Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

Purchasing Home Insurance by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

szabogroup — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:42:38 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

You can and you should shop around for home insurance. Even if you have had the same policy for years. Homeowners insurance is a lot easier to shop for than a mortgage because premiums change only occasionally, so the price you are quoted is very likely the price you will pay.

Shoppers should be aware that carriers today have access to databases that combine claims data from many companies. If you have been making numerous small claims, all the carriers you shop will likely be aware of it. It is still worth shopping, however, because the carriers use different risk evaluation systems.

In shopping for the lowest premium, you must be very careful to compare apples with apples. The principal factors you must hold constant in soliciting quotes from different carriers are the deductible and the coverage. The deductible is the loss amount that is the homeowner’s responsibility: $500. Only losses above that amount are insured. Higher deductibles carry lower premiums. But lenders limit the amount of deductible they will allow — $1000 is a typical maximum.

The coverage dictates the maximum loss the policy will pay. There are four levels of coverage, called “actual cash value” (lowest coverage), “replacement cost”, “extended replacement cost”, and “guaranteed replacement cost” (highest coverage, but not necessarily available). Higher coverage carries higher premiums. Lenders typically require coverage of 125% of replacement cost, though this may be scaled down if the land accounts for an unusually large part of the house value.

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

About Home Insurance by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Arizona

szabogroup — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:28:25 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Did you know that to an insurance company, you’re not just a homeowner with a bunch of stuff… that you are a set of risks put down on paper on which the insurer bases its premium? These risk factors according to the insurance companies include what you do for a living, who you are, what you own and how you live. One of the things that can help you in choosing and insurer and getting the proper coverage is knowing your home’s value. Before you choose a policy, you should know how much it costs to replace your home and a local builder or a real estate agent is the one to provide the best estimate.
Just like anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can actually cost different in different companies and it pays to comparison shop like you would do with anything else. But just don’t look at the price, because if an insurer takes a long time to service your claim or doesn’t pay at all – it’s no savings. You can research the insurer’s record for claims service as well as its financial stability.

It is also wise to ask for discounts. Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk. People pay over for their coverage many times because they forget to ask about them. When you make a claim, remember that your insurer is not your best friend. What you think you should be compensated for may not match that of your insurer. The insurer’s job is to restore you financially whereas your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.

Why Choose Joe Szabo and Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:46:36 +0000

Remax Hall of Fame Joe Szabo

Experience, Knowlege & Proven Results are qualities associated with Joe and Linda Szabo of RE/MAX Fine Properties. As two of RE/MAX’s top producers they are the recipients of RE/MAX’s most coveted awards including Hall of Fame, and prestigious Chairman’s Club Awards, in addition to being the number #1 team in their office for 2005. By achieving this level of success Joe and Linda are in the top 1% of all Realtors in the Nation.

Dedication to clients is the main reason Joe and Linda have been such a success in what they do. They built their success on four guiding principles: Integrity, knowledge of the market, understanding the needs of clients and old fashioned hard work. When asked how they measure success they replied “It isn’t by the awards or prestige that has come from a career of helping people. We measure our success by our referrals and repeat business. Our performance is a direct reflection of the person who referred us and it makes us work harder. It means we did a great job for our clients and they are rewarding us by passing our name along. It is the best compliment one can receive. We want you keep their confidence and trust.”

Originally fromChicago, Joe and Linda and their two daughters moved to The Valley in the early 1980’s. Like many of the Valley’s transplants, they fell in love withArizonaand never wanted to go back. Their interest in real estate stemmed from a love of sales and their own experiences building, buying and selling homes. Because they have been long time residents, it is easy for Joe and Linda to be credible in representing the Valley lifestyle, schools, amenities, subdivisions, golfing communities and local happenings.

Remax Award Joe Szabo

“Not everyone in the world is fortunate enough to work in a field they love. We don’t consider real estate as a job, it is a way of life.” Together, they share a business philosophy based on helping people get what they want, whether buying or selling. They greatly enjoy the challenges posed by each client, and give their undivided attention, providing the highest standard of service. This commitment to customer satisfaction has turned most of their transactions into life long relationships.”

“In residential real estate, you are working with a very large asset and a lot of emotion. At the end of the day or at the end of the business relationship, we know we’ve been successful if we’ve been able to deliver what we promised. We develop a very close relationship with our clients, and are also able to remain objective. We step back and be that voice of reason.”

As listing agents they have a personalized marketing plan to accommodate each client. This plan gives sellers the opportunity to get the maximum value for their property in the least amount of time. The Szabo Group’s website provides a full sense of Joe and Linda’s marketing and sales accomplishments, as well as their utilization of the most current and up to date technologies available to Real Estate Professionals. Here one can find information about the Valley, virtual tours and home listings. “We advertise 24 hours a day, seven days a week”.

Success in today’s market is through speed and service and the Internet is a great pro-active tool to accomplish this. Although the Internet is great for the consumer, our clients agree that our strong negotiating skills, experience and extensive knowledge of the Real Estate Market are assets one can’t find on the Internet. It will never replace the person to person contact of an agents expertise.

Remax Award Szabo Group

When representing Buyers, Joe and Linda’s success has stemmed from a keen intuition and vast market knowledge. As described by many of their clients, they really listen to their clients and understand their needs. Being a better listener than talker is of prime importance. They are tireless and tenacious and create a high level of trust when they take care of you, striving to find the highest quality property in the best location at the best value for each client.

Joe and Linda offer first class service and always follow their motto Building Lifelong Relationships One Client At A Time. “We strive to establish a relationship based on integrity and reliability in each word and action we take”.

