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.
Reasons to Buy a New Build Home.
Here are five reasons why to choose a new home: 1. You Can Design It. You get to pick the floor plan and options that work for you. Whether a tract home or semi-custom, you make the choices as to layout and finishes. Of course the best way to get the exact home you...
Arizona’s Low Energy Costs.
Arizona is the 5th cheapest energy cost state in the U.S. - beating both California and Florida, according to WalletHub. Save money by moving to the Phoenix metro area!
Three Mistakes Buyers Make.
Here are 3 common and costly mistakes that home buyers make:1. Not visiting a lender, getting pre-qualified and obtaining the AAR Pre-Qualification Form;2. Buying other things before closing. Lenders check credit scores up to the closing date. Too much shopping, and...
Do you Qualify for HARP?
The Phoenix metro area has the 8th biggest pool of potential HARP loan refis. Its estimated that over 10,000 homeowners qualify. The criteria are more than 20% under water, and a Fannie or Feddie loan made before 5/09. Learn more at harpprogram.org.
Less Foreign Buyers Spend More.
Fewer international buyers are buying U.S. real estate according to the National Association of REALTORS®' 2015 Profile of Home Buying Activity of International Clients. In 2014, sales transaction to buyers outside of the U.S. dropped 10%. But those who did buy...
Arizona Tourism Up!
Arizona set new tourism and related spending records in 2014. More than 40 million people stayed overnight in the state of Arizona in 2014, generating nearly $21 billion in direct spending according to the Arizona Office of Tourism on Monday. Visits by...
Canadians can pump their own gas.
Are you a Canadian having difficulty paying at U.S. pumps? The problem is the requirement that a zip code be entered at pay-at-the-pump locations. This Address Verification Service security tool doesn’t always recognize Canadian postal codes, which include letters as...
Do you live in a flood plain?
Flood plains are areas determined to be potentially affected by flooding. Why should you care? As Mesa, Arizona homeowners found out last year, flooding is possible in some neighborhoods. Flood damage is not covered by homeowners' insurance policies, so you have to...
The Chinese Beat Canadians.
Chinese buyers have surpassed Canadians as the most dominant foreign home purchasers in the United States, according to the National Association of REALTORS®' 2015 International Profile of Home Buying Activity. Home buyers from China comprised 16% of international...