New Website Feature | Poll
What Is Your Favorite Sedona View?
We are excited to anounce our new polling feature. We intend to use some of the information gathered from the results to adjust the content in our newsletters and overall website. If you have a moment, take a look at this month’s question and give us your feedback.
Our first poll is searching for what our readers think would be the “Best Sedona View“. We have a couple of photos to help you with the rock formation names. Take a look and let us know what you would prefer to have as the view from your Sedona Property.
Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions. If you have any suggestions for new poll topics, Send Us an Email.
Nationwide Open House
April 28th & 29th
Great things result when forces join together. The National Association of Realtors® has organized a National Open House Weekend. It will be held on April 28th & 29th. We look forward to persuading our fellow local Real Estate Agents to join us in jumpstarting home sales for Spring.
All brokerages are encouraged to participate. RE/MAX Sedona will be well represented. The list of properties that will be Open to the Public will be announced soon. Bookmark our Directions Page or follow us on Twitter for more information.
365 Reasons to Live in Sedona
Sedona’s Community Support
Have you seen the Believe in Ashley fliers in local businesses around Sedona? Believe in Ashley was an event that took place last night to support Ashley Hook’s battle with cancer.
“Hook was surprised by the benefit and thanked everyone involved. Yet, she saw a good aspect outside of herself.
‘I’m really happy to see how much people are coming together. It proves how much a small town pitches in at a time like this,’ Hook said.” ~Click for Full article
In times of need, the Sedona Community steps up to assist & support those in need. Sedona had an opportunity to step up last night and support Ashley Hook, a senior at Sedona Red Rock High. The result was amazing! This truly is one of the reasons we feel lucky to be apart of this community.
Click for full article: “Believe in Ashley” | A SRRHS Community Benefit for Student in Need.
Sedona Golf Clinic – only $10
Golf in Sedona… worth every penny! Sedona residents sometimes forget to realize just how good we have it here. Living in such a beautiful place with incredible community amenities, the golf courses in Sedona are first class. One treasure that we recently found is a golf clinic offered by the Oak Creek Country Club (OCCC).
OCCC is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course located in the Village of Oak Creek (VOC). “Being Sedona’s first golf course, this championship, 18 hole golf course is truly unique when compared to Sedona’s other courses” (Sedona Golf Course Reviews). Playing on these greens currently costs $99 for 18-holes or $65 for 9-holes. But now you can get some practice & some guidance without breaking your bank.
$10 gets you 60 minutes of instruction on…What Days Are the Clinics?
Click for full article: Sedona Golf Deals.
Buyer & Seller Tips of the Month
Buyers
5 Common Mistakes made by Emotional Homebuyers
We have seen various homebuyers in our market on each end of the spectrum. Some buyers are too conservative, waiting for the “best deal” to come along. As a result, they miss out on numerous great values and properties that cannot be duplicated. On the other end, some buyers are overly excited and fall in love with a property without regard to resale value. They find themselves infatuated with the property and end up overpaying for their Sedona Dream Home.
Purchasing a home is typically the largest financial decision in a person’s life, so it is ok to get emotional. The important thing is to have a levelheaded Realtor® that is in your corner and one that you can trust to help you make a wise investment rather than an emotionally driven purchase.
5 Common Mistakes made by Homebuyers & How we recommend avoiding them:
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Always waiting for a better deal | With Today’s Market advertised as full of foreclosures and great deals, homebuyer’s are programmed that prices may still get better. In Sedona’s market, even though there may be better prices coming, the foreclosure inventory is starting to dry up. We foresee prices in some segments stabilizing and even rising within 2012.
Yes a better deal might be listed for sale after your new property closes, but the chances aren’t worth the gamble. If you find a good deal & it fits your needs, make an offer before other buyers beat you to it. You also can’t forget to factor in the great interest rates!
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Falling in Love at First Sight | Buyers who fall in love with a Sedona Property prior to the transaction closing typically have difficulty when making important decisions. Some of the results may be the buyer is willing to overpay and/or overlook the value of the home in comparison to the neighborhood & the market.
