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Bullhead City Real Estate – Lamenting “The One That Got Away”

May 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I occasionally come across consumers who are unable to get past the house that they didn’t get.

They can’t seem to get it out of their mind. They compare everything else to that one lost opportunity.

Many of them will blame their agent. Sometimes, that may be true, sadly.

But more often than not, it is because:

  • they took too long to decide, and someone else who was able to move fast snagged it
  • they made an unrealistic offer, thinking the seller was obligated to negotiate
  • it was a short sale and lost to foreclosure, or
  • the bank countered at a price they wouldn’t pay–even though they loved the house
  • they were too picky about small stuff
  • they were not playing for a win-win and the seller rejected their offer outright
  • they were looking at homes before they were ready, willing and able to buy

I understand disappointment and even heartbreak. And the last thing we ever want is a sad client!

And yeah, some things are just not fair.

But you have no choice except to move on, adjust your expectations and realize that perfect doesn’t exist except in a skewed hindsight perception.

You can’t even BUILD perfect (although you can come close and it will cost you)

If you see a home that fits 80-90% of your criteria, and you really love it, you can bet that someone out there is also eyeing it too. So take your best shot out of the gate and give a little to get a lot!

What you CAN do that is very empowering is be:

  1. prepared
  2. ready to move in an instant, and
  3. realistic about your choices, budget and the market

I don’t like the cliche, “if it’s meant to be”, either. Even if sometimes it is true.

I feel that more is within our control than outside it.

Part of that control is being willing and able to see clearly what you have to work with!

Still. like a jilted lover whose subsequent choices just never ‘measure up’ . . .

. . . if you are stuck in the “one that got away” rut . . .

don’t be surprised if you end up with nothing.

Because that kind of attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy that will suspend and disable you.

Shake it off and work with your agent on a game plan.

Otherwise, you might just be lamenting about the ‘great agent who got away’ too.

Sometimes the most powerful magic is simply a shift in perception.

Let us help you get what you want.

Filed Under: First Time Homebuyers, For Buyers, General, General Information, Investors, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, Mohave Valley AZ Real Estate – Manufactured Home Financing

December 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A fellow Bullhead City AZ, area real estate broker e-mailed me a question:

“I am trying to find lenders for Bullhead City AZ manufactured homes, to assist our buyers, sellers and fellow real estate professionals.”

I started to answer, but the answer was a good Jeopardy-style one–IN THE QUESTION–and it’s not a short one.

If you’re buying or selling a Bullhead City, Fort Mohave or Mohave Valley AZ manufactured or mobile home, whether or not you can get financing, and what type and terms will depend on a number of factors.

THE PROPERTY:

  • Age. On June 15, 1976, HUD stepped in and began to regulate mobile and manufactured homes, requiring specific design and code adherence. This is the ‘line of demarcation’ you will hear when you talk to a lender about financing. “Is it a pre- or post- HUD home?” means is the home newer than June 16, 1976? Very few, if indeed any lenders will touch pre-HUD manufactured homes.
  • Style. Bank statistics have shown over time that the default rate has been far greater for singlewide than multiwide manufactured and mobilehomes. So double and triplewides are far more likely to be conventionally financeable.
  • Occupancy. Will the borrower occupy this home as a primary residence? This makes a difference to lenders. Again, bank default rates are likely the reason.
  • Condition. Appraisal will need to show that the home is in very good condition. If FHA or VA financing, tiedowns oe retrofitting may be required. A concrete foundation, as opposed to a raised one, may be necessary. Often, the home must be in an area not in FEMA Flood Zone A.

THE BORROWER:

  • Creditworthiness. Duh. Guidelines are far more stringent for manufactured homes than their site-built counterparts. Borrowers with ‘marginal’ credit will not be able to wiggle through. And paperwork requirements, verification of assets, income, employment and credit, will be very, very detailed.
  • Terms. Again, guidelines may necessitate larger down payment, higher interest rates and other terms that are less attractive than those for site built homes.

The first thing to do if considering a Bullhead City area manufactured home is talk to a Bullhead City real estate lender with whom you’ve had a long relationship. Guidelines are constantly changing but for a solid borrower buying a new or newer multiwide manufactured home, many banks and mortgage banks do offer manufactured home financing. Talk to your lender and find out what their guidelines are.

In our area, manufactured homes are very popular and some are every bit as well built, energy efficient and drop dead gorgeous as their site built neighbors.

Some, you wouldn’t even know the difference.

