"So, I've been thinking." Four little words that provoke fear in the heart of the strongest. These little words usually lead to a major project or some sort of life change, like eliminating meat from my family's diet. Found out Tofu is not an option for my husband.
But I really have been thinking. Thinking about how the idea of owning a home has changed in America. My parents paid $19,000 for their home in the 1950's. I wasn't there, but I doubt they ever once thought about what their house would be worth "someday".
I bought my first house in 1983. I know for a fact resale value never entered my mind. I thought about the quality of the schools for my daughters. I thought about lot location. I thought about how I wanted gray carpet with mauve accents (Hey...it was the 80s!)
Everyone claims to be a real estate expert today. The media, your neighbor...your uncle Bert. They're putting fear and doubt into the hearts of buyers and it all revolves around a home's monetary value. But, isn't it more than that?
Ask yourself one question. Why do a I want to buy a home. If the answer is "to make money" then this post isn't for you. But, if you're like most buyers, I'll bet your reason for buying a home is one or more of the following:
So, if you're thinking about buying a home for any of the above reasons (or some I may have missed) NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY! Stop 
listening to the "You'll shoot your eye out" doomsday anthem.
There really are great values in the Phoenix area and most Sellers are happy to negotiate. The minute the market stabilizes, you as the buyer are going to loose your advantage and I'll bet uncle Bert's going to deny ever having told you to "wait".
What is it about human nature that we only want what we can't have. Or the weird tendency to place value on something, only if it comes with a hyper-inflated price tag? It's a phenomenon that has no boundaries...from lemons to relationships to houses.
I can place a basket of fruit (fresh off the tree in my backyard), affix a "free" sign to the basket and place it on a table in front of my house and people will walk right by ignoring the opportunity. Citrus is plentiful in the valley this time of year. Everyone knows someone with a basket of fruit they're trying to get rid of. But come summer, people will lay down a dollar for a lemon.
On the relationship front, everyone knows if you play hard to get, you'll get a lot more attention than if you act the least bit interested. It's all about wanting what you can't, or at the very least is difficult, to have.
I think that's the theory we're seeing in the real estate market today. Why IS it called a buyer's market when buyers aren't buying? 3 years ago I could put a cardboard box with a door cut into the side along side one of our busiest roads. If I labeled it a one bedroom home and put a for sale sign in front of it, I would have had 15 offers on it by noon. Why? Supply and demand. We want what we can't have and there really weren't enough houses to go around.
Three years ago, people wanted a home so bad they were willing to pay thousands more than the house was worth. Today, we can get a buyer a home for thousands less than it's worth and they've got to think about it. What's up with that?
Due to some crazy appreciation a few years ago, buyers now believe you should see tremendous gains on a home over a few years so now it becomes a stock market prediction. For that reason, buyers are still waiting for the "bottom". Well, good luck there. If I'm drawing a line on a sheet of paper and ask you to guess when I come to the bottom of my line, you'll never get it right. You say that's the bottom and I keep drawing. I hit bottom and start back up and you've already missed it.
It's time to take advantage of those great home prices and go back to the days when we thought of our home as a comfortable place to live. A place to enjoy our lives and raise our families. A place that may bring us some dollars when we sell...some day, but that's not the reason to buy a home. It's time to stop thinking of our home as a stock option. It's time to take a piece of fruit out of that basket and call it good.
So...the Cardinals are in the Superbowl. Yippee! I'm trying to be excited. I know it's the proper thing to be. In fact, I might even upset some when they find out not everyone's life is going to stop on Sunday for the game.
Understand that I moved here from Wisconsin where being a "Packer Backer" was almost a religion for ALMOST everyone who lived there. If you didn't own at least 2 green and gold sweatshirts you were run out of town. That's why I no longer live there. Yours truly was born without a sports gene.
I know I'm supposed to be all "rah rah". It sure would be fun to be excited about the big game, but what is it about chasing, throwing, and hitting a little ball that is all that? Footballs... baseballs, golf balls and hockyballs (I know...they're pucks) It just doesn't do it for me. And all that yelling! Geez...get some Prozac already.
