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.
Unsinkable Sam.
Sam was a black and white cat that was supposedly owned by a sailor on the German WWII battleship Bismarck. When the Bismark was sunk, it was said he was picked from the water by the British destroyer HMS Cossack. The crew of Cossack named their new mascot "Oscar",...
Liability Letters, Part 2.
The belief that “love letter” violations are a widespread problem has prompted the Oregon legislature to pass a law preventing a buyer’s agents from providing the seller’s agent with one. To ensure a seller won‘t select a buyer based on prohibited criteria under the...
Crime Information Now Unavailable.
The Woke movement has hit real estate. Realtor.com and Redfin are deleting crime data listed on their websites because it could “perpetuate racial inequity.” Realtor.com removed its crime map from all search results to “level the playing field.”. Redfin doesn’t think...
LEED Certification, Part 1.
LEED is a system that rates now green a building is. It is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. LEED certification rates structures based on water and energy efficiency, sustainability of the site,...
Germans Don’t Love Dobermans? Part 2.
Missing from the German restricted lists is a dog breed that has proved itself to be more consistently aggressive than a Doberman. It is a dog breed commonly used for attack dog purposes - a task Dobermans are notoriously poor at (See Dobermans Flunk Out of the War)....
Liability Letters, Part 1.
A buyer love letter is a letter written by the buyers to the sellers that accompanies an offer. It is an emotional appeal to the sellers in an attempt to get the sellers to accept the buyers’ offer. Typically, the buyers write about how much they love the home and how...
Moving with Your Pets.
If moving by plane, many airlines allow pets aboard their flights, but some are more pet friendly than others. Compare the policies and requirements of airlines flying to your destination. Typically if your dog or cat is small enough to fit under the seat and inside...
Tapping Your Home Equity, Part 4.
Reverse Mortgages. Reverse mortgages are an ideal tool for the retired or soon to be. I have written several times about this option, the most recent in Should You Get a Reverse Mortgage? A reverse mortgage is available to those 62 and older and typically results in a...
We’re Number One!
Home prices rose by 33.1% in the Phoenix metro area to lead the nation. This is no surprise to area buyers and sellers. Inventory in the popular price ranges continues to constrict so buyers shouldn’t expect a more balanced market in the immediate future. But there is...