The Most Expensive Zip Codes

  

ve ZIP Codes In The County (2011 Edition) Posted: 04 Nov 2011 05:45 AM PDT In the housing market, amenities and location have as much to do with a home’s value as the everyday forces of supply-and-demand. Whereas the latter causes home values to rise and fall over time, the former creates a starting point for said values.  Where you live — and the features of your home — determine your home’s price range. Naturally, homes in some areas are consistently higher-valued than homes in others. Using data compiled by real estate market data firm Altos Research, Forbes Magazine presents America’s 10 most expensive ZIP codes. California and the New York Metro area dominate the list. Alpine, NJ (07620) : $4,550,000 Atherton, CA (94027) : $4,295,000 Sagaponack, NY (11962) : $3.595,000 Hillsborough, CA (94010) : $3,499,000 Beverly Hills, CA (90210) : $3,469,891 New York, NY (10012) : $3,392,574 New York, NY (10013) : $3,317,962 Water Mill, NY (11976) : $3,300,000 Montecito, CA (93108) : $3,099,348 Old Westbury, NY (11568) : $3,095,000 In fact, of the top 50 most expensive ZIP codes, only 6 are located outside of California and New York regions. 3 are Colorado resort towns — Snowmass (81654), Aspen (81611) and Telluride (81435) — one is in Maryland, one is in Florida, and the last is in Washington State. Chicago-suburb Kenilworth (60043) is the top-ranked Midwest ZIP code. It placed 86th overall. The Forbes list may be interesting but, to home buyers or sellers in Mesa , it should not be the final word in home values. Real estate is a local market which means that — even within a given ZIP code — prices can vary based on street and neighborhood. Look past general data and get specific. Talk to your real estate agent for local market pricing. Email this via Gmail Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Share this on LinkedIn Post this to MySpace Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Email this via Yahoo! Mail

The Most Expensive ZIP Codes In The County (2011 Edition) Posted: 04 Nov 2011 05:45 AM PDT In the housing market, amenities and location have as much to do with a home’s value as the everyday forces of supply-and-demand. Whereas the latter causes home values to rise and fall over time, the former creates a starting point for said values.  Where you live — and the features of your home — determine your home’s price range. Naturally, homes in some areas are consistently higher-valued than homes in others. Using data compiled by real estate market data firm Altos Research, Forbes Magazine presents America’s 10 most expensive ZIP codes. California and the New York Metro area dominate the list. Alpine, NJ (07620) : $4,550,000 Atherton, CA (94027) : $4,295,000 Sagaponack, NY (11962) : $3.595,000 Hillsborough, CA (94010) : $3,499,000 Beverly Hills, CA (90210) : $3,469,891 New York, NY (10012) : $3,392,574 New York, NY (10013) : $3,317,962 Water Mill, NY (11976) : $3,300,000 Montecito, CA (93108) : $3,099,348 Old Westbury, NY (11568) : $3,095,000 In fact, of the top 50 most expensive ZIP codes, only 6 are located outside of California and New York regions. 3 are Colorado resort towns — Snowmass (81654), Aspen (81611) and Telluride (81435) — one is in Maryland, one is in Florida, and the last is in Washington State. Chicago-suburb Kenilworth (60043) is the top-ranked Midwest ZIP code. It placed 86th overall. The Forbes list may be interesting but, to home buyers or sellers in Mesa , it should not be the final word in home values. Real estate is a local market which means that — even within a given ZIP code — prices can vary based on street and neighborhood. Look past general data and get specific. Talk to your real estate agent for local market pricing. Thank you to Mark Taylor  for the information   you can reach  Mark@awesomerates.com  Lisa Hanawalt ABetter Realty.Net   480-655-0904   1-888-456-4097

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Happy Halloween

The Horses have been busy with activities

This is the time of year everyone thinks about hayrides.

This ride was at an Elementary School in PV, the families have such fun.

Thank you!

