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Greetings from Puerto Penasco!
2008-05-24 00:37:00
Having a great time, wish you were here! Here’s a quick shot of the view from the roof top deck of our beach rental at the Las Palmas… ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Greetings from Puerto Penasco!", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/gree tings-from-puerto-penasco/992" });
More About: Life

Rehashed: It?s Past Time to Raise the Bar
2008-05-23 17:09:00
Originally posted on September 22, 2006, “It is Past Time to Raise the Bar!” has nothing to do with bars — my current place to hang out while we do a little vacationing in Rocky Point, Mexico. It’s a discussion of how easy it is (too easy, IMHO) to get a real estate sales license (ditto ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rehashed: It’s Past Time to Raise the Bar", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/reha shed-its-past-time-to-raise-the-bar/991" });
More About: Real Estate

Off to Mexico: Rehashing Old Posts
2008-05-22 15:24:00
We’re off to Puerto Penasco (aka Rocky Point) for a little R&R. Cell phones rarely work there, and while I will have occasional Internet access, it’s hard to type with a beer in one hand, a margarita in the other and (much to Francy’s disdain) a fake Cuban cigar in the other. (wait, that’s three ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Off to Mexico : Rehashing Old Posts ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/off- to-mexico-rehashing-old-posts/990" });
More About: Life , Blogging

Will the Real Phoenix Home Sales Number Please Stand Up
2008-05-21 22:18:00
Apparently, Dr. Jay Butler, the oft-quoted director of real-estate studies at Arizona State University’s Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness pooched his numbers in his April report. As was widely reported (including on this very blog), Butler reported a YOY increase in April’s resale numbers. But…. Butler included Trustee sales — what most call a “foreclosure” — ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Will the Real Phoenix Home Sales Number Please Stand Up ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/will -the-real-phoenix-home-sales-number-pleas e-stand-up/989" });

Is Phoenix Real Estate Ready to Rebound?
2008-05-21 18:18:00
A few of us local agent/broker types weighed in on a article published yesterday in NuWire Investor titled. “Real Estate in Phoenix : Ready to Rebound?” Real estate in Phoenix has been hurt badly by the housing crisis, and since the turmoil began a dark cloud has loomed over the Valley of the Sun. But is there ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Is Phoenix Real Estate Ready to Rebound?", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/is-p hoenix-real-estate-ready-to-rebound/988" });

It?s Hot, People Swim, Kids Drown
2008-05-21 07:20:00
This is a screen snip from the local ABC News affiliate web site TODAY… I put up a post or two every year about this, hoping and praying that just one person sees it and and stops and thinks. Please, watch your kids around water. EVERY SECOND, EVERY DAY. . ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "It’s Hot, People Swim , Kids Drown", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/its- hot-people-swim-kids-drown/987" });

Birth of a New Blog: Phoenix Real Estate Home
2008-05-19 23:55:00
Call me crazy. Another new Phoenix real estate blog has been born. PhoenixRealEstate Home .com is alive. Though woefully lacking in content, that will come with time. The intent? A place where agents with Thompson’s Realty can contribute “under one roof”. Like all good blogs (and we hope PREH will evolve into a “good blog”) there are few ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Birth of a New Blog: Phoenix Real Estate Home", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/birt h-of-a-new-blog-phoenix-real-estate-home/ 985" });
More About: Blogging

Phoenix Unemployment Rates Fall - sort of
2008-05-19 22:15:00
There is an interesting East Valley Tribune article on the unemployment rates in Arizona and the Valley. Phoenix maintains its (relatively) low unemployment rate. But as the article points out, the number of people employed in Arizona declined by 4,600 from March. The rate dropped because the number of people actually looking for work declined even more ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Phoenix Unemployment Rates Fall - sort of", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/phoe nix-unemployment-rates-fall-sort-of/983" });
More About: Events , Sort

Summer in Phoenix: It?s Here?..
2008-05-18 18:55:00
108 degrees on Monday? Ugh. But at least it’s a dry heat. Actually, that does make a difference. But let’s face it, 108 is hot, dry or not. (Hey, I’m a poet!) As I write this, it’s 9:50am and and 92 officially, 94 on my back porch. Not much one can do though. Crank up the air ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Summer in Phoenix : It’s Here…..", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/summ er-in-phoenix-its-here/981" });

The Home Buying Process: Part 4 - Escrow and Inspections
2008-05-17 23:40:00
Thanks to everyone who wrote and encouraged me to complete this series.  The last few weeks have been crazy!  Escrow When the buyer and seller have reached an agreement on the contract; the contract, counters and addendums are signed - its time to open escrow.  In the state of Arizona escrow is handled by a title ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Home Buying Process : Part 4 - Escrow and Inspections", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/the- home-buying-process-part-4-escrow-and-ins pections/978" });

