By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Painting projects are a fantastic and easy way to update and refresh the look of your home. If you’re hoping to economize on your upcoming painting projects, here are some easy and painless ways to do it.

Use mistints

Every store that sells paint has mistints — paints that the store mixed to a specific color for a customer, and then the customer either never picked them up, or returned them. These paints are marked down significantly so that the store can sell them quickly, sometimes at a discount of 50 to 75 percent — or even more. You might be wondering what the chances are of getting the color you want when you shop for mistints. Well, it really depends on how specific you are about the color you want. If you’re looking for a very specific shade, then mistints may not be the right choice. But if you have a general color scheme in mind and aren’t terribly invested in a specific color, mistints are the way to go.  They can literally save you hundreds of dollars. Pro tip:  Shop for your mistints at high-end and specialty paint stores, rather than big-box home improvement stores. You are likely to find a better selection of colors, and some unbelievable discounts on ultra-high-quality paint

Pick the right paint the first time

Perhaps you’re wondering if you really need to prime your surface? The general guideline is that you don’t need to prime if the existing paint on your walls is in good shape, and the new color is similar in shade to the old color. In all other cases, you should prime the surface first. You will be much happier with the quality of your finished paint job if you do so. Then there are all the different types of paint to choose from. Do you want flat, satin, eggshell, semi-gloss, or gloss?  Consider the following advantages and disadvantages of the different paint textures. Flat

• Works best for: Interior walls and ceilings, and, in particular, walls that have many imperfections
• Advantages: Covers imperfections very well, and is easy to touch up later on
• Disadvantages: Does not wash well, so wouldn’t be a good choice for kitchens or high-traffic areas

Eggshell

• Works best for: Living room, bedroom, and dining room walls
• Advantages: Easy to maintain, as it’s generally both washable and easy to touch up
• Disadvantages: Not a good choice for high-moisture areas

Satin

• Works best for: High-traffic areas of the home, such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and family room
• Advantages: Easy to keep clean, as it’s washable
• Disadvantages: Not so easy to touch up, as is the case with most gloss paints

Semi-gloss & gloss

• Works best for: Trim work, molding, cabinets, kitchens, and bathrooms; also a good choice for exterior paint
• Advantages: Provides great coverage for smooth surfaces such as finished wood surfaces; very washable and durable
• Disadvantages: Not a good choice for textured surfaces or those with many imperfections

Once you’ve decided on the type of paint, be sure to pick the right color. Have you ever had to re-paint an entire room because the color just didn’t look like the color on the tiny little swatch you got from the store? Maybe it was a lot brighter, or darker, or just not the perfect shade. To avoid this scenario, you can always buy a sample can of paint, and paint a swatch on the wall to see what it will look like. Or, try this pro tip … Pro tip: Make your own giant paint swatch with a sample can of the color you have in mind, and a big sheet of paper. You can move it around as much as you like to see the color in different parts of the room, and at different times of day.

To touch up or not to touch up?

Sometimes it makes sense to touch up your walls or ceilings, rather than incurring the expense and labor of re-painting the entire room. But it isn’t as easy as you might think to get a perfect match, even if you have some of the original paint leftover. The color or sheen of the paint can change over time, whether it’s the painted wall changing from sun exposure, or the paint in the can losing some of its original color over time. Here are some tips to make sure your touch-up job matches the original as closely as possible:

• Try to use the same applicator for the touch-up that you used for the original paint job. If you painted with a roller, then touch up with a roller. Likewise, if you painted with a brush, you’ll want to touch up with a brush.
• Use a light hand with the touch-up. Apply the touch-up paint very sparingly, and feather it into the existing wall.
• If you have a lot of areas to touch up on one wall, consider just re-painting the one wall. It will be quicker and cheaper than re-painting the entire room, and if the color is slightly different, it won’t be as noticeable on such a large scale.

Pro tip: If you don’t have enough of the original paint on hand to complete your touch-up, you can bring a sample of the paint to the paint store, and they will do a color match for you, usually at no extra cost. These tips should help you to not only save money on your paint jobs, but also give you the satisfaction of getting the great results you’re hoping for. 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Nothing says Halloween like carved pumpkins, friends in fun costumes, and festive treats. Follow these tips for throwing the perfect pumpkin-carving party with all your friends.

1. Create a casual atmosphere

Head out to the backyard, set up a few long folding tables with a disposable cloth, and let the fall atmosphere be your decor. Play some music, and let the party commence.

