AT HOME

Buying investment properties can be a fantastic way to build wealth, but it shouldn’t be done on a whim. If you’ve done your homework and decided that a short-term rental is the right investment for you, move onto the next step and start shopping for a real estate agent. With a great agent on your side, you can find the right property to grow your income.

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Westbrook Village in Peoria, Arizona is an established active adult community. It offers an ideal blend of large community amenities, gorgeous homes and a convenient location. The community has 3,910-homes Westbrook Village and a favorite feature for residents is its proximity to the 101 Loop which provides convenient access to many Phoenix Valley attractions.

According to 55Places.com: Westbrook Village is built on the northern edge of the original Sun City. Many retirees who like the location of Sun City, but prefer more newly constructed homes, gravitate towards Westbrook Village. The community was constructed between 1982 and 1993. Compared to Sun City, many of the homes in Westbrook Village feature more modern floor plans and desirable finishes. At just under 4,000 homes, Westbrook Village is considerably smaller than the larger Sun City communities of the Phoenix northwest valley. Yet, a bountiful lineup of amenities provides residents a large community feel with a small-town atmosphere. The tight-knit residents of Westbrook Village find it easy to get acquainted with neighbors and meet new friends.

There are many amenities and available social activities. There are two nice clubhouses featuring ballrooms, exercise opportunties, hobby studios and multi-purpose rooms where residents can gather to play cards, chess or many other games. Outside there are tennis courts, pools, horseshoe pits, bocce ball and pickle ball courts.

There is a restaurtant the serves the community on the Gold Course called Sunset Bistro.

Westbrook Golf Club has two 18 hole course that are available to both members and the general public.

Unlike Sun City and Sun City West, Westbrook Village is close to major shopping malls, popular restaurants and the famous Peoria Sports Complex.

For more information on available homes in Westbrook Village please visit http://cerretateam.com or give us a call at 623-266-6888. 

This home needs a big heap of TLC but it sits in a nice neighborhood where homes are priced at $200,000-$250,000.  This home is an investor special and a nice home to flip. Here are some tips offerd by Dave Ramsey on how to be successful when flipping houses.

• Pay Cash - the cost of interest on most homes will make it difficult to make a profit.
• Know the Market - Find a Real Estate Agent with years of experience in your area. Your agent will help you target your home search to the right neighborhoods and make sure that you don't over-pay.
• Make a Budget for Your House Flip - Know your price range for purchaing a home, making any repairs, completing renovation projects, and paying selling costs before you seal the deal.
• Invest in Smart Renovations - You might have to pass on making the home a showcase and focus on things like fresh paint, updated hardware and new landscaping. 
• An experienced agent is your most valuable tool. The agnet can help you see what most area homes include (maybe granite is not an option), tell you what your end price will be and help you make a spreadsheet with all your costs so you know how much profit there is in the home you wish to flip.

Not only is the Phoenix area weather forecast sizzling hot, so is the Housing Market. Sudden and sweeping shutdowns in March due to the caronavirus pandemic saw the real estate market take a huge pause. The timing of this coincided with the Spring Selling Season which is normally quite robust. 

Summer is now shaping up to be what a normal Spring would look like as far as house sales are concerned. The Cerreta Team Office is seeing a noticable increase in inquiries as buyers rush to find a home while interest rates are at all time lows and home prices have yet to increase. 

Once the initial demand has been satisfied, it will become more clear whether this uptick is a short-term experience or a longer term phenomenon. Experts are generally leaning towards a short term time frame. If the experts are correct it will benefit buyers and sellers to make a move while they can.

Some things may feel uncertain right now, but we are reaching out to remind you that we are here to help you with your real estate needs. We are available to show you homes virtually or in person. We have a system that we feel is safe that includes all parties wearing masks. Gloves and shoe coverings are available upon request.

Real Estate is considered an essential business and we are here to guide you through the process during these difficult times.

When purchasing a new home, it’s important to do in-depth research on all facets of the homebuying

process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if

anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on home insurance versus home warranty

below to educate yourself on your options.

Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss that are caused by fire, lightning

strikes, windstorms, and hail, however, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered.

It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person

were to get injured in your home or on your property. According to American Home Shield, the

average annual cost of a homeowner's insurance policy ranges between $300 and $1,000, and the bank

usually asks you to obtain a policy before the mortgage is issued. Make sure to keep in mind that each

type of coverage in the policy is subject to a limit and, in most cases, you will have to pay a deductible.

Home Warranty

A home warranty is designed to cover the cost of repairs and replacements of larger appliances and

crucial systems in your home that may fail or break due to age and wear and tear. This includes but

isn’t limited to HVAC, electrical, or plumbing components, kitchen appliances, and your washer and

dryer. With a home warranty, you are required to pay premiums year-round, even if you do not use it,

and it won’t cover damages if appliances were not maintained properly or if the damage is from a

fire or other disaster.

Resuburbanization has been brought on by our most recent Pandemic. This is the trend where people are trading the convenience of living downtown for more space and a less expensive lifestyle outside downtown metro areas. Since many people are able to work from home now the data is showing that things are chainging in the housing market such as:

• McMansions are making a comeback as more people want more space for to accommodate working from home.
• Movement our of downtown communities to areas where it is easy to walk to parks, markets and friends.
• There has also been a surge in second home sales in areas located a two to four hour drive away from major metropolitan areas.

Using plants as décor is a great way to add a little color and a natural, bright feel to any room.

There are endless types of plants to choose from and various ways to display each one, but here

are a few of our favorite combinations.

1. Geometric pots. Find geometric pots or planters of various sizes and plant small succulents
2. of different styles and colors in each one. Then group a few pots together on a window sill or
3. shelf or use them individually to adorn a side table or center of the dining room table.
4. Long, hanging plants. Purchase a larger, draping plant-like eucalyptus, fern, or ivy and hang
5. it from the ceiling using a macramé plant hanger or place it on a high shelf or ladder. These
6. plants are perfect for the corner of your living room or room with a large, plain wall that is in
7. need of a little pop of color.
8. Plant corner. Have a large corner in the dining or living room and need ideas on how to fill it?
9. Consider turning it into a small plant sanctuary. Select plants of all different sizes, heights,
10. colors, and styles and purchase either matching pots or a mix of designs. Consider the use of a
11. stool or small table to create additional levels and strategically place each one in the corner.
12. Air plants. Air plants are universal and can be included in DIY wall art, hung from the ceiling
13. or on the wall inside geometric metal prisms, or placed inside beautiful glass terrariums alongside
14. other plants and colorful rocks or sand.