Blog
Latest NewsN. 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. Due to his love of animals and military history, he also frequently writes about dogs, cats and horses that have played a role in military conflicts. Subscribe to his blog now!
How to Assess the Cost of a Fixer-Upper, Part 1.
When you buy a fixer-upper property, follow these tips to avoid getting in a financial fix: 1. Get Inspections. These are key to determine whether a fixer-upper is worth it. A home inspector can uncover hidden issues in need of replacement or repair, such as...
Do You Have an Easement? Part 3.
Exclusivity and Costs. Easements typically grant exclusive use of the easement area to the recipient unless they provide that the easement is nonexclusive. Of course, shared driveways should always be granted on a nonexclusive basis, and so should utility and drainage...
When can you legally use a Handyman?
In Arizona, repairs under $1,000 can be performed by a person without a contractor’s license. But the “handyman exemption” isn’t that simple. An important limitation is that the aggregate contract price, including labor, materials and all other items, is less than...
Preparing For Your Move, Part 5.
Moving Day Tips. Color Code: As well as labeling, assign each room a color and use coordinating colored duct tape on the top and sides of boxes so that they can be identified when stacked. Fill Space: To prevent damage, use socks or rags to fill in ‘dead air' space,...
Don’t be a Victim of the Endowment Effect.
The Endowment Effect is the tendency of sellers to over value the things that they own. When combined with loss aversion instincts, the Endowment Effect can cripple the home sale process. An example of its impact was shown by an experiment where half of a group were...
They Shoot Horses? Operation Cowboy.
In the last days of the WWII, American soldiers captured a German spy with photos of beautiful white horses in his briefcase. They pictured the world famous Lippizzaner “dancing” horses, which were being kept on a farm behind enemy lines, in the future Russian...