BlogArizona Category: Arizona SchoolsThis page contains all BlogArizona posts related to Arizona Schools. Read a specific post by clicking on a title below, or scroll further down the page to read through all posts in this category.Sunday, April 06, 2008Selling a Home in AZ and Not Sure What to Disclose to the Buyer?I recently received an email with this question about disclosure of sex offenders when selling a home in Arizona:
First, I have to say that I'm not an attorney so I can only address this question in the general sense and from a Realtor's perspective. So do not consider my answer as legal advice, and ALWAYS consult an attorney for questions about your own specific situation. Second, don't believe everything you read in the mainstream media! Of course, you can't believe everything you read on the internet either. But I do know bloggers who are much more thorough about checking facts than some of the major media outlets. Arizona legislators are constantly updating our laws, and real estate disclosure is a hot topic. However, I don't think a change to the law is the source of confusion in this case. From my experience, I'd say all of the sources quoted are technically correct. I think this is the USA Today article that was referenced in the question, here's the AZ real estate attorney who was mentioned, and here's the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) Residential Seller Advisory form. The AAR Residential Seller Advisory does indeed state, "By law, sellers are not obligated to disclose that the property is or has been... located in the vicinity of a sex offender." But if you keep reading, it goes on to say, "However, the law does not protect a seller who makes an intentional misrepresentation." And then the top of the next page says, "Sellers are required by law to disclose all known material (important) facts about the Property to the Buyer". So what is considered to be "material" or "important"? Generally, anything that may affect a buyer's decision to buy is definitely material and should be disclosed. To be safe, I tell sellers that EVERYTHING is material to the buyer. At least, a seller has to assume that everything is material because they don't know what's material to the buyer. Every buyer is different... what seems minor and unimportant to the seller may very well be minor and unimportant to one buyer. However, that same item may be extremely important, and thus material, to another buyer. If it ends up in front of a judge, I would guess that anything and everything the buyers find out later, that the seller knew and didn't disclose, will be considered material! The AAR Residential Seller Advisory reinforces this idea with it's heading, "When in doubt, disclose!". If the sellers know there's a sex offender living down the street and the buyers ask, I would tell the seller to disclose it, in writing, to protect both the sellers and the buyers. Even if the buyers don't ask, I would still tell the sellers to disclose it, in writing. It doesn't matter if the buyers are older or don't have kids. You cannot assume they don't care about a sex offender living nearby. They may have grandchildren who visit and play outside, or friends that come over and bring their kids. My point is, you shouldn't try to get inside the buyer's head and figure out what is, or is not material. Only the buyer can decide that. Just disclose it and let the buyers make that call... whether it's a maintenance problem, or something you know about the neighbors, homeowners association, schools, etc. Disclose whatever you know. I know many people are reading this thinking, "Disclose it, even if it they don't ask? That would probably kill the deal." Well, it's better to kill the deal now than end up in court later. And actually, being honest from the beginning by making full disclosure reduces the risk of a last minute deal-breaker, 29 days into the transaction. As a seller, if the deal isn't going to close, don't you want to know right away instead of AFTER your house has been off the market for a month? Full disclosure isn't just for sellers either. It's a two-way street. Buyers should also disclose anything that might be material to the sellers, like if they know something which may affect their ability to qualify for a mortgage. The "golden rule" can (and should) be applied to real estate transactions, just like anything else in life. Every transaction is smoother, less stressful and turns out better in the end if both parties are honest and upfront with each other from the beginning. But buyers, don't be naive! You should NOT rely on the sellers to disclose all material facts about the property you're buying. Even if the sellers are honest people, they may not know all the material facts. So buyers must also do their "due diligence" by investigating everything that's important to them. The AZ Department of Real Estate advises buyers to read and investigate the items on this checklist for Arizona home buyers. While the law may require certain disclosures, "Buyer Beware" is a reality!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on April 6, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack Tuesday, August 14, 2007Mesa, Arizona Schools are Back in Session :)
