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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

HUD Proposes RESPA Reform
2008-03-15 00:59:00
HUD claims that simplifying and standardizing home buying disclosure forms could save the average buyer almost $700 at closing ? cheifly by making it easier to ?comparison shop? lenders and settlement service providers.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "HUD Proposes RESPA Reform ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/hud- proposes-respa-reform/820" });
More About: Real Estate

The Votes Are in! (and more are needed?)
2008-03-14 22:04:00
Thanks to all who voted for the Phoenix Real Estate Guy in the VAR Real Estate Blog Brawl! Your votes helped propel us to victory against the powerhouse (and fabulous) Rain City Guide Blog.  We’re in the Sweet 16!But I still need your help in the next round… The Brawl is hosted by the Virginia Association of Realtors, ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Votes Are in! (and more are needed…)", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/the- votes-are-in-and-more-are-needed/819" });
More About: Blogging

AZMortgageGuru to Host Mortgage Seminar for Phoenix Real Estate Agents
2008-03-14 19:11:00
Shailesh and Aimee Ghimire will be hosting a “Lunch and Learn” on Thursday, March 20 at noon. (at the Bank of America building in Mesa) Topics are FHA/VA loans, financing for Canadians and other foreign nationals and much more. The Ghimirie’s host very informative sessions, and these are hot topics. The seminar, and lunch, is free… Please RSVP ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "AZMortgage Guru to Host Mortgage Seminar for Phoenix Real Estate Agents ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/azmo rtgageguru-to-host-mortgage-seminar-for-p hoenix-real-estate-agents/817" });
More About: Real Estate

Deceptive Listings in the Phoenix Area
2008-03-14 06:39:00
Agetns putting artifically low list prices in the MLS SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Deceptive Listings in the Phoenix Area ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/dece ptive-listings-in-the-phoenix-area/816" });

I?m a Genius!
2008-03-13 17:59:00
Well there is an egotistical, self-serving sort of blog title… I don’t mean that I’m a mental genius (close, but….  ) What I mean is I am honored to have been invited to contribute to the AgentGenius blog. If you are a real estate professional that reads real estate blogs, then you probably already subscribe to “AG” (If not, ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "I’m a Genius!", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/im-a -genius/813" });
More About: Blogging

The Fed Can?t Fix Home Prices
2008-03-13 06:27:00
Holman W. Jenkins penned a masterpiece editorial in the Wall Street Journal today. Titled ?The Fed Can?t Fix Home Prices ? Holman lays it out? To get to a real solution, speculators and investors need to believe that home prices are hitting bottom, that any mortgage debt they might buy today for 80 cents on the dollar ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Fed Can’t Fix Home Prices", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/the- fed-cant-fix-home-prices/810" });

My Favorite Thing About Opening My Own Brokerage
2008-03-12 00:04:00
Thompson's Realty - where you have the *right* to cancel a listing. In writing.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "My Favorite Thing About Opening My Own Brokerage ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/my-f avorite-thing-about-opening-my-own-broker age/809" });

Strange Search Term of the Week #3
2008-03-11 18:00:00
Today someone visited the blog by searching Google for… real estate agents with no life We’re at #5. Huh.     If you are looking for a real estate agent with no life to help you buy or sell property, by all means, contact me! .Technorati Tags: Strange Search Terms, apparently I have no life ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Strange Search Term of the Week #3", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/stra nge-search-term-of-the-week-3/808" });
More About: Humor , Life

Housing Bubble What?s The Trouble: Video of the Week #17
2008-03-11 15:06:00
Dave Girtsman, former musician turned real estate appraiser turned web development project manager has penned a little ditty on the housing bubble. I bet you sing the chorus more than once today… Hat tip to Jonathan Miller (via the Wall Street Journal Developments bog) Technorati Tags: housing bubble, real estate video ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Housing Bubble What’s The Trouble: Video of the Week #17", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/hous ing-bubble-whats-the-trouble-video-of-the -week-17/806" });

