Newlyweds Brent and Kirstin were on a hunt for their first home.  They knew they wanted a friendly Phoenix neighborhood, good appreciation, and pretty area.  While driving through south Chandler, they took a glance at the numerous green golf courses, lakes, and fabulous shopping.  Then they look past it to the empty fields and knew.  This is the place.  Great location.  Great investment.Two years and one baby boy later, Kristin and Brent are happy to call Pinelake Estates Home. Kristin explains why, "I love to take walks around the lake and along the canal. We love the views of the golf course and the mountains. There are all kinds of families here."One of the best features of the neighborhood is the 10 acre city park right in the middle of this friendly neighborhood. Not only does it h... 03/07/2007

Fulton Ranch - WOW!by Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler REALTOR®Chandler AZ Real EstateFulton Homes is a well respected builder in the Phoenix metropolitan area.  As a matter of fact, in a recent JD Power survey, they were ranked 10th in the Valley.  Chandler has been abuzz for sometime now over Fulton Ranch - a supposedly 'sparkling' little Master Planned Community to be located in South Chandler.  Just how much buzz is there?  Consider this.  Mr. Fulton himself will be moving from his current home in Ahwatukee to live in the heart of Fulton Ranch.  What else will Fulton Ranch have to offer?  Well, to quote from the article in the Arizona Republic"It will include 1,100 units, including townhouses, condominiums and medium- to high-end homes; high-end retail, like AJ's Fine Foods; a man-made lake... 02/28/2007

I've been doing this whole real estate and mortgage thing for a number of years- both here in Arizona and also Michigan (where I started).  Like most of us, I believe I've seen it all when it comes to marketing.  You've got yer door hangers; ya got yer homes magazines in the grocery stores; ya got yer "networking opportunities" and on and on and on.  I thought I had seen it all, that is, until a few months ago. I was working from home that day; I don't remember why.  Somebody knocked on my door, which always irritates me when I am in deep concentration and working.  The dogs started barking...you know- all the joys of a home office.  My friends know that if they stop by when I am working from home, they should never knock.  (Please disregard this if you are a burglar.) But I digress.  I... 02/20/2007

I just had an Arizona Realtor hang up on me, frustrated after I told him that his client couldn't qualify for any type of mortgage that I was aware of.  (Account reps, please do not email me to try and qualify this guy. Trust me.) Anyway.  The Realtor totally shocked me with his attitude.  He said, "I knew it.  I knew this guy was a loser; he was just wasting my time." I was a little startled, because this guy is usually very professional, but I hear it all the time. Credit Prejudice. That client may be a so-called "loser" now (not my preferred word), but no matter how bad his or her credit, it can usually be fixed in two to three years with a simple plan of attack.  This means that if you keep close track of all of your "unqualifieds" for the next three years straight, starting today, ... 02/19/2007

 Will this market ever turn around?? This is the worst market ever... I'm never going to sell my home at this rate.... Exactly what am I paying my agent to do?? These are all phrases that I've heard from frusterated homeowners... So what's the solution??Is your home priced correctly?? Are You as a Seller asking a reasonable price??Is your agent working to place your home in front of as many possible buyers as he/she can??Are they solely trusting on the MLS to sell your Property??These are just a few questions that have to be asked to determine why your home hasn't sold, and if it will ever sell!! As a Realtor it's my great pleasure to inform my buyers of every possible option available to them. Sometime I even refuse a listing due to unattainable expectations. While many agents just wan... 02/12/2007

Downtown Chandler to Receive a Facelift?by Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler REALTOR®Chandler AZ Real EstateSee this article in the Arizona Republic.  Some very ambitious plans are in the works to give downtown Chandler a complete makeover.  We are talking about parking garages, additional hotel rooms, a conference center, townhomes, apartments and even a museum!  Architectural plans are in place and apparently 'wowed' a local group of business people.  But something very important, in my opinion, is still missing.  Show me the money!A financial plan was not part of the presentation.  There is mention of receiving some assistance from the city for portions of the construction and there is always the potential for acquiring private financing.  Until such a financial plan is in place and approved ... 02/11/2007

A Little Elbow Grease Can Improve Your Bottom Line When Selling Your Home Houses that are spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated tend to sell quickly, and for top dollar. There can be substantial savings for home-buyers who are willing to purchase a property that needs cosmetic improvements. When you look at a house that needs work, try to imagine it with fresh paint, refinished floors and new carpet. Consider the attractive features of the home. Would it get more sunlight if the draperies were opened and the windows cleaned? Does the back yard have potential? Try to distinguish between the cosmetic condition of the house and the state of its structure and major systems. Some fixer-uppers need a lot of professional attention from electricians, plumbers and other expensive professiona... 02/11/2007

Look at our new neighbor - happens to be a famous NFL QB!  I'm curious as to why an Arizona Cardinal would live in Chandler - quite the commute to the stadium in Glendale.  Maybe this would be his offseason home with another located closer to the stadium??http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0209biz-talker0209.htmlI wonder what other celebrities call Chandler their home?I especially like the line 'the Beverly Hills of Chandler' ! 02/09/2007

