Maricopa County High Dollar Homes

Get inspired! Here are some of the most expensive homes sold in Maricopa County in the last 30 days.

$4,000,000 - Paradise Valley, AZ. 8 Bedrooms, 6.5 Bathrooms 9,549 sqft.

 

$3,300,000 - Scottsdale, AZ. 7 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms. 6,551 sqft.

 

$3,225,000 - Paradise Valley, AZ. 5 Bedroom, 4.5 Bathrooms. 6,452 sqft. 



$3,000,000 - Scottsdale, AZ. 7 Bedrooms, 8 Bathrooms. 8,100 sqft.

 

$2,750,000 - Paradise Valley, AZ. 8 Bedrooms, 6.5 Bathrooms. 7,848 sqft.

 



5 Things to Do Before Selling your Home

Before deciding to call up your friendly local Realtor to list your home it is important for sellers to keep some things in mind and do some homework to make your Realtor's job easier and sell your home faster and for the best price.

1. Check Comps
Although your Realtor will be pulling comparable properties listed and sold, it is important for you to also get an idea as well. This will ensure that you are not utterly disappointed or rendered speechless by what your Realtor shares with you. Remember knowledge is power and the more you know about how much homes have sold for, the better you'll be able to price your own house.

2. Check Your Loan Amount
Do a little digging and find out the EXACT amount you owe on your mortgage, not just an approximation. Now you can figure out exactly how to price your property, what the escrow fees and realtor commissions will be and how much you will net after the sale.

3. Identify Liens and Disputes
Be upfront about liens and property disputes with neighbors. Although it may be less appealing for potential buyers, these liens and disputes need to be disclosed to all buyers prior to closing.

4. Clean Up the House
You want to make a great first impression to your Realtor. The cleaner and brighter your home looks the more likely your Realtor is going to be excited about the listing and eager to price it higher. If the property comes off as dirty and unkempt then the impression is that the home was not taken care of and may need more repairs and thus fall into a lower price point.

5. Hold Off on Improvements
Before speaking with a Realtor you might know that your home may need some improvements for it to sell in the time needed. However, your idea of what is an improvement and gets the most bang for your buck may not be reality. Consult with your Realtor on what buyers in the area are looking for like granite in the kitchen or specific landscaping.

Do your homework and clean up your home and you will be ready to strategize with your Realtor on how to sell your house!

5 Things you NEED to do Before you Buy a Home

Once people decide that they want to buy a home, most don't know where to start. They tend to start with the most fun part - looking at homes online and perhaps open houses on the weekends. Here are 5 steps EVERY buyer should take before looking at homes.

1. Save for Down Payment and Closing Costs
Before you can close on a home, the bank securing the loan will ask for a down payment. Depending on the loan program you qualify for, your down payment can range from a couple thousand dollars (down payment assistance plan) to 3% (FHA) to 10% or 20%. Obviously, the bigger down payment you pay the smaller your monthly mortgage payment. In any case, an amount of savings is needed to pay the down payment as well as closing costs associated with escrow, such as title fees, appraisals, inspections, and home warranty.

2. Raise your Credit Score
It goes without saying that a lender will look at your credit score to determine if the bank will loan you money. The higher your credit score the better interest rate you will be able to lock in. Currently the threshold score that my lending partner requires is 650 but that may change depending on which financial institution you choose.

3. Get Pre-Qualified by a Lender
A pre-qualification from a lender lets you know how much you are qualified to borrow. This lets you know your buying power and helps potential buyers narrow down their search. This is also a vitally important step because most sellers will not even consider an offer unless the buyer can prove that they have been prequalified.

4. Define Exactly What you Want
Make a list of everything you require out of a home. A good place to start is location (city, neighborhood, subdivision), school district, HOA or not, bedrooms, bathrooms, garage spaces, lot size, upgrades like granite countertops, etc. The more you figure out what matters to you before shopping, the easier it will be to zone in on the homes that you really want.

5. Avoid Change
Lastly, after you are pre-qualified do not do anything that requires you to pull your credit score! This includes applying for credit cards and buying a car. This will likely lower your score and change your debt to income ratio thus putting your loan in jeopardy. Do not change or quit your job - this is also a key component in deciding whether or not the bank is willing to loan you money.

Of course it goes without saying that finding a qualified real estate agent is vitally important. But before an agent gets involved, take these steps to put yourself in the best position possible to purchase your dream home!