Articles & Resources | Kristin Graziano Group

Nearly ¼ Of Homeowners Purchase Property With Less Than 5% Down

July 3, 2019 By admin

Woman accountant or bank worker uses calculator in the office to calculate house loan credit bureaucracy.

A lot of potential home buyers think that in order to successfully buy property they need to save up a sizeable down payment of 20% of the purchase price—and that until they have that down payment in the bank they can’t transition to homeownership.

But the “20% down payment myth” just isn’t true. Thanks to a variety of lending options, there are plenty of buyers out there purchasing property with far less than 20% down.

According to recent research from Zillow, 24.2% of buyers put down 5% or less when purchasing their homes. That’s nearly one in four buyers on the market!

The Takeaway

According to this data, it’s not only possible to purchase a home with a down payment of 5% or less, it’s also extremely common. So if you’ve been putting off buying a home until you have a 20% down payment in the bank, it might be time to rethink your strategy—and finally make your dream of homeownership a reality in 2019.

Top 6 Things To Do To Prep For Arizona Monsoon Season

June 26, 2019 By admin

Better safe then sorry when it comes to being prepared in our Arizona monsoon season which started June 13 and will go until Sept 15. Here are some ways you can protect your home and your sanity.

Install gutters

Some areas of a house that can typically use gutter are: under the scuppers that drain water off a flat roof. You’ll want gutters to pick up the water and drain it down off the roof away from the house.

Check your roof

Foam roofs should be checked for any signs of damage. If you’ve had leaks in the recent past, get the damage repaired or maybe even replace your roof. Areas around pipes, vents and other penetrations in your roof should be sealed. Simply cleaning your roof (especially a flat roof) can help when the winds pick up and the rain piles on.

Power outages

Stock your home with flashlights, candles and matches that are easy to find in an emergency. Keep the phone number of your power company handy so you can check on the status of your neighborhood’s power.

Electrical panel

Label the different sections of your panel so that you can easily see where the circuit breakers are for each room or area of your house. That way, you can turn power back on more easily if a breaker trips during a storm.

Prune and thin trees near your house
You don’t want branches sweeping over the roof that can damage tiles or shingles during a storm. You don’t want limbs breaking off and hitting the house or your car.

Improve the drainage in your yard
Add drains to your driveways, sidewalks and patios. Divert the water to areas away from your house and away from your neighbor’s house.

Renovating To Add To Your Home’s Resale Value

June 2, 2019 By admin

When you renovate your home, you want to get the most bang for your buck. Not only do you want to make your home a better place for you and your family to live, but you also want your renovations to add to your home’s resale value.

But what, exactly, are the features that will help your home sell faster?

According to recent data from Realtor.com (which analyzed more than 1 million single-family listings), the top three renovations that will help you sell your home quickly and at a prime price point? A chef’s or gourmet kitchen, a theater room, and a home gym. These renovation projects were named the “most profitable home features for sellers banking on quick sales.”

Those three features were deemed the most profitable. But they weren’t the only renovations that helped homes fly off the market. Also included on the list of features that will help your home sell faster include a three-car garage (#4), solar panels (#5), a home office (#9), and an in-ground pool (#10).

The Takeaway

If you’re thinking about renovating and adding features to your home, you’re going to want to think about your return on investment and choose a renovation that’s going to help your home sell quickly and profitably. Call us and we can do an initial walk through with you and talk through the areas you are considering.

5 Expert Tips For Protecting Your Home While Away on Summer Vacation

May 31, 2019 By admin

Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for vacations (thanks to the kids extended time off from school). But unfortunately, that also means it’s a prime time of year for home invasions and burglaries.

A big part of the uptick in crime during the summer might have to do with the increase in empty homes thanks to summer vacations. But as long as you take the steps to protect your home, you can avoid coming home to an unfortunate situation.

