We Live and Work in A Great Community
What an interesting season this has been. While we are still mostly “at home”, it’s been great participating with our neighbors and friends in the IronOaks Golf CARE-avan.
As we drive through the various units, we find homeowners sitting in their driveways or in a golf cart, smiling and waving. Karen Dimitro and Michele Renehan have done an outstanding job organizing and bringing some fun to our communities.
If you haven’t joined in the fun yet, every Tuesday and Thursday, homeowners line up 6’ apart in their golf carts in the parking lot by the pickle ball courts. Arrive by 4:40pm and the fun starts at approximately 5pm.
Many of our homeowners are still here, weighing the date to return to their summer home. As our snowbirds depart who found it to be the time, we wish you safe travels and look forward to your return in the fall!
Some people have asked what we are doing during this down time. Zoom Zoom Zoom! Our office meetings are held online via Zoom webinars. We are taking advantage of online education in the same manner. We are still meeting with clients and listing homes, as well as showing homes to our buyers. What’s changed is we now carry Clorox wipes and wipe surfaces before and after we touch doorknobs, light switches, and surfaces. Also, our sales team is participating in Keller Williams BOLD Pivot – a productivity and mindset series of 7 sessions over a three-week period. And yes, we are doing many of the same activities you are, like walking, golfing (as allowed by our HOA), cooking at home more than ever, and missing all of our friends and families. We are looking forward to when we can once again be with you all, as we always enjoy those times very much!
As for real estate, we are still listing and selling homes. Two that we listed in April had multiple offers in the first week. Our inventory was already low, and we will continue to see inventory drop as we get into summer.
Buyers are still actively looking and when they are looking in the market we are in, you can be sure they are serious buyers! Don’t hesitate to list your home during the summer months. We’ll be here all summer working. Reach out to us when you are ready!
iBuyer programs
“We can sell your home in 72 hours at full market value!” No doubt you have heard the advertising for all of the various iBuyer programs. You may have also heard that many have ceased to buy homes at this time and many have furloughed a large percentage of their employees. Don’t buy into the hype that they couldn’t handle it and are going out of business. While iBuyer programs are pulling back, we expect them to be back as we start to open up the economy again.
We also anticipate that they will increase their fees. One of our clients who bought from us in Oakwood used an iBuyer program to sell their Phoenix house because they thought it would be quick and hassle free. What they discovered is fees higher than a real estate agent and a purchase price significantly less than had they used an agent. Lesson learned.
If you have considered using an iBuyer program, it pays to let us run the numbers and discuss the pros and cons before making any decisions. Did you know that Keller Williams is the ONLY brokerage right now with a fully functioning iBuyer program? Questions? Talk to us.
See What Our Clients Are Saying!
"I highly recommend the Kolb team to anyone looking to buy a home in the Sun Lakes or Chandler area.”
Don and Sue
- Washington
Grab Your Snacks We’re Taking a Virtual Tour of the Grand Canyon!
Break out your hiking boots (or flip flops, the Kolb Team doesn’t judge), it’s time for another virtual tour. Last month we visited the beautiful Butterfly Wonderland. This time let’s take a virtual trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the world located right here in Arizona. You guessed it, the Grand Canyon!
Virtually, or in person, everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime. Vast, magnificent, and breathtaking, this geographic masterpiece is easily Arizona’s most distinguished landmark. The canyon stretches 277 miles from end to end. Its rocky walls descend more than a mile to the bottom where the swift Colorado River traces a course southwest. It would take weeks to explore end-to-end.
This assortment of virtual-tours takes you beyond the “standing on the rim” view, exploring remote canyon sites using a combination of 360-degree images, videos, and guided lessons. Want to learn about the canyon’s geology? Photo tours by the U.S. Geological Survey take viewers rafting on the Colorado River and a hike to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the South Rim. You can even go exploring with Google Earth, which recently rolled out virtual tours of the Grand Canyon and several other national parks.
To get started, use the link below!
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
Investment Properties – What you Need to Know
A property manager reported that most everyone canceled in March when this COVID19 broke, and they were hunkered down expecting a long dry season, but that was not so. Jobs that were temporary were all of the sudden extended, and those workers started looking for short-term rentals.
Homes are being rented for various other reasons too. With the volatility we’ve all seen lately in the stock market, a short-term rental may be the answer to your situation. Yields in the short term are normally better than those from long-term rentals - and the market is there.
Thinking of an investment property? Contact us and we will help you find just what you are looking for!
Would You Like a Free Buyer Guide or a Seller Guide?
Real Estate Update
Wondering about your Neighbor’s Home Sales Price? Find out here to see what sold last month. The report is broken down by HOA, address, and floor plan (if the agent listed the model in MLS).
As always, if you or someone you know is considering buying or selling a home,
we are here year-round and would love to help! Visit us online at
TheKolbTeam.com or call 480-809-5759.