Memorial Day Tribute in Gilbert, Arizona

As people all across America remember those who have given their lives to help secure the freedoms and luxuries we have in this Country I wanted to share a tribute that Josh and I contributed to. I volunteer my time every Wednesday night at Redemption Church here in Gilbert to serve in their student ministries as a mentor for high school girls. One of the young ladies in my youth group was explaining a school project she had to put together for her photography class which involved paying tribute to fallen soldiers and the spouses that were left behind. 

The theme behind the photo was of a grieving military widow at a grave-site but the "ghost" of her husband was to be standing by her side looking over her by using some special photography filtering that they were learning in class. This sounded like a great opportunity to me so I asked Josh if he would also like to be involved and he said he thought it would be great. 

We arranged to meet at a cemetery not far from where I live here in Gilbert and spent about an hour going over her ideas and allowing her to direct us with what her vision was for the photo shoot. She got several nice pictures that day but there was one in particular that stood out among the rest. As a matter of fact, it stood out so much that she entered it in to a Statewide photography competition here in Arizona and won first prize. I've never shared it publicly anywhere before now but today is a perfect day to do just that:

So to all those widows, children, and families that have lost loved ones due to their military service I just want to offer my sincerest condolences. This day represents grief for so many. While millions of Americans will be enjoying their backyard barbecue's, swimming pools, camping trips, and discounted cars and mattresses, the real reason we're here is because of those who fought bravely to give us our freedoms. 

Animals of the MLS

It might take you a minute to find the pet featured in this week's edition of Animals of the MLS. Is he a peeping Tom or is he a curious George? In either case, this doggy desperately wants to be a part of the action going on inside of his domain. Clearly of the Basset Hound variety he lacks the limbs to elevate his view enough to get a clearer idea of what this agent is doing snapping photos around his property. All he can do is sit and ponder the reasons why he has been assigned to the backyard instead of being able to sniff out this photographers reasons for being there. 

If the yard is as empty as this home is I feel a bit sorry for our furry friend. Whether he be inside or outside it doesn't seem like there's much to entertain a pet around this place. I'm sure he takes his fair share of morning, afternoon, and evening snoozes, but what's a pooch to do when he's craving a good game of fetch or tug-o-war but there's no ball or rope?  There's always the tried and true staples of gazing through the front window and barking at passing cars, mailmen or neighborhood cats, as well as chasing your tail. Both of those activities could suffice and pass the time if there's no other form of play available. 

As for the picture itself, it's not as egregious as others I've featured in this series. Overall, the lighting is good and it showcases the kitchen and dining area well. However, one major flaw I see is the ceiling damage by the air conditioning intake. Whether that be water damage from a leaking shower, toilet, or sink directly above the kitchen or if it was caused by something else, the fact remains no buyer wants to walk in to a home and immediately see what could turn out to be a major concern. Perhaps as an agent of more than 18 years I'm conditioned to see these issues when they present themselves in photos but it's a pretty obvious problem that sticks out like a sore thumb against that stark white ceiling. This might be a difficult conversation to have with a homeowner, but in my opinion, this damage should have been repaired before placing this home on the market. You only get one chance to make a first impression on buyers viewing your property. Don't let that impression be of a damaged, worn-down, and un-cared for home. 

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!

Buying vs. Leasing Commercial Buildings Seminar in Mesa, Arizona

If you are a small business owner in Arizona contemplating the difficult decision of leasing your own facility, renewing your current lease, or purchasing your own building then you are invited to attend this fun and informative seminar by Zion Realty's very own Stanley Bronstein. Stanley is a licensed real estate attorney, agent, and CPA who has nearly 25 years experience in the commercial real estate field. 

Attendees will be educated on the benefits of purchasing their own building, how to negotiate a purchase or lease, understanding commercial contracts, ownership tax benefits, tenant rights, and lease terms and conditions.

Presented by Zion Realty, Security Title, and Alliance Bank join us for a morning of food, education and networking. An open forum for discussion and questions will be held after the presentation.

Seminar Information:

Date: June 23, 2016

Time: 9:00am - 10:30am

Location: Panera Bread Company 

Address: 3426 E. Baseline Rd. Mesa, AZ 85204

Seating will be limited so please RSVP with Mark Wagner at 513-255-1776. 

Infill lots & Raw Land for Sale in Gilbert, AZ - Update April '16

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 April 2016:

Total Land Lots Sold: 5

Average List price: $262,080

Average Sold price: $247,980

Approximate Total Acreage: 1

Average Days on Market: 310

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 - 5/24/16

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week could not be a more quintessential Arizona luxury property. Seamlessly tucked in to it's Sonoran surroundings, this multi-million dollar Scottsdale beauty in the neighborhood of Desert Mountain sold for $2.395 million dollars. No matter the time of day, the new owner will experience gorgeous views of the mountains and natural landscaping that encapsulates this area of the Valley. Making your way up to this property will give you the immediate feeling of exclusivity as you drive over the stone bridge and walk through the tall iron privacy gates in to the front courtyard. This home is also situated across from one of the famous Jack Nicolaus designed fairways at the private Desert Mountain Golf Club.

Desert Mountain Golf Club is consistently voted in to the top 10 courses in the entire Country year after year. Owning a home in this subdivision allows you the opportunity to apply for membership. If your application is approved to become a member you will also have access to the 42,000 square foot fitness and Spa facility named The Sonoran, a tennis complex with 9 USTA-certified courts, 15-miles of hiking and biking trails, and The Ranch which is where families and individuals can enjoy horseback rides and lessons. 

Getting back to the home itself, the interior of this luxury residence is everything you'd expect from an Arizona property of this caliber. Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, imported stone floors, and rustic iron fixtures and finishes. Enjoy many nights entertaining at your wet bar adjacent to the wine room. The master bathroom shower is built for a king and queen to wash away the cares of the day at the same time. Take an evening stroll on the wrap-around balconies as you gaze upon the quiet atmosphere this home provides then cool off in the sparkling pool. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Scottsdale

Size: 4,254 sqft

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4.5

Lot size: 56,230 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? - April 2016

The amount of time it's taking to sell a home in Gilbert, Arizona plummeted in April after seeing a mild decrease the previous month. On average in the month of April 2016 a home in Gilbert took 60 days on market before finding a buyer as opposed to the previous month's number of 76.9 days. Going back a full year to April of 2015 the average home in Gilbert sold after 72 days on the market so we have certainly seen an improvement in even the year over year numbers. There are still some homes in the most highly sought after neighborhoods and locations which are selling almost as fast as they are being placed up for sale, and yet some other homes in the higher price brackets are taking longer than the average to sell. 

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.

We are now fully entrenched in the busy Spring and Summer selling season. Historically during this time of year it takes less time to sell a property as there are more buyers in the market for a new home. 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. The Spring and Summer time real estate market will bring 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!