Phoenix Retirement Community Questions and Answers
Phoenix Retirement Community Questions and Answers
Over the years, as a real estate agent in the greater metro Phoenix area, I have been asked a lot of questions about retirement communities and the lifestyle here. Below are real buyer and seller questions and my answers. Some of the same questions come up again and again so I've decided to write the answers down. Check back often as this page will be updated with new information as questions arise. If you have a questions, reach out.
Phoenix Retirement Community Questions and Answers
- Question: In Arizona is it the norm to turn the air conditioner completely off and go away for 5-6 months? ("In Florida, we needed to run the air conditioner at 72 degrees pretty much year-round to prevent mold, even if the house was unoccupied for 8 months.")
Answer: Here in Arizona you have the opposite problem from Florida dry heat most of the time except July and Aug. I actually lived in West Palm Beach for 5 years prior to Phoenix. Most people who leave for a few months or more put a few buckets of water throughout the house to retain some moisture in the air. This keeps your home from smelling stale and your interior cabinets and furniture in good condition. Cooling a home can get expensive so homeowners usually leave the air at about 85 to 88 degrees so it comes on but not too much.
Most people that are gone for extended periods of time have a house watcher that checks on the house and/or neighbor once a month or every couple of weeks. House watches are normally people who live in the community who want to make a little extra money. Cost is about $15-20 a visit depending on what you want to be done. I also recommend you have a landscaper out once a month as they make sure plants are getting enough water and will fix leaks.
You might like these blog articles:
Snowbird Leaving for the Summer Check List
Tips for Dealing with the Arizona Summer Heat
2. Question: When is snowbird season in Phoenix Arizona and when is the best time to buy a retirement home there?
Answer: Snowbird season in Phoenix is considered good weather time in sunny Arizona, which is winter for almost everyone else in the country except Florida. Prime snowbird season is January 1st through the end of March. This is when we will see the most homes on the market and the most home buyers ready, able and willing to purchase a home. There are two shoulder seasons, Oct through December and April through May or June if the weather holds. We often see a lot of homes closing in May and June after they go under contract in March or early April.
Homes sell year-round in all communities. As a rule of thumb, the larger the community the more active in the shoulder season and summer months which is considered low season. When you list or when you buy is a double-edged sword. There are pros and cons both ways for buyers and sellers.
Effect Sellers: Many sellers wait until October or later to list as more buyers will be actively looking for a home. It’s also when home inventory increases, so there is more seller competition. If you are priced right, you will sell it at any time of the year.
Effect Buyers: When you buy in the shoulder seasons or summer you have less homes to choose from but also less buyer competition. Find your dream home and make an offer. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
So, which is better, buying or selling low, mid or high season? In my opinion, everyone’s needs are different. When the time is right you will know. Talk to your real estate agent. They can help you decide what’s right for you.
When are the best buyer deals? That question is very subjective. If a home is priced right, it can go under contract very quickly at full asking price or higher at any time of the year. Homes that are on the market for some time often have price drops and the sellers are more open to negotiation. Higher-priced homes usually take longer to sell as there is less of a buyer pool.
The best deals can be towards the end of the season, as sellers start to get anxious if their house hasn’t sold by the end of April. You may see significant price drops from homes priced too high. Food for thought, by waiting did you miss out on your dream home that got away? My famous saying, “You will know when you find the right house and if you don’t get it, It’s not the right one. There will always be another house”.