If you are interested Give Bill a Call at 602-390-3096

A Western Adventure.net

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September's Housing Starts Report

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Finding Truth In September’s Housing Starts Report  Posted: 20 Oct 2011 05:45 AM PDT Headlines in newspapers can be misleading — especially with respect to housing figures. Media coverage of the most recent Housing Starts data serves as an excellent illustration. Wednesday, the Census Bureau released its September Housing Starts report. In it, the government said that national Housing Starts rose 15 percent in September as compared to August 2011, tallying 658,000 units on a seasonally-adjusted annualized basis. The September reading is the highest monthly reading since April 2010, the last month of last year’s home buyer tax credit. The sudden surge in starts is big news for a housing market that has struggled of late, and the press was eager to carry the story. Here is a sampling of some headlines: § U.S. Housing Starts Rise 15%, Hit 17-Month High (MarketWatch) § Home Building Jumps 15% in September (ABC) § New Construction Surges In September (LA Times) These headlines are each accurate. However, they’re also misleading. Yes, Housing Starts did surge in September, but if we remove the “5 or more units” grouping from the Census Bureau data — the catgory that includes apartment buildings and condominium structures — we’re left with Single-Family Housing Starts and Single-Family Housing Starts rose just 1.7 percent last month. That’s a good number, but hardly a great one. And for home buyers and sellers throughout Mesa and nationwide, it’s the Single-Family Housing Starts that matter most. Individuals like you and I don’t buy entire apartment buildings. Most often, we buy single-family homes. Therefore, that’s the data for which we should watch. The good news is that media tales work in both directions. Building Permits dropped 5 percent last month when the volatile 5-unit-or-more-units category was included from the math. Isolating for single-family homes, we find that permits were unchanged. This is good housing because 82% of homes begin construction within 60 days of permit-issuance, hinting at a steady, late-fall housing market.   This was shared with me by Mark Taylor... you can reach him at Mark@awesomerates.com Lisa Hanawalt    A Better Realty.Net    480-655-0904

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I need a Seller CarryBack......or Investor!

Help!  I have the nicest Family that needs a home, the economy has been hard on them. Both of them are now working.... They are living with family and they are ready for their own home!  All Mom wants is a fenced backyard for her son to play in, and what a cutie he is!

I need a Seller that wants to sell their home and will play the bank.  Or I need an Investor that would be willing to purchase a home for them and let them purchase it from you.

If you are interested in either of these options to help this young family.... please give me a call.  I will have more information for you.

 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.Net

480-655-0904

lisa@abetterrealty.net

Thank you in advance for your help! Lets help put one more family in a home!

 

 

 

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Short Sale Mastermind Group

We had great conversation in the group, Anne asked for copies of letters to send out to receive leads for short sales.  I hope she will come back and share how it went; I would love to know what her ROI is.

see you next time at Mastermind

 

Lisa Hanawalt

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Short Sale Mastermind meets tomorrow!

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Hi everyone,

Short sale mastermind is starting again…. If you are stuck on a file, need help finding that VP… bring your questions… this is agents helping agents…. If I have the info you need … I will be glad to help.

 

There is no selling at this mastermind group!  Just mastermind help.

I look forward to seeing you there.  11 am October 12, 2011

 

Great American Title

1630 S Stapley Dr. Ste 131

Mesa, Arizona, 85204

 

Lisa

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Short Sale Mastermind Group

Do you have questions about short sales? Do you have a file that is making you crazy? Are you wondering where you get answers if the bank just ignores you?

Come to Short Sale mastermind…. We share what we know; it is just agents helping agents! Great American Title provides their training room come be part of this discussion 1630 S Stapley Dr. Ste 131. Mesa, Arizona, 85204 Wednesday Oct 12, 2011 at 11:00 am.

I look forward to seeing everyone…. I am bringing Bank of America info to share

Lisa Hanawalt, A Better Realty.Net 480-655-0904

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Bank of America Help

I want to thank everyone from BofA that has emailed and Jonathan that called this morning to get this FHA Short Sale moving along.

Jonathan, thank you so much for your help this morning.

I was worried that this short sale would be hard, as it isn't in the equator system. However this response has been great!

