Blog
Latest NewsN. 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. Due to his love of animals and military history, he also frequently writes about dogs, cats and horses that have played a role in military conflicts. Subscribe to his blog now!
Finally Some Flood Plain Relief.
Mortgage holders of more than 500 Phoenix and Scottsdale properties are now able to cancel their flood insurance due to flood map changes that went into effect July 20, 2021. That is because the flood insurance rate maps for a portion of northwest Scottsdale and...
Stubby, Part 1.
Stubby, a bull terrier mix, is often referred to as America’s first war dog. He attached himself to his regiment when they were training for WWI in 1917 in New Haven, Ct. When it was time for the outfit to ship to Europe, Stubby was smuggled aboard and hidden in the...
How to Update Your Decor, Part 1.
Whether you are selling or just need a change, refreshing your homes fixtures and furnishings doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Here are six ideas. 1. Add or Replace an Area Rug. Rugs get worn out. A new one can change the feel of a room. You can choose a...
Tapping Your Home Equity, Part 2. Refinancing.
Although interest rates have inched up, they are still near historic lows. The mortgage pros say that generally a one percent drop in the interest rate of your loan makes it worth it. The lower payments will save money you can invest or use elsewhere. A cash out refi...
How’s the Market?
As of August, still very pro seller in the greater Phoenix area. Statements that the market was evening out over the summer were premature. An example is the absorption rate. The absorption rate measures the rate at which homes are sold during a given time period. The...
German War Dogs.
Unlike the U.S., Germany didn’t terminate its war dog program after World War 1. So the German army was equipped in WW2 from the get go with dogs that had attended training schools at around six months of age. The process started with testing of the animals’ potential...