Finding Real Estate Homes for Sale in Sedona AZ

 

What are the pros and cons of adding on or buying new? Before making a choice between adding on to an existing home or buying a larger one, consider these questions: 

 

·         How much money is available, either from cash reserves or through a home improvement loan, to remodel your current house? 

·         How much additional space is required? Would the foundation support a second floor or does the lot have room to expand on the ground level? 

·         What do local zoning and building ordinances permit? 

·         How much equity already exists in the property? 

·         Are there affordable properties for sale that would satisfy your changing needs?

 

Do we dig deep and buy a dream home or settle for a starter home? 

Finding the Right Home

 

Choosing between a smaller home in a prosperous neighborhood, an older, bigger house in a more working-class community or a brand-new home is not easy. If you're in this situation, start by examining your priorities and asking the following questions:

 

·         Is the surrounding neighborhood or the home itself the most important consideration?

·         Is each of the neighborhoods safe? 

·         Is quality of the schools an issue?

·         Do any of the areas seem to attract more families with children or adult residents? And where do you fit in?

·         What is the home-price appreciation?

Choosing Between Buying and Renting

There are many benefits to owning a home. Home ownership offers tax benefits as well as the freedom to make decisions about your home. Unlike renters, homeowners who secure a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs and make prudent investment plans knowing these expenses will not increase substantially. Home ownership is a highly leveraged investment that can yield substantial profit on a nominal front-end investment.

 

An advantage of renting is not worrying about maintenance and other financial obligations associated with owning property. Owning a home might be a great investment, however, such returns depend on home-price appreciation.

Getting the Truth on Homes in Sedona, AZ

Home inspections, seller disclosure requirements and the agent's experience will help. Disclosure laws vary by state, but in some states, the law requires the seller to complete a real estate transfer disclosure statement. Here is a summary of the things you could expect to see in a disclosure form: 

 

·         In the kitchen -- a range, oven, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, trash compactor.

·         Safety features such as burglar and fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, security gate, window screens and intercom.

·         The presence of a TV antenna or satellite dish, carport or garage, automatic garage door opener, rain gutters, sump pump.

·         Amenities such as a pool or spa, patio or deck, built-in barbeque and fireplaces.

·         Type of heating, condition of electrical wiring, gas supply and presence of any external power source, such as solar panels. 

·         The type of water heater, water supply, sewer system or septic tank also should be disclosed.

 

Sellers also are required to indicate any significant defects or malfunctions existing in the home's major systems along with environmental hazards. Also look for, or ask about, settling, sliding or soil problems, flooding or drainage problems and any major damage resulting from earthquakes, floods or landslides. 

 

What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean? 

If you find yourself stumbling over weird acronyms in a real estate listing, don't be alarmed. There is method to the madness of this shorthand (which is mostly adopted by sellers to save money in advertising charges). Here are some abbreviations and the meaning of each, taken from a recent newspaper classified section: 

·        
assum. fin. -- assumable financing

·         dk -- deck 

·         gar -- garage (garden is usually abbreviated "gard")

·         expansion pot'l -- may be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential for a top floor or room addition.

·         fab pentrm -- fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views

·         FDR -- formal dining room (not the former president)

·         frplc, fplc, FP – fireplace

·         grmet kit -- gourmet kitchen

·         HDW, HWF, Hdwd -- hardwood floors 

·         hi ceils -- high ceilings

·         In-law potential -- potential for a separate apartment. Sometimes, local zoning codes restrict rentals of such units so be sure the conversion is legal first.

·         large E-2 plan -- this is one of several floor plans available in a specific building

·         lsd pkg. -- leased parking area, may come with an additional cost

·         lo dues -- find out just how low these homeowner's dues are, and in comparison to what?

·         nr bst schls -- near the best schools 

·         pvt – private

·         pwdr rm -- powder room, or half-bath 

·         upr- upper floor 

·         vw, vu, vws, vus -- view(s) 

·         Wow! -- better check this one out.