Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned veteran, the negotiation part of the transaction can be a little daunting and stressful. However, it is necessary to ensure you are getting the best possible deal for your money. So, what should you negotiate when buying a Havasu house?What to Negotiate When Buying a Havasu HouseClosing CostsYour closing costs are determined by a variety of factors, but you can expect them to be between 2% to 5% of the purchase price. Ask the seller to cover some or all of the closing costs upfront or request a closing credit that can be used to make specific updates and fixes to the home.FurnishingsLove how the seller has furnished and decorated the home? Buyers often negotiate keeping couches, fixtures, landscaping items, patio furniture, appliances... 01/26/2022

When buying a Lake Havasu home, your down payment constitutes just one of your expenses. You also need to factor in your closing costs when saving up money to purchase your home. What are they? How much do they cost? And is there anything I can do to lower them? You'll find the answers to these questions below.Closing Costs and the Havasu Home BuyerWhat are They?Closing costs are the fees due for the various steps of your real estate transaction. They typically include an application fee, appraisal fee, credit report, home inspection, insurance (homeowner's and PMI, if applicable), recording fees, title fees, and underwriting, among others. Your lender must provide a Loan Estimate within three days of your application for a mortgage. On this form, it should include a list of the service... 01/19/2022

January in Lake Havasu means only one thing: the Balloon Festival is back! Why travel hundreds of miles to Albuquerque when you can see hot air balloons right here in your own backyard? Plus, their balloon festival takes place in October. Who wants to wait that long? Fortunately, our festival happens next week. Yay!What: Lake Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair 2022 Where: Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4 When: Jan 20th 12 pm to 10:30 pm, Jan 21st & 22nd 6 am to 10:30 pm, Jan 23rd 6 am to 3 pm General Admission: $20 per person ages 11+, Free for children ages 10 and underContact: Havasu Balloon Festival (928) 505-2440 or via emailLake Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair 2022One of our most popular events returns to Lake Havasu next week. Believe me when I say that you do not want to miss this!... 01/12/2022

Happy New Year! What does the 2022 market hold in store for homebuyers? Most likely higher prices, higher interest rates, and (hopefully) higher inventory. But first, let's reflect on how 2021 ended by looking at the Lake Havasu Market Report for December 2021.Lake Havasu Market Report for December 2021December 2021 Home SalesWe ended the year with the exact same monthly sales as the year before...237. That marked a 24.7% increase from November 2021's total monthly sales. But March showed the highest total sales for 2021 at a whopping 314. Overall, the final tally for Lake Havasu properties sold in 2021 came in at 2843, a 3.1% increase from 2020's total sales. Active listings fell from 429 in November 2021 to 381 in December. October 2021 showed the highest active listings at 455. Pendi... 01/05/2022

Even though home sales in Lake Havasu slow down this time of year, our real estate market still favors sellers. And buyers continue to look for homes during this time as well. But if you want to wait until the busier springtime to put your property on the market, you might want to take these next few months to perform some home updates that buyers seek out. Then, when the time comes to list it, the chances of your property selling quickly increase.Home Updates Buyers Want to SeeNewer RoofingIf your roof looks worse for wear, you need to seriously consider replacing it. At the very least, replace missing or broken shingles or tiles. When a buyer sees an old roof, the first thing they think about is how much it is going to cost to replace it. Next, they wonder what damage might lurk under... 12/22/2021

Buying your first home is a right of passage for many people today...even more so than getting married. In fact, while we see 79.36 million owner-occupied homes in the United States, statistics only show 62.34 million married couples. You thought about what you needed to do to save up for your down payment. And you made sure to get pre-approved before you looked for a Havasu home. But have you thought about what happens after you become an actual homeowner? Here are a few common first-time homeowner mistakes many people do not think about until it is too late.Common First-Time Homeowner Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)Not Performing Regular Home Maintenance TasksMaintaining your Havasu home not only shows pride of ownership, but it can save you money. How? First, it helps keep your syst... 12/15/2021

If you wandered anywhere near the London Bridge after dark these past couple of weeks, you may have noticed that things appear a bit brighter. That's right, folks. It is that time of year again! The Lake Havasu Festival of Lights illuminates the night skies. But there are many other activities going on to help get you into the holiday spirit as well this month.What: Lake Havasu Festival of Lights 2021 Where: English Village and London BridgeWhen: Now through January 9th, from dusk until 10 pm nightlyAdmission: FREELake Havasu Festival of Lights 2021Starting at dusk, the English Village and the London Bridge light up with over half a million twinkling lights. Check them out when you visit the English Village to do your Christmas shopping. For a unique perspective, take your boat through ... 12/08/2021

