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Bloodhound News and views...
We pay very close attention to real estate news in--and outside of--the Valley of the Sun. This page documents our efforts.
BloodhoundBlog...
Click here for an up-to-the-minute take on the real estate news for the Phoenix/Scottsdale Metropolitan area. What's new and how will it affect you? Where is the real estate market headed? What impact will the internet have on real estate marketing? With links to news sources and other weblogs, BloodhoundBlog is a devoted real estate newshound. The weblog is be updated frequently, so bookmark the page or subscribe to the RSS feed.
The Bloodhound newsletter...
Real estate news and views emailed to our entire client base.
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March 2006
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Broker Greg Swann writes a weekly real estate column for West Valley sections of the Arizona Republic. If you click here, you can see the most recent columns. Below you will find some past columns.
- Oct. 10, 2009: The news media may insist that the real estate market has turned the corner, but my attitude toward work is simple: "Just say yes!"
- Oct. 3, 2009: Despite the hype, the long-term trend of home prices in Phoenix is still steadily downward
- Sept. 26, 2009: Looking for a reason to buy real estate? How about free ice cream?
- Sept. 19, 2009: When the weather finally breaks in Phoenix -- it breaks for ten solid months of pure paradise...
- Sept. 12, 2009: Are banks "warehousing" foreclosed homes in the Phoenix real estate market? If so, sooner or later something will have to give
- Sept. 5, 2009: Even though much of the current real estate "news" is really just hype, there can still be good reasons for you to be in the market
- August 29, 2009: Does your smart-phone hold within it the future of real estate marketing?
- August 22, 2009: Unleashing the power of internet technology on real estate transactions
- August 15, 2009: Fishing for the details takes the fun out of real estate fish stories
- August 8, 2009: How real estate transactions can fall apart -- and how Realtors work to keep the parties together
- August 1, 2009: The buyer's agent is the unsung hero of the home-buying process
- July 25, 2009: Why should you enlist a buyer's agent to help you buy a home? Because you'll get a much better deal -- even if you pay full price
- July 18, 2009: With MLS listings available everywhere on the internet, why do you need a buyer's agent?
- July 11, 2009: Is this the right time to buy a house in Phoenix? It depends...
- July 4, 2009: Private ownership of the land is the source not just of our freedom but of our civility and of our humanity itself
- June 27, 2009: Getting outbid for houses? Relax. Available homes are not in short supply, so there is no reason to overpay
- June 20, 2009: Cashing in on your $8,000 first-time home-buyer tax credit may take some effort in the current Phoenix real estate market
- June 13, 2009: Getting a $15,000 tax credit when you purchase your next home could be as easy as stealing candy from a baby...
- June 6, 2009: Do you want to save money in the Phoenix real estate market? Stop shopping for bargains and start shopping for value instead.
- May 30, 2009: How Phoenix real estate investors can make their rental homes more appealing to tenants
- May 23, 2009: Foreclosures are bringing unscrupulous practices back to the Phoenix real estate market
- May 16, 2009: The $8,000 first-time home-buyers tax credit gets even juicier
- May 9, 2009: The goal of the BloodhoundBlog Unchained training conference is to push the bums out of the real estate business
- May 2, 2009: Are you looking for a flinty-eyed steward to protect the value of real estate? Whatever you do, don't turn to a banker!
- April 25, 2009: Is there a housing boom going on in the Phoenix real estate market? Or is this really just a Fool's Gold Rush?
- April 18, 2009: A good Realtor may be the key to preserving your parents' legacy when they pass away
- April 11, 2009: Taking the pulse of the Phoenix real estate market: Boom? Bust? Both?
- April 4, 2009: The five bad habits of highly ineffective real estate investors
- March 28, 2009: If you live where it snows and where rust is common, it might be time to think about moving to metropolitan Phoenix
- March 21, 2009: The Phoenix real estate market will turn around when our population rises to match our housing supply
- March 14, 2009: There is money to be made in Phoenix-area rental homes -- unless you lose it to a scam artist
- March 7, 2009: Do you own a home in Metropolitan Phoenix? Trying to sell one? I feel your pain. But for investors and first-time home buyers, prices and interest rates are low and incentives abound.
