Valley Neighborhoods

Summer in Chandler!

evan — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:07:03 +0000

With summer officially beginning June 21st, Chandler is hosting its 4th annual Summer Splash Festival. Come out and enjoy the five inflatable water attractions for the kids, BubbleMania area, Kiddie Splash Zone and a video arcade on wheels. There are also train rides, live entertainment shows of dance, karate and gymnastics with the scattered appearance of characters from “The Little Mermaid” “SpongeBob SquarePants”. For your future little hero, fire vehicles and police cars will be on display, to show them what its all about. There is also a place dubbed PetaPOOLooza, which is for the parents and family doggie to chill in a misted area. Your little one need to learn how to swim? Aqua Tots Swim Schools will be on site and will provide water safety instruction. (food and drink vendors will be on site)

Info: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free admission. (602) 276-2499 or www.downtownchandler.org.

Scottsdale’s aquatic centers open for public

evan — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:50:36 +0000

This was originally posted 6/13, 2011 by The Arizona Republic

Three Scottsdale aquatic centers are now open to the public for general swimming this summer.

The Cactus, Eldorado and McDowell Mountain Ranch aquatic centers are open during afternoons starting at 1 p.m. on most days, with a noon start on select days.

The city’s fourth aquatic center, Chaparral, is open only for swim lessons, according to the schedule.

The per-visit cost for public swim ranges from $2 to $6 for adult residents and $1 to $4 for child residents, depending on location.

For non-residents, the cost is $3 to $9 for adults and $1.50 to $6 for children.

To view the full schedule, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics.

Scottsdale swimming lessons

Scottsdale’s Aquatics Program is inviting residents to participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Chaparral Aquatic Facility, 5401 N. Hayden Road.

Pools and other aquatic facilities around the globe will host swimming lessons simultaneously in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record.

People can register up until Tuesday at any Scottsdale aquatic center or online at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/topics/recreation. Click on “Recreation Classes” and type in class code 90011. Space is limited.

Information: www.worldslargestswim minglesson.org.

Mortgage Process For Canadian Citizens Buying a Home in Arizona

evan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:31:40 +0000

This post was originally posted 6/10, 2011 By Chris Wyatt.

If you’re Canadian citizen buying an Arizona home or in the United States, understanding the Mortgage process for Canadian Citizens buying a home in Arizona will help make it a smooth transaction. The more you know about it, the easier it will be.

Step 1- Applying for a U.S. Mortgage Loan- The process can begin via phone or in person with an RBC Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO) that provides the information needed to make informed, smart decisions. Your CLS will discuss your financing needs; present product options and explain how different options affect your payments, interest rates, and principal reductions.

After product selection and application, you will be provided with aGood Faith Estimate and other early disclosures that review the costs associated with getting the loan and the loan structure. They will review the mortgage loan approval process and how that might be different from what you are accustomed. Your RBC MLO will give you an indication of whether or not you have preliminary approval for the product chosen.* You will need to provide information to verify your income,** assets,** debt and residence history.

Step 2-Processing- After your completed mortgage application is received, a Canadian credit report is obtained to verify your credit rating. You may also be asked for additional documentation. A 3^rdparty appraisal and title work will be ordered to verify the value of the property and to verify current lien holders on the property. Then, your RBC MLO will lock in your interest rate on the mortgage product you chose. This process usually takes 5-10 business days.

Step 3- Underwriting may come back with conditions- Your loan will be submitted to the underwriting department for approval. Underwriting may come back with conditions. Your MLO will review and explain each condition. Once your loan is approved to close, you will be notified and closing documents will be prepared and sent to the location where the closing will be held.

Step 4- Closing typically takes 30-40 days to complete- In the U.S., it is customary for the borrower to attend the closing; however closings may be negotiated by mail. Many closing agents require Canadians to sign in front of a US Notary. This could require the borrower to schedule an appointment with their local US Embassy or Consulate. The paperwork presented at closing is extensive and legally requires the signature of borrowers. If you’re unable to attend the closing, your MLO must be notified in advance, as well as your attorney, so they can set up a process for the loan to close without you there. Please understand that closings not conducted in person by the borrower may take additional time to complete. In addition, some state laws require the lender to have completed documentation prior to funding.

