Animals of the MLS

This week's edition of Animals of the MLS brings us an older but curious canine who just wants in on a piece of the action. Our furry friend is definitely showing their age so for them to travel all the way over to where this agent is taking photos just goes to show how much of a social creature they really are. The gray whiskers around it's face and nose are clear indications that their best and most playful years are most likely behind them, however, I'm sure they still find plenty of time to run, play, and explore both inside and outside. 

Although this family pet would appear to be docile just patiently waiting checking out the scene, it's still in the best interests of buyer to either kennel your pets during home showings or completely remove them if possible. Every animal owner thinks of their pets as friendly and non-threatening, however, not all individuals are animal enthusiasts and may still be intimidated at the thought of viewing a property with a pet present. 

As for the pictures of the backyard porch area itself there are some major improvements that could have been done to make this space more appealing and inviting. First of all, I'm sure there is a better time of day that this photo could have been taken in which the sun would have shed more light on the area making this picture much less dark. Secondly, stepping back and taking this photo from farther away and using a wide angle lens, this picture could have given the appearance of a larger more open entertainment space. As it stands now this photo doesn't give a buyer the full scope of possibilites that this backyard patio space could provide. 

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!

Fincher Creek Homes for Sale in Gilbert, AZ 85295 - Update July '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 July 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: 0

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. 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week - 8/9/16

The most expensive home sold in Arizona last week is a 12,000 square foot luxury estate that lives up to the street name, Wingspan, on which it's located. Once again, the heralded Scottsdale subdivision of Silverleaf brings us the finest and most prestigious home that sold the previous week. Mediterranean styled and perfectly situated among the natural desert surroundings you would think this massive home would stick out like a sore thumb but it beautifully blends in to the indigenous rock and landscaping. The backyard give you the feeling as if you've been carried away to your own private resort. Perfectly manicured grass and hedges outline the gorgeous pool and spa. Entertain family and guests underneath the shade of the multiple covered patio area. 

The interior of this luxury home is also everything you'd expect. The massive front doors usher you in to an open foyer with soaring ceilings and a picturesque view of the upstairs balcony where you can envision princes and princesses gathering to overlook their crowds. Deep and rich color hues and tones are throughout including the custom built cabinets, and gorgeous chandeliers. There is nothing lacking when it comes to this week's most expensive home that sold in Arizona! Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Scottsdale

Size: 12,890 sqft

Bedrooms: 5  

Bathrooms: 8

Lot size: 97,013 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!

Homes for sale in Gilbert, Arizona - July 2016 Market Report

The Gilbert, Arizona housing market in July took a step forward in some respects and leveled off in others.  The busy Summer season is in full swing for sellers but the buyers are starting to lose a little bit of steam. Let's list and analyze the raw numbers from the chart below first then we'll make sense of what the market is telling us. There were 1,146 Active homes for sale on the market in Gilbert in July. There were only 516 New listings added to the Gilbert market from June to July which is a 154 unit decrease. The one statistic that matters most, however, also showed a slow-down. There were 542 Sold homes in Gilbert in July which was a decrease of 64 total home sales from the previous month.

What do all these numbers mean for buyers and sellers? July came and went with a mixed bag of statistics. Sellers are showing signs of wanting to list their homes on the market but the amount of buyers in the market aren't matching their enthusiasm. Total available homes for sale is at a healthy and stable level but we'll have to wait and see if buyers decide to reinvigorate their home searches the rest of the year to take a leap in to home ownership. Gilbert, Arizona is still seeing the most steady level of sales activity for homes priced within $250,000-$300,000 which is now the typical first time home buyer price range. However, that doesn't mean there aren't other homes still selling.  

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find properties below the $200,000 mark in Gilbert but armed with a little knowledge and a hard-working real estate agent from Zion Realty selling your home, or snapping up that perfect property before another buyer gets to it should be a little less stressful. Contact us Today!

