Posts by : Barbara Baker

So if you are in Sedona during the holidays and looking for a Sedona AZ Home - take a break and do one of these great holiday treats

Sedona Railroaders Exhibit - Village of Oak Creek - 928-282-2412 (XMAS Model Train Village - cool). Red Rock Fantasy - West Sedona - 877-444-8044 ( Outdoor Holiday Displays to walk through while you sip hot cocoa - we do this with our kids every year).  Kessel Cornville Christmas - 928-634-5369 ( Local Guy with a zillion lights on his house synched up to holiday music - free, free, FREE).

And if you are here for New Years - head up to Flagstaff after you have bought a Sedona AZ Home ot celebrate for the annual Pinecone Drop. (Outdoor merry making, shops op...

Well, we are a week away from having Santa make his appearance in the Sedona AZ Home Market and our sale volume continues to show bettter numbers than 2006.  Which is great news.  Buyers are back in our market.  Interest rates are starting to edge up slightly and I think will be slightly higher in the next coming months.  So it is still a great time to buy in the Sedona AZ Home Market.  Our price per square foot and the sold prices continue to fall and will continue because of the trickle foreclosures that continue to bring the market down.  A very interesting thing to note is that of all the pendings in the Sedons AZ Home market - only 44% of those are seller owned property -66% are eith...

I always think it a good idea for buyers and seller's in today's market to challenge their Sedona AZ Home real estate assessment.  After all, that is how your home taxes are calculated. You can't do much about the rate at which your home is taxed, but you can try to do something about how your home is valued for taxation purposes in 2010. The process varies depending where you live, but in general local governments conduct a periodic real estate assessment to determine how much your home is worth. That real estate assessment figure is used to calculate your property tax bill.

You can usually appeal your real estate assessment if you think it's too high. Contact the local assessor's office ...

I found this great article from Robb Gordon, a local Sedona AZ Home Lender and found it very interesting and wanted to share.  Even though it doesn't directly apply to Sedona AZ Homes for Sale - it does give a very bullish outlook for all housing and that would include Sedona.  

Housing Bulls, Unite

 Among the recent crop of hedge fund stars, Pershing Square Capital's Bill Ackman is notably absent from the parade of gold bulls. But he and Paulson do share a bullishness on another asset class: Housing.

 Paulson, who recently bought a two-bedroom condo in NYC for a reported $2.85 million, has been quoted saying: "If you don't own a home buy one. If you own one home, buy another one, and...

 Are there rules for submitting an offer on a Sedona Foreclosures in the Sedona Real Estate Market?  Well, there aren't set rules - however, there is some good general rules that any consumer looking to buy a Foreclosures in Sedona should know.

Our time frames mean nothing to the bank.  Don't  expect a response quickly The banks figure that when they finally respond to your offer, you will either proceed (time for acceptance stipulations be damned) or we’ll go away.  They don’t much care which one you do.

 Now the back and forth of negotiating happens.  Expect this negotiating to be verbals on the bank’s part.  Your agent will get You will probably get emails or unsigned counter offers ...

This great article would apply to the Sedona AZ Home Market, Sedona Real Estate Market, or any market.  Read on!

The Truth About Appraisals
Knowing the Guidelines Solves the Mystery

The appraisal process often baffles consumers. They may feel that their home is worth a higher dollar amount, and so the appraised value doesn't always make sense to them. It is important to know that the appraiser is completely independent from lenders, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents, and that the guidelines to which they adhere are dictated by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and Fannie Mae. In most states, the mortgage lenders must also disclose the purpose of the a...

So selling Sedona AZ Homes in this foreclosure times is very interesting for a number of reason.  First, I have many seller's whose homes are worth less than what they owe, and because they have jobs and investments cannot do a short sale.  So they are opting out of "A Strategic Default".  A glorified way of walking away from their home or investment property.  But a Foreclosure is still a foreclosure and that is what it is.  Now, I know this is nothing new.  But here is where it gets interesting.  I have had seller's stop paying their mortgage and remain in their homes upward of 18 months.  RENT FREE.  Can you imagine?  And after the home has been foreclosed upon - the seller is offered ...

Buying a Sedona AZ Home at an auction can be a very terrfic experience IF you KNOW what you are doing.  That's it.  We don't usually have that many homes at auction like Phoenix.  In fact, Sedona AZ Home aren't usually at auction.  In the last year (and this is from memory) I would say upward of 2 dozen homes have been sold at auction. Most of the time cash is King.  However, many auction houses have partnered up with lenders to obtain financing for qualified buyers. But you will need to have your ducks in a row about your financing BEFORE you put in a bid.  You usually buy the house without an inspection period.  The times and dates for viewing the house is usally posted on the auction s...