- Feb. 28, 2009: The federal government's housing casino will never play fair as long as there are votes to be bought by cheating
- Feb. 21, 2009: Obama's housing rescue plan won't rescue housing, but it will delay the eventual recovery of the real estate market
- Feb. 14, 2009: Prices for Phoenix-area real estate are very low, but are they low enough to justify a run on the market?
- Feb. 7, 2009: Are you planning on making expensive changes to your home? Make sure they'll make sense to future buyers
- Jan. 31, 2009: Remodeling your home -- if you do it right -- can add to your enjoyment now and to your resale value later
- Jan. 24, 2009: Looking to make changes in an older production home? Within limits, you can do just about anything you want
- Jan. 17, 2009: A pocket history of production home-building in the Phoenix-area
- Jan. 10, 2009: Doing the right kinds of repairs and remodeling to your home is the key to maintaining its resale value
- Jan. 3, 2009: If selling is not a viable option, you need to fall in love with your house all over again
- Dec. 27, 2008: 'U.S adults' may not want foreclosed homes, but homebuyers sure do
- Dec. 20, 2008: Workable real estate deals may require even more creativity
- Dec. 13, 2008: For some, the most financially-astute course of action may be to fake their way to foreclosure
- Dec. 6, 2008: Seriously, who's a better risk for a mortgage than someone who has already lost a home to foreclosure?
- Nov. 29, 2008: Someday soon we may have to turn back the clock on home lending
- Nov. 22, 2008: The bottom of the Phoenix real estate market may be in sight -- but, alas, the end is not near
- Nov. 15, 2008: A workout loan can be a win-win solution to avoiding foreclosure
- Nov. 8, 2008: How the new president is going to prolong the housing bust
- Nov. 1, 2008: Restoring a bargain-priced lender-owned home is easy -- if you have cash -- but a HUD 203k rehab loan makes it easy even if you don't
- Oct. 24, 2008: Foreclosure homes are sold 'as-is' -- but most need only minor restoration to bring them back to fully-livable condition
- Oct. 17, 2008: This just might be the optimal time to buy a home in Phoenix
- Oct. 10, 2008: If you have cash or can qualify for a mortgage, this could be the ideal time to grab a bargain-priced home in the Phoenix area
- Oct. 3, 2008: Other types of credit may be feeling the crunch, but home mortgages are still readily available
- Sept. 27, 2008: In a declining market, buying a short sale is too tall an order
- Sept. 20, 2008: This endless election season may give the real estate market time to self-correct before new legislation can make things worse
- Sept. 13, 2008: Fannie and Freddie fall to foreclosure, but, still, lenders lend
- Sept. 6, 2008: August was a great month for real estate sales, but when 40% of buyers are pushed off the playing field, home prices could plummet
- August 30, 2008: With its new iPhone application, Trulia.com is taking on-line real estate search to the streets
- August 23, 2008: Buy low? Sell high? You can't sell high for now, but prices are low enough that a buy-and-hold strategy could pay off handsomely
- August 16, 2008: What went wrong in the Phoenix real estate market? We told homeowners to treat their homes like securities investments – and they did...
- August 9, 2008: There's more to the mortgage relief bill than just mortgage relief
- August 2, 2008: New FlexMLS system is a bold stride into the twenty-first century for Phoenix-area Multiple Listings Service
- July 26, 2008: A real estate sign of the times: Our first custom yard sign printed in both English and Spanish
- July 19, 2008: What's the obstacle to a paperless, iPhone-able real estate transaction? The sclerotic real estate industry itself
- July 12, 2008: Don't learn all the wrong lessons about creative mortgages
- July 5, 2008: Musical chairs: You can buy a home on leased land for a bargain price, but you must be prepared to sell before the music stops
- June 28, 2008: You probably won't sell your home for an above-market price, but even if you do, the home still has to appraise for that price
- June 21, 2008: Investors are coming back to the Phoenix rental home market -- and with the right business plan they'll make money
- June 14, 2008: Price matters -- but so does everything else: When buyers come to see your home, they're looking for reasons to reject it, not to buy it
- June 7, 2008: Has the Phoenix real estate market turned the corner? It's too early to tell, but May's results suggest we may be nearing the bottom
- May 31, 2008: Looking for the bottom? Real estate speculators are establishing the bottom-dollar price for lender-owned homes in Phoenix
- May 24, 2008: Phoenix real estate conference teaches Realtors and lenders the brave new world of internet social media marketing
- May 17, 2008: The Flip digital video camera makes illustrating real estate ideas fast, convenient and fun
- May 10, 2008: Are you an investor looking for a Phoenix-area rental home that will stay rented? Buy a home that's worth living in
- May 3, 2008: Do you want to make sure your home will sell? Little things matter
- April 26, 2008: The challenge for Realtors and lenders in the future: How do you sell to consumers who don't want to be sold?
