Phoenix Valley in Seller’s Market Favorable Market Conditions Currently, the Phoenix Valley is in a seller’s market. Available inventory is decreasing, while closings and pending sales are increasing. Additionally, the recent bank failures will tighten commercial lending guidelines, which will put a squeeze on the smaller, independent builders for the near term, and may be an opportunity for the publicly traded builders to increase market share. The current inventory of single family detached properties in MLS (which includes Maricopa and Northern Pinal Counties) is 9,751, a decrease ..read more

What is a 3-2-1 Interest Rate Buy Down? With interest rates rising and then bouncing around like a yoyo, sellers and lenders have pulled an old tool out of the tool kit to help with affordability, but it’s not for the feint of heart. So, how does a 3-2-1 interest rate buy down work, and is it a successful tool that can be used when purchasing your next home? The success of a 3-2-1 interest rate buy down hinges on the premise rates will decrease again, in the next three years. The 3-2-1 interest rate buy down is typically paid by the seller, as an incentive to encourage an interested buyer ..read more

Photo Credit: TripAdvisorLACK OF WATER IN MARICOPA COUNTY Over the past month, the news cycle has been focused on the lack of water in Rio Verde, an unincorporated area of Maricopa County, northeast of Scottsdale. This area consists of parcels no smaller than an acre and is mainly horse property. There has never been a municipal water source there, however many of the properties have wells, or a shared well. Some homes in Rio Verde were built on parcels that do not have a well, and those homes have been relying on water that, up until now, has been trucked in from the City of Sc ..read more

Here at The Cusick Group, we are excited that our team is continually growing, and we have a new member of our crew that we can’t wait to introduce you to! We are delighted to welcome our new Executive Administrative Assistant, Gianna LaBrocca. About Gianna Gianna is originally from New York, and lived many years in St. Paul, MN prior to relocating to the Phoenix metro area six years ago. Gianna comes to us with 27 years of real estate sales, property management, and office management experience. And prior to making the transition to real estate, Gianna was a licensed practical nurse at Minnea ..read more

Do you have a lack of traffic? Do you want more sales? There are less people touring new home sales offices, resulting in less sales. However, there is still a lack of supply and buyers that want a house. Over the past 2 years it was simple: open the doors, people were willing to get on a waiting list, and when called pay whatever they needed to. Today, that is not the case. It takes more than open door. We have stressed our 5 “C’s” and today more than ever Competency is imperative. For example, we were chosen to assist a prominent builder with the sale of their QMI’s and model close outs. Th ..read more

Hello, July! Summer is in full swing, so let’s explore the connection between climate and consistency! This month we’ll be exploring the connection between Arizona’s CLIMATE and the Cusick Groups CONSISTENCY! With 296 days of pure sunshine, and with Phoenix, Arizona rated the #1 sunniest place in the US, we can say without a doubt that our beautiful sunny climate is VERY consistent. Did you know that out of the 30 climate classifications, Arizona has 11 of them, including tundra (permanantly frozen subsoil at Humphrey’s Peak in Flagstaff!)? Who knew? Consistency is key when it comes to any bu ..read more

Wherever you may be considering real estate transactions, the housing market is making a shift. Here’s a look at the latest real estate standings and what you can expect on the horizon! The shift has begun, but rate hikes won’t’ be housing’s Achilles’ heel Courtesy of Jim Dalrymple II ~ Inman News The housing market is on the cusp of an “inflection point” right now. That at least, is the takeaway from multiple recent reports as well as conversations Inman had with industry economists. And it’s an inflection point that will impact prices, supply, demand and the lives of agents and consumers al ..read more

It’s a tiny bit ironic that in our exploration of the Arizona 5 C’s and The Cusick Group 5 C’s that we’ve paired Arizona’s ‘C’ of cattle with The Cusick Group’s ‘C’ of culture. As a native Arizonan, cattle was certainly part of our culture growing up! In fact, my family has operated a cattle ranch and dairy farm in Northern Arizona for four generations. Arizonans have partnered with cattle in several ways. In exchange for being provided food, access to water, a place to roam, healthcare, and shelter, cows have been ridden, some pulled plows, and others carried heavy loads. They are certainly a ..read more

At The Cusick Group, our core foundation is built upon the “5 C’s”: Communication, client centric, competence, culture, and consistency. We have successfully handled many transactions using this model, and we are so grateful for our team, our clients, and the values we hold. Continuing with our 5 C’s campaign, this month’s Cusick “C” is one of, if not the, most important – Competency. And of course, Citrus – one of my personal favorites amongst Arizona’s 5 C’s. That being said, springtime brings great beauty to our desert home, and the smell of orange blossoms wafting through the air is a tim ..read more

Hello, February! Love is in the air.  This month we’ll be exploring the connection between copper and client centricity. Copper is one of the oldest metals in use; and is an essential nutrient vital to the health of all living livings. Have a copper deficiency this Valentine’s Day? Eat dark chocolate – because Copper heals too! In ancient Egypt, copper was used to sterilize wounds and drinking water. And Copper also represents the goddess of love Aphrodite. We love our clients, whether we’re guiding buyers and sellers through unknown and new processes, being empathetic, understanding ..read more