According to the US Census Bureau, Gilbert is growing. Of course, if you live in Gilbert, you know this to be true, just by the number of cars on the streets. According to the Census, Gilbert experienced a 5% gain(or about 10,283 people) from 2007-2008.
And of course, with growth comes growing pains. In this case, the pains come in the form of increased taxes. The Gilbert town Council approved on Tuesday a $734.3 million budget that cuts library and special event funding, while increasing recreation fees. Gilbert sales tax will also see an increase from 1.5% to 1.75, a rental tax fee as well as an additional developmental impact fee.
According to Astrid Galvan’s
article this morning,
Councilmember Jenn Daniels, who was elected in May and opposed an increase during her campaign, was the lone councilmember to speak out against tax hikes.
“We have a revenue problem that’s exacerbated by a spending problem,” she said. Daniels argued that there have not been enough cuts in other areas to merit a tax increase.”
Senior Councilman Steve Urie said the town has not overspent taxpayer money”
Fireworks Photo (C) Forrest Milder
Enjoy Gilbert’s “Old Fashioned Fourth of July“ with rides, kids activities and lots of fun! Bring your family and friends and have a great time celebrating the our country’s independence!
On Saturday, the gates at Mesquite High School open at 4pm with fireworks around 9pm. While admission and parking are free, some of the activities do have a small fee - and credit cards are NOT accepted.
Chairs, blanks and umbrellas are welcome. Pets, alcohol or glass containers are not permitted. For more details, visit the Gilbert’s website.
It’s official. The residents of the unincorporated area of Queen Creek are now residents of “San Tan Valley“.
In an article written by The Arizona Republic’s, Dustin Gardiner, about 2,000 Queen Creek residents (approx. 18%) came out to vote on the community’s new name.
Gardiner’s article goes on to say:
The community, north of the Santan Mountains in Pinal County, is home to roughly 80,000 residents, most of who moved to the area within the past 10 years. It is not part of the nearby town of Queen Creek, but that became the area’s affiliation after the U.S. Postal Service in Queen Creek began using it for practical purposes.
…In the short term, the vote will change little other than residents’ mailing addresses, but community leaders and residents insist the move was about alot more than that.
Here’s a list of the 70 communities involved:
Whitewing
Bonanza Ranch
Goldmine Equestrian
Rurals
Borgata
San Tan Heights
San Tan Shadow
Skyline Ranch
Morning Sun Farms
Rancho Bella Vista
Johnson Ranch Phase II
Northern Johnson Ranch
Solera
Greens I & II
Canyon Rock
Equestrian Manor
Sterling
Southern Johnson Ranch
Johnson Ranch Phase I
Estates
The Springs
Lakeview Gardens
Stonegate, Rosewalk
Fairways I, II & III
Lariat
Legends
Mustang Ridge
Ponderosa
The Links
The Crossings
Stagecoach Pass
Gallery I, II & III
Masters
Arabian Trails
Horseshoe Canyon
Riding Stables
Torrey Park
Rodeo Ridge
Superstition Views
Bella Vista
Bella Vista Farms
RV Park
Skyline Estates
Copper Basin
Quail Run
Sonoran Villages
Dobson Farms
Magma Ranch
Ocotillo Verde
Caballero
Silverado Ranch
Circle Cross
Trilogy
Ware Farms
Pecan Farms
Pecan Creek
Pecan South
Home Place
Laredo Ranch
Castlegate
Ironwood Crossing
Ocotillo Trails
Taylor Ranch
Cambria
Ocotillo/Kenworthy
Meadow Vista
Wayne Ranch
Moonshadow
Magic Ranch
Oasis Magic Ranchove
The new name coincides with the new zip codes for the area that go into effect July 1st.
Here’s the rest of Mr. Gardiner’s article , as well as some additional insights into the growing Town of Queen Creek
Before last month, the last time there were more residential home sales, was 45 months ago in August 2005! May 2009 had a record number of sales (for the Greater Phoenix area) at 9,290 … compared to 8/2005 that boasted sales of 10,031.
Overall, May was an improving month for Arizona home sales. Comparatively, from those 9,290 homes sold - there were 3,653 more than the 5,637 homes sales that were recorded just one year ago in May 2008. Impressive!
Comparing April 2009 to May 2009, single family homes sold were both equal to 89% of the market sold; townhouses were still responsible for 5%, Apartment style/flats were at 3%, Patio homes at 1% and Manufactured/Mobile Housing, Gemini/Twin Homes, Lofts and Modular / Pre-Fab homes were each at less than 1% of home sales.
In May, there were 8,303 Single Family Homes sales, compared to April’s 7,663
(2nd column indicates patio home sales at less than 1% for both April & May; Figures provided by Fletcher Wilcox, Grand Canyon Title Agency # 602-648-1230 )
It was just last month, real estate veteran and community advocate, Troy Reeves, of RE/MAX Alliance Group, announced a new program offering new homeowners peace of mind. Home buyers who purchase a home from Troy Reeves and The Reeves Team, in 2009, will find peace of mind when they learn that this real estate professional is offering to make your house payment for you – for up to 120 days - if you lose your job over the next year!
