All That Gilbert Has To Offer

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Gilbert Homes: Search Houses and Property for Sale

Situated in the Phoenix Southeast Metro Area, the small Gilbert city is a pleasant place to play and live. Countless number of master-planned communities and delightful neighborhood are found in every corner of the city. You will also find an overabundance of Gilbert Homes that are for sale which will suit everyone’s unique preferences. There are beautiful subdivisions which cater to boaters, equestrians, golfers, and even those in between, with homes that will surely impress. If you are considering investment for a property or are waiting for custom-build home, there will also be lots of opportunities. After you spend time in this family-friendly and appealing area, you surely will agree that this is such an extraordinary suburb.

Luxury properties in the Gated Communities

One of the best reason of choosing this part of Arizona is the incredible amenities as well as the extras provided to real estate investors or Gilbert home buyers. Luxury properties provide great comfort of living and even maximize everyday living experience in the area. One of the popular location of luxurious real estate is the Seville Community. This has approximately 20 subdivisions along with a country club and a golf course, making luxury living on its finest. In addition, Western Ranch and Spectrum Estates delivers almost the same luxury living and suits best home buyers who seeks for extra privacy.

Gilbert Homes including remarkable Condos and apartments

Whether you are looking for a low maintenance apartment or condos, or a superb estate surrounded with sprawling lakes, there is always a place for you. Condos and Apartments in Gilbert are available in the neighborhoods such as Brekenridge, offering comfortable Gilbert homes at a reasonable price to suit the preferences of those thrifty-minded families. Master-planned communities such as Val Vista Lakes and The Islands offer exceptional subdivisions with patio homes and townhouses.

Refreshment brought by watercraft sceneries are truly notable, making Gilbert the ideal place for those who love refreshing view of waters. Aside from the natural beauty of the lakes, there are also Gilbert homes for sale which provide you with another refreshing way to have fun under the heat of the sun through the privacy of swimming pools. There are many houses for sale with aquatic paradise.

Gilbert Homes in Golf Course Community

Gilbert undoubtedly has a picturesque natural beauty, with the Superstition and San Tan mountain ranges with cacti and palm trees, it is no surprise that this town can awe both foreigner and local residents. For nature lovers, or for those who love such views Gilbert homes offer with a picture-perfect environment. For those who like fairway views, the homes set within golf course community will definitely the best place. Golf developments such as Greenfield Lakes, Western Skies, and many more feature beautiful homes in the greens.

You’ve got a lot of home choices. You just have to tell me where you want to stay, what your needs are and preferences and surely I can find one which will fit in your lifestyle.

Amber Black, Arizona Real Estate Agent

First Time Home Buyers Make Sacrifices

/0 Comments/in , /by

According to a new survey, first time home buyers are willing to give up cable, a new iPhone or even their beloved Starbucks to save some dough for that down! Did you forgo certain things when saving up for the down payment on your first home?

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

Read the Story
Amber Black, Gilbert Real Estate Agent

Understanding FHA

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Buying a home can be stressful, confusing, overwhelming and of course, FUN! Check out this great resource by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure your home buying process stays in the FUN category! From topics such as “How Much House Can I Afford” to Finding out what home buying programs are available in your state.

The HUD website is actually a great resource for understanding all you need to know about FHA loans including the story of how the FHA loans came to be.

READ MORE

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

Amber Black, Real Estate Agent, Arizona Realtor

5 Tips To Help Your Arizona Realtor Help You

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

In the often confusing and overwhelming process of buying or selling a home, your real estate agent serve as a guide, helping you to determine the best price to list your home at as well as navigating complex documents and regulations. While most Arizona realtors are committed to serving you to the best of their ability, they are frequently busy juggling multiple clients and responsibilities. You can maximize your experience of working with a realtor by following some simple tips:

Be Realistic About the Listing Price for Your Home

If you are a seller, be realistic about the listing price for your home. Any home that you have lived in for a significant amount of time is likely to hold sentimental value. Therefore, you may be prone to perceiving it as more unique than it is and overestimating its worth.

Before agreeing on a sale price with your realtor, try to emotionally detach yourself from your property and view it objectively, as a buyer would. Since properties that are priced too high at the outset are likely to linger on the market and ultimately sell for less than properties that were priced appropriately, you will help your realtor make the sales process go as smoothly as possible if you are willing to accept a realistic listing price.

If you are a buyer, avoid making lowball offers without justification.

Keep Your Home Tidy and Free of Clutter While It’s On the Market

While your home is on the market, keep it tidy and free of clutter. Consider hiring a professional stager or stowing excess belongings in storage until your home sells. Ensure that all necessary repairs are made and the yard is free of dead or overgrown shrubbery. By enhancing curb appeal, your realtor will be able to demonstrate your home’s full potential when showing it to buyers.

