forget about the closing costs! As you might expect, these additional costs can add up significantly. Depending on the financing costs and the time of the month that you close, your actual closing costs may vary. Your realtor can give you an estimate of these costs, including your loan points, title search and insurance, attorneys' fees, and any transfer taxes or recording fees charged by your local government. There may also be property taxes, local association fees and home insurance that must be prepaid.  In other words, be knowledgeable of the closing process, and don't get caught short!

Which Improvements Pay Back?

Which Improvements Pay Back?

Recouping your remodeling investment may be your goal when you sell your house. But when it comes to resale value, all home improvements are not created equal. As a rule, kitchen remodeling projects and bathroom additions almost always pay back 90 percent or more of their costs. However, finishing a basement usually pays back less than 50 percent. Other improvements fall somewhere in between.

Some remodeling projects may improve your home without significantly increasing your home's value

Project	Cost	Average Payback
Add a new heating or air conditioning system	$2,000 to $4,500	100% for heating; 75% for air conditioning
Minor kitchen remodeling	$2,000 to $8,500	94% to 102%
Major kitchen remodeling	$9,000 to $25,000	90%
Add bathroom	$5,000 to $12,000	92%
Add a family room	$30,000	86%
Remodel bathroom	$8,500	77%
Add a fireplace	$1,500 to $3,000	75%
Build a deck	$6,000	73%
Remodel home office	$8,000	69%
Replace windows	$6,000	68% to 74%
Build a pool	$10,000 and up	44%
Install or upgrade landscaping	$1,500 to $15,000	30% to 60%
Finish basement	$3,000 to $7,000	15%

*Compiled from several published surveys

Understanding payback value
Payback value depends heavily on the real estate market and prevailing property values. If the market is slow, expect to see less payback than you would in a fast market. Also, consider the neighborhood: If you remodel your house to twice the size of the other homes on the block, it is unlikely that you will be able to sell at double the price. Issues that can influence payback value include:

§  Type of improvement
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects consistently return the most in resale value and almost always help sell a house. Converting a basement into a family room yields the smallest return on the investment.

§  Scope of improvement
Projects can be large or small. Sometimes, the cumulative effect of small projects can pay back more in resale value than that of larger projects. Small projects tend to be cosmetic in nature: fresh paint, new doors, garden windows, and ceiling fans. Large improvements involve adding or upgrading living space.

§  Desirability
Today's fad may be tomorrow's standard. Backyard decks, for example, were difficult to find 30 years ago; now they are common. Decks may not have paid back very much in resale value decades ago, but as decks have become more desirable, their resale value has increased.

§  Cost
The price of home improvements fluctuates depending on economic conditions and region. If remodeling costs are particularly high in your area (or home sale prices particularly low), you may not recoup as much on your investment as you would if costs were in sync with sales prices.

Ready to have an Open House?

With the cooler weather and sellers eager to get their home on the market, a great open house will be the key to getting the property sold.  Here are a few tips that you could use to spice up your home for the busy season approaching.

Putting your party dress on!  The most important thing you can do is to give your home a good thorough cleaning.  If you do not have the time to do it yourself, let me help you find someone to do it for you.

Put your treasures away.  If there isn’t a good reason for something being out in the open, store it and get it our of sight.  Your home should appear uncluttered.  If you have a small room, you may want to consider removing any nonessential furniture to help it appear larger and more inviting.

Now is a good time to look at the paint on your walls.  Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint is a very inexpensive and easy way to brighten your home and appear pride of ownership.

At show time, your realtor might want to bake some bread or cookies so the smell permeates the entire home.  The use of music playing in the background can be beneficial as long as it is soothing.  Strategically placed flowers will increase its ambiance.

Finally, it is important that you are away from your home during open house hours.  Prospective buyers tend to stay in a home longer and ask more questions of the realtor if they feel they are not intruding.

Happy showing!

Home Inspection

Home inspection is scheduled this afternoon for a charming house just south of Glendale and 39th Av.  It's in the perfect neighborhood for the buyers - close to family and friends - and it looks to be in great shape.  By noon we'll know just how great a shape.

Good News!

The lab report indicates that I have a very low risk of recurrence - so chemo is not warranted.  Good news! Instead I am taking a pill - once a day for the next five years.  There may be side effects - hot flashes and/or joint pain - but if there are, pharmacist says that usually they go away within four or five days once the body has had time to adjust.

So - that is 1825 pills plus one for Leap Year minus the one I took this morning.  If the world holds together for that long, with me with it, that'll be easy enough.  I started taking vitamins a few days ago - and maybe I am imagining it, but I think I have more energy.

I've been blessed.

The protocol is for me to see the oncologist, Dr. Choi, a month from now, to make sure the pill and I are getting along okay, then every two months - then after awhile every three months and at continuing decreasing intervals til we're done done done.

Physical therapy begins next week - prescribed by Dr. Angelchik for three times a week for six weeks, if needed.  The goal is to build strength, particularly in my right arm, and improve range of motion.

We have a health insurance change coming up in July and once that happens, I intend to join a fitness center. In the meantime, my friend Paige and I will resume our morning walks.  So all is well, very well.

Real Estate in Peoria AZ

Single family housing in Peoria, AZ is a tiny bit more plentiful - at least today - than what is available in Glendale.  The MLS is showing 388 single family homes for sale - that excludes condos and duplexes and manufactured homes - and, of course, that number will go up or down in the next 15 minutes.  

The least expensive looks to be a dump - that's code for a challenged-in-every-conceivable-way house - for $38k.  At the high end there is a $3.2 million property with eight bedrooms with over 10k square feet of living space - on 10+ acres.  With mountain views (of course).

