What's Happening in Downtown Mesa this week? Sometimes it's hard to find all the cool stuff going happening on Main Street (and thereabouts). Here's a rundown of the Downtown Mesa events for you. It's a little CraigsList-ish right now, I know, but this will be a living page that I will strive to improve over the next months so you don't miss any fun in my Downtown. #IHeartMesa! FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 Play Me, I'm Yours Street Pianos Various locations throughout Downtown Mesa See the map here Anytime through April 9, 2016 Mesa Community Farmer’s Market 9a-1p MACFest Mesa City Plaza 20 E. Main Street, Mesa AZ 85201 9:00 am … [Read more...]
First Quarter 2016 – Review of the Phoenix Real Estate Market
March 4, 2016 By
It's about that time when I like to tantalize all of you with some market statistics! How is the Phoenix real estate market so far in 2016? Well let's take a look... Supply is gradually increasing as it usually does this time of year, but demand has been a little sluggish in the price ranges below about $250-300K in most areas, and a lot sluggish in the upper price ranges. Sellers still call the shots below $250K in most geographic areas, but buyers and in hog heaven in those upper ranges. Hope you bought your lottery tickets because this is the year to buy that mansion. Interest rates have decreased slightly since the Fed lowered the … [Read more...]
Bidding War? Bring It, Baby!
February 8, 2016 By
https://youtu.be/lfrwDv1DgqY This weekend, I submitted offers in two "bidding wars". OK. They were more like bidding skirmishes, as a bidding war these days usually garners 3-5 offers compared to the 25-40 offers we were seeing a few years ago. Multiple offer situations tend to scare buyers. But guess, what? My clients offers were accepted in both cases. Multiple offers are unavoidable when there are fewer listings than buyers, so here are my tips on how to be victorious should a bidding war be in your future. CHOOSE A STRONG TEAM: First and, absolutely, without a doubt, necessary is choosing the right Realtor. This is no time for … [Read more...]
Affordable Homes in Phoenix — $200K or Less, Going Fast
November 20, 2015 By
A cold hard look at the inventory of affordable homes in Metro Phoenix, priced in the sub-$200K range - the sweet spot for first time and re-entry buyers, is sobering. Folks, there is no sugar coating this factoid. These homes are going fast. There are only about 3300 single family homes in Metro Phoenix - 2,300 in Maricopa County and 1,000 in Pinal County that fall into this price range. That includes homes in the outskirt towns like Wickenburg and Gila Bend, small home, old homes and homes that won't qualify for FHA financing. That might seem like a lot, but in the last year, about 34,000 homes were sold in this price range. Here are … [Read more...]
Living the Main Street Life…Homes for Sale in Downtown Mesa, Arizona
November 18, 2015 By
Downtown Mesa! It's coming alive folks. Back in the day, Main Street in Mesa was The Place, and like many downtown areas in the suburbs of Phoenix, it is enjoying a renaissance. With the opening of the light rail extension from Sycamore to Mesa Drive, Main Street has a new energy, an artsy vibe. The historic buildings are casting aside the past and inviting new businesses to wake up this blast-of-the-past town center. With a focus on art and music, Downtown Mesa welcomes an artist-centric culture to the East Valley. This is Main Street USA, where people wave to you as you stroll down the street. Stop in at Jarrod's Coffee, … [Read more...]
Can You Really Buy a House With Only $1000 in Your Pocket?
October 2, 2015 By
Sometimes! Have you been thinking about buying a house but figure you won't live long enough to save up that huge down payment? Never fear! Hope is here! Arizona has several down payment assistance programs that provide a grant to homeowners who qualify that shaves 3% off the minimum down payment. That's a huge chunk of the low down payments required for FHA and some conventional loan programs. And it gets better... If the seller agrees to contribute towards your closing costs - effectively financing those closing costs - you might be surprised at the small amount of cash you need to get those house keys. I have seen folks buy for … [Read more...]
Motorcycles on Main – A First Friday Tradition in Downtown Mesa
September 10, 2015 By
On the first Friday of (almost) every month, Downtown Mesa, is transformed into a mini-Sturgess. Bikers from across the Valley descend upon Main Street for a street party that gets better every time. Maybe you have heard of it...maybe you have thought about checking it out, but you aren't quite sure how it works. You don't need a bike - although bring it if you have it - to join this jamboree. No, this is a fest with no rules! (Well, OK, you need to follow the traffic laws and basic municipal guidelines...) Here's a couple of tips: If you don't have a bike, don't come down Main - use 1st Street or 1st Ave. And, yes, Here in Mesa, the … [Read more...]
Phoenix Real Estate Market Update – September 2015 – Live from Downtown Mesa
September 7, 2015 By
A LONG overdue update of the Phoenix Real Estate Market - live from Volstead Public House at 105 W Main St in Mesa! Things are VIBRANT in the Phoenix real estate market right now, with an edge to sellers in most cases. Sales volume has started to lighten up as we approach the end of the year, but some of areas of the Valley are still seeing brisk sales. HOT areas are Avondale, Glendale, Surprise, Tempe and Mesa (yeah!). For more information, you can reach me at Kristin LaVanway 480-282-7464 kristin@hereinphoenix.com Check out Volstead Public House at https://volsteadpublichouse.wordpress.com/ More in Downtown Mesa … [Read more...]
Shy Guys Guide to Meeting Girls – LoFi Coffee
July 22, 2015 By
Fun at LoFi Coffee with April Walterscheid and Sean Ryan McBride doing a little improv scene. This one offers some atypical advice for the socially awkward. Perhaps you can glean some worthy knowledge about meeting girls in coffee houses...Perhaps not. Starring April Walterscheid & Seam Ryan McBride Camera attempted by Kristin LaVanway who accidentally disconnected the shotgun mic so we went silent on the one. Music by Kevin MacLeod over at Incompetech: "Opportunity Walks" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ … [Read more...]
Need a Shot (of Espresso?) – Head to LoFi!
June 30, 2015 By
Like most Realtors, I have a home office. It's great, right? No commute...I can work in my PJs...throw in a load of laundry while I negotiate some big deal...NOT! After a while, it occurs to me that I haven't had any human contact in DAYS and I start to go slightly mad. Soon, I start thinking about the episodes of Walking Dead I haven't seen yet and figure, what the heck? Why not just eat that cookie dough instead of actually making the cookies for the Open House. In other words, working from home is a mixed blessing, K? So, today, my primary mission was to take my laptop out into the world and work SOME PLACE ELSE...like LoFi Coffee. This … [Read more...]
