Today, a trusted vendor sent me a video to a well-known inspirational professional speaker.  That speaker shared a video from Earl Nightingale.  Listening to that YouTube video took me back to my days in the insurance business.  My "boss" would listen to those tapes in his car and his office.    The insurance office was located on the top floor  in what was once a cotton trading section of the building.  The ceilings must have been 25' tall, reminding me of a time in the early 1990's when I visited the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street.  It was a feeling of being in an important place, at an important time.  But I digress! The top insurance agent for whom I worked was an avid listener of Earl Nightingale.  He would travel Western Kansas, selling insurance policies to farmers.  Thes... 08/10/2023

Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2023 [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Want to know what experts say will happen in the rest of 2023? Home prices are already appreciating again in many areas. The average of the expert forecasts shows positive price growth. Where mortgage rates go for the rest of the year will depend on inflation. Based on historical trends, rates are likely to ease as inflation continues to cool. Even though low inventory continues to be a challenge, experts project 5 million homes will still sell this year. That pace should pick up if rates come down. 08/10/2023

Four Ways You Can Use Your Home EquityIf you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years. Equity builds over time as home values grow and as you pay down your home loan. And, since home prices skyrocketed during the ‘unicorn’ years, you’ve likely gained more than you think.According to the latest Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner has more than $274,000 in equity right now. That much equity can help you achieve certain goals. In a recent article, Bankrate elaborates: “While the pandemic created serious challenges, the silver lining for anyone who owned a home was the sizable equity gain. Understanding how home equity works, and how to leverage it, is important for any homeowner.”Here are a few examples of how you can put... 08/10/2023

The Value of an Agent When Buying Your New Construction HomeBuying a new construction home can be an exciting experience. From being the very first owner, to customizing your home’s features, there are a lot of benefits. But navigating the complexities of buying a home that’s under construction can also be a bit overwhelming. This is where a skilled real estate agent can make all the difference.An article from The Mortgage Reports sums it up like this:“Your Realtor or real estate agent will be key to helping you navigate this process. . . . they can guide you through construction and help anticipate and solve for any possible snags along the way.”Here’s how your agent is an invaluable resource in your search to find and buy your new home.Agents Know the Local Area and MarketYour agent i... 08/10/2023

About 11,000 Houses Will Sell TodaySome homeowners have been waiting for months to put their houses on the market because they don’t think people are buying homes right now. If that’s you, know that even though the housing market has slowed compared to the frenzy of a couple of years ago, it isn’t at a standstill. Contrary to what you may believe, buyers are still active and plenty of homes are selling right now.According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), based on the pace of sales right now, just over 4 million homes will sell this year. With some simple math, let’s break down what that really means for you: 4.16 million homes divided by 365 days in a year = 11,397 houses sell each day 11,397 divided by 24 hours in a day = 475 houses sell per hour 475 divided by 60 minutes... 08/10/2023

If you've improved or planning to improve your home and reduce your energy bills this year (2023), save those receipts!   Tax credits and rebates are available to you by utility companies and now with the Inflation Reduction Act.  If you've been considering swapping out your HVAC, roof, insulation, and/or appliances.  The deduction available for the Inflation Reduction Act might apply for you!  The credits will vary by state and income levels.  The program will be administered by each state for their portion of the program, so search in your state for what's available to you.   In the meantime, visit Dsireusa.org for a current state by state guide for rebates and incentives available to you.  Also verify with your utility website for any local state credits for adding energy or water ef... 08/09/2023

As inventory continues to decline, upward pressure on prices keeps the days on market to a minimum.   The market is slower than a year ago, but if a home is priced right, clean and in good condition, it will sell in less than two months.   Buyers want move-in ready homes so if you're selling a home, make sure it's clean, painted, and repairs are made.  For this Cromford Report,  the entire city of Scottsdale is reported, although most of the homes in this report tend to be in mid to north Scottsdale.  The population in Scottsdale is 242,753 in 2021 according to the US Census Bureau.   Active inventory is very low, but a little higher than the same time in 2021.   The total Active Listings in Scottsdale is currently 1,248 homes  of all shapes and sizes.  There are 290 homes priced from $... 08/08/2023

08/07/2023

We are all different and unique individuals.  Without a doubt, we have our own expanse of knowledge and experiences that drive us in business and our personal lives.  We make choices daily that further our path, sometimes intentional and sometimes unintentional.   Those choices for me were unintentional in a way, but looking back at my span of careers, they all lead me to where I am now.   Forty years ago, I switched my career from banking to property management.  Five years of banking had taught me a vast knowledge of finance and how banks operate.  Thanks to five promotions in five different departments, making the rounds in the second largest bank in Kansas taught me a good base of knowledge.  Technology in computer systems was finally taking over the manual aspects of bookkeeping, a... 07/31/2023