The median listing is a to-be-built home in Sonoran Mountain Ranch - four bedrooms, three baths, three car garage with a 7200 sf lot - for $288,500.  That's $133/sf.

So, there's a little more to choose from in Peoria at the moment than in Glendale.  Lots of good value.  Prices are NOT going down - don't expect them too until the supply/demand thing changes.

Glendale AZ Real Estate

Just checked the Multiple Listing System - curious to see what's the latest by way of housing opportunities in Glendale.  There ARE good buys - but there IS NOT a lot from which to choose.  I restricted my search simply to single family homes (no condos, no duplexes, no manufactured homes) in Glendale - no restriction on age or size or features - and found that as of this morning, there are 335 actively for sale.  

The least expensive is listed at $35,000 and the most expensive $1.8 million.  The median (that's the one in the middle - not necessarily an average) is listed at $194,900 - built in 1987 in Deerview Subdivision, three bedrooms, three baths, two car garage, no pool, 2214 sf, $88+/sf.

Prices are going up ....

Not a lot of new builds in Glendale - I found one in the system built in 2013, an "in-fill."  Of course, by tomorrow this is old news - and the numbers will change ....

Another Value in Sun City

TThis is my latest listing in Sun City - a genuinely charming Fontaine model - 1410 sf - parquet tile in the living room, ceramic tile everywhere else except in the two bedrooms.  Screened-in back porch has saltillo tile.

Great location - two blocks east of 99th Avenue, about a half mile south of Bell in Sun City.  Quiet neighborhood (okay - most of Sun City is quiet, but this is too!) and close to the Bell Rec Center.

Sharon Forman staged - on a shoestring budget - and did a great job.  Looks cute - and it should because it IS cute.

It's been a rental for awhile and has been well taken care of.  All applicances are included, and the roof is about five years old.  Half a dozen or so citrus trees - one in the front yard and the rest in the back.  No fence - so there's no closed-in feeling.  Nobody but your neighbors to look at, although you're only a block from a golf course.

We're under contract - inspection is scheduled for tomorrow.  If all goes well we'll close on this one in mid-April.

Health Update

This is - I think - the last or the next-to-last health update.  Surgery went very very well.  I have nothing but good things to say for all the caregivers involved.  All signs are good for a long and healthy life.  A little detail, to give credit where it is due:

My general surgeon is/was Dr. Michael Stumpf.  He was referred by my plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul Angelchik.    They collaborated before and during the surgery - and their skill and kindness is even more than I could have hoped for.  Surgery was February 13th.  Dr. Stumpf removed the breast tissue - and followed the "cut here - save that" lines drawn by Dr. Angelchik.  Dr. Angelchik removed an implant, put in a new one, stitched me up -  boy, does that sound easy.

Release from hospital was February 14th.  I've had one follow-up visit with Dr. Stumpf - and won't see him again until September.  I've had a half dozen follow-ups with Dr. Angelchik, the next one scheduled early April.  He's prescribed physical therapy to build strength and improve range of motion - so that's in the works.

Next is oncology.  Dr. Stumpf recommend Dr. James Choi (whose office is conveniently close to a Starbucks) - and I've met with him once.  He will have another test run on the tumor to confirm that chemo is not warranted.  He is quite emphatic that follow-up hormone replacement therapy is not an option - that it is a "gotta do."  Will know more about that in a couple of weeks.  I'll continue to see Dr. Choi - probably for the next five years.

So - when I say I am good, I mean that all reports indicate good health, that I feel good, that I am aware that  my outcome is wonderfully positive and I am very grateful.  What an understatement.  I've been back at work since sometime toward the end of February - and continue to look for more real estate business.  It's out there - I just need more than my fair share ....

Open House on Star Ridge

I'm not sure why, but this is the first time I've held open house at this listing - and it was a great success.  We had more than a half dozen visitors in two hours, and all the feedback is very positive. 

Positive feedback is all I would have expected.  It's a one bedroom, one bath upstairs condo with a view of the golf course in Sun City West.  Completely furnished with nice furniture -  attractive and in good condition.  Appliances are included.  Newer carpet.  Tile where there should be tile.  The unit is nicely painted - pretty colors - the homeowner is responsible for the interior and the condo association takes care of the exterior.  Great view of the golf course.  And - it is rentable!

Often with an open house I'm my myself - not this time.  Before I had the door closed, a neighbor came and before he left, a couple of bicyclists came followed by more and more and more - and I was not alone for even a minute in the two hours that I was there.

Most of today's lookers admitted to being curious and not being buyers - but the last people to come are doing more than looking.  A lady and her friend are - I think - the real deal.  She's a nine-month resident, and this furnished, clean, move-in ready condo with its beautiful view suits her.  We'll see if her look turns into a contract.  That would be a good thing ....

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Chaparral Ranch - I knew it wouldn't last

My client accepted a great offer on this listing the other day - we're now in our inspection period.  And, wouldn't you know it, we've had two other showings, even though the house was in pending status, with two buyers ready to step in should the current buyer have a change of heart.

This is a great property.  I know - I always say that.  Not always, but often.  And this one deserves all the good things I can say about it.  Three bedrooms, two baths, two car garage, quiet little tree lined subdivision, nice appliances, high end water filtration system, no known maintenance issues - cute, cute and cute.

Quiet neighborhood.  Nice neighbors.  Good schools nearby.  Walking distance to Glendale Community College.  The buyer has found a great property.  Another win-win.