Category Archives: News

Know what Rory Knows

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Celebrating the History
Rory Huff, Realtor, ERA Young Realty
by Susan Campbell, Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce

Like most desirable areas, the Rim Country’s real estate market is HOT! Rim Country Realtors must be “crazy busy”, right? How does long-time REALTOR® Rory Huff at ERA Young Realty & Investment see it?

Rory’s credibility is solid after 20+ years as a Rim Country REALTOR®. His extensive knowledge of market conditions and impeccable customer service make him a go-to person for real estate questions.

Competition is keen for the few properties currently on the market and among the 500+ Realtors in the Payson area. Multiple offers, many over asking price, and back-up offers drive the boom in the Rim Country. The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank reports median United States home prices for 2021 Quarter 1 at $347,500. Arizona Real Estate Notebook lists Arizona’s first quarter median home price at $360,000.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Rory advises, “California has discovered us…We are really affordable to California buyers.” A desire to move from cities and suburbs to rural areas make Payson and the Rim Country, the first choice for many homebuyers.

Can we meet the demand? Currently we are experiencing far more buyers than properties available for sale. There is still undeveloped land for new homes. The Town of Payson plans for a maximum population of 37,000. Rory doesn’t see Payson achieving quite that much, but we have the infrastructure needed to do it, including the C.C. Cragin project, guaranteeing a stable 100-year water supply. Few communities in the West can offer that precious resource.

Rim Country checks the boxes for the intangibles homebuyers want: “security, quality schools, services, medical access and proximity to a major metropolitan area”. Toss in “pine trees, views and elbow room” and it’s a prime target for relocation.

What about the challenge of affordable housing? Rory observes that “most towns just do lip service to affordable housing.” He believes the Town of Payson must participate in the affordable/entry level housing crisis that postpones or prevents the American dream of home ownership. Waiving fees and giving tax incentives are a start.

Now you know a fraction of what Rory knows about Rim Country’s real estate market. There’s even more to Rory Huff.

He served two terms on the Payson Schools Governing Board, bringing a new Julia Randall Elementary School and an upgraded Rim Country Middle School online through a bond issue. He has served on the TOP Parks and Recreation Board, Friends of Payson Parks and Recreation and Payson Schools Override Committee. He also coaches and referees youth sports.

It’s easy to see why Rory Huff is so successful. And if you intend to purchase a home, Rory says stick to the basics: “establish good credit, save money, live below your means”.

How to Prepare for the Challenge of Home Buying

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For most families, the purchase of a home is the most significant investment they make in their lifetime. When you are making that purchase, having your financial affairs in order is essential for securing the most advantageous position to qualify for the lowest rates available. To be sure you are in the most stable position possible, follow the 10 steps below to assure you are on the straight and narrow path to a successful home loan.

Your Ten Personal Steps for Purchasing a Home

1. You should not change jobs, become newly self-employed, or quit your job.
2. You should not buy a new vehicle. (You could end up living in it if financing falls through, should you choose to ignore this step!)
3. You should not use credit cards unnecessarily or in excess. You should not let current credit accounts fall delinquent.
4. You should definitely not think of spending the money set aside for closing costs.
5. You should not leave out any debts or liabilities from your loan application. (Be transparent.)
6. You should not buy furniture on credit before your home loan finalizes.
7. You should not make any inquiries on your credit. Now is not the time to apply for any other credit cards, loans, or application processes that will require a credit check.
8. You should not make large deposits without consulting your loan officer first. No transactions should be made in any amount out of the ordinary from your normal banking activity in deposits or purchases.
9. You should not change bank accounts.
10. You should not co-sign a loan for anyone. (Good advice always, but particularly during this season in the home buying process.)

Following these steps along with having all financial documentation located and sorted in an organized manner should have you on your way to a happy ending for your successful loan application. As always, if any assistance is needed, be sure to contact your real estate expert or mortgage representative. They are always available to help you through this exciting process.

Rim Country Summer Fun 2021

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Summertime is officially here, and unlike the restrictions of last year, this year families are free to seek out fun in public again. Rim Country is famous for our variety of entertaining events and an abundance of gorgeous nature to enjoy everything the season has on offer with the smiles and waves of small town hospitality accompanying it all. Here is a list of just a few of the attractions that can be enjoyed this summer in Rim Country.

