About Navajo County, AZ

I Refuse to Participate in the Recession!

Good Morning Everyone,

Doesn't that sentiment sound great? My husband and I attended a Luncheon yesterday with a group for Business Owners and Managers who get together once a month to Network and share information about their businesses and what is happening in the community.

While we were waiting in line for our turn at the grub there was a Business Owner waiting behind us and she had a button on with this sentiment. I was so impressed I asked her where she got it. As it turned out she had a bag full of them and was more than eager to share them with anyone who wanted one. I donned the button proudly and I intend to where it everywhere I go until things turn around. Maybe the thought will catch on and it will speed things along a bit.

The point is that we all have a choice. We can get down in the dumps and let the media negativity rule us, or we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and change the way we think and do business. Yes, there is a high rate of unemployment. Yes, there are some real issues in the marketplace that are causing problems for us all. But, we don't have to let that stop us from moving forward.

We may need to restructure or rethink the way we do business but we have that choice and that right to do so. We just have to have the courage to make the changes necessary to make things work for ourselves.

So, I refuse to participate in the recession. I will keep working and changing and doing what I have to do to keep my business going. Maybe I will have to find a supplemental source of income, maybe I will have to do more open houses or just more marketing. Whatever I have to do to keep my doors open I will do it. You can too.

Don't be afraid and don't listen to the media. Just say to yourself, I can do this and I will. With a change in attitude in this Country, we can pull ourselves us out of the morass that Wall-street, the Banks, and YES, the United States and the State Governments have made for us. The only way it is going to happen is to let Free Enterprize work. The Government can't and won't fix it. They may think they are helping but in the end, we, all of us, are going to pay the price. So think positive, think outside the box if necessary, do what it takes to succeed, and simply REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECESSION.

Have a Great Day!

SANDRA PAULOW, GRI, REALTOR®

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...subdivisions out here in the East Valley with 'Ranch' in the name?

It's Wednesday, so I figured I'd throw in a little levity for hump day, but it is something that I ponder more and more the more houses I look at out here. There are a LOT of subdivisions/master planned communities named '__________ Ranch'. Off the top of my head, I can think of:

Morrison Ranch

Chandler Ranch (one of my favorites, as some ne'er-do-wells absconded with the 'C' and the 'R' from the west sign, making it now read 'Handle Ranch')

Copper Ranch

Cooper Ranch

Power Ranch

Sonoma Ranch

Gila River Ranch

Clemente Ranch

Cameron Ranch

Parkwood Ranch

Augusta Ranch

Harmon Ranch

Willis Ranch

Dobson Ranch

Allen Ranch

San Tan Ranch

Ray Ranch

This site has a pretty comprehensive list of all of the subdivisions in Arizona; in looking at it, I guess 'Ranch' is not as pervasive as it seems, but they sure stick out. I know I'm not the only one either- everybody I know has commented on the naming.

Are they trying to evoke the wild west? Because I don't know if that's exactly the type of image that would make me want to settle down somewhere- bandits, desperados, gunfights in the streets; yep, a great place to raise a family!

If I had better comic instincts, I could channel Jerry Seinfeld and turn this into one of those observational humor bits. "Didja ever notice...?" Without a punchline, though, I'll just leave this as an observation that puts a little smirk on my face every time I see (yet another) one...

Selling your home on your own is sometimes a good choice. Why would a Realtor be telling you that? Well, first of all, I wasn't always a Realtor and I did sell and buy a couple of my homes many years prior to obtaiing my Real Estate license. It was a good choice for me at the time because these homes were every inexpensive homes, I was experienced in Real Estate and understood Real Estate legal issues, and there was a huge market for the home I was selling. However, I must tell you that one of the deals cost me a lot of time and energy, phone calls, and follow-up with the loan officers, and there were several points during the course of time that the deal could have fallen apart. There was a lot of coordination to do and I lost income to complete the process. And, knowing what I know now....well I was lucky as the legal aspects regarding the loan process could have been a disaster. I just happened up a highly skilled lender who assisted both parties. Whew, So, before you just stick that sign out there, do a lot of homework. Budget a significant amount of time each week devoted to selling your home.

1. Figure out your target audience. Who is likely to buy your home? What is their income? Where do they work?

2. Obtain marketing reports, check out sold comparable homes not only in your neighborhood but neighbors like it. Price your home aggressively and be willing to pay a coop fee to Realtors.

