• Why Live in Sedona?
• Buyers & Sellers
• Feature Subdivision
• Recipe

Things to Think About
Regarding the Sedona Market

Visit Our Sister Sedona Website - BuySedona.com

#30 - Yoga in Sedona

...Sedona is known to be one of the most uplifting places in the world due to its energy with multiple vortexes and lofty Red Rocks. With numerous yoga studios and practicing yoga instructors of all kinds, finding a yoga class in Sedona AZ is simple...

Click for full article: Yoga in Sedona.

#185 - Cowboy Club

One thing we love about living in Sedona is the variety of culture expressed throughout different restaurants in town! If you want Mexican food, you got it. If you are craving Italian food, we have plenty! And don’t forget about Thai, Indian, French, etc. These are all great options to have, but sometimes you just want some good ol’ country style food...

Click for full article: Cowboy Club.

Buyers

From Renter to Homeowner

The Sedona Rental Market has been very active for the last several years. As prices continue to rise, renters ask themselves if they would be better off purchasing a Sedona Home. The answer depends on several things… the most important being your frame of mind. Can you alter your renter’s mindset and prepare yourself for the joys of home ownership? Even if you’ve owned a Sedona Property in the past, if you have rented recently and are now considering buying, ask yourself these questions:

Am I ready to stay in one place long-term? Be sure to do your homework on not only the home you’d like to buy, but also the area and neighborhood where you are going to live. Our suggestion is to be prepared to stay in the home for a minimum of 2+ years. That will benefit you if and when you go to sell because you will be able to retain more of your profit from the sale of your home as a result of the capital gains for primary residence tax benefit. Also note, when selling your home, the property will need some time to appreciate in excess of future closing costs, unpaid property taxes and realtor commissions. That way you won’t have to bring money to the table to close the transaction.

Am I ready to prevent vs point out? As a renter, you relay issues with the property to your landlord or property manager, who in turn fixes the problem(s). As a homeowner, you will learn it is best to try to prevent issues before they occur. Some examples include:

• Roof maintenance vs. noticing a leak
• Weekly or monthly landscaping upkeep vs. having to overhaul your landscaping because the rain has been eroding your backyard
• Winterizing your exterior pipes/irrigation vs. finding a busted pipe

Ohh, just one of the joys of home ownership.

What is my monthly budget? Paying rent and utilities vs. paying mortgage, utilities, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, trash, sewer, etc. Although you may pay an equal amount or even a bit more as a homeowner, factor in the tax deductions at the end of the year. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to experience appreciation of your Sedona Property over time.

Obviously, as Realtors we know the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to owning rather than renting. It will require a different mindset to insure protection of one of the largest investments of your life. If you are a first time home buyer in Sedona and have questions about the process, or if you believe it makes sense for you to buy vs. rent, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Throughout the years, we have rented and owned numerous properties. We are here to help you assess what is best for you & your family.

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

Sellers

Timeline for Listing Your Property

Listing your property for sale can seem overwhelming. Like anything in life, if we take it step-by-step it isn’t really that hard. Below is a brief description of the timeline for listing your Sedona Property for sale.

1. Contact a Realtor – Let the experts handle the marketing, negotiations, inspections, and ultimately the sale of your home.
2. Declutter/Depersonalize – We know you’ve heard this before, but decluttering and depersonalizing your property is the best way for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Get this done prior to any other steps below…it is necessary & well worth the effort.
3. Repairs – Consult with your Realtor in regards to which repairs are necessary and will have the highest ROI.
4. Pricing Strategy – Review comps in your neighborhood with your Realtor. Discuss pricing strategy (dramatically low to create a bidding war vs. the risk of too high and getting no showings/offers). Also keep in mind your loan payoff, closing costs, Realtor commissions, prorations, such as property taxes and HOA fees, to determine your net proceeds.
5. Photos – Your Realtor will hire a photographer and have photos taken prior to listing the Sedona Property online. It is important to “hit the ground running” when the listing is entered into the Multiple Listings Service (MLS). Your Sedona Listing will then be syndicated out to front end consumer websites like Zillow.com, Realtor.com & Trulia.com.
6. Bonus: Consider taking photos in different seasons when landscaping is thriving and/or different times of day when views are “highlighted”. This allows buyers to visualize the full potential of the property.
7. Review Listing Information – Sign all paperwork with your Realtor and review documents to ensure all information is accurate pertaining to the property.
8. Plan for an offer – When an offer comes, you’ll need to provide a letter from your insurance company stating the presence of insurance claims/losses in the last 5 years. You should also complete a Sellers Property Disclosure (SPDS) to give to the buyer. Having these tasks completed ahead of time, ensures no stress when the time comes.
9. Go "live" – Let your Realtor take it from here. Be sure to stay in contact about showing feedback and marketing efforts.
10. Prepare for Realtor Tour – Plan time away from the property for the local Sedona Realtor Tour. Be sure to have the home spiffed up and looking its best for the Realtors to preview and to keep it in the front of their mind for the buyers they represent.
11. Make listing adjustments as needed – If no offers come in, lowering the price is often the best strategy! Discuss with your Realtor what to do & when to do it.
12. Accept an offer
13. Move on with your life!

No matter where you are in the process of selling your property, we’re here to help. Contact us and we can determine where you are in this process.

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

Las Piedras

Respected builder, well constructed, active HOA. Las Piedras is perfect for buyers looking for the "condo lifestyle" i.e. low maintenance yards, community pool, amenities, etc.

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

Las Piedras

Featured Properties

Ingredients

• 10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced (Fuji &/or Gala Apples)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
• Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
• Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

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