Google Search From Your Cell Phone

Here is something handy that I learned this year. You can send a text message to Google from your cell phone to do a Google search. For example you can send "BBQ Gilbert AZ" to 46645 (GOOGL). You will get a text message or two back. Here is what I got.

• Arizona Fireplaces & BBQ's 1150 S Gilbert Rd #101 Gilbert 85296 480-635-1227


• Ohana Hawaiian Barbeque 865 N Gilbert Rd #105 Gilbert 85234 480-315-6888

This can be very handy when you are out and about and want to find a particular type of store or restaurant nearby. For example, I might be in Gilbert and want to eat at Joe's Real BBQ Restaurant which serves great barbeque but not remember the address. I can text "BBQ Dining Gilbert AZ' to GOOGL and get

• Joe' Real Barbecue 301 N Gilbert Rd Gilbert 85234 480-503-3805

in addition to Ohana Hawaiian Barbeque listed above.

Whatever your carrier charges you for text messages will apply. There is currently no charge from Google.

Does It Exist?

Lines 28 and 29 on the Arizona Association of REALTORS Residential Resale purchase contract states, "Fixtures and Personal Property: Seller agrees that all existing fixtures on the Premises, and any existing personal property specified herein, shall be included in the sale, including the following:" Lines 30-39 go on to list many items that are disputed the most. What most people don't read is the word 'existing'. For instance, towel rods should be left. But, if the towel rod was missing at the time the buyer looked at the property and made an offer, than it does not have to appear at closing. It didn't exist. Now, if it was there and the seller took it with him or replaced it with a cheap alternative, then the seller has breached the contract.

The one item I see causing problems these days is the 'garage door openers and controls'. People lose remotes or their cars are programmed to open the GDO's without the use of a remote. They forget this detail, sell the house and then the buyer asks for the remotes. If the seller didn't have a remote when the buyer looked at the home, then the remote doesn't exist and the buyer needs to buy their own remote.

I'm sure you could ask four different people and get four different interpretations. The easiest solution? If you're the buyer's agent is to write on line 43 that the seller is to provide two (2) garage door remotes at close of escrow.

Update (January/2008):

This is from the Arizona Association of REALTORS.

Seller not required to purchase garage door openers

The Seller has used the garage for storage, and parks his car in the driveway. Although the garage door works properly, the Seller states that the garage door openers have been missing for more than a year. The Buyer is demanding that the Seller purchase new garage door openers. Does the Seller have to purchase new garage door openers?

Answer: No. Under Lines 19-27 of the Contract the Seller is only required to furnish to the Buyer any garage door openers “existing” at the time of the Contract. If the garage door openers were missing at the time of the Contract, the Seller is under no obligation to purchase new garage door openers.

Arizona REALTOR® Digest August 2004

Fireplace Memories

Certain events can stir memories of different places in the home. For me, Christmas always brings up the image of the fireplace in the house where I grew up. It was brick that was painted white and it had a walnut mantel. We always rigged a string just under the mantel to hang our stockings on. That way we didn’t have to put nail holes or some other fastener into the mantel. We frequently set out the Christmas greeting cards we had received across the mantel. We always had a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning when we were opening our presents.
One of my favorite types of fireplace is the see through kind. We lived in a home for about a year and a half that had a fireplace in the wall between the family room and the living room. If there was a fire going, it could be enjoyed from either room. Pretty cool!
If you are wondering, yes many homes in Arizona do have fireplaces. It does get cold enough in the winter to have a fire in the evening. Also, many people chose to have outdoor fireplaces, either chimneias or fire pits.
Do you have a memory of a great fireplace? Share it with us by clicking on "comment" below.

What is Happening with Home Loans?

You may be wondering, with all the talk in the news about the home loan market, what it means to you. If you have good credit and a job, it is very likely that you can get a loan and at a fairly good rate. The loans that are difficult to get and that are causing problems for the lenders are subprime loans, loans to people who represent a higher risk due to their credit or job history or other circumstances. The lenders knew that they were taking additional risk with these loans and now some of these loans are defaulting and the lenders and borrowers are paying the price. The lenders should not be suprised, they knew what they were doing. Unfortunately not all borrows clearly understood the terms of their mortgage.

When you are taking out a loan, of any type, you need to read the documents before you sign them. You might consider asking the lender for a blank copy in advance of your meeting to sign with him or her so that you have time to read the loan document and prepare questions. Don't rely on the lender to tell you everything you need to know. The lender may not even know which points are most important for you. Things to look for:

• Prepayment penalties - fees charged if you pay off the loan early, for example by refiancing
• Adjustments to Interest Rate - will the interest rate change, how often, and how much

Additionally, you need to determine how much you can afford for a monthly payment. The lender can tell you how much you qualify for but it is up to you to evaluate your personal financial situation. If you want a monthly payment which is less than the lender is telling you that you qualify for - let the lender know. Ask the lender to translate the monthly payment into the price of a house you can afford. Don't forget that taxes and home owner's insurance premiums are usually rolled into your mortgage payment in addition to interest and principle. Also consider other additional monthly costs to owning a home such as HOA fees, garbage collection, and utilities when you are planning your budget.

Rates are at historically good levels, there have been many years in the past when rates were much higher. There are a lot of good lenders available to help you. If you would like us to recomment a lender to you, give us a call.

If you would like to know more about what is happening with mortgage regulation, click on the link below. Note, the article indicates that the Fed's changes to do not take affect right away and they have to under go review.

New York Times Article - In Reversal, Fed Approves Plan to Curb Risky Lending

FTC's Do Not Call List

The original plan when the do not call list was created was that consumers would have to renew every five years. It is now looking like we won't have to do that and that our registered phone numbers will stay on the list. For more information, click on the link below to read the full article at the Federal Trade Comissions website.

FTC Pledges Not to Drop Any Numbers From Do Not Call Registry, Pending Final Congressional or Agency Action on Whether to Make Registration Permanent

If you would like to register your home phone number of cell phone number. You can do so on-line at http://www.donotcall.gov/. You can also verify whether or not your current phone number has been registered. Other information can be obtained by clicking on the link below.

Questions & Answers Regarding the Do Not Call Registry

What's Our Market?

If you're not familiar with where Arizona is in the United States, click the map above. We are in the southwest part of our country. It's warmer, dryer and a beautiful place to call home.

In Arizona, we live in the greater Phoenix area. In a part called the East Valley. The East Valley is Chandler, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert. Scottsdale is just north of us and Phoenix is to the west. You can see the green arrow (click the photo to get a larger map), it's home to us. We serve most of the Phoenix area.

Chandler Interactive map on Google