07/31/2023

Do you need a back yard to relax and enjoy the sunset? (Photo: Pixabay) Scottsdale Arizona has great HOMES and SUNSETS...I sell both of them.  Buying your own home in Sunny Scottsdale Arizona or the entire Valley of the Sun in the Phoenix metro is the way to go! In the center of Arizona adventures await in all directions. Here are ALL Scottsdale Single Family Homes For Sale on the Arizona MLS UPDATED DAILY.As your Buyer's Realtor I can show you any of the these homes listed on the MLS listed by all brokers. I will also look out for YOUR best interests at no cost to you. Call or Text me at 480-242-6500 or email JeffMasich@ArizonaHomesLand.com with your questions.  Sunny Scottsdale Arizona Homes For Sale on MLS and ALWAYS UP TO DATEFor FULL PAGE view and filter into price order Scottsdale... 07/28/2023

Key Housing Market Trends [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights If you’re considering buying or selling a home, you’ll want to know what’s happening in the housing market. Housing inventory is still very low, prices are climbing back up, and homes are selling fast when priced right. If you want more information about our local area and what the trends mean for your plans to buy or sell, let’s connect. 07/28/2023

Here is the most recent Scottsdale AZ Real Estate Housing Market Report for June 2023: After decreasing in March, the average sales price of Scottsdale homes has increased for the 3rd month in a row, going from $1,346,089 in March, to $1,497,530 in June. This is the first time this year that the average sales price of Scottsdale homes has increased 3 straight months and is now just a few thousand dollars from the all-time high of $1,499,763 it reached in June of 2022. Click on the image below to read the full article and see what is going on in the Scottsdale Arizona real estate market.   The average price of Scottsdale homes per square foot has also increased for the 3rd straight month, going from $436/sf in March to $457/sf in June. The average sold price per square foot in Scottsdale... 07/27/2023

07/24/2023

This month's challenge is about sharing what makes me exceptional in real estate.  That story can be unique for each of us!   How we get there can be a story within itself!  For me, it's my niche in real estate.   The definition of niche, according to the Merriam Websiter Dictionary is described as one of the following:  1) a: a  recess in a wall especially for a statue;    b. something (such as a sheltered pivate space) that resembles a recess in a wall2) a:  a place, employment, status or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted    b: a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species    c:  the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption    d: a specialized market Who knew that the defintion of "... 07/23/2023

After moving to Phoenix on December 30, 1998, I enrolled at the local community college the next spring.  It had been a few years since I had worked full time and with a new impending single livelihood, a career needed to be in the making.   Attending school at middle age with 18 year old college freshmen was akin to raising children all over again.  But it was also a way to get started again and so I buckled down.    Courses included marketing, psychology, English, history and creative writing.   For two years, brain cells were engaged! Fast forward to the fall of 2002 and I decided that in order to gain a career, a college degree was not required,  Thanks to vacuuming backward out the door of each home in four states, real estate might be a good career choice.  So after a three week c... 07/21/2023

Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights According to a recent Gallup poll, real estate has been voted the best long-term investment for 11 years in a row, beating gold, stocks, bonds, and more. Owning real estate means more than just having a home—it’s an investment in your future. That’s because it’s typically a stable and secure asset that tends to increase in value as time goes on. Let’s connect if you’re ready to buy a home and invest in your future.   07/21/2023

- June 2023 Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Home Sales - We are now seeing our seasonal slowdown in the Scottsdale market. Sales were quite strong in June, but there were fewer contracts in the pipeline as we closed out the month. SCOTTSDALE HOME SALES ACTIVITY – JUNE 2023 Each month, we look at the following things to see how the market is performing: - Single-family homes for sale - Orange Line - The number of homes actively for sale at the end of the month. - Under contract, but accepting backup offers (UCB) - Gray Line - How many UCB contracts there were at the end of the month.*- Pending home sales - Yellow Line - The number of pending sales at the end of the month.*- Home Sales - Blue Line - How many homes sold over the course of the month. JUNE 2023 RESULTS Scottsdale Homes for Sal... 07/18/2023

As a homeowner, you might understand a little of how real estate works in the state where you own a home.  But what if you were to receive a job offer or decide to move to another state?  Real estate practices differ in each state.  Using a seasoned professional makes a BIG difference in understanding how things work from state to state.     Real estate contracts can be very different from state to state.  This week I'm selling an out of state rental that I own.  The differences in practices, what is expected and the paperwork are vast!    With each event I'm asking questions and in each instance processes are very different.  In Arizona, everything is a process and additional paperwork is created with each change in circumstance, repairs, close of escrow changes and much more.  Whereas... 07/17/2023

07/17/2023