Infill lots & Raw Land for Sale in Gilbert, AZ - Update January 2016

Purchasing land can seem like a monumental task to those who have never ventured down that road. There are many different laws and regulations that accompany land transactions that you never have to deal with or even think about when buying a traditional home. A few questions that you need to first consider are whether or not you want to buy a plot of land in an already subdivided location or would you rather purchase your parcel far away from the city limits? 

What is the difference between an infill lot and raw land? An infill lot is a parcel of land that is located in an already developed subdivision. The surveys have been done, the land has been leveled and graded, and the parcel sizes have been marked and divided. In most cases utilities have already been run to the lots and roads and sidewalks have been paved. Also most infill lots are located in developed neighborhoods that have an established Home Owners Association which will have it's own rules and guidelines you must follow if you wish to be a homeowner in that subdivision. Your HOA dues will also go towards maintaining the common areas of the neighborhood and the cost of street repairs and other community fixes that will need to be done. Due to the fact that infill lots are ready to be built upon and are usually located closer in to a major city a buyer will pay a much higher cost to purchase a lot of this sort. 

Raw land is just that. It's a piece of land that is still in it's natural, undeveloped state. The owner of the lot should have a copy of a survey showing boundary markers and perhaps has already had utilities run to the property but it isn't a guarantee. If you purchase a piece of raw land, most likely you will incur the cost of leveling and grading the land, obtaining a new survey if needed, and paying for utilities to be run to the property. Because of these extra expenses and due to the fact that raw land is generally a great distance away from a largely populated area, it is not as expensive as buying an infill lot. Raw land is almost never located in an area with a Home Owners Association meaning you usually will not have amenities such as sidewalks, street lights, or paved roads leading to your property. Raw land almost never has access to city water and sewer services so septic tanks and wells must be dug and installed at your expense. 

Gilbert, Arizona has seen steady increases in land and property values since 2012. Those families and individuals wanting to escape the confines of traditional new build or resale homes are branching out to have their own custom home made to their exact specifications.  

Sales information for Gilbert, Arizona Land Lots January 2016:

Total Land Lots Sold: 1

Average List price: $184,800

Average Sold price: $175,000

Approximate Total Acreage: 0.5

Average Days on Market: 514

Click Here for a list of current Land Lots for sale in Gilbert, Arizona.

There is quite a wide range of lots and locations available in Gilbert. Purchasing land does not have to be a scary proposition. Let the Gilbert, Arizona real estate experts at Zion Realty help you through the process of determining whether purchasing land is right for you. Contact us Today! 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week - 2/23/16

Our last post highlighting the most expensive home that sold in Arizona found us in the mountains of Flagstaff, however, last week's most expensive home that sold in Arizona has us traveling back down to the desert floor. Located in Phoenix, this multi-million dollar luxury home is reminiscent of a fairy tale cottage. Nestled at the base of Phoenix's famous Camelback Mountain the new owners will awaken each morning to the feeling of living in the European countryside. The exterior grounds are vast and lush. Brick patios and walkways lead you to sprawling green open spaces, organic herb, vegetable, and rose gardens, a simple yet crisp and clear diving pool, putting green, and sport court. Tall and mature trees will provide plenty of reprieve from the hot Summer days. 

There was also no expense spared on the interior of this magnificent residence. Vaulted ceilings combined with custom curved exposed wooden beams adds a design element not often seen. Exclusive, hand-crafted iron stair railings add a rustic yet artistic touch. The kitchen and living spaces are simple but still elegant. There is of course the typical added amenities that accompany a home of this magnitude such as a private wine room, richly appointed home office, exercise room, and game room complete with an eat-in bar area. When you combine all of the outstanding features of this high-end property it's clear why it only took three months on the open market before it was snatched up by a savvy buyer who knew this home was a sparkling gem. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Phoenix

Size: 8,332 sqft

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 7.5

Lot size: 46,722 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!

How long will it take to sell my Gilbert, AZ home? - January 2016

The amount of time it's taking to sell a home in Gilbert, Arizona finally leveled off in January after two straight months of increases. On average in the month of January 2016, a home in Gilbert took 71 days on the market before finding a buyer. This number is still better than January of 2015 when it was taking an average of 94 days to sell a home in Gilbert. Going back to July of 2015 when it was only taking an average of 60 days for a home to sell in Gilbert, you can see the seasonal shift during the Winter months as it's now taking almost two additional weeks to sell a home. 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 rapidly approach the busy Spring and Summer selling season, historically it will begin taking less time to sell a property as there are more buyers during that time of year. We may have started 2016 on a bit of a low note but year-over-year numbers show that we are still in a healthy market. 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 the Spring time real estate market brings more listings and more homes competing against yours for the eyes and dollars of buyers. 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! 

Animals of the MLS

One look at this week's featured pet on Animals of the MLS and you can't help but feel bad for this poor, downtrodden doggie. Our four-legged friend could not be more disappointed about the current situation he finds himself in. You can almost hear violins playing a melancholy musical in the background. If this miserable mutt had the ability to grasp a tin cup he would certainly be clanging it across the bars of his pooch penitentiary.

