My 'Why' for School Board

Why am I running for school board?

I am running to be a strong advocate for kids, teachers, staff, and parents. I’ve been alarmed by news stories across the country describing political activists joining school boards for the express purpose of politicizing education issues. I’m a parent of a child in the Washington Elementary School District. Common ground can be found on nearly every issue when educating is centered as the priority.

También hablo español. My Bachelors degree from Arizona State University is in Spanish. This gives me a broader understanding of parents.

What inspired me to run for school board?

Seeing dedicated education professionals with decades of experience—many of them women—being bullied and attacked at board meetings across the country was a flashing neon sign to get off the sidelines and grow the ranks of those who believe in science, the historical inequities in public education, and the dignity of LGBTQ+ students & staff.

What do I believe in?

First and foremost, I believe Arizona teachers are dedicated, hardworking, and have the best interests of my child in mind. We don’t need to put surveillance teachers in classrooms, and we shouldn’t be banning books or the teaching of our country’s sometimes-troubled history.

I won’t cede ground to anyone who thinks public education is “government overreach”, but I will work hard to find compromise and common ground that allows public institutions to provide the best possible education to the largest number of Arizona kids.

What do public schools need?

For starters we need to stop cutting education funding every time our state manages to move up one slot in education rankings. Like clockwork business “leaders” start telling us that our state tax rates are slowing economic growth, when it’s obvious to everyone that having an educated workforce is one of the most important factors in growing our state’s economy. If you think I’m exaggerating, you only have to look as far as the March 1st budget deadline of 1.1 billion dollars. If anything is going to shut schools down, it is this political game.

Why am I the right candidate?

As a licensed real estate agent, I have a fiduciary obligation to my clients—that means I’m legally required to make their interests my top priority. We need more professionals who are willing to take a less individualistic and more clinical approach to education while serving on our school boards, and I intend to lead by example. Public education is about preparing our community’s children for success, not limiting their potential with outdated dogma or narrow parochial interests. Science, culture, diversity—these are hallmarks of a dynamic and growing country—the kind of country I want for my own children.

My goal is to help children in a positive way to create life-long learners. My goal is to understand and empathize with parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators so that they feel heard and understood.

Mortgage Interest Rates Have Dropped!

Let the rates drop! Well, they have. Mortgage interest rates are now at a TWO YEAR low! That is huge for buyers, who are ready and waiting to buy a home. In Phoenix, Arizona it is particularly good news because the inventory of homes is also on the rise.

The current rate for a 30-year fixed rate, conventional loan is at 3.82% with an APR of 3.94%, according to Freddie MAC. Some rates are as low as 3.62% for FHA loans, depending on your financial situation. The Mortgage Bankers Association expects the rate to continue on this path and we may even see another rate cut in the future.

Blah, blah, blah… What does that mean?

If you’re shopping for a home: Lock in your rate! With rates this low, you’ll want to try and lock it down. That will mean that you’re going to have to get serious and find a home you want to make an offer on. Buying a home now will mean that you get more property for your money and will pay less in interest over the life of the loan.

If you own a home: Check out your options for refinancing and see if it can save you money. The refinance process does cost money, so you’ll want to check that the savings is worth the cost.

If you’re almost ready to buy a home: Start getting your finances in order and talk to a mortgage broker. Then you will know what your rate would be and have a better idea on the cost to purchase a home. Your mortgage broker may also give you some homework to get you a better rate or loan.

So now that the rates have dropped, you may want to talk to a mortgage broker. I work with some of the best people in the industry, so give me a call! I can set up an introduction for you. Then they’ll work with you to accomplish your goals.

If one of those happens to be buying a home, let’s get house hunting! I would love to help you.

Talk to you soon,

AZ Living: Sahuaro Ranch Park

Sahuaro Ranch Park is an iconic Glendale, Arizona destination. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at this park. It’s such a fun and magical part of this state. Not only for the historic buildings, that preserve the farming history of Arizona, but also for the peacocks who roam freely around the grounds.