Bullhead City 86442, Fort Mohave 86426, Mohave Valley 86440

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

http://facebook.com/NextWaveREI

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

ALL WORDS AND IMAGES ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF CANDICE A DONOFRIO AND NEXT WAVE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. C.2010

Don’t even think about it.

Filed Under: Around Town, For Buyers, For Sellers, General, General Information, Investors, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

What Is Your Definition Of Professionalism? Here’s Mine

November 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The lady who did my nails yesterday was delightful. She was messy, late, scattered . . .

and OMG, did she make me look fabulous.

She was a PRO.

As she spilled polish on her (well protected) table, she smiled and said, “I’m a mess. But that’s just how I roll.”

It made me think about how we define professionalism in our industry. I may measure it a bit differently than some. Perhaps not. :)

Professionalism is not how stuffy or condescending you can be to demonstrate superiority.

It’s inclusive, not exclusive.

Professionalism is relaxed and has a sense of humor because you have nothing to prove when you know what you are doing.

It’s knowing when you are in over your head and having the good sense to ask for help.

Professionalism is doing a job well for its sake.

Style isn’t enough to get by. Substance is essential.

It’s nowhere NEAR measured by who you clink glasses with at the latest Tweetup, or how many Facebook friends you have.

It can be greatly enhanced by those you know that NO ONE knows about.

It’s not who YOU are at all.

It’s what RESULTS you get that solved the problem.

Professionalism is leaving your ego out of the equation.

It’s bringing people together . . . not creating adversaries.

It’s knowing when to sidestep a pothole.

Professionalism can turn on a dime if required.

It’s how you roll.

It’s crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s–and quickly fixing what spots were missed.

It’s NOT manipulating others to do YOUR job.

It’s acknowledging the good works of others.

Professionalism is the ability to continually and instantly VALUATE everything.

Especially time.

Professionalism requires a great deal of generosity.

It’s being prepared because you anticipated the probabilities.

it’s being able to improvise because you know you couldn’t possibly anticipate them all.

It’s helping others help their clients – because it helps yours.

It’s knowing when to stay out of something that is not your concern.

When to cut someone a break . . . and when to hold their feet to the fire.

When to talk, but more importantly

when to listen.

Is professionalism akin to wisdom?

It might just be.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

ALL WORDS AND IMAGES ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF CANDICE A DONOFRIO AND NEXT WAVE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. C.2010

Don’t even think about it.

Filed Under: For Buyers, For Sellers, General, General Information, Investors, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Want To Find An Exceptional REALTOR? Ask Their CLIENTS — NOT Their Facebook Or Twitter Friends!

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I love trolling the Internet. So many opinions bandied about.

I was playing fly on the wall and overheard an online chat about who is a good REALTOR, extolling the virtues of some big and bright online stars. But how many of them are really ‘journalists’ who practice only in theory?

Inexperienced newbies who hopped the online bandwagon 10 minutes ago?

Inactive licensees who never sold anything at all?

It occurred to me that there is really only one way to determine who truly is a experienced and efficient real estate professional.

Their satisfied customers.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. A strong online presence is a good thing. So is being a popular and social agent. It shows we play well with others–and a lot of successful closings for happy clients truly are made on the merits of the relationships between the brokers. When we get a choice, we choose to work with who we get along with, and that means more successful transactions at the end of the day.

But whether or not someone is a GREAT REALTOR?

Only our CLIENTS can say for sure.

  • They experience the level of service first hand.
  • They experience the level of care first hand.
  • They benefit from–or can be damaged by–the skill level of the broker.

Client testimonials are huge. They are gold. Platinum.

If you receive an online referral to a REALTOR, whether you are a referring agent or a consumer, you might want to ask the referring agent, “Have you actually worked with this agent?” “Do you know any of the clients this agent has served?” “Can I talk to any of them?”

The agent should be able to provide at least 3 CONSUMER contacts that, on the fly, you could drop a line and get an accurate picture of what to expect from them.

This week I will be updating my client testimonials. And if you would like to meet some of my clients, I’ll hook you up.

That’s how people will know for sure that I’m doing a good job . . .

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fort Mohave AZ Real Estate 86426 – Beautiful, Lakefront Los Lagos

May 15, 2010 By 4 Comments

Fort Mohave AZ real estate doesn’t get more prestigious than Los Lagos, a fabulous masterplanned gated community of  Fort Mohave lakefront homes between Lipan and Boundary Cone, just a few miles from the Colorado River and Laughlin, NV.

