The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week is a stunning remodel perfectly situated in Phoenix but also a stones throw away from both Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Be taken back to straight, clean lines and vintage architecture where mid-century meets modern-style luxury. An abundance of natural light is let in to the main living area and kitchen because of the wrap around floor to ceiling windows and soaring ceiling heights. Dark flat-faced European style cabinetry combined with ultra-white quartz counter tops make for an elegant and functional cooking space. Wide cut wood plank floors, and a perfect mix of chrome, glass, and gold lighting fixtures and finishes also add to the eclectic yet exquisite sophistication of this home. 

The outside of this property was just as carefully designed. Grey brick combined with forged metal and white paint scheme are simple yet provide a much different look than a typical Arizona luxury home. Even the pool was expertly placed and built to take full advantage of the stunning views of Camelback mountain that are afforded to this new homeowner. You won't find any over-the-top and lavish amenities with this million dollar remodel. There is only a 3-car garage, no guest home, no high-tech game room, and this home is not in a subdivision known for it's highly affluent and influential residents. The new owner will simply enjoy a fabulously designed and expertly styled property that is full of character, charm, and uncomplicated richness. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Phoenix

Size: 5,293 sqft

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4.5

Lot size: 33,593 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!

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4806011/th...

How long will it take to sell my Gilbert, AZ home? - November 2015

The amount of time it's taking to sell a home in Gilbert, Arizona saw a slight increase in the month of November after showing signs of decreasing just the month prior. On average, a home in Gilbert took 62.5 days on the market before finding a buyer. This number is still significantly better than November of 2014 when it was taking an average of 88 days to sell a home in Gilbert.  There are still some homes in price ranges around $200,000 which are selling almost as fast as they are being placed up for sale, and yet some other homes in higher price ranges are taking longer than the average to sell. 

Homes for sale in Gilbert started off the year 2015 taking 94.8 days on average before finding a buyer so we have definitely seen a vast improvement in this figure to date. The most competitive price range in Gilbert, Arizona currently is that of the first time home buyer between $200,000 and $250,000. Homes in that price range are being bought up the quickest and some are receiving multiple offers within the first few weeks of being listed for sale.

As we get further entrenched in to the Winter slow down, historically it will begin taking longer to sell a property as there are less buyers during this time of year. We may have seen the Days on Market figure hit the bottom for this year but year-over-year numbers show that we are still in a healthier market than 2014. If you're a buyer, you want to see the Days on Market increase because for you that means you have more time to think about a home before needing to make an offer. If you're a seller you want to list your house sooner rather than later before it begins to take more time to sell your home. Armed with a little knowledge and a hard-working real estate agent from Zion Realty buying or selling a home will 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! 

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4805568/ho...

Animals of the MLS

This weeks Animals of the MLS is a day late due to all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas week. But never-the-less we appear to have a forlorn-ed feline who although may look despondent certainly seems comfortable resting in what is not doubt their favorite spot to relax. There are usually two different varieties of cats a real estate agent will encounter when entering a property. There are those kitty's who will scamper right up to you and immediately start to beg for attention, and then there are those who will tuck tail and hide underneath the nearest bed frame the moment you step one foot inside of the residence. This cozy cat does not seem to be bothered at all with the stranger amongst them taking photographs of their domain. 

If we use a little imagination we can almost pretend the agent caught this furry friend deep in thought. I'm sure they have plenty of scenarios to play out in their head about all the birds on the fence that got away. Perhaps they are having a self-reflective moment trying to decide whether or not it's time to give up the cat-nip cold turkey once and for all. As an agent who has listed hundreds of homes with animals the one thing I do know is that a home being listed for sale with a cat will drive away some buyers due to extreme allergies. Showing a photo with a cat present will automatically eliminate a certain amount of potential home shoppers without them even stepping one foot inside of the property. It's always best not to have animals or humans displayed in listing photos and if you are going to sell a home with a pet present, ensure you've thoroughly deep cleaned your home to help alleviate the possibility of any potential allergy sufferers from not viewing your house for sale. 

As for the picture of the living space it's cluttered, cramped and tacky. The alcohol bottles as a chosen adornment make this home immediately seem cheap and tasteless. I certainly understand if a homeowner has a wine rack display highlighting their favorite reds, blushes, and whites. However, there's a style and a theme that can be portrayed to go along with wine culture and decor. Simply having bottles of cheap liquor as a featured decoration item on a fireplace mantle give a potential buyer the feeling that this home is being taken care of by a clan of fraternity brothers who have yet to grow up in to adulthood. The plain white walls give no life to the room and the 20 year old dusty silk plant adds to the sense of shabbiness. If your listing photos make your home appear cheap then buyers won't be lining up to pay top dollar for your residence. 

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!

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4804885/an...

My Simple Christmas Decorations

Some bold and brave individuals go all out for the Christmas season. As soon as Thanksgiving is over they rummage through their basements and attics to drag out the dozens of boxes full of lights, ornaments, bows and bells. They'll spend hours climbing ladders to decorate every inch of their home both inside and out. I applaud the dedication and commitment it takes to adorn an entire household with Christmas flare. However, I've never been one to participate in that level of holiday spirit.

Don't get me wrong, one of our family traditions around Christmas time is to load up in our car one evening and drive around our favorite neighborhoods to partake in the viewing of other people's festive displays. But as for me and my house, we enjoy a more simple and feasible approach to our Christmas decorations. A few weeks before the big day we go out to our garage and bring in the few boxes we have filled with red, gold, green, and glittery adornments. As with most families we all have our favorites and it's always fun to reminisce each year about where we got them and why they are special to us. 

We decorate our staircase banister with red ribbon, pearls, and this giant gold bow. It's a festive way to ascend upstairs each night. 

We replace the candles in this wall-mounted candle holder with little red and gold ornaments. This is hanging between our front entry room and the main living area so anyone visiting will walk right by it. 

Since we don't have a fireplace we hang our stockings in the corner of our living room and place our miniature Christmas tree with lights beneath them. 

Although we don't throw caution to the wind like some and spend days or even weeks putting up our Christmas decorations there is no doubt that when you enter our home you know full well that we enjoy the holiday season as much as everyone else does! 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week is another new construction custom home in Scottsdale. Luxury new builds are having a huge resurgence in the Arizona market this Winter. One step inside this farmhouse inspired multi-million dollar property and you'll think you've been whisked away from the harsh and dry desert climate to the rolling hills of a lush and green farmland. Exposed barn wood trusses, wide plank wood floors, and a stylish mix of contrasting colors between crisp whites and dark browns combine to blend rustic charm with today's modern living.

Every detail in this quaint and charming property was well thought out. A massive farm sink in the kitchen matches perfectly against the deep grained wood cabinets that make up the center island and the Edison-style pendant lighting add just the right amount of vintage flair. Contributing to the modern amenities are the sliding glass doors which open up the entire living area to the backyard entertaining space which will allow the new owners to enjoy the indoor/outdoor experience that today's families desire. A simple yet expertly placed pool will provide plenty of reprieve from the Summer sun in the years to come while the lush grass leaves plenty of space to run and play. What you won't find in this home is fancy theater rooms, over-the-top and lavish lighting fixtures, or extravagant features that are only good for boasting. No, this uncomplicated yet chic luxury property provides a beautiful and classy alternative to traditional Arizona inspired architecture. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Scottsdale

Size: 5,182 sqft

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4.5

Lot size: 23,472 sqft

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