The NBA Playoffs |
The National Basketball Association and member teams have a long and colorful history. Here are a few milestones for the famous lead-up to the Finals:
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How do you Recognize a Mission Style Home by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
The Mission style, although not considered an official style by many historians, can be seen in manyMediterraneanand Spanish-style homes of today. Built mainly inCaliforniaand developed in the 1800’s, this style focuses on harmony, simplicity, and the tradition of the area in which it is built.
Often just one story, theMissionstyle home is very natural and un-ornamental. It has whitewashed, stucco walls that are smoothed over, and a curvilinear roof gable that is red tiled, and has projecting eaves. The broad front double doors can be seen through an arched opening that is rounded and bold. Between the archway and the front door, there is an entry courtyard. This courtyard is completely enclosed, and has three archways: one in the middle that serves as the entry way, and two on the sides that are gated across, all of the same size.
There is an adobe chimney, one or more square bell towers, and round or clover-shaped windows. There are canals for rain water and a one-story-high porch, with large square pillars. There will often be a small balcony that looks over the front yard. Exposed roof rafters can also be seen. This style works well with drier, hotter environments, and blends well with its natural style look.
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, [email protected] or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes forSale and Estates forSale inScottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.
What Make a Mediterranean Style Home by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
The Mediterranean style, designed mainly after homes inItalyandSpain, tend to follow a more open, yet detailed look. These homes are found most often in the sun-belt states, although they can be found throughout the country.
Usually found in two stories, Mediterranean homes tend to have high ceilings, but lower, wider tile roofs; often with a smaller, wide gable and a short, square chimney. Stucco is the common exterior, and is intended to add texture, unlike smoothed stucco; also, there are large outdoor spaces for entertaining. Mediterranean homes look lovely with assorted palms showcasing their unique design.
Centered front doors and large, wide windows are common. There will usually be fewer windows in these homes, but these windows are tall and wide, sometimes with outer shutters. This style home, although not perfectly symmetrical, has more of a symmetrical façade.
The Mediterranean style home is very common among suburbs and fits into most surroundings, despite its intricate detail and design. These homes are very open and provide a lot of room.
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, [email protected] or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes forSale and Estates forSale inScottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.
Outdoor Home Entertaining in Scottsdale by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team?
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
InScottsdale, our evenings are some of the best in the country for outdoor entertaining. When planning an outdoor patio, it is important to keep in mind weather you would prefer a formal or informal style patio. A formal style follows a more balanced look, typically being symmetrical, following straight lines, and with a constantly trimmed hedges and up-kept yard. Informal styles follow a more asymmetrical look, with curved lines, and an atmosphere that does not necessarily have to be trimmed and proper. However, whether you prefer a formal or informal look, most patios follow the same abstract concepts: unity, variety, proportion, and balance. Here are some tips to remember when using these concepts for your patio.
Unity means that everything flows together, and nothing looks out of place, or as if it does not belong. The patio and the house should have unity, along with the patio and the yard. For instance, if a patio leads into a formal style living room, then the patio should reflect it. Likewise, if the patio leads onto a backyard flourishing with brightly colored flowers, then the patio should blend, also, with this.
Variety offers an element of surprise, and keeps a design from looking monotonous. For instance, a path that leads around a corner, or different types and heights of trees that offer different levels of lighting throughout the day. Privacy screens and a patio that has steps will help offer different looks to more vertical patios.
Proportion keeps a patio from being too small or too big for its house. Most patios are designed at the same scale as a standard living room, however, this does not mean that you should be afraid to go any bigger; patio furniture is usually more bulky and takes up more space than living room furniture. A patio too big, though, will cause furniture to look small and create big, empty spaces.
Balance is achieved when both sides of a patio appear to have equal “weight” to them. There should be a center focal point, and on both side and objects should equal each other out; for instance, if there is a large tree on one side, then wide shrubs could be planted on the other. Remember, also, that balance does not necessarily mean objects are arranged symmetrically.
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, [email protected] or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes forSale and Estates forSale inScottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.
How Should I Hold Title To My New Home? by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
How you hold title, the ownership of your real estate, is important. If you are married you often get joint tenancy with rights of survivorship and if you are single you hold property in your own name. There are other ways of holding title that may help you in certain situations.
As an individual you may choose to take title in your own name or you can put your property in a trust. With a trust, in the event of your death, your property will not go into probate. Joint tenancy with rights of survivorship is the most common way married couples hold title but two nonrelated individuals can also own property as joint tenants. As joint tenants both tenants own the property as a whole. With rights of survivorship, in the event of the death of one of the tenants that tenants share is immediately transferred to the surviving partner.
Tenancy in common allows each person to own his or her piece of the property separately. Tenancy by the Entirety is similar to joint tenancy but does not allow creditors of one spouse to force the sale of home to pay the debt of that spouse. These are not options available in all states.