Happy New Year from Scottsdale Real Estate Team

szabogroup — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:38:16 +0000

Joe Szabo and Linda Szabo

Joe and Linda Szabo would like to wish you a very happy new year!

Happy Holidays from Scottsdale Real Estate Team

szabogroup — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:33:15 +0000

Joe Szabo and Linda Szabo

Joe and Linda Szabo would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Will Light affect my Home Sale by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:20:16 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Take stock of how much light is entering your house. When your house is dark, it feels like a cave and it won’t matter even if you have the most incredible interior.

Open all curtains and windows while it’s bright outside. Now observe each room. Does it feel dark and cold? It may be fine if you’re used to living this way but buyers may be quick to cross your house off their list for lack of appeal.

Natural Light:

Remove ornaments or anything hanging on your windows. The glass panes must be clear and unobstructed.
Cut back tree limbs that block natural light reaching your windows. Similarly, remove indoor shelves and plants blocking your windows.
Window treatments: replace dark or heavy looking drapes.
Consider shutters, sheer white panels, or cut-to-measure blinds at a home center. They are relatively inexpensive and you can revitalize your rooms in one weekend
Mount your valance higher to let in more light while making the window appear larger.
Yet another possibility is to leave windows bare for a fresh, on-trend look.
Remove doors and let adjacent rooms share their light. This works well with dining and living rooms.
Reflect light with strategically placed mirrors. Do this sparingly or risk being labeled as the house of mirrors.
Replace the solid door of your study room with a French door so light can permeate to the rest of the house. To upgrade inexpensively, buy a French glass insert and install it yourself.
Clean your windows and skylights. Layers of grime can filter out an amazing amount of light.
Consider a new decorative glass insert for your main door. Glass inserts are economical and easy to install. You’re guaranteed to buy lots of light for your foyer.

What You Need to Know about Mortgage Brokers by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:18:38 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Customers need to be vigilant about how fees are charged. You might end up paying more for a loan that doesn’t give you what you need. Some mortgage brokers steer to a particular lender or group of lenders. It’s a good idea to ask which lenders a broker works with before you start working with them. Discussing your mortgage broker with your real estate agent can give you some insight as to who might provide you the best possible loan and at a reasonable cost.

Remember, the mortgage broker isn’t going to be pocketing monthly interest from your loan because she’s not lending you the money. Instead, the bulk of his or her income is based on fees. These fees include appraisal and credit inquiry expenses, application processing fees, closing costs including notary services, document preparation, escrow services, title insurance and recording fees. You should also know that many of these costs are based on the amount of the loan, so when you borrow more, you’ll pay more.

Dangers of Using Online Lenders by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:13:44 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

A local or online mortgage broker may find you a lender in another part of the country.

An online bank might not have a local office where employees can help you one-on-one.

Some out of town lenders don’t understand the types of heating systems used in specific areas, they aren’t familiar with private septic systems, and they don’t immediately understand common classifications and terms used by local appraisers. Those are just a few examples of problems I’ve seen that caused significant slow-downs in loans made by an out of town lender working with a mortgage broker.

Using a local bank can sometimes be a plus. Their staff generally understands the specifics of local properties, but a distant lender who doesn’t will delay closing until questions are answered. Mortgage brokers can often find a lender who will make loans that a bank refuses–problem credit is one example. Loans for unique or commercial properties might be easier to secure through a mortgage broker.

Make your choice of a lender based on the best loan terms you can find. Ask questions about expected time-frame. Ask your real estate agent friends who have recently bought a home for lender and broker referrals.

Decorative Roofing Materials by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:10:00 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Steel and Metal Roofs are coming back into vogue. In the late 1700s, zinc, copper, and lead were the most popular materials used for roofing – such famous historic buildings as the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have metal roofs.

Standing-seam steel roofing is the most popular residential metal roofing today. (The term standing-seam describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a trendy historical look.) But metal roofs can also be made to resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles, and Victorian metal tiles. Aluminum or coated steel is formed into individual shingles or tiles, or into modular panels four feet long that mimic a row of shingles or tiles.

Metal roofs are durable, fire retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy efficient; metal reflects heat and blocks its transfer into the attic. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills.

Steel roofs offer other environmental benefits as well. They are made from between 60 percent to 65 percent recyclable material. Because they weigh very little, metal roofing can be installed over existing roofs, eliminating the need to dispose of excess material in a landfill.

Installing some metal roofing can be an intricate process best done by a professional, and the initial cost of a premium metal roof is higher than most other roofing materials. You need to compute the lifecycle cost to see if paying more to begin with for a metal roof will prove to be a better investment than some other form of roofing.

Concrete Roofing Materials by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?

szabogroup — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:06:10 +0000

Joe Szabo Scottsdale Real Estate for Sale

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team

Shingles, simulated wood shakes, lighter-weight tiles and concrete panels are being manufactured from a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. Some are coated with plastics, enamels, or thin metals, and some contain recycled material. Although the products themselves are not yet recyclable, they are a good choice for durability and resource efficiency.

The advantages of concrete roofing vary from product to product, but generally they all have a long lifespan, require low maintenance, offer good fire protection and are resistant to rot and insects. Many tiles mimic the appearance of wood shakes, while improving on the durability and fire protection that real wood affords. It can approximate the look of clay tile or slate while mitigating the structural problems caused by the weight of the real material.

Concrete is more expensive than some roofing materials, and early types of concrete roofing had problems with the material curling, breaking and changing color. Technology has improved, however, and these problems have mostly been overcome. Style and color choices are expanding, and by mixing the cement with additives, manufacturers and making lighter and lighter products.