Infill lots & Raw Land for Sale in Gilbert, AZ - Update July '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 July 2016:

Total Land Lots Sold: 3

Average List price: $220,000

Average Sold price: $202,000

Approximate Total Acreage: 1

Average Days on Market: 194

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! 

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

Total Sold Homes: 33

Average List price: $331,395

Average Sold price: $324,091

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: 2,215

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: $147.62

Average Days on Market: 61

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! 

The Most Expensive Home sold in Arizona last week - 8/30/16

The most expensive home sold in Arizona last week is a sizable and stunning luxury property in an area known to most Arizonians as Ahwatukee but to others it's simply Phoenix. Ahwatukee is an urban village area located in the City of Phoenix boundaries and sits at the base of the famous South Mountain. Not widely familiar to individuals who don't reside in Arizona, some of the most luxurious and grand homes in the Valley can be found here perched atop the Mountainside and overlooking the entire City. This week's highlighted home is almost 10,000 square feet of Arizona luxury home splendor. Tucked away among the natural desert surroundings the new owners will feel as if they've purchased their own private getaway. 

The exterior of this home shares a design theme that matches other luxury properties built around the same time in 2006. Smooth stucco walls, decorative columns and a light beige paint scheme were very popular in the luxury home market ten years ago here in Arizona. The interior is similar in that there isn't one desired upgrade missing yet the design and style is showing a bit of it's age. Imported travertine tile throughout, dark stained custom cabinets, and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and finishes were the go-to choice in the early 2000's. The cabinets and color scheme may be out of date with today's buyer, however, having a large wine closet, indoor entertainment bar, and home theater at your disposal will never go out of style! Click on the picture below for the full MLS listing:

Location: Phoenix 

Size: 9,450 sqft

Bedrooms: 6  

Bathrooms: 6.5

Lot size: 65,546 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 many homes are for sale in Gilbert, AZ - July 2016

What is the Absorption Rate when it comes to real estate? The Absorption Rate chart shows how long the current inventory of properties would last at the current rate of sales. If no new properties were added to the market, and sales continued at a steady pace, the Absorption rate indicates the number of months required to sell all the properties on the market. In a healthy real estate market this number should hover around a 3-Month average. As you can see the Gilbert, Arizona real estate market has been below that mark for the better part of a year meaning total inventory has been slightly lower than the market can actually handle.

The amount of available homes for sale in Gilbert has been on a steady incline since May 2016. The current supply of homes sits at a 2.4 month supply. The Gilbert, Arizona market is still seeing a high level of competition in the first time home buyer market. Homes in the price range of between $200,000 to $250,000 are being bought up the quickest and some are receiving multiple offers within the first week of being listed for sale. But armed with a little knowledge and a hard-working real estate agent from Zion Realty snapping up that perfect home before another buyer gets to it should be a little less stressful! However, if you're in the market to sell your home, now is a great time as there will be less competition during the Fall and Winter months.  

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

This week's edition of Animals of the MLS brings us a happy hound eager to be a part of the photo shoot going on in their home. The moment this agent walked through the front door I can only imagine this curious canine walking from room to room following along side every step of the way. The friendly demeanor and posture of this four-legged friend would put most people immediately at ease and the agent probably spent many moments side tracked on the task at hand to stop and give some attention and plenty of belly rubs along the way.  This picture shoot most likely took twice as long as usual due to the frequent pet sessions which undoubtedly occurred. 

Although this family pet would appear to be docile and happily 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 itself there aren't many redeeming qualities to see here. The agent's personal belongings are front and center which is unprofessional at best. The horde of magnets on the refrigerator are an eyesore. There doesn't appear to be much counter space available which can be a major turn-off for some buyers, however, the amount of clutter present takes away all doubt as to just how much space there is actually is. Removing most of the items for this picture and with the help of a stager this kitchen could have presented itself to be much better than this picture shows. Lastly, it's bad enough that the picture shows the family pet, but in the background it shows a family member as well! Rarely is there an appropriate time to include an animal in a marketing picture let alone actual residents. 

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!

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

Total Sold Homes: 12

Average List price: $581,700

Average Sold price: $558,583

Approximate Square Footage of Sold homes: 3,270

Average Sold Price per Square Foot: $175.29

Average Days on Market: 127

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!