Arizona Real Estate Specialists

When the Fortune comes out with their richest persons list... and one realizes that the number one person on the list, Warren Buffet, amassed his fortunes by "investing" ... it's probably a good idea to take a look at his advice. 

It's also wise to go back a few years and see if he made any predictions- any that might apply to our current market.

Well- that's what the smart people at TradeReform did.

They looked back on a Fortune article called, "Squanderville versus Thriftville".

Among other things he:

• "Called wolf" on banking.

• Felt the dollar would slip against other currencies.

• Claimed our country's "net worth," was being "transferred abroad at an alarming rate."

I'll let you read the rest- I think it's worth capturing the flavor of the words.

Read it and let me know what you think. 

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Chuck Willman is the founder of USAVest... a nationwide network of investment minded individuals.

Visit: www.USAVest.com 

For those who've ever visited the Vietnam War Memorial, you already understand the sentiment.

It's an experience you may never forget.

I'm from a military family. My father spent more than a year there- it seemed much longer.

Growing up on a military base felt, at times, like living in a colony inhabited by women and children.

Moms were everywhere- at little league and meet the teacher night. Fathers were otherwise engaged.

It seemed that a month didn't pass without a fellow classmate's father or relative being reported as missing in action, being taken prisoner or falling in combat. I can recall the General's car visiting the neighbor's home- informing them of the new status... and the neighbors collapsing into each other's arms.

Such sacrifices were made... and seldom did one hear resentful utterances. The protests occurred off base.

On base people maintained a dignified and stoic reserve. Privately we prayed for our loved one's safety- and for a speedy resolve to the conflict.

If you've ever wondered why veterans become misty-eyed at the sight of the flag or the sound of the national anthem- well, one can only assume that their reasons are personal... and based on experiences that most likely reside deep within- never to be fully articulated.

It took me more than two decades to finally visit the wall. I had assumed it would be too overwhelming. However, I finally made the pilgrimage. I felt I owed it to my neighbors and relatives. Their names are among just a few of the more than 58,000 servicemen and women who vanished or perished in Vietnam.

Though it doesn't have the same visceral impact, you're now able to look these names up online, where you can find an interactive Vietnam Veterans Memorial website. This is the place to search the names and discover background information about each person.

http://go.footnote.com/thewall

I highly recommend it.

For those who want a visual approximation to the experience of walking the monument, here you go:



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Chuck Willman's father served in Vietnam while his sister served in Operation Desert Storm. He is an Arizona real estate agent specializing in relocation, investments and first time home buyers.

There are excellent online photo editors... but none of them are Photoshop- the king daddy of image editors.

That is, until now. Adobe has created Photoshop Express, an online editor that allows the casual web user the ability to touch up photos and share them with the world at large. They also provide you two gigabytes of storage space.

As you can see from the screenshot, a great number of features are built in:

• Auto Correct
• Exposure Adjustments
• Red Eye Removal
• Touchup Tools
• Saturation Slider
• Balance, Hightlights, Fill Light
• Sharpen and Soft Focus (Barbara Walters approved)
• Special Effects: Hues, Pop Color, Black & White, Tint, Sketch, Distort
  

Their editor isn't just for photo fixing and storage, they've also tied the features into social networks such as Facebook. You can also interact with Picasa or Photobucket.

The program just hit beta today... that means you can try it out for free. At some point Adobe intends to add other features at a price. These "for pay" features may include expanded printing services, larger storage capacity, as well as support for additional media and file types.

Try it now by going here: www.photoshop.com/express

The Phoenix area offers great recreation for the outdoorsy type. Maybe less known is the spectator opportunities. Name a professional sport and, chances are, you'll find an outlet locally. The Phoenix metro area is home to several franchises- each with a thriving fan base.

The Arizona Diamondbacks went from new franchise to World Series champs in short order. Their world class facility, Chase Field, is a baseball fan's delight. Thanks to the Cactus League, which offers opportunities to see a dozen major league teams prepare for the regular season, one may discover that the Diamondback games are frequented by a large contingent of opposing team fans. The modern stadium offers the comforts of open air or a closed roof when the elements are less amenable.

The Arizona Cardinal's facility was the host site for this year's Super Bowl. The facility also has an open air and closed roof feature. Of greater note, it's the only facility in the continent that has an outdoor grass playing field that is literally wheeled indoors for games. The Cardinals organization, originally from St. Louis, is one of the oldest in the league.

The Phoenix Suns are also one the NBA's longest lived franchises. They're also one of the most entertaining- sporting a high speed offense that is now anchored by one of the games greatest talents: Shaquille O'Neal. Having never one a championship, they've come painfully close over the past few years.

Phoenix is also home to professional tennis, soccer, and Wayne Gretzky's Pro Hockey team, the Phoenix Coyotes. It's also a treasured destination for international racing through the Phoenix International Raceway and highly acclaimed golf events. 

Come to the valley and partake of this great sports paradise.

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Chuck Willman is founder of USA Vest and AZ Vest- a network of investment minded individuals. Headquartered in Arizona's Valley of the Sun, he specializes in finding properties for people from around the world.

There are Seniors in College and Seniors near college.

They share a common goal- live where the action is.

While college seniors may have aspirations to leave town as soon as they graduate, Senior Citizens are increasingly moving to college towns as they enter their twilight years

... Or so says a report from NuWire. 

