Top 10 Reasons to List/Sell your home during the Holidays!

1. Only SERIOUS buyers are out looking for a home.
2. While most sellers hold off until the new year, you’ll enjoy less competition NOW.

3. Listings will spike after January…get a heads start!

4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and may be willing to pay more.

5. Buyers have more time off during the holidays to look for a home, rather than a busy work week.

6. Some buyers need to buy in 2007 for tax reasons!

7. Employees transferring to a new job in January need to look for a home now!

8. You house will look good staged with holiday decorations! (smelling good counts too!)

9. You can restrict showings during the days near and during special holiday time.

10. If you get an offer now, during the holidays, you can delay the closing ’till after the holidays.

If you are thinking of selling your home, or curious what it is worth in THIS ever-changing market, please contact me at Becky@BeckyWyattOnline.com or 480-383-9209.  No obligation, no pressure. I’m simply here to consult with you and give you relevant market information so you can make the best decision for your and your family.  – Becky

My life with a GPS

I don’t take technology purchases lightly.  I read a lot of articles on CNET, use shopping websites like Shopzilla to find a good price, and have to be 100% confident before I buy something.  So I thought I’d share with you my reasoning for my GPS (Global Positioning System) purchase and hope you find it helpful.

First, the reason I wanted a GPS was because I like to be efficient.  If I’m driving around clients to look at homes I like to know exactly where I’m headed without having to look at a mapquest printout.  The GPS tells me how to get there and when we will arrive. It’s more relaxing, safe and accurate to be guided by a know-it-all machine.  My clients love it (no one has to be “navigator” while I drive) and it takes the stress out of driving.  A GPS knows the way.  If you don’t know the directions, no big deal.  It you have a name of a place, an address, or an intersection, the GPS will get you there.

My Top 3 NEEDS when buying a GPS were…

1. Accurate/Updated Maps
2. Easy to use Touchscreen

3. Under $500

 My Top 3 WANTS when buying a GPS were…

1. Stylish Look
2. Save-able “Favorites”
3. Points of Interests

Using these guidelines I found the perfect fit.  I choose to buy a Garmin Nuvi 360.  Here’s why: Garmin is the “best of breed” with the best maps.  Living in the ever-expanding Valley of the Sun, it was important to have good street-maps.  Technology can barely keep up with the construction of new streets (San Tan 202 anyone?) and the Garmin has an annual way to update street-maps.  The touchscreen is fabulous.  Very easy to use…for example when you start to “type” GILBERT all you need is the G,I and then the device gives you an option to select GILBERT.  This “mind-reader” feature makes for fast data input.   I also got my wish for stylishness.  It is thin and sleek looking.  The Garmin 360 is also very portable.  My husband and I took it on vacation to San Francisco and used it when walking around to find a restaurant and sightseeing. The 360 version has Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free phone calls while driving, and it can even play MP3s and hold pictures and a bunch of other stuff. The Points of Interest feature shows me gas stations, hotels, restaurants, etc.  I can type in “smoothie” and it will show me the nearest places to drive to get one!

Now, the price.  My bill came to $414.10.  And that was because I chose fast shipping.  Basically, with a little hunting around you can find top-of-the line devices for a great price if you know where to look online.  I would never buy a GPS at a Best Buy store.  I think I saved about $100+ bucks from not going to a store like that. I got my GPS from PCNATION but I also recommend checking NEWEGG, which is a great website to buy technology. My husband was nice enough to hide the wires for the GPS in my car so it has that “built-in” look.  If I can answer any specific questions or if you have a different opinion, please feel welcome to leave a comment.

Tech Tuesday! 5 Brag-Worthy Websites…

• Jott.com- This easy service lets you send emails or text messages from your cell phone by using your voice only!  Way faster than texting! – Free, seriously!
• WordPress.com - I run a blog from here, and so can you. – Free.
• Snapfish.com- Upload your photos to create & order really cute photocards, mugs, t-shirts and a million other gift ideas. – uh, Free except when you order stuff.
• Amazon.com – Hate getting gifts you don’t want? Make a wish-list already!  Amazon has everything. -Free to shop.
• Pandora.com- I’ve shared this before, and I’ll share it again. Like music? You’ll LOVE pandora. -FREEEEE!

Flancer’s Restaurant, best hot sandwiches around!

Flancer’s might be Gilbert’s best kept secret.  I suppose they are no longer a secret since Flancer’s won 2003 best East Valley sandwich…but I still like to think of them as a special secret.This casual restaurant has a huge menu and a friendly staff.  Flancer’s is open 10:30am-9pm everyday and is located in Gilbert’s downtown area at 610 N. Gilbert Road (South of Guadalupe Road). A big sandwich, their homemade PERFECT french fries and a drink is a whopping $10.75 or so. They have pizza, burgers and fun appetizers.  I love their hot sandwiches.  I tend to order the same two over and over.  1- the perfect “prickly” pear (sweet prickly spear glazed chicken!) 2 – It’s about thyme (balsamic-thyme chicken with mushrooms, provalone and a basil-mayo!)  My husband almost always gets the Philly Cheese-steak.  This is a popular joint, so don’t be surprised if a Saturday night you might have to wait 10 minutes for a table.  Flancer’s makes their own bread, has a takeout option, and if a whole sandwich is too big – try a half!  Big thanks to Meg for taking me there for the first time!

Deal of the Week!

