Latest Articles by RLeForce

Scottsdale - There Is No Place Like It

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

People who live in Scottsdale will tell you that there is no place like it! People only move in here - they never move out!

The climate is only a part of it and yes - it is true that here they boast 300 days of sunshine a year. Who wouldn't want to live here? If you would love to live in a stimulating culture where there is an abundance of recreational opportunities, then take a look at Scottsdale. It has the perfect climate, endless recreational choices, a prolific nightlife and shops galore! Oh! Did I forget to mention the world-class golf?

The climate makes Scottsdale an ideal retirement area; you will never be too cold in sunny Scottsdale. Your body will not ache from the damp and you can breathe easy here in our dry and warm climate. One of the disadvantages is that you may never again experience goose bumps.

Hot summer months can tip into the hundreds, but average around eighty. For the cooler months, December and January records show highs in the mid sixties and lows in the upper thirties. The hottest day ever recorded was one hundred and nineteen degrees Fahrenheit in 1972.

By comparison, the coldest day ever recorded was exactly a hundred degrees different at only nineteen degrees Fahrenheit in 1955. Although many snowbirds flock to Scottsdale for warmth, the average population of residential retirees is well under the 40% mark.

Scottsdale does enjoy seasonal changes, a fact which is often unappreciated by outsiders. The winter time is a good time to enjoy the variety of courses offered by the local community colleges. You can learn almost anything here in Scottsdale, from writing to beading to how to invest in property.

Which brings me to my next topic: it is an ideal time to invest in Scottsdale property right now. The market has dipped slightly, and you can catch a bargain before the springtime realty rush. Some forecasters believe that in another few years people will be clamoring for a home in places like Scottsdale.

This is because Scottsdale is the ideal retirement area, and in a few years the largest demographic group of retirees ever (the baby boomers!) will all be looking for retirement homes. So get yours now while homes are still affordably priced!

Come springtime everyone will be visiting Scottsdale again to join in all the events and the bargain window for realty may be gone. The wonderful events alone bring some people here to live.

They include the world-renowned Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. This annual event, one of several yearly shows held in Scottsdale, attracts thousands of visitors and over 2,000 horses from all over the world. The Jaycees Parada del Sol is another famous month-long event which attracts cowboys and cowgirls from all across the nation. Other yearly events include the Barrett Jackson Auto Show and the very popular Art Festival.

The word 'golf' has become synonymous with Scottsdale, and every year the FBR Open Golf Tournament is held right in Scottsdale. With over 200 public and private golf courses, there is no shortage of golf enthusiasts here. Several professionals have been quoted as saying that golf in Scottsdale is as good as the game can get. If your handicap is higher than you would wish, try target golfing; this form of the game, sometimes known as desert golf, was pioneered in Scottsdale.

Scottsdale has been quoted in travel magazines as an internationally recognized premier tourist destination. Visitors flock here from all over the world to enjoy this beautiful area; why don't you?

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Provided by the writing team of Rick LeForce. Rick specializes in Phoenix real estate. If you're looking for Sun City homes for sale, be sure to visit Rick at www.personalizedhomesearch.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Variance or Spot Zoning in Real Estate

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Often when a house is viewed and it has the word 'variance' on the legal description, it may be put aside as complicated or out of the ordinary. In fact, there is nothing complex about buying a home with a variance already in place (although there are sometimes complexities in obtaining a variance on a property.)

The only difference is that before you buy the home you need to examine the variance and ensure that it makes no difference to the way that you will want the house to function.

There are many ways to define the term variance. For instance, here are two definitions:

- Permission to do something that differs from the basic zoning requirement.

- Permission obtained from governmental zoning authorities to build a structure or conduct a use which is expressly prohibited by the current zoning laws; an exception from the zoning laws.

An example is a homeowner receiving special authorization to build a two-family house in a single family zoned area. Sometimes a variance will be requested for a more simple application, such as when a home owner wants to build a higher fence around his property.

However, application for a variance does not mean it will be accepted. In fact, usually a substantial hardship must be proved in order to receive a variance from the local municipality. This is because the rules of the local area were put in place for a reason, and uniformity is expected, so very few land-owners get permission to 'break' the rules.

A neighbor may object, and can object, to any variance you apply for. If his property (land) is adjoining yours and there is common property involved, then theoretically he may be affected by your variance. Adjoining owners have a legal right to be notified when a zoning variance or change in licensing in the common property is being formally considered. Their reasoning and wishes are considered along with yours.

