Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Selling a Home in Tucson: Top Tips for Staging Your Home For a Faster Sale


-Make sure bathrooms are super clean!

-Make master bedroom appeal to both sexes -- remove any overly masculine or feminine details

-Consider stainless steel appliances -- these are proven to get a bigger $$ return

-Sweep portch, patio and steps outside daily to remove debris, cobwebs, etc.

-Check all latches and locks on doors and windows -- broken ones will turn off buyers to potential other problems



Thinking of moving to Oro Valley/NW Tucson?

Get a free copy of Oro Valley Lifestyle on my site www.garnergroupproperties.com





http://www.facetimeart.com


WHITE WALLS?
Affordable abstract art by Tucson Artist
http://www.facetimeart.com





Thursday, July 25, 2013

5 Real Estate Recovery Myths!

Like anything else, real estate has its urban legends, its stories that get told so often they seem like they must be true. But unlike urban legends about exploding Pop Rocks or the origins of Jennifer Aniston’s ‘Friends’-era haircut, real estate myths have the potential to create fear, panic, paralysis and all sorts of other decision glitches.

The recent market upturn, coming on the heels of 6 years of near-Depression, has given rise to its own set of real estate myths.  Here is a handful, along with some ways you can and should rethink them.

Myth #1.  It’s recovering too fast.  According to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home-price index, American home prices increased an average of 10.6 percent between March 2012 and March 2013. Twelve of the 20 major metro areas tracked had year-over-year median home price increases in the double-digits. The list was topped by Phoenix, San Francisco and Las Vegas, all of which saw 20 percent or greater annual home price increases.

That seems crazy fast, to some. So crazy, in fact, that it’s created the fear that the current market’s exuberance will re-create the steep incline and decline in home values that we all remember not-so-fondly from the last boom-bust cycle.

Here’s the deal: markets have cycles, period. So I can guarantee you that the ups and downs will repeat, though hopefully not to such extremes. Part of what made the last down cycle so extreme was the fact that lenders were greenlighting massive home loans to borrowers without requiring them to document their ability to pay for the property over the long term. Buyers, in turn, overextended themselves regularly. Today’s loans are allowing people to buy without putting much down, but I haven’t seen almost any examples of the fully stated income or so-called “liar’s” loans that really got people in trouble. (Yet.)

Here’s the other thing: the data can be a bit misleading.  When an area’s home values have been very, very depressed for long, it simply doesn’t take that vast of an uptick to generate double-digit percentage point increases. When you look at the top five recovery markets, according to the Case-Shiller, four of them: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami and Tampa – ranked among the hardest hit markets in the foreclosure crisis and resulting downturn. (San Francisco was the anomaly.)  When you look at other markets that skated through the recession relatively unscathed, like New York, you see the percentage point increase year-over-year was much less impressive/ less scary (depending on your outlook), at 2.6 percent.

Myth #2.  Investors are driving demand. In some areas, investors are buying up lots of low-priced homes. From big Wall Street investment groups to Mom-and-Pop investors, people who don’t plan to live in the homes they’re buying were responsible for about 20% of May home sales. But this number is actually on a downward path – investors were responsible for 22% of home sales in April, and investor activity should continue to decline as prices increase, putting a cap on the profits investors can realize.

While investor activity is declining, buyer demand is increasing, as evidenced by increasing numbers of cash transactions, offers per property and speed of homes leaving the market.

First-time buyers are responsible for 36% of current buyer activity and repeat homeowners for over 43%. Investors have been active, but by no means are they responsible for creating the intense buyer demand that now characterizes the market.

Myth #3.  Sellers are stuck.  This time, let’s start with what’s true. Many, many sellers in hot markets are in the midst of an exasperating Catch-22:  they can finally sell their homes, which have been underwater for years. But now they struggle to buy, amidst the multiple offer mania – some report having to make offers on dozens of homes, or even having to rent a place until they can buy one.

As I see it, sellers aren’t stuck as much as they are being forced into being strategic about sequencing their transactions and setting up their deal points. During the recession, millions of sellers had no equity – or negative equity. That meant they couldn’t sell, which meant they didn’t have the money to buy – heck, many couldn’t even refinance. That’s what I call stuck. Now, they have the option to pull cash out to buy first, the option to refinance and stay put, and the option to sell – period.  So for my dollar, today’s sellers are nowhere near stuck, compared with the truly stuck sellers of yesteryear.

Most of the sellers who have recently, truly gotten stuck (i.e., sellers who’ve been forced to rent until they could successfully buy) ended up in that situation because they listed their homes first, unaware that the market truly had shifted and that their home would fly off the market. Now, we know. So, if you’re selling in a super-hot market, work with your agent to put a strategy in place. Consider buying first, if you have the means or can get them. Or list your home with a Seller’s Contingency or a rent-back agreement (where your home’s buyer rents it back to you for a short time), to buy yourself some extra time to score a new place.  Your agent and mortgage pros can help.

Myth #4.  Rates are through the roof.  Have mortgage interest rates gone up?  Yes.  Is the Fed signaling they intend to raise rates, too?  Yes - in 2015.  (Not exactly tomorrow.)

Last week’s reported 30 year mortgage rates were 3.94 percent, and 15-year rates were right around 3%.  Given that the record low rates clocked in at 3.31 (30-year) and 2.62 (15-year), even today’s higher rates are not worth your worry.  Nor is an increase of rates likely to cause all the pent-up buyer demand of the last few years to dissipate.  My Dad used to remind me that people bought homes when rates were 14% in the 80’s, and they will buy them now, even as they inch up – because they need and want places to live. 

