“Loonie resumes ascent, expected to reach parity on better economic prospects”
Could there be better news for Canadian vacation home buyers and the Scottsdale, Arizona, real estate market? I don’t think so. Read the full Oct. 8, 2009, article by Julian Beltrame of The Canadian Press here: http://tinyurl.com/loonietowardpar
A buying opportunity of a lifetime is created when low prices meet high inventory and highly motivated sellers. If you buy at or close to par, you will be the reigning property shark amongst your circle of friends. So how do you get ready to strike on the very best Scottsdale real estate deal when par arrives? Here are 5 tips to help you get the best vacation home buy possible:
- START VACATION HOME HUNTING NOW — Well before you get here you can identify your favorite areas of town and the best neighborhoods within them. Start by shopping my best picks above for houses on the market now (above) or the foreclosures featured in the tab above. When you see a neighborhood you especially like, we can set up an automatic e-mail notifications of any new listings, price changes or closings. Your level of expertise will rise quickly.
- ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCING — Will you be paying cash, pulling money out of your Canadian property or looking for a mortgage lender in Arizona? All are viable options. But you want to have financing in place before you make an offer. There will be other Canadian buyers this winter competing for the best properties. All offers now require a Loan Status Report, which is a simple form your lender or bank needs to fill out to attest to the fact that you have the money or borrowing power your offer says you do. You don’t want to miss out on the buy of the century because that other Canadian buyer had his paperwork complete while you were still trying to get your banker off the ski slopes. I have the names of Arizona lenders who lend to Canadians, if you want to investigate that option.
- PLAN A FACT-FINDING TRIP — You may or may not find the home of your dreams, but spending a long weekend here with me as your guide will give you a feel for which neighborhoods appeal to you, are close to the things you’ll be enjoying during your time here and have the amenities you want. Scottsdale is larger and more diverse than some people realize. I recently worked with a buyer from California. He said, “I thought Scottsdale was a small boutique community next to Phoenix. It’s really like several towns in one.” He’s right. There are many facets to Scottsdale. I’ll help you find the one that will make you the happiest.
- ASK YOUR FRIENDS WHERE THEY BOUGHT — At the risk of stereotyping, every Canadian buyer I’ve met is an outgoing person who likes to socialize. Some neighborhoods are better at bringing people together for fun social events than others. You can learn a lot from the experiences of your friends and friends of friends.
- MAKE YOUR OFFER REALISTIC — There is a natural desire to get a million dollar property for $100,000—especially when all you hear is how terrible the market here is. While you are free to make any offer of your choosing, if you see a property you really like, let me give you the comparable recent sales, help you factor in what we can get the bank to accept (if it’s a foreclosure) and come up with a price that has a realistic chance for success. There are TONS of bargains to be found. Some come on the market already at bargain prices, some properties are still listed at inflated prices. I will use my intimate knowledge of the market to help you find the true gems and get your offer accepted. Remember, I’m a bargain hunter par excellence. You will get a great deal with my help. So call me at 480-241-0241 and let’s get one step closer to the Arizona vacation home bargain of your dreams!