If a neighbor feels that your case for a variance does not represent a true hardship, he could challenge the legality of it being granted. This all proves that a variance is not easy to arrange; therefore, if there is one on a property you are considering, leave it on until you are quite sure that you wish to change it back.

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Written on behalf of Rick LeForce. Rick is an experienced agent in the Phoenix real estate area. Rick is knowledgeable about all aspects of buying or selling property in the Glendale Arizona real estate market, so contact him today for all your real estate needs!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Timid Steps into Real Estate Investments.

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Many ordinary people have already made a killing by investing in realty. They were probably very apprehensive about buying the first investment home, but as long as that goes well, it is easy to get hooked! In case you keep mulling it over and wonder about the risks, here is a starter kit of very basic pondering points.

There are certain pointers that should be adhered to if you want your investment to be trouble free. These apply to selecting the property to buy, financing it and renting it out.

You may think that the profit has all been made in the property market. While property has risen considerably in price in the last few years, it is not too late to make money in the realty market. One theory is that the baby boomers will keep pushing the price up in certain areas. Why is that, you may ask?

Well, baby boomers (so called because their births coincide with the end of the war when all the service personnel were de-mobbed; following their homecoming, a slew of babies were born) are all coming up to retirement. At the moment the oldest baby boomer is only 61, so there still a few years to go before the main 'rush' to retirement.

While it is true that some retirees opt to stay in the same town that they have worked in, many do not. A large majority of retirees have similar dreams about retirement and large numbers move to a new location. They move to be with family, or to be near the sea, a lake, away from the snow (or toward the snow!), away from the damp, to have a view etc. Retirees also often 'downsize' and move into a smaller home.

Now we have two clues about investing: a choice location, or one with a view and a smaller property, so an investor may want to think about buying only a modest sized property. Leave your emotions at home and do not buy because of a 'cutesy' kitchen; think only of the numbers. If you buy near a hospital, college or University, you will find it easier to rent.

With regard to financing, quite often your prime home can provide the equity for a new mortgage. The rent should cover the mortgage payment, so you may need a good size down payment. Go to your bank or mortgage broker with your own personal financial facts before you start looking. Find out if the idea is financially feasible, check repayment costs and get pre-approved. All this is a free service and you can simply discard the whole idea if you are getting cold feet.

One of the golden rules when investing in real estate is to think about the rental situation before you start looking at property. This side of it is important, after all, it is the way in which the house pays for itself. The first question is: are you going to use a manager or attend to it yourself? If you plan to look after it yourself, you will be wise to buy in your own town - but not in your own neighborhood.

The reason for this is that monthly inspections, or even the possibility of them, can go along way toward keeping your house in good order. Not only does the tenant have to clean it and cut the grass once a month, but you will also have the opportunity to inspect for leaks in roof, appliances, drainage in the basement/foundation etc. Your tenant is less likely to accumulate old cars in the yard if you visit every month.

This brings me to the final pointer: a contract must contain definite guidelines indicating the code of behavior you require from your tenants. It must say 'cut the grass once a month' or 'empty all garbage once a week' or 'no subletting' . It must also say 'inspections may be carried out once a month upon 24 hours notice' . These clauses will mean it will be easy for you to evict the 'tenants from hell'. Taking references, including those from the previous landlord, will probably help you to avoid these people anyway.

Now, you can sit back and wait for the retirement rush to force up the prices in the property market. While you are waiting you can analyze what it feels like to be an investment property owner.

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Rick is a real estate agent who has lived all his life in the Phoenix real estate area. Rick can help you with all aspects of buying or selling property in Phoenix. To view available homes for sale, check out Rick's Arizona MLS listings!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Slow Market? Stage a Sale

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

So the market isn't moving as fast as it was a couple of years ago – there's been a ton of bad press and now you're getting worried. If you've been thinking about selling your home, don't let the market scare you. It's true that sales have slowed, but with an extra little attention and some minor work your home will be in good shape for the market.

In a buyer's market you need to make your home stand out, because there are more to choose from. The key to this is in presentation. You need to make your home into a space that potential buyers feel a connection to, that they can imagine themselves living in. This means looking objectively at the space you have, taking care of the little details and helping the buyer make an emotional connection to your home.

In a recent study, professionally staged homes sold in approximately half the average time of houses on the market. They also sold for a higher asking price. If you can't afford to pay a home stager (they typically charge upwards of $100 an hour) you may consider hiring one for an initial consultation and carrying out the work yourself. If you are creative, or can't find a good professional in your area, there is no shortage of design magazines and online resources for inspiration.

