MaracayHomes is pleased to offer this complimentary newsletter to homeowners,buyers, sellers, real estate professionals and friends of the company.We hope you find the information helpful such as tips for buying andselling a home, industry and market trends, home building news,exciting new products, community activities and more.

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Just click on the Flex Design® Nutcracker button like the one to the left in each story to learn more at maracayhomes.com!

Get a Gift Card to Applebee's Just for Touring Maracay's New Inventory Homes in Your Neighborhood

Ever is a really…long…time. That’s why it’s a really big deal that Maracay Homes is holding its First EVER Inventory Home Sale. Perhaps you’re thinking of moving or have a friend that might be considering a new home purchase? Buy before December 31 to receive incredible savings on a new, gorgeous, move-in ready Maracay Home.  Enjoy our greatest discounts EVER. Even better, Maracay Homes will buy down your interest rate for the first three years, starting at 3.375%*. That’s first year financing at 3.375% with years 4 thru 30 fixed.  For a short time, get the home you really want and save thousands over the life of your loan.

We're celebrating Maracay's First-EVER Inventory Home Sale in a BIG way.
Receive a free $10 Applebee’s Restaurant gift card while supplies last, just for touring our inventory homes, no purchase necessary. And, enter to win a VIP trip for two to Chandon Estates in California's Wine Country. Keep in mind, like all good things, this sale will come to an end.  Browse our selection of move-in ready homes in 14 distinctive neighborhoods at MaracayHomes.com/sale. Or, call 623-792-5183 for more information.  Get the best deal and financing EVER on a Maracay Home.  Keep in mind, like all good things, this sale will come to an end on 12/31/08.

Weigh Options Carefully Before Considering a Foreclosed Home. 

It’s true.  For many buyers, even with a tumultuous real estate market, this could be an opportune time to buy a home. 

Homes can be found in excellent neighborhoods, at very good prices.   More than that, the range of homes includes new homes, resale homes and even foreclosures. The choice among a pre-owned, foreclosed or brand-new property can be a tough decision that buyers struggle with currently.

The number of homes in foreclosure does present some buyers with an opportunity to purchase a home they might not have been able to afford before.  Sellers can be highly motivated, and negotiations can be very favorable to the buyer. 

Nonetheless, while homes in foreclosure often appear to present lower prices than neighboring homes, real estate professionals suggest that buyers weigh many factors before deciding to seek a foreclosed house rather than a new home. 

Some things to consider include your own home ownership experience, your financial situation, and whether you have access to professionals with experience in buying foreclosed properties.

Know All the Hidden Costs; Especially if Buying Your First Home

Think hard about making a foreclosure purchase your first home buy. An experienced homeowner may better understand and manage the obstacles that come with buying a foreclosed home.  Previous homeownership provides an education and valuable lessons in the true cost (time and money) of owning a home, beyond the monthly mortgage payment.

A foreclosure deal may be loaded with surprise expenses.  Foreclosed properties are often in disrepair, and can have titles encumbered by judgments, liens, and other attachments that may need to be paid off to seal the deal. The homework necessary to research the market and property can cost you even before you begin to negotiate.

Existing or prior home ownership can provide the equity stake needed to cover foreclosure purchase costs, provided you have a solid equity position available in your primary residence. Otherwise, some source of liquid cash to tap, along with low debt and outstanding credit, is essential.

Owning a home previously also teaches you about financing, tax shelter issues, property maintenance, and home improvements.  You'll also need assistance from a real estate agent, attorney, investor, or another professional familiar with local real estate law, specifically as applied to your market's foreclosure system.

On a foreclosure deal, buyers should access the expertise of these professionals to assess the true cost of owning that home.

All Buyers Beware on Foreclosed Homes

If all of these seem to be in order, buying a foreclosed home can still present challenges.  Here are a few to be aware of:

• If someone has been unable to pay their mortgage for several months, chances are they also haven't been able to afford upkeep. The home will likely sell “as is” and may need costly maintenance and repairs.
  
  
• The home may have been vacant for some time; it is not unusual to find missing appliances, toilets, sinks and even electrical wiring and plumbing.
  
  
• It may be necessary to evict lingering residents who have lost their home.
  
  
• The title could be tagged with judgments for an unpaid second mortgage or home improvement loan, and could include late fees and other fines.
  
  
• A foreclosed home purchased through a winning bid at auction must be paid for with cash or a cashier’s check.  All sales are final for the total amount of the bid.
  
  
• You typically cannot inspect an auctioned property (unless you saw it
  pre- foreclosure) and will not have time to do comparables or a title search.

Long-Term Value In New Homes

Buying a new home during these days of fluctuation in the real estate market can also present buyers with opportunities in exceptional long-term value. 

