Here’s a bit about a few different areas of the Valley, our current market conditions, and financing options for Canadian home buyers.

1. A Guide to Buying Real Estate in
Arizona
For Canadian Home Buyers
Courtesy of
The Halle Group with Keller Williams
Realty

2. Welcome to Arizona!
Thinking about buying real estate in Arizona but not
sure where to start?
Here’s a bit about a few different areas of the
Valley, our current market conditions, and financing
options for Canadian buyers.
Visit our home search tool to search available
homes. This site is updated daily.
Search available listings: http://x.co/bPYn

3. Scottsdale
• Scottsdale is bordered by Phoenix to the west
and the McDowell Mountains on the east.
• Scottsdale is annually rated among the nation’s
most desirable communities to live in, visit and
do business in. And, we have some fantastic golf
courses!
• Scottsdale’s vibrant downtown is considered the
finest urban center in Arizona. It is home to more
than 90 restaurants, 320 retail shops, and more
than 80 art galleries.

4. Paradise Valley
• The Town of Paradise Valley is conveniently
located between the City of Scottsdale to the east
and the City of Phoenix to the west.
• PV is mostly a residential community and
residents enjoy and appreciate the peaceful and
quiet surroundings, the dark nighttime sky and
the unobstructed views of the Phoenix Mountain
Preserve, Camelback Mountain, Mummy
Mountain and the Indian Bend Wash.
• PV is the home of 9 exquisite resorts.

5. Tempe
• Tempe is conveniently located to the east of
Phoenix with easy access to the 101, 10, 60,
and 202 freeways and minutes from Sky
Harbor Airport.
• Downtown Tempe offers more than 175
restaurants, nightclubs and retail shops.
• Tempe is home to Arizona State University and
Tempe Town Lake.

6. Ahwatukee (Phoenix)
• Ahwatukee ("Ahwatukee Foothills Village") is
an "L"-shaped bedroom community bordered
on the north by South Mountain Park.
• Although annexed by the City of Phoenix,
Arizona from 1978 to 1987, many of its
residents consider it a separate city.
• Ahwatukee has been recognized by Money
Magazine as one of America's "Best Places to
Live".

7. Chandler
• From its founding, Chandler has been a community
built on innovation and community. With the addition
of nearly 100,000 young, educated and affluent citizens
in the last 10 years, Chandler is an exciting place to live
and work.
• Downtown Chandler has a little something
for everyone, whether you're looking for a chic party
venue, checking out the best in local brew and wine,
shopping for the latest one-of-a-kind fashion
accessory, or just want to enjoy lunch with friends.

8. Gilbert
• Gilbert is a young, affluent community in the East
Valley. Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert is a
relatively new community that has seen tremendous
growth during the past two decades.
• The community’s dense volume of educated residents
boasts one of the highest concentrations of graduate
and professional degrees among competing western
U.S. cities, with 34.13% of residents holding a
bachelor’s degree or higher, outpacing the national
median by 38.5%. In addition, the median income of
Gilbert’s residents is one of the highest within Arizona
at $86,077.

9. Mesa
• Getting to Mesa has never been easier with the launch of seasonal service from
WestJet to Phoenix from Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria, BC. WestJet continues
to offer daily non-stop service from Calgary, AB. Mix in US Airways' non-stop
service to Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto - and Air Canada's non-stop service to
Toronto and you have incredible access anytime. For folks seeking value - a hop
offer the border to Bellingham, WA (50 miles from Vancouver) will get you on
Allegiant - who say that up to 70% of their customer base comes from the
Vancouver region for this flight. With non-stop service also offered in Great Falls,
MT and Grand Forks & Fargo, ND - Allegiant is pulling incredible numbers out of
Alberta and Manitoba, too.
• We have a saying in Mesa: Same Sun, Less Burn. Mesa offers our seasonal visitors
value, value, and yes, more value. For winter guests staying a month or longer, our
active living RV parks are a popular alternative for a trek down south. And, these
days more and more Canadians are picking up a vacation home which makes a
winter pilgrimage that more possible. Staying in Mesa during Arizona's high season
will save you enough budget to spend on premier golf, more attractions and day
trips to explore our stunning landscapes and hidden desert gems.

10. San Tan Valley
• June 23, 2009, an unincorporated area in Northeastern
Pinal County became known as San Tan Valley,
Arizona’s newest community.
• Sky Harbor International Airport is located 40 miles
northwest of San Tan Valley and is served by 21
airlines. http://www.phxskyharbor.com/ Phoenix-
Mesa Gateway Airport is located 11 miles northwest of
San Tan Valley and is served by Allegiant Air.
http://www.phxmesagateway.org/

11. Age Restricted Communities
AZ has some great Age Restricted Communities.
You have to be at least 55 (typically your spouse can
be a little younger) in most of these communities to
become a resident and these communities usually
offer great amenities such as: a golf course,
community pools and spas, sport courts, games,
crafts, entertainment, and more.
Contact katie@katiehalle.com for a free list of all of
the age restricted communities that the area has to
offer.

12. Cash Flow with Seasonal Rentals
• Some Canadian home buyers are renting their
homes out as vacation rentals while they are
not visiting AZ.
• Some are getting more than $1000 per week
for their vacation rental while still having the
ability to schedule their own vacation time in
as they wish.
• Contact katie@katiehalle.com for rental rates
in your favorite Arizona community.

13. Market Stats
• According to The Cromford Report (http://cromfordreport.com/)
and I quote… “September 5, 2011 is currently our candidate for the
lowest monthly average sale price and September 15, 2011 saw the
lowest monthly average sales $/SF. Since September 15 all readings
have been higher for both these measures.”
• ARMLS (our local MLS system) reports that we are currently at a
3.36 months inventory (based on numbers in December 2011). In
December of 2010, we were at 5.44 months inventory. What do
those numbers mean? The rule of thumb is that anything under 4
months inventory here in the Valley is considered a “sellers”
market. Meaning, inventory is low therefore demand is high at the
moment. If you are going to buy, now is the time. We are starting
to see an increase (although it’s slight) in home prices.
• For more info on market conditions visit our blog:
http://katiehalle.com/

14. Financing
Lender Ben Allred with Waterston Mortgage Corp (480.635.3084 ) is currently offering this program for
Canadian home buyers:
• Borrower is not required to have a social security number
• No Fico is required. We will accept foreign credit reports to demonstrate credit worthiness or
satisfactory alternate credit, from country of origin
• Max 50% LTV
• Second Homes
• Interest Only is available
• Income documentation is required
• Seasoned assets in a known verifiable financial institution required
• Borrower must apply for a Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Valid passport and second form of ID is required
• Loan amounts from $300,000 to $5,000,000. We will consider loan amounts over 5 Mil on a case by
case basis
• *Specializing in Jumbo ARMS
• *Portfolio Lender
• *Simple process and quick turn-around