 

Summer Concert Series

Saturday nights in Green Valley Park

June through July

7pm – 9pm

 

Payson Farmers Market

May 29 – September 18

Saturdays 8am – Noon

Sawmill Crossing Plaza

 

PetVet Veterinary Community Pet Clinic

Tractor Supply Company

510 E Hwy 260

Wed. June 2

4:30-6:30 PM

 

Monster Mudder

June 18-19

Payson Multi-Event Center

 

Monday Night Lights at the Event Center

https://paysonrimcountry.com/mondaynightlights/

Open Arena

April – October

 

Pine-Strawberry Arts and Crafts Guild

4th of July Arts & Crafts Festival

Downtown Pine – Hwy 87

July 3 & 4th

 

Payson Book Festival

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

July 17th

9am-3:30 PM

 

Pine-Strawberry Arts and Crafts Guild

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival

Downtown Pine – Hwy 87

Sept. 4 & 5th

 

If your tastes veer more towards the outdoors, there are plenty of adventures to be had in our expansive natural woods, lakes, trails, and mountains. Check out these local websites for in depth coverage of campsites and amenities to find the perfect fit for your family under our gorgeous wild blue skies.

https://www.discovergilacounty.com/

https://paysonrimcountry.com/parks/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto/

 

Above all, have fun and be safe in the Rim Country this summer! We are happy to welcome you back!

New Home Record Keeping

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Keeping organized records straight from the outset of a new home acquisition is vital not only for peace of mind, it also makes financial transactions a breeze when everything is sorted, filed and at your fingertips. Start your record-keeping right when you buy your house so if or when you sell your home you’ll be prepared with the necessary paperwork. This will also come in handy for any refinancing or auditing needs that might come along in the interim. Below is a handy guide to how to organize your documents.

Create a home sale binder:

Having everything ready and in one location is a time and sanity saver.
Make sure that all homeowners know where the binder is kept.
Documents to store within the binder include:

o Closing Statement summarizing the transaction fees, credits and seller’s net profits
o Receipts for capital improvements.
o Any permits pulled for improvements
o Any permits pulled for renovations
o Warranties and service contracts
o Info regarding any unique features of your home
o Proof of any loans, mortgages and deeds in your name that have been paid off and recorded.
o Payoff statement or lien release for paid mortgage

What you will need if you sell your home for taxes and calculating capital gains:

• The closing statement
• Proof your home was your primary residence for at least two years
• 1099-S form from the IRS
• A1098 form showing your paid mortgage interest and any real estate taxes paid through escrow
• Receipts for any moving expenses.

How long to keep your records?

• Financial experts recommend you keep your records for 7 years after your home sale.

How to store your records?

• Scan to Cloud Storage that backs-up automatically and is password-protected
• Label your paperwork binder clearly and store in a safe place
• Photocopy any register receipts so they last longer.
• Most register receipts fade over time, a photocopy won’t (toss the originals.)

Taking a few short hours in the early days of home ownership to compile these essential documents into one easy to find and clearly labelled binder will save new homeowners hours of work and frustration in the long run over the life of living on the property. The value it brings is all but priceless.

Featured Community Spotlight: Payson Community Garden

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Payson Community Garden

300 East Tyler Parkway

The garden opened on March 6th for the 2021 season.

Payson Community Garden has April hours Monday-Friday from 3-6pm and Saturday from 8am-3pm

Founded in 2012 through an interfaith cooperation between churches, the garden has grown as a labor love, its goal to provide gardens at a low cost to the community, to encourage gardening, to teach gardening skills through classes that are open to the public and to provide fresh produce to the local food banks. A long list of individuals, organizations, and businesses have worked over the past nine years through the seasons to help maintain the garden on a day to day basis.

The garden hosts various in person and online gardening classes and webinars, offers plots of land for gardening, and gives garden tours. A seasonal Pumpkin Patch is offered each fall.

Visit the Payson Community Garden online by clicking the link below or follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/paysoncommunitygarden for current garden offerings.

www.paysoncommunitygardenaz.com

 

Why are folks buying homes in 2021?

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We are seeing an explosion of activity in the real estate world that began last year and has shown no sign of slowing down. Indeed, as the pandemic pushes on, impacting economies globally, we can surely anticipate continued growth in the market. This buyer’s market is a roller coaster that only goes up for the time being. It seems to be a perfect storm of reasons why home purchases will be continuing in the upward trend for the foreseeable future. Families are reevaluating what home needs mean for them in the world we now live in. The following are some of the factors impacting the upswing in the market.