Each week as I’m out looking at property I keep my eye out for smokin’ deals.  This week I’ve found one.  This deal considers the very valid old saying “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.”  While builders typically have the best deals right now as they try to push inventory off their books in time for 2008, often the deal is tainted by a crumby “outskirts” location. Similar to a car dealership, builders are desperately trying to move product.  This week’s deal is in a community in South Gilbert – but conveniently located right near the new San Tan 202 Freeway.  It is near TONS of shopping and the new San Tan Village mall. 

This home is a brand new builder spec.  A “spec” home is simply a pre-built home where you don’t get much choice on the upgrades or options.  It’s built. Ready to go.  Begging for new owners.  The begging goes like this…

  

Hi, I want to be your new home.

• I am a popular floor plan with 3,912 square feet
• I have 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms
• I am on a huge private lot (13,500 sqft)
• I have stainless appliances, double ovens, gas cooktop
• I have granite countertops and crown moulding
• I have beautiful cherry cabinets with decorative moulding
• I have pavers in the driveway to your 3 gar garage
• I am in a neighborhood where all the homes look really nice
• I have an RV gate and Home Theatre package
• I was priced at $628,625 but now am only $463,625 ($165,000 off)

So, lets review. Almost 4,000 square feet of home, NEW, on a BIG LOT, in a NICE neighborhood for $463,625. That’s $118 per square foot – amazing price for Gilbert.  There is another spec in this neighborhood that was $109 per square foot.  But since I have very strict criteria for a Deal of the Week, that house didn’t make it because the floor plan was dumb.  If you’d like to see the floor-plan or pictures of this Deal of the Week email me at Becky@BeckyWyattOnline.com and mention “Deal of the Week in Gilbert posted Nov. 15th”.

Gilbert Safest in Arizona

Crime statistics released by the FBI reveal that Gilbert, AZ is the safest community in Arizona with a population of 100,000+ people!  The FBI study showed that Gilbert had only 1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents in 2006, which is the lowest among all other big cities in Arizona.  Gilbert is noted as one of the fastest growing communities in the United States.  In 1980 the population was only 5,717, which grew to 138,000 by 2003.  As of September 1, 2007 Gilbert’s population was 198,800. Gilbert is located in the Southeast Valley suburbs of the Phoenix Metropolitan area (East of Chandler and South of Mesa).  Gilbert is known as a family-oriented community with a history in agricultural farming.  Despite the growing population, Gilbert maintains a small-town vibe.

Top 5 Markets on the Rise!

Hot off the press!  Despite the housing market slowdown, 5 major markets in the USA have managed to gain in value.  The changes noted below are in the August price from a year prior for Single Family homes.

Top 5 Cities Where Prices Rose:

1. Seattle – 5.7% increase
2. Charlotte – 5.6% increase
3. Portland – 2.8% increase
4. Atlanta – 0.8% increase
5. Dallas - 0.5% increase

Top 10 Cities Where Prices Fell:

1. Tampa – 10.1% decline
2. Detroit – 9.3% decline
3. San Diego – 8.3% decline
4. Phoenix – 8.0% decline
5. Miami - 7.8% decline
6. Las Vegas – 7.6% decline
7. Washington D.C. – 7.2% decline
8. Los Angeles – 7.2% decline
9. San Francisco – 4.2% decline
10. Cleveland – 4.1% decline

 Source: The Wall Street Journal, Rex Nutting, and S&P Case-Shiller Index (10/31/07)

The cities in the Manufacturing Belt (poor, poor Michigan) are suffering.  People are leaving that area in droves.  With the cold weather, a struggling auto-industry and high unemployment rates, Michigan is a prime example of a GET OUT state.  Detroit alone has lost half it’s population over the last 30 years!  The unemployment rate in Detroit is 14%!  Now THAT is a city that is going to have a tough time recovering from the housing slowdown we are experiencing.  The good news is, Arizona is a COME TO state.  Phoenix in particular.  Phoenix has an unemployment rate at a steady 4.7%.  Phoenix has jobs, sunshine and people want to move here.

Ideally, you’ll take advantage of the low housing prices and make a wise investment.  After all, when you buy low and sell high – you make your profit buying, you only realize your profit when you sell.  Study that list of the Top 10 declining markets.  Imagine 5 years down the road.  Do people like to vacation there?  Are there jobs?  Is it warm?  Is there a University? Would you like to own a second home or a vacation home?  Why not buy something, rent it out, and have a positive cashflow and a new asset to add to your portfolio? Why not skip the timeshare and buy a vacation home?  Do you know 5 families that would share in such an investment property?

Just be sure it is in a COME TO state so you aren’t left jobless and out in the cold.

Stand up comedian Gen. Colin Powell

I attended a GET MOTIVATED! seminar featuring motivating and successful people such as Gen. Colin Powell, Zig Ziglar, Suze Orman, Krish Dhanam, Phil Town and Brian Tracy.  I almost didn’t go considering it was from 8am-5pm all day Tuesday.  But, it was free, there was a carpool organized, and Dora made sandwiches…so count me in!

Gen. Colin Powell was the guest speaker and I was lucky enough to sit about 15 feet away him. He was very charismatic and had such a good sense of humor!  He used impersonating voices when he told stories of his conversations with President Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Korean and Japanese Leaders.

  His stories were very revealing about his true feelings on foreign policy.  He essentially recited country after country and told us how they feel about America and our relationship with them.  The highlight was when he shared that a particular Asian leader LOVES America because of Elvis and Baseball (especially the NY Yankees).  When Gen. Colin Powell revealed he KNEW Elvis, and had been in the Military with him, this Asian leader was so impressed.