So what's with those commentators? No one can ever complain that women talk too much after listening to just one sporting event. Blah Blah Blah and more Blah...I think they just like to hear themselves talk. Do people really listen to what they're saying?
"So John, did you know Kurt Warner uses Colgate and that he lost his first tooth when he was 6?"
"No Terry, I didn't know that. I heard his favorite vegetable is corn. Have you ever had corn roasted on a grill? Boy now that's good. Say, once when I was in Toledo...."
I wouldn't mind having the game on (in the background of course), but can we pleeezzze press the mute button?
When I moved here in 2001, I was told with a snicker that Arizona didn't have a football team. I believed that rumor since I'm not a game watcher. But then I sold a home to one of the Cardinal players and I found out there really WAS a football team in Arizona. Well...color me red.
Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that the Cardinals made it to the Superbowl. I like Kurt Warner. I've never watched him play...but I have watched him pray and I like that.
That and the fact that these guys are somebody's sons and their mother's must be so proud. Like I am of my 9 & 5 year old grandsons who came in 286th and 301st out of 305 runners at their 2.5 mile race at Tumbleweed Park yesterday...but they made it. They crossed the finish line all smiles. Now that was fun!
Maybe that's the key. Maybe I have to be related to someone in the game...either by blood or marriage. Or at least be a close friend. Yea, that's gotta be it. When my grandson is playing for the Cardinals...I'll be there, front and center.
But until then...This Superbowl Sunday I'll be on a plane heading to Houston. Spontaneous daughter visit. Now everyone will know that I'll do just about anything not to have to do a Superbowl party. The Cardinals aren't playing in Houston are they? Does Houston have a football team? Whatever.
Don't let the anyone fool you. Things are looking up for Real Estate in Chandler, Arizona and the surrounding East Valley communities. I know I've definitely seen an increase in buyer activity over the last 3-4 weeks.
Running the stats for homes that sold over the last two weeks between 1/14/2009 and 1/28/2009, I compared those numbers to the number of sales for the same 2 weeks last year, 1/14/2008-1/28/2008. What I found must be top secret information since it contradicts just about all the information we've been hearing on the 10:00 news.
Interesting to note that sales in Maricopa and Queen Creek have had the most significant increase in home sales activity and this coincides with predictions that these are the areas where we'll see the first signs of market recovery.
Bottom line, buyer's who are waiting for the "bottom" may not have much time to get off that fence!
How important is pricing your home in today's Real Estate Market? Well, let me tell you a little story...
Wise Wendy Seller called me to list her pretty little house. Wendy thought her home was the best home in the area. I agreed that her home was probably the nicest I had seen. I searched all the comparable sales of other pretty little homes in her neighborhood which showed Wise Wendy that if she wanted to look like all the other homes for sale, she could price her home at $300,000 and with the upgrades she had, she could probably even price her home slightly higher . BUT, if Wise Wendy wanted to stand out and actually SELL her home, she should price her home slightly below the prices of the other homes. Wise Wendy listened to her wise Realtor (that would be me) and priced her home at $295,000. We sold Wise Wendy's home for $290,000 in less than a week. Wise Wendy was very happy and lived happily ever after.
Sadie Seller also called me to list her pretty little home. Sadie had taken a job
in another part of the country and her home was beautiful... and vacant. Sadie decided to list with a not-so-wise Realtor who would agree to list her home for considerably more than the $300,000 the comparable sales would support. At $350,000, Sadie Seller's home was the most expensive home for sale in her neighborhood. 3 months later, Sadie reduced her price. But, the prices in the neighborhood had fallen and she had lost valuable time. 6 months later, Sadie Seller still hadn't sold her home and the value of her home had fallen to $275,000. Sad Sadie Seller finally sold her home after 9 months on the market for $250,000.
What had Sad Sadie lost? Chances are pretty good that Sadie could have sold her home for somewhere around $290,000 if she had priced it correctly at the get go, which is a $40,000 gain, right?. But what many sellers don't figure in are the carrying costs of a home. Sadie's mortgage, insurance, HOA & utilities ran about $2500 a month. $2500 x 9 months = $22,500. So if she had priced her home aggressively up front, even if it took a couple months to close (saving $2500 x 7 months) she would have been ahead by $57,500 and then Sadie wouldn't have been so sad.