2. Assemble an easy, self-serve buffet

Don’t worry about serving a full meal that creates a lot of work for you. Instead, set up a self-serve buffet stocked with enough goodies for the evening, so you can enjoy the party. Think of a few simple savory dishes, add some fun and festive sweets, and you’ve got it covered. Include a drink station with a few options in dispensers. Label them, set up a stack of glasses and let your guests enjoy.

3. Set up carving stations

Arrange a simple but structured carving setup so your guests can enjoy the main event. Stock a table with various carving templates for those who want something other than the traditional smile. Don’t forget tape to attach the templates to the pumpkins. On other tables, place cute buckets down the center to scoop the pumpkin seeds and pulp into. Then put out smaller containers to hold the carving utensils. You’ve provided everything guests need to carve the winning pumpkin.

4. Hold a carving contest

What good would pumpkin carving be without a little friendly competition? Have some judges and a variety of prizes on hand for the event. Think outside the box with the awards and go beyond just the “Best Pumpkin.” Think in terms of “Most Creative,” “Most Adventurous,” “Scariest,” and so on.

5. Commemorate the evening

Make sure you gather up those masterpieces for a group shot at the end of the evening. All that hard work must be commemorated. Share the party photos with your guests after the fact. Get out those pumpkins, set the tables, and crank the music for the best pumpkin-carving party around. 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team The real estate market is full of ups and downs. So when the market in your area is at the boiling point, should you strike while the iron is hot to buy or sell? When you’re thinking about testing the waters with either a home purchase or sale, there’s a lot to consider before you make a decision. Get expert advice before you make a jump into or out of a market. Here are some tips to get you started.

Determine just how hot your market is

Unless you actively seek out financial news, it may be difficult for many homeowners and potential buyers to know whether or not their market is at its peak. “When you’re in a frothy market, you’ll typically see double-digit increases in values from one year to the next,” says Bridget Burgess, a client adviser at Seattle-based Laird Norton Wealth Management. “Once you’re seeing that, people walk away with a sense of urgency.” Once buyers and sellers determine that their market is doing well, they often feel the need to act quickly. However, when it comes to real estate, it’s not always best to make a move just because a market is showing healthy signs.

Consider the long term

Real estate, more than any other type of investment, is emotionally charged. Though some buyers may purchase real estate with emotional detachment, most of us are thinking about a place to call home. A red-hot real estate market can trick us into thinking that we need to only think about the bottom line. “A frothy market might distract you from where the real estate might fit in your overall picture,” explains Kristi Mathisen, managing director of tax planning at Laird Norton Wealth Management. “Instead of selling, there could be a possibility of moving a home to be a rental home or giving your home to your children. A frothy market encourages people to focus on one transaction. Don’t let the market drive you into a decision.” Just because there’s an opportunity to sell doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right move for you. When you are thinking about selling, be sure to analyze where you are in your life. Are your kids young, or have you been an empty nester for years? Are you close to retirement, and are you considering moving out of town? These are the types of questions to ask yourself before you make a move. When you’re a buyer, a peak market can be a little bit riskier. Ask yourself if you’re comfortable with being upside down on a home if the market potentially collapses. Determine whether it makes more sense financially to rent or buy. Online calculatorscan help you figure out the best option.

What worked before doesn’t work today

The landscape of homeownership is completely different today than it was even a couple of decades ago. Wages have been stagnant for some time, and it’s not as easy to “grow into your mortgage” as it used to be. Low mortgage rates also make it difficult for a buyer to refinance in the future. “In the old days — when mortgage rates were five, seven, or nine percent — the usual advice was this: ‘Buy the biggest house you can finance. Try to get the worst house in the best neighborhood and fix it up,’” Mathisen says. “The idea was to stretch to buy now and refinance later to lower your payment. This advice is now questionable because mortgage rates are already at historically low levels (about 3.5 percent for 30 years; 2.8 percent for 15), so it’s unlikely refinancing can ever save a current buyer money.”

Take your time

The important thing to remember is that it’s smart to take your time to think about real estate decisions. After all, home sales and purchases cannot be undone quickly or easily — if at all. It’s also crucial to make sure that your mortgage is not the only investment that you have, and to diversify, advises Burgess. When you take the time to carefully calculate the costs, benefits, and purpose of the property you want to sell or invest in, you’re much more likely to arrive at a decision that will be the best for you and your family. 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Recently, negative headlines have appeared about how banks “cross-sell” you additional products and services. But cross-selling isn’t always bad for consumers — and, in fact, when it comes to mortgage cross-selling, there are some compelling benefits. Here’s a look at what cross-selling is, and how to know when it can help or hurt your finances.