Animals of the MLS

Do you ever get the feeling like you're being watched? We have a lurking hound in this week's edition of Animals of the MLS. How sad does our furry friend look peering from the outside longing to be a part of the activity going on? It makes you want to walk right over to that sliding glass door and let him in. You can imagine his excitement if the agent taking these photos would have ventured over towards him. You can bet his tail would have been wagging and he would have been jumping with enthusiasm hoping he was about to invited back in to his domain from which he had been temporarily banned.  

Although he appears to be a good boy just patiently waiting for his opportunity to join in on the fun going on inside that doesn't mean he would behave himself once let in. Almost every pet owner likes to think of their animals as well behaved, however, it's always best to either kennel your pets during home showings or completely remove them if possible. Not all individuals are animal enthusiasts and may be intimidated at the thought of viewing a property with a pet present. 

As for the pictures of the room itself there are some minor improvements that could have been done. First of all, you can tell the agent used a high quality camera with a nice filter to add visual appeal, however, the coloring of the filter used gives the entire room a very orange hue. It doesn't help that most of the furniture and flooring have a similar stained finish which tends to blend everything together in the room. The painting on the wall and the richly colored bedspread add some nice dynamics but the bed, nightstands, chest, and dresser are big and bulky. This is where a professional stager comes in to play. They can help arrange and minimize furniture so that a buyer gets a true sense and scope of the size and the space of the room. 

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!

How to prepare buyers and sellers for a home inspection

One of the most stressful events in an individual or couple's life can be the purchase of a home. Whether your clients are first time home buyers and green around the edges, or seasoned veterans who seem like they're prepared for just about anything, buying a house can take determination, perseverance, and a heaping helping of patience. As real estate professionals, it's our responsibility to navigate our clients through the sometimes murkey waters and get them to the closing table to enjoy their new property for years to come. However, signing on the dotted line can be a journey some don't realize they're about to take.

When a home shopper charts a course to purchase a home it typically starts out with a time consuming on-line search of available properties to determine just where they want to take up residence and what style and size of home best fits their needs. Once they find the home of their dreams the offer is submitted and the nail biting and waiting game begins whether or not the seller agrees with the contract terms. The good news arrives and you're able to speak the magic words you've been waiting to tell your client: "Your offer was accepted!" Elation erupts but is quickly tempered when you now advise them to schedule a home inspection. 

Home inspections are absolutely vital to the successful purchase of home. Not only will they determine flaws and deficiencies in the structure of the home itself, but they will bring to light faulty appliances, improper or out-of-date plumbing and wiring, roofing defects, and any number of hidden issues within a home just waiting to be revealed. Nerves and tensions can be on edge when waiting for the results to be declared but how can we best serve our clients and prepare them for not only the inspection itself but also how to handle the outcome?

Should the buyer be present for the Home Inspection?

As a homeowner myself, I understand the want to be as involved with the home purchase process as much as possible. However, a home inspection can become very overwhelming as you watch the inspector make note after note regarding possible or perceived defects in a home that you fell in love with just days before. We certainly can't prevent our clients from personally attending the home inspection but if we've done a good enough job of getting to know our clients personality we may be able to recommend they forego the potentially paralyzing scene of a home inspector picking apart their dream home room by room.

If you feel your client may not be able to handle the home inspection process then perhaps clearing your schedule to attend the inspection with them could go a long way in easing their minds when they see the inspector mark down dozens of potential problems. 

Be Proactive

Regardless of whether or not your buyers are purchasing a brand new construction home or a property that has seen it's glory days long since pass by, a home inspector will find flaws and defects in any home. Having an open and honest conversation with your clients before the inspection and advising them to be prepared for the inevitibility of some deficiencies that will be found can go a long way in tempering their expectations about the house they felt was perfect. 

Review the Inspection Report

Inspection reports can be intimidating to decipher especially to a home buyer who has never gone through the process.Seasoned real estate professionals have seen more than their fair share of inspection reports and can interpret the perplexing jargon found within it's pages. Not all home inspectors are created equal and not all home inspection reports are easily analyzed. Advise your clients that you are available to review the report with them to help determine what repairs are minor and which ones need to be addressed right away.

