The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week - 6/7/16

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week is a design style not often seen or associated with the desert Southwest. Usually found in hip, urban environments, this ultra-modern and sleek home built in 2007 is sure to stand out among the other luxury properties in the neighborhood. Only taking 90 days to find an eager new buyer the sellers were able to fetch $3.165 million for their unique and trendy property. The exterior is a combination of clean, straight lines mixed with industrial metals and cement block accents. The yellow and gray paint scheme sets this house apart from the surrounding landscaping. The front yard was created with ease of living in mind. Low maintenance natural desert plants were used to create a sense of simplicity. Meanwhile, the backyard has just enough grass to break up the monotony and the uncomplicated yet inviting pool and spa will allow owners and guests a reprieve from the hot Summer days.

The interior is just as streamlined and minimalistic as the exterior. Exposed steel floor joists were used to draw the eye up towards the wood clad ceilings. Designer glass, chrome fixtures, and contemporary finishes all lend to a stripped-down approach to living. European style flat-front cabinetry give off the impression that you're living in a swanky, new, popular restaurant almost setting the expectation that your own personal chef will be waiting to create extravagant meals just for you each time you enter your kitchen. A wet bar area, a glass enclosed wine room, a home office, and a Master bedroom that you'll never want to leave all add up to one of the most fashionable and functional homes ever featured in this weekly blog series. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Phoenix

Size: 8,529 sqft

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 8

Lot size: 37,657 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 - May 2016

We've got a surprisingly mixed bag of results from May's housing numbers here in Gilbert, Arizona. On some accounts it looks like the busy Summer buying season is here and in full swing already. However, other indicators have the market still in neutral. Let's first break down the numbers. The average Active median list price for a home in Gilbert for the month of April 2016 was $340,250 which is almost a $6,000 decrease from last month. Sold home values also experienced an derease. The median price for a home that sold in Gilbert, Arizona in May of 2016 was $272,500 which is an drop of $4,000 over last month's values. Seeing an increase was the New listings coming on to the market. New homes being put up for sale had sellers increasing their asking price expectations in May by over $5,000.  

So what do these numbers mean if you are a current homeowner in Gilbert or you wish to become one? When the annual busy Spring and Summer real estate market begins, it usually doesn't take long for buyers and sellers to disagree on home prices and values. Sellers generally start to reach for the stars when it comes to pricing their homes, hoping that they can garner top dollar from eager buyers. Meanwhile, buyers are just now rubbing their eyes and waking up from their Winter slumber only to be shocked at the sticker price for homes that they once may have thought were in their budget. If you're attempting to sell your home during the Spring and Summer months it's more important than ever to set a realistic price for your home. If you price your home too high your home will be received by buyers with a resounding thud. The longer your home lingers on the market the more it becomes a stale listing and you may miss your sales window of opportunity. 

Regardless of the current prices in May, if you are a 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!  

Animals of the MLS

There's a bit of a twist in this week's edition of Animals of the MLS.  Most of the pets featured in this weekly blog series are alive and well. This week, however, showcases an animal that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Regardless of your opinions on hunting for sport, what we have here is certainly not the best decoration to have casually staring at prospective buyers as they evaluate a home for sale. Even though this woodland creature is in a relaxing and non-threatening pose, it's still awkward and perhaps a little bit creepy to enter a room in which this prize is being displayed.

There are places around the country in which this style of decor is probably more accepted than others. I imagine there are plenty of homes in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and maybe even Texas that a buyer might have a good chance at stumbling across a stuffed creature such as this. However, picture the poor unsuspecting home shopper entering in to this home without previously seeing this picture. I can only assume a few people were surprised if not out-right startled. Having an Elk head hanging on the wall can be alarming enough for some individuals but to have the entire beast lounging in the corner of a room nonchalantly would be cause for them to turn right back around and leave. 

When you put your home on the market, the goal is to appeal to as many buyers as possible, all-the-while, making your property clean and neutral so home shoppers can envision their own belongings there. Besides the giant, stuffed, horned, dead animal in the corner these homeowners did a fairly decent job of presenting this room. It could have used an area rug or a few pieces of wall art to add a splash of color, but it's clean, neutral, and allows a home buyer to see it's potential. 

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 at Today!

Non HOA Homes for Sale in Gilbert, AZ - Update May 2016

Home Owners Associations can be a very positive and necessary component to a neighborhood. They ensure cleanliness of the streets and sidewalks. In some subdivisions that have common green belt areas, parks, and playgrounds, they are in charge of trimming trees, grass, bushes, and the upkeep of the playground equipment. 