Extra time at home: While always a refuge from the world, the space where we live has in the era of COVID-19 have become much more central in importance to almost everyone. Combining mandatory and voluntary quarantine periods, caution has dictated far more hours spent within the four walls of home than any other time in memorable history. With so much spent time, families often begin noticing where gaps exist in creature comforts. Home hunters are therefore on the lookout to fill these voids, seeking out the perfect fit for their needs and wants.

 

Record low interest rates: With interest rates at jaw dropping lows under 3%, sometimes getting close even to 2%, the financial pros of home buying are hard to dispute. While technically a seller’s market, the low interest rates currently abounding for home loans puts the ball squarely in the buyer’s court in the way of advantages.

 

Work from home culture: The pandemic has altered the work situation for many. Employment has shifted to accommodate a home based office setting in the interest of both safety and cost effectiveness for employees in regions spanning the nation. As such, expanded floor plans or modified layouts are higher on the hit list of “must haves” for house hunters in recent months to meet those new needs.

Outdoor space: Even as entertaining and social gathering slowly begins to trickle back into what was the norm prior to the pandemic, people are approaching their regained freedoms with an understandable abundance of caution. Time spent home also leads to the unfortunate side effect of cabin fever and an overwhelming urge to find space to get out in nature or simply stretch your legs. To make get-togethers more easily done with safety in mind, and to make home more of an oasis, home buyers are seeking out properties with bigger acreage and/or easy access to outdoor amenities that fit the bill.

 

Renovation avoidance: Quarantine time has been spent for some homeowners with a eye to renovation to make their particular wants and needs a reality. For others, however, such a large undertaking is simply an undesirable amount of effort. Many want the convenience of a turn-key experience, getting what they want without the hassle, time, or expense of professional or DIY remodel work. From a seller’s perspective, the strong seller’s market makes the usual practice of costly renovation work to attract buyers is by and large minimized, as the demand for properties becomes more and more frenzied.

 

Home ownership needs are changing and the market is doing an admirable job of keeping up with demands of what today’s homeowner is seeking. Now is certainly the right time for home ownership and an experienced real estate professional is ideal liaison to making the process straightforward and seamless. Contact our offices today to set up a consultation for how to make the necessary first steps in your home buying adventure. Our experts are ready to make the dream come true for your family.

 

 

All Around the Town

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 With the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine forest and year round pristine weather in our backyard beckoning visitors and locals alike into the great outdoors, many find their recreation in the great wide beyond under the vast blue skies or twinkling stars when they are in Rim Country. Sometimes, however, people find themselves wanting amusement of the indoor variety. For those occasions, we have compiled a list of antiquing haunts for your treasure hunting pleasure.

 Local Antique Stores

 Tymeless Antiques & Treasures

520 W. Main St, Payson

928-472-4323

Granny’s Attic Antique Market

800 E. Hwy 260, Payson

928-978-2464

Main Street Mercantile

3716 N. Prince Dr, Pine

928-476-4618

Moose Mountain Gifts & Antiques

6264 Hardscrabble Rd, Pine

928-476-3044

Somewhere in Time

503 W. Main St Ste C, Payson

928-474-1996

The Carpenter’s Wife

112 W. Wade Ln, Payson

928-472-7343

 Local merchants are all well-versed in popular eateries and additional off-the-beaten-path hidden gems as well. Be sure to chat up our shop proprietors. You will find them all wells of knowledge.

 We wish you all happy hunting, friends!

Buying a House? Be a Sleuth!

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A home is the biggest investment a family makes in their life. A Home Inspection can reveal many things but the home buyer will want to take the time to investigate certain areas to be sure the purchase is a good fit. Here are a few areas to pay close attention to:

  1. The Bathroom

Check the water pressure and give the toilet a flush. (First, you’ll want to make sure the water on the property is turned on if the house is vacant-sometimes it gets turned off.)

 

  1. The Closets

Investigate and take a close look to assess how much storage space there is. Does it fit your family’s needs?

 

  1. The Attic and Basement

Is there water damage, rodent droppings, mold? Or are these areas clean and well kept.

 

  1. Odors

 Trust your nose. Off odors will only intensify once you live in a space.

 

  1. The Neighbors

Meet the neighbors and get a read on the neighborhood by directly asking around people who live in the area.

 

  1. Permits and easements

Check out previous permits for compliance. Looking to add on or renovate? Check for easements.

 

  1. Questions

See something concerning? Don’t panic. The first step is: Ask.

All of these things are guidelines to help navigate the journey of home buying. While a red flag or two may pop up during a home search, your realtor can help you assess how serious or harmless the red flag may be in the process to determine whether to proceed. Remember we are always here to help.