And Fort Mohave AZ Real Estate in zip code 86426 has grown to become a favorite among homebuyers in the Bullhead City AZ area because of the wide open spaces (the Fort Mohave Indian Tribe owns every other square mile outside Bullhead City limits), no city taxes, proximity to new, expanding, state of the art Valley View Medical Center, Jack Smith Park in Needles, CA, Oatman AZ and Laughlin NV.


View Los Lagos, Fort Mohave AZ 86426 in a larger map

Homes in Los Lagos are mostly lakefront homes, with numerous amenities such as tennis courts, pool, spa, BBQ, fitness center, media library and golf at Desert Lakes or The Greens/Cielo at Los Lagos, adjacent to ‘Los Lagos proper’.

HOA dues are 101 a month–affordable for this gated, secure subdivision well managed by the Bella Vista Homeowner’s Association.



Prices range from the upper 100s to high 400s for custom built homes from 1500 to 4000 SF, and 30 – 200k for lakefront and off the lake homesites.

For more information about this elegant Fort Mohave address, give us a shout.

This is where we work and live.


Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: Around Town, For Buyers, For Sellers, Investors, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"They Didn't Counter So I Overpaid" And Other Nonsensical Buyer Perceptions

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Public perception is a funny thing. We elect naked Emperors, uphold Size Zero as a beauty standard and buy more than we can afford to pay because we think we can instantly turn a profit without breaking a sweat.

The things I hear from people are just baffling sometimes.

Here are some of my favorite consumer real estate perceptions:

  • “They didn’t counter so I overpaid.” Overheard in Trulia Voices this past week. Buyer felt she overpaid because the seller didn’t counter. Upon (pro) inspecting the property, in addition to some valid habitability issues (such as roof) this buyer ‘discovered’ that the property also needed paint and flooring–and wanted to cancel the transaction and put in a new offer, knocking off a few thousand for those items.

BUT BUT BUT: Didn’t you view the property prior to purchase? Could the property have been priced fairly to begin with, taking the condition into account? Could the seller have felt your offer was fair, and being serious about selling, did not feel the need to counter? Do you understand that paint and flooring are cosmetic items? Do you really think the seller should pay for you to redecorate?

  • “Making an offer on an unlisted property is asking for a beating price-wise.” The very educated person who made this statement shocked me. He felt that if an owner doesn’t have a property listed, it’s not for sale–and to make an offer on such a property could never result in a favorable deal for the buyer.

BUT BUT BUT: Do you KNOW the owner’s story? Might the owner not even remember they own the property? (This happens ALL THE TIME in resort areas–the reminder comes 2x/year at tax time but otherwise, it’s collecting dust. Land particularly.) Might the owner have tax or abatement liens on the property he can’t afford to pay? Could the owner actually be in need of some additional cash? Might the owner not know the true value of the property? Perhaps they know and are aware of the market, and see the offer as nothing short of a miracle anyway. The owner may have wanted to sell the property but never got around to hiring a REALTOR to help. Everything’s negotiable, and a win-win is not that hard to bring about in most cases.

  • “I know there’s not much for you (the REALTOR) in this.” This statement was made by someone who wanted to make an offer to lease-option a property. We hear this also from people wanting to make ‘small deals’.

BUT BUT BUT: We will either accept or not accept a client based on a number of factors, but price/commission dollar amount is not usually anywhere near the top. (Saleability and client cooperation are!) A lease-purchase takes longer to close, but the commissions on a sale on a listed property were agreed to when the property was listed. An erroneous public perception that we’re all in it for a quick buck. If that were only true! Real estate at its best is not ‘in the moment’ but a long process. If the deal is good for our clients, it’s good for us. If we are doing it right, YOU will be our CLIENT longer than THIS will be a TRANSACTION.

  • “That’s listed way over market/that’s not what the comps say.” I heard this a couple of days ago when a prospect called on a property that I have listed at HALF of land value according to the active, pending and closed sales in our Regional MLS. When I asked what comps the caller used and from where…duhhhh…well that’s just something he ‘heard somewhere’.

