Glendale Arizona Real Estate News & Listings Presented By HomeSmart

Stone accents, custom paint and decorator touches!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:17:50 GMT

Stone accents, custom paint and decorator touches are just a few of the features of this home. The kitchen highlights include oak cabinets, flat-top electric range and black appliances. Picture yourself relaxing after a long day on the cobblestone seating area outside enjoying the perfect Arizona weather. This cozy abode is conveniently located on a quiet street in Tolleson. See it soon!

For more information, and the latest pricing, call our 24-hour Property Information Hotline at: 1-866-200-6401 Ext. 3095

Mountain Views from all directions!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:34:14 GMT

Amazing mountain views from all directions is just one of the spectacular features of this former model home. Perched on a premium corner lot the home features travertine, granite w/full backsplash, hardwood floors, stainless appliances, built-in refrigerator, plantation shutters, 12' ceilings, surround sound, jacuzzi tub and that is just the inside! Step outside to the resort-style backyard with heated Pebble Tec pool and Spa. This guard gated community is filled with multi-million dollar properties and amenities such as tennis, basketball, community pool/spa and MORE! DO NOT CONVEY: Pot rack, plasma and outdoor tv's/wall mounts.

Mortgage Update 03-04-10

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:43:00 GMT

Interest Rates as of 3/4/2010

Rates based on a 200k Primary Residence Purchase (or a no cash out refinance), 720+ Credit, Full Doc Income Verification, paying one "point." Please note, this information is intended for Real Estate Professionals.

80% 30 year Fixed = 4.875%
90% 30 Year Fixed = 4.875% (Requires PMI)
90% 15 Year Fixed = 4.25% (Requires PMI)
80% 15 Year Fixed = 4.25%
96.5% FHA 30 Year Fixed = 5% (Requires MI)
100% VA 30 Year Fixed = 5.25% (No PMI required)
100% USDA/Rural 30 Year Fixed = 5.25% (No PMI required)
80% 5 Yr ARM = 3.75%
70% 5 Yr Jumbo ARM up to $1M = 4.875%
70% 30 Year Fixed Jumbo up to $1M = 6.25%
Refinances up to 105% of appraised value are available

Please feel free to call or email for prequalifications, LSR's, and any financing questions that you have.

Ryan Halldorson
Smart Financial Mortgage
Senior Mortgage Consultant
3131 E Camelback #120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.793.7204
E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

Increase Your Credit Score!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Want to add roughly 10 points to your credit score and get a lot less junk mail? Logging in to www.optoutprescreen.com will keep Experian/Equifax/TransUnion from selling your credit information to credit card and insurance companies that in turn offer pre-approved credit card and insurance offers to you. The credit scoring formulas view "opting out" positively since it removes the constant temptation of obtaining new debt. This results in higher credit scores according to most credit experts. The government forced the credit bureaus to offer this choice to consumers. Along the same lines, the government requires that Experian/Equifax/TransUnion give you a copy of your credit report for free once per year via www.annualcreditreport.com or 877.322.8228. They will charge you $10 to give you a score but they each have to give your report for free. This service is also the best mechanism to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report.

For more information contact:

Ryan Halldorson
Smart Financial Mortgage
Senior Mortgage Consultant
3131 E Camelback #120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.793.7204
E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

Pre-Foreclosures and Prices Rise

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:10:00 GMT

Bad news for some home owners, but good news for home buyers!

For the bargain home hunter - there is good news, but you need to act soon! Pre-foreclosures are rising in the Phoenix area putting record numbers of homes on the market, but prices are also starting to rise. This suggests that prices have stabilized and homes are being sold at or near their asking prices, especially in the lower price ranges. Start your home-buying experience smart and hire a Short Sale Specialist like the Buyer's Representatives at Phoenix Heritage Real Estate Group. They will make your home buying experience as hassle free as possible and will negotiate the best price and terms for you in this market.

Read here for a snapshot of what's happening in Real Estate in the Valley.

Impeccable Home in West Glendale

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:27:52 GMT

If you're looking for perfection, then look no further! From the incredible bedroom mountain views to the stunning Arizona sunsets,this home is for you. This Glendale beauty boasts a pristine interior that has been professionally designed, to include thousands in upgrades (too many to mention here), and a top of the line Pebble Tec pool. You will enjoy your secluded backyard, providing you with hours of peace and tranquility from another hectic day. This is truly your Oasis in the Sun. And did we mention the excellent location, close to shopping and the 101. And best of all...it is a REGULAR SALE! No waiting for a response from the bank. Get ready to make an offer, as this one will go quick!

For more information, and the latest pricing, call our 24-hour Property Information Hotline at: 1-866-200-6401 Ext. 2455

Cute as a Button in Mesa!

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:10:06 GMT

Cute as a button! Excellent starter home with three bedrooms and one bath, one car carport was converted to bedroom, separate inside laundry room. This home was built back when real Arizona homes were made with block construction.