 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.Net

480-655-0904

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Case-Shiller Index : 85% Of Tracked Cities Showed Home Price Improvement In July

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Case-Shiller Index : 85% Of Tracked Cities Showed Home Price Improvement In July  Posted: 29 Sep 2011 05:48 AM PDT Standard & Poors released its monthly Case-Shiller Index this week. The Case-Shiller Index measures home price changes from month-to-month, and year-to-year, in 20 select U.S. cities. It also reports a “national” index; a composite of the values in said cities. The most recent Case-Shiller Index shows a 0.9% rise in home values from June to July 2011. Home values were higher in 17 of the 20 tracked cities. Only Phoenix and Las Vegas fell. Denver was flat. Also noteworthy is that, of all of the Case-Shiller cities, Detroit posted the strongest 1-year, home price improvement. As compared to July 2010, home values are higher by 1.2 percent in Detroit. This bests even Washington, D.C. — long-believed to be the nation’s healthiest housing market. That said, we should be careful of the conclusions we draw from July’s Case-Shiller Index — both on a city-wide level, and on a national level. This is because, as with most “home price trackers”, the Case-Shiller Index has flaws in its methodology.  The first Case-Shiller Index flaw is its limited scope. Although it’s purported to be a “nationa”l housing index, the data that comprises the monthly Case-Schiller Index is sourced from just 20 U.S. cities. These 20 cities represent just 0.6% of the more than 3,100 municipalities nationwide. The second Case Shiller Index flaw is that the sample sets include single-family, detached homes only. iCondominiums, multi-unit homes, and new construction are specifically excluded from the Case-Shiller Index. In some markets, “excluded” home types outnumber included ones. And, lastly, the Case-Shiller Index is flawed in that it takes 2 months to gather data and report it. It’s nearly October, yet we’re still discussing the real estate market as it existing in July. For buyers and sellers in Scottsdale , July in ancient history.  The Case-Shiller Index is useful for tracking long-term trends in housing, but does little to help individuals with their choices to buy or sell a home. For relevant, recent real estate data, talk to a real estate agent in your market. Real estate agents are often the best source for real-time, real estate data.   This post comes from Mark Taylor you can reach him via email at Mark@awesomerates.com Lisa Hanawalt A Better Realty .Net 480-655-0904 Please remember if you are facing a Trustee's Sale you have options call for help or email me, Let me help you!

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Open Houses on Sunday Sept 25, 2011 Scottsdale Rentals! 1-3pm

Open house today!

This is a great rental home in Scottsdale AZ, near the Mayo Clinic. This home is in the Scottsdale School District, Anasazi Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School and Desert Mountain High School.

This 3 bedroom 2 bath 1556 Square foot home features a formal living room and dining room, family room with fire place, inside laundry with washer and dryer. 2 car carport, easy maintenace front yard, grass back yard.

Come and see us today at 10470 E Clinton Street, Scottsdale AZ

(on block north of shea at via linda)

 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty . Net

480-655-0904

lisa@abetterrealty.net

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The Fed Adjourns At 2:15 PM ET Today : What It Means For Mortgage Rates

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The Fed Adjourns At 2:15 PM ET Today : What It Means For Mortgage Rates  Posted: 21 Sep 2011 05:47 AM PDT The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from a two-day, scheduled meeting today, the sixth of 8 scheduled meetings this year, and the seventh Fed meeting overall. The FOMC is a designated, 12-person committee within the Federal Reserve, led by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. The FOMC is the voting members for the country’s monetary policy. Among its other responsibilities, the FOMC sets the Fed Funds Rate, the overnight rate at which banks borrow money from each other. Note that the “Fed Funds Rate” is different from “mortgage rates”. Mortgage rates are not set by the Fed. Rather, they are based on the price of mortgage-backed bonds, a security traded among investors. As the chart at top illustrates, the Fed Funds Rate and conforming mortgage rates in Mesa have little correlation. Since 1990, the two benchmark rates have been separated by as much as 5.29 percent, and have been as close as 0.52 percent. Today, the separation between the Fed Funds Rate and the national average for a standard, 30-year fixed rate mortgage is roughly 4 percent. This spread will change, however, beginning 2:15 PM ET Wednesday. That’s when the FOMC adjourns from its meeting and releases its public statement to the markets. There is no doubt that the Fed will leave the Fed Funds Rate in its current target range of 0.000-0.250%; Fed Chairman Bernanke plans to leave the benchmark rate as-is until at least mid-2013. However, the Fed is expected to add new support for markets. Unfortunately, there are few clues about how the Fed will support markets, and there is no consensus opinion regarding the size of the said support. As a result, mortgage rates should be bouncy today. First, they’ll be volatile ahead of the Fed’s statement. Then, they’ll be volatile post-Fed statement. Even if the Fed does nothing, mortgage rates will change. This is because Wall Street is prepping for an announcement and — no matter what the Fed says or does — investors will want to react accordingly. When mortgage markets are volatile, the safest move is to lock your mortgage rate in. There too much risk to float. Thank you Mark for this information you can contact Mark via email  Mark@awesomerates.com   For all your Real Eastate Needs please Call Lisa at A Better Realty .Net 480-655-0904

