by Teri Ellis on August 3, 2010
Image by Teri Ellis via Flickr
I live and I work in Mesa, Arizona. AND I am close to lakes, to mountains, to cooler weather during the summer within a two to three hour drive. Whether we drive east through Superior, Miami and Globe north, or north through Payson, or west and then north to Flagstaff, there’s never a lack of places to see and spectacular views in Arizona! Being an “almost” native, there’s very few places I haven’t explored in our beautiful state.
Recently, on a trip north – two hours and 40 minutes from our home in Mesa – we happened upon Rainbow Lake near Show Low and Lakeside in the White Mountains. It’s a fishing lake, and absolutely beautiful.
by Teri Ellis on July 26, 2010
I suspect most of us have heard about the opportunity to obtain a “free” credit report from the three major reporting agencies each year allowing each of us to challenge any negative reporting, and then access our report for seven days after. You will be given a special report number – be sure and write it down – and you will need that in order to access any updates. I had one item on mine that was clearly bogus, and I challenged it as being untrue. I received an updated report that indicated it was removed.
In addition to checking your payment records, etc., it allows you to check the spelling of your name, any addresses that belong to you, and to correct any incorrect information! I cleaned mine up.
I recommend that anyone thinking of purchasing a home take advantage of this annual opportunity. NO ONE wants to be turned down for any kind of loan. This is just one way to be prepared.
Be sure and sign in and get your free annual credit report here at: Annual Credit Report. Pay attention to the options of paying for any extras. You do not have to – unless, of course you choose to – pay for your FICO score, etc.
by Teri Ellis on July 25, 2010
The community of Crismon Creek (not to be confused with the Villages of Crismon Creek) is located in the far east valley and the eastern edge of Mesa. North and east of Crismon and Baseline, you’ll happen upon a newer community, albeit smaller than many of the newer subdivisions. The homes were built by Standard Pacific, and Schuler (later purchased by Continental – DR Horton).
As you enter on Wildrose, you’ll see palm trees at the entrance, many water retention areas with grass strewn throughout the community, three playground areas, and great homes. Often, the large basin area as you enter the community is full of small boys/girls and their parents, coaching for soccer, football, etc. During the monsoon and other rainy times, the basins fill with water as evidenced in the photograph! Crismon Creek ends as you cross over the bridge into the Villages! Idaho Street is the last street!
Search for a home in Crismon Creek – which actually includes the Villages as well as Crismon Creek.
by Teri Ellis on July 24, 2010
CC&R's
Are you all aware? You are signing a contract? In Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, many/most of the newer communities have a Home Owner Association. That means, for those who don’t know, that there are “Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions” governing the community. Buyers when you purchase a home in Phoenix or in Mesa, or in Phoenix Valley, you will be given a copy of the By-Laws and CC&R’s for your community. Generally, the title company will mail them to you within ten days of opening escrow. It would behoove each buyer to actually review and/or read the CC&R’s to make sure they are aware of the rules and regulations set forth therein. I’ll cite some “for instances” below:
1. Say, for instance, you the buyer, purchase a home and move into a family community. You have four children, and of course want to install a trampoline (with a net for safety reasons) and a swing set with a fort at the top and a slide, swing, etc. Have you read your CC&R’s?
2. Next, you want to utilize your RV gate, and park an RV trailer, or a boat alongside your home, or even in the back if the lot is large enough. Have you read your CC&R’s?
3. How about this one: You realize you need extra storage in your back yard, so you build a storage shed (which is 6-10 inches above the wall). Have you read your CC&R’s?
4. Since your children love to play basketball, you install a basketball hoop in the backyard….. again, have you read your CC&R’s.
5. You’d like to paint your home a different color….
6. You want to park one or two vehicles in front of your home on the street. (I’ll focus on this issue in another post)
I’ve just cited a few problematic situations. You, the buyer, will quickly learn what the rules of the HOA are when you attempt to do any of the above without getting Board approval. Many times the Board will be able to approve certain requests based on the contents of the CC&Rs.
Keep in mind that the Board did not structure the rules. They are merely serving on the Board to carry out the rules you agreed to when you purchased your new home. As a current and a former member of the Board of Directors in my community, I am/was privy to all of the behind the scenes’ action. Most of the problems could have been resolved before ever being presented to the Board if only the Buyer had read the CC&R’s.
The builders and their attorneys are the ones that typically put together the CC&R’s – and from what I’ve seen, they are pretty much boiler plate…..
Learn to work within the boundaries of the CC&R’s, and offer to join the Board to help make your community one in which everyone will want to live.
by Teri Ellis on July 22, 2010
In our current real estate market, it is important for buyers to purchase title insurance. While that is something that generally is a given, let me explain some of the reasons why.
Lots of new homes have been built, along with remodeling of bank owned properties. Did you know that in Arizona, anyone that provides labor and/or materials for the construction or improvement to a home, has the right and the ability to file a lien for the materials and labor on the property. (This is referred to as a Mechanics’ Lien.)
Back in 2000, a builder in the east valley filed a bankruptcy on one of their communities. The builder had not paid the roofers, painters, or other individuals for the work they had done on the homes. The liens had not been recorded for months after the buyers purchased their homes. The individual filing a lien has 120 days to record a lien after they complete their project. That could be four months after your close of escrow. If there is no observable lien, the title company doesn’t find the lien, and the purchaser can be forced to pay off the lien or end up losing their property in foreclosure.
The best way to ensure that the home is indeed, free of liens, is to purchase that title policy. For more understanding of the Mechanic’s lien process and your protection from those liens, ask questions as to what protection you are receiving when you purchase that title policy.
