Joyce & Terry Thomas Anthem Merrill Ranch AZ Real Estate

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's that time of year to spend time with family and friends and to acknowledge and appreciate everything we are thankful for. Here are some great craft ideas for children to participate in giving thanks this Thanksgiving.

• Let your kids create their own Use a pinecone to make a great turkey! Add a little flare with eyeballs, glitter, pipe cleaners, pom poms, glue and craft paper and your kids will have a blast coming up with their own colorful gobbler.
• Have your kids creat a personal turkey. Trace their hands on a sheet of paper and let them color their own personal turkey.
• Then have your kids give thanks! Cut out fall-colored leaves from construction paper. Ask your kids to write down what they are most thankful for this year. Then hang the leaves from a stick placed in a small pot with rocks. What a great centerpiece for the kids table!
• Let your kids cook! Buy pre-made cookie dough. Purchase a few, and with your help, let your kids cut out their own cookies.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Questions To Ask Before Buying a Home.

Remember a home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make in your lifetime. Therefore, planning and preparation are critical when it comes to buying a home. Ask yourself the following questions. Answer them honestly to determine if now is the right time for you to buy.

Can you afford to own a home?

Idealy, you should have some money saved for a down payment and additional money set aside for closing costs. With certain types of loans, closing costs can be worked into the price of the home. A great way to determine if you can afford a home is to determine how much a monthly mortgage payment you think you can afford. Add this amount onto your monthly rent or current mortgage payment and take the rest of the money it would take to pay the new mortgage and put it into a savings account. If you do this for six months, you will get a feel for what it would be like paying the new mortgage and you now have saved money for potential closing costs or even a down payment on the house! Talk to your REALTOR® or a mortgage professional for information on loan programs that match your financial needs.

Do you know what you want?

Shopping without a plan is never good. So, whether you are moving up to a larger home, are a first-time homebuyer or are purchasing a second house, knowing what you want will simplify your home search process. Think about details such as square footage, floor plans, neighborhoods, nearby schools and style. Do you have any special needs such as an extra bedroom suite, upstairs, pool or a fenced yard? Do you have a particular timeframe to buy? By answering these questions honestly, you'll have a more realistic view of what you really want in your future home.

How's your credit?

The best way to ensure your loan is approved by the lender is to keep your credit in check. The best advice? For at least one year prior to purchasing a home make absolutely sure you pay all your debt. This includes rent, credit card bills, car payments and any other debt in full and on time. Do you want to know what your credit score is? Ask your REALTOR® to recommend a lender or mortgage professional who can answer all your home financing questions.

Careful planning and preparation will help you throughout the entire home buying process. Once you have these questions answered start the interview process for a real estate agent. Find the one that's right for you, and then be on your way to making the dream of homeownership a reality!

Questions To Ask Before Buying a Home.

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Buyer's Agent

Recently, I had a phone call, a private number from a potential buyer who wanted to interview me to determine if I met her needs to work as her Buyer's Agent. She had a list of Questions to Ask When Hiring a Buyer's Agent. After 21 minutes of strenuous questioning, I found myself impressed with the detail she went to in determining who to "hire" to help her and her family find their new home.

So to help other potential buyers, I would like to share some of the questions as well as others that I feel are important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Buyer's Agent.

• Do you work solely with buyers?
• How long have you been in the real estate business?
• Is real estate your full time job?
• What designations do you have and what do they mean?
• How many homes did you sell in the last year?
• How long does it typically take you to get an offer into a contract?
• How long does it take from contract to close?
• What is your typical client, buyer or seller?
• What percentage of your clients are buyers?
• What type of buyer do you prefer to work with?
• What is your business philosophy?
• How do you handle dual agency?
• Why should I choose you over another agent?
• Do you work alone or as a team?
• Do you specialize in a particular geographic area?
• What type of geographic area do you sell in?

One comment this potential buyer said which made me twinge was that she had friends who worked with a "Buyer's Agent" but when the deal was over, they felt like their "Buyer's Agent" was actually working for the seller. Needless to say this was a further discussion we had about fiduciary duty and the true role of the Buyer's Agent.

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Buyer's Agent

October Home Sales up 10.1%

Did you read it right? Yes you did! According to the National Association of Realtors, October 2009 home sales are up 10.1% and the inventory of homes on the market is shrinking! In addition, the NAR states that sales are 24.5% above October of 2008 and are at the highest since February of 2007. Sounds like good news to me! The NAR attributes this increase to the first-time buyer credit and the low interest rates.

So, with the tax extension and the expansion to include current home buyers moving up, statistically the market is looking good for the next quarter.

October Home Sales up 10.1% is great news for Realtors and the economy!

Information obtained from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Washington, November 23, 2009

Anthem at Merrill Ranch Deal of the Week!

If you haven't seen this listing and are looking for a home in Anthem at Merrill Ranch, check this out.

This brand new builder spec home is a 2-story Onyx model with 1632 SF of living area, 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms. Many upgrades include faux wood blinds, appliances including washer and dryer, soft water loop and more! This model includes a 2-car garage, block fenced back yard.

Don't forget Anthem at Merrill Ranch offers so many amenities from a 43,000 SF recreation facility to a Troon golf course. For more information about this resort community, contact us today!

Anthem at Merrill Ranch Deal of the Week!