Let's face it – your first impression counts, and with today's home buyers the first look is often on the Internet. Take good, well lit photographs, and ask your realtor to post more than one so that potential buyers can get a look at different rooms in the house. If there are certain rooms in the house that are less appealing, you may want to leave them off the virtual roster so that buyers are more likely to view the house. Then they can judge the strengths and faults in person.

The other important impression is what the viewer sees when they arrive. You want your home to be appealing from the street, so make an effort to clean it up. Trim hedges, lawn and shrubbery so that the house can be seen and the yard looks tidy. Walk around the yard – what needs to be fixed up? Repair fences, sidewalks, clean the gutters… taking care of the little details will help the buyer see the beauty, not the things in need of repair. Also take care of the entrance way – create an impression. Put in a new front door or paint the door a bright color. Remove any clutter from the door step and add an inviting welcome mat and a potted plant.

Your house should be spotless, and I mean spotless. If you don't have time to do it yourself, hire a professional cleaner. Again, take care of the minor repairs that you've been meaning to get to. This is a good time for a fresh coat of paint - it can go a long way in brightening up the space. You want the buyer to connect to your home, to imagine living there happily. This image that may be difficult for them if they are too busy imagining all the cleaning they would need to do.

Remove the clutter – all of it. Put away little Susie's gymnastic ribbons and take Billy's artwork off the fridge. Visit a show suite in a new development to give you an idea of just how uncluttered you want to get. Get some boxes, fill them up and put them in storage or into the garage.

Then air out your home and get rid of any foul odors – there is nothing worse than walking into stinky house. Be careful with chemical air fresheners as many people have sensitivities to the scent. Ban smoking from your home while it is for sale and clean out litter boxes regularly. Open the windows for a few minutes every day and make good use of the baking soda in areas like the fridge, garbage cans and anywhere else that needs attention.

And finally, when you have scheduled showings or an open house, set out freshly cut flowers, bake cookies and leave them for the viewers (the smell and the yum factor will leave a favorable impression). Make sure all the blinds are open (and the windows are clean), and the house is well lit. Think about the temperature – you don't want the house to be too cold or too stuffy. Leave some light jazz or classical music playing.

Remember, you want potential buyers to feel calm, warm and welcome. Looking after the little details will help them see the beauty in your home and help you sell your home faster.

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Rick and Jennifer LeForce have extensive knowledge of Real Estate in Phoenix Arizona and can help you find your dream home with their customized home search solutions. For more Phoenix Communities real estate information, or to view listings, visit Rick and Jennifer online today.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Light Up Your Holiday With LED Lights

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

I read somewhere that people were expected to downsize their Christmas celebrations this year because of added home energy costs. Nonsense, when decorating your house, simply use LED lights inside and out and you will save money!

Let's look at some comparisons between regular holiday lighting and LED's.

Traditional incandescent bulb: 6 watts

Typical strand of 50 lights: 300 watts (.3 kilowatts)

Using the national average of 9.81 cents per kWh, this averages out at a cost of $4.50 over 30 days, if you run the lights for 5 hours per day. Multiply this by the number of strands you plan on hanging up for your total approximate usage cost.

Let's compare this to the cost of using LED bulbs:

LED bulb: .08 watts

Typical strand of 50 lights: 4 watts (.004 kilowatts). Using the same parameters as for the regular lights, total usage cost for 30 days would be less than 6 cents.

Durability: LED bulbs also generate less heat than regular bulbs, giving them a life span of up to 100,000 hours. This translates to 10 times longer than fluorescents and 133 times longer than typical incandescent bulbs. They also don't contain delicate filaments, and are not damaged as easily as regular bulbs. These features make the LED a safer form of lighting.

Cost : At one time these lights were over priced and hard to find, but now they are widely available, and the prices have dropped considerably. Although the purchase cost may be higher, the real savings is in the usage costs as explained above.

Light field: LED's do not radiate light in 360 degrees as do the incandescent bulbs; they are more of a focused light. The light will be brightest wherever it is pointed towards.

Variety: Indoor and outdoor bulbs are available in a wide variety of colors and shapes for the holidays.

Safe use of your LED lights:

Make certain you are using the lights for their intended use, i.e. indoor/outdoor.

Do not connect standard light strings to LED light strings. This could result in power loss, damage or fire.

Understand your total wattage for each string and do not exceed this in your circuits.

Be sure to decorate your home this holiday season with this efficient, energy saving form of lighting.

