Many are unsure whether buying or selling a home is a bright idea right now. Based on market conditions, it’s actually an ideal time to get a deal done.

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As we continue to navigate this pandemic, many of our clients are unsure of whether they should sell their homes now or continue to wait it out. The reality is that current market conditions make it a great time to buy or sell.

This week, we had multiple offers for a listing that was just put on the market and ended up successfully negotiating a contract on our client’s behalf. We’re still seeing sellers sell and buyers buy in spite of this pandemic. To learn more about what’s been going on in our real estate market, watch this short video.

Luke Air Force Base, Special Flyover to honor COVID-19 frontline workers

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz -- Luke Air Force Base, to include the 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing, along with the Arizona Air National Guard 161st Air Refueling Wing will honor Arizona’s front line COVID-19 responders with a community flyover May 1, 2020.

“We are honored to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the healthcare workers, first responders, military members and other essential personnel who are working on the front lines to combat the coronavirus,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury, 56th Fighter Wing commander. “We want everyone to be able to look up from their homes and enjoy the display of American airpower, resolve and pride while keeping frontline responders in their hearts.”

A formation of 15 aircraft, including seven F-35A Lightning IIs and seven F-16 Fighting Falcons flying out of Luke Air Force Base and one KC-135 from the 161st ARW will begin the flyover at approximately 3:10 p.m. and will last 50 minutes.

The flight path will bring them through Buckeye, Luke Air Force Base, Litchfield Park, Surprise, Waddell, Goodyear, Tolleson, Phoenix Metro, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Deer Valley, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City West, and El Mirage. Residents along the flight path can expect a few seconds of jet noise as the aircraft pass overhead.

Residents in these areas will be able to see the flyover from the safety of their homes and should maintain all social distancing guidelines during this event. They should also refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups to view the flyover.

We welcome and encourage viewers to tag us on social media in photos and videos of the formation with the hashtag #LukeSalutes, #AirForceSalutes, and #FlyoverFriday.

For questions, please call the Luke AFB Public Affairs Office at (623) 856-6011.

In today’s crazy market, are you still able to sell your home? You sure are, and here’s how.

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Especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s common for us to hear this question from our clients: “How can I sell in today’s market?” Real estate is considered an essential service, so homes are still selling. We’ve just had to make some changes in how we approach real estate transactions in light of the outbreak. For example, instead of our normal, face-to-face consultations, we’re now meeting with clients by phone or video call to comply with the stay-at-home order. We are still doing face-to-face meetings when required. To learn more about how the selling process has changed due to the coronavirus, watch this short video above.

How do you buy a home in today’s market while staying safe?

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How do you buy a home in today’s market while staying safe? With everything that’s been happening with the coronavirus lately, this is a question I’m getting asked quite often, and today I’ll answer it. We’ve established a new protocol for buyers to follow. To find out more, watch this short video.

If you’re buying a home, you’re probably going to need a mortgage. Here’s how to qualify.

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If you’re in the process of buying a home, or you’re even thinking about buying a home soon, you need to know about the mortgage process. Most homebuyers need to qualify for a mortgage in order to purchase a home, so here are a few things to consider:

The obvious item to be aware of is the down payment. This can range anywhere from 0% to 20% of the purchase price, depending on the type of financing you use.

Some things that you’ll need to qualify include your credit history, documentation of assets, financial statements, and an appraisal by a third party.

"Make sure you know your credit score and credit history."

You’ll want to make sure your income is stable and your credit history is good. If you don’t have solid credit, there are programs out there to help you improve it.

When you’re ready to get qualified for a loan, find out your credit score and your credit history. You don’t want to start the process off with any surprises. Make sure to have proof of income via W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements.

Throughout the process you’ll want to be in contact with a professional who can help you develop a plan to move forward. They’ll take all the information you’ve gathered and help you put something together. Most of the mortgage process can be handled online these days. The goal here is to have a pre-approval when you go out to look for homes because you’ll look as good as a cash buyer (if not better) that way.

If you have any questions for me about the mortgage process or real estate in general, feel free to reach out via phone or email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Are you looking for ways to sell your home for more money? Do you crave information that real estate agents either don’t know, or refuse to share? We have created a real estate report exclusively for you.

Get you free report here:  The 7 Critical Steps to Selling For Up to 10% More Money can be found by clicking on the dollar signs $$$

There’s a lot of debate out there about home staging and whether or not it works. Here’s my opinion on the matter.

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One of the most-asked questions I hear from homeowners is, “Should I stage my home before selling it?” The answer depends. If you have furnishings that are already in your home that are modern and desirable to buyers, we can bring in a staging expert to recommend some small tweaks. 25% of sellers spend money on staging their homes, and 50% of those sellers see a 10% increase in the offers they receive. The goal of staging is for buyers to picture themselves in your home with furnishings that are popular and neutral. You may have these furnishings in your home already, or we may need to bring some of them in.

50% of sellers who stage see a 10% increase in the offers they receive.

If you have any questions about staging or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email today. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you’re buying a new construction home, you still need a home inspection. Here’s why.

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Whenever we help clients purchase a new construction home, we always recommend ordering a home inspection. Clients always seem surprised by this, though, and wonder why they need it. It costs extra, and it’s a new build anyway, so why order it? The truth is, there are many different steps in the new build process, and issues get missed all the time. Typically, the salespeople involved in the process will indicate (or sometimes tell you directly) that you don’t need an inspection, but both the building superintendent and city inspector have to sign off on the property, and there are still issues that get past them.

Whenever we help clients purchase a new construction home, we always recommend ordering a home inspection.

Here are a few such issues we discovered during the inspection phase of some recent new builds we were helping clients purchase that would’ve been missed otherwise:

• A firestop installed at the top of the wall instead of closer to the floor.
• Electrical wires touching metal fixtures. Again, this is a fire hazard.
• Ductwork not in its proper place. This can lead to warmer rooms. If you’re like me, there’s nothing worse than walking into a hot room.
• Twisted studs in the framing. This can cause drywall issues.
• Stucco that’s not sealed properly. This can lead to water intrusion or produce extra moisture in the house.

So if you’re in the process of purchasing a new construction home, take care of any and all problems up front and get a home inspection. If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

We want to wish you a happy holiday season.

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Happy Holidays to you! On behalf of myself, Ben Orozco, and Dave Garcia, we hope you enjoy this wonderful time of year and make some fantastic memories with your family and friends. We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. We love helping people make their real estate dreams come true, so thank you for working with us. This may be a busy time of year, but we are always here to help you and answer any questions you may have. Give us a call or email us. In case we don’t hear from you, have a happy New Year!

Should you sell to an online buyer? The answer depends on your situation.

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If you’re selling your home, should you entertain offers from online buyers? The answer depends on your situation and what you’re looking for out of your home sale. If you want to squeeze every penny out of your home sale that you can, then selling to an online buyer is probably not a good fit. If you’re willing to trade convenience for cash, then it might be a good fit. During this type of sale, the home’s condition isn’t as much of a factor because you’re selling as is. There are a couple of things to be aware of when considering selling to an online buyer. First, they use their own contracts, which will be 10 to 20 pages of legal jargon that their attorney has prepared for them. This isn’t in your best interest. Also, the higher your price, the higher their fees, and that can sometimes get in the way of the home selling. If you have questions about selling to online buyers or you have any other real estate needs at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.