Phoenix Real Estate is a great option when considering where to purchase your next vacation home or condo. We have great weather nine months out of the year, an endless number of restaurants, shopping centers and golf courses. Here are a few tips that will help you when searching for a home in the Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona area.

I would recommend starting off by speaking with your spouse or family members about the specific criteria that is important to you when purchasing your vacation home. From there you can visit our website to see what Phoenix Homes are available and if your specific criteria fits into your ideal price range.

Once you have narrowed down the area of the city, your price range, the home or condo amenities that are important to you, etc. then I can set you up on a custom property search that will allow access to the most accurate and up to date properties that are on the market.

When you are ready to look at some properties in person, I will schedule showings at your favorites. You should expect to see up to about seven homes per day. I do not recommend seeing more than seven in a single day just because they start to become a blur and details of each home are more difficult for you to sort through. You will have a much clearer image of each home if you limit the number viewed each day.

If you find particular properties that you especially like it is always a good idea to take pictures so that you will have them for later. Also, jot down notes about which homes you do and do not like. We always provide a print out of each home you are viewing for the day just for this reason. It is our way of helping you stay as organized as possible while selecting an ideal home for your lifestyle.

Once you have carefully considered each home and have reached a point where you are ready to present an offer to the seller, make sure you are ready with the documentation necessary to submit the offer. In Arizona, you are required to provide proof of funds or a Pre-Qualification form from a lender.

I strive to be the most professional Realtor you will ever encounter. Please feel free to call me at (800) 600-6110 about Phoenix and Scottsdale Homes for Sale.

Carmen Brodeur BA, LLB
Arizona Realtor / Former Alberta Lawyer

Realty Executives
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-600-6110

Many people purchase a home in Arizona as a group with family members or friends.  Pulling funds together can help you buy the best possible property.

Sharing such a large responsibility with someone else can be a little scary but if you consider the following points in advance, the arrangement may be ideal:

• Figure out your personal financial abilities and what you are comfortable spending first, before you even consult your friends and family. Always avoid “buying up”.
• Think carefully about the people you wish to enter into this arrangement with. You must be 100% comfortable with their financial stability and their commitment to the property. Ideally you should know them very well.
• After choosing the person that you would like to purchase your home in Arizona with, discuss your exact visions and goals for the property. How often will each member of the group be allowed to use the property? Will you each get specific weeks?  It is usually best to rotate amongst the members of the group for major holidays. If you get the home for Christmas one year, another person gets it for the following Christmas.  What kind of rules will you set? Are group members allowed to loan out the house to their friends and family if they are not able to use their allotted weeks?
• Once you are on the same page about how you intend to use the home it is time to discuss the legal structures of ownership. This includes things such as how you will take title and how to split the cost of the home. It is advisable for each member to contribute enough to pay cash for the home. Don’t count on being able to finance a group purchase. This is extremely rare.
• It is best to create a reserve fund for future carrying costs. One group from Alberta that worked with me to find a great Scottsdale home, each contributed enough into a reserve fund to carry all maintenance of the property for 5 years. They also made sure they purchased a Home Warranty to cover the cost of any repairs of the home.
• Consider whether the group also wants to purchase a vehicle for the home. This is best done up front at the same time as the purchase of the home. You can’t count on other members to agree or have the money for this later.
• It is very important to also discuss how you will handle ownership if someone needs out of the arrangement. What happens upon death or divorce of a member of the group? Will they be able to sell their share to a 3rd party?  Make sure that you have planned for this situation and do not wait until after the issue arises to deal with it.
• I would highly recommend a Property Concierge service for all group owners. Such a service will go into the home after each person leaves, make sure the home is cleaned and ready for the next person, oversee the landscaper and pool maintenance, check on the property regularly and maintain the home to your standards. Having a Property Concierge will eliminate the vast majority of problems or issues for group owned homes.

Do you have any specific questions about group purchases? I have helped several groups purchase in the Scottsdale area and would be happy to help answer any questions. Feel free to contact me directly at 1-800-300-0263.

Carmen Brodeur BA, LLB
Arizona Realtor / Former Alberta Lawyer
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

Buying a Phoenix New Build Home from a developer is an exciting process for many Canadian home buyers. However, you need to protect yourself with your own representation. The first thing to remember when buying a new build is that the sales person works for the builder and not you. No matter how friendly they are, they only have one product to sell and may not have your best interest in mind.

If you go to a sales office and they ask you to fill out a registration card. Do not do it. You are not required to fill out a registration card to see the model homes. If you register without your Realtor, your Realtor will not be allowed to represent you in the transaction process. In any Arizona Real Estate transaction it is good to have your own representation. New home builders typically don’t belong to the National Association of Realtors and don’t work under the same ethics and guidelines. Contracts written for a new build are often written to protect the builder where as the Arizona Association of Realtors contracts are written to protect the buyer.

