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!
Best Cities for First Timers.
The metro Phoenix, Arizona cities of #Gilbert (4th), #Chandler (10th), and #Peoria (at 13th) are ranked among the best medium sized U.S. cities for first time #homebuyers according to the NAR. #Arizona as a state ranks 10th in the nation.
Banks are Leaving the Mortgage Business.
MPA Magazine reports that large banks are leaving the home mortgage business. They originated just 52% mortgages in 2014, down from more than 70% seven years earlier. The magazine cites the CEO of BankUnited (a Florida based bank) who said "We can't make money in the...
Strange Buyer Incentives.
Some sellers will try weird marketing methods. Here are 3 of the most unusual: 1. Alcohol. A Chicago-area seller offered a $1,000 tab at a bar located across the street from the property. 2. Another home. A Connecticut seller threw in their Florida vacation condo...
It’s Getting Easier to get a Mortgage.
Over the past few years the federal government and lenders have taken several steps to open up the credit box. Signs that the efforts were paying off came last fall when credit scores on closed loans lowered to 723. As of April 2016, the average FICO score was still...
Phoenix ties San Francisco for best high-tech job growth.
Phoenix tied San Francisco for the best high-tech job growth among major North American markets over the past two years, according to a new report from CBRE. The report shows the Phoenix added 12,662 new high-tech jobs from 2012 to 2014. That is a 42.7% increase for...
New-Home Construction Trailing Job Growth.
The metro Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area is one of the metro areas where new-home construction is lagging. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, this may lead to a shortage of new housing stock. NAR measured the ratio of new-home construction to the number...