- April 19, 2008: Will Realtors be disintermediated by on-line tools? Probably not, but tech-savvy Realtors will supplant those who do not adapt
- April 12, 2008: Zillow.com's Mortgage Marketplace brings anonymous apples-to-apples mortgage rate quotes to consumers, free consumer leads to lenders
- April 5, 2008: Looking for a bargain in Phoenix real estate? Add some elbow grease to your money and go for a bank-owned home
- March 29, 2008: If you don't have to sell into the current Phoenix real estate market -- don't. But what if you do have to sell...?
- March 22, 2008: In the Metropolitan Phoenix real estate market, our long, slow slide in home prices is finally encountering demand
- March 15, 2008: Your rental home in Phoenix will generate positive cash flow -- but will it appreciate significantly in the coming years?
- March 08, 2008: How do you get visitors to come to your home's custom weblog? Shoe leather works well. Search engines? Not so much...
- March 01, 2008: Dress up that custom weblog you've built to help sell your home
- Feb. 23, 2008: A custom weblog can be your home's 24-hour real estate salesperson on the world-wide web
- Feb. 16, 2008: Down Payment Assistance is another creative financing option you can deploy to make sure yours is the home that sells
- Feb. 09, 2008: Choosing second-best could get you the best possible home
- Feb. 02, 2008: If you've finally found your dream home in the Phoenix area -- don't dawdle
- Jan. 26, 2008: Selling your Phoenix-area home in a declining market? The race is to the swift
- Jan. 19, 2008: Net-borne buyers create new burdens for Phoenix real estate agents
- Jan. 12, 2008: Seller financing can give you an edge over your competition in the Phoenix real estate market
- Jan. 05, 2008: Your real estate improvement goals for 2008 will be more financial than physical
- Dec. 28, 2007: For real estate in Metropolitan Phoenix, the pain of currency inflation may be enduring
- Dec. 21, 2007: Time of the signs: Let there be light -- for real estate signs, that is
- Dec. 14, 2007: Government interference will prolong housing woes
- Dec. 07, 2007: Web site demonstrates how much work goes into staging a home for sale
- Nov. 30, 2007: What do Canadian real estate investors know about the market in Phoenix that you don't know?
- Nov. 23, 2007: Consumers to Realtors: 'Don't push me, I'll pull you instead -- and if you push too hard, I'll pull away'
- Nov. 16, 2007: Real estate representation has never been about information brokerage
- Nov. 09, 2007: Finding the best real estate deal in the Phoenix real estate market is a matter of balancing trade-offs
- Nov. 02, 2007: How low can they go? Negotiating a real estate bargain in the Phoenix real estate market
- Oct. 26, 2007: Phoenix has it's problems, but they're small compared to those in other cities
- Oct. 19, 2007: Your Metropolitan Phoenix house can't be sold if it can't be shown to buyers
- Oct. 12, 2007: New weblog documents and supports the transition to new a MLS system for the Phoenix real estate market
- Oct. 5, 2007: You'll lose money if you buy a house? Which house?
- Sept. 28, 2007: Looking for a bargain-priced home in the Phoenix area? If you don't Flinch!, the seller will
- Sept. 21, 2007: Fed trades a sharp pain followed by a quick recovery for an extended convalescence
- Sept. 14, 2007: If you assume the worst, what can you do to get your Metro Phoenix home sold now?
- Sept. 7, 2007: Doing an appraisal and an inspection in advance could swing the balance toward home sellers in Phoenix
- Aug. 31, 2007: What can home sellers do differently to get their houses sold int he current Phoenix real estate market?