As we head into the final month of 2021, the Havasu real estate market seems to be slowing down a bit. According to the Lake Havasu Market Report for November 2021, total sales, the median sale price, and inventory levels all dipped slightly from October 2021. If you find yourself in the market for a new home, your best chances of success might be right now.Lake Havasu Market Report for November 2021November 2021 Home SalesFlex MLS reported a total of 190 properties sold in Lake Havasu City during November 2021. Sales dropped 17% from the 229 reported back in November 2020. And it marked a slight dip from the 205 shown in October 2021. That still keeps us ahead of 2020's year-to-date sales, but only slightly. Pending sales rose 12% from those reported back in November 2020. However, the... 12/01/2021

The Havasu real estate market appears to have slowed down a bit. However, that is typical for this time of year. Things tend to pick up a little bit in late winter/early spring. But if you cannot wait until then to sell your Havasu home, you might want to consider utilizing these five tips to help you sell it quickly and possibly for more money.Tips to Help You Sell Your Havasu Home FastStage Each Room for Its Proper UseHas the dining room turned into your crafts room? Do your kids use the living room as their playroom? Before you list your property, convert these rooms back to their original purpose. Buyers prefer seeing rooms reflect a more traditional usage. Store the scrapbooking and sewing stuff in containers elsewhere. Bring back the dining room table and chairs. Store kids' toys ... 11/24/2021

The Havasu real estate market continues to favor the seller. However, serious home buyers might want to take advantage of a slower wintertime market. While inventory remains low, the pool of buyers dwindles from October to around January/February. So, if you want to buy a Havasu home, now is actually a great time to do it. Nonetheless, you still may face some stiff competition. After all, other buyers looking to purchase homes among a limited inventory also may want the same home you are interested in. Therefore, you need a solid offer to impress the seller. Sometimes, that may mean including an escalation clause.Escalation Clause: A Buyer's Helper to Win That BidWhat Is It?First of all, it might help to know exactly what an escalation clause means. This clause states that you are willi... 11/17/2021

We are smack dab in the middle of Fall right now. Winter will be here before you know it. For other parts of the country, that means storing away your summer toys for several months. In Havasu, we double down on outdoor adventure with events like the Lake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2021.What: Lake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2021 Where: Lake Havasu Skate Park, Windsor 4 (171 London Bridge Rd) When: November 19th, 11 am to 5 pm, and November 20th, 9 am to 5 pmAdmission: $8 ages 7+, Free ages 6 and under Contact: Bob Brown, Event Coordinator, (951) 501-0210 or via emailLake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2021The biggest outdoor/motorsports expo in the entire Southwest comes to Lake Havasu this month. Everything you need to gear up for your next outdoor adventure comes to one place: La... 11/10/2021

According to the Lake Havasu Market Report for October 2021, total sales fell off a bit. But that is typical for this time of year. However, prices hit their highest median point for the year so far. And inventory inched up a little from September's numbers. How does this affect Lake Havasu City home buyers?Lake Havasu Market Report for October 2021October 2021 Home SalesOur local MLS reported a total of 205 properties sold in Lake Havasu City during October 2021. That marked a 26% decrease from the total sold in October 2020.  It also showed a 9.8% decrease from September 2021's total. Even so, we still show 4.1% more total sales for the year so far than we did at this time last year. Pending sales rose from 239 in October 2020 to 282 last month. Active listings also rose slightly from... 11/03/2021

First-time homebuyers and buyers with credit challenges tend to favor an FHA loan. Their lower down payment and credit score requirements help buyers get into a Lake Havasu home much easier (and for less money) than a conventional loan. However, the property you purchase must meet certain requirements to qualify for this type of loan as well.Property Standards for an FHA LoanWhy do lenders require that properties meet certain standards? First, they want to protect themselves in case you default on your loan. When that happens, they take possession of the property and put it on the market to help recoup their costs. With these standards in place, it gives them a better chance of selling it quickly and for a higher price if this happens. But these standards also protect you. With a home t... 10/27/2021

When purchasing a home, the majority of buyers typically choose between three types of mortgage loans: Conventional, FHA, and VA. Conventional loans made up 82% of mortgages in the US according to an Ellie Mae report in August 2020. VA loans are only available to active or retired military members. They offer zero down loans provided that the applicants meet certain criteria. However, for a first-time home buyer, the FHA loan proves most popular for a variety of reasons.FHA Loan for Home BuyersYou are tired of renting. You want to become a homeowner. So, you save as much money as you can for your down payment and closing costs. Conventional loans require a higher down payment and credit score than FHA loans because they are not backed by a government agency. FHA loans on the other hand ... 10/20/2021

