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.
Watch out for Agent Half-Truths
Half-truths are statements designed to get you to believe something that isn’t true. They are made by some agents to get you to make a decision that they want or one that favors them. It works by giving you half of the story, leaving out inconvenient facts that would...
Eight Useful Canadian Websites.
Whether you are a US citizen seeking info on Canada, or a Canadian living in the US (as I am), there is lots information available on the following websites: 1. Canada Travel - Destination Canada. Canada's official tourism website with comprehensive information on...
Have you Been Tortured by a Lender?
Lenders have put some borrowers through the ringer due to enhanced underwriter guidelines. Although better qualified buyers are a good thing, idiotic and illogical requirements delay the process and make an already stressful process worse. Karen Deis, the operater of...
Do You Know Who Dominates Our Trade?
Want to show your smarts? Try asking someone this question: who is the United States’ number one export partner? My guess is they will say China, Japan, Europe and depending on what part of the country you’re in, maybe Mexico. But the answer is in fact Canada....
Remodeling Pays Off
People are putting money into their homes again now that values are rising. Of course the declining values didn’t stop remodeling, as owners without equity decided to stay put and improve rather than do a short sale. In any event, owners can significantly recoup their...
Porn in Your Real Estate?
It has been said that there is nothing more popular than porn on the internet. There are also photos of homes, buildings, and other unique architecture available on the web. But is there a place where pornography and real estate have been combined? You would think so...
Cross Border Banking Makes Owning a Home in Arizona Simple.
Typically Canadians or others from other countries owning residential property here in Arizona need banking services. This is especially critical if the home is rented periodically as there will be income and expenses. The ability to deposit funds and write checks...
Use the SimplySOLD Library to Learn About International Buyers.
As a Certified International Property Specialist, I have learned a lot about doing business with foreign buyers of Arizona real estate. To increase my knowledge of the Canadian consumer, this summer I became a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association (“CSA”). CSA...
Are Foreign Buyers Losing Interest in U.S. Real Estate?
Sales of homes to foreign buyers have been strong in the south and southwest for years. The National Association of Realtors®' 2012 Profile of International Home Buying Activity showed that those sales equaled $82.4 billion for the past year ending March 2012, up from...