So last night, my kids and I sorted through a pile of 'classroom rules & policy' papers that had to be signed by student and parent. It definitely saddens me to realize that I no longer have a child in elementary school - one started junior high and the other started high school this year. In fact, my oldest daughter is now attending the same high school from which my husband and I both graduated (Mountain View High School in Mesa, AZ)! And my youngest daughter's new guidance counselor was also my husband's junior high teacher (eons and eons ago). I guess it really is a small (and cruel) world afterall! Whether you're moving to AZ or just interested in how your child's school compares, you can find report cards for Arizona's schools on the AZ Dept of Education's website. It's easy to use and you can search by zip code, school or district. And since many Valley schools start on different dates, below I've listed some Arizona public school start dates (mostly East Valley schools - sorry to those folks in the West Valley!):
I hope you and yours have a happy, safe 2007-2008 school year!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on August 14, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Thursday, July 12, 2007Can I Fire My Real Estate Agent?I received the email below from a BlogArizona.com reader, whose personal information has been changed for privacy reasons. We'll say this email was from 'John' in Mesa:
There are several things to consider here. First, is there a written buyer's agent agreement, or is the listing agreement somehow dependent on a buyer's agent relationship (i.e. did the agent agree to sell the house for a lower commission if you hired him as a buyer's agent on your new build?). If so, John has to look at the written agreement(s) for the answer to his question. If not, there are still other considerations. If the buyer and seller transactions are independent of each other, has John's agent failed to perform as a buyer's agent, or has he somehow breached his duty/obligations as a buyer's agent? While John might not be 'locked into' this real estate agent for his new build, I seriously doubt the builder will pay a commission to anyone else at this point. So if he fires his current buyer's agent, John could end up with no buyer's agent at all, unless of course John wants to pay the buyers agent's fee out of his own pocket. So the question becomes, is his current buyer's agent worse than no agent at all? If the answer is yes, John might also want to consider hiring an attorney to review documents rather than hiring a new real estate agent to represent him. It just depends on what level of representation he wants. As far as hiring someone else to sell John's current home, here are a few more questions that might be relevant: What does the listing agreement say? Has the real estate agent breached the listing agreement? Is he failing to perform to standards, or are there other reasons John's home is not selling? Is the purchase of John's new home contingent on the sale of John's current home? I would guess it's probably not, or else John's real estate agent would be very motivated to sell his current home. From the email, it sounds like John's real estate agent would probably be willing to cancel the listing and let him hire someone else to sell his home. If not, however, John has to look to his listing agreement to determine under what circumstances he could 'fire' his current listing agent and look for a new one. And there may be penalties for cancelling the listing early, depending on what that agreement says. So in summary, as always, IT DEPENDS! It's also important to remember that I'm not an attorney. Therefore, I addressed this question from a real estate agent's point of view. If you find yourself in a similar situation, be sure to consult an attorney, as this should not be considered legal advice!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on July 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack Saturday, June 16, 2007Summer Maintenance Links for Arizona HomeownersI intended to spend some time blogging this wonderful Saturday morning. However, as the real estate market picks up speed for summer, so does my schedule. So instead, I'll spend my day off doing 2 home inspections and a mold test. Oh well, that's just how life goes sometimes! So for today, I'll just post some links to maintenance information that will help to prepare you, your family and your home for this summer season. Swimming Pool Safety & Maintenance
Maintaining Your Home's Air Conditioner
Saving Energy & Keeping Your AZ Summer Electric Bill Low
Other Home Maintenance for the Arizona Summer Things to Do in Arizona During the Hot Summer
And by the way, if you're looking for something (other than the proverbial tie) to give Dad for Father's Day, here are a couple of cool ideas (Hint, Hint to my wife & kids!):
Can you tell I like airplanes? Okay, so I can dream anyway... Enjoy your Saturday!
