Gilbert Arizona Real Estate

Gilbert Real Estate- Another New Home Builder Shuts Down

Hat tip to my fellow Thompson’s Realty Associate Heather Barr for posting this infomation today.  Since this builder has been very prevelent in the East Valley and in Gilbert- I thought I would pass along the information.

From BuilderOnline.com:

Brown Family Communities, a BUILDER 100 company based in Tempe, Ariz., has shut down. “Due to the economic conditions, our offices are closed,” a message tells callers to the company’s main telephone number. The builder’s Web site (www.homebfc.com) has also been taken down. The specific reasons for the closure were unknown this morning. 

 For a list of home builders that are financially struggling please visit the Arizona Dept of Real Estate website.

  Selling your Gilbert Home? Where to start. 

First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about its most appealing features? Now that you’re selling your home, you’ll need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again.

A spruced up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well-cared for. Because buyers know they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market.

A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to live there.

With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.

Plan Ahead

Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook for your selling project, and as you stroll through your yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far toward attracting serious buyers. But remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers. Here are ideas for increasing your home’s appeal in order to sell it quickly at the best price.

Interior

Clean Everything

Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out. So clean everything, especially your windows and window sills. Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways, clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And put away your clothes.

Cut the Clutter

People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, and airy. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as pictures, valuables, and collectibles, and store or get rid of surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.

It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Closets

They’re an important consideration to many buyers. By storing clothing you won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look spacious.

Paint

A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that appeal to the most people, such as beige or white.

Carpet

Thinking About Buying a home in Gilbert?

Keep these critical considerations in mind:

1. How long you plan to live in the home. If you purchase a home and get a job transfer or decide to move after only a short time, you may end up paying money in order to sell it. The value of your home may not have appreciated enough to cover the costs that you paid to buy the home and the costs that it would take you to sell your home. The length of time that it will take to cover those costs depends on various economic factors in the area of the home. Most parts of the country have an average of 5% appreciation per year in a normal market. The Gilbert Real Estate market is now decreasing in value, not unlike most Real Estate Markets. 

In this case, you should plan to stay in your home at least 3-4 years to cover buying and selling costs. If the area you buy your home in experiences an economic up turn, the length of the time to cover these costs could be shortened, and the opposite is also true.

2. What features do you require in a home to satisfy your lifestyle now? How long the home will meet your needs. Five years from now? Depending on how long you plan to stay in your home, you’ll need to ensure that the home has the amenities that you’ll need. For example, a two-bedroom dwelling may be perfect for a young couple with no children. However, if they start a family, they could quickly outgrow the space. Therefore, they should consider a home with room to grow. Could the basement be turned into a den and extra bedrooms? Could the attic be turned into a master suite? Having an idea of what you’ll need will help you find a home that will satisfy you for years to come.

3.Your financial health-Home much home can you afford - your credit and home affordability. Is now the right time financially for you to buy a home in Gilbert? Would you rate your financial picture as healthy? Is your credit good? While you can always find a lender to lend you money, solid lenders are more skeptical if your credit history is not good. Generally, a couple of blemishes on a credit report will make you a good credit risk and could qualify you for the lowest interest rates. If you have more than a couple of blemishes on your report. Some say that you should refrain from borrowing as much as you qualify for because it is wiser not to stretch your financial boundaries. The other school of thought says you should stretch to buy as much home as you can afford, because with regular pay raises and increased earning potential, the big payment today will seem like less of a payment tomorrow. This is a decision only you can make. Are you in a position where you expect to make more money soon? Would you rather be conservative and fairly certain that you can make your payment without stretching financially? Make sure that whatever you do, it’s within your comfort zone. To determine how much home you can afford, talk to a lender or go online and use a “home affordability” calculator. Good calculators will give you a range of what you may qualify for. Then call a lender. While some may say that the “28/36″ rule applies, in today’s home mortgage market, lenders are making loans customized to a particular person’s situation. The “28/36″ rule means that your monthly housing costs can’t exceed 28 percent of your income and your total debt load can’t exceed 36 percent of your total monthly income. Depending on your assets, credit history, job potential and other factors, lenders can push the ratios up to 40-60% or higher. While we’re not advocating you purchase a home utilizing the higher ratios, its important for you to know your options. Where the money for the transaction will come from. Typically Gilbert homebuyers will need some money for a down payment and closing costs. However, with today’s broad range of loan options, having a lot of money saved for a down payment is not always necessary - if you can prove that you are a good financial risk to a lender. If your credit isn’t stellar but you have managed to save 10-20% for a down payment, you will still appear to be a very good financial risk to a lender.