3. Get a home inspection and make repairs or get estimates so you can share that with potential buyers.

4. State everything you know about the home in writing. Disclose all of your experiences. Have this available to potential buyers.

5. Make sure you understand all of the rules about Fair Housing and any additional rules you are subject to within your community, state, and neighborhood.

6. Pull recent copies of your easements, zoning requirements, plat map and CC&Rs and any other property information relevant to ownership. If you have home owner association fees, find out the transfer fees and contact the management company and president to assure you know what the process will be.

7. Do a preliminary title search on your home and remove any leins that are not supposed to be there. If you have a mortgage, find out your pay off. Check out your current annual property taxes and any assessments.

5. Fully prep your home. Box up your clutter. Get rid of furniture that is old, torn or faded. Place any valuables in a vault. Keep your home spotless. Paint where it needs paint. Wash the windows. Take off the screens. Keep the litter box clean. And, don't put everything in the garage. Your garage should have very few things in there other than cars. You want your home to look spacious.

5. Create a marketing budget.

6. Create a time frame. How long do you want your home to sit on the market? The longer it sits, the more stressful it is for you. Drop the price of your home a percentage for every month it does not sell or you do not get calls. Everything will sell at the right price point.

7. Create a calendar of events to expose your home through open houses, media, craigslist, meeting announcements etc. Create feedback forms so you can get honest feedback from potential buyers.

8. Investigate the many brokerages that offer placing your home on MLS for a substantial fee. Having your home on MLS wihile important, it is just one of the many ways to expose your home. MLS doesn't sell homes. These brokerages are not all the same and most of them do not offer a service other than exposing your lisiting on MLS.

9. If your home will be visited by Realtors while you are not home, make sure you have a process to store a key safely. You also want the Realtors name and license number. Make sure only qualified people are entering your home while you are away.

10. If you are not a fantastic photographer, hire one to take your photos. This matters.

10. Create colorful glossy photos and make flyers. Post your flyers at all the places you frequent such as the grocery store, your fitness club, the place you work, etc. Make frequent announcements at clubs that you belong to. Getting the word out there is important.

11. Research which media venues are most stuited to meeting your clients. These venues are costly so be careful. Check out websites that will be useful for you. All advertisement will need photos.

12. Find a recommended escrow officer and a Real Estate attorney.

11. Once you get an offer. Make sure that everything is legal. Hire a real estate attorney to assist you wiith the offer. Make sure the buyer is qualified to get the loan or if it is a cash deal, get a letter from the bank indicating that funds are available and get copies of bank statements. Verify employment.

12. Before accepting the offer, research all the expenses you may be subject to paying before closing. You may have to pay Owners Title insurance, VA costs, escrow fees, etc. You need to know your bottom line before it sells.

The above is just a brief outline. There are other complications that are likely to come up. It is a time consuming process. Not using a Realtor may cost you more in advertisement, lawyer fees, and LOT more should you be sued in the process by overlooking a legal issue. BE CAREFUL. The above isn't meant to be advice or enough information to secure a successful sale. It is just a starter. I wish you the best. I know in these times, some people just don't have enough equity to go through a Realtor. However, if you must sell your home on your own, make sure you have someone advising you like an attorney and figure out your costs in advance. You may find that hiring a Realtor is cheaper and safer in the long run.

I was just reading our monthly publication for our Arizona Association of REALTORS and to quote it said:

"---ActiveRain has moved to the head of the social networking line in the real estate industry---"

There are over 100, 000 of us AR Heads with as many as 35,000 users online at one time.

How about that! I think it is great. I know it has increased my exposure in the Nation and for those of you who we all see all the time, you are the head of the pack.

Yee Haa - AR Rocks!

Where oh where have the buyers gone??? We sure aren't seeing much increase in our area. Oh there are a few more hits on the websites and a couple of calls but if things are picking up in some areas, it sure hasn't hit ours yet.

I was just talking to one of my friends and a former associate today and she is really concerned about what this year is going to bring. Everyone in our area is worried. Financing is just too tight for our buyers because they are primarily second home buyers and they can't afford the conventional loans out there. Self employed are just out of luck unless they can find a seller to carry a note. I am pushing my sellers to do that at least for a few years to give potential buyers an opportunity to get in the home and then refinance.

Are any of you all encountering the same issues?