Perfectly Located Scottsdale Townhouse

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:25:15 GMT

Gorgeous in the heart of Scottsdale. Two master bedrooms, open light and bright living room with travertine, fireplace and wet bar, loft perfect for office, library, art studio or playroom. Covered view deck with mountain views, attached 2 car garage.

Mortgage Update 02-25-10

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Rates based on a 200k Primary Residence Purchase (or a no cash out refinance), 720+ Credit, Full Doc Income Verification, paying one "point." Please note, this information is intended for Real Estate Professionals.

80% 30 year Fixed = 4.875%
90% 30 Year Fixed = 4.875% (Requires PMI)
90% 15 Year Fixed = 4.25% (Requires PMI)
80% 15 Year Fixed = 4.25%
96.5% FHA 30 Year Fixed = 5% (Requires MI)
100% VA 30 Year Fixed = 5.25% (No PMI required)
100% USDA/Rural 30 Year Fixed = 5.25% (No PMI required)
80% 5 Yr ARM = 3.75%
70% 5 Yr Jumbo ARM up to $1M = 4.875%
70% 30 Year Fixed Jumbo up to $1M = 6.25%
Refinances up to 105% of appraised value are available

For more information contact:

Ryan Halldorson
Smart Financial Mortgage
Senior Mortgage Consultant
3131 E Camelback #120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.793.7204
E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

Termite Reports for Loans

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

It is important to understand when termite reports are required on loans and also what a lender considers to be a "clean" termite report. A lender considers a clean termite report to have no evidence of termites on page 1, but also requires that all the boxes on page 2 of the report be checked "No" (wood to earth contact, faulty grades, excessive moisture, etc.). Before sending a termite report to a lender or title company it is important to look at page 2 first. If the report makes its way into an underwriters hands they will force any issues noted on page 2 of the report to be fixed even if the buyer and seller do not want it to be fixed. VA loans always require a termite report. FHA and Conventional only require a termite report if the appraiser calls for it or if the lender has a special internal rule that requires it for their loans.

For more information contact:

Ryan Halldorson
Smart Financial Mortgage
Senior Mortgage Consultant
3131 E Camelback #120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.793.7204
E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

Impeccable Home in Glendale, AZ

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for perfection, then look no further! From the incredible bedroom mountain views to the stunning Arizona sunsets, this home is for you!!! This Glendale beauty boasts a pristine interior that has been professionally designed, to include multiplied thousands in upgrades (too many to mention here), and a top of the line Pebble Tec pool. You'll enjoy your secluded backyard, providing you with hours of peace and tranquility from another hectic day! This is truly your Oasis in the Sun! And did we mention the excellent location - close to shopping and the 101. And best of all...it's a REGULAR SALE! No waiting for a response from the bank. Get ready to make an offer, as this one will go quick! For more information, please contact us today!

Scottsdale location says it all!

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:18:42 GMT

They say location, location, location and this is it! Nestled between Kierland Commons and Desert Ridge the best shopping, restaurants and the world's first musical instrument museum. This home is nicely upgraded with granite tile counters, pergo flooring and plus carpeting with large living spaces to boot. Perfect pool and a corner lot. What more could you want!
For more information, and the latest pricing, call our 24-hour Property Information Hotline at: 1-866-200-6401 Ext. 3185

Your Landlord Got Foreclosed. Do You Have to Go?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Renting a home that is going through foreclosure? If so, don't be fooled: Lenders can't kick you out; they have to honor the terms of your lease.

Of course, that doesn't mean that some lenders' representatives aren't trying to scare people away.

Read Full Article

Mortgage Update 02-12-10

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:56:00 GMT

New FHA Appraisal Process

FHA has changed the way FHA appraisals will be ordered with FHA case numbers assigned after February 15. The new method will be similar to the Conventional HVCC appraisal ordering system. All lenders will need to place the order with an appraisal management company who then randomly assigns the FHA appraiser. FHA case #'s still stay with the property which means the appraisal sticks with the property - for better or worse. When FHA appraisals come in under value or require repairs, the seller has difficulty playing hardball since cancelling the contract means the next FHA buyer will be using the same appraisal with the same issues. This scenario is also true for VA appraisals. Conventional appraisals do not stick with the property and are not re-used from buyer to buyer.

Interest Rates as of 2/12/2010

Please feel free to call or email for prequalifications, LSR's, and any financing questions that you have.

For more information contact:

Ryan Halldorson

Smart Financial Mortgage

Senior Mortgage Consultant

3131 E Camelback #120

Phoenix, AZ 85016

Phone: 602.793.7204

E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

New AAR Short Sale Advisory

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Arizona Association of Realtors has released a new Short Sale Advisory for Sellers with lots of great information the Seller should consider before moving forward with selling their house as a Short Sale. Sellers - ALWAYS DO YOUR DUE DILLIGENCE! The advisory can be found here.

