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.

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!

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!

What Makes Team Clayton Different

Everybody seems to know someone who's a REALTOR®, however some important things set us apart from the average real estate agent. Tom and Janet, have been full-time agents since 2002, that's a lot of experience supporting you! When you hire us, you're supporting a family business! You're also getting a whole team of agents for the price of one. That's just the beginning...

• We're charitable: Team Clayton was just recognized as a Top 10 contributor in RE/MAX Professionals to the Children's Miracle Network, supporting Phoenix Children's Hospital. Not only that RE/MAX Professionals raised over $20,000 for PHX Children's in 2018!

• We're top performers: Top 5% of agents nationwide! We do over 40 transactions every year, so all of that experience is working for you, to get you the best deal!

• A team on your side: Tom, Janet, and Kyle Clayton are all full-time Realtors®! You get all of us, plus Stephanie, our Transaction Coordinator for no additional cost to you.

• We don't drop the ball: We have the systems in place to get your transaction closed and the expertise to get your offer accepted. That's huge! Diann will be in constant contact with you and you can call any of us with questions.

We want to make buying and selling your home, an easy process. Our goal is to not only make sure you know what is going on at all times but also to ensure your transaction closes. Our experience and media presence can make the all the difference when selling your home. Team Clayton is the whole package and we continue to innovate. So let's work together!

What to Know About Real Estate Startups

They say things like, 'no hassle' and talk about taking the stress away when you sell a home. Real Estate Startups are popping up around town and while they may be good for some Sellers. However, here is some important information to know:

Profit Motive: these companies are backed by a lot of Venture Capital money, which means one thing: Buy Low and Sell High. The Startup may purchase your home but it will be for low market value because in order to make a profit, they have to sell your home for a higher price. That's your money being left on the table. 

One Sided Representation: when it comes to them buying your home, it's you and the Startup (a corporation). No one has your back in price or fee negotiations. (There's no negotiation when it comes to fees.) When the repair requests come in, are they negotiating on your behalf or their's? When you don't have representation it can cost you not only money but more importantly, time.

Higher Fees: if you think hiring a REALTOR® is expensive, wait until you see what these Startups charge. They are anywhere from 3%-6% higher than a traditional REALTOR®. Plus, if you buy and sell with one REALTOR®, they may give you a commission discount.

These are just 3 really important reasons to consider using a REALTOR® when you sell your home. Not only that, you're helping a small business and that agent's family. You have a relationship with that real estate agent and can call them if something is wrong. Do you think that startup is going to take your call after the deal is done? Not unless you have another house to sell. 

Team Clayton is committed to building relationships with our clients. So much so, that we have 5 free events every year ,that you can attend with your family. Movies, Pizza Parties, Happy Hours, and more. Once you sell with Team Clayton, you're our friend!

So, if you're thinking of selling, give me a call 623-334-5144 or email me, Kyle@TeamClayton.com