Approved Short Sale Must Close by end of March!

Written Approved Short Sale! No Need to Wait - must close by 3/25/10 need an offer now! Imagine waking up to gorgeous views of the Superstition Mnts. or enjoying sunsets off the balcony. Premium lot backs up to ''big park''. Upgrades include 20' Porcelain tiles; kitchen features granite counters, desk, pantry, & island. Soaring ceilings in family room w/media niche, upgrd wrought iron bannisters, 1 bed& full bath dwnstairs for guests or office. Beautiful pool and spa & patio completes the backyard overlooking a view fence & the park. Sought after Gilbert neighborhood & schools! Click on flyer for more details and pictures 2863 S. Southwind Dr., Gilbert, AZ Powered by Postlets

Internet site Yelp opening Scottsdale office

Internet site Yelp opening Scottsdale office

200 more jobs in the IT/Internet sector coming to Scottsdale! There is no question that in order for the economy to turn around jobs and manufacturing need to be front runners. Hopefully this is a sign of much more positive "job related" news to come down the line this year.

New DPS director criticizes Arizona speed cameras

New DPS director criticizes Arizona speed cameras

Hopefully they'll get rid of these cameras all over the valley!

B of A buying a 5 person real estate team in Australia?

I read a snippet courtesy of CNN regarding the above. Very vague info, apparently the bank and the 5 person team hired was unavailable for comments. Background info, banks have been trying to get into the real estate game for a while. Some would argue with the recent onslaught of bank owned homes maybe they're getting a taste of what they wanted. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been battling & together with the US Congress has been able to fight banks from entering the RE world in the US due to anti trust laws etc. Plus there is a banking charter from the 1930's that specifically excludes banks entering the real estate business. Overseas the banks may be testing the waters who knows. Sounds fishy don't you think.

On a funny note: I heard a quote on NPR the other day - not sure who this came from but the joke goes - "a banker is one who lends you his umbrella when the suns shining and as soon as it starts to rain he wants it back". :)

Enjoy your day! To learn more about shortsales please visit Phoenix Scottsdale Short Sale!

11642 W. Adams, Avondale, AZ | Powered by Postlets

Amazing Short Sale Opportunity! Check the Link out below!

11642 W. Adams, Avondale, AZ | Powered by Postlets

When working with out of state & international real estate buyers

One of the truly enjoyable and fulfilling aspects of being a REALTOR(R) is helping people. Now I know you've heard that before in a variety of ways from all types of professionals but in my opinion it truly is fundamental to being successful and rewarding not just in Real Estate but any profession.

It seems lately I have been tasked with a few "find the needle in the haystack" scenarios from my clients. I wanted to illustrate one of those examples today. I've been working with an international buyer who's many thousands of miles away and there's an eleven hour time difference. As if that wasn't enough for most to take on, my buyer initially had a very broad sense of what he was looking for. "Just get me a killer deal, something in the low $50.00/sq ft & in excelling school district etc. etc." Essentially the equivalent of, I want the Rolls Royce but I want to pay the price of a Honda Accord. Now I'm all up for the challenge of a good buy but as it turns out so is the rest of the world.

This is where experience pays off. I'm going to leave out the mundane details but suffice it to say I had to pull all my strengths together and help the buyer narrow his criteria so that we could really zero in on this crazy market where short sales, lender/bank owned REO's, multiple offers and auctions run the gamut. It took time but essentially we got there. Patience I should say is also needed here along with experience when working with out of the norm challenges.

Let's fast forward to how we actually got under contract finally! This is where technology rocks! After zero-ing on location, type of house, and all the other necessary components we used early MLS alerts, I put the word out with my colleagues etc. had contracts pre-sent in PDF to my clients so they could sign and send back to me ASAP via email, web conferencing etc. we found a short sale home that my clients really liked. I got there within an hour of it going on the market. Previewed the home, gave my clients a call (long distance int'l on my cell, ouch) checked with the agent and there were no offers. It was tasting good already.

By the time I made the trek back to the office my clients had already signed the offer and sent it back to me. Before making one more call to the listing agent to let him know I'm sending the offer I got back on the MLS to check tax records (something I always do but neglected to do first before heading out to the property in the rush of getting there asap) - a - ha - it's slated to go on auction in 3 weeks and the listing agent neglected to point that out, didn't even bring it up when I questioned him on he handles his shortsales, his experience, etc. etc. with the bank yara yara yara. Hello??? Do you think that might be a material fact! Oh well, I'll take the blame on this one, I shouldn't have jumped out of my seat and log an extra 30miles to my car without checking the tax records first. I know better. Heck, I do it all the time. No worries. I call the agent, I said "hey, so how confident do you feel that an offer will help at this point, do you think the bank will postpone the auction date and let the short sale go thru, do you think you can do it, have you had any conversations with them about it"....