This park is an amazing gathering place for families across the state. It has baseball fields where groups get together for practice and tournaments. There are playgrounds, volley ball areas, soccer fields, and places to have a party. One of the best things about this park is the ramada area. It’s perfect for parties and BBQs with the huge grills! There’s counter space and sinks too. So you can really grill up some good food, while everyone has fun!

Walking around Sahuaro Ranch park, you’re sure to see the Peacocks! They roam free and are used to people, just don’t antagonize them! They’ve been there my whole life and little kids love to see them walking around. Sometimes they’ll even show off their beautiful tail feathers!

As you walk the grounds you’ll see historic buildings that have been preserved. Some are even decorated with artifacts from the time, to give you a feel for the history. Not only are they full of history and a great way to learn more about Arizona, they’re also beautiful. You may recognize some of these buildings because they’re a popular spot for Christmas and Engagement photos. So you’re also sure to see a photographer when you walk around too!

Finishing up your tour, you’ll notice the beautiful rose garden. During the winter it’s cut back but come spring, it’s a gorgeous site to see and smell! It’s also the perfect location for a wedding ceremony, which are also common during the year.

So if you’re looking for an authentic Arizona Living experience, check out Sahuaro Ranch Park! You’re sure to enjoy it and learn a little bit more about this awesome state! If you want to learn more, visit this website.

Renewing My Real Estate License

We’ve all heard statistics about certain businesses, like 50% of restaurants will fail. These statistics are something you look at going in to things, in order to asses how much work it will take to succeed. Well, real estate is no different.

80% of newly licensed agents will never renew their license after TWO years!

Now that is a huge rate of failure! Only 20% of licensees move on to year three of their real estate career. That means the job of a real estate agent isn’t for the faint of heart and that succeeding means working really hard!

All of that is true. The last two years have been a lot of work. Not only the work of real estate but the work of improving and motivating myself to keep going. Even with my parent’s established team and systems, real estate was hard! It still is!

What they don’t tell you, is that the job isn’t about selling homes, it’s about successfully dealing with people of all different personalities and ushering them to a closed deal. It’s about being so self confident that you can handle rejection, stress, lost deals, no clients, and still keep going! It also has a lot to do with asking for business, something very uncomfortable. All of that, is why so many don’t succeed or quit right before a breakthrough is about to happen. It’s hard work!

So that is why I am celebrating this big win! I’ve made it to year three!!!

Buy a House With a FREE Realtor®!

Did you know? When you buy a home it doesn’t cost you a dime to hire a Realtor®!

That’s right!

How is this possible? Well, the seller pays the commission! When you sell your home, the listing agent charges the seller a percentage for commission. That percentage is split between the selling agent and the buyer’s agent.

Why? In order to list your home on the Multiple Listing Service, where everyone who’s looking to buy can see it, you have to offer a commission. So the selling agent lists the percentage a buyer’s real estate agent will get paid listed with the rest of the home’s information.

So it’s a no-brainer to hire a Realtor®, whenever you buy a home. Why wouldn’t you want to hire a professional, who can negotiate for you, when it doesn’t cost you a dime? You get a lot of protection, advice, and solid experience when you decide to hire a Realtor®. So DO IT! It’s completely FREE! Let’s work together and find you, your perfect home!

Watch to learn more:

5 Reasons to Buy a House in the Fall

Fall isn’t thought of as “the best” time to buy but that may be changing. Savvy buyers have an advantage when shopping for a home during the fall season. So here’s 5 reasons why fall is a great time to buy a home.

1. Year-End Tax Breaks: any mortgage interest or property taxes paid by December 31st are tax-deductible for that year. This could increase what you get back or reduce what you owe the IRS.

2. Less Competition: The National Association of Realtors® reports that almost half of the homes sold, happen between May and August. Luckily fall is the best time in Arizona for the weather, so house hunting will be cooler and even less stressful. You could avoid a bidding war, since most people wait until summer!