Posted by Scott Hubbard, Arizona Home Inspector on June 16, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack Friday, April 13, 2007BlogArizona.com Welcomes the Arizona Mortgage Guru!Those who read BlogArizona.com regularly have probably noticed that I myself have been a blog mute over the past few months! To the many people who read BlogArizona.com each day, I sincerely apologize for my absence. Of course, there's no excuse to neglect your blog :) But I will say (in my defense and in defense of the AZ real estate market in general) that I've been crazy busy lately! No matter what the newspaper or other media may say, BUYERS ARE BACK TO THE ARIZONA REAL ESTATE MARKET! That's why I haven't blogged lately! Now that we've established that the Arizona "real estate bubble" is still not bursting, I want to welcome Shailesh Ghimire to BlogArizona.com. Shailesh is the Arizona Mortgage Guru and a local Home Loan Expert. Shailesh and his wife Aimee are a team at CTX Mortgage, serving the Greater Phoenix area. If you've read Shailesh's first BlogArizona post or visited his blog, I think you'll agree that Shailesh will make a great addition to BlogArizona.com. I have no doubt that his posts will add interesting and current content that BlogArizona readers will enjoy. I also want to say that while I haven't posted much lately, I have been working on some new upgrades/features for BlogArizona. These improvements will be added over time, and that's all I'm saying so you'll have to keep checking back to find out what they are! BlogArizona.com is also looking to add new Contributors. Here's more information if you or someone you know is interested.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on April 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack Tuesday, August 08, 2006Mesa, AZ Ranked 3rd Best Big CityMoney Magazine recently ranked Mesa, AZ as the 3rd Best Big City for 2006. Colorado Springs, CO was ranked number one, while Austin, TX came in second place. Many factors were considered including Financial, Housing, Education, Quality of Life, Leisure & Culture, Weather, Health and other demographics.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on August 8, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack Wednesday, June 07, 2006Mesa's Stapley Jr. High School Gets A+The Arizona Education Foundation recently selected Stapley Jr. High School in Mesa as an A+ school. This is a great accomplishment since only a few outstanding schools throughout Arizona receive the A+ designation each year. In addition to Stapley Jr. High School, 3 other schools also made the list this year:
Prior to this year, the last time a Mesa secondary school made the list was in 1995. According to the Arizona Education Foundation's website, "A+ Schools serve as models of educational excellence to other schools throughout the state and the nation." Great Job Stapley!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on June 7, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Saturday, June 03, 2006Keep the Kids Cool at Local Jr. High SchoolsSummer is here and if you have kids, they will soon be bored out of their minds! As a parent, this can make you crazy! So to keep your kids busy this summer, check out your local Parks & Recreation Department. Most local cities have a variety of classes, sports and other activities you can enroll your kids in for the summer. Also, most of the junior high schools have swimming pools that become public pools during the summer months. Even if you have your own swimming pool, your kids can still enjoy hanging out at one of the city pools. Some of them have big water slides that the kids love (see Aquatic Complexes below), and of course, there are always tons of other kids there! For those who live in Mesa, here is a list of swimming pools where you can take your kids (for a small fee, of course):
Fees are as follows: Mesa also offers swimming lessons, competitve swimming and special pool events. For more information, call (480) 644-4950 or visit the City of Mesa's website.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on June 3, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Wednesday, March 15, 2006Phoenix Residents Approve Bond ProgramIt looks like Phoenix residents have approved all 7 propositions that make up the Phoenix Bond Program. This will allow almost $900 million in city improvements without increasing taxes. The bond money will pay for over 160 individual city-wide projects including libraries, storm sewers, police & fire stations and the expansion of ASU's downtown Phoenix campus. Election results won't be official until March 22nd because all the mail-in and provisional ballots have to be verified and the city council has to approve the final numbers.