Erica West

You can listen to the news reports or read Arizona Republic and Tribune about the housing market

But what you're reading and hearing about the Phoenix market, doesn't necessarily apply to Fountain Hills. Remember, real estate markets are local.

Locallyhere in Fountain Hills,Arizona we have 328 single family homes on the market.That represents less than 4% of the total number of single family homes in this special desert town. There are 121 homes listed below $500,000, 117 from $500,000 up to $1million and 95 listed above $1million.

20% of the houses on the market are distressed; while 50% of the properties that opened escrow in September were distressed.

There were 142 price reductions in the month of September.

It is significant to note what is selling. 68% of the homes that are selling are below $500,000. Half of the houses selling are distressed properties with the heaviest concentration of buyers buying below $400,000. Fueled by the $8000 tax credit and deflated prices, first-time buyers have been making their move. Investors are starting to see potential for growth in our market and are again beginning to buy.

The stimulus bill has had an impact. But that is about to end. The deadline for the tax credit is November 30,2009 at which point you must have closed on the house to be allowed to claim the tax credit. So time is running out.

Now if my crystal ball weren't so cloudy, I could tell you what will happen when that stimulus evaporates.

Currently the weight of the 39 short sales and 26 foreclosures on the market are keeping the prices from rising. See details about what buyers can buy and what they are choosing at www.ericawesthomes.com and click on the link to my blog post.

What will the real estate market be like for the last quarter of 2009? I'll keep you posted!

In today's home selling market it helps to have a competitive edge.

Your home needs to stand out not only in the buyer's mind; it must somehow touch an emotional cord. It must make them feel that they want to call home.

Buyers are looking for a house that they can make into their home.

They need to fall in love. To fall in love they must be attracted to the house.

Houses are made of sticks and stones. They are not personal.

Homes are made of people, memories and emotions. They are very personal.

That's why it is so important to prepare your house to sell. It involves

1. giving the buyers the opportunity to create their own vision about how they could live in the house by depersonalizing the house

2. making the rooms look larger

3. making the buyer feel confident about the condition of the house.

The more effort you put into the preparation, the more it will pay off.

Depersonalizing the house involves having a minimum number of personal items displayed on walls and tables. This "minimalization "allows a buyer to feel more at home rather than feeling as if they are intruding. When "less is more" it is easier for buyers to visually and emotionally place their own possessions in the house.

Today's buyers have so many choices they know they can expect more for their money.

They want to feel that they are getting as much house as possible for their money.

Making a house feel larger can be accomplished by creating an uncluttered, open environment... Rooms that are stuffed with furniture do not feel cozy to the buyer. They feel smaller.

Dark walls, although in vogue, can also make a room feel smaller.

If there is no open wall space and floor space, the house will feel smaller.

Buyers expect a home and property in well maintained condition. No ifs, ands or buts. They expect roofs to be in good condition, air-conditioners to be properly functioning and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing to be in good working condition. In most cases they expect warranties.

Buyers want to feel secure in their home. They want to feel secure their purchase.

Home buyers today have the stress of getting a loan. They do not want the stress of worrying that they will have unexpected expenses after they move into the house.

And especially in Fountain Hills, home buyers want a feeling of open space. They want to see the outside from the inside.

To sell your home today you will need to romance the buyer.

For a printer-friendly version of this blog and "Secrets of Stagers" click here!

In today's home selling market it helps to have a competitive edge.

Your home needs to stand out in the buyer's mind as a place they can call home.

Buyers are looking for a house that they can make into their home. Homes are very personal, houses are not.

Houses are made of sticks and stones. Homes are made of people, memories and emotions.

That's why it is so important to prepare your house to sell. It involves

1. making the rooms look larger

2. giving the buyers the opportunity to create their own vision about how they could live in the house by depersonalizing the house

3. making the buyer feel confident about the condition of the house.

The more effort you put into the preparation, the more it will pay off. Today's buyers have so many choices they know they can expect more for their money.

Buyers today want to feel that they are getting as much house as possible for their money.

Making a house feel larger can be accomplished by creating an uncluttered, open environment.. Rooms that are stuffed with furniture do not feel cozy to the buyer. They feel smaller.

Dark walls, although in vogue, can also make a room feel smaller.

Depersonalizing the house involves having a minimum number of personal items displayed on walls and tables. This "minimalization "allows a buyer to feel more at home rather than feeling as if they are intruding. When "less is more" it is easier for buyers to visually and emotionally place their own possessions in the house.

If there is no open wall space and floor space, the house will feel smaller.

Buyers expect a home in well maintained condition. No ifs, ands or buts. They expect roofs to be in good condition, air-conditioners to be properly functioning and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing to be in good working condition. In most cases they expect warranties.

To get your home sold in it is critical that you pay attention to how buyers buy.

Make your home stand out and set the stage for a sale. Learn more about preparing your home for sale.

Contact Erica West for more information
Staging Your Fountain Hills Home
Helpful Seller Articles

Originally Posted on Point2

Here’s how to keep history from repeating itself. Make a commitment to these 10 resolutions and you will be a happy home owner.

10. I will stop listening to the news and letting it control my decisions.

9. I will remember that my house is to be lived in, not flipped.

8. I will not take a mortgage where the payments will be more than 25% of my gross income.

7. I will understand the terms of my mortgage loan.

6. I will make my mortgage payments on time.

5. I will not take equity out of my house

4. I will treat my home as a financial asset and protect its value.

3. I will get a realistic picture of what market conditions are like before I Buy or Sell a house.

2. I will not let my house linger on the market but will take the appropriate steps to prepare it to sell.

1. I will put my trust in an experienced professional Realtor and seek their counsel and Advice.

When buying or selling your Fountain Hills home, contact Erica West, Fountain Hills Real Estate Expert!

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Contact Erica West - Fountain Hills Realtor®

Originally Posted on Point2

When trouble comes it can bring out the best and the worst in people. In our little town we've seen how tragedy binds us together as a community. Last year there were 2 letters in The Times from residents thanking the whole community for their support through some tragic circumstances. This kind of caring & togetherness is part of what makes our small town of Fountain Hills such a special place in which to live.

But in the worst of times there are those unsavory individuals who take advantage of people who are struggling.

Foreclosure rescue scams are aimed at people about to lose their homes. These criminals trick the home owners into signing the title of their house away. They promise to pay off the homeowners' debt and let the homeowners continue to live in the house.

When people are drowning they look for a life preserver.

But beware! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

If you are in the unfortunate circumstance of being behind in your mortgage payments

•· Take action now. Waiting will only make the situation worse.

•· Consult a knowledgeable, experienced realtor to learn the true market value of your home.

•· Find out if you can prevent foreclosure & save your credit.

You do have legitimate options

•· Find out what steps you will need to take to prepare for a short-sale. The mortgage holder will require verification that you are not in a position to make the mortgage payment.

When you are armed with knowledge you can protect yourself.

You've probably heard the term short sale quite a bit lately. What is it? Basically, it means that the mortgage holder (usually the second lien holder) is willing to forgive part or all of the debt and let you sell the house for less than you owe.

Slowly, mortgage holders are coming to the conclusion that a short sale can be less expensive for them in the end than foreclosure and they are becoming more co-operative about short sales.

If you have concerns about your mortgage payments ask a question below or

Call me at (480)837-7000 to talk to Erica West.

Representing Fine Homes and Qualified Buyers in Fountain Hills Since 1984.

Originally posted on Trulia