Realty Reality Blog

Recently, I had a client who lives in Canada buy a house from me without ever touching a pen to sign a thing.  Not only does he live in Canada, but he happened to be on a holiday cruise during this time. 

We had put in an offer on a home prior to his vacation but we hadn't heard back from the bank (it was a foreclosure).  Out of the blue I got an email saying he was the winning bid and he needed to have all the bank addendums signed and returned within 24 hours.  Luckily he had access to email on his trip, but no way to print anything out. 

I decided to use "DocuSign", and Electronic Signature program to get the contract executed.  All he had to do was "adopt a signature" and he was able to view and electronically sign and initial the documents right on the computer screen and within seconds, it was back to me to send off to the bank.  

He was very impressed with the ease of the signing and of course with me for being saavy enough to do business that way. 

I'm sharing this story because of a blog post I read from DocuSign  http://www.docusign.com/

 http://www.docusign.com/blog/2009/08/31/want-to-win-a-500-visa-gift-card-share-your-story/

This is such an awesome way to do business... especially when you need it done quickly from afar!

If you're from Arizona, this may not be the best year to buy or sell a home in Arizona.  Between the Mortgage Meltdown (for Buyers) and the Over-saturated Real Estate Market in the Metropolitan Phoenix area (over 50,000 homes for sale!), Arizonans are not anxious to buy or sell unless it's out of necessity.

Different story if you're from Canada and looking to invest in a vacation or retirement home in Arizona.  The Canadian Dollar is strong right now, about par with the American Dollar.. which Canadians haven't seen since 1976!  That, coupled with the Buyers Market that we're experiencing right now, makes this a perfect time for Canadians to buy homes in Arizona! 

Arizona has always been a favorite spot for Canadians from Brittish Columbia and Alberta.  It's in the mid-sixties in January (sometimes warmer!) while the Canadians are in a frozen state back home.  They can come here in the winter, play golf (we have about 200 golf courses in Arizona!), sunbathe by the pool, take a hike, go to the many events that occur in the winter (Phoenix FBR Open, Barrett-Jackson Automobile Show, Fiesta Bowl, Spring Training games for baseball and in 2008, the Super Bowl!)... the list goes on and on! 

This really is a perfect time to buy a home in Arizona.  Even if you're not in a position to come out here as often as you'd like, you can always rent your home out to other Canadians/Winter Visitors when you're not using it.  And, if you're investment minded, that's a great reason to buy additional properties.  There is, and always has been, a huge demand for furnished rentals in the winter (basically November - April).  What a great investment opportunity!  Your Canadian Dollar really WILL go far here!

Colleen Lynch and Sue Hamlet will be heading up the Canadian Marketing team visiting both BC and Alberta to put on Home Buying Seminars for Canadians who are interested in buying property in Arizona.  They will be covering everything from what you need to know about the different areas, to what it takes as a Canadian to make the purchase complete.  The seminar will show Canadians just how easy it is to buy in Arizona, and to assist them in the process of making their dream of owning a home in arizona come true.  The first seminar will be held March 15th, 2008.  Click here to view the invitation  Leave your troubles (and your coats) behind!! 

We love to tell Canadians that HOME IS AZ!!  You can even search our MLS  for FREE by logging into and find your dream home while bundled up in Canada by your computer!

CLA Realty recently has been chosen to provide the brokerage services for an upcoming townhome conversion project located in Mesa, Arizona. It will be called “Brownwood Terrance Townhomes”. There will be 64 units that are currently rented which will be converted into individually owned townhomes. The average price will be $110,000.

Learn more about these Mesa AZ Investment Opportunties or contact me directly for additional information (480) 688-4443.