All Blog Entries by Thomas Donnell

Is the pace of existing home sales expected to decline slightly by the end of 2018, despite population and economic growth, lower unemployment, and modest wage gains? Is the Declining affordability the issue? Take a look....

Is a recession looming? It’s an important question because the U.S. economy has been experiencing one of the longest expansions ever. There were two recessions in the 1080s, one in the 1990s, and two in the 2000s. Since 2010, there have been none.

Every recession has a trigger. In the 1970s, it was energy price shocks. Could that happen today? Probably not, because the U.S. is now the worlds biggest oil producer. One potential trigger could be an unsustainable rise in borrowing. But the fact is consumer debt has only risen about

Your Credit Score is very important. Not only does your credit score decide whether you’ll get the real estate loan you applied for or not; in many cases, it also determines the neighborhood you’ll live in, the car you’ll drive, and even the job you’ll qualify for! This is why it is so important for you to ensure that the information used to calculate your score is free from errors. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once every 12 months.

It is not uncommon to find individuals complaining about errors on their credit report. This may be due to various reasons. For example, the lender reporting to the credit bureau may have supplied inaccurate information.

After living in the same home for a while, it's amazing what you can get used to. A creaky floorboard, for instance. A chipped tile that you've been meaning to replace but haven't gotten around to. A doorknob that needs a little coaxing to turn. No big deal, right? Well, these small flaws can be huge deal breakers when you decide to sell your home.

Prospective buyers are going to add all the ‘flaws’ they find to the price of the property, and that’s when they start trying to discount the price. 

Curious what some of these seemingly small problems are? Check out this list of minuscule (to you) things that buyers see as big hurdles to closing a sale.

I had a buyer make a controversial request for

A real estate agent can often help you sell your home faster, and get a better price than if you try to do it on your own. But to get the best deal possible on your home, you’ll want to hire a real estate agent that’s a good fit for you and your property. Here’s what you need to know before you hire someone to sell your home.

Find Someone Local

When selling your home, getting someone who really knows the area is critical. Potential buyers are sure to ask a ton of questions about schools, parks, shopping and other quality-of-life issues in a neighborhood. You want a realtor that’s going to be able to really sell the neighborhood to a buyer. Ask real estate agents how many houses they have sold in the neighborhood, whether they live in the

Phoenix Trends / January 2, 2018

Market Snapshot

Typical Property

Average Price by Bedrooms

Moving isn’t cheap. It costs about $80 to $100 per hour to hire local professional movers, and as much as a $10,000 flat rate for a long distance professional move. DIY moves can cost between $50 and $3,000, depending on distance, length of time and other factors. Additional charges like the ones listed below can add up fast, doubling or tripling the cost of the relocation. Being aware of these hidden charges can help you control costs and avoid budget pitfalls during your relocation.

1. Bulky, Complex and Delicate Items

Professional movers will charge extra to move a piano, car and appliances, especially if the movers are asked to disassemble or disconnect an item, then reassemble or reconnect at the new home. Some consumers save by giving away

If your home is struggling to catch the eye of a buyer, it could be for an entirely valid reason. Maybe you're stuck in a sluggish market or have the poshest place on the block (always a tough sell). But there's another possibility, too—your home could be sitting on the market because of a rookie selling mistake. All of us can make 'em, even those of us who actually have a few home sales under our belts.

The good news? These basic slip-ups can be easily corrected or avoided. To help you out, I have identified some of the most common mistakes people make in trying to sell their home. Sidestep these flubs to avoid sabotaging your own sale.

Rookie mistake No. 1: Overpricing your home

All sellers want to get top dollar for their house. Unfortunately,

At a time when a lot of young adults are postponing marriage, the number of Americans buying a house on a single income is substantial. According to the Millennial home buyers last year were unmarried. Because single mortgage applicants rely on one salary and one credit profile in order to secure a loan, getting through the underwriting process can be a bit trickier. However, the more you understand about what the process entails, the better your odds will be of getting a lender to say “yes.” Here are four crucial things that can help;

Check Your Credit:
When you apply for a mortgage on your own, lenders will be looking at just one credit profile: yours. Needless to say, it has to be in great shape. It’s always a good idea to review your credit