Here is a beautiful feature area called Verrado which is located in the west valley 30 minutes from the airport. It is a master planned community and one of the finest in the Greater Phoenix Real estate area.

It was designed with a small village theme that has a central commercial core and then residential streets that radiate out from the core. Much of this development is walking distance to the town site or a short bicycle or golf cart ride away. There are 50 parks of all shapes and sizes with 15 miles (25 km) of hiking & walking paths. Schools are top rated which of course attracts good families to the area. There is a true sense of community in this charming and picturesque village!

In addition to the many shops & dining that line Main Street there are amenities for the residents to enjoy. The Village Sports Club has a community pool & a lap pool open year round plus a huge gym is onsite and available for all to join. Down the street from the shops is the entrance to the Raven Golf Club which is a public course offering breathtaking scenery, a great round of golf and excellent dining at the Verrado Grill. It meanders through the residential area so many of the houses and condos have great views of both golf course and mountains.

Many events happen here throughout the year….festivals, jazz in the park, clubs,exhibits, activities of all kinds planned and attended by many who love where they live. Many Canadians have been attracted to the beauty and social aspect of this fine community.

Homes are quite varied and range in size & price from the mid-$100s to over two million with entry level, mid-ranged,luxury homes and condos as well……so there’s something for everyone here!

It is located remote enough to get a secure feeling away from the big city yet close enough that you’re 30 minutes to the airport,15 minutes to an abundance of additional shopping & dining, less than 30 minutes from NHL Hockey, NFL Football, MLB spring training facilities, close to the World Wildlife Zoo and less than 30 minutes to Downtown Phoenix. Of course being at the base of the White Tank Mountains, you can take advantage of the mountain trails and the entrance to the White Tank Regional Park is close by.

We would be delighted to show you new homes and resale homes in the area as well as tour you around all of the attractions there….

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Here is another new home that the Lavine Team has sold in Greater Phoenix. It is located in Estrella Mountain Ranch….now simply renamed Estrella….which is a master planned community snuggled in to the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains in Goodyear out in the west valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area.

In addition to our extensive experience with resale homes, we have many years of expertise at marketing new homes. I started my Real Estate career back in 1997 as a licensed Realtor in the show home  (or model homes as they call it here) and have never stopped offering this viable option to buyers in Alberta and in Phoenix when we know that the price parameter for our buyers search will open new home doors.

Builders have continued to offer more value to narrow the gap between new and resale by purchasing raw land at reduced cost and by negotiating with trades & suppliers to offer competitive pricing as a result. With resale inventory being at very low levels coupled with heavy demand from local buyers and international buyers, this is a market segment that should definitely be explored as an integral part of your search for that right little piece of desert paradise!!

Sure you will have to do your own landscaping in the back yard but it costs a fraction of what it would cost in any Canadian location…..cost will be hundreds and not thousands really and then you can create your own paradise instead of fixing what someone else has done.You get a full warranty…everything is new and smells new…..whether you build from scratch or buy a spec inventory home.

And for those that want a pool you can put the pool where you want it, finish it with your choice of equipment & materials and you’re likely going to be adding a heater anyways as the locals don’t equip their pools with those 9 times out of 10….it is us Canadians, not the locals, that want our home to be like our resort when coming down in the winter months to enjoy milder temperatures than back home.

The locations of new subdivisions sometimes are a wee bit further out and sometimes they are within a completed area that had a couple of empty pockets left to develop. In either case, there are many choices to consider that can potentially work for you and to be a great alternative to buying an existing resale home. You’re less likely to be in a multiple offer situation and not having to spend money on cosmetic improvements as will likely be the case with buying an existing home.

We have to make contact first with the builder in order for us to give you the representation that you deserve. Even if you were thinking of looking at builder’s sites online, we must register you first or by the local rules we will not be able to assist. You will benefit from our experience and will likely pay less to have us working for you. The builder factors in Realtor commissions to every house that they sell so you might as well have us working exclusively for you and not someone from the showhome exclusively for the builder!

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Investors from all over have been buying homes in the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area primarily because the demand for rentals is good and the potential for a large return on investment 5-10 years down the road is very real. History has shown us that Real Estate makes for a great investment if you buy when the timing is right. The prices certainly are very low and while people are losing their homes to foreclosure or short selling their house to get out from the burden of heavy debt, they all need a place to live and they won’t be able to get a mortgage for potentially years to come.