Blogsperiment #392: RSS Hugger
2008-03-10 20:45:00
RSS Hugger is a newish ?blog directory? that looks pretty slick. And they have a brilliant ?viral? marketing campaign. Just write a review (such as this one) and you get your blog listed for 10 years, for free.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Blogsperiment #392: RSS Hugger", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/blog speriment-392-rss-hugger/805" });
More About: Blogging

Is Arizona in a Recession?
2008-03-10 18:22:00
Economists opinions differ as to whether Arizona is currently in a recession, or headed that way.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Is Arizona in a Recession ?", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/is-a rizona-in-a-recession/804" });
More About: Events

VAR Blog Brawl - Vote Phoenix Real Estate Guy!
2008-03-10 00:33:00
The Virginia Association of Realtors is having a little March Madness-like fun with their “First Annual Real Estate Blog Brawl”. The Phoenix Real Estate Guy had a first round bye, but the voting polls are open for Round 2. Head on over to this post and cast your votes! (Just make sure you vote for us! ) While you are there, visit the other blogs in the brawl, there are some good ones. And check out the rest of the VARBuzz. The Virginia Association of Realtors is leading the pack in my opinion when it comes to open and transparent communication with their members. .Technorati Tags: VARBuzz, Blog Brawl Search the Phoenix area MLS no registration required! © 2007 Jay Thompson, Phoenix Real Estate Guy . If you are reading this outside your feed reader or on any blog other than The Phoenix Real Estate Guy, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@ThompsonsRealty....
More About: Vote

Arizona Moves Back into the Pacific Time Zone
2008-03-09 17:48:00
Techincally of course, the State of Arizona did not change time zones and suddenly find itself in the Pacific time zone this morning. It’s just that we stood still while everyone else “sprung forward”...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Arizona Moves Back into the Pacific Time Zone ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/ariz ona-moves-back-into-the-pacific-time-zone /799" });

The Zonie Report - Arizona?s Multimedia News Source
2008-03-08 00:40:00
The Zonie Report -- a one stop shop for Arizona news!SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Zonie Report - Arizona’s Multimedia News Source", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/the- zonie-report-arizonas-multimedia-news-sou rce/798" });
More About: Events

SmallBrokers.com: An Internet Forum for Small / Independent Real Estate Bro
2008-03-07 22:13:00
SmallBrokers.com - an internet forum for small / independent real estate brokers and their agents to share ideas, ask and answer questions. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "SmallBrokers.com: An Internet Forum for Small / Independent Real Estate Brokers", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/smal lbrokerscom-an-internet-forum-for-small-i ndependent-real-estate-brokers/796" });
More About: Real Estate , Small

New FHA Loan Limits for Maricopa and Pinal Counties Released
2008-03-06 19:59:00
Newly revised FHA loan limits for Maricopa and Pinal counties in Arizona. Plus link to find limits across US.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New FHA Loan Limits for Maricopa and Pinal Counties Released ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/new- fha-loan-limits-for-maricopa-and-pinal-co unties-released/794" });

How Many East Valley Real Estate Listings are Short Sales?
2008-03-05 22:11:00
Data on current real estate short sale listings inthe Phoenix East Valley (Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe real estate)SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "How Many East Valley Real Estate Listings are Short Sales ?", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/how- many-east-valley-real-estate-listings-are -short-sales/793" });
More About: Real Estate

Thanks for the Memories Brett
2008-03-04 23:59:00
Most wins: 160 Most consecutive starts: 253 regular season (275 including playoffs) Most completions: 5,377 Most passing yards: 61,655 Most touchdown passes: 442 9 Pro Bowls 3 straight MVPs Superbowl Champion Played every game with boundless grit, passion and enthusiasm. You will be missed. .Technorati Tags: Brett Favre retires ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Thanks for the Memories Brett", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/than ks-for-the-memories-brett/792" });
More About: Life