Your neighborhood Home Owners Association will also establish the rules and laws in regards to the appearance of front yards throughout the community which will maintain the integrity and manicured look of the entire subdivision. Did your neighbor share with you their desire to paint the exterior of their home a bright yellow? Well think again! Exterior paint colors must be approved by the HOA as well as most visual exterior home changes. 

Home Owners Associations do come with extra monthly or quarterly fees which are not negotiable and are required of you to pay if you choose to move in to a neighborhood that is managed by an HOA. Most homes currently built in Gilbert, Arizona are in subdivisions managed by Home Owners Associations, however, there are still many resale homes that are not. 

The benefits of purchasing a home that is not maintained by a Home Owners Association are many. Two of the biggest positive aspects of owning a home that has no HOA are you'll never need to get pre-approval for any changes you want to do to your own home, and you don't have the extra monthly or quarterly fees which can add up to over $1,000 extra per year or more. 

Most homes in Gilbert, Arizona that are in areas not governed by an HOA are either located in County Islands or are rural horse properties which means these homes may not be connected to the city's water and sewer systems. These homes usually draw their water from a common well and/or have septic systems. It's important to consider all the positive and negative aspects of purchasing a home in these areas. 

Sales information for Non-HOA homes in Gilbert, Arizona May 2016:

Total Sold Homes: 36

Average List price: $348,405

Average Sold price: $341,667

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: 2,299

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: $152.70

Average Days on Market: 78

Click Here for a list of current Homes for sale in Gilbert, AZ with no HOA

There is quite a wide range of homes with no HOA's available in Gilbert. These homes can range from first-time home buyer prices all the way up to luxury homes. Let the Gilbert, Arizona real estate experts at Zion Realty help you through the process of determining whether purchasing a property with no Home Owner's Association is right for you. Contact us Today! 

Cooley Station Homes for Sale in Gilbert, AZ 85295 - Update May '16

When it comes to location, amenities, and lifestyle, Cooley Station is a highly sought after community situated in Gilbert, Arizona. While consistent residential and business growth has pushed new home builders further away from the center of Town, Cooley Station is perfectly positioned to take advantage of a bustling and vibrant area. Located between Higley Rd and Recker Rd to the East and West, and Pecos 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. 

The classic look of red brick walls surrounding this subdivision add a refreshing change of scenery as compared to other communities that can have drab and boring cement block fencing. Once you pull in to Cooley Station you'll be greeted by tree-lined streets that are reminiscent of many subdivisions you would find in the suburbs of major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or even older neighborhoods of downtown Phoenix. 

Does your job require a long distance commute each day? Residents of Cooley Station 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 Cooley Station your home you'll be minutes away from Chaparral Elementary School, Williams Field High School, Legacy Traditional Charter School, ASU Polytechnic Campus, and the East Valley Institute of Technology(EVIT). 

Need to catch a flight? Cooley Station is just a few miles away from Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport. Hungry for entertainment, shopping, and restaurants that have been featured on national television? If you reside in Cooley Station 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. 

If venturing out isn't on your favorite to-do list then Cooley Station also has great options for family fun and entertainment built right in to the community. Seven greenbelt areas, four children's playground areas, and two large, crystal-clear, refreshing community pools will provide enough space for the kids, pets, and adults to play!

Neighborhood Sales information for Cooley Station May 2016:

Total Sold Homes: 0

Average List price: N/A

Average Sold price: N/A

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: N/A

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: N/A

Average Days on Market: N/A

Click Here for a current list of homes for sale in Cooley Station. 

If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Cooley Station 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. 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week - 5/31/16

The most expensive home that sold in Arizona last week was a new construction property in the exclusive subdivision of Silverleaf located in DC Ranch. A huge home at over 8,000 square feet, it took over a year and a half to build this house which sold for $5.7 million dollars. Can you imagine the anticipation of the new owners as month after month elapsed? Countless visits to the home site most likely had these buyers restless to see each new phase of the building process. At the outset of reviewing and approving the architectural plans all the way to choosing each material, fixture and finishing these eager homeowners were undoubtedly a large part of the operation. 

Situated on 1.2 acres of prime desert land in Scottsdale, the exterior of this luxury residence is everything you'd expect from an Arizona property of this caliber. Native and indigenous plants and trees were carefully laid out around the grounds as to blend in the home to it's surroundings. Tucked in to the base of the McDowell Mountain range there are endless breathtaking views to enjoy. The photo's of the interior show the home's unfinished state but still give us a sense of the greatness that will be represented upon completion. Custom touches abound including the brick clad wine room, and sliding barn door entry way in to the home office. A detached guest casita and 4-car garage round out this magnificent and expertly built luxury property. Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Scottsdale

Size: 8,015 sqft

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 5.5

Lot size: 52,881 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!