3. Eager Sellers: not all homes will sell during that summer rush. So homes on the market during the fall will have sellers that are ready to move on. That may allow you to negotiate a better deal, with less competition.

4. Less Expensive to Move: with most people focused on the holidays, moving companies have lighter schedules than during the summer. Pricing and scheduling during this time of year may be more flexible.

5. Quicker Transactions: title companies are also experiencing a slow down as transactions tend to decline in the fall and winter. Pair that with a motivated seller and you could be in a house before the holidays hit!

If you’re ready to buy and just have been waiting for more homes to come on the market, let’s start looking now. You may end up finding the perfect deal, that you would have missed or had more competition on during the summer months.

Ready to start looking? Email me at kyle@teamclayton.com!

How to Lose a House in Today's Market

Home buying is one of the biggest decisions we make in our adult life. Unfortunately, there are tons of things that can make a deal fall through– especially if you aren’t working with an experienced professional.

Here are 10 ways you might to lose out on your dream home (and how to avoid them):

1. You don’t have enough saved for a down payment. Surprise! Houses are expensive. The down payment for which you’ve spent so much time saving might not be enough. In addition to closing costs, there can also be other fees. Make sure that you have significant cushion savings, in addition to whatever you plan on putting down for your house.

2. You don’t have your ducks in a row. Staying organized is essential when you’re house hunting. Are you serious about the bid you’re putting down? Make sure that you’re fully aware of all deadlines, contingencies, and paperwork involved in moving forward with your home purchase.

3. You’re shopping out of your budget. Looking for houses way outside of your budget is the first way to “lose a house”—you’ll just be losing a home you never had a chance of having. When you shop above your budget you’re sure to find a dream house that’s nothing more than that: a dream.
   
   Plan for the strong possibility of putting in an offer above asking price. This may mean looking at homes listed a few thousand below your budget to create padding in your budget to make a higher offer. 

4. You lose a bidding war. Quick, decisive, assertive—these are all necessary traits to winning a bidding war. Working with an agent who can negotiate on your behalf is a great way to ensure you play your cards right.

5. You come down with a case of buyer’s remorse. Buyer’s remorse plagues homebuyers across the nation. What’s the most obvious symptom of this condition? Cold feet. Sales contracts fall through all the time because buyers back out at the last second, succumbing to the fear of such a life-altering decision. Trust your gut.

6. You close too slowly. Sellers are trying to get sales contracts through as swiftly as possible. In this climate of high demand and limited inventory, residential real estate is a hot market. There will almost always be someone behind you, vying for your potential future home—if you really want it, work hard to satisfy the seller and make things official as soon as possible.

7. You don’t have an experienced agent. None of the above issues are simple. Having someone on your side that knows the ropes of the home buying process is the most valuable tool in your box. Your agent is there to take the brunt of the work off your shoulders and hold your hand along the way. Let a professional help you with the most important purchase of your life.

8. Your inspections aren’t timely. If you’re lucky, all you’ll need is one inspection. However, the inspection is just a first step. If an inspector discovers any problems, you’ll have to start making appointments with specialists to look further into the house’s issues. Don’t waste any time getting the inspections going or you might find yourself without a house to inspect.

9. Your Seller receives a low appraisal. An appraisal that comes in lower than anticipated is always taken by the seller as a personal blow. This proves to be an issue for the buyer, too. Either the seller will become difficult or, even worse, you’ll have to pay the difference between the appraisal and the sales price out of pocket.

10. You can’t secure a mortgage. You’re so close to the finish—and then your mortgage application is declined. Nothing will lose you a house faster than the inability to pay for it! Apply for pre-approval so the seller knows that you’ll actually be able to buy their home; don’t wait for something to go wrong. If you are proactive throughout the buying process the odds of you losing the home are significantly slimmed.

Have questions or need an experienced Realtor® to help you win? Email me at Kyle@teamclayton.com or call 623-334-5144.