The Arizona Republic ran an article today about the plans a development company has to revitalize downtown Chandler, AZ.  Desert Viking is a Chandler based company that is known for its renovation of old buildings.  However, according to the article the plans call to tear down the old builders and build new ones with a "classic contemporary" look.  For better or for worse, that is the Phoenix way of it, if something is more than 40 years old or so, it's time to tear it down.  You Easterners probably think I'm kidding.  My aunt lives in Connecticut in a 100 yr old house.  Just doesn't happen here.  02/07/2007

Welcome Home: Carino Estates Near Alma School and Germann in Chandler, Carino Estates is an inviting neighborhood that lands as a top pick. Residents feel safe and welcome in this great Phoenix-area community. Built about six years ago, the friendly neighborhood is new enough to look great and old enough to feel established and comfortable. Residents say their favorite amenities include the playgrounds, the walking paths, and the friendly people. Neighbors are sociable and it is not uncommon to see families walking, biking or playing ball in the greenbelts. In the spring, you can find the community picnic and garage sale. Everyone enjoys the short walk to great coffee shops and restaurants. Parents appreciate the brand new city park, the elementary and high school, and library within wa... 02/06/2007

I had heard about this before;  this being a reference to when Chandler would be built out.  Well, apparently its going to happen around 2012.http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0131biz-housing0131.htmlWhat exactly does this mean?  Well, read the article.  Reference is made to Tempe and how its central location (no new construction there) resulted in the highest appreciation in 06'.  Think the same statements will apply to chandler in 5+ years?  Only time will tell.  In the meanwhile, if you'd like a NEW home in Chandler, you still have a few years :) 01/31/2007

Did you just graduate from college recently? Are you earning, oh, 50 - 60k a year? Thinking about buying your first home in greater Phoenix - specifically near the Chandler area in the East Valley? Well, here are a few tidbits of information you need to know about the current market....In the Phoenix metropolitan area, the MEDIAN sales price of homes has been hovering in the 250k - 260k range depending on the particular month since the 'boom' ended around September of 05'.  This number may be higher or lower depending on the particular town (all are rough averages based on the last few months) -Chandler ~ 295kGilbert ~ 325kTempe ~ 300kMesa ~ 235kScottsdale ~ 600kParadise Valley ~ 1.7 millionQuite a range! In addition, one could venture a little further out into places such as Queen Cree... 12/31/2006

There are few new home communities in the Valley that are still selling homes at a steady clip. Most of them are lacking in at least one area: location, size of home for the money, neighborhood character, and finally decent lot size. One Chandler community has it all and the steady sales prove it. Old Stone Ranch by Shea Homes first garnered interest in the East Valley because of the proposed lakes and water feature. There are lake communities in the East Valley (hardly any in the West Valley) but they are "older" neighborhoods, generally built prior to 1995. The water features are nearly finished at Old Stone Ranch and I have to say they are pretty stunning, especially at night with the mood lighting. There is a lovely veranda for picnicing that is right on the water and near the nice ... 12/27/2006

Arden Park, Chandler, AZ  A house bought on a whim becomes a treasured home and community. Heather Vanacour and her family bought their Chandler home on a whim.  Her husband, a recent graduate from law school and scheduled to take the bar exam, didn't have a job.  One weekend, "just for fun," the couple decided to house hunt.   They walked into a new subdivision, checked out the models, and knew it was meant to be.  They put the deposit down that day.  They've never looked back.  With a neighborhood like Arden Park , why would they?  Arden Park was built around 2003 and is near Germann and Alma School in Chandler .  More on the great location later, what really matters is the feel of the neighborhood. Heather says the best thing about the neighborhood is how nice the neighbors are.  App... 12/15/2006

In today's softening real estate market, we are working with proactive sellers - Sellers who are doing everything they know how to - to properly prepare their homes for sale.  Working with a home stager gives home sellers the peace of mind that they're looking for  - Reassurance that their home will compete with the neighboring competition and reassurance in knowing that their top dollar sales price is justified. As a real estate professional, it is up to you to make sure that your client can justify their listing price.  Do you recommend the services of a home stager?  If Yes, "Way To Go!!" - If not - don't you owe it to yourself and to your client to add a qualified professional to your team? In a recent study, it showed that by having a professional home stager do the work instead of... 10/14/2006

While doing some research about homes in Chandler and Gilbert Arizona, I stumbled on an interesting section of the CNN Money website.  This site has ranked the top places to live.  (Click here to view the website) I was very happy to see two Arizona cities in the top 25.There is a great tool in the upper right hand corner of this site.  It allows a consumer to enter the most important criteria they have about the city in which they live and then the website will help you find the city that most closely matches your criteria.The site was a lot of fun, but can be somewhat addicting.  I just wanted to pass this along to fellow Active Rainer's thinking that it might be of some assistance.  08/30/2006

Purchasing Vacation Rentals can be fun and profitable...with a little research and awareness of the market.  Having recently purchased a condo of my own for vacation rental purposes, I have learned a ton over the last year.  Many people have the desire to own a 2nd or vacation home, but don't know how to go about it.  They don't realize that with the proper planning, they can select an area that they would enjoy vacationing at or retiring to someday, and rent it out to cover or partially cover the cost of the mortgage and other expenses.  It's important to select an area that you know about and/or have vacationed at and visited in the past--not just an area that you may have read about.  Do your research, with the help of a knowledgeable area Realtor, who can help you pull up statistics... 07/26/2006