ChaBones. Shagrues. Smallcakes. All of these offer delicious food that everyone raves about here in town. Bonus: all three also plan on participating in the Taste of Havasu 2021 event next week. But there are many, many other great restaurants offering up samples of their best dishes, too. Yum! Sounds like one tasty event to me!What: Taste of Havasu 2021 Where: SARA Park Rodeo Grounds (7206 Dub Campbell Pkwy) When: Wednesday, October 20th, 5 pm to 7 pm Admission: $10 to $25 Contact: K-12 Foundation (928) 302-5126 or via emailTaste of Havasu 2021Money raised from this event benefits the K-12 Foundation. As such, organizers wanted this to be a family-friendly affair. Bring all of your loved ones to the SARA Park Rodeo Grounds for dinner on Wednesday, October 20th. Kevin Jackson and the Mi... 10/13/2021

After two months of declines, total homes sales went back up again, according to the Lake Havasu Market Report for September 2021. The median sale price rose above $400,000 for the third time this year as well. Havasu homes spent just over a week on average to go from "new listing" to "under contract". That means that buyers must make sure that they have a pre-approval letter in their hands when they submit their offer. Otherwise, they might lose out to another buyer.Lake Havasu Market Report for September 2021September 2021 Home SalesFlex MLS reported a total of 225 properties sold in Lake Havasu City from September 1st to September 30th, 2021. That marked a 16% decrease from the previous September's total sales. However, it was 21.6% higher than August 2021's total sales. Total sales ... 10/07/2021

Our lake stays busy pretty much all year round. Fishing, boating, parasailing, water-skiing, jet skiing. All of these take place 12 months a year in Lake Havasu. But some of the best stuff happens when the triple-digit heat of summer starts to taper off. Back in April, the Desert Storm Poker Run took over the lake. Next month, the Monster Storm Poker Run hits town.What: Monster Storm Poker Run 2021 Where: London Bridge Resort When: October 1st & 2nd Contact: Christina Crane, Storm Poker Runs, (623) 238-1330 or via emailMonster Storm Poker Run 2021The weekend's event kicks off with a pool party at London Bridge Resort's Kokomo pool. Between 3 pm and 5 pm on Friday, October 1st, participants and fans of the poker run mingle and party poolside. Registered "runners" receive discounts on the... 09/22/2021

The Lake Havasu lifestyle encompasses all sorts of outdoor sports. Offroading. Boating. Fishing. Automotive racing. Whatever you enjoy doing outside, you can do it here. Fortunately, most of these activities can also be done year-round. Can't say the same for the rest of the country. With Labor Day sitting squarely in our rearview mirror, pumpkin spice dreams should be dancing in your head while you wrap yourself in a nice warm sweater, right? Not in Havasu. In fact, as I write this post, the weatherman predicts our high temp should reach 100F today. Doff the sweater. Hold off on the pumpkin spice latte. Grab your beach chair and loved ones and head to the water. The 2021 AWSA PWC Championship hits the lake this weekend. And you will not want to miss all of the action!What: 2021 AWSA PW... 09/15/2021

The Havasu real estate market has been on fire for several months. Even throughout the pandemic, our seller's market remained strong and thriving. In the past couple of months, though, we began seeing things soften a bit. For the first time in months, sellers found themselves lowering their list price to make a sale happen. Now, this does not mean that things have suddenly shifted in the buyer's favor. In fact, they very much continue to lean in favor of the seller. But, according to the Lake Havasu Market Report for August 2021, buyers might see slightly lower prices over the next few months...but only slightly.Lake Havasu Market Report for August 2021August 2021 Home SalesOur local MLS reported a total of 185 properties sold in Lake Havasu during last month. That showed a 27.7% drop f... 09/07/2021

The Lake Havasu real estate market looks like it may start leveling out here soon. In recent weeks, we saw some sellers adjust their prices to snag a buyer or two for the first time since before the pandemic first struck. Now, that does not mean that we suddenly shifted to a buyer's market. On the contrary, low inventory continues to spur the seller's market to a degree. But sellers find that it may take an extra week or two to find a buyer for their home. If you are considering selling your home soon or you just recently bought one (congratulations, by the way), consider visiting the Havasu Home Show 2021. They offer great deals on goods and services as well as a keen insight into current trends in the marketplace.What: Havasu Home Show 2021 Where: Aquatic Center (100 Park Ave) When: 3... 09/01/2021