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A Successful short sale closing!

281 7772400 10058400 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0`````````````````````` 5 1 0 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 243 True 128 77 255 3175 3175 70 True True True True True 278 134217728 1 1 -9999996.000000 -9999996.000000 8 Empty 16711680 52479 26367 13421772 16737792 13382502 16777215 Bluebird 22860000 22860000 (`@````````` 266 263 5 110185200 110185200

A successful short sale closing, this has been a long one… times when we all thought it wouldn’t happen. PHH was very slow at times however they did come through and close the transaction! So congratulations to the B’s they can move on, and the O’s as they can move in!

 I can’t thank my Sellers enough for hanging in there, it is difficult… they lose hope and think that this is never going to work.. The bank makes demands that they need paperwork by a deadline, however the bank doesn’t have to have any deadlines.  We worked this short sale for a year! I don’t want to know what my per hour is on this one, what I can tell everyone is that this is why I do what I do, my Sellers do not have a foreclosure on their credit and the burden is lifted, big smiles. Life can get back to normal.

 Thank you

 Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.Net

480-655-0904

lisa@abetterrealty.net

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : September 19, 2011

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : September 19, 2011  Posted: 19 Sep 2011 05:47 AM PDT Mortgage bonds worsened last week as Eurozone default fears eased abroad, and expectations for a domestic stimulus increased.  Mortgage rates rose for the first time in three weeks last week, pushing conforming and FHA mortgage rates in AZ off their all-time, historical lows. Rates were at their lowest Tuesday morning, then rose through Friday’s afternoon closing.  Markets open this week with an eye toward the world’s central banks. In the Eurozone, central bankers (continue to) discuss the debt burdens of Greece and whether a coordinated intervention is necessary. Without it, some economists believe that the nation-state will default on its sovereign debt, which would then create additional financial stress within other nations in the region. Italy is included among those countries. In the United States, central bankers are making equally-important choices.  The Federal Open Market Committee will emerge from a 2-day meeting Wednesday and is expected to announce new stimulus for the U.S. economy. Since 2009, the Federal Reserve has twice stimulated the economy via an open-market, bond buying initiative. The programs created demand for mortgage bonds which, in turn, lowered mortgage rates for U.S. homeowners. If the Fed chooses this path a third time, expect for mortgage rates to fall in Phoenix. If the Fed’s sponsored stimulus is something else, however — or if the Fed choose to do nothing — mortgage rates may rise. There is economic data due this week, including the Existing Home Sales and Housing Starts report, but it will be the world’s central bankers that sit in spotlights.  Expect volatile mortgage rates this week. Wall Street can only guess what governments will do to stimulate their respective economies and can lead to wild swings in pricing. The “safe play” is to lock a rate while we’re still near all-time lows. Once rates reverse higher, they’re expected to rise quickly.   I want to thank Mark Taylor for the information,  you can reach him via email  Mark@awesomerates   If you have any real estate needs I would be happy to help you! Lisa A Better Realty.Net 480-655-0904 lisa@abetterrealty.net 281 7772400 10058400 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0`````````````````````` 5 1 0 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 243 True 128 77 255 3175 3175 70 True True True True True 278 134217728 8 Empty 16711680 52479 26367 13421772 16737792 13382502 16777215 Bluebird 22860000 22860000 (`@````````` 266 263 5 110185200 110185200

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No reponse from PHH Mortage

What is one to do when you email everyone you can think of when trying to negotiate a short sale, and you hear nothing, I am going on day 3.   We have a Buyer waiting on the response, the poor seller is going crazy.  PHH call Me or email ME!!! 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.net

480-655-0904

lisa@abetterrealty.net

Waiting for your call

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Open Houses on Sunday Sept 11, 2011

What a response to Open house I am looking forward to all the people that have called to say they will be there!