What is cross-selling?

Cross-selling is when your financial services provider sells you a new product or service beyond the one you have or are asking about. This can happen when you’re an existing customer, like when your monthly mortgage statement includes a promotion for a new credit card. Or it can happen when you’re a new customer, like when you’re applying for a mortgage and you’re asked if you’d like to open a checking account from which to auto-debit the monthly mortgage payments.

How cross-selling works

Cross-selling is a basic sales premise we encounter often in our daily lives. If your waiter offers a wine selection to go with your entree, that’s cross-selling. If your automated gas pump asks if you’d like a car wash, that’s cross-selling. And if your banker asks you if you’d like overdraft protection to go with your checking account, that’s also cross-selling. The difference with financial services is that the products are more complex, and the fine print associated with each offering can lead to unwanted fees and/or products. Overdraft protection is a great example. If a transaction will overdraw your checking account, overdraft protection enables the bank to draw funds from another account to cover the overage. Cue the bank representative: “Don’t have another checking account? Let’s open one for you right now!” In this scenario, you’d then be asked to sign or verbally consent to terms and conditions for the new account. Before doing so, you must press your banker to explain:

• Low-balance thresholds and fees for both accounts
• Overdraft transfer fees
• Other possible fees
• Conditions that bundle other products with the one being offered
• Conditions that permit the bank to add other products without obtaining new consent from you

Best practice is to never agree verbally, and instead ask for full terms and conditions in writing before you agree. It’s less convenient, but it will help you avoid unnecessary fees, unwanted products, or both.

Mortgage-related cross-selling

The good news with mortgages is that strict laws prevent you from going forward with a loan application until you receive and sign very clear mortgage disclosures detailing the rate, loan terms, line-item fees, and cash needed to close. But you will still be subject to cross-selling in the mortgage process. Here are some facts about the most common mortgage cross-selling practices. These can help you determine whether mortgage cross-selling actually benefits you, and which questions to ask to make sure.

• Lower mortgage rate with checking account. If you open a checking account from which the the monthly mortgage payment must be be auto-debited, many lenders will offer a lower mortgage rate. Opening a checking account to save interest cost over the life of a mortgage can be worth it, if the rate discount is good enough. Make sure you understand low-balance thresholds and fees on the checking account, and double check whether your mortgage rate can rise if you decide to cancel the checking account
• Lower mortgage rate for larger deposits. If you move money into new deposit or asset management accounts before you close your mortgage, many lenders will offer a lower mortgage rate — but how much lower depends on how much money you move to (or already have with) the bank. Your loan officer will tell you the rate discounts associated with different deposit levels. Ask if you can combine this discount with the checking discount noted above. Also, double check whether your mortgage rate can rise if your deposit/asset account balances ever go below the threshold that was required for the rate discount.
• Portion of credit card spending pays down mortgage. If you open a credit card, some lenders will credit a certain percentage (often around one percent) of annual spending toward paying down your mortgage. As with all credit card products, there is a lot of fine print, so if your loan officer offers this option to you, ask to review everything in writing before agreeing. If it’s a fit for you, it can be a nice incentive for credit card spending you’re already engaged in.
• Open a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with your mortgage. HELOCs are a convenient way to access your home’s equity. They’re a second mortgage, and you can put one in place with a zero balance, and use a credit card or check to spend the funds when needed. You only make payments if you establish a balance, and the rate can be variable or fixed. Ask your loan officer to document rate options, as well as fees to open and close a HELOC. Also, note that having a HELOC can make it more difficult to refinance your first mortgage down the road — but this depends on each person’s profile, so ask your loan officer to explain this to you.

And finally, once you’ve established whether a mortgage cross-sell product is appropriate for you, it’s good practice to ask your loan officer whether they get paid on the non-mortgage products. It will help you gauge whether they’re doing the right thing for you — or the right thing for them. 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team It’s standard practice in real estate to give a home a fresh coat of paint before putting it on the market. Nine out of 10 times, the intention is to show the property at its best. But every so often, the seller paints the house in hopes of covering something up. In most parts of the country, sellers (and agents) are required to document any known defects —  whether current or past — to potential buyers. But some sellers don’t play by the rules and will try to get one past a buyer. Whether you’re a listing a home for sale or in the market to purchase, here are five things you should know about real estate disclosures.

What is a disclosure?