Let's continue to house no. 2 - yep, the above scenario has been repeated a few times. Not the part of my not checking the tax records, but the fact that while I may have spotted a home, tried to get there before anyone else so that my clients get the immediate feedback and decide if they want to put in an offer (remember there's a huge time difference) and hopefully get theirs accepted before the multitude of others that are heading that way. (Side note: in my market anything under 300k gets multiple offers - regardless of condition)

Finally! And maybe it's just the Holidays that did it. Earlier this week my clients called me as they were excited about a home they found online. I pulled it up on the MLS (online sites sometimes show homes listed as active but in the MLS they may show Active with contingency which typically means there is an offer already but that does not reflect on the online sites like Trulia or Zillow) and it actually really showed active. I was stunned. Days on market were under 30, I was thinking cynically oh darn, the agent or her staff may have been on vacation and probably didn't update the status. I got voicemail, left a message, an hour goes by and I get a call back, the house is available no offers! Now I jumped out of my seat, headed over there but this time with my handy dandy sony video camera.

It was about 11pm at night for my clients but I know them well enough to call them and they won't mind. I walk into the house and it's lovely. I capture it all on video, and even before I've left the property I've already uploaded it to youtube, called my clients and now they've just seen the property as if they were there with me. LOOOOOOOOOOOVE technology!

The end result - the Gods were smiling, the Angels on our side, everything was lined up perfectly, luck was on our side, the roses were blooming, the sun was shining. You get the metaphor and the picture, we're under contract! We still have a long way to go before this is a "closed deal" and before I've made even a penny on it but I feel fulfilled. I've found a way to finally get something this challenging executed and help out a family heading back home before fall. 2010 what else you got for me?

2010 Calendars are here!

Email us your address this week 12/28 - 12/31 & we'll send you our 2010 Calendar just in time for the New Year!

Foreclosures lead market

Foreclosures lead market

We’re not out of the woods yet. Not nationwide and certainly not in the Valley. With trillions of dollars of ARMs still to reset in the coming months/years; unemployment still high & the economy far from showing signs of stability and growth home ownership continues to be for a lot of people their most expensive and challenging expense. While in the first phase of the housing debacle we saw subprime mortgages as the culprit, and the fringes of the valley were mostly impacted we’re now seeing the mid and high end markets catching up. In North Scottsdale shortsale listings have increased. Even Paradise Valley is not immune.

Homeowners today are more educated about their options and unlike in 2007 when the “tsunami” as some call it first hit us, today most people are more comfortable with pursuing a short sale vs. simply walking away because they realize the benefits of a successful short sale on their credit, their family, and the emotional turmoil vs. a foreclosure.

To learn more about what other options you have if you are underwater or soon won’t be able to keep up with your house payments drop me a line.

Uzi Husain, CSSN, REALTOR® North Scottsdale Realtor Luxury Homes by Uzi Scottsdale Short Sales & Relocation

Recession pushes back Loop 303 timeline in West Valley

My case as to why the west valley cities are still a safe bet for investors although patience is required. Please see the link below for the article about the 303 expansion and what it'll mean for economic growth in those cities, namely Goodyear, Glendale, Peoria and Surprise. The only thing I caution is while the housing driven recession has definitely hurt real estate prices those in the know agree we in the valley, especially the outer bands such as the west valley and far east valley cities have bottomed and as such NOW is the time to buy and hold real property around the 303 belt etc. Monkey see monkey do attitude of the boom years devastated many a households. Where can people get money to invest now you ask when savings is at it's highest and people are out of jobs. Many don't know that you can buy real property, especially investment property through your IRA. For more on that shoot me a note or email for a free consultation along with a certified financial advisor that specializes in this asset class.

Recession pushes back Loop 303 timeline in West Valley

Scenic ‘pedestrian beltway' to link 9 parks in the Valley

Now here's another example of a "green" initiative: please click on the link below -

Scenic ‘pedestrian beltway' to link 9 parks in the Valley

Justice Department to focus on mortgage fraud in Arizona

Justice Department to focus on mortgage fraud in Arizona -

2863 S. Southwind Dr., Gilbert, AZ | Powered by Postlets

OPEN HOUSE TODAY 1pm - 4pm:

Fabulous New Listing in Gilbert - excellent schools, desirable neighborhood - upgraded

5bedroom home with pool, spa and views!