Think Parking Sucks in Phoenix? Try it in Manhattan.
2008-05-17 01:15:00
Here’s an awful picture I took of some Manhattan parking spaces when i was at Inman Connect in January. If I recall correctly, these little gems would set you back $1,400 a month. In this week’s Video of the Week, my city friend Rachel Natalie Klein from IntoTheBox.TV brings us a little more on parking in ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Think Parking Sucks in Phoenix ? Try it in Manhattan.", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/thin k-parking-sucks-in-phoenix-try-it-in-manh attan/977" });

Just One Reason I Love my Readers!
2008-05-15 21:14:00
I blog for business, I blog to learn, and I blog to share. I also blog as an “outlet” — for writing, and occasionally for venting. Of course my favorite thing in blogging is to get a client. Selfish maybe, but I help people buy and sell real estate for a living. Without clients, we don’t ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Just One Reason I Love my Readers !", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/just -one-reason-i-love-my-readers/976" });
More About: Blogging

NuWire Investor: The Phoenix Real Estate Guy Site of the Week
2008-05-14 20:22:00
OK, so “Site of the Week” should be renamed to “Site of the Undetermined Period of Time”. But that is really neither here nor there. I just got off the phone with Melana Yanos, a Staff Writer for NuWire Investor . Before she contacted me, I’d never heard of them. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited their web ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "NuWire Investor: The Phoenix Real Estate Guy Site of the Week", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/nuwi re-investor-the-phoenix-real-estate-guy-s ite-of-the-week/975" });
More About: Real Estate

Phoenix Real Estate Sales *UP* YOY in April. Median Values Down.
2008-05-14 00:20:00
I suspect two things are about to happen: 1) You’ll see a post about this on virtually every Phoenix real estate blog and an article in every local newspaper. (Probably already happening, I haven’t read anything today) 2) The mainstream media (MSM) will minimize if not ignore the good and highlight the bad. (I know, what a shocking prediction.) The What: ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Phoenix Real Estate Sales *UP* YOY in April . Median Values Down.", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/phoe nix-real-estate-sales-up-yoy-in-april-med ian-values-down/972" });
More About: Real Estate

How Many Real Estate Agents are there in Phoenix?
2008-05-13 01:38:00
Someone called today, seeking advice on becoming a real estate agent in Phoenix . We chatted about the pros and cons, and then they asked, “So, how’s the competition? Just how many real estate agents are there in Phoenix?” Good question. The answer off the top of my head was “a boatload”. Just over a year ago, ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How Many Real Estate Agents are there in Phoenix?", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/how- many-real-estate-agents-are-there-in-phoe nix/956" });
More About: Real Estate

Dear NoDebtMortgage.com: Please Stop Stealing my Content
2008-05-12 18:58:00
There’s a new splogger on the loose… Blog.NoDebtMortgage.com (nofollowed, naturally), has found our humble abode and is stealing posts verbatim to populate their Adsense filled splog. Unlike many of the content thieves out there, these folks actually have an email contact posted. We’ll see if they do the right thing. Here’s a tip for you tschilling@nodebtmortgage.com, when this ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dear NoDebtMortgage.com: Please Stop Stealing my Content ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/dear -nodebtmortgagecom-please-stop-stealing-m y-content/953" });
More About: Blogging

Updated Wordpress
2008-05-11 20:14:00
I just updated to the latest release of Wordpress (2.5.1). The PHP executable plugin I was using didn’t play well, so I’m trying a new one. So far, that seems to be the only problem. If you see something wonky, please let me know! . ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Updated Wordpress", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/upda ted-wordpress/952" });
More About: Blogging

Niche Marketing: Proof there is a Niche for Anything
2008-05-11 01:37:00
As I was filling up today ($62, thank you very much), this truck pulled into the lot… The first thing that popped into my head was, “Wow, there is a niche market for anything”. (followed closely by, “Wonder what it would cost to put “PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com across that truck?”) Real estate coaches, brokers and whatnot will frequently preach, ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Niche Marketing : Proof there is a Niche for Anything", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/nich e-marketing-proof-there-is-a-niche-for-an ything/949" });

Bigger (WAY) and Better MLS Search Pictures Now Available
2008-05-09 03:10:00
Thanks to the good folks at Diverse Solutions (our MLS/IDX search provider), and the ever-growing wisdom of ARMLS (our MLS service), those using our Phoenix home search system now get to view much larger and higher resolution photos when performing home searches. If you view full size photos, you?re now treated to large (640×425) images ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Bigger (WAY) and Better MLS Search Pictures Now Available", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/bigg er-way-and-better-mls-search-pictures-now -available/946" });

Happy 3rd Birthday Phoenix Real Estate Guy!
2008-05-08 15:50:00
Three years ago today, Jay came to me and said,”Hey Honey I think I want to start a real estate blog.  Would you be OK with that?” To which I replied, “Why would you want to do that?” “Well, I like to write. I have a lot of information to share about real estate and even if ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Happy 3rd Birthday Phoenix Real Estate Guy!", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/happ y-3rd-birthday-phoenix-real-estate-guy/94 3" });
More About: Life , Real Estate