Disclosure statements, which can come in a variety of forms, are the buyer’s opportunity to learn as much as they can about the property and the seller’s experience in it. Potential seller disclosures range from knowledge of leaky windows to work done without the benefit of a permit, to information about a major construction or development project nearby. Not only do disclosure documents serve to inform buyers, but they can also protect the sellers from future legal action. It is the seller’s chance to reveal anything that can negatively affect the value, usefulness or enjoyment of the property.

How does a seller make a disclosure?

Disclosure laws vary from state to state, even down to the city and county level. California has some of the most stringent disclosure requirements. The law requires that sellers (and their agents) complete or sign off on dozens of documents, such as a Natural Hazards Disclosure Statement, Local and State Transfer Disclosure Statements, Advisories about Market Conditions and even Megan’s Law Disclosures. Disclosure typically comes in the form of boilerplate documents (put together by the local or state real estate association), where the seller answers a series of yes/no questions about their home and their experience there. Additionally, sellers must present any documented communication (between neighbors, previous owners, the seller or the agents) about a substantial defect or item that could have an adverse impact on value. Depending on where you live, sellers can be on the hook for what they disclose (or fail to) for up to 10 years. Sellers should err on the side of caution. If you know it, put it out there. If you try to hide something, it can come back to haunt you in the form of an expensive lawsuit.

What do sellers disclose to potential buyers?

Previous improvements, renovations or upgrades done by sellers are typical disclosures, as well as whether work was done with or without permits. Buyers should cross check the seller’s disclosures with the city building permit and zoning reports. Work completed without a permit, or approval by the municipality, may not have been performed to code, which could result in a fire or health hazard. Other standard disclosures include the existence of pets, termite problems, neighborhood nuisances, any history of property line disputes, and defects or malfunctions with major systems or appliances. Disclosure documents often ask sellers if they are involved in bankruptcy proceedings, if there any liens on the property, and so on.

Is a disclosure the same as an inspection?

Disclosure is something given to the buyer by the seller documenting their knowledge of the property. It is not the same thing as an independent inspection by a third party. An examination may reveal defects that the seller may not have been aware of. The buyer should always do a full property inspection, before moving forward with the purchase. The inspector checks all systems and components from the roof to the basement. Often, in the interest of the ultimate in full disclosure, a seller hires a property inspector before going on the market and supplies the written report to the buyer.

When does the buyer receive disclosure statements?

In most markets, disclosure documents are provided to buyers once the seller has accepted their offer. In addition to their inspections or loan contingency, the buyer has an opportunity to review the seller’s disclosures. If the buyer discovers something negative about the property through disclosure, she can usually back out. In some markets, sellers provide these disclosures to the customers before an offer. Smart sellers let buyers know everything they need to know up front. It’s smart because it saves everyone time, hassle and expense by preventing deals from falling apart once they’re in escrow. Buyers must sign off on all disclosures and reports. So it’s important to review them carefully and ask questions if you need to. Full disclosure upfront is the way to go. Providing full disclosure can help a seller. By laying their cards out, sellers can give buyers a sense of comfort or peace of mind, making their home more desirable than a competing one. 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.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Have you ever asked yourself: “How much living space do I really need?” “A lot of people now, I think, are realizing that what it takes to live is different than what we’ve been told we need to live. And that’s an amazing epiphany,” says Charlie Kern, a Denver-based builder who designs homes made of old buses. Kern, who has been working with old buses for 10 years, was able to solve a personal financial problem with his knowledge about these automobiles. “I needed a place to live,” Kern recalls. “I wasn’t going to have the money to buy a house in the foreseeable future. I knew buses. This is a lot of space. I knew I could live in one.” Kern spent around $27,000 remodeling an old bus into a home, complete with full kitchen, bathroom, and Murphy bed. The bus operates and functions fully as a home, with gas, water, and electric. Thinking about his own carbon footprint, Kern decided while building the bus that he would cut off the roof and put solar panels in its place. As for his water supply, the bus has a 46-gallon tank, which can last him about a week with showers, washing dishes, and cooking.

Sharing the bus life

Now that his home is complete, Kern spends a lot of time building house buses for other people. “We definitely build for people that are unique. They’re creative. They think outside the bus, and fundamentally they’re adventurers,” Kern says. In addition to being an inexpensive and green way to live, Kern says the biggest thing about living in a house bus is the freedom that comes along with it. “I love knowing that from where I am I could walk five or six feet, sit down in the driver’s seat, start the bus up and start driving,” Kern says. 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.