Pathway to Purchase Program

The Pathway to Purchase Program is down payment assistance of up to 10% of your purchase price! That's a huge help for homebuyers! Even better, is that this assistance can be used for down payment and closing costs! 

Could this open up the possibility for homeownership to you? Let's talk!

When you decide to use this assistance, you must buy within the covered zip codes listed. You cannot buy a home outside of those areas. So that is a limitation but for that much of a boost, it may be worth it in the long run. 

You'll get a 30-year fixed rate, FHA loan, which is perfect for a first-time homebuyer! You just have to meet a minimum credit score and have a debt to income ratio of 45% or lower.  The property also has to be your primary residence but you don't have to be a first-time buyer!

As a Realtor®, I am really excited about this program and I hope it can help a lot of people looking to buy. So if you're interested in more information, email me at Kyle@TeamClayton.com! I'll send you a flyer with more information and a lender you can reach out to sign up!

Let's get you in a home! 

Home Maintenance Tips.

Maintaining your home isn't easy but a little prevention can spare you some big repairs! Deferred maintenance can also effect you when you go to sell your home! When buyers see things that are broken, they take a closer look at your home!

1. Give your home a good scrub down! Clean everything, even windows! A good place to keep clean is under sinks, buyers and inspectors look there for water damage. Clean homes just present well and generally have a neutral smell!

2. Keep up on minor repairs. Don't let that loose faucet or door handle get any worse. Change burnt out lightbulbs and double check smoke alarms. Also change your air filters!

3. File away major repair invoices. If you get a new water heater, A/C unit, or even an appliance, keep them all. Maintain a file with these invoice in your home, that way you're prepared for any service calls or warranty fixes. Plus, you can leave it for the next owners of your home!

4. Double check your home's systems. Make sure your A/C unit isn't wobbling or making noise. Check to make sure your hot water heater is operational and set at the right temperature. Look under sinks for leaks and check your toilets too! 

5. Look at your home like you're about to sell it. If you were touring this house, like a buyer, what would make you frown? Fix those. What would make you smile? Do more of that. Keeping this perspective will keep you from having to fix everything up before you sell it!

6. Check pool equipment and water levels. It's peak summer and your pool has probably been working extra hard to stay clean. Look over the equipment for any leaks or plugs. Grab a pumice stone and have the kids work on that water line, calcium build up!

7. Purge your storage spaces. If you have stuff in the attic or in the garage, do a small purge session and get rid of some things. Not only will it make some more room, it will keep stuff from building up. Termites and other critters can cause damage in places your stuff is building up!

8. Be aware of moisture build up. Our houses are sealed up tight during the summer and that helps keep us cool, but it may also keep bad stuff inside too. Check your bathrooms for moisture build up and make sure your exhaust fan is working. You may need to give it a little vacuum so it can breathe better. 

9. Secure gates and access points. Part of home maintenance is safety. So check your gates, add locks if needed, and fix any weak entry points to your home. Double check that your pet doesn't have any escape points either. 

10. Sweep the perimeter of your home. Are there plants touching your home? Bushes or moisture near the foundation? These things can be invitations for critters like termites and roof rats. Not good! Trim and remove as needed. Monitor the moisture at the foundation to prevent bigger problems. 

Those are your home maintenance tips! What are some things you suggest?

These items will not only keep your home looking great and performing well! It will also keep you prepared for that day when it comes to sell your home. Your home will already be inspection ready!

Water Safety Tips!

As summer drags on and temperatures stay in the high triple digits, we're all drawn to the water. So here's some safety tips to always keep in mind and make sure you're always learning more!

• Teach kids to swim early and go back to lessons every year!
• Make sure babysitters and care givers know about water safety! Train them!
• Learn CPR and post the instructions near pools and spas. Practice!
• Never assume someone is watching kids around water. Be sure!
• Close toilet lid.
• Empty all tubs, buckets, and cups. Store them upside down. 
• Keep all children at an arms length when bathing. 
• Don’t think you’ll hear a child who’s in trouble in the water; child drowning is a silent death, with no splashing to alert anyone that the child is in trouble

Learn more at The National Water Safety Month Organization and at Safe Kids Worldwide

Stay safe and always supervise!

