Today is #TransformationTuesday, and we wanted to give you a break from all the before and after shots of your diligent friends who have been hitting the gym. Just feast your eyes on this 6,000 square-foot Mesa mansion that has undergone some change before recently hitting the market. It's fun to watch, whether or not it's in your price point.  

This home is a great example of how a face lift (guided by your dedicated seller experts... hint...that's us) can do wonders, even when we are in this strong of a seller's market.  
Speaking of the market, here are some current trends to note*:
Total sales for homes over $500,000 was up 25 percent from this time last year.
Supply is still very low, leading to continuously climbing prices.
The monthly median price is $249,900 (a peak not seen since Sept. 2007).
The price per square foot continues to increase as well, especially in the southeast valley.
If you want to capitalize on these peaking prices, reach out to u; ...

As we wrap up 2017, we are grateful for what we get to do every day. We love to help people navigate some of the most momentous decisions in their lives. This is especially the case in the current real estate market, where experienced agents can make a huge difference: listings are down 12 percent from this time last year, which means buyers need full-time agents who are great negotiators and know how to make their offers stand out. Meanwhile, median sales price is up nearly 9 percent, so expert guidance on how to maximize your home's value can get you an even greater return. Just the other day, we were able to help a client sell their home for the full asking price of $325,000 within three days. This experience came after the client had their home unsuccessfully listed with another agent for five months. The agent dropped the listing price of their home several times (from $313,000 to $299,000) and still couldn't get the house sold. 
We love to help people, and we. ...

The Phoenix valley is home to three cities that made top 10 on a list of best cities in the nation to buy a family home. 
Chandler is in the #1 spot, with Gilbert at #3, and Scottsdale finishing up at #8, according to data compiled by SmartAsset. The study looks at a number of factors, including changes in home values and rent costs, property taxes, house sizes and median housing costs. 
Use these links to start your search for homes in each of these areas:

search Chandler homes
search Gilbert homes
search Scottsdale homes ...

We like to keep you informed about what is going on in the housing market, and right now, the update is easy: It's still a seller's market. Supply is still low. Home prices are still climbing. 
We talked to a client recently who wanted to break into this market, but was a little discouraged with these climbing prices. This had them considering renting instead of buying. 
It's important to know, however, that the cost to rent has been climbing right along with these home prices. In fact, here in the Phoenix area, it is 38.5 percent cheaper to own a house than it is to rent, according to Trulia's October Rent vs. Buy report. 


If you buy you also benefit from equity buildup, home value appreciation and even some tax benefits.
In this market, if you can afford to rent, you can typically afford to buy. We also work with some great lenders who have fantastic loan products if you don't feel you have enough money saved up for a down pay. ...

This month, there are two things on our mind: the heat, and this hot real estate market. We are here to help you weather both!
 
Right now, saving money on energy is all the rage. But we have seen clients sink tons of money into energy-efficient upgrades that don't necessarily pay off in resale value. 
 
That might not matter to you if you are planning on staying in your house for a while. But even it there is a possibility you might sell your home within the next couple of years, it is worth thinking about the numbers. 
 
Check out our list below for the best and worst energy-efficiency upgrades in terms of resale value.
 
Best energy-efficiency upgrades for resale value:

landscaping with shade trees
upgraded fixtures with fans in all rooms
energy-efficient appliances

We have sold hundreds of homes in the valley, and based on our experience, these upgrades pay off both in energy savings and increased resale value.
 
Worst energy-effr ...