• Why Live in Sedona?
• Buyers & Sellers
• Feature Subdivision
• Lender Update
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Sedona Poll of the Month

Results from Last Poll

Rates are Up - Where are They Headed?

Thinking about where the market may head is always a touchy subject. After asking our readers what they think about mortgage rates, we found the answers to be split right down the middle. Some people feel that as the Sedona Real Estate Market improves, interest rates will continue to rise. Others think that keeping rates low allows more Americans to buy property, thus boosting the economy - therefore, the government will keep rates low.

Either way, as Sedona Realtors, we know it is a great time to buy a Sedona Investment Property. Because of our low inventory, home prices will rise, slowly but surely. Call Rob at 928-821-3508 for more information about purchasing a Sedona Home.

Contact Us or call - 928.282.4166 x 253 for more information about the Sedona area & local Sedona Real Estate updates.

If you have any suggestions for new poll topics, Send Us an Email.

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.

Review Us on Zillow


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If you have any difficulty, let us know and we can walk you through the process. Thanks again for your time!

#139 - Back to School with Old Town Mission

We love the feeling of community that Sedona brings to its residents. Sedona is all about finding ways to help those in need. One big focus that Sedona has is helping children in need, ranging from after school activities to feeding those that are hungry. The Old Town Mission has become a very popular organization throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley. They focus on helping the homeless and families hurting throughout our community.

Right now, the Old Town Mission is sponsoring an event to help send children to school with all of the supplies they need. You might think that sending your child to a public school is no big deal. All you need to do is drop them off, or put them on the bus, with some lunch money and a backpack full of school supplies. But many kids show up each year with no supplies...

Click for full article: Back to School with Old Town Mission.

#133 - Laser Light Show & Concert

What do you have planned for the 4th of July in Sedona? Well, as you should know, with all the fire danger in Arizona, fireworks have become almost obsolete. So, the city of Sedona has come up with an alternative show to keep it’s residents satisfied on the 4th of July!

Diamond Resorts, along with the city of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department, have put together an entire evening for the residents of Sedona. It will be an event for the whole family; people of all ages will love this show. Beginning at 6:30pm at Sedona Red Rock High School, there will be vendors serving food. These include some of Sedona’s favorite restaurants like Zainey’s Yogurt, Red Rock BBQ, Thai Palace Uptown, and of course, the Sedona Fudge Co. These vendors will be open on the baseball field until 8:30pm, throughout the entire concert performed by David Parker and the Big Time Band. This will be a evening you don’t want to miss, especially because it’s free!...

Click for full article: Laser Light Show & Concert.

Buyers

So you found the perfect Sedona Property... now what? – Due Diligence

Once you have made an offer on a property, your work as a buyer has just begun. We know you will get a lot of paperwork, from your loan officer, title & escrow officer and other sources. Our advice is to read all the documents given to you during the inspection period. This is your time of due diligence, so please research the restrictions on your property and other factors that may limit the way you intend to use the Sedona Property you are about to purchase.

Know the CC&Rs

The Codes, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) tell you what the subdivision allows and what benefits you will receive by being part of the association. The document will discuss any fees you might be obligated to pay and what responsibilities as an owner are required. It is important that you read this document in its entirety and ask questions prior to the end of your inspection period.

Always Plan to Inspect

Some Sedona Buyers we have worked with try to escape doing inspections. This may save money in the short term, but we believe in making an educated and informed decision when purchasing. If you don’t know what is wrong with the property and what costs you may incur in the future, how can you decide if one Sedona Home is a better deal than another? Please schedule your inspections as early in the process as possible and plan to be present, if possible, so you can physically look at the items discovered by the inspector.

Secondary inspections are important too. If the main inspection uncovers possible issues, a secondary inspection may help determine the expense(s) for repairs. Secondary inspections such as the electrical system, the roof, termites, etc. are best assessed by a specialty inspector for that certain area of the home. Always look to the experts to help clarify the extent of the discovered issue.

Conclusion

The goal here is to provide you, the buyer, with as much information about the property as possible. Always strive to make an informed decision which will hopefully help to avoid unnecessary stress later on. Please read the documents provided to you as early as possible and pay attention to your home inspection. If you have any questions along the way, please let us know. We are always here to help!

For more home buying tips, click for our Sedona Home Buying Guide.

Sellers

Pricing to Sell

No news here, every Seller wants the highest price for their home and every Buyer wants the best deal. How do you balance the wants of each? Our goal as Sedona Realtors is to know the market's inventory and to be able to help our Sellers maximize their value in the current Sedona Real Estate Market. This is often a challenge if a Seller has preconceptions of what their home is worth. Please read our key points on how we approach pricing your Sedona Property to sell quickly and at the appropriate price.

Know the Sold Inventory

Finding the right price for your home often starts by comparing it to recent sales in the area. Appraisers use this method and we find it to be paramount. Knowing how your home compares, for better or for worse, to the home down the street that just sold is extremely important.

The experience of your realtor is key when it comes to knowing what features the comparables had for past sales. Always ask your realtor if they have been inside any of the homes you are looking to as comparisons. Experienced agents will have seen a majority of the homes in the area. Don't settle for the response "...the pictures looked nice."

Know your Competition

Knowing what homes just sold for is only half of the picture. Having a Sedona Agent that knows the current Competition also will be key to maximizing the price you should chose in today’s market. Always ask your agent how your home compares to other Sedona Properties currently listed for sale.

