Newsletter -- December 2015
(Old Newsletters)
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365 Reasons to Live in Sedona
#184 - Sedona Coffee Shop Culture
For those of you who are unaware, Sedona has a quirky reputation for New-Age groups, alien enthusiasts and the like. We are proud to have such a colorful identity, although in all reality such characters are not necessarily a daily part of life in Sedona. That is not until you spend a morning at Java Love. This is where you will be enlightened, entertained and perhaps swayed by the "local flavor"...
Click for full article: Sedona Coffee Shop Culture.
#180 - Sedona Heritage Museum
How did Sedona get its name? Who were the first to claim Red Rock Country and cultivate Sedona soil? What was life like 100 years ago in our beloved "Sedona"? All of these questions and many more are answered at Sedona Heritage Museum, located off of Jordan road in uptown Sedona. For only $5 admission one can learn many details about the area, including the history of cattle ranching and cowboys...
Click for full article: Sedona Heritage Museum.
Buyer & Seller Tips of the Month
Buyers
Purchasing the House You Are Currently Renting
Lately we have seen more and more tenants purchasing the house they have been renting. When the landlord offers you first right of refusal, remember to do your research. Make sure you complete the 4 items below prior to accepting the offer for purchase.
- Always Get An Appraisal
- While we suggest initially getting a Comparative Market Analysis from a local Realtor in this instance you will want to go one step further and obtain an appraisal. If you will be borrowing funds, the lender will require this automatically, but even if you are paying cash, we highly recommend getting an appraisal. As a Sedona Home Buyer, you should always do your due diligence to determine if the asking price is fair market value. Remember an appraisal is an unbiased professional’s opinion of value.
- Get a Home Inspection
- While an appraisal may seem like a no-brainer, home inspection(s) are often a blurry area when it comes to tenants purchasing their current home. Although you may have the upper hand by living in the property prior to owning it, there may be unforeseen concerns that you are not aware of.
- Stay Protected - Use AZ Standard Forms & A Title/Escrow Company
- Using standard contracts are important because they protect the buyer as well as the seller. All aspects of transferring ownership of a property are covered within these forms. Another very important way to stay protected is to use a title and/or escrow company. There are many companies in the Sedona area in which we recommend, such as Stewart Title Company, Yavapai Title Agency & Metro Title Agency Of Arizona. These companies do all the necessary research and paperwork to ensure that you are indeed purchasing the property that you think you are and recording it with the county.
- Take Your Time
- While your landlord may wish to close as soon as possible and it may make sense because you will already be living in the residence, still take your time. Research similar homes for sale at http://SedonaProperty.net and vet out if this is the right fit for your family long-term. Get the appropriate inspections, appraisal, survey, etc. and take your time in the inspection phase of the escrow process.
Remember you make your money on the buy - if your landlord is predicting the market to go up it doesn’t necessarily make this particular property a good value. Do your research, whether by yourself or with the help of a Sedona Realtor, and make an informed decision. We are available if you want a professional opinion.
For more home buying tips, click for our Sedona Home Buying Guide.
Sellers
Know Your Local Real Estate Market
Our goal, obviously, is to sell your Sedona Home in the shortest time frame for the highest price. Sometimes the market may have other plans. As your Sedona Realtor’s, we do our best to educate you on the current market conditions. We strive to provide you with important information such as the average days on market and the listing price per square foot data for your neighborhood(s). One thing to keep in mind is that we always should defer to the market data when we determine your pricing strategy.
Take a look at the graph below stating average price per square foot, sales vs. listing price ratio and days on market. These are important factors to consider when listing your Sedona Property. Keep in mind that these figures are for the broader sub-markets of Sedona. If you are thinking about listing your Sedona Home or Vacant Lot you will want us to run a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) of your neighborhood and property type/features.
Residential Data from 2015 Sales
- Average Price Per Square Foot
- This number is important when setting your original asking price. Take into account the competition compared to your features such as lot size, square footage, upgrades, and in Sedona a very important feature – VIEWS. Realtors use these comparisons along with the average price per square foot of SOLD properties to set an appropriate asking price. Note: Be careful reading too much into price per square foot in Sedona because most homes are custom builds.