- Aug. 24, 2007: Is Phoenix a buyer's market? You bet, but even more than that, it's a Realtor's market
- Aug. 17, 2007: How to take away buyers' objections to drawbacks in a home
- Aug. 10, 2007: Mortgage meltdown? The end of the world has been delayed again
- Aug. 3, 2007: Why didn't your Phoenix-area house sell? Price, preparation, presentation -- and availability
- July 27, 2007: A by-owner home seller is no match for a skilled Phoenix Realtor
- July 20, 2007: What makes a home sell in the curent Phoenix real estate climate? Marketing, preparation -- and especially price
- July 13, 2007: Not all Phoenix area neighborhoods are feeling a downturn in real estate values
- July 6, 2007: Celebrating the father of our freedoms: The freedom to own real estate
- June 29, 2007: iPhone may herald a whole new way to shop for homes
- June 22, 2007: Arizona state rethinks crackdown on online home appraisals
- June 15, 2007: A short list of questions serves to answer why Arizona's real estate license laws should be repealed
- June 8, 2007: The consumer is the loser with Arizona real estate licensing
- June 1, 2007: Arizona real estate licensing fuels debate
- May 25, 2007: The MLS 'ad' crackdown is a waste of time
- May 18, 2007: New Arizona real-estate licensing law fails consumers
- May 11, 2007: Video has a place in home sales, but use it wisely
- May 4, 2007: Picture this: Digital photos can sell your home in the Valley of the Sun
- April 27, 2007: Arizona State vs. Zillow.com will be a lengthy bout
- April 20, 2007: Attention Arizona Board of Appraisal: An internet real estate valuation is not an appraisal
- April 13, 2007: How to prioritize your home-buying negotiation in the current Phoenix real estate market
- April 06, 2007: Web site builds a community of real estate consumers and vendors
- Mar. 30, 2007: A skilled Realtor in the Phoenix real estate market is the bargain of lifetime
- Mar. 23, 2007: Realty.bots will make home sellers happy
- Mar. 16, 2007: On-line real estate databases can fall short of buyers' and sellers' needs
- Mar. 9, 2007: Passive marketing can swing the balance in your favor in the Phoenix real estate market
- Mar. 2, 2007: Today's Metropolitan Phoenix real estate market should dictate price of a home for sale
- Feb. 23, 2007: Homeowners associations (HOAs) don't deserve hate; they have a purpose
- Feb. 16, 2007: 'Fizzbos' fizzle because of three key marketing issues
- Feb. 09, 2007: Phoenix home sellers: Are you ready for cherry-picking time?
- Feb. 02, 2007: A home seller who doesn't move out on time can create a legal tangle
- Jan. 26, 2007: A recent refinancing can make selling a house costly in the Phoenix real estate market
- Jan. 19, 2007: Phoenix-are home sellers who aren't motivated can create headaches
- Jan. 12, 2007: Blogs can help Realtors connect with communities
- Jan. 5, 2007: Communication is a good reason to use Realtor
- Dec. 29, 2006: The most important information in a real estate transaction comes with experience
- Dec. 22, 2006: Cutting out the middle man in a real estate sale might cost you
- Dec. 15, 2006: Real estate web sites offer exciting options
- Dec. 8, 2006: The price downturn in the Phoenix real estate market is less than scary
- Dec. 1, 2006: The best estimate of the value of a home comes from an appraiser
- Nov. 24, 2006: Be careful what you sign with your real estate broker
- Nov. 17, 2006: The home buyer is always liable for the mortgage
- Nov. 10, 2006: Helping my clients make a great deal on a new home purchase in Phoenix even better
- Nov. 03, 2006: Want to stop sprawl in Metropolitan Phoenix? Government needs to stay out of the real estate business
- Oct. 27, 2006: Learning to negotiate the buyer's agent's commission
- Oct. 20, 2006: Online real estate search can be fun, but it offers too few details
- Oct. 13, 2006: For-sale-by-owner home sellers can help move the real estate market into a new world for buyers
- Oct. 6, 2006: The Greater Phoenix real estate market is slow, but it's not on life support
- Sep. 29, 2006: Repeat after me: Mr. Realtor, what do you charge?
- Sep. 22, 2006: Greater Phoenix home buyers: Protect yourself from agent bonus fees by builders
- Sep. 15, 2006: Here are some blogs that stay on top of the real estate market
- Sep. 8, 2006: Who pays when 'seller pays closing costs'? The buyer...