Myth #5.  Foreclosures are a thing of the past. Through the recession, many banks and mortgage servicers began to hold hundreds of thousands of foreclosed homes off the market to avoid flooding it, depressing prices even further than they already were. And even now, these institutions continue to trickle them onto the market, rather than creating a deluge of home inventory. Additionally, mortgage regulators now allow servicers to rent out REOs, versus selling them, and to hold them as long as 5 or 10 years following foreclosure, if needed.

While we are seeing a steep decline in the number of newly foreclosured homes, we can expect to have a higher-than-average number of foreclosed homes – REOs – on the market for some years to come. This so-called “shadow inventory” had declined over 10% nationwide between January 2012 and January 2013.  And with the uptick in demand, we should continue to see this so-called “shadow inventory” of homes decline as banks take the opportunity to get these homes off their books. 

http://www.trulia.com/blog/taranelson/2013/06/5_real_estate_recovery_myths?e

Thursday, May 9, 2013

National Public Gardens Day - May 10, 2013

National Public Gardens Day is an annual celebration of the nation's public gardens to raise awareness of the important role botanical gardens and arboreta play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces, and education in communities nationwide. Enjoy free admission at Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul Gardens (call for details) on National Public Gardens Day.
http://www.nationalpublicgardensday.org/discover/

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Tucson, Arizona | Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tucson, Arizona | Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tucson Restaurants | Details, Maps & Photos

Tucson Restaurants | Details, Maps & Photos

TIPS - For selling your home in Tucson, AZ

SOME TIPS - For selling your home in Tucson, AZ

INSIDE:
1.) Clean home
2.) Clean all windows inside and out
3.) Keep blinds and curtains open
4.) Remove all personal items
5.) Remove appliances from kitchen counter
6.) Remove excess furniture
7.) Bake fresh bread or cookies

Garner Group Properties


 OUTSIDE:
1.)    Fresh coat of paint on home
2.)    New hardware on the front door
3.)    Fix all lights
4.)    Clean garage / organize
5.)    Clean drive-way of any spots or stains
6.)    Trim all vegetation…. trees, plants, flowers and cactus
7.)    Fresh rock or welled trimmed grass


             Garner Group Properties

Enjoy,

Rodger

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

REILLY Craft Pizza & Drink

Photo
You have to check this place out!....... 2 thumbs up!
Enjoy!
Rodger

Things to do in Tucson, AZ


Hiking in Tucson AZ - Homes for sale in Tucson AZ


Tucson - The Real Southwest

Whether you're visiting Tucson for the first time, or you're a local searching for what's new, Tucson has what you’re looking for. With incredible attractions for the whole family, 350 days of sunshine for outdoor adventures and golf, an extensive arts and culture background, world-class accommodations and spas, and a burgeoning culinary and nightlife scene, Tucson will keep you entertained and wanting to come back for more. Come visit Tucson and see for yourself!

http://www.visittucson.org/

Enjoy!

Rodger

Tucson AZ - Snow halts Match Play

Tucson AZ - Snow halts Match Play

http://www.kvoa.com/news/snow-halts-match-play/

MARANA (AP) - Already a year of wacky weather on the PGA Tour, this topped it all: snow.

The opening round of the Match Play Championship was suspended Wednesday when slush on the green gave way to snow that covered the fairways and greens at Dove Mountain and made it impossible to play. Play was called off for the afternoon because there was too much snow on the course.

The only competition turned out to be a snowball fight among the caddies outside the clubhouse, with nearly 2 inches of snow on the ground.

The round is to resume Thursday, and with only 16 matches in the second round and the number dwindling each day, it should be no trouble to get back on schedule.

Tucson AZ - Rodeo ... February 16th thru 24th



2013 Schedule of Events
88th ANNUAL LA FIESTA DE LOS VAQUEROS

All events are at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave., unless otherwise noted.


The first La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Celebration of the Cowboys) in 1925 touted three days of events and competition. Today, the event has grown to a nine-day celebration centered on the Tucson Rodeo, one of the top 25 professional rodeos in North America.

Current and former Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world champions are featured in each Tucson Rodeo. “The entry list for Tucson could be the ‘Who’s Who’ of pro rodeo,” boasts Gary Williams, general manager of the Tucson Rodeo. “In addition to the caliber of competition and the prize money, cowboys look forward to Tucson because the fans are great and the sky is blue. This is the first major outdoor rodeo of the year, so they’re ready for sunshine, fresh air and 11,000 fans each day cheering them on,” adds Williams.

The Tucson Rodeo Parade is billed as the world’s longest non-motorized parade. This two-hour spectacle features western-themed floats and buggies, historic horse-drawn coaches, festive Mexican folk dancers, marching bands and outfitted riders. An estimated 200,000 spectators view the parade each year.

Tucson now has a snowier 2013 than Seattle

Tucson now has a snowier 2013 than Seattle
Not only has Mother Nature essentially blanked Seattle in the snow department this winter, she's rubbing it in by bringing real winter to places that aren't supposed to have it.

Snow started falling here during a PGA golf match -- something I'm sure the organizers thought would never happen. I'd be like planning for 80 degrees during a potential Seattle Super Bowl.

http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Tucson-now-has-a-snowier-2013-than-Seattle-192103461.html

Saturday, February 2, 2013

59th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show


59th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show™
February 14 - 17, 2013
“Fluorite, Colors of the Rainbow”
http://www.tgms.org/2013showinfo.htm

Tucson Convention Center
260 South Church Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85701


Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Happy New Year!

Road Cycling

http://www.visittucson.org/events/calendar/

Events Calendar

You'll find an array of regional events listed below. Create your own itinerary by adding multiple events to our Trip Planner. Be sure to confirm details in advance, using the contact information provided with each event, because last-minute changes sometimes occur despite our efforts to ensure information is current. Featured event listings are highlighted with shaded background.