Extend Common Courtesy With Your Agent and Real Estate Professionals

Most agents work with more than one client simultaneously, and will be deeply appreciative if you demonstrate respect for their time. By exercising simple courtesies like communicating when you are running late or cannot make an appointment, you will help lay the groundwork for a mutually respectful relationship.

If you are a buyer, do not contact an agent until you are serious about making a purchase. If you have not quite reached the buying phase, consider going to open houses, conducting research about different neighborhoods, and making sure that you understand the limitations of your budget before you contact a realtor.

Buyers, Be Clear About Your Expectations and Desires

If you are a buyer, be clear about your expectations and desires, while being realistic about what you can afford. If you have a well-defined wish list that you share with your agent, he or she will be better able to help you find a property that meets your needs.

Realtors understand that buying a home is a major decision and expect that you may change your mind about specifics during the course of your house hunt, but you will help your agent deliver the best possible results if you have a general idea of what you want and need before beginning the process.

Keep It Legal and Ethical

Do not ask your agent to do anything illegal or unethical. Realtors are bound by laws and strict ethical guidelines that may not always be obvious to laypeople. For example, the Fair Housing Act prohibits agents from disclosing information about the ethnic make-up of a neighborhood or using certain words in advertising a property.

You Need a Realtor Who Is Passionate About Making Real Estate Work for You

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

Real Estate Agents Near Me, Gilbert Real Estate Agent, Amber Black

5 DIY Projects That Pack The Most Punch

/0 Comments/in , /by

Home improvement projects don’t have to be large-scale to return a big value. In fact, the 2015 Cost vs. Value report points out that even something as simple and cheap as replacing a steel door returns on average 101.8 percent nationally.Read more: Tips for Increasing a Home’s Property ValueIf home owners want to save even more money and get a great return on their home improvement investment, these five easy DIY projects pack the most punch.

Read More

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

The Difference Between Your Down Payment And Your Closing Costs

/0 Comments/in , /by

The difference between closing costs and down payment doesn’t really affect the bottom-line dollar amount that’s needed at the closing table. After the escrow officer tallies up the buyer’s debits and credits on the HUD-1 Settlement Sheet, there will only be one check to bring in when it’s time to sign escrow papers. Understanding the escrow settlement process and the difference between the two amounts can help you look for inaccuracies and ensure that funds are directed to the right place.

Closing Costs

Closing costs are the fees associated with the cost of obtaining a home loan and escrow services when closing on a home mortgage. These fees include items such as the appraisal, lender origination fees, escrow handling charges, wire transfer fees, discount points, lender’s title insurance and prepaid taxes and insurance premiums. The amount of closing costs may come as a shock to inexperienced borrowers, and many times may total up to 3 percent of the purchase price. The fees are significantly lower when you are paying cash for a home as there are no lender fees.

Down Payment

The down payment for a home is applied directly toward lowering your total loan amount and is not to be confused with settlement or closing costs. Normally based on a percentage of the total sales price, the amount is typically established early in the loan application process with your lender. While down payment amounts can vary from 3.5 percent for an FHA loan to upward of 20 percent for certain conventional loans, normally the source of the money must be verified and approved by the lender.

HUD-1 Settlement Sheet

Your escrow agent will prepare what is called a HUD-1 Settlement Sheet, a required form created by the Department of Urban and Housing Development. This form lists all the debits and credits for both the buyer and seller of the real estate settlement. Your down payment and an itemized list of closing costs and related settlement charges are clearly detailed on the form so that each charge or required fee is easy to understand. Check your HUD-1 Settlement Sheet carefully to ensure its accuracy.

So now the moment of truth!

Both the down payment amount and closing costs are required at the same time, at the closing table and lumped together into one large payment. The settlement sheet, after any credits such as the earnest money deposit or seller contributions are tallied, has a final amount owed by you, the buyer. This amount also includes all settlement charges, the required down payment and any miscellaneous and prorated fees.

 

 

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

Home Buying Tips

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you are in the market to purchase a home, here some things to keep in mind to make sure you are getting the home you really want.

Connect with a reliable and reputable mortgage lender

This will make all the difference in the world. Communication is key when purchasing a home so you’ll want to make sure you choose someone who you have access to when you have questions. Banks and Credit Unions are great, but they also have an 8 to 5 schedule so it might be difficult to reach someone when you have a question regarding your loan in the evening or on the weekends.

Market Trends – Stay in the loop!

Keeping a 24 hour watch on the housing market is not an easy task so leave that up to your agent. However, you want to know what’s going on in the area you are looking to purchase in. Things like new construction taking place, commercial development within a 5 mile radius and probably the public school ratings are important things to watch. Checking out the cities/towns public website is a great way to keep informed. Of course, you should always feel comfortable asking your real estate agent who should known the local market pretty well.

Know your “Want’s & Needs” before you get out there

When you go shopping for groceries, you usually have a list (or if you’re like me, you go in on an empty stomach and walk out with 2 shopping carts of junk!) Nailing down a couple of the MUST HAVES is essential to ensure you are not wasting valuable time. There is no need to walk into a dozen homes with no pool if having a pool already built is in your Top 5 of “must haves.”

