Do you know how much the school district that you live in affects your home's value? Homes in areas with good schools not only have higher value, they see better appreciation rates.
Your home's school district has a big impact on its value.
According to the 2016 School Housing Report, neighborhoods with at least one good elementary school have greater home values as well as higher appreciation over the long term when compared to homes in districts without good schools.
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Neighborhoods with at least one good elementary school have greater value.
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A 'good school' is defined as having an average test score of at least 30% above the state average. Of the zip codes with at least one good school, the average estimated home value was $427,000, which is 70% higher than the average home value of $241,000 in zip codes without good schools.
Homeowners in zip codes with at least one good school gain an average of $74,000 in value since the purchase price on the average return of investment increases 32%.
If you're curious about the school district in your area or you have questions about the Phoenix real estate market, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you out.
“It was very good results. We had a fair offer, it went through very quickly, and I’ll be happy to work with her and her team again.They’re all just very good and that’s their normal business practice.”
On November 5th, we are hosting a Battle of the Sexes Tennis Tournament to raise money for the Guerrant Foundation, an amazing organization dedicated to helping the world’s poor.
Today I am excited to introduce you to Anne Guerrant, founder of the Guerrant Foundation. Anne was once ranked #11 in the world for women’s tennis and she now runs an amazing organization. The Guerrant Foundation gives microloans to the world’s poor.
On November 5th, we are having a Battle of the Sexes Tennis Tournament to raise money for the Guerrant Foundation. This is a free event that runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and all donations will go to the Guerrant Foundation.
We will also hold a raffle to win a number of exciting prizes, including a round of golf, overnight stays, dinners at great restaurants, and a free class at the I Fly Trapeze School at the Phoenician. A $250 donation will get you three chances in the raffle and $100 gets you one chance. You do not have to be present at the event to win.
The Guerrant Foundation gives microloans to various organizations that help the poor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These loans help people start their own businesses and usually run from about $50 to $400. The small businesses provide goods and services, such as food, clothing, or household items, to people in their community.
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The Guerrant Foundation makes a huge difference in people’s lives..
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These microloans make a huge difference in some of the poorest communities in the world. In fact, 90% of the donations go to women and mothers, which is one of my favorite things about this organization. Anne has done 13 site visits around the world and heard story after story about what a life-changing experience this has been for their families. The first thing many of these women do when they get a little extra money from their businesses is put their children in school.
Anne is incredibly efficient with her money. The Guerrant Foundation is entirely made up of volunteers. The offices are in her home so they incur very few expenses; any expenses they do incur are paid by Anne and her husband. All of the money you donate goes directly to the organizations that the Guerrant Foundation supports, and Anne personally visits the micro-lending sites to see how the new entrepreneurs are doing.
In fact, Anne and her husband match donations up to $100,000 each year, so really 200% of your money will go to an organization in need! Anne and her husband are truly dedicated to helping the world’s poorest people. If you are interested in learning more about the Guerrant Foundation, check out their website.
Part of the reason why I love this organization is that I know how much of an impact they can make. My mother and I grew up together; I was given many grants and scholarships along the way. I am here today because people gave me an opportunity to move up. This is my opportunity to give back.
I hope you can come to our event on November 5th. If you can’t, please consider making a donation on our YouCaring page. The donation to YouCaring is merely a suggestion. You have the option to reduce or eliminate their fee, or you can send a check to the Guerrant Foundation at 569 North Acacia Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85233.
If you have any questions in the meantime, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!
We’re back again with our preferred lender, Tom Ross, with Nova Home Loans. We’re here at his office to talk to him a little bit about some of the most important questions you should be asking your loan officer when you’re trying to get a mortgage. Tom’s been in the business for 18 years, and we’ve spent the last decade working together to help so many people with many different loans. There are a few different questions that Tom thinks you should be asking your loan officer.
The first that comes to mind may be “How much do I qualify for?” but that’s the wrong question to ask. The officer should actually ask you where you are comfortable making your payments. You shouldn’t be miserable making a high payment just because you qualified for it. We want to find the sweet spot you are comfortable paying each month.
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There are plenty of great loan options available.
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Down payments are another specific topic you should discuss. It’s true that with 20% down, you can get out of paying mortgage insurance. However, some people simply don’t have that much liquid cash. If you’re comfortable with your monthly payment at 5% down, that could be a good option too. You’ll definitely keep more money in your pocket up front. There’s really no right or wrong answer.
What about financing options? Many people are stuck on the 30-year fixed rates because they are so low, but there are other great options in addition to those. Adjustable-rate mortgages are one possibility, as are 15-year fixed rate loans. When people have the ability to qualify for a 15-year rate and don’t even look at it, it’s a loss. Your payment will be higher but you will ultimately pay far less for your mortgage.
If you have any questions for us or Tom, don’t hesitate to give us a ring or send us an email. You can reach Tom at 602-791-5861 or tom.ross@novahomeloans.com. We can answer any questions you may have or point you in the right direction of someone who can. Hope to talk to you soon!