There are some advantages to buying a new build in Arizona. Many developers are hurting in this market so you can get some great deals and some builders have excellent warranties available. In addition to this, it is simply nice to live in a brand new home.

We specialize in Phoenix and Scottsdale Real Estate for Canadians and would be happy to answer your questions. Email me at Carmen@ThePhoenixExperts.com or call me at (800) 300-0263.

I was a real estate lawyer in Alberta before moving to Arizona to become a Realtor. I understand all of the differences between Canadian and Arizona real estate transactions. I explain those differences to my clients and can take you through the process of buying Arizona real estate step by step. Why use a less experienced Realtor?

Carmen Brodeur BA, LLB
Arizona Realtor / Former Alberta Lawyer
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

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There have been numerous article lately about the Phoenix market prices hitting bottom, all of the bidding wars for the remaining foreclosures and prices starting to rise. Here are a few articles for anyone who is interested in Phoenix real estate::

Recent Articles on Phoenix Real Estate Market

Phoenix’s Housing Bust Goes Boom
Bidding Battles Hit Phoenix Housing Market
Promising Signs From Valley Housing Data
Study Shows Phoenix Prices May Be Bottoming Out

To find the best deal on a home in Phoenix, call me at 1-800-300-0263 or email me at Marc@ThePhoenixExperts.com. We specialize in foreclosures and can negotiate the best deals possible. Visit www.ThePhoenixExperts.com for more information and to view all available foreclosures.

Marc Brodeur BS, DC
Lead Realtor, The Phoenix Experts
1-800-300-0263

I got a call today from a Canadian client quite upset that the condo he has been admiring online is suddenly vanished from his webpage. He wanted to know what happened to his condo. It was sold, of course, to someone who ACTED rather than just ADMIRED the deal. The inventory of homes and condos at the bottom of the price range (under $200,000) are moving fast. The best properties are sold quick. He somehow didn’t think it was fair that it wouldn’t be available for him to look at when he gets here next week. The only way to “reserve” a condo until you can come look at it is to make an offer. We make offers on properties for clients in Canada all the time. It can easily be done by email. If your offer is accepted you have 10 days to come take a look at the property. If you like it – buy it, if you don’t like it – don’t buy it and get your money back during the 10 day period. It’s that simple.

If you want to reserve a great deal by making an offer, just give us a call at 1-800-300-0263 or contact us through www.ThePhoenixExperts.com. Like they say, the early bird gets the worm.

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

The home inspection is one of the most important parts of the home buying process. You have 10 days after your offer is accepted on a home to do all inspections. We work with a highly qualified inspector. The home inspector we recommend to our clients is extremely picky and very critical – just what you want in an inspector. He will do a thorough inspection of your property and email you a very detailed report the same day. It is generally over 20 pages long and includes multiple photos of any issues that arise. The home inspector will give the straight answers about the condition of the property. You can purchase the home knowing exactly what you are getting. If problems are discovered, you have the option to simply terminate the contact during the 10 day inspection period and get your deposit back.

Check out our website at www.ThePhoenixExperts.com. We specialize in finding homes for Canadians in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

Believe it or not – NONE! You do not need to put down any money with your offer, only the proof of funds which I discussed in my last blog. Once your offer is accepted (usually a day or two later depending on negotiations) then you will need to put down a refundable earnest deposit. This is usually $3000-10,000. That can be wired or a certified check can be sent from your bank in Canada. In general, you do not need to bring any money with you during your house buying trip. All funds can be transferred from Canada during the transaction after your offer is accepted.

We specialize in helping Canadians buy their dream homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Visit www.ThePhoenixExperts.com to search all available homes or give me a call. I’m glad to help!

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

Bring Your Proof of Funds

If you are making a trip to Phoenix to purchase a home, you will need to bring with you one very important document: Proof of Funds. The home buying process in Arizona is a little different than in Canada. When we find your dream home and you want to make an offer on it, you need to provide with the offer some sort of proof that you are financially able to complete the transaction. Sellers in Arizona will not even look at an offer without proof of funds. This can be a copy of an open HELOC with credit available, open personal line of credit, bank statement with cash in the account, investment account statement, etc. A letter from your bank in Canada that you have the funds available may suffice, although I have seen these rejected on rare occasions.

We are dedicated to serving Canadians interested in Phoenix or Scottsdale homes. Call us with all of your questions or contact us through www.ThePhoenixExperts.com.

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263