Meeting new people is wonderful, I enjoy it so much.  You really need to be a people person in this business....  Well, I better get busy and have the home ready to show people.

This is truly a day to be thankful, everyone remembering the 10th Anniversary of the attack on America, our prayers go out to everyone that lost a loved one.

 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.net

480-655-0904

www.abetterrealty.net

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Open Houses on Sunday Sept 11, 2011 Scottsdale Rentals!

Welcome to open house on Sunday 1:00- 4:00 pm, in Scottsdale we will have two homes open.

6754 East Phelps Road, Scottsdale  cross roads Bell and 68th Street, turn left on 68th, right on Phelps.  Melody will be there and happy to show you around. This is a 2 bedroom 2 bath home 1461 square feet. Paradise Schools

10470 East Clinton Street, Scottsdale open on Sunday 1:00-4:00 pm, Cross Roads Shea and Via Linda, north on Via Linda, left (west) on Clinton  Follow the signs.  This is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom 1556 Square feet. Scottsdale Schools. I will be at this home and Happy to show you around and answer all your questions.

 

Please remember if these homes do not fit your needs we can help you find homes that will.

Also in this market if you know of someone that needs options for their home, send the to us we can help!  Please do not just let your home go to foreclosure, you do have options.

                                                                 www.911shortsalehotline.com

Have a great day, I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.Net

480-655-0904

Fax: 1-888-456-4097

lisa@abetterrealty.net

abetterrealty.net

 

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3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ 85259 Price reduced

Price Reduction, 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ 85259, near Mayo Clinic, and Heathsouth. This 3 bedroom is in the Scottsdale School District the High School is Desert Mountain, Mountainside Middle School, and Cheyenne elementary School. This home is near the 101, Scottsdale Sports Center, Sanctuary Golf Course, West world of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Horsemens Park, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and Scottsdale Ranch Park, just to name a few things around this 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ. Inside this home you will find a formal living room with a glass sliding door out to the covered patio, with lush grass yard mature landscaping ready for grilling out. Next to the living room you have a formal dining room, galley kitchen that opens to a family room with a wood burning fire place, remember that we do have NO burn days. 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ has 2 bathrooms, great storage- large linen closets, the Master bedroom is to the back of the home. This 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ is close to shopping, fine dining, Paradise Valley Mall, and do not forget the Salt River, great at this time of year for floating. This home is also close to several lakes, Canyon Lake, Saguaro Lake, or Apache Lake with Burnt Corral? You are very close to wonderful hiking at lost dog wash trail there are multiple trail heads there, I have included a map for you. This 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ is ready for your move-in, this home has been maintained. For more information and photos go to A Better Realty.Net This 3 bedroom home for rent in Scottsdale AZ is 1550 square feet with a 2 car port, priced very competitive , Call A Better Realty.Net 480-655-0904 for a showing or information.

Application packets are available on this home, the rental criteria is included. This home is offered for Rent by A Better Realty Property Management.Net Do not miss out on this wonderful rental home; Call today 480-655-0904, A Better Realty.Net has another rental in Scottsdale if this one does not work for you. We also have agents that can help you find just what you want email us or use our FREE search.

 

For more information go to A Better Realty.Net Homes for Rent

Lisa

 

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Urgent message Mortgage lawsuit Scam Hits Arizona

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This Morning I received a call from a dear friend of mine, she was looking for a way to stop the foreclosure process on her home, she had received information that for x dollars, x company could do this.  I let her know NOT to do that.  Please read the information below and share it!  Nothing is worse than being in a hard situation and having someone prey on you, this is as predator as it gets.We have an appointment tomorrow so I can help her.

If you are in a positition and you need help, please call me, you do have options.. this call cost you nothing..  help me help you!