If you and your Sedona Agent research Sedona Properties and you only have to view one before you purchase that is great, but don’t fall in love. A tough decision may be looming if there are unforeseen circumstances in the process. If you overlook those issues because you already have grown attached to the property, you may regret that decision later. Stay disciplined in your search.
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Disregard for Resale Value | Buyers tend to overlook certain items when they find a property they love. Some features that aren’t a big deal to you today may turn out to be an enormous burden later. When buying a piece of Sedona Real Estate, it is important to approach the transaction with the end in mind. The majority of people move many times in their lifetime. You should always consider the resale value when making the initial purchase decision.
With the help of a Sedona Real Estate Expert, you will be better prepared to make a wise financial investment. If you can get some insight into what the Realtor® knows, they should be able to point out features that may be potential obstacles when it comes time for resale. Use their market knowledge!
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Equating ‘short sale’ & ‘foreclosure’ with ‘deal’ | The media has helped hype buyers into thinking that foreclosures and short sales are always great deals. For us here in Sedona, a deal must equal good value. For some of the Sedona Foreclosures & Short Sales, tremendous work is sometimes needed to make the property habitable.
We caution buyers falling into this trap. Instead the best bet is to contact a Realtor® that is knowledgeable in the area and the inventory. With us being Sedona residents since 1980, we have the knowledge and experience to help you locate the best deal in Sedona Real Estate, rather than the latest foreclosure or short sale that comes onto the market. Knowing what type of repairs and opportunities a property presents fits right into our previous experience of a contractor by trade. Never underestimate Local Market Knowledge.
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Lowballing instead of negotiating realistically | We understand that every Sedona Buyer wants the lowest possible price. However, proper negotiating strategy is essential when writing an offer on a Sedona Property. Lowball offers risk annoying sellers, lengthening the Real Estate Process or being outright rejected.
Negotiate effectively by offering a realistic bid not too far below your ending budget & the asking price of the property at hand. Show the seller that you are realistic about purchasing their real estate. We have found that being direct, respectful and logical typically leads to buyers prevailing in their negotiations.
For more home buying tips visit our Sedona Home Buying Guide on http://SedonaProperty.net.
Sellers
4 Common Mistakes Sellers Make When Listing Their Property
With the common knowledge that purchasing a (Sedona) Real Estate Property is the single largest financial transaction of a typical American’s life, sellers must monitor their emotions. A Real Estate Transaction should be handled just like any other business dealing. Sellers that are able to make decisions based on a sound investment & financial strategy, rather than overhauled with emotions and sentimental connections, are far more likely to maximize the value of their real estate.
Below are 4 common mistakes that happen when Sedona Home Sellers allow emotions to take control.
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Overpricing | “Overpricing often occurs because of emotional reasons,” says Tracie Hamersley of Citi Habitats in New York City. “So many sellers make the mistake of thinking that their home is special and that a special buyer will pay more because they also fell in love with the property.”
Every seller’s dream of getting top dollar is unrealistic when factors of relative market value in today’s world set in.
We are seeing an uptick in activity in Sedona over the last few months. We typically see a surge in activity in the spring months (Apr – Jun), but this recent flux started in December 2011. If you are serious about selling, be aggressive with your price. You could miss the increase in activity if your sales price is not reflective of current market conditions. Ask your Realtor® to help you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Pricing is key in this market! -
Attending a Showing | All Sellers have different reasons for wanting to attend showings. The reality is when sellers are present, buyers typically are uncomfortable expressing their true feelings toward the Sedona Property – resulting in less time spent in the home. You never want to rush anyone through a showing!
A solution to this common mistake is to form a trustworthy relationship with your Sedona Realtor® and to only meet buyers when a serious offer is presented. A good Agent will seek feedback from the potential Buyer’s Agents and they will pass along their comments. Remember that for some, buying real estate is emotional (Look to the left Column). Make everyone feel “At Home” when viewing your property.