Here are five ways to protect your home while you’re off enjoying your summer vacation:

1. Install An Alarm System

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Obviously, the best way to protect your home from potential burglars is by installing an alarm system. Just the threat of an alarm system (like a sign in your yard or a sticker on a window) can be enough to deter potential burglars.

When you install an alarm system, the company equips all potential entry ways with alarms. If someone tries to enter the home while the alarm is enabled, the alarm will ring until someone disables it with a code. If the alarm isn’t disabled, the alarm company will immediately notify both you and the authorities and send police to investigate the break-in. Some alarm companies also install cameras at the entrances which you can connect to your phone, giving you the ability to check in on your property while you’re away on vacation. Check in with local alarm companies and get estimates; companies will often offer incentives like discounted rates or free installation in order to get your business.

2. Pay Someone To Mow The Lawn

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If you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time, make sure you hire someone to mow the lawn. An overgrown lawn is a visible indicator that no one’s in the home and can attract unwanted attention.

Have someone mow the lawn on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. And as an added bonus, since someone is taking care of maintenance, you don’t have to worry about coming home to a nightmare of lawn to deal with after your vacation! If you hire someone you know and trust, you might also ask the person taking care of your lawn to do a quick walk-through of the home and make sure everything is in working order. If you have a maintenance issue inside the home while you’re gone, the person can bring it to your attention before it gets out of hand.

3. Don’t Forget About The Mail

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Before you leave for your vacation, put a hold on your mail with the USPS. An overflowing mailbox isn’t ideal for a number of reasons; first off, it’s a sure sign that your family is away. And on top of that, an overflowing mailbox increases the chance that something might fall out and get lost in the shuffle.

Protect your home (and your mail!) and put a hold on delivery until you return from your vacation.

4. Set Timers

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Nothing says “empty house” like a home that stays dark for 12 days straight. Setting timers on your electronics, including lights and televisions, can give the illusion that people are occupying the home even when you’re miles away enjoying your vacation.

You can pick up timers at any hardware store (or on Amazon), plug them into your electronics, and program them to turn on and off at specified times.

5. Be Cautious on Social Media

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When you’re on vacation, you want to share all your fun photos and status updates of the fun time you and your family are enjoying. But it’s important to be cautious on social media.

Publicly posting you’re on vacation on social media can let the wrong person know that you’re not currently occupying your home.

Make sure that your social media accounts are set to “private” before sharing any of your vacation updates; that way, the only people who see your updates are people you know and trust and you avoid broadcasting to the world your home is unoccupied.

You deserve a vacation. Just make sure you follow these tips to protect your home while you’re off enjoying your time off.

HomeBuyers Finding Homes Faster This Year

May 18, 2019 By admin

The path to homeownership can be a long one—particularly in 2018 when low inventory and high competition made it increasingly difficult for potential home buyers to successfully find and purchase homes. But according to recent data, it looks like 2019 is shaping up to be a little easier.

According to recent data from Redfin, in early 2019 the time it took the average homebuyer to move from their first home tour to closing on their new property was 73 days—three full days shorter than the same time in 2018 when it took 76 days (and down from a peak of 84 days in winter 2016). Homeowners are also having to tour fewer properties to find their home—an average of 10 in 2019 compared to 11 in 2018.

:: The Takeaway :: It looks like in 2019 it’s easier and faster to purchase property. So if you’ve been thinking about buying a new home, now is a great time to make a move. Give us a call.

Kids Guide to Summer

May 2, 2019 By admin

Every once in awhile we find a real gem to share out and this one is for sure just that! Kids Guide to Summer Vacation lists are nothing new, the City of Scottsdale’s Kids Guide is no exception and what a great resource to keep handy. Click the image to download the PDF guide!

Nearly ¼ Of Homeowners Purchase Property With Less Than 5% Down

The Takeaway

Top 6 Things To Do To Prep For Arizona Monsoon Season

Renovating To Add To Your Home’s Resale Value

The Takeaway