Lisa  480-655-0904  or email me at lisa@abetterrealty.net

 

 

AG HORNE WARNS HOMEOWNERS: MORTGAGE LAWSUIT SCAM HITS ARIZONA 

 PHOENIX (Monday, August 22, 2011)  --  Attorney General Tom Horne today issued a warning to consumers to be wary of any notices or advertisements that claim to offer homeowners facing foreclosure “complete forgiveness of the loan” or other monetary relief if they join a class-action lawsuit.  Such ploys are likely a pretext to collect illegal up-front fees for foreclosure assistance.

 In class action litigation, consumers generally do not have to pay to join, and most reputable firms will not charge a fee for attorneys to review your case or to determine if you are eligible to join a lawsuit.

   “The mortgage crisis is only made worse by predators who take advantage of consumers who are already facing the loss of their home,” Horne said.  “State and federal law ban almost all types of up-front fees for foreclosure assistance. I am committed to prosecuting anyone who engages in this type of consumer fraud, and it is just as important that consumers be vigilant against these types of scams.”

 The California Attorney General recently filed a lawsuit against California lawyer Philip Kramer, the Law Offices of Kramer & Kaslow, plus 19 other lawyer and non-lawyer individuals and companies, for deceptively marketing class action or “mass joinder” lawsuits.  The defendants in that case are believed to have taken over $7 million in fees from homeowners in 17 states – including Arizona - after sending out hundreds of thousands of flyers advertising the program. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants advertised nationwide settlements against lenders that did not exist and that many servicers were not provided by lawyers or legal staff. 

 Notices may be mailed to homeowners or posted on their doors. Typically, the business claims that the fee they are charging is for a forensic audit of your loan documents to see if you are eligible to join the class action litigation.  However, the Federal Trade Commission’s Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule (“MARS Rule”) contains a broad ban on requesting or collecting up-front fees for almost all types of mortgage assistance, including forensic audits related to foreclosure relief.  Arizona’s foreclosure consultant statute also prohibits companies from collecting an up-front fee for assisting homeowners in foreclosure. 

 Foreclosure rescue companies may promise to refund your fee if you are not eligible to join the litigation.  However, the Office’s experience with guaranteed refunds indicates that they are very difficult to obtain, or the company may disappear before the refund is paid. If you are facing foreclosure, refuse to pay up-front fees and instead contact the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Helpline at (877) 448-1211 for free assistance provided by HUD approved housing counseling agencies. 

If you feel you’ve been a victim of a class joinder scam or any other type of consumer fraud, please contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information & Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 / (520) 628-6504 / (800) 352-8431. You can also file a consumer complaint online at:  http://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html 

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 22, 2011

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 22, 2011  Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:48 AM PDT Mortgage markets improved again last week, pushing mortgage rates in AZ to an all-time low; lower than the lows set last November, even. Last week’s low mortgage rate drivers are primarily European. Joining the debt concerns that have dogged Europe since March, a fresh wave of doubt has surfaced about the health of some Eurozone banks. The fears sparked a new wave of safe haven buying. Global equities were socked last week and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the 4th straight week. For home buyers in Phoenix , though, the timing may be perfect. As stock markets lose, bond markets gain and when bond markets gain, mortgage rates drop. According to government-group Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 4.17% last week with 0.7 points. This is the lowest rate-and-points combination in history. The 5-year ARM fell to 3.08 with 0.5 points. As mortgage rates fall, though, be wary of trying to “time the market”. It’s impossible to know when rates have bottomed and mortgage rates tend to spike without notice. That’s what happened in May 2010. And then again in November 2010. And then a third time in April 2011. When rates rise, they could tack on 0.500% or more overnight. This week, there is a lot that can move mortgage rates. With housing data set for Tuesday release, the Eurozone stories still unfolding, and three Treasury auctions planned, it’s best to be ready for locking. If you’re floating a mortgage rate or still shopping, consider locking your rate as soon as possible. Rates trended higher to close out last week and will be riding that momentum forward. Rates are lower than they’ve been in history. Take advantage of it. Thank you Mark  for this information..  you can reach Mark@awsomerates.com   Lisa Hanawalt A Better Realty.Net 480-655-0904 lisa@abetterrealty.net

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It's Friday and what a busy day!