Experienced agents will tour many of the homes on a regular basis. If you need a quick sale, immediate knowledge of the competition is an enormous advantage to determine your standing in the marketplace. Understand what benefits and weaknesses other properties have and discount your price accordingly. If your Sedona Home has more features, make sure the features match the current market conditions that the buyers value and look to maximize your price vs. your competitors.

Understand Your Timing

Most Sellers tell us they want to sell their home "quickly." That word is different for every set of clients. Before you list your home, think about your goals and the timing to achieve them. Does your "sell my home quick" mean 2 weeks, 2 months or only at a certain price?

The best way to get a buyer's attention is to undercut the competition with price. If you are looking to sell fast, a lower price may be the best way to generate interest and achieve your goal. We ask our sellers about what their plans will be once we sell their Sedona Property. If that plan involves buying another piece of real estate in another market, it may be best to get out of their Sedona Property as soon as possible. If the sellers need to maximize the price on their current home for retirement purposes, the time needed to sell that home may be extended.

We know it is hard to hear that your home isn’t worth as much as you thought it was in today’s market. Please understand that as your Realtors, our goal is to satisfy your highest priority. If getting the highest price is your primary focus then we may list the property higher than the competiton and hope to attract the perfect buyer, which may take some time. If selling your home in 30 days is your highest priority, we may list your property under market value to get a frenzy of interested buyers and to hopefully create a bidding war to increase your bottom line.

The pricing strategy we choose as a team should coincide with your timing goals. We are confident that our Sedona Market knowledge and 15+ years of experience will be of value to you while you list your Sedona Home or Vacant Lot for sale.

Remember that the best value for your property may come from the appreciation on your next purchase. If we can help in any way answer your Sedona Real Estate questions, don't hesitate to call Rob at 928.282.4166 or Contact Us via email.

For more Selling Tips, or ideas to Stage Your Home, visit the Sedona Property Selling Tips on our website.

Firecliff Video Tour

The seventy-nine single family villas and several custom homes of the Firecliff community have great VOC Red Rock Views.

For more information about Firecliff Property for sale or Subdivision Details please don’t hesitate to Contact Us at 928.821.3508 or 928.282.4166 ext 253.

Firecliff Property Listings

Featured Properties

190 Indian Ruin

Location, Location, Location. Capturing Sedona's famous Bell Rock, Courthouse Rock & Castle Rock views. Built with stucco exterior and tile roof, this home reflects only the very best. This spacious, open and modern floor plan is move in ready with new carpet and fresh paint...

For more features & information on this VOC-Sedona Home please Email Rob & Pam - or give us a call 928.821.3508.

Click for More Information

40 Suncliffe Dr

Located in the popular Firecliff subdivision, this custom homesite offers some of Sedona's most famous Red Rock views. The rear boundary of the parcel features a unique natural wash area which offers character and mature vegetation and adjoins open space. All utilities are available including sewer. The Firecliff subdivision offers...

Call Rob for more details - 928.821.3508 or Email Us.

Click for More Information

Ingredients

For the risotto

• 4 Tbsp of Butter
• 1/2 cup Finely Chopped Onion
• 2 Cups Carnaroli rice
• 2/3 Cup Sherry Fino
• 2 1/8 Cups Chicken stock

To finish the risotto

• 4 Tbsp Butter
• 1 Cup Parmigiano, grated

For the scallops

• 2 lbs Sea scallops, dry-packed
• 1 Cup Kosher salt
• 1 Cup Hot water
• 2 1/8 Cups Cold water
• 1/4 Cup Light olive oil
• 1/4 Cup Fino sherry
• 4 Tbsp Butter
• Freshly ground black peper

Directions

• In a saucepan, bring the stock to a boil then lower heat to maintain a simmer. Prepare the brine, combine salt with the hot water in a bowl, stirring to dissolve the salt. Add the cold water. Add the scallops to the brine and let stand for 10-15 minutes. Drain the scallops, rinse under cold water, and pat them dry.
• In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter on a low heat. Add the onion and cook slowly for 10 minutes paying attention not to brown it. The onion should be soft and translucent.
• Turn the heat to medium, add the rice & cook stirring constantly until the rice is well covered with butter. The rise grains should look chalky with a white dot in the center. Do not let the rice brown. Add the sherry and let it reduce, stirring constantly until the mixture is almost dry.
• Turn back the heat to low, start adding the hot stock 1/2 cup at the time stirring frequently until almost all of it is absorbed. Continue to add stock in this fashion, stirring until the grains are tender and the risotto is creamy but not soupy. About 18 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat, let the risotto rest for 2-3 minutes. This is an important step do not miss it. Adding butter or cheese at this point, may split the risotto because the high temperature will melt butter or cheese too fast.
• Quickly stir into the rice, first butter and then the grated Parmigiano cheese. Pay attention not burn yourself. Adjust with salt and pepper and set it aside.
• In a large heavy frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high until it begins to smoke. Add the scallops to the pan, without crowding, they shouldn’t touch each other; if they do, they will steam rather than caramelize. Cook, without moving the scallops, until the bottoms are a golden brown. Turn the scallops and caramelize the second side. Remove the scallops from the pan and set them aside.
• Turn the heat off, Pour off most of the fat from the pan. Add sherry to the pan, it will come up to boiling very quickly, bringing up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan. As the liquid boils, scrape up the fond. Once the liquid is reduced by half and the fond is dispersed throughout it, turn the heat down, season the sauce with salt and whisk in the butter until slightly thickened.
• Serve the risotto in warm dishes with scallops arranged on top of it. Pour the scallop sauce over them and sprinkle each dishes with little extra virgin olive oil and freshly ground black pepper.