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This article was submitted by the writing team at 1st USA Realty Professionals Inc. Let them be your first contact for all of your Phoenix real estate needs. Their staff of Phoenix AZ realtors will impress you with their professionalism and attentive service.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Arizona Home Shows

Mon, 07 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If you are lucky enough to be selling a home in the state of Arizona, consider yourself lucky. Arizona is an area with a thriving real estate industry, great homes, superlative services, and a great climate that makes it one of the most highly sought after areas in which to live in the U.S. Arizona is one of North America's favorite locales for retirement, summer homes and getaways. This is largely due to the amazing weather that Arizona is blessed by all year-round. The weather in Arizona is vastly different from north to south and in fact is broken up into two systems. The first in the northern Plateau is a colder area that borders in Colorado, Utah & New Mexico. Some light snow is common here in winter and summer temperatures are more moderate. The southern desert regions are what most people imagine when thinking about Arizona. In this area temperatures of 110 degrees are common.

This kind of weather creates an ideal home showing environment as there are no environmental issues that could make the preparation more difficult. Some areas of the nation have to deal with snow, rain, and other forms of nasty weather when showing homes but in Arizona that is simply not the case. A home seller has a world of options for home preparation in such a great climate. Yards play a huge role in the sale of homes in Arizona, it is a natural choice to emphasize the outdoor lifestyle in an area that enjoys over 300 days of clear skies and sunshine on a yearly basis. Arizona is a natural choice for those who want to take full advantage of their outdoor property and this area is home to some of the most beautiful and pristine yards in the nation.

Staging your yard is a great way to help a home sell quicker as yards are generally responsible for much of the first impression that a buyer gets of a home. The yard is where the concept of "curb appeal" begins. Creating a yard that grabs the eye of prospective buyers is one of the best ways to ensure that your home gets the attention it deserves.

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Rick and Jennifer Leforce are specialists when it comes to Peoria Arizona Real Estate. Let Rick and Jen inform you about Peoria real estate in sunny Arizona. Contact us anytime or visit us online at www.personalizedhomesearch.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Confidence & Home Buying

Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There is a certain something to be said for having confidence when purchasing a home. The financial concerns that come with home buying can be a confusing thing to deal with at first. However, there are a few steps that a new home buyer can take in order to build their confidence and streamline the buying process.

Pre Approval

Careful Shopping

Title Insurance

Home Inspection

Liens & Easements

The financing process is the step that usually causes the most stress and worry for new home buyers. People wonder if they will be able to afford the home of their dreams. Pre-approval for financing is the quickest way to qualify your interest in the home market. A pre-approval will let you know exactly what you can afford and what you can't. So many eager home buyers have had their dreams crushed after falling in love with a home only to realize that it is far outside their financial reach.

The next issue is careful shopping. If you know what you are looking for and what you can afford before the search starts it will be far less stressful. Make a few lists detailing what you cannot be without and don't be afraid to seek these homes out. A confidant buyer is one who is willing to take some time to find just the right home. After finding a good candidate, view the house as many times as you need to make a smart choice.

Another thing that you should never be without is title insurance. This comes in handy if there are any "weak links" in the chain of ownership that your house has gone through. Of course, you are making a legitimate offer on the home and are investing a huge amount of money. The last thing you need is a title concern from owners previous to cause trouble for you.

Home inspections are an extremely important step in acquiring a home. Without a proper inspection you may never know about structural problems, concerns with plumbing, heating or sewage systems, mold and other concerns. Most home offers should be made contingent on the home's passing of an inspection. Be wary of sellers who do not want an inspection done on their home.

Finally, be sure to find out about any liens or easements on the property. Likely any liens will come up during the title search, but easements are more ambiguous. Easements can be as simple as a fence line that has been agreed upon for many years or a community access road. An easement is quit simply a "right to use" a certain area of land that is owned by another party.

If you are mindful of these things when purchasing a home the process will lose much of its confusion and fear. Be sure of what you want and don't be afraid to go for it!

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Rick and Jennifer Leforce are specialists when it comes to Peoria Arizona Real Estate. Let Rick and Jen inform you about Peoria real estate in sunny Arizona. Contact us anytime or visit us online at www.personalizedhomesearch.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Inspection Before Selling

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

One of the aspects of the home sale that has become ever more important is the inspection of the home before closing. Typically this is not something that will ever be forgotten as it is important enough to be a primary subject on most real estate contracts. But as many can attest to; sometimes there are some pretty unpleasant surprises that can pop up in the inspection report. All of the sudden you are looking at either spending a bunch of money or taking a hit on the sale price to make the buyer happy and willing to finalize the sale. So, why not have an inspection done yourself before the house is even listed? This way you will have the opportunity to fix anything that might need it and you will have an idea of what the inspection during the closing of the sale will turn up. No surprises, nice huh?

