Animals of the MLS

This weeks Animals of the MLS features a bulky bulldog who's curious to know just what's going on in his backyard. He's keeping his distance from the agent or photographer but rest assured he's also standing guard to make sure there's no funny business going on. I can't quite tell whether the look on his face shows he's inquisitive or whether he's not appreciative of a stranger roaming about his domain. Either way, I'm not even the one taking the picture in this scenario and I'm uncomfortable with this pooches posture. If I were in this situation I would most likely feel more at ease with the owners removing their beloved bulldog so that I could take my time and get a better photograph than the one which was ultimately taken.

I've been in many situations throughout my years of real estate in which I was made to feel uneasy with a clients animal. We can certainly do our best to assess each listing when a pet is present and give our own professional advice on how to handle showings but it's still up to the homeowner to follow our guidance. If I were to have been representing this specific seller I would have definitely advised them to have their pet removed from the home for showings so that any potential buyer would feel more comfortable roaming and examining the house thoroughly and freely. Even if their canine companion was kenneled there is still the possibility of the animal incessantly barking at any stranger entering the house thus turning the attention of any buyers away from viewing the property and on to the uneasy animal. 

As for the picture of the backyard itself there's a laundry list of items I would have corrected. This is yet again another moment where a wide angle lens could have given the space more depth and width. It doesn't appear to be a very large backyard but it could have been showcased greater than it was. The patchy and over-grown grass should have been trimmed. The multiple barbeque's, chairs, and garden hose should have been completely removed which would have given a less cluttered feel to the patio area, and of course our four-legged friend should have been kept inside and out of view. 

If you're selling your home in Gilbert, Arizona or the East Valley let the experts at Zion Realty help you. We take professional photos and put together a perfect marketing strategy to sell your property. Contact us Today!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party in Gilbert, Arizona 2015

The popularity of ugly Christmas sweater parties has soared over the past few years. Major department stores now have whole sections devoted to ugly Christmas sweaters. If you've never attended one before, the objective of the party is to wear the most festive yet ugly Christmas sweater you can find in hopes of winning a prize for being the best, or should I say, worst dressed. 

Josh and I will be attending our annual church leadership group Christmas party this evening with the ugly Christmas sweater theme in mind. If you know us at all we're not the type of people to just go to our nearest mall and pick up a corporately made sweater specifically marketed for this type of occasion. Instead, about a week ago, we began to frequent all of our local Goodwill stores in search of a true, one of a kind ugly Christmas sweater. It can take some time sifting and sorting through racks of used, donated clothing before finding a great candidate, however, earlier this week I finally found my attire for the evening:

I'm sure some older individuals out there would consider this sweater to be fashionable and festive for the season but in my age group and below this castoff cardigan can only be considered an outstanding example of an ugly Christmas sweater. Tonight's party will also include a white elephant gift exchange and of course we also found the perfect gifts for that at our local Goodwill. All totaled we spent under $10. Now where else can you spend that little and be entertained as much as we will be tonight? 

The First No Burn Day of the Season for Arizona Residents

Today signals the first official No Burn Day of the Fall and Winter season of 2015-2016 for residents of Arizona. If you live in a climate that receives plenty of rain and snowfall to rid the atmosphere of dangerous pollution and particulates you may not be aware of the term"No Burn Day". Here in the desert Southwest we are all to familiar with this common advisory . 

Arizona may be known for it's sunny skies and mild temperatures during the Fall and Winter making the state a popular vacation destination for many Winter visitors as well as families looking to permanently relocate. But what some people don't know about Arizona during this time of year is our High Pollution Advisories. It doesn't rain much here in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix and the surrounding metro areas sit on the desert floor surrounded by mountains. This creates a bubble affect that can trap all those pollutants in our air that can't escape without the help of rain or wind.

During the winter it is common to have The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issue a health watch or what's better known around these parts as a "No Burn Day". These are days that the ADEQ says our air quality is unhealthy enough that you are not allowed by law to use any type of wood burning fireplace under penalty of a $250 fine. They will even advise individuals with respiratory problems to remain indoors and suggest the general public limit their outdoor activity as long as the high-pollution advisory is in effect. The Phoenix Metro area and Maricopa County will generally be issued a dozen or more No Burn Days each winter season.  

If you plan on venturing outside on a scheduled No Burn Day in Arizona be especially mindful and vigilant. Those that suffer from allergies, breathing disorders, and the elderly are especially at risk during these days. The build up of pollution is at it's worst during mid-day and afternoon so if you must be outdoors on a No Burn Day try and limit your exposure during those times. 