4. The ongoing costs of home ownership. Maintenance, improvements, taxes and insurance are all costs that are added to a monthly house payment. If you buy a condominium, townhouse or in certain communities, a monthly homeowner’s association fee might be required. If these additional costs are a concern, you can make choices to lower or avoid these fees. Be sure to make your realtor and your lender aware of your desire to limit these costs. If you are still unsure if you should buy a home after making these considerations, you may want to consult with an accountant or financial planner to help you assess how a home purchase fits into your overall financial goals.

If you are ready to buy a home in Gilbert feel free to search all available homes in Gilbert AZ 

Gilbert Real Estate and Community Information

Thanks for visiting you online resource for Gilbert Real Estate including information about Gilbert homes for sale, Gilbert neighborhood infromation and Gilbert Community events. If you are a first time home buyer or looking for a luxury home, look no further!!

Gilbert is now in 2008 the 5th fastest growing city in the U.S.  It is also the  fastest growing large suburb according to Forbes (Aug 2007) now closing in on a population of 200,000.

There are limitless opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and activity in Gilbert. Community lakes and playgrounds in the beautiful Freestone and Crossroads Parks afford space for family leisure, and a children’s railroad in Freestone Park adds to its attraction.  Beautiful golf course communities, miles of canal banks are maintained by the Salt River Project and the Roosevelt Conservation District for walking, running, biking and horseback riding. The town also maintains hiking and equestrian trails for the enjoyment of its citizens.

   If you enjoy the arts, Gilbert Fine Arts Association, best known for its annual musical productions, also provides scholarships to talented young people, sponsors various live performances and art shows and provides workshops through its Theatrical Academy for Youth. The Gilbert Promotional Corporation sponsors the annual Gilbert Days. The three day celebration features one of the largest parades in the state, IPRA Rodeo action with some of the finest contestants in the region, along with a carnival and exhibitors area. Gilbert also has the honor of playing host to one of the ten largest rodeos in the country each November.

   Gilbert Public Schools will provide your children with quality and excellence, combining academics, cultural expression and athletic achievement. Achievement test scores at elementary, junior high and senior high levels have been number one in the east Valley for years, and exceed both national and state averages.

   The average age of Gilbert’s residents is 29 years and they have the highest median household income in the area. A village concept of planned communities here includes parks, horse trails, fishing, boating and local business services, all within walking distance. Housing ranges from gated communities to horse properties, golf communities, waterfront living and so much more.

     If you would like more information on buying or selling a home in Gilbert, call Jamie at 480-216-4849 or shoot me an at jamie_geiger@cox.net .  As a 28 year resident of the East Valley and a full time Gilbert Real Estate professional you can depend on my local and knowlegeable service.

Welcome to Gilbert Arizona and thanks for letting me tell you a little bit about myself.  I am a full time REALTOR offering old fashion customer service and leading edge technology to ensure a smooth real estate transaction.

I LOVE what I do and that is helping buyers and sellers in the Gilbert area with all their real estate needs.

I have lived in the East Valley of Phoenix for the past 28 years and have watched it grow and grow!!!  I have lived in just about every East Valley city including Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Awhatukee and now a proud resident of Gilbert. 

I grew up mostly in Colorado Springs, graduating from Air Force Academy High School.  I have also lived in San Jose and San Diego, Houston, Dallas and I was born in Las Vegas.  Growing up we moved ALOT- so if you are relocating to Gilbert from another part of the country, I can assist you with all aspects of your move to Arizona.

I am a mother of 2 fabulous teenage boys and I have 5 precious dogs.  I am also a foster Mom for the Arizona Basset Rescue (we also rescue Bloodhounds).  I love gardening, snow skiiing and helping people.

I attened ASU and earned a BSEE in Biomedical Engineering and I later attended the University of Phoenix and earned a BS in Information Technology.  I worked for Motorola which later spun off to become FreeScale Semiconductor for 17 years.  After my job was outsourced, I decided to leave and become a REALTOR and have never looked back.  I love what I do and have made some great life long friends over the last 5 years.

AS a full time Realtor in Gilbert, I make sure that I keep up on all the changes and issues regarding real estate and attend ongoing educational seminars and classes in order to better serve my clients.

I am a Member of the National Association of Realtors

I am an ABR-Accredited Buyer Representative

E-Pro-Internet Certified Professional