Happy Friday to everyone.. I know for my buyers this means homes to look at this weekend, and for renters the same.  We are featuring one open house in San Tan Valley on Saturday, and another on Sunday in Scottsdale.These will be posted on abetterrealty.net  in the homes for rent section.

Today I am off to MREA Mastermind group, this will be fun...  All the ideas I will come out with,  the best part is this helps me help my Clients!  That is what the real estate business is, Realtors helping their clients. We aren't sales people, I sure don't want to be sold something, and I am sure that is how most people feel.

 

Have a happy Friday, and remember... If I can help you let me know!   :-)

 

Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.net

480-655-0904

lisa@abetterrealty.net

 

 

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Open House in San Tan Valley Saturday 11:00 - 3:00 pm

San Tan Valley/Queen Creek home for Rent in the Rancho Bella Vista Subdivision. This 3 bedroom 2 baths home is great home with a flowing floor plan, tile in all the right places and carpeting in the bedrooms. Kitchen has black appliances and a breakfast bar, there is an eating area at the front of the home with windows for light and air, and wooden blinds are at the windows. The great room has plenty of room to live-in and a sliding glass door to the covered patio, block fenced back yard, with rock, no grass to mow. Master bedroom is split from the other bedrooms and is to the back of the home. Inside laundry room with washer and dryer, fire door out to the 2 car garage. Near the park, fry,s shopping plaza, banks, and restaurants. The new Banner Ironwood  Hospital is open! Poston Butte is a K-12 School and they are having open enrollment, Queen Creek School District.

Call Bill for showing 602-390-3096
For the application go to www.abetterrealty.net  homes for rent.

Melody Davis will be the agent on site, she will help with this home or anyother homes in the area!

A Better Realty.net

480-655-0904

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IRS's top 10 tax tips for home sellers

IRS's top 10 tax tips for home sellers

Real Estate Tax Talk

By Stephen Fishman
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From time to time the IRS releases tips designed to help people with their taxes. Some of these are quite useful.

Last week the agency released "Ten Tax Tips for Individuals Selling Their Home," (IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2011-15).

As a real estate agent or broker, it is not your job to give home sellers tax advice. Indeed, it is advisable not to, since you could end up getting sued if you give wrong advice.

Instead, refer sellers to this list of IRS tips. It's a good starting place for them to begin to understand this often complex area of tax law. You could even print it out and hand it to anyone who asks you about these issues.

Here are the IRS's top 10 tax tips for home sellers:

1. In general, you are eligible to exclude the gain from income if you have owned and used your home as your main home for two years out of the five years prior to the date of its sale.

2. If you have a gain from the sale of your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 on a joint return in most cases).

3. You are not eligible for the exclusion if you excluded the gain from the sale of another home during the two-year period prior to the sale of your home.

4. If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return.

5. If you have a gain that cannot be excluded, it is taxable. You must report it on Form 1040, Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.

6. You cannot deduct a loss from the sale of your main home.

7. Worksheets are included in Publication 523, Selling Your Home, to help you figure the adjusted basis of the home you sold, the gain (or loss) on the sale, and the gain that you can exclude.

8. If you have more than one home, you can exclude a gain only from the sale of your main home. You must pay tax on the gain from selling any other home. If you have two homes and live in both of them, your main home is ordinarily the one you live in most of the time.

9. If you received the first-time homebuyer credit and within 36 months of the date of purchase, the property is no longer used as your principal residence, you are required to repay the credit. Repayment of the full credit is due with the income tax return for the year the home ceased to be your principal residence, using Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit. The full amount of the credit is reflected as additional tax on that year's tax return.

10. When you move, be sure to update your address with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service to ensure you receive refunds or correspondence from the IRS. Use Form 8822, Change of Address, to notify the IRS of your address change.

These tips can be found on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/content/0,,id=104608,00.html.

Stephen Fishman is a tax expert, attorney and author who has published 18 books, including "Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Contractors, Freelancers and Consultants," "Deduct It," "Working as an Independent Contractor," and "Working with Independent Contractors." He welcomes your questions for this weekly column.

 

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Lisa Hanawalt

A Better Realty.net

480-655-0904

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