That is where the main rental demand is originating from along with the usual other reasons for renting due to people being out on their own for the first time, new to the workforce, new to the area or for those that can’t qualify for a mortgage yet or have the down payment or credit rating to buy a home.

So where are the best places to buy an investment property and how much rent can you expect to get? Well, the video example above is of a 4 bedroom 1800 sq ft home in Goodyear, which is out in the west valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area. It will sell for around the $110000 mark and one can anticipate getting about $1000 a month with the tenants paying the utilities. The right homes selected between $95000-125000+ in the Goodyear general area can expect to get $900-1150+ a month for rent.

This is just one example………….Gilbert in the east valley is a very nice area and homes that range from $125000-155000+ can potentially fetch $1200-1500+ a month for rent. Down in the town of Maricopa, which is 20 minutes outside of the greater Phoenix area, homes are less expensive ranging from $75000-95000+ for a good investment property that can rent for $700-900+ a month. A condo located in a part of South Scottsdale that is close to large employers or just far enough away from ASU university could readily rent for $700-750 a month based on a $60000-70000 investment.

There are many nice areas each with their own price range, demand levels and expectations for rent but the good potential all has one common theme…..buying the right product for the particular area. I have maintained that in general, 4 bedroom homes are more desirable than 3 bedroom homes and in theory should rent out a little faster. That is because with homes not having  basements here, rooms and storage are at a premium so the more rooms the better. Further to that, single level homes in theory should rent out faster than two level homes as they are generally in shorter supply. But this isn’t always the case as there are areas that have a low supply of anything so 3 bedrooms would be just fine or if an area is so desirable that 3 bedrooms would be just fine or in the above Scottsdale condo example, a 2 bedroom condo could rent out fast if the right location is selected.

So the biggest factors for rental potential are location of course, layout, condition and the advertised rental amount. Whomever has the best combination of all of these factors should rent out the fastest……a basic fundamental.

Another item to consider is whether the home is a foreclosure or a short sale. Regular every day sales can occur too but they are very rare unless they are investor fix-n-flips. Most people owe more money then their house is worth so they are stuck in it unless they choose to throw-it-all-away or salvage what’s left of their credit and short sale their home, if they qualify to do that.  The foreclosures generally get more attention than short sales as they are properties that you can get quicker and find out quicker if you’re going to get them. But there are many good opportunities with short sales if you can have the patience to wait. Because multiple offers are more prevalent on the foreclosures that can potentially cause the price to be a little higher, there are some good value possibilities in acquiring a short sale. We have a lot of experience with short sales and a great batting average for successfully acquiring them. No matter what you may of heard about short sales, you should chat with us about them.

The Lavine Team can assist you with finding the right location, product type and make recommendations for the strategies that can be implemented for the different types of listings that are available to you. Please call or email to inquire….we’d be delighted to chat and to set up a search to send out results for possibilities within your target price parameters.

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Welcome to Palm Valley in Goodyear which is in the west valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area. It is a 9500 acre master planned community that feels like a resort as it is very lush with landscaping, has a gorgeous 36 hole golf course and an abundance of palm trees. It is one of the premier communities in Goodyear and highly regarded for it’s beauty, quality of community, abundance of shopping & dining and fantastic location. It is close to the I-10 freeway, Loop 101 ring road, 30000 acre regional White Tank Mountain regional Park, 30000 acre Estrella Mountain Regional Park and also to Westgate City Center which is home of NFL Football & NHL Hockey.

There is a wide array of home sizes and styles throughout several phases of development including condos, smaller homes, mid-size homes, upscale & luxury homes, golf course backing homes, gated portions and community pool portions. Values in Palm Valley are typically a little higher compared to other parts of Goodyear but still are very inexpensive and affordable for full time residents, vacation home seekers or investors alike.

Call the Lavine Team at 888-494-8558 to get info about this great area or any other in the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area

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After celebrating Canada Day weekend with watching CFL Football action on TSN, the American half of me got to celebrate the other half of the July holiday festivities……July 4th!
I chose to go to Goodyear Ball Park which is in the SW valley of the Phoenix Real Estate area.This area is close to Westgate City Center for NFL Football, NHL Hockey as well as Nascar racing, the airport and major shopping, dining and freeway access.
This wonderful ball park facility was built in 2009, holds 10000 people and is home to MLB’s Cincinatti Reds and the Cleveland Indians for the month of March annually.It’s inexpensive great family entertainment for a relaxing day of watching professional baseball in the beautiful spring weather that we are blessed with in the Valley of the Sun.
Many Canadians choose to be in a home close to this facility and other nearby sports/entertainment/cultural venues…..we know all the best spots to situate so please email or call and we’d be delighted to set up a search for just the right little piece of desert paradise!

