When Keith and Cheryl Krone started selling real estate in the late 1980’s, I-10 ended at Dysart. The closest grocery shopping was a Smitty’s Grocery Store at 83rd and Indian School. Litchfield Road was a palm lined two lane road with no commercial businesses.

In 1987 Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear, AZ. was a mere vision. The road was not paved; the potting soil to plant all the palm trees was piled almost as high as the Estrella Mountains.

Mortgage interest rates were 18-19%. The Savings and Loan industry collapsed causing many people to lose their homes. Remember the RTC?

Buckeye, Arizona was just a sleepy rural farm town with no commercial business except maybe a feed store or two.

Avondale, Arizona housing gem was Garden Lakes. It wasn’t until 1995 that Avondale began to hire and train personnel to be paramedics. By 1992 the Avondale Fire Department consisted of only five fire-fighters-paramedics on staff.

Litchfield Park, Arizona encompassed from Litchfield Rd to Dysart; and Indian School to Camelback. It was (and perhaps still is) “The Place” to live. Growth was really looked down on by the original Litchfield Park residents.

Loop 101 was non-existent. Travel from South to North was all surface streets and to get from Litchfield Park, AZ to Peoria or Glendale was a tedious drive.

There were no cell phones, no email, no internet, and very few faxes. Realtors were issued a book twice a month (which looked like a phone book). The only property pictures were one small thumb-nail, black and white photo. And Video’s of homes for sale, forget it!!!

We are very proud to have been a part of the explosive growth in the Southwest Valley; and cherish our years here watching Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale, and Litchfield Park expand and grow.

Here is your first look at Principal Reduction Assistance in the form of the Permanent Mortgage Modification or HARP 2.0 Refinance. This video is brought to you by Keith Krone of Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners and Chris Papaccio & Bill Krone, Mortgage Bankers with Starboard Financial -The Right Way-. For more information please email Documents@kroneteam.com.

Currently in Maricopa County there are 10,834 available homes for sale. Buying a home should be a thrilling adventure and exciting opportunity. In today’s real estate market, you need to work with a real estate professional you can trust. I am dedicated to providing the absolute finest service and expertise possible for my clients. One of the reasons that many clients not only turn to me for the home buying needs, but also recommend my services to their family and friends, as I have a proven record that purchasing a home does not have to be difficult or frustrating. My returning clients choose to utilize my service and knowledge, because they know exactly what they can expect each and every time.

I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss the market and your situation to determine how best I can be of service to you. Give me a call at 602-320-4167.

It’s that time of year again; holiday season is once again upon us.

I took time out from selling Real Estate to go to Verrado in the West Valley to join in the fun as the neighborhood came alive with the start of Christmas and hometown holidays celebrations.

The streets are lined with twinkly lights, reindeers and festive ornaments.

Verrado held their 9^th Annual Tree Lighting celebration on Saturday December 1^st.  Many people gathered to enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, to play in the real snow and listen to school children sing carols and perform for their friends and families.

Santa Claus made a special visit and you could have a photograph taken to remember the evening.

The local grocery store and restaurants were available for drinks and food as well as vender stalls selling holiday treats.

It was a magical evening where the friends and neighbors mingled until after 9:00pm enjoying their time together.

Cheers,

Sharon

As we have all said, where has the time gone? It was in 1983 that Keith and Cheryl started their real estate careers and it has been an amazing journey.
We have been truly blessed by the clients we have had the privilege to work with throughout our career. Many have turned into lifetime friendships. We have received many thank you cards throughout the years, but one card we hold dear was a card from a client who had purchased a home from us in 1986. In part, the card said, “It was 21 years ago this month (May, 1986) that two of the neatest people in the real estate business in Arizona sold us our dream second home. We couldn’t pass up this opportunity to thank you once again for 21 years of fun-filled, memorable hours of enjoyments. Thanks again so much!”..…
We’ve certainly seen many markets come and go throughout the years. Remember the interest rates at 19%? Remember the Savings and Loan crisis? Remember the real estate boom in the early 2000’s and the real estate crash which followed a few years later?
We have had to make many adjustments throughout the years, but the one thing we have never compromised; that’s our commitment to serving our clients with honesty and integrity.
Thank you all who have worked with us in the past and referred your family and friends to us. We feel so blessed!
From The Krone Team to your family, wishing you a fantastic 2013.

By: Christopher A. Combs, Esq.

Any forgiveness of debt is generally taxable income. In 2007 during the height of the housing crisis the Mortgage Debt Relief Act was passed. Under this Act any debt forgiveness after foreclosure or a short sale by a mortgage lender on a loan used to purchase a primary residence, or to make improvements to a primary residence, is not taxable income. This Act is now scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012.

The Act had originally been scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010, but was extended for two years until 2012 because the housing crisis still existed. Although the housing market today is stronger, the housing market is still not healthy.

The Senate Finance Committee with bipartisan support has now approved a bill to extend the Act for one year until December 31, 2013. The cost of this one-year extension will be $1.3 billion dollars.

After the election the Senate is expected to approve the one-year extension, but there is significant concern that, due to the $1.3 billion dollar cost and the reluctance to “bail out” homeowners who overextended themselves in their home purchases, the House of Representatives may not agree to the one-year extension.

The website http://www.govtrack.us/ is available to track the potential passage of this bill in Congress.