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Rejecting Early Offers | “Sellers be warned: The longer a property sits on the market, the worse the offers are likely to get,” says Nick Jabbour, a New York Realtor with Nest Seekers International. “Waiting for a better offer is counterproductive and can result in a property languishing.”
If a property is priced in tune with the market and receives offers early, within the first 30 days, it is typically a result of the property being priced correctly, not underpriced!
We see buyers on the other hand that will ask us how long individual properties have been on the market. The higher the Days on Market (DOM) the “more desperate” they feel the sellers may be. Don’t be greedy, but do formulate a plan. Before an offer comes your way, know your bottom line. That way when the dollar signs are in front of you, you won’t let your emotions dictate your decisions.
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Taking Offers Personally | “When you’re selling your home, it’s easy to take everything personally. But doing so is a big mistake,” says Fiona Dogan, a real-estate agent for Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, N.Y. “Sellers need to become emotionally detached very quickly from their homes. By it’s very nature, a Real Estate Transaction is aggressive and confrontational, since the seller wants the highest price and the buyer wants the lowest.”
Part of the negotiation process is that buyers will point out every flaw of your property. We understand that can be unsettling, however, it is not a personal attack against the seller. It typically means the buyer is serious and that is a positive thing!
Look at the offer as a starting point in negotiations. If you are represented by an Experienced Sedona Real Estate Agent, lean on their expertise to buffer the minutiae of the negotiating process. Remember emotions can cause all of us to do funny things. Stay calm and use all of the resources at your disposal.
For more Selling Tips, or ways to Staging 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 Property 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
Are you ready to move in to this neighborhood? Casa Contenta in West Sedona, AZ may be the perfect place for you to relax and enjoy the best our community has to offer! Click here to view a list of Casa Contenta Homes for Sale or Sedona Vacant Land for sale in Casa Contenta
Featured Properties
5 High View Drive
Professionally decorated throughout. Kitchen features granite counters, stainless steel appliances, knotty alder cabinetry, and travertine flooring. Huge walk in pantry for plenty of storage. For more features & information on this Custom Firecliff Home please Email Rob & Pam – or give us a call 928.821.3508.
159 Via Del Viento
Daily deer sightings, rabbits, quail, hummingbirds, coyotes. They call it home and so will you. This .80 Acre lot in Sun Up Ranch is surrounded by Forest Service & Custom homes abound. Sun Up Ranch is adjacent to Sedona Golf Resort. Call Rob for more details – 928.821.3508 or Email Us.
Local Lender Update
Mortgage Update
Coming into full swing of our spring buying season our interest rates are still as favorable as they have been. We are hovering at record low levels for interest rates. We have seen an increased demand in the mortgage market for refinancing, as well as purchases.
Help is here for those who are currently owe more than their property is worth what is commonly referred to as “underwater”. People can now refinance their homes at these favorable rates reducing their monthly payments. If you think you can benefit do not hesitate to call for more information.
Jonathan Burgueno
MLO 290524
Pinnacle Capital Mortgage
(928) 282-3200
Equal Housing Lender AZBKBR0116852
For more tips & tools, please visit the Lender’s Section of our website.
Pam’s Recipe of the Month
The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
The Story behind the Recipe: As Rob was channel surfing, he heard a tease for the “Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever”. Once those words crossed his ears, he was glued to the set and was extremely attentive! Come to find out, they weren’t lying! This is one of our families favorite recipes — Following the directions is a must!
Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 15-18 Minutes
Makes 24 Cookies
Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (melt & cool)
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 3/4 c. brown sugar
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 1/8 c. flour
- 1/2 t. baking soda
- 1/2 t. salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup nuts
Recipe Directions
- Preheat oven to 325°F
- Melt Butter and Let Cool
- Combine flour, baking soda & salt – set aside
- In separate mixing bowl, combine butter, sugars, vanilla & egg
- Continuing to mix, add in dry ingredients
- Lastly add chocolate chips & nuts
- Scoop onto cookie tray & bake for 15-18 minutes
- Remove from pan & cool on rack
- Serve with a glass of cold milk!
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.