The end.
****The names have been changed to protect the not-so-wise.
Realtor, ABR, CNE, EPro, CDPE ~ Specializing in Chandler, Sun Lakes, Gilbert, Tempe & surrounding East Valley. "It's like working with your best friend." www.AmySellsAZ.com
I have been a full time Realtor, specializing in the Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and Sun Lakes areas since 2001.
I was ranked the #3 RE/Max Agent in the Southwest Region of Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico in May of 2008. Despite 2008 being one of the worst years for real estate sales in decades, I earned the Platinum Award for Sales Excellence in 2008 which was presented to only 4% of RE/Max Agents worldwide in 2008. I was recently named one of the top 50 Real Estate Agents by the Phoenix Business Journal (July 2009).
You don't win awards by being substandard, however, all the awards aside, what's most important to me is exceeding my clients' expectations, which is why so many of my customers are referred to me by past clients.
A comment from just one of my happy sellers:
"Amy did in 6 weeks what another agent couldn't do in 6 months. She sold our home! On top of it all, she made it an enjoyable experience, something I can't say about the other agent. We will definitely be referring her to anyone who is thinking about selling their home!" Kelvin & Wendy Shasteen
Comments like that mean more to me than any award and it's the reason I do what I do.
I specialize in residential, vacation homes, Active Adult communities, retirement and relocation, representing buyers and sellers in the Phoenix East Valley.
"Working with Amy is like working with your best friend. She always watches out for your best interests and loves to laugh, which makes the whole transaction a fun experience. We were actually a little sad when we closed on our dream home and knew we wouldn't be spending those times together anymore. Why would anyone want to work with any other Realtor?" Derek & Denise Gorder
What is my real secret to success? Simple. God, good friends and the love of my family.
My mission is to consistently provide the highest quality, most innovative, and exceptional real estate service available anywhere in the Phoenix area while specializing in the Maricopa East Valley Communities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, Tempe, and Ahwatukee; and the Northern Pinal communities in Queen Creek and Maricopa. If you're looking for a moutain retreat, now also serving the White Mountain area including Show Low & Pinetop!
My clients' needs always come first. I will strive to always provide value far in excess of my clients' expectations. My constant goal is mutual respect, and long term relationships that are beneficial to all parties.
I will be positive, helpful, and enthusiastic at all times - always focusing on solutions, not challenges. I will take care of business first and foremost, but we will have fun as a "team" and enjoy ourselves in the process.
I will run a clean, organized, and efficient operation, and always adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethical business practices.
I will never rest on my accomplishments. I will constantly strive to create, develop, and implement new ideas, strategies, and services that will benefit my clients. I will continue to seek continuing education in all aspects of my business to increase the level of service I offer my clients. I will maintain an up-to-date knowledge base on current trends and real estate activities in and the entire Maricopa East Valley as well as Northern Pinal County and the White Mountain areas of Show Low & Pinetop.
Core Values
Achievements & Awards
July 2009 ~ Named one of the Top 50 Real Estate Agents (Number 37 to be exact!) by Phoenix Business Journal.
April 2009 ~ Multi-Million Dollar Producer Award by the Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors (SEVRAR) for her production in 2008. Out of over 9500 Members of SEVRAR, only 66 Realtors received this award.
February 2009 ~ RE/Max Platinum Award for Sales Excellence in 2008. This is the second highest level of recogniation awarded by the RE/Max International Organization and was presented to only 4% of RE/Max Agents worldwide in 2008.
May 2008 ~ RE/Max Achievement Award as the #3 Agent in the Southwest Region which includes Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico.