How Long Before I Can Buy After A Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, or Short Sale?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Waiting Periods for Bankruptcy/Foreclosure/Short Sale

A common question from borrowers and homeowners these days is how long they will need to wait to buy again if a negative item appears on their credit report. Different loan programs have different disqualification periods for Bankruptcy/Foreclosure/Short Sale. Once the automatic disqualification period has elapsed, the normal income/asset/credit requirements typically apply. It is also important to remember that if a mortgage account is included in a Bankruptcy, then foreclosure waiting periods apply with all loan programs. Here is breakdown by loan program:

Conventional Loans

Bankruptcy = 4 years
Foreclosure = 5 years
Short Sale = 2 years

VA Loans

Bankruptcy = 2 years
Foreclosure = 2 years
Short Sale = industry standard is 2 years

FHA Loans

Bankruptcy = 2 years
Foreclosure = 3 years
Short Sale = industry standard is 3 years unless no mortgage lates in the past 12 months and buying in a different geographic location (out of state job transfer for example).

Please feel free to call or email for prequalifications and any financing questions that you have.

Ryan Halldorson

Smart Financial Mortgage

Senior Mortgage Consultant

3131 E Camelback #120

Phoenix, AZ 85016

Phone: 602.793.7204

E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com

Quiet Side of Sonoran Mountain Ranch!

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:22:41 GMT

On the quiet side of Sonoran Mountain Ranch lies, the single story executive, home you have been looking for. This home is stunning, filled with designer type upgrades, including granite counter tops, slate look tile flooring, brushed-nickel finished fixtures and a kitchen to die for and more. This is a must see home.
For more information, and the latest pricing, call our 24-hour Property Information Hotline at: 1-866-200-6401 Ext. 3045

Will Federal Guidlines Ease Short-Sales? (Video)

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:21:00 GMT

Watch Video Here

Those Who Wait Will Pay Thousands More This Spring

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:25:00 GMT

Waiting a few extra days or weeks to purchase a home this spring could cost buyers thousands of extra dollars as the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) implements several changes for loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Coming just weeks before the April 30 deadline for the Home Buyer Tax Credit and just days after the March 31 expiration of the Federal Reserve Board's mortgage backed securities purchase program (which has kept home loan rates artificially low for over a year), these FHA changes make it even more important to act now to save big.

Here are a few reasons why:

On April 5th, the cost of required up-front mortgage insurance for loans guaranteed by the FHA will increase from 1.75% to 2.25%. For a borrower purchasing a $200,000 home with a $7,000 down payment, the up-front mortgage insurance will increase by $965. Up-front mortgage insurance is typically financed in the final loan amount so the impact to a monthly payment will be minimal but overall, the increase is still borne by the borrower both upfront and monthly.

Later this spring, the amount of money that a seller can return to the buyer from their sale proceeds will be reduced from 6% to 3%. The reduction in these "seller concessions" can increase the amount of cash a buyer will be required to pay at closing by $6,000 for a home purchase of $200,000.

There is only one way to avoid being affected by all of these costly changes that lie ahead – submit all FHA mortgage applications by the last week of March.

If I can answer any questions you may have about how these changes could impact you, call me. I appreciate your business.

Sincerely,

Nick Vallario
Nova Home Loans
480-614-6434
nickv@novahomeloans.com

Mortgage Update 01-28-10

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:22:00 GMT

With tax season rolling around you may be getting calls from your old buyers that want to claim the Home Buyer Tax Credit. You may want to alert them that those wishing to claim the credit will need to mail in a paper tax return rather than filing electronically. In an effort to fight fraud, the IRS now requires a copy of the final, title company stamped HUD-1 settlement statement and the only way to get this to the IRS is via mail. Here is the link to the form that is to be used with 2009 tax returns and references all the new rules and programs http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf and here are the instructions http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i5405.pdf Any buyers still looking to buy and take advantage of the credit need to secure a purchase contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010. Just shoot me back a reply and I can email back all the details on the Tax Credit rules.

As of 1/28/2010 based on a 200k Primary Residence Purchase (or a no cash out refinance), 720+ Credit, Full Doc Income Verification, paying one “point.” Please note, this information is intended for Real Estate Professionals.

80% 30 year Fixed = 4.875%
90% 30 Year Fixed = 4.875% (Requires PMI)
90% 15 Year Fixed = 4.375% (Requires PMI)
80% 15 Year Fixed = 4.375%
96.5% FHA 30 Year Fixed = 5% (Requires MI)
100% VA 30 Year Fixed = 5.5% (No PMI required)
100% USDA/Rural 30 Year Fixed = 5.25% (No PMI required)
80% 5 Yr ARM = 3.875%
75% 5 Yr ARM up to $900k = 4.45%
75% 30 Year Fixed up to $900k = 6.3%
Refinances up to 105% of appraised value are available

For more information contact:

Ryan Halldorson
Smart Financial Mortgage
Senior Mortgage Consultant
(New Address as of October 1, 2009) 3131 E Camelback #120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.793.7204
E-Fax: 602.889.2258
ryan@hsmove.com