2015 Angel Tree Prison Fellowship Charity Event

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time to share with friends and family gathered together around food, fireplaces, and festivities. But there's an especially sad reality that sinks in around Christmas time for those children who have a parent incarcerated. They won't get to wake up on Christmas morning and have their parent to hug or take pictures of them while opening presents. Due to the fact that the parent is behind bars and the monetary costs of caring for their child rests on a court appointed guardian, those kids might not get a Christmas at all because of the financial restraints. 

Angel Tree Prison Fellowship is the only nationwide, year-round effort that specifically reaches out to the nearly 2.7 million children who have parents paying their debt to society in the prison system. You can usually find Angel Tree giving stations in malls, churches, or other public events during the holidays with tags of children's names and wish-list items they'd like to receive from Santa Claus. 

Every year our home church, Redemption Church in Gilbert, Arizona adopts hundreds of Angel Tree kids. Not only do we help supply these children with Christmas gifts to put under their trees but we also sponsor an annual event in which they can come and enjoy food, games, activities, and a special day to celebrate the holidays. 

Josh and I are proud to volunteer at this charity event each and every year. This year we were lucky enough to also have our two girls with us. They each sat down at the face painting tables and helped paint dozens of kids smiling faces, hands, and arms with whatever their creative minds could think up. Josh spent his time greeting the families as they arrived and I helped coordinate at the arts and crafts table. There was also a youth choir performance singing Christmas songs, bounce houses, and plenty of outdoor games and activities.  

Each family and child has a story to tell and we certainly couldn't personally get to know each one of them in an afternoon. However, knowing that this day would most likely be the highlight of their holiday season was enough to put aside any troubles that could be stirring within ourselves and graciously give back to these underprivileged and at-risk youths. 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week is a horse lover's dream. A magnificent and sprawling equestrian estate. This property has every amenity horses and owners could ever desire. Located in a slightly older yet still highly desirable area of Scottsdale this luxury property was built in 1987 and features not only a main living home at just under 5,200 square feet, but also a lavish barn full of matching custom finishes which measures out at an additional 3,200 square feet. However, this isn't just your ordinary barn. It features stalls for 30 horses, groom rooms, wash racks, a full apartment for the hired help, and a reception area with bar and kitchenette. 

Both home and barn have been designed with rustic charm that also brings modern style to the forefront. You would expect a property such as this to include exposed beam ceilings, thick natural stone floors, and rich dark wood cabinets. But this luxury home also adds modern touches that today's luxury home buyer is seeking such as elegant European hinged style glass shower doors and exquisite oil-rubbed bronze and iron chandeliers and lighting fixtures throughout. The backyard pool area is quaint and cozy but still allows the new owner to feel as if they've been whisked away to a desert oasis with soaring palm trees, and saltillo tile decking. The homeowner and guests will arrive in style to this stately home by riding up the extended pavered driveway and through the private gate. Since this home was built almost 30 years ago there is no shortage of mature outdoor landscaping which sets a scenic stage to view each time you gaze out at this picturesque property. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Scottsdale

Size: 5,273 sqft

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4.5

Lot size: 217,800 sqft

If you are in the luxury home market and want a list of luxury homes available in Arizona, contact us Today! We'd love to help you find your dream home!

Market Report - Listing Prices in Gilbert, AZ - November 2015

The Gilbert, Arizona real estate market experienced the typical plateau that comes at this time of year. Active homes for sale flat lined at an average price of $320,000. This is still a significant increase from 2014 values when the average active list price from a year ago was $299,900. Sold listings experienced a slight decrease to settle in at an average of $265,000. This was a $3,000 drop from October's numbers. The biggest change was seen in the New listings category. New homes just coming on to the market for sale saw an increase in the asking price of over $15,000 as compared to October's values. 

So what do these numbers mean if you are a current homeowner in Gilbert or you wish to become one? Buyers and sellers are not on the same page when it comes to home prices and values. This can typically happen during the Fall and Winter months. Sellers can easily over-value their properties based upon the busy Summer month totals while buyers begin to pull back the reigns on their home spending due to the holidays. The gap between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are attempting to get for their home usually widens at the end of every year and even for the first few months of the upcoming new year. If you're attempting to sell your home during the Fall and Winter months it's more important than ever to set a realistic price for your home. A seller will not typically be able to get the same value out of their property that they could have gotten during the Spring and Summer when home values are on the rise instead of on the decline.

Regardless of the current prices in November, if you are a current homeowner, you have seen some steady equity built in to your property over the past year. Conversely, if you have been thinking of purchasing a property in Gilbert there are some price ranges that are once again seeing multiple offers placed on homes and buyers are snapping up the most affordable houses that hit the market each week. But armed with a little knowledge and a hard-working real estate agent from Zion Realty wrapping up that perfect home before another buyer gets to it should be a little less stressful! 

If you need more information on homes for sale in Arizona or to find out what your current home is worth contact us Today!