With that being said, make sure you keep an open mind when going into homes that may not have the paint choice of your liking or counter tops that may be outdated. These are purely cosmetic and can be changed out. If you love the floor plan, go with it!

 

 

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

Gilbert AZ Continues To Grow

/0 Comments/in , /by

As Gilbert, Arizona’s population continues to grow with folks coming from all over the U.S., it looks as though some of their home town favorites are following suit. Check out a couple cool eateries joining Gilbert’s growth as well as a 250-acre business district bringing major job growth to the town.

RIVULON

Rivulon is a 250-acre mixed-use development located at the corner of Gilbert Road and AZ-202. The premier business district will include approximately three million square feet of Class A office space, 500,000 square feet of retail and hotels. Rivulon will be designed with a holistic view of the site, ensuring a cohesive flow, compatibility of uses and sensitivity to the sustainability of resources. Taking up 150,000 square feet of space and offering around 15,000 new jobs will be Isagenix. Another large portion will be occupied by L.A. Fitness. HAS OPENED UP SPACE ALREADY

FAT CATS

Fat Cats will be opening a brand new Family Entertainment Center in 2015. The center will be located in the great town of Gilbert, Arizona! Fat Cats Gilbert will be a state-of-the-art bowling center combined with six theaters offering luxury seating. Each theater will feature first run films. To complement the bowling center and theaters, a new restaurant concept “Pizini’” will provide rustic Neapolitan style Pizzas, Panini’s, Fresh Salads and Soups. The center will also provide additional entertainment featuring a nine-hole Mini Glow-in-the-dark Golf Course and a cutting edge arcade/redemption prize center. COMING LATE SPRING 2015

HAPPY JOE’S ICE CREAM & PIZZA

An Iowa favorite will soon become an Arizona favorite. Happy Joe’s will be the 7th state in which Happy Joe’s resides. Opening on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner (same parking lot as Lifetime Fitness) you’ll soon be able to enjoy Happy Joe classics such as BBQ Joe, Taco Joe, Happy Joe’s Special and many many more! COMING SPRING 2015

 

 

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

New Home Sales In Phoenix Arizona

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you think the temperatures are on the rise in the Phoenix Metro area, you should check out the new home construction going on! Builders such as KB Homes, Ryland Homes, Taylor Morrision, Pulte, Meritage, Richmond, Shea, Beazer and Maracay, just to name a few. are building from Surprise, AZ to Gilbert, AZ.

Back in April, housing starts were up 37 percent in the Phoenix Metro area for March compared to a year ago, and existing home sales surged 29 percent according to new industry data. Over 1,300 housing permits for new construction were given in March alone. That permit volume is the highest since July of 2008.

So if you are looking to purchase a new or resale home in the East Valley cities of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, San Tan Valley, Queen Creek, Tempe or Scottsdale, give me a call and let me help you find your forever home.

 

 

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.

AZ Renters Ask For Governor To Veto SB1185

/0 Comments/in , /by

A number of Arizona renters are raising concerns about a bill sitting on Governor Doug Ducey’s desk.

Opponents of SB1185 want Ducey to veto the legislation, because they say it gives landlords the power to remove any tenant’s guest. Amber Mendez rents an apartment in Phoenix and does not like the idea of her landlord having the final say on who she can have over. “I think it would be inappropriate,” said Mendez. “If there’s somebody the landlord doesn’t like, how can they just call the cops and have the person leave?” SB1185 would allow landlords to call police and remove any guest that’s not on the lease.

Ellen Katz is director of the William E. Morris Institute for Justice, a non-profit advocacy group that’s working to stop SB1185 from becoming law. Katz said the big problem with the bill is how it’s written, with vague wording, that essentially gives landlords the power to remove any tenant’s guest without a reason or due process.

SB 1185 states “A person who knowingly remains on the premises without the permission of the tenant or landlord may be removed by a law enforcement officer.”

“It could be a guest whose watching TV, it could be a guest who is there to babysit or it could be a guest who has been there for much longer,” said Katz. “It allows the landlord to withhold permission for the guest to be there.” According to Katz, the bill could be an easy way for landlords to discriminate against tenants they don’t like.

CBS reached out to the lawmakers who sponsored the bill, to get their take on why SB1185 will be good for Arizonans. A staff member said that Representative Justin Olson (R-Mesa) didn’t have time discuss the issue on the phone and state Senator Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) never responded. Mendez said if state lawmakers want to take away their rights and dictate who they can have in their home, the least they can do is explain why. “I think that’s not fair,” said Mendez.

A rally and protest have been scheduled at the state capitol Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

Read More

As a third generation real estate agent and native of Arizona, I am passionate about helping you and your loved ones achieve your real estate goals. If you are buying or selling in Gilbert or any of the East Valley cities, trust that I will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.