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.
Why New Homes Are Expensive.
New-home prices have risen higher than anticipated when comparing those built in 1970 to homes built today with similar characteristics. According to an analysis by economist Tom Lawler, new homes are selling for an average of more than double what they sold for in...
Bisbee, Az Gains National Recognition.
Bisbee is a picturesque old mining town located in the southeast of part of Arizona. It has long been one of Arizona’s hidden secrets, but not anymore. It has been named one of Frommers 18 best places to go in 2018. It also was named Arizona’s prettiest town by Daily...
5 Ways to Save for a Downpayment.
Saving up enough money for a down payment can be tough. The best way is to segregate funds dedicated to that purpose on a regular basis through a separate account - like a savings account. Then try these methods: 1. Set up automatic transfers from your checking...
Don’t Forget Renters Insurance Coverage.
Renters insurance protects furniture, clothes and a tenant’s personal property. Instead of potentially having to re-buy the entire contents of your rental home, you could be insured for as low as $20 a month, or less than $250 per year. Coverage includes losses...
Horrifying Home Stories for Halloween.
A real estate photographer was taking photos of an old home with the agent present. Afterwards he looked at one of the photos taken in a room with a mirror when the agent was standing behind him. But in the reflection from the mirror, instead of showing the agent, the...
More Horrifying Home Stories for Halloween.
An agent’s buyer had a sister-in-law that was a medium. After the buyer put a contract on a home, the sister-in-law went through the home during the inspection to make sure there were no malevolent spirits lingering. As she left, she said: “I got rid of two, but there...
Horrifying Home Stories for Halloween.
In an Oklahoma City neighborhood, an old two-story house was on the market. The floors weren’t level, the steps squeaked, and it felt like someone was watching anyone inside. But what really creeped out an agent previewing the home was when he noticed light coming...
Arizona Has the Best Cities for Families.
Chandler is the best city in the U.S. to buy a home big enough to raise a family in, according to SmartAsset.com. Other Phoenix-area cities highly ranked were Gilbert at #3, Scottsdale at #8, with Glendale and Mesa also in the top 15 of the 100 cities analyzed. Los...
Don’t Neglect Your Landscaping.
Don't underestimate the importance of a beautiful yard to buyers. 84% of adults say that the quality of a home's landscape and yard would affect their decision on whether to purchase a home or not, according to a survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by the...