A is for awesome. A is for amazing, and A is for Amy Jones, the best Realtor in Arizona! I was so lucky to have found Amy 2 years ago to help with the purchase of my condo. She made the transaction seamless. When I decided to buy a different house a few months ago, it was only natural to call on Amy. Within a few days my condo was listed, and within a couple of weeks we had a sale - a full price offer! Amy knew exactly how to price my property in keeping with today's competitive market. Amy also assisted me with the purchase of my new house, for which I will forever be grateful. In all of the buying and selling negotiations, Amy acted as my spokesperson, my advocate and my advisor. She took the time to know what I was looking for, and truly represented me during the entire process. I would recommend Amy to anyone who is looking for a friendly, honest and professional real estate agent. Trust me - she will be your real estate agent for life! ~ Mira Radovich, Tempe
"What can I say about Amy that hasn't already been said? She made my first home-buying experience an absolute pleasure! I was moving to the Arizona area from out of state, and by holding my hand through every step of the progression, Amy eliminated any of the normal stress and concern over such a life-changing purpose. She even succeeded in making it enjoyable! Amy cheerfully and patiently answered every question I had as a first-time buyer, explaining in a simple and understandable way the paperwork and the process. As a teacher myself, I really appreciated that. Furthermore, she went "above and beyond" by helping me look at neighborhoods that were normally outside of her typical areas of familiarity. That extra effort paid off, as we found a beautiful home in Queen Creek that I show off with pride. Thanks Amy!" ~Joe Fortunato, Queen Creek
"Amy was extremely helpful and understood that we were "just looking" with little interest in actually buying. She spent time with us over the phone, in email, at her office and was helpful and gracious at every moment. She was especially helpful when we found the home of our dreams and she helped streamline the occasionally excruciating process of the home purchase. As I was referred to her, I would refer her to everyone in need of an excellent Realtor!" ~ Aaron, Carrie and Jordan Schmidt, Chandler
"We decided to relocate to Arizona as our daughter was an ASU graduate and decided this is where she and her husband would live, work and raise their family. We would visit them and always comment "what are we doing living in the snow and cold?". So, after many years we narrowed down to the Chandler area to be near family. A very good friend highly recommended Amy Jones, as she had helped her with her homes. We started the process of elimination through e-mail, after months of looking at properties we decided to build. Amy represented us and knew so many of the building codes and legalities for this area. Amy tirelessly spent many hours trying to help us make decisions and was kind enough to drive us all over to pick out tiles, granites, window treatments, etc., so very helpful, especially when you are not familiar with the area. We love our home and Amy's professional but very warm and caring personality is a true testimonial as to her love of her profession. We are also so proud to call Amy our "Friend". ~ Doug & Joy Roetzel, Chandler
"Amy was very eager to help us find our home, she listened and found us our perfect home! We would have never found it, but she suggested that we look at a home that was so new on the MLS, that it did not even show a photo. Usually we did not even look at a home if you couldn't see a picture first, but she thought it would be one we would like. It was and one month later it was ours! When it was time to move on a couple years later, she sold our home before it was even on the market and for $8,000 more than we were asking, this was 1 year before the big real estate boom. I would highly recommend Amy to everybody I now, she is the best!" ~ Chad Ruffin, Chandler
"Amy did a great job. Best agent I've ever worked with! I've referred her to several friends and family members who have been just as happy with her services!" ~ Eric Katz, Chandler
"From the beginning, Amy Jones made our experience a pleasant one. Her in-depth knowledge of real estate in the South Tempe area helped to speed up the process of finding the house to meet our needs. Amy was always available to answer our questions in a timely manner throughout the time we worked with her. We have referred her to several of our friends and will continue to refer her to anyone who's looking for a Realtor!" ~ Eric & Kim Henes, Tempe
"We had the pleasure of working with Amy Jones on the purchase of our home in Warner Ranch. During our initial meeting, Amy listened very carefully to our needs. Her integrity and willingness to follow through with all the details far exceeded our expectations. We would feel very comfortable referring anyone to Amy!" ~ Gene & Laurie Johnson, Tempe
"It was a very pleasant experience working with Amy primarily because we worked together as a team. She listened to what I wanted in a home and wasted no time tracking them down and showing them to me. Not to mention this was the first time I had bought a house by myself! Amy helped take the fear out of that just by listening, researching, and explaining the home buying process to me. I have got to admit, it was one of the smoothest purchases I have ever made...and we're talking about a house here! Wow! Amy has what it takes to work in this market and environment. She LISTENS, and values CUSTOMER SERVICE! These are two very critical areas that will make or break a person or business. It is definite I will come back to Amy and will definitely refer her to my friends who are in need of a real estate agent who makes you feel important and like you're working with a friend!" ~ Donna Ploudre, Chandler
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