You should consult your real estate professional before making this important decision.
The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.
How Do I Apply for a Loan? By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
Applying for a loan is different from getting prequalified for a loan. Getting prequalified involves going to a lender and having the lender analyze your financial situation and come up with an approximate amount you can borrow. You have to apply for a loan to get preapproved. The lender will want to see documentation and proof that you actually have the assets and debts you say you do.
You should have some key pieces of information to speed up the process. These include copies of bank statements for the last three months, copies of all account statements including stock accounts, copies of your most recent pay stubs, and your W2 forms for the past two years. If you are self-employed you will need the past two years of tax returns and a profit and loss statement for the year to date. If the money you are using to buy the house is a gift from a friend or family member have a gift letter as well.
You will need to make some other important decisions at the time of your application. These include what type of mortgage you should choose, if you should float the rate or lock it in, and how many points (if any) do you want to pay.
Keep all of this in mind and go in to a lender prepared, it not only speeds up the process but shows the lender you are a serious buyer.
The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.
When Should I Close Escrow and Why Does It Matter? by Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
When you close your escrow is a negotiation point between you and the seller. Timing is everything. You should set the closing date according to when your current lease ends. If you close at the beginning of the month and your lease doesn’t end until the end of the month you will be paying double rent for nothing. This only works if you have work to do on your new home and need somewhere to stay in the meantime. In addition if you close at the beginning of the month the lender will require you to prepay the interest from the day of closing until the end of the month. If you close closer to the end of the month, the less money you will pay out of pocket.
Remember that you get to take deductions for your house in the year that it closes, even if it closes on the last day of the year. But make sure your deductible costs will be greater than the standard deduction allowed by the IRS. You may want to contact your accountant to find out how this may affect your situation.
The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.
How Much Will it Cost to Own and Maintain a Home? By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
In the movie The Money Pit, the homeowner, played by Tom Hanks, throws much of his life savings into renovating his new home. Maintaining a home can feel much the same way. Calculating the cost of home ownership appears easy at first. After all, if you can afford the mortgage, insurance, and real estate taxes you can afford it, right? Unfortunately that is not always the case. Some costs of home ownership can lighten your wallet or break the bank. Calculating these costs can be difficult as there are the fixed costs such as the mortgage payment and taxes and semi-fixed costs such as utilities, and then there are the variables which include repair and maintenance of the interior and exterior of the home and landscaping and maintenance. These costs can vary greatly. The extent of repairs needed and their cost will vary with the condition the house is in when you buy it. Utility bills can vary based on the season and usage.
In order to avoid breaking the bank it is a good idea to save up at least 6 months of expenses so that if a major repair is needed you have the funds available. Don’t let your house become the “money pit”.
The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.
When I Go for a Showing, What Should I Look For? By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
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By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team
The most important thing you can do when go to a showing is to step back and view the home objectively. Don’t get caught up in the moment. Look at every nook and cranny, open every closet and look at the carpets and floors. Look at the house as if it were empty. Try to picture the house as it would look like without the grandfather clock in the corner or the paisley sofa. Realize that even though the house may not be decorated the way you would decorate it does not mean it doesn’t have potential. Don’t miss out on a great home because you don’t like the way the walls are painted.
When scheduling your first showing, look at your basic needs. Is it within the right distance to work, family, and friends? Does it have enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Is there enough storage space? Is there parking? Is it safe? Is it in the right school district? If the home meets these basic requirements then see if it has some of the items you would like. For example, is there an extra bedroom or bathroom, is there a garden or a deck, is the garage attached, and what is the overall condition of the house.
Keep in mind those things that you cannot live without in a home and those things that aren’t as important. Look at every house to see how well it fits your needs and look at the house’s potential to not only be a house but a home.
The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, contact Scottsdale Real Estate Agent Joe Szabo. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers for Scottsdale, Arizona, The Szabo Group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com for more information.
Cowboy College by Joe Szabo
By Joe Szabo
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson encouraged Mammas, “Don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys”, but let’s face it- a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. If your dream has always been to be a cowboy then Arizona’s Cowboy College is for you. Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t Hollywood Cowboy program, this is the real deal. “Students” at the college spend their first two days learning about their horse and their equipment, while riding, roping and shoeing. The next four days are spent living the life of a working ranch cowboy. The students work side by side with real cowboys on a genuine roundup.
This is a no frills experience, meant for those to willingly sleep under the stars and work themselves tired. For those who are looking to immerse themselves in a genuine experience of being a cowboy it is an unparalleled opportunity. For more information about this world famous experience visit: www.cowboycollege.com
As you can see, we love where we live work and play in Scottsdale, Arizona so for more information about the lifestyle and housing market contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 or head to our website at www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com.