Phoenix Real Estate: Maricopa (the town, not the county)
2008-05-08 01:11:00
Maricopa is quite the interesting little study in rapid real estate development. Less than 10 years ago, it was a remote desert town, with about 1,000 residents. Today, the population is pushing 35,000. ABC News just published a very interesting article about Maricopa. Titled, “Poster Child for Housing Crisis: ‘They Were Building Mortgages’ in Arizona Town ”, the ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Phoenix Real Estate : Maricopa (the town, not the county)", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/phoe nix-real-estate-maricopa-the-town-not-the -county/941" });
More About: Real Estate

Updating the Status of Listed Properties: Rant Ahead
2008-05-07 02:30:00
*Sigh* Here is something that for the life of me, I can not understand. When a property “goes under contract” — ie: a offer has been made and accepted — the status in the MLS is supposed to be changed to “Pending” (or AWC — Active With Contingencies — if applicable). There is, of course, a written rule ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Updating the Status of Listed Properties : Rant Ahead ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/upda ting-the-status-of-listed-properties-rant -ahead/939" });

Millionaires in Maricopa County
2008-05-06 19:26:00
From the “did you know” files…. Maricopa County ranks third in the nation for highest number of millionaire residents. We’ve got more millionaires here than Orange County, Houston, Seattle, San Diego, Silicon Valley, New York, and other large metro areas. Surprised me. Size matters, so I’m sure the fact that Phoenix is the fifth or sixth (depending on who ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Millionaires in Maricopa County ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/mill ionaires-in-maricopa-county/938" });

Turning Away ?Business??
2008-05-04 21:29:00
It’s been an interesting weekend here at Thompson’s Realty. The lovely bride is on a showing marathon all weekend with a couple of fine gentlemen from British Columbia. We have our first “Mountie” client! But that’s really neither here nor there. Since Francy’s out slogging through the 95 degree heat, burning copious amounts of fuel at the ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Turning Away “Business ”…", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/turn ing-away-business/935" });

The House is Permeated by Unspeakable Evil: Video of the Week #21
2008-05-04 04:48:00
Apparently real estate in Britain isn’t a whole lot different than real estate here…   . SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The House is Permeated by Unspeakable Evil : Video of the Week #21", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/the- house-is-permeated-by-unspeakable-evil-vi deo-of-the-week-21/934" });
More About: Humor

Upcoming Real Estate Happenings
2008-05-02 23:43:00
I’ll be moderating a panel at Inman’s Blogger Connect in San Francisco on Wednesday, July 23. The topic is: Case Study: How Four Bloggers Are Closing SalesWhat’s tactics work for generating business? Should be interesting… Inman Connect is one of the largest real estate technology conferences (maybe the largest) in the country. I attended my first one last ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Upcoming Real Estate Happenings ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/upco ming-real-estate-happenings/933" });
More About: Real Estate , Blogging

New to Phoenix Real Estate Guy: RSS Feeds for Listings
2008-05-02 21:53:00
If you use RSS feeds, you already know just how cool they are. RSS can save a TON of time, pulling web content to you, rather than you having to go look for it. Our current MLS / IDX search provides RSS feed capability. And we are working on a Listings RSS Feed page to make ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New to Phoenix Real Estate Guy: RSS Feeds for Listings", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/new- to-phoenix-real-estate-guy-rss-feeds-for- listings/931" });
More About: Real Estate

World?s First Billion Dollar Home
2008-05-02 01:59:00
Mukesh and Nita Ambani are building a new home! It will be 27 stories (550 feet) tall, and contain 400,000 square feet of interior space. But only 40,000 to 50,000 square feet will be dedicated to solely residential living space. The “garage” consists of six floors, and will hold 150 - 175 cars. The “house” will be located in ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "World ’s First Billion Dollar Home ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/worl ds-first-billion-dollar-home/929" });
More About: Real Estate

Civic Duty Complete: Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming
2008-05-01 18:45:00
Two and a half days of mind-numbing jury duty service are complete. The case I was placed on has been settled without We the Jury rendering a decision. Apparently the defendant “copped a plea” and is now likely on her way to the pokey in Perryville for an undetermined length of time. Everyone ought to ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Civic Duty Complete : Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/civi c-duty-complete-back-to-regularly-schedul ed-programming/927" });
More About: Life

Doing my Civic Duty
2008-04-29 19:37:00
Here I sit at the Maricopa County Superior Court in the jurors waiting area. Wow, there are a lot of trials going on…. And a whole lot of people sitting and waiting. And waiting. I’d live blog the process, but would likely lose every reader I’ve ever had. You sit, you wait. You listen to the guy next to you yelling into his cell phone. And then you wait some more. They are playing Alvin and the Chipmunks on TV, and there is of course, not a 4 year old in sight. And they won’t change the channel or turn it down. It’s pure torture. Wireless is $9/hour, but if you just look deeply (and know where to look) you can hook into a free WiFi network. Thank goodness. Time to catch up on some writing… Keeping fingers and toes crossed that I don’t get selected. Been there, done that. It was actually interesting to serve on a jury, but I don’t really need a repeat experience. . ...
More About: Duty , Civic