This process, from application to closing, typically takes 30-40 days to complete.

Arizona Jobs Bill has a Dirty Little Secret

evan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:06:48 +0000

This blog was originally posted 4/16, 2011 by Jon Kichen.

Arizona HB 2001 Signed by the Governor

HB 2001, called the “Jobs Bill” was signed by the governor in late February. With little fanfare or debate, the 214 page bill was approved that will give tax incentives to businesses to help them hire more employees. But, buried within the bill was one funding provision that might increase the property tax on thousands of homes in Arizona.

Here’s how it works…Most Residents of Arizona did not realize that their property tax on primary residence, 2^nd home and/or vacation home was lowered by a credit from the state general fund to the county in which the property sits. That credit was automatic for all Class 3 properties, which included primary residence, 2^nd home and vacation home properties.

This bill changes all that. First, only primary residence homes will be Class 3 properties. 2^nd home and vacation home will become Class 4, taxed at a higher rate as rentals. And, here’s the kicker. Homeowners will have to “opt-in” for the credit by completing an Affidavit every other even-numbered year, starting in 2012, attesting that they or a family member occupy the home. That affidavit will be mailed with the Notice of Full Cash Value that is typically sent in February of every year. Homeowners will have 60 days to complete and return the affidavit in order to remain as a Class 3 property. If they fail to submit the affidavit, on the 61^st day, that property will become a Class 4 property and their tax bill will increase by as much as $600, according to budget estimates.

This bill will provide incentives to businesses even if they do not hire any additional employees. But, this bill will certainly affect thousands of homeowners, already struggling to cover the costs of the home, by increasing their taxes. All owners of 2^nd homes and vacation homes will see their taxes increase. Many people who might be entitled to the credit will overlook the form in the mail, or might complete it improperly, and they will see their taxes increase. While they always maintain the right to appeal the valuation of their home, they cannot appeal this re-classification. They would need to wait 2 years before the opt in is available again, when the notices are mailed in 2014 and so on.

For real estate agents and brokers, this is an opportunity to notify every homeowner you know and every buyer who closes in 2011 and beyond. Your information could save them hundreds of dollars and they will thank you for that.

Do Your Home Work

evan — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:39:13 +0000

Picking and choosing a home is always about more than just the house. Each city and neighborhood has its own “flavor” and you may be asking yourself “where does my family fit in”? With ValleyNeighborhoods.com, we can help you find out.

There are many things that can influence your choice in home location, first of which being the school district. You may have your heart set on sending your children to certain schools but be unable to do so, due to district boundaries, unless you do your research. Visit the schools, and observe the campus. Does it make you feel safe if your little one was here for 8 hours a day? Is it gated, and have security on campus? ValleyNeighborhoods.com’s agents have the inside scoop to many local schools.

The next thing you will want to look in to is the local economy of the neighborhoods you are interested in. You’ll want to see if there are jobs available nearby or if a lot of store locations have been closing down and moving out. Are there big named, nationally recognized brands or are they all mom and pop shops?

You will also want to research the unemployment rate as well, because that will help you determine the number of foreclosures in the neighborhood. If there is a surplus of foreclosures in the area, this could mean decreased value on your home, which is your biggest investment. For a more accurate report on the neighborhoods value trends, don’t hesitate to ask one of our agents for the stats.

You will also want to research more of the neighborhood, not just the street your potential home is on. Drive down as many of the other nearby streets as you can and really study the other homes in the area. Does it look like the other neighbors care and maintain their lawn/landscaping? Are there bars on the windows? Are the parks in the area well maintained? You should also visit nearby parks at different times of day to see if there is any kind of behavior that is not up to your standards or does not make you feel safe.

Something else that most people do not consider is nearby entertainment options. This could range from restaurants to movie theaters, churches, malls and parks. If there is a store or chain that you cannot live without, make sure that there is one at least 5 miles away, or you will find yourself unhappy with your new homes location because it is too far from your favorite store.

If you are planning on moving soon, don’t forget to do your homework and research every aspect of your potentially new neighborhood.