Strange Search Term of the Week
2008-03-03 23:33:00
Delightfully tacky yet refined real estate. That’s what someone Googled today and found the Phoenix Real Estate Guy blog sitting in the #1 position. (it leads to the “Death of the Pink Flamingo” post from November 2006. Incidentally, it appears the kitschy lawn ornament is back in production). It does make me wonder what exactly they were ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Strange Search Term of the Week ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/stra nge-search-term-of-the-week-2/790" });
More About: Blogging

Attention Phoenix Golfers! New Online Golfing Community Launched
2008-03-03 21:57:00
A social network for golf enthusiasts. Lots of features. Search 18,000 golf courses.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Attention Phoenix Golfers! New Online Golfing Community Launched ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/atte ntion-phoenix-golfers-new-online-golfing- community-launched/789" });

Phoenix Homes Listing Data: Under $200K
2008-03-02 04:53:00
One of yesterday’s posts referenced Phoenix homes listed under $200,000. As promised, here are the actual numbers of homes currently listed in the Phoenix area MLS for under $200K. Of note: Data is for single-family detached homes only. No condos, town homes, or manufactured homes (other than erroneously entered data, of which there is certainly some).  “Total ARMLS” covers all of Maricopa County and the vast majority of Pinal County. As such, it includes many small outlying areas (where approximately 1/3 of the homes under $200K can be found). Note the percentage of inventory under $200K for the ‘burbs that are somewhat distant from Phoenix proper — Queen Creek, Maricopa, and Apache Junction. They are showing significantly higher percentages than areas closer in. This should not be surprising to anyone familiar with real estate in these areas. .Technorati Tags: Phoenix real estate listings data, Phoenix homes under 0K ...
More About: Homes , Listing

Thompson’s Realty Welcomes Shannon Stephenson
2008-03-01 22:28:00
We are pleased to announced the addition of Shannon Stephenson to Thompson’s Realty . Shannon has been a licensed real estate agent for eight years and brings with her a tremendous work ethic and commitment to her clients. She specializes in new home and re-sale residential real estate in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro area. A resident of Gilbert, Shannon is married to her High School sweetheart Gary and has two great kids, Evan, 16 and Tierney, 18. Shadow the cat and Chance the black lab round out Shannon’s immediate family. Gary and Shannon are originally from rural southwest Colorado and have lived in the Phoenix area for over 10 years. She’s a big sci-fi fan, plays Everquest on-line and has taken my money more than once at the poker table. Shannon is an avid photographer who is available for real estate, still and portrait photography work. Her photography clients include Phoenix sculptor Gary Whittington. We are completely confident that Shannon brings valuable skill...

Phoenix Under $200K Market. And, A “Generation Y’er” Speaks
2008-03-01 00:18:00
Interesting article today in the Arizona Republic: Under-$200,000 market gives home sales a pushAffordability lures first-time buyers, investors I personally haven’t seen the “bidding wars” on short sales mentioned in the article. Not to say it isn’t happening, but in my experience the short sales are sitting there until the bank takes them back (for the most part). But there is no question that the under $200K inventory is growing. I’ll crunch some numbers this weekend and report back. There was one small part of the article I found particularly interesting. 23 year old Bradley Crutchfield, an assistant technician at the Gila River Indian Casino and part time ASU student said he recently bought his first home — a $243,000 foreclosure in Chandler. It was in the (price) range of what I was looking for, but it was my top end and I was only willing to pay that if I could be closer,” Crutchfield, 23, said. “I’ve been looking for...
More About: Phoenix , Market

Why Would Anyone Want to Live In Phoenix? Things to do in Phoenix this Week
2008-02-29 22:19:00
Why would anyone want to live In Phoenix ? I really have no idea… Things to do in Phoenix this weekend. (I recommend anything outdoors) Saturday Calendar of Events Sunday Calendar of Events Spring training games abound And it would be a perfect weekend to check out the Renaissance Festival Wear your sunscreen!! .Technorati Tags: Phoenix weekend, things to do, spring training     Search the Phoenix area MLS no registration required! © 2007 Jay Thompson, Phoenix Real Estate Guy . If you are reading this outside your feed reader or on any blog other than The Phoenix Real Estate Guy, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@ThompsonsRealty.com so we can take legal action immediately. ShareThis---Related Articles at The Phoenix Real Estate Guy:Why We Live in Phoenix…Bumming Aro...
More About: Week

