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 ...

Have you seen the 10-day forecast for the Phoenix Valley? These blazing temperatures might be driving you indoors to hibernate for the summer. But if you want to spend your indoor days in style, then you might consider these hot housing trends:


 
These are some great updates to make whether you are in your house to stay or whether you are looking to sell.
 
The video highlights a few of our recent listings. We have a proven record of being able to help our clients get the most out of their listings, in a time period that is way below the market average. This ranges from updates and renovations to staging and HD photography.
 
Our stats are being helped by the current market, which is still comfortably in the seller’s favor. According to the Cromford Report, supply is down from last year (18,476 versus 20,979), although we are seeing continued signs that the pendulum is beginning to shift ever so slightly back towards the buyer.
 
Here at Elite Re ...