Mortgage Relief Program 2009
“After 15 years in East Valley real estate, this is my way of giving back to our community. With unprecedented prices and historically low interest rates, we have removed the last obstacle keeping buyers from becoming homeowners. This promise only helps in this uncertain time.” says Troy Reeves.
Troy Reeves and The Reeves Team are real estate industry innovators with over a decade of experience and hundreds of satisfied clients. Troy Reeves has created industry firsts, like:
“One Hour Return Call or Dinner For Two Is On Us”
“The 90 day Sale program”
“If you are not happy with the home you purchase with us, we will sell it for you FREE”
Troy Reeves was also one of the first REALTORS® in Arizona to create a “team” concept in the real estate market.
The following Terms & Conditions Apply:
- One or both spouses lose* their job over the next 365 days. (person whom loses job must be primary mortgagee).
- Person or persons must purchase home with RE/MAX & The Reeves Team in 2009 and Troy Reeves & Team must receive 3% co-broke upon purchase of that home.
- If new home owner, at any time replaces or starts new job within 120 days of losing it, mortgage relief package does not apply *”Lose” means laid off (does not mean fired or quit)
Summer Home Staging Tips
If
Jon & Kate can’t sell their home, what makes you think you can? If the reality-show celebrities home has been on the market for almost 3 months and haven’t had an offer, what makes your home more appealing?
Let’s compare homes:
| Your Home: |
Their Home: |
| Your home is priced to sell. |
Their home is (possibly) overpriced. |
| Your home is clean, clutter-free & staged to sell. |
Their home is picked-up & clean. |
| The pictures of your home are season appropriate. |
Their pictures show snow. |
| Your Agent is working very hard on your behalf to sell your home in a timely manner. |
Their agent … ? |
| |
More information available from CyberHomes |
Staging does make all the difference when selling your home. Here are some tips to help get you started:
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During the summer months, lighter & brighter really does matter.
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Pick up and put away area rugs, heavy curtains, holiday decorations, etc. Replace your darker towels and decor with lighter colors (white, beige, yellows, creams, pinks, lighter blues, greens, etc)
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Chose one air freshener fragrance for the entire house. Vanilla is the #1 most preferred fragrance.
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Turn the air conditioner and ceiling fans on for showings.
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Avoid turning on the oven during the day. It will raise the inside temperature of the house and in turn, will make your air conditioner work extra hard.
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Also, try to avoid the dryer after 10am. Sometimes this isn’t feasible, sometimes it is. Why? See reason above.
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Water your lawn daily or at the very least keep your front yard’s curb appeal inviting.
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Good photographs really do make all the difference. Like staging, it’s very noticeable when it’s not done.
Remember, that by the time a prospective buyer drives up to your house it has already met their basic criteria. Today’s buyers are well educated and have done their homework. Your home is already their dream home, it’s just up to you to make sure they see it that way.
When you’re looking at homes with pools, knowledge is key. As a buyer who is about to enter into a legally binding contract, you must arm yourself with the information needed to make an informed decision.
With regards to pool barriers, it’s very easy to find out if the pool at the home that you’re thinking of buying is in compliance with the City’s regulations or not.
Requirements by The Town of Gilbert
All swimming pools shall be enclosed by walls of a single-family residential building or by a solid wall or a chain link or wrought iron fence not less than five (5) feet nor more than six (6) feet in height. If the design or the material of the fence or gate is such that there are openings, such openings shall be of a size to prohibit a spherical object four inches in diameter from passing through or under the fence or gate.
All gates shall be substantially the same height as the wall or the fence and shall be self-closing and self-latching and be constructed in such a manner as to prevent uninvited access.
Exception: Double width (RV) gates which are not the sole means of ingress and egress shall not be required to be self-closing and self-latching but must be padlocked at all times when not being used.
The Arizona Association of Realtors has published a list of Cities and their contact information.
Something else to consider when looking at pool barriers – other than City compliance, is safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
In California, Arizona and Florida,
drowning was the leading cause of accidental
death in and around the home for
children under the age of 5 years.
The CPSC did an extensive study of swimming pool accidents and discovered that most victims of drownings were actually being supervised by an adult at the time. Be sure to read the Commission’s detailed guidelines for above ground pools, built-in swimming pools and hot tubs.
As Dave Munsey, anchorman for Fox 10 Weather is known to say “Watch Your Kids Around Water” and in this case, knows the rules and regulations before buying a new home.
Additional Information Provided by Arizona Association of REALTORS:
In a couple of weeks, the Town of Gilbert welcomes a new Mayor and two new Council members. Mayor Steve Berman, Vice Mayor Joan Krueger and Councilman Don Skousen will step down from their positions on June 16th as the Town of Gilbert welcomes their new leadership. Brimming with ideas and enthusiasm (and receiving 94.62% of the votes), Mayor-Elect John Lewis will be sworn into office, as well as two new council members - Jenn Daniels and John Sentz.
