Blog
N. Mark Kramoltz, JD, GRI, CIPS writes blog articles on the metro Phoenix, Arizona, national and global real estate markets. Written from his perspective as a designated broker and real estate attorney, his articles avoid the inaccuracies and vacuous industry propaganda common to most real estate writings. He also blogs about animals (mostly dogs in the military) due to his love of pets and military history.
Scottsdale is the Most Pet Friendly City.
WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics using three main categories: Pet Budget, Pet Health & Wellness, and Outdoor Pet Friendliness. The criteria in Pet Budget included an analysis of veterinary care costs, the...
10 Reasons Not to Have Pool? Part 1.
Kiplinger, the financial advice periodical, have come up with the top 10 disadvantages of owning a home with a swimming pool. They say the following cons outnumber the pros, but I disagree: 1. Routine Maintenance Is Costly. Its costs money, but maintenance is not that...
Haunted Home Stories for Halloween 2023.
For years prior to the sale of a home in New York state, the sellers had reported the existence of numerous paranormal occurrences. The hauntings ranged from unexplained sounds to full body apparitions. During the time they owned the home the sellers had revealed...
What Will Help you when Selling your Home.
In What Will Hurt you when Selling your Home I showed what buyers disliked in a home according to Opendoor. Based on what buyers are not looking for in that post, the top two buyer preferences should be no surprise: 61% of home buyers favored updated bathrooms and 60%...
Outdoor Improvement Payoff.
The trend of upgrading outdoor space that began with the pandemic has continued. As noted in Emerging 2022 Design Trends, Part 1, landscape professionals surveyed say the size and scope of outdoor home improvement projects have increased since Covid. But which...
Baby Boomers Are Number One.
Baby boomers comprised the highest share of buyers and sellers nationwide according to the National Association of REALTORS®' 2023 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report. Baby boomers—people ages 58 to 76—accounted for 53% of sellers and 39% of buyers...
The Swimming Pig.
In the beginning of the First World War, the German cruiser Dresden set out for the south Atlantic. On board was a pig, probably as a source of fresh meat during what was anticipated to be a long voyage. After the battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914, HMS...
Global Luxury Buyers Say Yes.
A recent survey of over 1,200 high-net-worth consumers from 12 countries reveals a positive outlook on the U.S. luxury real estate market. 80% of global luxury consumers believe purchasing real estate in the U.S. is a safe investment, and 76% rate the current market...
Will New Homes Get Cheaper?
Lumber prices plunged around 66% last year as the result in decreased demand by home builders and the faltering US housing market. As a result the price of lumber plummeted to less than $400 per 1,000 board feet as of January 2023 from over $1,200 in March 2022....