- Sep. 1, 2006: An escape clause in real estate employment contracts would help everyone
- Aug. 25, 2006: Make your rooms make sense when selling your home
- Aug. 18, 2006: Getting a home inspection is important, but don't let it scare you off
- Aug. 11, 2006: Phoenix home sellers should select a price to make their house stand out in the marketplace
- Aug. 4, 2006: Don't be chicken about the Phoenix area real estate market
- July 28, 2006: Home buyers should negotiate compensation for their real estate agents
- July 21, 2006: Who pays whom for real estate? Follow the money...
- July 14, 2006: In real estate transactions, dual agency benefits neither buyer nor seller
- July 7, 2006: How much should you put down as an earnest deposit on a home purchase?
- June 30, 2006: Two out of three ain't bad when buying a home in Phoenix
- June 23, 2006: First-time home buyers' search provides good lessons for both buyers and sellers
- June 16, 2006: Win-win deals are best for home buyers
- June 9, 2006: Secret of getting a great real estate deal: Be willing to walk away
- June 2, 2006: Tips for Phoenix real estate investors on avoiding unexpected fees and penalties
- May 26, 2006: A rental house in the Phoenix area can be a smart opportunity if it is set up as business
- May 19, 2006: The psychology of pricing homes for a quicker sale in the Phoenix real estate market
- May 12, 2006: Let Realtor do his job and price your house for the Phoenix real estate marketplace
- May 5, 2006: 'Homey' feel is a lure for attracting women home buyers
- Apr. 28, 2006: How to make your Phoenix-area house sell slowly
- Apr. 21, 2006: Using the web to buy a home may not be the best idea
- Apr. 14, 2006: Many factors affect a home's value in the Phoenix real estate market
- Apr. 7, 2006: Divorcing couples need togetherness on sale the sale of their house
- Mar. 24/31, 2006: 'Cheap' Phoenix home may not be what it seems
- Mar. 17, 2006: Home sellers, don't tell the buyer's agent your reason for selling
- Mar. 10, 2006: A vacant residential property requires attention, espcially in the Phoenix area
- Mar. 2, 2006: Realtors keep the home-buying process free of personal issues
- Feb. 24, 2006: You'll like the Phoenix real estate market better in April...
- Feb. 17, 2006: In real estate, market value is the rule: You cannot sell a house for more than it's worth, and you cannot buy a house for less than it's worth
- Feb. 10, 2006: The homeowner who blocks his own sale
- Feb. 3, 2006: Strategy and timing are everything in making a purchase offer on your dream home
- Jan. 27, 2006: Phoenix-area rentals can be a good investment if you can weather negative cash flow
- Jan. 20, 2006: The best time to list your home for sale: Friday mornings
- Jan. 13, 2006: Big money can still be made in hot Phoenix home market
- Jan. 6, 2006: Timid real estate investor lost chance for large Phoenix area rental home gain
- Dec. 30, 2005: The perils of pre- and post-possession for home buyers and sellers
- Dec. 23, 2005: Despite condo trend, the single-family home is still king in the Greater Phoenix real estate market
- Dec. 16, 2005: Make your home's mushrooming value work for you with a Phoenix rental property
- Dec. 9, 2005: In the Phoenix real estate market, home improvements don't necessarily mean a higher selling price
- Dec. 2, 2005: The sky won't fall in the Phoenix real estate market, but you can expect change
- Nov. 25, 2005: Seller's paying of closing costs could be a win-win situation for first-time home buyers
- Nov. 25, 2005: Short-term interest hikes shouldn't discourage Phoenix-area home buyers
- Nov. 18, 2005: Little white signs are tin-eared real estate marketing
- Nov. 11, 2005: Make your first open house the only one
- Nov. 4, 2005: Creative negotiations could land you a home bargain in the Phoenix real estate market
- Oct. 28, 2005: Getting a handle on leverage in the mortgage lending process
- Oct. 21, 2005: Price your Phoenix-area home right and it will sell
- Oct. 14, 2005: The real estate market is still sizzling in Phoenix' West Valley
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"I was just playing around on your site (not the blog) and I must say you've created one of the best real estate sites I've seen. Just like a good blog, your personality definitely shines through. Great site!" – Dustin Luther, Rain City Guide "After spending every weekend for two years building an entertainer's backyard deciding to sell our home and relocate out of State was a big decision for us. We were anxious about our move and the real estate market in general. "Thank God our paths crossed! It's truly a pleasure and an honor working with someone who possesses your values and your conviction!" – Daniel S.
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