REALTORŪ, GRIŪ, ABRŪ and e-Pro

Kim Ottina and Michelle Singleton
November 2009
Real
State of the art TECHNOLOGY
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Copyright © 2009 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.





Vital Information For
First-Time Buyers


  The first-time homebuyer Federal tax credit for $8000, record-low interest rates, and nationwide median home prices dropping to the lowest point in five years, makes this an enticing time to consider buying a home. By the way, that tax incentive isn't truly just for first-time buyers -- it's defined as those not having owned a home in the last three years. Research and knowing your options are critical. Check with your tax accountant for more details. It’s increasingly likely that Congress will extend and expand the popular home buyer tax credit, which will expire at the end of this month.


Mortgage Rates
U.S. averages as of October 29, 2009:

30 yr. fixed:   5.03%
15 yr. fixed:   4.46%
1 yr. adj:        4.57%




View current rates





      According to an article in August in the Raleigh News & Observer, 10.8 percent of buyers are motivated to buy due to Federal and state tax incentives. So far only 1.14 million buyers have filed



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Relieving the Stress of Packing

     Packing can be stressful time for every member of the family. To ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible, try the following tips!
      Pack a "Red Box"
      Since one in five American families moves every year, that means 22 million families may be searching for their TV remote controls!
      One of the pitfalls of packing for a move is you can't always anticipate what you'll need when you arrive at your new home, and movers typically list only the obvious such as dishes, glasses, bedding, etc. The miscellaneous items you need in the first few hours invariably wind up on the bottom of a random box.
      To start, you may want to create your own "red box" as some moving companies ("Removers") do in Great Britain. This is the last box loaded and the first one off the truck. The one universal item in the red box is the tea kettle (perhaps this would be the coffee maker in the U.S.). This is also the place




Making Your Home Age Appropriate Creates Appeal

     All of us have something in common with our homes. Sure, style, design, and location are at the top of the list, but how about age? As we age, buyers, especially the baby boomer generation, are looking to transform their homes into a place that they can stay in for as long as possible or they're hoping to find one that's already equipped for them to age-in-place.
      So how old your home and you are, are reason to give some thought to if your home needs age-appropriate adaptation in order for you to be most comfortable. And, in doing so, you may actually make your home more valuable to a wider audience of buyers, should you ever sell it.
      According to the National Homebuilders Association, making a home suitable for the golden years is economicaly sound. The baby boomer generation (77 million people) makes up 28 percent of the U.S. population. Assisted living for this generation can cost more than $60-thousand per year, not counting moving expenses.
      That's pretty pricey. So, if you've taken some steps to make your home an age-in-place sanctuary, then make sure you highlight those renovations if you ever



My New Listings

$120,000 - 1 bedroom condo in Chandler close to ASU and Chandler Regional Hospital. $398,000- Gilbert -Right by Gilbert High- 3530 SF, 5 Bedroom with pool and spa. Updated and ready to move into. $275,000 HO HOA, RV PARKING - 4 bedroom home in Northeast Mesa. $20 Acres in Marana $350,000 beautiful Saguaro Cactus and Views. Call today to get more info on any of these properties. Kim 480-518-0393




Looking for Foreclosures?
     We can set up a personal search for you that will include all of the Foreclosures and/or Short sales for any area you are interested in.
     Just drop us an email at Team@C21AZ.com or call us today at: (480) 389-3133
     Michelle and Kim




Daily News and Advice

Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.



More Articles


October Round Up: Rates Stay Flat

Real Estate Investment Buying Tips

Remodelers Help Homeowners Lower Heating Costs with Weatherization Programs

Extending Homebuyer Tax Credit Best Tool for Sustaining Housing Recovery



Kim Ottina and Michelle Singleton, ABR,GRI,e-Pro Certified
E-mail: Team@C21AZ.com
Web: http://C21AZ.com
(480) 389-3133 You can always reach us here.
866-518-0393 Toll Free

CENTURY 21 Arizona Foothills
Call us direct at: (480) 389-3133
Locations throughout the Phoenix Valley


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