This is a fantastic Patio Home in one of Sedona AZ Home's best Subdivision - Canyon Mesa.  With such wonderful priviledges that include FREE golf, pool, tennis, and use of the community club house. This home has superior views when comparing it to most other and best of all opens out onto National Forest so you can hike to your hearts content.  This home has been reduced for a quick sale and the seller's will look at offers.  So give me a call and let me show you this home - I'm bettin' you will never want to leave.

Contact Me: FACEBOOK, EMAIL, or CALL 928-301-0669

Well the Sedona Homes for Sale  Market continues to plug away despite the foreclosure and the short sale market. The number of sold homes has actually improved dramatically - up by 18% from this time last year with 42% of the market either being a foreclosed or a short sale home.

Sedona Home Prices started to climb at the beginning of the year with the highest point at the end of April - and have tapered downward since then and are currently 6.5% lower than this time last year.  That April Surge was probably due to the tax credit expiring in June.

Even the luxury market has improved with the same amount of homes sold since 2006.  The difference between those 2 years is significant in price ...

Well after having typed this 2 different time for the Sedona AZ Home for Sale Market and then having it disappear into the internet cosmos - I am getting tired of having to repeat and repeat.  But it is really the same story. Median SOLD  Price in the beginning of January was $340,000.  Price on April 30th went up to $360,000.  Median Sold Price now is $314,500.  I think the price went up because of the Tax Incentives the Feds had in place and expired by June.  So prices are still fallling.  Foreclosures are still impacting the market " Do you think???"" And will be for quite some time until the feds can get their head out of the sand - and that goes all the way to the man up top.  Our so...

Cheap! Views! Sedona! Buy Now for Selling Later! Facebook, email, or call 928-301-0669

This doesn't have anything to do with Sedona Real Estate, Sedona land or sedona investing but rather driving a motorcycle, motorbike, even a vespa and wearing a helmet when you do.  This has to do with remembering my dear, sweet, wonderful brother Dr. Tom Hooyman, who choice not to wear  a helmet one beautiful fall afternoon in Denver two years ago today and the impact that his  sudden and early death had on so,  so many people. Including his wife, two great sons, brothers, sister, neices, nephews, colleagues, friends and 89 year old father.  Funny how 1 simple thing can change your life forever.  Yes, I know you feel bad. Yes, I know that could never happen to you - cause..."You're are j...

THIS home is a "No Brainer". It's remodeled. It's new. It has views. It's got class. It's cheap.  It's close to town.  No Brainer!

Contact Me: FACEBOOK, EMAIL, CALL - 928-301-0669

It's all over - not only in the Sedona AZ Home marketplace - but in Wisconsin, California, Nevada, within our neighborhoods.  Foreclosures that continue to drive the market D.O.W.N.  I think the feds, the white house, and all on Cap Hill have their heads so far in the sand about this they are clear to China or are just plain stupid.  Either way - this is going to be here for quite some time and I have recently read 3 new ways to combat the foreclosure mess.

3 New Anti-Foreclosure Strategies
Here are three programs that are considered promising replacements for the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), which has failed to stop foreclosures.

· Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ...

The Sedona AZ Homes for Sale market may be stagnant but it looks like th Sedona Land market is improving a little.  The Median sold price for the year is $132,400.  Which is up from last year’s  10 year low of $121,000 .  The good news is that the sold prices have trended up a bit and we have sold more lots this year so far (79) than from 07-09.  In fact we haven’t seen this much activity since 06 when we sold 105 lots in the same time frame.  Prices have dropped to a point where buyer’s are now buying.   In 06 -  buyer’s thought they needed to jump on the bandwagon  before the prices went up any higher and seller’s made out like bandits.  And now buyer’s are making out like bandits – wit...

When you first purchase a house in Sedona, West Sedona or Uptown, you're most likely thinking of ways to build a home for you and your family. A big yard means plenty of room for the children to play. A newly renovated kitchen means you can finally throw the types of dinner parties you've always wanted. A master suite, well, that's just icing on the cake. However, when it comes to sell your Arizona home, it's important to remember that all those little (and big) changes can also mean big little (and big) changes in your sale price.

While most homeowners should make changes to their houses that suit their lifestyle rather than the eventual sale price of their home five, ten, or even twe...