Tips for buying a home in this super hot Arizona real estate market

You're not quite ready to buy. You're just researching homes and prices online.

Then you find a great home online that you might want to make an offer on. You call a Realtor for details on the home. You learn it's already under contract to a buyer. Drat!

A few days later, you find another great home online. You call and again you find out it's under contract.

This is caused by a policy of the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (the metro Phoenix MLS) that requires all Realtor web sites to display homes that are under contract if the seller is accepting back up offers.

... but there is a way around it.

Sign up to get a daily email of "Just Listed" homes that have what you want. Many of the better real estate websites like mine, ArizonaHomesCatalog.com, can do this for you.

These online email alert systems are a great! You can be one of the first to know when a great home hits the market.

Once you are ready to buy, however, you should be working directly with a Realtor. A Realtor who is a member of the local MLS has full access to the MLS data. That's a huge advantage for you in your home search.

In addition, when you are ready to buy and you are working closely with a Realtor, your Realtor may be able to set up a "Just Listed" email alert system for you directly from the MLS. This system is better than any found on Realtor websites. Be aware, however, that it takes your Realtor some work to set up a customized "Just Listed" email system for you.

Finding the right home - one that didn't go under contract yesterday - is a lot of work in this crazy hot Arizona real estate market.

Remember that Realtors provide their services for free to home buyers in most cases.

Once you find a great home, that's just the beginning. Next you have to convince the seller to sell you the home... but that's another story.

Happy househunting!

John L. Wake, 480-596-3851
Realtor, HomeSmart Real Estate
I'm already working hard for you