In their report, they explain that retirees are increasingly seeking residence in Florida and Arizona's college towns; why would this be?

Here's what the retiree finds in college towns:

• Access to university medical centers.
• Renowned research facilities.
• Hospitable Weather.

For the investment minded, this adds to the already well known advantages to purchasing rental properties in college towns:

• Steady supply of renters.
• Educated population is a draw for business.
• Culture of innovation that is attractive to start up businesses.

Arizona boasts three major universities that have their own advantages:

• University of Arizona in Tucson- Major Medical School.
• Arizona State University in Tempe- also has two other campuses... one on the west side and the other on the east.
• Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff- though not a warm weather location, its mountain scenery is breathtaking. 
  

To seniors and investors alike, I'd love to introduce you to Arizona. Visit me at www.AZVest.com.

The two fastest growing counties in the country are both found in Arizona.

They are first Maricopa County and next, Pinal County.

For an indepth breakdown of these counties and the cities within, check out one of my previous blog entries:

Arizona- The Greater Phoenix Area Real Estate Market Overview 

One of the questions I'm asked by those wishing to relocate is this:

What are your FHA Loan limits?

Well... here they are: 

 

County Name	Single Family	Duplex	Tri-plex	Four-plex
MARICOPA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850
PINAL	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850

source: FHA

Note: The observant person will notice that they're exactly the same. 

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Chuck Willman helps people buy homes in the greater Phoenix Arizona are.

He's available by phone: 480.292.0600 or via web: NewHomesAZ.com 

Today the Fed cut the overnight lending rate by .75 points.

The stock market responded with the highest gains in five years.

A reporter has a choice:

• Explain the pitiful state of the economy that requires such drastic measures.
• Analyze the the move as a demonstration that there are still many buyers in the market.

I remember a Finance professor in the Arizona State MBA Program who said that psychology can always be found behind the moves in every market. He explained that there are opportunities in upside down markets. In each market, every seller finds a buyer... even if "the buy" is perceived to be low.

We are in an economic downturn- about that there is no speculation.

But in this downturn there are opportunities.

Here's some more "bad? news":

New Home construction fell by .6% ... the experts expected a .2 % drop. The news outlets will most likely report this as further proof of a horrendous new homes market. My take on this information? Great news for builders. Maybe they can unload more inventory rather than flood the market with more new homes.

Even more "bad? news":

We may already be in a recession. For Arizona that usually means we entered the recession sooner than most of the nation. The good news in this? It has been Arizona's history to springboard out of recession sooner... each time with impressive growth.

I'm not an advocate of ignoring the news.

I am an advocate of looking at the big picture and figuring out what some of the markets signals really mean.

This is the way to find bargains and investment opportunities.

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Chuck Willman is the founder of USA Vest network- a collection of investment minded individuals who specialize in real estate. He also helps first time home buyers join the home ownership ranks by assisting them in finding low money down homes.

Chuck Willman: 480.292.0600

www.azvest.com 

There are several steps to pricing a home for marketability. I like to take the following into consideration:

• Pricing of similar homes in the neighborhood or vicinity.
• Is there new construction within a few mile radius? If so, at what price?
• Value of current homes on the market and how long they've been on the market.
• Foreclosures or short sales- are there any? are they nearby?
  

There is one other thing that I try to do.

I like to wipe the slate clean.

I've visited some communities so many times that I already have preconceived notions about pricing.

Such data (qualitative as opposed to analytical) is helpful... but sometimes it's blinding.

Before you price your next home, try this experiment.

Visit your own neighborhood as if seeing it for the first time.

Pretend you're thinking of making it your home for the next ten years.

As you drive the neighborhood are you noticing things that had become invisible?

Familiarity has a way of eliminating from view the things your potential buyers will see.

... AND... can I ask you a favor? Tell me what you saw. 

Happy home-pricing! 

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Note: Above photo comes from the Wooster Collective, founded with the purpose "to showcasing and celebrating ephemeral art placed on streets in cities around the world." 

It's peculiar.

Mesa Arizona is one of the largest cities in America.

And it's sprawling.

Yet it's very short on new single family homes.

This is being addressed in north east Mesa as a builder is opening a master planned community with 18 different models and prices ranging from the mid $200s to the high $600s. 

Pent up demand brought large crowds as several hundred showed up for the grand opening, which was held on Saturday. One of the agents targeted the actual count close at close to 900.

Interested in touring what Mesa has to offer?

Give me a call:

Chuck Willman- 480.292.0600 

Or drop me a message: 

chuck@newhomesaz.com 

When I purchase my lot in North East Mesa I was enamored with the location's scenery.

I was less enthusiastic about my proximity to freeways.

Then came the 202 Loop... it's north eastern portion known as the Red Mountain Freeway.

This allowed me quick access to Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix.

I discovered what used to take an hour was cut in half.

Those who live on the San Tan portion of Loop 202 found similar success.

They were connected to areas that they may have avoided.

One of my clients called the 202 his magic carpet ride. I echo this sentiment.

Life will be much easier for many when the north east portion of the 202 is completed.

This new route will shave fifteen minutes off my trips to Queen Creek.

It will be of even greater worth to those traveling into the valley from that direction. 

If you'd like more information about this project, here's the Arizona Department of Transportation's Website.

Here's their link for information about the Loop 202.