Here are some reasons why:

• Appreciation
  Many experts say that residential real estate experiences a life on its own. The first five to seven years are when the most appreciation can occur. During this time, a new home can have the most appeal and appreciate with its surrounding area and economy.  
  
  
• Warranty
  New homes carry better new home warranties; the first two years of a new home warranty may cover almost everything from carpeting, to air conditioning systems (heavier on the first year) and the first ten years usually carries a required ten-year structural clause.
  
  
• Better product
  Up to date technology in new construction, more and more timely inspections required by city and county entities, and features that reflect changing needs and desires are featured in new home construction.
  
  
• New homes often include upgraded design features for style-conscious homeowners – homes are specifically designed to meet the busy lifestyle needs of technologically-savvy, 24/7 homeowners. Up-to-the-minute design centers offer many options, from hardwood flooring to cabinetry, fixtures to lighting and everything in between.
  
  
• Energy efficiency
  Existing homes tend to be drastically less energy-efficient and green. In fact, a recent consumer survey by the National Association of Homebuilders showed that 72 percent of buyers said energy-efficient features were the top item to influence their decision.  Innovations in construction contribute to lower utility bills and less frequent repairs.
  
  
• Pride of ownership
  It's new, it's yours and no one else has ever lived in it. A new home is an expression of its first owners. Options to the floor plan, colors and materials chosen to decorate it, and even the excitement felt during the walk-through with the builder, make up a snapshot of you and you alone. The pride taken in fine-tuning a home's trappings and landscaping the first few years adds to its character and fills up photo albums.

www.nolo.com
www.newhomesource.com

Maracay Homes realizes that the real estate landscape has many attractive options but some are safer than others. We hope the information provided in this story will be helpful in supplying background on some of these formidable choices. For more information please visit MaracayHomes.com or call 480-970-6000.

It’s no secret that tough times make life even tougher for those who are already in need – and there are many Arizonans facing bleak times this season. Both the Phoenix Rescue Mission and the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance are reporting at least a 30 percent increase in those seeking assistance.  Maracay Homes is a long time supporter of both these important non-profit community service organizations and we hope this information will inspire you and your family to give generously this time of year.

According to Stephanie Farwig, director of development for the Phoenix Rescue Mission, many food banks and support agencies have likened the current situation to the perfect storm: the numbers of families seeking food assistance has increased rapidly and non-perishable food donations have declined significantly.

In fact, according to Norm Gold, chief operating officer for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, (which helps supply the Phoenix Rescue Mission pantry, among around 700 other agency locations throughout the region), inventory levels in July of this year stood at 4,595,103 lbs. of food, as compared with 5,895,566 during the same time in 2007.

While they’ve increased slightly in recent weeks, the need is still growing.  Terry Shannon, president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance said, “Comparative from last year, we’ve had a 30 percent increase in total pounds distributed for all our programs, which does not just speak to our emergency food boxes.” 

Overall, St. Mary’s reports a 100 percent increase in the need for emergency food boxes.

At the Phoenix Rescue Mission, the number of families coming to the Family Outreach Center for an Emergency Food Box (EFB) has increased 31 percent since July.  Twenty percent of those are new clients.

Farwig said, “EFBs typically provide a three-day supply of food to meet the immediate needs of a family, household, or individual during a time of crisis until more permanent assistance is found. Families can visit our food pantry up to twice a month.”

Food boxes are distributed to families every weekday, especially to single mothers with children. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, special holiday food boxes with a turkey and all the fixings are given to hundreds of needy families.

“The holidays are always challenging for those on a fixed income and the working poor…. This holiday season is going to be significantly more difficult if current trends continue,” Shannon said.

Ongoing needs for food donations at the Phoenix Rescue Mission for food boxes include canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna or salmon, soup, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, rice, dry beans and cereal.

While the Rescue Mission receive both meat and dairy items from the food bank, there’s a continuing need for more.  Farwig noted that the Mission can always use more hamburger meat, chicken, eggs, milk and lunch meats.

Both St. Mary’s Food Bank and the Phoenix Rescue Mission will hold key events this November to help provide happier holidays for those families and children in need of food and other assistance this holiday season.

If you would like to help, the Mission has a Fill-A-Box, Feed-A-Family program allowing your family or group to assemble food boxes to be distributed at Rescue Mission Holiday Outreach Events.   

“We will provide boxes and all the instructions.  People can also set up a Mission food drive with their company, church or friends.  Just give us a call at 602-346-3341 to sign up or get more information,” Farwig said.

The Mission will also hold Frozen Turkey Sunday on Nov. 16, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Rescue Mission at 1801 S. 35th Avenue in Phoenix.  Families are asked to bring a frozen turkey to kick off National Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week in Phoenix.

