Can I get a Home Loan today?

A lot of people asking this question nowadays based on news about mortgage industry facing problems. And the answer is - Yes! - you can buy your Arizona Home. And with a such low interest rates and a great selection of available homes for sale you should.

If you meet the reasonable credit, income and down payment requirements of the "Conforming" Loans:

• VA with a maximum loan value of $359,650
• FHA maximum loan value of $263,160
• Conventional maximum loan value of $417,000
  

In Central and East Valley alone, there are 20562 homes for sale today that meet the criteria of one or more of these programs.
Homes for sale in:

• Phoenix 10213
• Tempe 724
• Scottsdale 1660
• Mesa 3904
• Chandler 2005
• Gilbert 2056
  

Even though, "Non-Conforming" loans are being impacted the most, they are still available just have stricter qualification guidelines.

Choice Group Realty is affiliated with Choice Mortgage and can help with your real estate financing needs. Have a question about Phoenix homes, call us today!

Mesa, Arizona - the Biggest, Little City Around

Quick quiz - which of these cities (not MSA's, just cities themselves) has the highest population - St. Louis, Pittsburgh, or Mesa?

The answer is Mesa!

Mesa, Arizona is an interesting city of around 450 thousand, making it a large city unto itself, even though it is part of the Phoenix MSA.

The city is a mix of all different kinds of people, including about a 10% Mormon population. The city was founded by Mormons and still houses one of the religion's oldest temples.

Despite its relatively large size, the city is mostly residential, as its residences make their living primarily by driving elsewhere, such as into Phoenix.

The median family income of the city is $49 thousand. Like most cities, Mesa has its fair share of poverty, although the city also has more than its share of extravagant neighborhoods. If you work in the Phoenix area, Mesa may be an excellent option for you to locate your family. Call Choice Group Realty today and let us find your perfect home in this little big city.

Phoenix, Arizona: Let's Go River Rafting!

Today we thought we would talk a little about one of the greatest activities you can do while in the Phoenix, Arizona area: river rafting. Rafting is the act of utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other body of water. It is usually done on what is called "whitewater," which is water that has a bubbly, frothy appearance because of the rapid and unstable current. Whitewater rafting is an incredibly exhilarating experience, and central Arizona has some of the finest rafting in all the world. Following are a few companies you can contact to arrange a river rafting trip here:

Mild to Wild Rafting - www.mild2wildrafting.com - rafting tours on the Salt and Verde Rivers in lengths ranging from an afternoon to multi-day.

Desert Voyagers Guided Rafting Tour - www.desertvoyagers.com - specializing in trips that combine a desert jeep tour with river rafting.

Salt River Tubing & Recreation - www.saltrivertubing.com - spend the day or afternoon tubing the Lower Salt River rapids near Mesa, Arizona.

There are more rafting companies to choose from. We just wanted to get you started. If you do venture out into the river, remember to wear your life vest, wear shoes (to protect your feet from the rocky river bottom), stay sober, use sun block, and drink lots of water. Now get out there and experience some real river rafting, like only Arizona offers!

Arizona Home Sales: It's a Buyer's Market in the Valley

The real estate marketing in our areas (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, etc.) is in the midst of somewhat of a correction. There has been a lot of speculation nationwide about the bottom falling out of the housing market. We fear no such bottom here. Why? Because the economy here has always been strong and it continues to be strong, and we have a diverse housing market.

BUT...if you're looking to buy a home in this area, conditions are in your favor (especially relative to last year), so the time to take action is NOW. Don't wait until the market heats back up. At the present time, we are experiencing somewhat of a normalization as demand tries to catch up with supply. So you may be able to purchase more home for your money right now than you could last year, but that may not be the case a few months from now.

In general, Arizona is an affordable housing market, especially relative to our neighbors in California. That fact, combined with the present softening of the market, make this the ideal location and time for home purchasers looking to move to a pleasant climate while maximizing their home purchase value.

There will be no bust in our housing marketing because of our strong economy and strong job growth. So buyers should take advantage of a flattening of home prices while there is still time. Call Choice Group Realty today and we will walk you through the process of finding your perfect home and use our connections to help you get it financed.

Mesa, Arizona - One of the Hottest, Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.

From 1980 to 1990, the population of Mesa, Arizona increased from 152 thousand to 288 thousand, a whopping increase of 89% (number one in the country). By 2000, the population had increased to 404 thousand. Today, Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona. So what accounts for this incredible growth?

It is a number of factors, including:

• A very mild winter.
• A very pleasant year-round atmosphere. In fact, Mesa has over 320 days of sunshine every year. How many places in this world can make that claim?
• Strong economic conditions.
• An incredible array of outdoor/sports-related activites.

If you're a golfer, then you are going to love it in Mesa. There are many golf clubs. Just a few are:

• Arizona Golf Resort
• Augusta Ranch Golf Club
• Desert Sands Golf and Country Club
• Dreamland Villa Golf Course
• Las Sendas Golf Club
  

This is no way a complete list. Just a start.

There is also horse back riding, desert exploration, hiking, even river tubing!

But despite all this, ultimately, the reason for Mesa's growth is the fine people who live here. There is a warmth of the Southwest that radiates in the people who call this city home. We invite you to come check it our for yourself. And if you decide to stay, Choice Group Realty is here to help you find your perfect dream home. Just call us!

Welcome to the Choice Group Realty Phoenix/Scottsdale Arizona Blog!

Hello! This is the first official post in the Choice Group Realty blog. Choice Group Realty is an agency that specializes in properties in the North and East Valleys of the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas. Hiring a realtor that specializes in a particular area, as we do, has many advantages. We know this area, know the people, know the properties, and know the institutions that can help you finance the home of your dreams. We hope you will check back with us often as we discuss the history, attractions, and all the other reasons you should consider living here. We will also do our best to educate you on what you need to know to find your perfect home.

Some of the cities we represent are Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe and Mesa. These areas have fantastic weather, some of the world's nicest golf courses, as well as world class accommodations. Phoenix claimed the number one spot for job growth in the country, and Maricopa County is the fastest growing county in the country. To say this is a "hot spot" is an understatement.

Again, we welcome you to our official blog and hope you will visit us often to learn more about this wonderful section of the SouthWest.r>