Bringing enthusiasm and new ideas to the Council, first place winner, Jenn Daniels, shared with us that “I am very excited to get to work. There is much to be done in our community and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and serve the great people of Gilbert.”
Gilbert Town Council is comprised of the Mayor and six Council members, each voted to a four year term. The three freshman members of the Council join long time Gilbert advocates, Councilmen Steve Urie, Les Presmyk, Linda Abbott, Dave Crozier.
As long time Gilbert community members, all of us at the Reeves Team are eager to see the new Council members take their place and the new leadership they bring. Their combined ideas and skill sets, while very unique to each member, will hopefully prove to be beneficial to the growth of Gilbert.
More election results are available on line, as well.
From all of us on The Reeves Team, Congratulations to all!
Another topic of discussion lately in the real estate world is “Why do banks take so long to respond?” If you’re an agent or a waiting prospective buyer, you either already know that it may take one, two or even three weeks (or months) for the bank to respond to your offer or you’re about to get an education.
Unfortunately these days, this is neither unusual or unexpected…almost considered standard practice. Having put in an offer in on an REO (Real Estate Owned aka Bank Owned property) about three weeks ago, Troy Reeves finds himself in the same position, wondering the same thing. “Why do banks take so long to respond?” Troy and The Reeves Team are experienced real-estate-owned agents who have worked with small and large banks in getting responses to offers. So, while having lunch the other day, we brainstormed some ideas as to why the process length seems to vary:
1) The Asset Management Company (who has been hired by the bank to handle the sale of the property) has been given strict instructions to hold any offers for a minimum number of days.
2) The Asset Management Company has been instructed to hold all offers until a minimum number of offers have been received.
3) The Asset Management Company has been given strict instructions to hold all offers until the end of the month, end of the quarter or end of a fiscal year.
4) Sheer Volume - Consider the stacks of paperwork that one Asset Manager deals with and is responsible for processing; then consider the number of signatures (approvals) that may be required to advance the purchase process.
5) The offer has been approved by the Asset Management Company and then requires a secondary approval by the Investment Group (that purchased the loan previously). Take into consideration that this group may only meet once a month. If this is the case, an additional 30 days could be added on to the waiting period.
Perhaps just the sheer volume of foreclosed homes on the market is overwhelming. Certainly the banking industry could not have been prepared for this influx - even with advance notice. Is there a solution? The bank’s first solution was the moratorium. The period of time that the banks “held” off on putting any new properties on the market. What did this waiting period accomplish? If the intent was to slow down the fall of property values, perhaps it did help accomplish just that. While the prices are not exactly where they were before the 2005-2006 housing boom, at least we’re hopeful that the downward spiral has slowed. While it may be too soon to tell, for now, we’re all in this together … waiting.
There’s been a lot of talk around the office lately about “Highest and Best“. What was originally used an appraisal term is now a trending topic in the foreclosure world. When prospective home buyers put in offers on a bank-owned property and the bank responds by asking for “Highest and Best”, what exactly does it mean? Is “Highest and Best” a tactic used by the banks to raise the prices or is it a useful tool banks use to decipher which bid to accept?
Glenn Marlin, Realtor and member of The Reeves Team defined “Highest and Best” as the “final offer” a buyer will put in on a house. “Typically, the bank will use a “Highest and Best” in place of responding to multiple offers.”
In speaking with Justin McHood from the Arizona Mortgage Team, he defines “Highest and Best” to mean the offer that has the most amount of money in it with the least amount of contingencies. For example: 100k offer in cash, no contingencies may be better than a $102,000 offer for buyer who is getting a USDA loan and has to sell their current home first. “Highest” is easy to define — the most $$$. “Best” is more qualitative — the owner has to put a dollar amount on the amount of contingencies the buyer is putting in the deal.”
So, what should you, as a potential home buyer, do when you put in an offer on a bank owned property and they respond with a request for “Highest and Best“?
- Decide if you truly want the property.
- If you don’t, now is the time to (have another) talk to with your REALTOR.
- If you do, now is the time to decide how much you really want the home.
- Submit your “Highest and Best” offer.
- Be patient waiting for the bank to respond.
If you are notified that the bank has accepted your offer, it doesn’t necessarily mean yours was the highest offer. It may be that your offer was the best offer for the bank (least amount of contingencies, etc). The process of “Highest and Best” is sometimes likened to a silent auction. In the case of a bank owned home, prospective buyers are only privy to the listing price (which is set by the bank) and not what the other offers include. Sadly, if you think about it, even eBay will show you what the other bids are, so you can intelligently make an informed decision.
Is it a game? Is “Highest and Best” in the best interest of all parties or merely a tactic to squeeze more money into a flailing industry? Either way, it’s up to you as a prospective home buyer to decide if you want to participate, buy an REO property or walk away. You decide.