Share your Referral Network

Once your buyers decide which repairs they would like the seller to address, offer to assist them in obtaining bids from licensed repair companies. If you've been a licensed agent for any length of time you've undoubtedly met dozens of contractors, electricians, roofers, plumbers, air conditioning professionals, landscapers, and any number of other certified specialists. Most clients won't even know where to begin when it comes to obtaining bids for repairs that need to be addressed. However, time is of the essence since contractually a buyer is only alloted a certain time frame to decide which improvements they desire a seller to complete. We can alleviate some of this pressure and stress by sharing with our clients our stable of repair specialists in which we have previously worked along side.

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Now that we've discussed how we can prepare a buyer for a home inspection we can turn our focus to sellers. Selling a home can be just as stressful as purchasing another. The daunting tasks of preparing your home for sale range from detail cleaning, de-cluttering, packing, and performing minor repairs throughout the property that have been put off for months or perhaps even years.

As a homeowner myself, I am keenly aware of the quirks and flaws of my own house. Those tiny imperfections we've grown accustomed to ignoring on a daily basis could be big issues for buyers when they view your home to determine if it's a good fit for them. When you make the decision to place your property up for sale there are a number of ways you can ease the minds of prospective home shoppers and prepare yourself for the impending home inspection that awaits once your house is under contract. 

Don't Disguise Defects

As previously stated, homeowners know what problems lie within their properties so we should advise our clients not to try and hide them. They should be open about repairs that may need to be address. A home inspector's job is to find flaws. Your sellers can help them by placing notes around the house the day before advising the inspector they are aware of certain shortcomings. If an appliance is broken, a shower head leaks, a door won't properly latch, a stair railing is loose, or perhaps a light fixture is broken, these are all things they can disclose ahead of time to the home inspector. The more they try and hide, the more a home inspector will be leery of what else a homeowner is attempting to conceal. 

Make the home accessible

Providing easy access to all areas of a property will not only allow for a quicker home inspection but it will also allow every space possible to be reviewed for possible defects. Crawl spaces, attic spaces, basements, closets, storage rooms, and even main living areas can get cluttered with belongings making an inspection difficult. A seller should clear a path in each room or space of their home so that a thorough examination can be done. This might seem a bit excessive, but think of it this way; What if the home inspector uncovers a roofing leak, water damage in the a basement, major foundation issues, or other hidden flaws that are threatening to cause severe destruction if left unattended? They might not have been able to uncover these problems if they had no access to the area. What if, because of these major defects the buyer of the property decides to cancel the transaction? Your homeowners should want to be made aware of these looming threats so that they can truly decide whether selling their home at this time is the right step to take. 

 Make sure all Utilities are On

You may be thinking this is a no-brainer, but what if your clients have already vacated their home and moved in to a new one? Keeping the utilities on in a vacant home will be vital to a proper and thorough home inspection. Home inspectors must be able to test every aspect of a home including plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems. This will require Water, Electric, Gas, and other utilities to be on. Turning off utilities to a vacant home may seem like a cost saving measure, but once turned off, most utility companies will require a costly deposit to re-activate them. Advise your clients to ensure all utilities remain on during the entire home selling process. 

Replace all burned out light-bulbs

A home inspection is time consuming enough. Remind your clients to replace any burned out light-bulbs so that the home inspector won't waste time testing each light fixture if it doesn't shine brightly once the switch is turned on. 

Properly secure or remove all Pets

All homeowners love their pets but not all home inspectors may agree. Recommending your clients kennel their animals or removing them from the premises will allow the inspector to complete their job without worry of letting a dog or cat escape out of the door, or be bothered by a curious creature following them around.   

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Whether your clients are purchasing or selling a home, properly preparing them for a home inspection will go a long way to ensure a less stressful experience. Our agents at Zion Realty in Gilbert, Arizona guide our clients through the entire home buying process. If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing or selling a home in Gilbert, Arizona contact us Today!