2863 S. Southwind Dr., Gilbert, AZ | Powered by Postlets

1451 E. Crescent Way, Chandler, AZ | Powered by Postlets

1451 E. Crescent Way, Chandler, AZ | Powered by Postlets

West Valley farmers markets sprouting up for the season

West Valley farmers markets sprouting up for the season

This is my favorite time in the year! The air is crisp and cool and the holidays just around the corner. In greater Phoenix and Scottsdale it means festivals, farmers markets and outdoor activities galore! Check out the link above to the farmers market information - my favorite farmers markets have got to be downtown Phoenix, Estrella mountain ranch, Casa Paloma in Chandler, Biltmore Fashion, and Peoria and Glendale's farmers markets at Parkwest off Northern and the 101 near westgate and at the citadel in Glendale, arrowhead area respectively.

How about yours?

ps. as a Realtor, I also enjoy this season - I don't mind showing homes when it's 60 outside vs. tripple digits on somedays in the summer :(

all the best,

until next time

Uzi Husain

serving valleywide - realestate from Goodyear, to Grayhawk, Chandler and Gilbert!

Congress giving homebuyers $6,500 tax break

Congress giving homebuyers $6,500 tax break

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has also been extended through June 2010!

Panel approves extension of Loop 202 through Ahwatukee

Panel approves extension of Loop 202 through Ahwatukee

The article above makes reference to how much the Valley has grown and no doubt we need better access and traffic flow connecting Chandler and the east valley cities with the west valley cities. This has been controversial for so long and I'm sure the debate will continue. Some questions that come to mind:

1. What is this going to mean for home owners & home values in both Ahwatukee and Laveen?

2. 2017 is the projected date for completion - traffic and construction nightmares will continue along the route for years to come.

3. While the costs are prohibitive I can't quite understand why they're not looking ahead and building the infrastructure that will also connect the loop 202 to the loop 101 past Tolleson so as to create a wider loop that connects the SW cities of Avondale, Goodyear and Glendale etc.

stay tuned...

Scottsdale police warning residents of banking scam

Scottsdale police warning residents of banking scam

On the subject of scams - I think it's appropriate for home owners, especially those with a distressed property (preforeclosure, shortsale etc.) or anyone currently facing hardship and looking at selling their home as a distressed property or doing a loan modification to be very careful of a lot of scams and scam artists out there. When times are hard there's a lot of emotional turmoil that we face and sometimes we just want the easy way out. Just remember something that sounds too easy or too good to be true often is. Consult with professionals for sage advice especially when you're most vulnerable due to hardship conditions and you'll be much better off. Invest a little time today to ward off a lot of loss time in the future in the event you have to fix anything that goes awry if you fall a victim of a potential scam. As a REALTOR with years of experience in successfully listing and marketing homes for my clients and as a practicing Certified Short Sale Negotiator I can tell you Short Sales are definitely moving in the market. Banks have got their "act together" more so now than months earlier. The process is not as cumbersome on the home owner and by hiring a professional you can expect to be guided along the way to make the right decisions for you and your family with the least amount of inconvenience. Fear is our biggest obstacle. Partner with professionals, you wouldn't go to anyone less qualified if you had to do a colonoscopy on yourself or a loved one so why not leverage professional Realtors who have committed countless hours of training and experience to help you in the case of disposing assets as distressed property the right way.

Home resales hold steady in September

Home resales hold steady in September

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Short sales not a long shot, experts say

I completely attest to this. I'm finding my short sale listings go under contract within a week at most. Banks are favoring short sales because they net more proceeds. We're also seeing the change in paradigm with regards to credit score. FHA has changed their guidelines to requiring that a borrower who has a short sale on their record can get approved for a new FHA loan 2 years from the date that the short sale was recorded. If you read between the lines that is an indication of the shift in what credit means today.

I'm not a credit advisor and guidelines do change. But in my opinion people are just scared of the unknown. Short Sale's wouldn't be around if they were not a viable option for all parties involved. The best thing to do is consult with an attorney, CPA and a trusted real estate professional, preferably one who has experience with short sales.

The media projects a lot of fear and people who are not in the business and uninformed can also create doubt and angst in your mind. Always consult professionals and make an educated decision.

Uzi Husain, REALTOR, CSSN
Certified Short Sale Negotiator
Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners
http://www.UziHusain.com


Short sales not a long shot, experts say

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Avondale could be home to TV, movie studio

This is exciting. Please see the link to read details.

Avondale could be home to TV, movie studio

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