BUT BUT BUT: I would be happy to provide you with the same comps I used to set the price AND a copy of the disclosure where the seller told me to list it low to SELL IT. Zillow, Trulia and RealtyTrac are NOT always current or accurate and do not account for many of the intricacies that a local market expert would know.

~~~~~

Before you make a move or adopt a mindset, it might be a good move to ASK and REVIEW the CURRENT documentation.

Happy to help…with the FACTS…

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: For Buyers, Investors, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Take Your Best Shot Outta The Gate – You're Not Guaranteed A Second One!

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Multiple offers can be as frustrating for a listing agent (at least, this one) as waiting and working for ONE offer. And the fact that the public, and many of the agents don’t know exactly how to deal with them makes it even more labor- and time-intensive.

Remember that the seller doesn’t HAVE to respond to ANY offer. It’s not good practice to ignore offers, but there is no obligation to respond. If the ‘drop dead’ date comes and goes, the offer is dead.

We always let people know (public and agents) if other offers are in process of negotiation . . . (note that the REALTOR COE calls for disclosure of ACCEPTED offers), and tell you off the bat that other offers are in so TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT NOW.

So if you know another offer–or two–or ten–is in, why make a weak offer with the expectation that the seller will counter? That is risky.

If there is already a better offer in, chances are IT will be the first, if not the only one countered.

And a low offer–OR one that does not echo the seller’s requested minimum terms–might be viewed as less than serious when there are better offers in.

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT AS SOON AS THAT TARGET IS IN YOUR SIGHTS, IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY HIT IT.

Investors playing the ‘law of averages game’ are operating on the premise that if you throw 10 lowballs at 10 sellers, there’s a chance that one will stick.

That is not who this post is directed at.

For the buyers who truly want a property–and lose their shot because they are playing an investor’s game with an owner-occupant’s set of needs and emotions . . . I wish they had been more sensible.

I had a situation recently where an offer on one of my listings, one of two, was outright rejected for a better offer. The offer made was a fairly weak one, even after told that an attractive offer was in. (Neither buyer was via my office, FYI.)

When I broke the news to the weaker offeror’s agent that the seller rode the more attractive offer to execution, the response was. “Why didn’t you counter us? We WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THE SAME THING!”

Why didn’t you just do that in the first place?

When the seller was asked, “DO YOU want to counter this offer with similar terms or ask for a best/highest/final from both parties” , his response was,

“Nahhh . . . they probably can’t do it or they would have offered to–and besides, this other one is ready to go.”

And if you know a better offer than you were going to make was just rejected . . . by a BANK . . . and you STILL want to lowball yours . . . let me feel your forehead. Are you running a fever?

I was told by a bank’s agent that X amount was the last offer that was rejected (and we all know how they arbitrarily respond), which I conveyed to the buyer. In response, he make an offer 10% below it and said “Tell them to take if or leave it.”

Guess what happened next? Duh! They left it.

I think this happens because the public distrusts what we are telling them.

Problem is, we can only go on what we are told, too. There is a point where you have to take on faith what you are told.

Don’t kill the messenger! But please listen to the message:

Unless you’re an investor (a REAL one, with a calculator for a brain and a steel spine, and no attachment to the outcome or a particular property) . . .

. . . the more weak offers you make, the more failures, the less enjoyment you’ll get from a process that should by all rights be exciting and fun.

Why put yourself through it?

Look at the comps, make a tight offer and get the property!

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: For Buyers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Feng Shui For Real Estate And Life – A Prosperity Kitchen

May 1, 2010 By

In Feng Shui, the kitchen is where the kind of prosperity we all want really begins. The “bills are paid, food in the pantry, good wine in the cabinet and wanting for nothing” type of abundance.

The kind of ‘having’ that feeds–literally–ALL other wealth endeavors.

There’s a saying in speculation not to ‘gamble scared money’. The rich do indeed get richer–probably because they don’t worry about trying for more–they have more than they need already.

The prevailing feeling that “our sustenance will not be threatened.”

The kitchen is a key area in Feng Shui practice because if it is a disaster, it will breed disorganization and ultimately, lack.fudog

The kitchen is also, often, the most used (or as the case often is, misused) area of the home and therefore the most in need of constant tending.

Here are some basics to whip your kitchen into shape and energize prosperity and abundance in your life:

  • The kitchen MUST SHINE. Mirrors reflect, and thereby increase. Increase is what it’s all about. If you can have stainless steel in your kitchen and it is a compatible element with the area of the home in which your kitchen is located, and you can keep it shiny, fantastic.
