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.
Lending Standards Stubbornly High.
Mike Orr of the Cromford Report pointed to difficulties obtaining financing in all price ranges as a drag on the housing market. Talk of an easing of credit requirements in 2015 was just that, talk, as “lending standards remain stubbornly high”. For example, the...
Love Animals? Support the Humane Society Through SimplySOLD.
SimplySOLD™ donates to the Arizona Humane Society each time a qualifying transaction closes. In the last 8 months, I have sent checks to AHS in an amount over $1,000. If you love animals, buying or selling a home through SimplySOLD™ will contribute to...
Mortgage Rate Free Fall?
Mortgage rates declined for the week ending February 25, further boosting buyer affordability, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 3.62%, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 2.93%. Since the beginning of 2016, Freddie Mac reports that the 30-year rate...
What is Arizona’s Share of Foreign Born?
What percent of Arizona’s population was born outside of the U.S.? You might assume that due to our location by Mexico and our popularity with Canadians that the percentage was large. But according to the last U.S. Census that amount was 13.5% for Arizona....
Know What’s Bad in your Neighborhood.
RealtyTrac's new website homedisclosure.com lists #sex offenders, #drug labs and environmental problems in metro #Phoenix and other selected areas.
Save Money by Buying a Home.
A study by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America finds that major auto insurance companies charge good drivers up to 47% more for basic liability auto insurance if they don’t own a home. Premiums averaged 7% higher - about $112 more per year. This is another...
What is Required to Get an Agent License?
Buying or selling a home is highest dollar transaction most people engage in. To protect the public, what does the state of Arizona require of real estate agents?1. A four year University degree (Bachelor of Science or Arts), three years post-graduate and a Master's...
Chandler, Arizona in Top 10 for 1st Timers.
More first-time home buyers are expected to enter the market in 2016, but which areas of the country will they likely be most attracted to? Money Source, a nationwide correspondent lender, reviewed more than 70,000 loan applications, city-specific median home prices,...
The Importance of Foreign-Born Home Purchases.
How significant are foreign buyers of U.S. homes? Housing America released a study called Immigrant Contributions to Housing Demand which provides state by state statistics from 2000 to 2010, and estimates of immigrant purchases for the current decade. For Arizona,...