Mary Maxie's (maxiemary) Blog

     Scottsdale Scene: More Feng Shui Ideas Manipulate your surroundings to create spaces where people want to be, attract positive energy and create a better first impression. Here are a few simple changes to try. Clear the "chi".You know it better as clutter! It blocks the energy flow. Put some...

Phoenix File: When to throw out househole items Ever had trouble figuring out when its time to finally part ways with everyday household items? Here are some suggestions for just how long you should keep them - as well as how to safely squeeze a little more life out of them before throwing them a...

Scottsdale Source: Great Walls in your Home No matter how big or small, all homes have one thing in common: wall space. But many homeowners get stumped by what to do with it. Walls are a blank canvas for creating an inviting space & showing off personality & although homeowners' tastes vary widel...

Phoenix File: Mistaken Identity More than 8 million people were victims of identity theft in 2007, according to Privacy Rights Clearing House. Most people know the basic prevention measures, such as committing passwords & PIN numbers to memory & shredding credit card receipts. But there are other...

Phoenix File: New Baby Boomer Trends * Boomers are having a hard time selling their larger homes, so aren't buying retirement homes in the numbers estimated several years ago. *By the time the first baby boomers reach age 70, fewer than half of those between ages 65 to 69 will have retired. * Bab...

  Phoenix File: Closing cost high & low states Bankrate.com lists the most and least expensive states for real estate closing costs. The most expensive states are 1. New York 2. Texas 3. Utah 4. California 5. Alaska The least expensive states for closing costs are 1. Arkansas 2. North Carolina 3....

Trust an expert to help you buy Arizona Real estate The current president of the Arizona Association of Realtors, Holly Eslinger says athat the process of buying Arizona real estate has gotten so complicated that even the most experienced real estate agents have been orced to seek additional trai...

Now is the time to buy Phoenix & Scottsdale Real Estate Why is now a great time to buy?   1. You can get a good deal. Prices are down 30 percent on average. They're at a level that makes sense for people's income. 2. Mortgages are cheap. At 4.3 percent on average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage...

Phoenix File: Frustrating Deals with Fannie Mae, Banks, Realtors Mary's rant for today on the frustration of trying to do business these days I called a listing realtor to see if the guest house sq ft was included in the total sq ft on the MLS. His answer? "What guest house?" He had never been to...

Phoenix File: Mary's funny Real Estate Stories Last showing of the day before dark. Arrived to find trucks, cables, lights, cameras, people swarming the house. Movie people had rented it for a week to film a movie there. Didn't get to view the house, but met some (mostly) unknown actors who gave ...