Selling Your Home in a Housing Shortage

We've all heard the news about how there isn't enough homes on the market to keep up with the demand of homebuyers. So you may be hesitating if you're thinking of selling your home, it may seem like there's nothing out there to move to. However, I can solve that problem for you!

1. Make a Plan: You've decided that you want to move. Now, before you put your home on the market, make sure you make a plan with your REALTOR®. Find the area and type of home you want to buy and get an idea of what's on the market. Once you have an idea of the market, then you and your real estate agent will put the plan into action.
2. Watch the Market: Once your home is for sale, keep an eye on the homes you like, and any new homes that come on the market. Don't get attached, just watch the market. Once you get a contract on your home, it's time to tour homes to buy!
3. Make an Offer: When the house you are selling has a contract on it and your are touring homes. It is time to make an offer! The key is to have a couple of homes you love, so you can put in a few offers. If you like 80% of the house, go for it!  
4. Stay Patient: Your main job is to stay patient, not only with the showings happening at your home but with your own home search. It's going to be a hectic period of time but your REALTOR® should make it as smooth as possible. If they are experienced, this type of transaction shouldn't be hard for them at all. They should be able to line up all the dominos, so that they fall into place perfectly for you!

Now that you have a better idea of how the process would work, you shouldn't hesitate to sell your home in today's market. Home values are rising, so making a move now could be a win-win for you, sell your home for a good price and move-up before prices are even higher. 

Make sure your REALTOR® is experienced and does a good amount of business, every year. The more transactions they have been a part of the easier it will be for you. Plus you'll have a good negotiator on your side for both transactions, helping you maximize your value and close on time. 

Get Your Home Summer Ready!

Summer is here and the heat warnings have already been issued! Keeping your home cool and saving money on energy costs, is a battle we all fight this season. Here's some tips to keep your home energy efficient. 

Air Conditioning: If you need to get your A/C serviced, now is the time. A check-up is always cheaper than dealing with a sudden emergency.

1. Have them also check your temperature splits, to make sure your not losing precious cold air anywhere between the unit and the interior vents. 
2. Replace your filter every month too! Don't use a thick filter, it makes your A/C work harder.

Programable Thermostat: your power company probably has a 'peak usage' timeframe, so program your air conditioning to that schedule. When you're away from home, bump the temperature up. Then have it bump down a few degrees, an hour before you usually get home. 

Seal it up! Think of your home as an envelope, we want to make sure it is all sealed up!

1. Check the weather stripping on your doors, if you can see light, then you need to adjust your seals.
2. Take your A/C vents off and calk the space between the duct and drywall. 
3. Check your attic insulation for gaps or leaks. 
4. Get a home energy audit from APS or SRP.

Check your Fans: make sure your ceiling fans are rotating counter clockwise during the summer. This moves the hot air down with the cooler air, creating a more even temperature. 

Suncreens: keeping the sunlight from entering your house is the best way to keep it cool. So investing in sunscreens on all your windows, helping to lower your energy bills. Plus you'll have some more privacy with the blinds are open!

Selling Your House in The Summer

Summertime means businesses in general are seeing increased sales. The days are longer, people are going on summer vacations, and maximizing their time outdoors before it's too hot. So now may be the perfect time for you to sell your house! Here's some tips:

More Buyers: Typically, people start looking for houses in March and the search for the perfect home can take quite a few months. So by the time summer rolls around they're ready to buy! That means more eyes on the market and if you sell in the summer, you could get a lot more traffic!

Keep it Cool: If buyers are out and about  during the heat of the day, a cool house will feel like a refuge! Pair that with a house that shows well and you'll stand out in their minds. Make sure to turn the A/C down a little lower than normal, so they can cool off while they tour your home. 