Inspections can turn up all sorts of things that you as a home owner never suspected about your home. Another reason why this is a good idea is when the agent & buyer have their inspection done, you will already have your home inspection report handy. This can be a great tool in ensuring that the inspection that is done is above board and legit. It would be great if everyone out there was scrupulous and acted with high morals, unfortunately that is simply not the case so it's up to you to ensure that your interests are protected.

Having an inspection already done should put you into a favorable bargaining position. This is even more true if you have receipts to prove that anything that turned up on the inspection has been taken care of. Buyers like to know that when they buy a home there is not going to be any major repairs required. This will always make the sale smoother and less of a hassle to deal with.

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Rick and Jennifer Leforce are specialists when it comes to Peoria Arizona Real Estate. Let Rick and Jen inform you about Peoria real estate in sunny Arizona. Contact us anytime or visit us online at www.personalizedhomesearch.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Pre-Sale Improvements

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In today's real estate market there is a real necessity to set your property apart from the thousands of other homes that are listed in any given area. Many people take the route of improving their homes' visual qualities. While that is an excellent idea, smart home buyers look for more important kinds of improvements. After all, when someone buys a home they will want to customize it to their own taste. So why not leave them that opportunity and spend some time upgrading the things that don't lend themselves to customization or personal taste. These are things like the structural well being of the home, the plumbing or heating systems and other simple necessities that a home cannot run without.

One huge area that is highly appreciated by home buyers is a new roof. A new roof is one of those "make or break" points in a deal. It is a huge selling point to be able to tell viewers that the roof is brand new and holds a 15-20 year warranty. Other things that could fall into this category that can be easily seen to are things like the general cleanliness of the yard and property. Or another spot that sometimes gets overlooked, the garage. So often a garage becomes a depository for huge amounts of accumulated "stuff" that has no real purpose beyond our inability to part with certain things. This is something we are all guilty of on some level. Taking some time to clear out the garage is a great idea and it will open up some space for you to put things should you start to pack early (this is also a great idea).

Cleanliness and organization cannot be stressed enough at this stage. It will be up to the buyer to create their own special space if they purchase the home. Do not try to create one for them. This can alienate certain buyers and make them feel uncomfortable and you need your home to appeal to as many people as possible.

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Rick and Jennifer Leforce are specialists when it comes to Peoria Arizona Real Estate. Let Rick and Jen inform you about Peoria real estate in sunny Arizona. Contact us anytime or visit us online at www.personalizedhomesearch.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Buying An Investment Property

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600

So the thought may have occurred to purchase yourself a second home to use as an investment property. Good choice. Real estate is making people great amounts of money so why not grab a hold of your chunk of the pie right? Do be careful however because this is something that will require some planning on your part. Investing in a home is a great way to build your equity and overall worth. Its also give you chance to climb the property ladder a little faster. The big question is, will you flip the home, or take on the mantle of landlord?

This decision will define the future of the home as with flipping there are likely quite a few renovations and such that you will do to increase the home's asking value. Whereas with renting the home, depending on the home's quality there will hopefully only be minor fixes that are necessary. Taking a look at the average home flip, if you think about all the TV shows on this topic then what can be done to a home in preparation for a flip can be quite an expense and take a fair amount of time or grief. Be reasonable about your expectations for renovations. Never lose sight of the fact that your fixes have to justify the increased asking price or savvy buyers will lose interest quickly. Also try not to be too outrageous with the design or color scheme as this too can alienate a sector of the buying market. Make sure that all the work is done to code and decorate appropriately for the space.

If you have chosen to be a landlord then your path is a little different. If any renos are to be done, try to ensure that they are well done and simple and will appeal to your average renter. If you are thoughtful about your improvements and create a good and clean space where everything works properly you should be able to attract a higher class of renter. Of course the ideal situation would be long-term renters who are quiet and always pay their rent on time. However it usually take some time to find these kind of renters, so in the meantime be prepared that you may have to evict someone at some time. Not an easy thing to do but it is sometimes necessary. Try to arrange it so that the rent for the month pays off the mortgage, it's a great way to accrue equity.

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Rick & Jennifer LeForce are Peoria Arizona Real Estate agents specializing in bringing families and homes together in the Metro Phoenix area. With years of experience and happy clients, Rick and Jennifer are your smart choice for Peoria Arizona Real Estate. Contact Rick & Jennifer today

Source: http://www.articletrader.com