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Here is a tour of Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear which is in the west valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area. We’re heading out to see a new home that we sold recently to a nice family from Alberta. This is a wonderful award winning master planned community snuggled in to the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains that is one of the valley’s best kept secrets. Great schools attract great families to this area and the awesome amenities reward those that choose the peaceful serene lifestyle of this hidden jewel. A 14400 sq ft resident’s club with community pool, lap pool, gym, cafe, library, scheduled activities and gorgeous lake views are the highlights of this showpiece amenities building……the mountain views, hiking trails and beauty are the added benefits to the Estrella way of life.

Whenever we are out showing resale homes we will include phoenix area new homes to show should the pricing of them be within the same price parameter of others that we are showing to you.They are a significant consideration for you to consider….they will generally be a little smaller for a little higher price but they are new, carry a warranty and do not need any remodeling which can be a substantial savings to factor in to the equation.

The Lavine Team has many years and a tremendous amount of new homes sold to benefit you in your quest for a little piece of desert paradise. We are here to be your professional and dedicated representation in show homes…..remember new home salespeople represent the builders and not you. In order for us to represent you we must be with you right from the first visit to show homes or model homes as the locals call them….that includes website visits as well….we must register you. New home inventory is easily sourced out through the internal mechanism of the Realtor’s MLS and we have been through show home parades all over the valley to share our knowledge of all that is available.

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The Lavine Team presents their new listing in Fairways at Arrowhead Country Club in the NW valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area.This 1214 sq ft upscale condo with attached garage is in a gated golf course community in the heart of popular and beautiful Arrowhead Ranch in North Glendale….one of the gems of the valley!

It has been completely remodeled and move in ready for you to enjoy as a vacation home or as a residence of distinction. The pool and the beautiful views of the Arrowhead Country Club golf course is just a very short walk from this lovely second floor condo.

You’ll love the proximity to Loop 101 for convenient valley access and is minutes from the awesome shopping & dining at Arrowhead Town Center. Westgate City Center is only 15 minutes from this community for NFL football, NHL hockey, dining, pubs, movies and more. The airport is within 25 minutes.

Call the Lavine Team at 888-494-8558 to view…..

We show and sell condos all over the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area in Scottsdale, Mesa, Gold Canyon, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and Goodyear. Many of our clients desire the privacy and space that a house offers vacation home owners and snowbirds but many want the lock and leave lifestyle that a condo can offer down here We came across this little known gem of a complex and our team has sold a couple in this community. It is called Park Place and is located right next door to a major shopping & dining area in the heart of Surprise. It is about 20 minutes from Westgate City Center where NFL football and NHL hockey professional sports are played and is about 40 minutes from the airport. The amenities are abundant with full time concierge service to book all your activities for you in the valley in a two storey amenities building where there is a pool table, huge recreation area, full kitchen, business center with complimentary computer & printers, full gym, yoga room, theatre room with comfy chairs, outdoor heated pool, bocce ball court, complimentary golf cart usage for back and forth to the shopping center and much more. Brand new 2 bedroom/2 bathroom units are currently at $120500 for apartment style and the townhouses with garage are $130000 while many other styles and sizes of resale units are available from time to time.

If you are interested in looking at condos in Surprise or throughout the valley we would be delighted to set up a search to send you detailed reports of available listings within your parameters. Then when you book a time slot for one of our team members to show you condos in the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area, we would be delighted to give commentary and our expert advice upon viewing all the homes. We will explain the process thoroughly so that you can make an educated, confident and excited decision to purchase just the right little piece of desert paradise!

Here is a video of a gorgeous 1773 sq ft bungalow in the master planned community of Estrella Mountain Ranch which is snuggled in to the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains in South Goodyear out in the west valley of the Greater Phoenix Real Estate area.

This is another home for sale by a well known investor group that renovates homes to be move in ready in great areas around the valley like this one. The home shows great, has a heated pool in a south backing yard, is a great room floor plan with the master bedroom on the opposite side of the house from the other two bedrooms for privacy. Priced at $174888 it will very likely be in multiple offers as my fellow Canadians, investors locally and elsewhere will be competing to buy this home. The final price will be well worth it!!