Longer Days: Even in Arizona, the longer days help more buyers search for houses. If you work until 5 pm, during the summer you have daylight until almost 8 pm! That leaves so much more time to see as many houses as possible. 

Outdoor Space: It may be getting too hot out, but buyer's still want that outdoor living space. They may be looking for a house during the summer but they'll be living in a home as the temperatures start cooling down. Keep the grass green, trim all the bushes, and create some seating areas. Bonus: add some seasonal flowers to brighten it up!

Trust a Professional: Whether you're buying a new home or on the resale market. Trust a full-time REALTOR® to help you because in a highly competitive market, you need that experience. Ask them how many transactions they do each year and then ask them how close to list price is their average sales price. That will tell you a lot about their experience. If they have the answers, that's a good sign.  

Have any questions? Let me know! I am happy to help you in any way I can!

Let's connect on Facebook!

A Day Trip to Page Springs Cellars

Just outside of Cottonwood, Arizona is prime wine country. One of my favorite vineyards is located there, Page Springs Cellars! So one weekend, I headed up north to enjoy the cool weather and sip on some wine. 

When we arrived to the vineyard, we parked under solar structures that shaded the parking. This vineyard already had my vote, I love sustainability. From there we walked on to the beautiful property and requested a seat on the tasting room patio. It was busy and there was a short wait but nothing crazy. 

The tasting room patio is elevated and feels like a tree house. You can catch glimpses of the entire vineyard in the distance. We ordered food and drink, nothing was disappointing. The Strawberry salad was fresh and the candied pecans we're a delicious crunch. From the brick oven, we ordered a Meat Pie and it was beyond good! Plus the wine flight was a perfect pairing. 

After lunch, we went on the wine tour to learn more about the vineyard and the wine making process. It was so informative and led by a knowledgeable staff member, Lauren. She made the tour great, kept everyone engaged, and shared her passion. We got to try some of the red wine straight from the barrel! As the tour progresses you end up tasting 5 different wines during the tour. One especially stood out to me and so we decided to stay a little longer. 

After the tour we went to the Picnic Window to pick up a bottle of wine and a snack. We sat on a deck overlooking the Oak Creek, enjoying our wine. We walked the grounds some more before making the trip back home to Phoenix.

Even before we left the parking lot, I was making plans to come back again!

6 Tips for Curb Appeal

First impressions are important in so many situations, like: meeting new people, interviewing for a job, and when buying or selling a house. Curb appeal can create a great first impression and make your home welcoming for visitors. So here's some tips:

1. Red Door: Not only are they classic, red doors create a universal feeling of being welcome. Visitors will be drawn to the front door, wanting to come right inside! Talk about a great way to welcome people to your home!
2. Flowers: Color is huge, so grab a tray of seasonal flowers and get them planted! In pots or in the ground, add some pop of color to your front yard. Just don't forget to water them!
3. Curved Pathways: From the sidewalk, add a slightly curved pathway to your door. It will create a traffic pattern and give visitors a direct way to enter your home. Plus you can line it with flowers or other cool, local plants!
4. Wreaths: Adding a seasonal wreath on your door adds another layer of curb appeal. People love the "homey" feeling a wreath can bring to a home. Tap in to those feelings! Not a wreath person? Do a cute sign or colorful mat!
5. Contrast: Make your house stand out with contrasting colors! Have a white house? Try black! Have a gray house? Paint some aqua accents! The contrast in colors will make your home unique and memorable. 
6. Fly a Flag: Owning a home is part of the American Dream, so fly your flag! Have a family member in the Military? Fly their branches' flag! Everyone loves a flag, so put one outside of your home!

These are some easy ways to spruce up your home, even if your not selling! Spring is the perfect time to do these projects, so just pick one that you can handle and tackle it! Share your pictures with me on Instagram or Facebook! I'd love to see what you do!