Although the sorrowful look on the face of this cherished family animal is enough to make you wish he was free to roam, this is actually a good example of what sellers should do when potential home buyers schedule a showing. Of course having your animal kenneled still does not guarantee they'll remain silent when strangers enter, it at least goes a long way towards providing a safe environment in which your home can be viewed. It's always best to have animals completely removed from the premises when able to do so as this completely eliminates any possible distraction due to the presence of a pet. 

As for the picture itself I'll be completely honest. It's actually not that bad. Usually the pictures which end up on the MLS that include an animal are bottom-of-the-barrel and amateurish to say the least. However, this photo shows a very clean, organized, bright, and open dining space. The only suggestion I would have made to this agent to make this photo better, besides removing the cage and animal, would be to completely open up the drapes covering the sliding-glass door. This would have allowed for a little more light to enter the room and would have given an indoor/outdoor living appeal. 

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!

Horse Property Homes for Sale in Gilbert, AZ - Update January 2016

It's hard to believe that Gilbert, Arizona was once known as the "Hay shipping Capital of the World." Since the mid-90's Gilbert has experienced a growth explosion not only in population but also in business and commerce. The famous Gilbert railroad tracks that cut straight through the entire Town are still there and plenty of rail shipments find their way through the hustle and bustle of sprawling subdivisions, however, Gilbert is far from the sleepy farm town it used to be. 

Gilbert, Arizona is now the 4th largest Town in the entire State of Arizona. Encompassing just 72.6 square miles Gilbert has transformed itself from an agricultural hub, to an economically diverse suburban populace. But don't let all of this growth fool you in to thinking Gilbert has lost it's cowboy culture. Among the shopping centers, award-winning and nationally recognized restaurants, running trails, and lush green parks, there is still a vast and ever reaching equine lifestyle woven in to the very fabric of this community. 

Horse property owners know the benefits of living in a Town that was founded on a simpler, slower-paced way of living, yet still provides all of today's modern comforts and amenities. Dotted between subdivisions governed and ruled by common Home Owner's Associations are still numerous areas designated for Horse and livestock owners who desire to be a part of this ever growing and thriving suburb of Phoenix. 

Whether you are in the market for an easier to maintain half-acre lot or an expansive ten-acre piece of property which gives you the ability to have numerous stalls, out-buildings, tack rooms, and multiple pastures, Gilbert has just the right home for you. There are a great number of horse properties located right in the heart of Town, or if you prefer a more secluded area on the outskirts of Gilbert, then there are also some wonderful choices that can be found as well. 

Sales information for Gilbert, Arizona Horse Properties January 2016:

Total Sold Homes: 9

Average List price: $746,889

Average Sold price: $685,833

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: 3,347

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: $219.95

Average Days on Market: 131

Click Here for a list of current Horse properties for sale in Gilbert, Arizona.

There is quite a wide range of Horse Properties available in Gilbert and there are many different factors to consider when purchasing a home in an area zoned to allow livestock. Let the Gilbert, Arizona real estate experts at Zion Realty help you through the process of determining whether owning a horse property is right for you. Contact us Today!

Fincher Creek Homes for Sale in Gilbert, AZ 85295 - Update Jan '16

When it comes to location, outdoor neighborhood amenities, and lifestyle, Fincher Creek is a popular and desirable place to call home. Consistent residential and business growth has pushed new home builders further away from the center of Town, however, Fincher Creek is perfectly positioned to take advantage of a bustling and vibrant area. Located between Val Vista Rd and San Tan Village Parkway to the East and West, and Ray Rd and Williams Field Rd to the North and South, residents of this wonderful neighborhood have just enough room to stretch out yet are still conveniently within minutes of shopping, freeway access, and Nationally acclaimed restaurants. 

As soon as you pull in to this privately gated subdivision you'll notice the uniqueness and exclusivity of this community. This is a small and close-knit neighborhood consisting of only 135 homes that center around a lush green belt area. This park is the hub of the community. Tall mature trees provide plenty of shade while the open areas are big enough for families to relax or play the day away. A children's playground is also on sight to provide tiny tykes with endless adventures. On hot Summer days homeowners have access to the crystal clear community pool located just off of the park.  

Does your job require a long distance commute each day? Residents of Fincher Creek have easy access to the 202 Red Mountain Freeway. Do you have children who range in age from toddler to college student? If you call Fincher Creek your home you'll be minutes away from Ashland Ranch Elementary School, South Valley Junior High School, Campo Verde High School, ASU Polytechnic Campus, and the East Valley Institute of Technology(EVIT). 

Need to catch a flight? Fincher Creek is just a short distance from Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport. Hungry for entertainment, shopping, and restaurants that have been featured on national television? If you reside in Fincher Creek you'll have an endless amount of options to choose from since the San Tan Village Mall, Top Golf, and Joe's Farm Grill are all just minutes away. 

Looking for low maintenance living? All common areas including the community pool, green belt, children's playground equipment, and neighborhood landscaping throughout the entire subdivision are all taken care of by the Home Owner's Association. Your only chore will be the up-keep of your own fenced in and private side yard. 

Neighborhood Sales information for Fincher Creek January 2016:

Total Sold Homes: 3

Average List price: $199,333

Average Sold price: $197,667

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: 1,533

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: $128.96

Average Days on Market: 57

Click Here for a current list of homes for sale in Fincher Creek. 

If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Fincher Creek or in other areas of Gilbert, Arizona then contact us Today! We are a locally owned real estate brokerage right here in Gilbert and can educate you on the benefits of each community.