  • Shiny floors and especially carefully cleaned corners are important. Dull and stagnant energy gathers in corners and must be removed. It’s okay to have rugs in high traffic areas but they too must be frequently cleaned. Nothing should be allowed to stay dirty.
  • Under cabinets must not be neglected. Just because something is unseen does not diminish the energy it generates. NO part of the house should be ‘creepy’ and getting under the sink to change out plumbing and wipe down shelves is important.
  • Cabinets organized. Where do junk drawers end up? You betcha–the kitchen. Tackle any repository for clutter first.
  • Dishes at very least loaded into dishwasher before bedtime. You will want to start your day with a spotless kitchen to symbolically invite prosperity in and set the tone for your day to be seamless.
  • Trash cans–small and frequently emptied–under sink or out of the way.

The stove is probably the most important element of the kitchen. The ancients believed the stove to be critical because the ability to cook food was literally the ability to stay alive! It deserves its own standalone tips:

  • If you can get a mirror (no matter how small) up on the wall behind the burners, to reflect and multiply the number of burners, you will be increasing prosperity. The more burners you have, the more food you can cook, symbolically and actually–and the greater the prosperity.
  • Burners need to be evenly used. We all get attached to the front burners when we cook. But make sure and alternate with back burners. We don’t want ANY profitable activity to be stuck on the back burner!
  • Burners MUST be kept clean and all parts free moving. Oven and broiler ditto. Clean and degrease often.

Pantries are likewise very important because they represent abundance–the food that is in the pantry will be mimicked by the wealth in the rest of the home. Keep your pantry stocked with lots of staples, but use and replace often too. When you have something besides a vintage wine in a cabinet for too long, it creates stagnant energy. Use, enjoy and replace! I line my pantry shelves with foil which I replace often. I want the shine in there! (YMMV, of course. I just go with my instincts.)

The refrigerator is often neglected and very important to generating wealth. They don’t call it cold cash for nothing! Clean frequently and move items around. Discard old often.

If your idea of cooking dinner is calling for takeout and popping a beer, no worries. You’re better off cooking, which is one of the most magical things we can do! But if it’s not your thing, simply turn burners on and off on regular occasion. Try to learn to cook, though. You’re limiting options!

Bells and chimes are great to have in a kitchen. They move energy via sound–very powerful.

A bowl of fresh fruit or fresh flowers, changed often, are an awesome way to beautify, treat the senses and demonstrate abundance.

I am not a Feng Shui Master (mistress?); just an enthusiast. I hope you enjoy these tips. They work for me.

So next time you’re struggling with a closing from you know where or need your home to sell FAST . . . cook a gourmet meal, then clean up spotless and light a candle of red, purple, green or gold to turn filth to filthy lucre!

Arizona Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River ~~~

www.RealEstateBHC.com

www.CommercialBHC.com

www.RealEstateBHC.biz

866-228-2643

Candice A. Donofrio, Owner/Designated Broker

Certified Commercial Sales Specialist

Filed Under: For Sellers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fort Mohave AZ Real Estate – BULK SALE, 6 RV Friendly Lots Near Avi Resort!

February 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In Arizona, all new subdivisions need a Public Report. That’s where the subdivider, usually a developer, compiles information that would be important to a prospective buyer, such as water availability, roads, utilities, environmental information and such–and provides that information to the AZ Department of Real Estate.

Any time you purchase 6 lots in the same subdivision, you become, in the eyes of the Department, a developer or subdivider, and the laws governing subdivisions will apply.

That means as soon as you acquire the sixth lot in a subdivision, before you sell or transfer ANY of those lots, you will be required to compile the necessary information and submit it to the Department.

There is one exception, the Bulk Sale Exemption:

If you transfer 6 or more lots to one buyer in a single transaction, a Public Report is not required. However, before the new owner can transfer any of the lots, he or she will need to apply for a Public Report--or to transfer them in bulk to a single buyer.

For more information on subdivisions, Public Reports or bulk sale exemption, the Department’s website is full of information.

These six lots in the Camp Mohave subdivision in Fort Mohave, AZ are being offered as a Bulk Sale:


View Larger Map

Four contiguous lots on Lariat Loop– nearly half of a cul-de-sac–and two lots on Keem Rd–located just behind Ace Tri State Building Materials, and just one block off Andrew Drive, which is between Aztec and Aha Macav Drives.

That’s right–you can’t get closer to the Avi Casino Resort than this and not be in a RV campground–except you will OWN the land and pay NO space rent or HOA dues!

The CCRs for this subdivision specifically address, and permit, ‘movable residences’ and travel trailers. The zoning is TT–travel trailer zoning. That means with the proper conditional use permit, you may be able to obtain a permit to pull your RV onto the lot and park it, live in it–and then drive it away.

Seasonal visitors and RV’ers, this could be the DEAL for you.

The entire 6 lots are offered for a SMOKIN’ deal price of 79,000.

AND the owner will carry!

Give us a shout for more information on this super deal–or to make an offer online!

Filed Under: For Buyers, Investors Tagged With: , , , , ,