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.
Was It Your Dog When it was Over?
In the U.S. during WWII, dogs were donated by the public to the war effort through the Dogs for Defense program. After the war was over, the military returned the lucky dogs who survived the conflict to their homes. England had a similar program and Brutus was a...
Haunted Home Stories for Halloween 2022.
The House of the Seven Gables, or the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, in Salem, Massachusetts is famous for paranormal activity. Built in 1668, this Colonial-style home is thought to be among the oldest wooden structures in America and is well-preserved for its 300-plus...
Chandler Best U.S. City for Pool Lovers.
StorageCafe.com analyzed the country's 100 biggest cities to identify the best places for pools. The study used a combined index to measure the "pool access" potential for buyers and renters. The index ranks the share of houses for sale and apartments for rent with...
Phoenix a Top Destination for LA Residents.
People have always left Los Angeles for Phoenix for a variety of reasons. The unfavorable economy and housing market in the LA area has accelerated that trend. Rising mortgage rates, high home prices, inflation and economic concerns are making southern California out...
The Dog that Could Fall, Part 2.
After Bing jumped out of a plane on D-Day in WWII, he landed in a tree. His rescuers were hampered by German mortar fire, so Bing had to hang there for two hours before he was found, but not after incurring two shrapnel wounds to his face. He shook off his wounds and...
Watch Out For Rookie Mistakes.
Due to the real estate boom in Arizona and elsewhere, there are hordes of new real estate agents. Membership in the National Assoc. of Realtors grew from 1.48 million in 2020 to 1.56 in 2021. That 82% increase in new members set a NAR record. This “jump on the...
Emerging 2022 Design Trends, Part 2.
Here are 3 more trends according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz & Home Study: 4. Space Maximization. With more people working from home, many are searching for ways to save space, add storage and create light and airy looks. In a laundry room, stacking the appliances...
Get Paid to Remove Your Grass.
Replace your lawn to reduce your water consumption and maintenance costs and be paid for it. The participating Valley of the Sun cities have different rules and reimbursement rebates for transition from grass to xeriscape landscaping. For example, Peoria up to $550;...
Seller ‘Waiting Game’ Unwise.
Studies have shown that some homeowners who want to move say they won't put their home on the market because they are waiting for the highest possible price. This is the same unwise strategy holders of stocks employ when they say they won’t sell until a stock reaches...