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.
Preparing For Your Move, Part 1.
Lower the cost and hassle before the movers come using these 5 prep tips: 1. De-Clutter - Clean out your closet and get rid of anything that you don't need. Consign, donate, give away or have a garage sale to reduce the weight and cost of the move. 2. Pack to Unpack -...
There’s More Than a Contract Involved in a Sale, Part 2.
The work required in the purchase of a home involves much more than getting a signed contract. There are potentially several disclosure issues and documents that must or should be supplied by a seller. So what's included and excluded can be vital. There are also the...
Why Buy a Home Now?
First of all, interest rates are expected to continue to rise. Plus inflation may also come back long term. And more unfavorable laws that reduce the advantages of buying could be enacted (minor tax law changes already came into effect 1/1/18). If so, buying a home...
What is Staging? Part 1.
Staging is the process of making a home more appealing through the use of personal property and lighting. Staging accomplishes this through the following: Showing purpose - exercise equipment demonstrates a room without a closet could be used for working out; Showing...
The Basics of 1031 Exchanges, Part Two.
There are limits as to the type of properties that qualify for a 1031 Exchange. First, a seller must hold both the relinquished property and the replacement property “in a trade or business” or “for investment purposes.” The purpose of this rule is to ensure that...
Know Your Neighborhood.
Live in Scottsdale? You can find information about construction activity, development requests, building permits, code enforcement notices, and crime activity by visiting the City’s online map. Enter an address or intersection and see all activity for the last six...
Reject dual agency.
Single agent dual agency allows one agent to represent both the buyer and seller at the same time. That means the agent is not required to put your interests first. I agree with the position of The National Association of Exclusive Buyer's Agents that the ethics of...
Why Do You Need Title Insurance? Part 2.
In Part 1 I discussed the protection title insurance provides after closing. But did you know that when buying a home the title report is an important part of your due diligence? The report shows what matters affect the title of the home and what will be excluded from...
Update on 2018 Tax Changes.
1. Capital gains exclusion. In a huge win for current and prospective homeowners, current law is left in place on the capital gains exclusion of $250,000 for an individual and $500,000 for married couples on the sale of a home. Plans to make it much harder to qualify...