Testing The Trulia Voices Widget
2008-02-29 19:36:00
Ok, I know I’ve hammered on Trulia Voices in the past. And while I do grow weary of the sometimes awful, and often illegal answers on Voices, there are some good things there. It’s a great place to see what kinds of questions real estate buyers and sellers have. It’s loaded with head-scratching, “What the hell are they thinking?” answers from real estate pros. It’s cheap entertainment. You can learn something there. Sometimes you just have to dig a bit (which is true of any on-line community). And it’s actually not a bad place to pull in a prospect or two (though I’d have to question the ROI that folks who have answered hundreds and hundreds of questions are getting). Trulia has some trulyia cool and wicked smart people working for them, and they do come up with some nifty ideas. The latest is adding RSS feeds to Voices profiles. This allows one to create cool widgets like this: That’s not a bad...
More About: Widget , Testing

Birth of a Brokerage: Thompson?s Realty
2008-02-27 21:20:00
The newest real estate brokerage in the Phoenix area, Thompson s Realty , is officially open for business! Our business model is simple: provide superior customer service in everything we do. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Birth of a Brokerage : Thompson’s Realty", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/birt h-of-a-brokerage-thompsons-realty/778" });

Cool Photoshop Tricks
2008-02-26 18:29:00
There is often discussion on real estate blogs about how far (if at all) a real estate agent / photographer should travel down the photo retouching road. Athol Kay has a great series titled Pimp My Listing PhotoSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Cool Photoshop Tricks ", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/cool -photoshop-tricks/776" });
More About: Marketing

From the Inbox: Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home In Phoenix?
2008-02-25 20:54:00
Is now a good time to buy a home in Phoenix ? Maybe, maybe not.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "From the Inbox : Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home In Phoenix?", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/from -the-inbox-is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-a-ho me-in-phoenix/774" });

Phoenix Radio KSLX Hosting ?Cure the Kids? Radiothon to support the Pediatr
2008-02-23 20:48:00
KSLX radio (100.7FM, and a great classic rock station) is hosting their first annual “Cure the Kids ” radiothon through 9:00pm tonight. They are broadcasting live from Chandler Fashion Center to raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. You can call 480–722–2873 or 1–877–724–2873 to donate. Or donate online. Call in with a minimum $100 donation and they will ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Phoenix Radio KSLX Hosting “Cure the Kids” Radiothon to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation", url: "http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/phoe nix-radio-kslx-hosting-cure-the-kids-radi othon-to-support-the-pediatric-brain-tumo r-foundation/773" });
More About: The Kids

Spring Training is Here! Phoenix Spring Training Schedules (Tucson too!)
2008-02-23 07:57:00
Ahhh, Spring Training … Nothing beats it. Cheap ticket prices, intimate surroundings, typically stellar weather. Baseball at its finest. Spring training games begin in the “Cactus League” on Wednesday, February 27 with multiple games every day through March 27. Go here for the full spring training schedule for games in both the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Spring Training tickets can be purchased online at these sites (tickets by mail, phone, and box office/seating info also available): Diamondbacks – Tucson Electric Park. $5 – $20 Cubs – Mesa HoHoKam Park. $6 – $24 White Sox – Tucson Electric Park. $5 – $20 Rockies – Tucson Hi Corbett Field. $4 – $17 Royals – Surprise Stadium. $7 – $22 Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium. $5 – $25 Brewers – Maryvale Baseball Park. $8 – $19 A’s – Phoenix Municipal Stadium. $6 – $25 Padres – Peoria Stadium. $6 – $23 Giants – Scottsdale Stadium. $8 – $25 ($13 – $28 weekends) Mariners – Peoria Sports Compl...