- Days on Market
- This figure is the average number of days a property is listed for sale before it is sold. Days on Market is important to know because it will set proper expectations as far as the length of time we will be actively marketing/selling your property. A way to lessen the days on market for your property is to differentiate it from the competition. In today's Sedona Real Estate climate, the best way to do this is to undercut the competition by lowering the price. Well priced homes are currently garnering more attention & selling quicker than your average Sedona Listing.
- Sales/Listing Price Ratio
- This figure is also important when setting your pricing strategy. It is a good guide to know that similar properties are selling for approximately 96% of their listing price. It might be wise to keep this figure in mind when determining the lowest amount you'll take. Don't forget to factor in your payoff amount, closing costs, Realtors' commission, and operating expenses while your home is listed to determine your net proceeds.
When selling your Sedona Property, it is best to create a pricing strategy along with the marketing strategy. Knowing when to lower the listing price is almost as important as setting the original listing price. Please let us know if you’d like our professional opinion on pricing your Sedona Property for Sale. We are here to provide the statistics, help set proper expectations and ultimately sell your property in the shortest amount of time for the most money!
For more Selling Tips, or ideas to Stage Your Home, visit the Sedona Property Selling Tips on our website.
Feature Sedona Subdivision
Casa Contenta Video Tour
Nestled deep in the Red Rocks of West Sedona, Casa Contenta has dynamic views of some of Sedona's most photographed Red Rock Formations. This gated community has been full of luxury homes, mature landscaping and awesome amenities.
For more information about Casa Contenta Properties for sale or Subdivision Details please don’t hesitate to Contact Us at 928.821.3508 or 928.282.4166 ext 253.
Casa Contenta Property Listings
Did you enjoy the video tour of this subdivision? Take a look at the link below and see if there are any homes that meets your needs. Casa Contenta, located in West Sedona, is a great place to enjoy all things Sedona. Click below to view:
Featured Properties
385 Cross Creek Circle
Prestigious location in Cross Creek Ranch a luxury gated community right on Oak Creek! Sit back and enjoy the soothing sounds of Oak Creek and watch the water flow by from your large private patio with kiva. Dramatic courtyard entrance with beautiful custom 8 ' Brazillian mahagony front door. Three bedroom suites with private baths plus den. High end amenities include hand scaped maple wood floors with low E Eagle wood windows made by Anderson...
Click for More InformationFor more features & information on this Sedona Home in Cross Creek Ranch please Email Rob & Pam - or give us a call 928.821.3508.
195 Caballero
Spectacular red rock views from this elevated building site with views of the famous Cathedral Rock. If you are looking for the perfect building site nestled in the greenbelt and located near Red Rock State park, this custom lot offers privacy and solitude. Gently sloping. Elevated pad to capture the views! Well. Over 1.79 acres to spread out and build your dream home. Horses allowed...
Click for More Information.Call Rob for more details about this investment opportunity - 928.821.3508 or Email Us.
Recipe of the Month
Cranberry Christmas Cake
This recipe is from Kaitlynn's Great Grandmother - a family tradition to eat from Thanksgiving through New Years.
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 c. flour
- 1 c. milk
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3 c. cranberries
Butter Sauce
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 tsp. flour
- 1/2 tsp. butter
- 2/3 c. cream or half and half
- 1 tbsp. vinegar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Directions
- Beat cake ingredients all together, except for the cranberries.
- Then fold in cranberries. Spread batter in a greased & floured bundt pan.
- Bake 35-40 minutes in a 350 oven until golden brown.
- BUTTER SAUCE: Mix flour and sugar. Place all ingredients, except the vanilla, in saucepan.
- Heat, stirring well until hot and bubbly. Add vanilla and serve warm over Christmas Cake.
Please Help Us Improve
Service Reviews have become a hot commodity on the web. We can tell future clients how hard we will work for them, but it always comes better from a third party. If you haven't had a chance, please take a moment and let us know how we did. For those of you that have already helped out, thank you once again.
If you have any difficulty, let us know and we can walk you through the process. Thanks again for your time!
Our Pledge...
We know that buying and selling a home is an exciting, but stressful experience. We will do our best to make sure you are informed and comfortable throughout the process.
We know the local inventory and are up to date on current market conditions. We will be truthful in our assessments and will strive to make your dream of buying or selling a Sedona Property a success! Give us a call today and schedule an appointment to see great Sedona Real Estate Deals.