Phoenix Home Buyer's Guide

Top 5 Tips for Buying in Phoenix...

1.Don't be afraid of Short Sales or Bank Owned

Save time and money by having the Hometown Team on your side! AZ Wide Realty has a dedicated in-house Short Sale team that isn't afraid to ask the Selling Agent the right questions. In many cases just finding out who the lender is, how much is owed and a few other details can let you know if you're just wasting your time and need to move on. We also have experience helping buyers find Bank Owned (REO) Property. We scour the market daily for bank owned opportunities that just might save you some money, big time!

2.Don't sit on the sidelines

Phoenix is a very desirable community for many good reasons. Sitting on the sidelines and waiting for the market to improve, or not buying in Phoenix at all, could end up costing you much more in the long run and might price you right out of living here all together. You could be getting tax deductions, building equity and enjoying the many benefits of homeownership.

3.Have a back-out plan

Be sure to include these two contingencies in your offer. 1. Mortgage Financing - Sure, you’re pre-approved, but will the bank lend you the money you'll need to buy this house? The bank will want a full formal appraisal of the property in order to confirm that there's enough equity in it to warrant lending you this much money. 2. Inspection & Insurance - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a home without a thorough home inspection, as well as confirming you can get adequate coverage.

4. Read & understand the "fine print"

Avoid nasty surprises at closing, insist upon receiving your closing papers a few days early. Sitting at the closing table with pen in hand is not the time to try and start understanding what's in the inches of paperwork you’re about to sign. Getting the papers in advance will allow you to ask the questions and do the research you want to. Make time, read them all, and ask questions!

5. Buying at first sight.

Chances are you didn't end up marrying the first person you went on a date with, and buying here isn't much different. Phoenix has all sorts of fantastic homes, and there may even be some great hidden deals you might be missing. Allow us to listen to your wants and needs, and then show you houses you'll want to call home. We always insist upon previewing at least three homes with every buyer prior to writing an offer.

6. Don't overbuy

Remember, "Life Happens!", so don't forget to also pencil in some wiggle room for the unexpected. As a general rule of thumb, your payment should be 28% or less of your gross monthly income. Don't forget things like property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities.


Schools in Phoenix

School bus

Phoenix Elementary Schools

Phoenix is home to 325 public schools in 30 school districts along with more than 200 charter and private schools. There are 21 Elementary school districts in Phoenix. Residents or prospective residents can find information on school locations, district and attendance boundaries, as well as some frequently requested maps by searching for schools based upon cross streets at the following link: Find the closest school(s) to your major intersection. Be sure to check out GreatSchools.com for Phoenix school reviews.