Anyone who drops off a turkey is invited to a barbecue lunch and music by the Hallelujah Blues Band.  For more information on this event or other turkey drop-off locations and times throughout the Valley, call Marlena at 602-346-3339 or visit website, www.phoenixrescuemission.org.

St. Mary’s offers families four different ways to help:

1. Donate a turkey. Bring a turkey to the Super Saturday event or drop by any of the St. Mary’s Food Bank locations to make any food donation of your choice.
2. Volunteer your time. Staff the Super Saturday event. Contact our Volunteer Services department at volunteerservices@firstfoodbank.org or 602-343-3128.
3. Make a tax-deductible donation for any amount. Visit www.FirstFoodBank.org to make a secure online donation. Every dollar provides enough donated food for seven meals.
4. Wear a charity charm. Visit www.CharityCharms.org and purchase a beautiful sterling silver charm that spreads awareness for St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance and the cause. When you purchase a charity charm, 75 percent of each charm benefits the charity.

Super Saturday is set for Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations around the region, such as:

1. Desert Ridge Marketplace, Phoenix
2. Tempe Marketplace, Tempe
3. Sundance Towne Centre, Buckeye

For more information, go to www.FirstFoodBank.org or www.BuyaBird.org.

Cozy, happy holidays will be a lot happier if everyone remains sound and healthy. Too often though, holiday excitement comes from the rush to the first aid cabinet or even the emergency room.

Faulty holiday lights, dried out trees and other decorations, stray toys or even wrapping paper can contribute to falls, cuts, shocks and burns.

Christmas trees are involved in as many as 300 fires annually, resulting in around $7 million in property damage and loss; candles cause more than 15,000 fires each year, with more than $307 million in property loss.

Here are a few tips to be safe at home right through the New Year:

• Make sure any artificial tree or decoration is fire resistant.  It will still burn, but not as readily or rapidly.
• Make sure live trees are fresh, and are placed away from any fireplace or radiator. 
• Wear gloves when working with spun glass “angel hair.”
• Follow directions carefully when using artificial snow sprays.
• If you use extension cords, make sure it’s rated for your intended use.
• Make sure any lights you use outdoors are certified for outdoor use, and plug them into only ground-fault circuit interrupter protected outlets.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.  It can become charged with electricity from faulty lights and electrocute a person at a touch.
• Indoors or outdoors, use newer lights with thicker wiring and safety fuses that keep wires from overheating.
• Turn off all holiday lights and extinguish all candles when you go to bed or leave the house.
• If you have a fireplace, be careful with “fire salts” that create colored flames.  They contain heavy metals, and if they’re accidentally eaten by a pet or child, can cause intense gastrointestinal distress.
• Don’t use the fireplace to burn the tossed-away wrapping paper.  It can ignite and burn intensely enough to start a flash fire.

Let’s not forget to keep our fuzzy-faced friends safe during this happy season, too.  Many people are aware that plants like holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies can be harmful to pets.  Here are a few more things to remember:

1. Anchor trees to the ceiling or wall to keep them from falling on pets.
2. Extra cords and plugs from holiday lights and decorations can look like chew toys to pets.  Tape them down or cover them, and remember to unplug them when you leave the house.
3. Make sure you pick up any ornament hooks, tinsel, or broken ornaments.  Even dried fruit ornaments can give a pet severe or even life-threatening intestinal distress, and tinsel can be very harmful to cats.
4. Keep candles on high shelves; if you have a bird, keep it caged while lighting candles.
5. Consider decorating the bottom third of the tree with unbreakable, plastic or wooden ornaments.  Avoid using tinsel or loose garland on the bottom of the tree that can be enticing play toys to small animals. 
6. Keep the water in a live-tree stand covered, since it is poisonous to pets.
7. Keep holiday treats and foods safely away from all pets’ reach; people food, especially chocolate, can make your pet very sick.

Finally, while we live in safe neighborhoods, it’s always wise to be cautious during the holidays. There are likely to be many more people coming and going through the neighborhood; many people may be traveling away from home for several days or even weeks. 

Always be sure to lock doors and widows when you leave the house, even if it’s only for “a few minutes.”

If you’re going to be gone for an extended time, make sure a neighbor or family member can watch your home, pick up your newspaper and get the mail.

Put your indoor and outdoor lights on automatic timers, and leave a radio or television on, so the house appears to be occupied at any time.

Also, don’t forget that while it may be a pretty picture, large displays of gifts on a table or under a tree should not be visible through windows or doors.

Making sure your family, pets and home are safe through the holidays will make the New Year even brighter for everyone!

www.cpsc.gov
www.sspca.org

For more information please visit MaracayHomes.com or call 480-970-6000.