Long awaited VIG at McCormick Ranch makes its debut on June 24th

Just when you thought it would never happen..... The Vig at McCormick Ranch opens its doors on June 24th. Yippee

Down Payment Saving Tips

Every month you pay the rent, you’re probably thinking, “I wish this money was going into my future.” For a lot of would-be first-time home buyers, it’s the down payment which makes home ownership seem impossible. Climbing the “down payment mountain” isn’t impossible. Like any major challenge, it’s all a matter of breaking your big, hairy, audacious goal down into practical steps. Here are some tips to conquer saving for a down payment: Find out where your money goes. You can’t start saving if you don’t know where you’re spending. For a month or two, track each expenditure, no matter how small. Get an objective picture of where you’re spending the cash. Get specific about how much you need to save. Even if you’re not 100% sure what your down payment needs to be yet, it’s good to start doing a little math to figure out how much you need to save. Pick a dollar amount and a timeline to hit that dollar amount. For example, a $25,000 down payment in two years comes to $1,041/month. Sound unrealistic? Either scale down your home desires to something smaller or scale up your timeline. If you can wait three years, that monthly savings goal drops to $694/month. Determine the big moves you can make. If you’re in a three bedroom apartment and can stomach the idea of scaling down to a one bedroom, how much would you save in rent? What about going from two cars down to one? If you can make it work, these sacrifices will have a huge impact on your savings goals. Setup a separate savings account. Don’t let your dream home money mingle with your regular checking or savings account. Establish a high-yield savings account with a credit union or money market account to protect and build your stash. It’s important to have a separate account with a “hands off” attitude. Mind the risky investment schemes. Once you have a little momentum, you might be tempted to take some of that cash and invest it in order to make it grow faster. Be very prudent about this, as investing in stocks, startups, or high-yield funds can easily decimate your savings. Be conservative. Of course, it’s important to know how much home you want to buy when you’re saving up for your down payment. I’m happy to give you an idea what homes are selling for in your area. Feel free to get in touch any time if you have questions: Becca Linnig(480) 570-8845 or bhotaz@hotmail.com

Timless Design Ideas for Small Spaces

Timeless Design Ideas for Small Spaces

Remodeling, decorating, and more ∨

Home improvement can start with something as minor as installing track lighting or a ceiling fan.
Share photos of the kitchen cabinetry and sinks you like with a top kitchen remodeler in your area.

Preparing to campaign

I met with a branding consultant to design a 'campaign card' that I can leave with REALTORS and affiliates I meet during the campaign process. I have another incredible marketing professional, Joe Shurtz, with Sure Spark Marketing working on my new logo. The cards will take a minimum of 2 weeks to deliver and that is AFTER we decide on a design. I am so anxious to get this process started but I will just have to contain myself a little while longer.

SAAR Board of Directors

I learned on Tuesday (after interviewing Monday) that I was selected to move forward to round 2 of running for a position on the Board of Directors for SAAR (Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS) by the nomination committee. This is the first time SAAR has taken applicants through an interview process and eliminated potential candidates prior to the election. The catch was that I could not tell anyone until Friday which left me with my thoughts racing about how to begin campaigning. When I can.....

Picking the RIGHT moving company

There are lots of good reasons to hire a moving company. It lowers your moving day stress, saves your back, and with the right company can ensure that your goods are safe from accidental damage. But for every sweet song of a smooth move, there are an equal number of “moving company blues” tunes out there. From a few sad notes of regret to total devastation, making a mistake when hiring a moving company can be an experience you’ll never forget. Here are some tips to help make the right move when it comes to choosing partners for your next relocation: 1) Get in-house estimates for your move from anywhere between 2 to 4 companies. Many may say they don’t need to see your stuff to estimate the cost, but the fact is a reputable company will want to see your place first-hand. 2) Do your legal homework on the moving company. Trustworthy companies will have their Motor Carrier number and D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) license information posted online (or with their materials). Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) for complaints and do a little research on Yelp.com for customer reviews. 3) Don’t commit to a big deposit or other down payment. Shady operators can abscond with you money and/or hold your possessions hostage to extort “excess fuel charges” or other bogus price changes. 4) Never go with the low-ball offer. If you get three estimates within the same range and one that’s substantially lower, what does that tell you about the quote? Don’t let cheap impulses turn into expensive mistakes. 5) Get referrals from friends, co-workers, and even your H.R. department (assuming you work for a company that deals with relocations). Also... ask your real estate agent! Are you looking for referrals for a trustworthy moving company? I’d be glad to provide you with private references. Contact me for the information today: Becca Linnig, RE/MAX REALTOR® (480) 570-8845, bhotaz@hotmail.com

The Right Home for the Right Buyer

Marketing a home is not like marketing a commodity, such as bottled water. While everyone needs shelter, it would be a serious oversimplification to say that’s all a home offers. Many agents take the perspective that a home is the right home for a buyer simply because they happen to be selling it. The truth is it can be a real waste of time and effort convincing people that a home’s qualities are exactly what they’re looking for. It’s far more efficient to market the home’s qualities to the segment of buyers who have a natural lifestyle fit for the home. Profiling and segmenting buyer lifestyle is an excellent way to optimize the budget for marketing a home. Rather than taking a shotgun approach, I like to tailor the home’s story as much as possible to the types of buyers who best represent the projected buyer for a specific listing. Analyzing the specific qualities of the home is a natural first place to start. Is it close to an organic farmers’ market? Next to a country club with a legendary golf course? Does it have a garage fit for two BMWs, or is it a one-Prius sort of place? Has it got natural family sprawl or bachelor appeal? I also like to talk with the sellers about what originally drew them to the home. What caught their eye? Why was it the right place at the right time? What is encouraging them to move on now? All of this adds up to the story of a listing. This story can then inform the marketing plan for the property, staging decisions, open houses, and even the way photos/videos are shot and presented online. We’re no longer looking for a convenient cave for shelter from the elements. We live in homes. Our homes should reflect our lifestyle. Keeping this in mind throughout the entire listing and marketing process is what makes me good at matching properties to buyers for my clients each and every week. Let’s get started selling your home’s lifestyle today! Contact me for a no-obligation meeting: Becca Linnig, RE/MAX REALTOR® (480) 570-8845, bhotaz@hotmail.com