Jailene's playhouse gives her a second home

  Knock, knock – who’s home? Jailene – whose wish to have her own backyard playhouse, complete with kitchen set and covered porch, was granted this summer to her overwhelming happiness. “Jailene loves to be outside and to play outside whenever she can,” said mom Ana. “She has a kitchen that she plays with on our porch but this is going to be so much better.” “Jailene’s wish – a small playhouse, with windows, doors, chimney, and a front porch complete with flowers – is all done up in Jailene’s favorite color, pink! She and her mother picked out the playhouse from a catalog of options from Enrique’s Little Town playhouses, an Arizona-based, family-owned playhouse builder who finished the construction and installation in only two days. Jailene put in a special request for a mailbox and her letter “J” on the front.  “We hung a sheet on the door so she couldn’t look out for the last two days, but she did try to peak a couple of times when she heard the hammering,” said Ana. Ana and the team from Enrique’s got to see Jailene’s joy when she finally was able to step inside the playhouse for the first time. “I’m going inside, are you coming?” Jailene asked all her visitors on her wish day. She used the shopping cart that was provided as an enhancement to bring her all the new play dishes and the real snacks that were also part of the fun into her new kitchen. She didn’t even seem to mind the tube on her face, required for her treatment for leukemia, or the 115 degree heat of the day, which she ignored to continue her perfect afternoon.  “Knock knock, who’s there,” she said while trying the front door to get her mom and brother inside. “I’ll wash them,” she said while organizing her new plates, bowls, cups and utensils in her new kitchen set.  Ever the good host, she also offered up tea and snacks to her guests. Eventually, the heat got to her family and guests and they tried to get her to take a rest inside before coming back out to her house but she was quick to head for the door of her house before being convinced. “Let’s go inside my house,” she said, opening the door and welcoming everyone in. “It’s a good time to play.”  "I'm going inside, are you coming?" Jailene wish kid ***********************************************************We are on a mission to raise $10,000 for Make-A- Wish Foundation ARIZONA, so for every house we sell this year we are donating a portion of our income to them. As you know Make-A-Wish Foundation does create life changing wishes for Arizona children with critical illnesses. The children we serve are fighting for their lives, and their families are doing everything that they can to help them in their battles. Last year they served thousands of children around Arizona. Chances are your family or someone you know has benefitted from the great work they do. Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to our real estate sales team? Not only will they benefit from our award- winning real estate service, a very worthy cause will benefit as well. I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family member.You can go to our website and enter their contact info online or forward the link to who you know considering a move. Of course you can always call me direct as well. Thank you so much for the referral!. "I Make Dreams A Reality In Realty"

Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List

Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like your W-2, tax returns, credit score, and bank statements, to figure out what they’re willing to loan you. After that process, you’ll get a pre-approval letter to show what you can borrow. Here are two reasons why this is essential in today’s market. Pre-Approval Helps You Know Your Numbers While home affordability is finally starting to show signs of improving, it’s still tight. So, it’s a good idea to talk to a lender about your loan options and how today’s changing mortgage rates will impact your monthly payment. The pre-approval process is the perfect time for that. In addition to determining the maximum amount you can borrow, pre-approval also helps you understand this piece of the puzzle. As Investopedia says: “Consulting with a lender and obtaining a pre-approval letter allows you to discuss loan options and budgeting with the lender; this step can clarify your total house-hunting budget and the monthly mortgage payment you can afford.” You should use this information to tailor your home search to what you’re actually comfortable with budget-wise. Since mortgage rates have inched down some lately, you may find you’re able to afford a bit more than you’d expect for your monthly payment, but you still want to avoid overextending. As CNET explains: “In many cases, a lender may preapprove you for more than you need to spend on a home. And while it can be tempting to look at houses outside your budget, it won’t help you in the long run. Before you start touring homes, figure out how much you can realistically afford and stick to your budget.” Pre-Approval Makes Your Offer More Appealing And once you do find a home you want in your budget, pre-approval has another big perk. It not only makes your offer stronger, it also shows sellers you’ve already undergone a credit and financial check. When a seller sees you as a serious buyer, they may be more attracted to your offer because it seems more likely to go through. As Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says: “Preapproval carries more weight because it means lenders have actually done more than a cursory review of your credit and your finances, but have instead reviewed your pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements. A preapproval means you’ve cleared the hurdles necessary to be approved for a mortgage up to a certain dollar amount.” As mortgage rates trend down, more buyers are going to be ready to jump back into the market. And while demand is still limited right now, there’s the potential for competition to pick back up, especially in hot markets. So, why not stack the deck in your favor and make sure you’re putting yourself in the best position possible when you find a home you love? Bottom Line If you’re planning on buying a home, don’t forget to get pre-approved early in the process. It can help you get a more in-depth understanding of what you can borrow and shows sellers you mean business.

Early Housing Market Forecasts for 2025

Thinking about moving in 2025? Here’s what experts say you can expect. Mortgage rates are projected to come down. More homes are expected to sell. And prices are forecast to go up. Let's connect to talk about what this means for your plans to move.