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on March 15, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Tuesday, March 14, 2006Phoenix Association of Realtors® Endorses All 7 Phoenix Bond PropositionsToday, March 14th is the day that Phoenix residents will vote on the seven propositions known as the Phoenix Bond Program. According to the Phoenix Association of Realtors® (PAR), by voting "YES" on all 7 bond propositions, "We have a chance to invent in, and dramatically improve our Valley and positively impact every single resident - all without raising taxes." City governments often depend on bond programs, as an alternative to tax increases, to fund major facilities and other infrastructure. A bond is essentially a loan from investors. With voter approval, the city issues bonds, which are paid back over time through payments that fit into the city's budget. Below is a summary of the 7 Phoenix bond propositions, according to PAR:
The way I see it, the Phoenix Bond Program is a win-win situation. Necessary improvements are funded without asking taxpayers for more money. The community benefits and nobody gets hurt! But regardless of which side you are on, be sure to get out and VOTE! Source: Phoenix REALTOR® Forum, March 2006
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on March 14, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Monday, March 13, 2006It's Spring Break in Mesa Public SchoolsMesa Public Schools, as well as Gilbert and many other Valley schools are out for Spring Break this week, March 13-19. I think Arizona State University is on Spring Break too. So watch out for kids in the Valley this week! If you have kids that are home from school bored to death, or making you crazy, most Valley cities have recreation centers that have daytime and evening programs for kids and even adults. I know Gilbert and Mesa both have classes that cover everything from Art and Dance to Babysitting for a very reasonable fee. They also usually offer Spanish classes, swimming and other sports. You can even sign your kids (teens too!) up for fun day trips to places like SunSplash, laser tag and amusement parks. Some of the recreation centers have everything from rock climbing walls to ping pong tables and aerobics classes. Basically, Valley recreation centers have something for everyone!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on March 13, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Saturday, December 03, 2005Arizona Schools ECA Tax CreditWhat is the Arizona Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) Tax Credit? Arizona state law provides an opportunity for the majority of Arizona taxpayers to contribute money to local public or charter schools, and either subtract the amount from their state income taxes owed or add the amount to their state income tax refund. Couples filing jointly may donate up to $300 per couple and single filers may contribute up to $200. So in addition to receiving a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your state income taxes, you can help local schools earn critical funding. And the best part - you even get to choose which Extra Curricular Activity/classroom your money goes to! If you want to donate to the football team, the drama program, or to your child's Photography Club, it's your choice! Westcor shopping centers will also contribute an additional $20 for maximum donations made to an Arizona public school through December 31st - up to $150,000 statewide. This gives each school an opportunity to raise up to $1,000 in matching funds. But in order for your donation to qualify for Westcor matching funds, you MUST attach the Westcor Extra Credit School form to your ECA contribution form. (See your local Arizona public school or visit any Westcor Shopping Center Guest Services desk for more information). Many Arizona employers also support Arizona education by matching funds on the ECA Tax Credit. Some of Arizona's employers that matched donations in 2004 are Motorola, Boeing, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Wachovia, Washigton Mutual, Merrill Lynch, Medtronic, Alliant Techosystems, ATK, Jannett, Pfizer, Rogers Corporation, Washington Post Co., Honeywell and Intel. Check with your HR Department to find out if your employer matches donations, and be sure you include any necessary forms when you make your donation so the matching funds will be paid. This is a great opportunity for you to decide how your tax money is spent! Since most people will pay at least $300 in state income taxes anyway, this is a no brainer! You do NOT have to have a child enrolled in an Arizona public school to be eligible for this tax credit. So grandparents and those of you without children can donate too! Remember to donate to your child's school by December 31st. Let's support our kids by supporting Arizona's schools!
