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.
Stubby, Part 2: He Nabs a Soldier.
One night in the WW1 trenches Stubby was resting with the men in a dugout. Suddenly he lifted his head and his ears pricked alert. He sniffed the air, uttered a low growl, then sprang to his feet and ran out the bunker. A few seconds later there was a sharp cry of...
The Agency Mess.
The Consumer Federation of America recently released a report critical of real estate agency practices. In The Agency Mess, the CFA noted that although consumers think agents represent their best interest, many agents actually represent the interests of the other...
Tapping Your Home Equity, Part 3.
Home Equity Line of Credit. A HELOC is a new loan with a revolving line of credit feature. You borrow what you need within the loan limits. The flexibility of a HELOC can be useful for occasional cash needs when running a business. HELOCs have a withdrawal period -...
Planning Your Kitchen Island, Part 1.
If you are building or remodeling and your kitchen and will have an island, here are 6 tips: Use for Seating. The best use of a kitchen island is seating. Kitchens are the center of a home and where the family collects. Additional seating for meetings and meals is...
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...