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on December 3, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Tuesday, November 29, 2005Tempe Goes WirelessTempe is the first U.S. city to go wireless from border to border. The city launched its wireless network yesterday with a public "wire-cutting ceremony". Upon completion which is scheduled for mid to late-February, the wireless network will allow ASU students along with Tempe residents and businesses to have wireless access to the internet from any location within the city's 40 square miles. All that users will need is a wireless card on their computer and of course, money! The fee is about $10 per day or $29 per month. There are five phases to this project and Phase 1 is approximately two-thirds done. Tempe government employees, including police officers and firefighters, will also have this wireless capability to make their jobs easier. So far, feedback has been positive and there is even talk that Chandler may be going wireless soon as well. Chandler already has wireless internet implemented in their libraries. Unlike Tempe, Chandler is looking at ways to give Chandler residents up to two hours per day of free wireless internet usage in certain public areas.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on November 29, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack Wednesday, August 17, 2005Tucson High School Issues Laptops, Not TextbooksA Tucson high school may be setting a new trend by providing students with laptop computers instead of textbooks this year. Last month when it opened, Empire High School didn't buy a single textbook. Instead, each student is being issued an Apple iBook at a cost of about $850 per laptop. Typically, the school spends about $500 to $600 per student on textbooks, so the $850 per laptop price tag isn't bad. Add to that the fact that you don't need a computer lab when each student has a laptop, and the cost of the computers is about the same as textbooks. So this year, instead of students carrying heavy, bulky backpacks full of books, Empire students will simply have to carry their laptop. But those of us with school aged children know that kids, even high schoolers, don't always take great care of their stuff! So just how durable these iBooks actually are, and how much abuse they will take before they need to be replaced remains to be seen. The parents have financial responsibility for the laptops, but can buy an insurance policy for about $50 per year. Yet, as we all know, the financial cost is not the only consideration when you're computer dies on you...what about all the lost data! Imagine losing your entire semester worth of notes and assignments the week before finals...AAAHHH! Assignments are both downloaded and turned in online. Both the campus and the laptops are wireless enabled, so students don't need internet access at home in order to access the internet and download assignments - they can do that from anywhere on campus. The school has also arranged for parents to obtain internet service for only $10 per month if they do not already have it. Obviously the school has taken precautions by blocking certain functionality on the laptops, such as games and Instant Messaging (a teen favorite - I know this first hand!). I would also imagine web surfing is carefully managed with certain websites and types of websites blocked as a safeguard. Not only do computers make both the students' and teachers' jobs easier in many ways, but the skills the students learn by using a computer in every day life will be greatly appreciated in a few years when they enter the work force. While kids seem to know computers pretty well when it comes to playing games, surfing the internet and sending instant messages, teachers say the students aren't quite as proficient at using computers in a work oriented environment, and training is needed. As technology progresses, it only makes sense for our schools to embrace it. Empire High School has taken a brave step forward and it will be interesting to see how things go this first year, what challenges will arise, and how many schools will follow in their footsteps in the near future.
Posted by Shannon Hubbard, Arizona Real Estate Agent on August 17, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Sunday, July 31, 2005Official Launch of BlogArizona.com!Today is BlogArizona.com's official launch date! We have been working for several months now to add features and get the site ready...so check it out! There's plenty to see while you are here:
Best of all...you can find out what the heck a blog is! And don't forget to make a comment while you're here (Did I mention that already?!). Check back with us regularly for the latest Arizona real estate news and trends. Thanks for visiting! the BlogMaster Posted by BlogMaster on July 31, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack Wednesday, January 12, 2005Add Your Company Name & Logo to a Product in BlogArizona.com's Online Store!Attention real estate agents & mortgage lenders!! No minimum order. $35 one-time set-up charge per product. Once it's set up, others in your office may also order as many or as few as they would like. Email us with the following information: 1. Name of Product you wish to customize We will respond within 48 hours. Thank you! the BlogMaster Posted by BlogAdmin on January 12, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack |
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Doesn't it seem like school starts earlier each year? Now I'm about to sound really old, but...when I was a kid, we always started school at the beginning of September (right after Labor Day). I'm definitely not complaining though. After having my 12-year old and my 15-year old at home ALL DAY LONG for the past few months, I could not be happier that 