Steffy's Notes

If you live in South Tempe, you may recognize the horse as a symbol of our part of the city. But have you ever wondered what “Corona/South Tempe Character Area 8” actually means?About 10 or 11 years ago, I noticed an announcement in a local Tempe newsletter inviting residents to a meeting about T...

Broker tours continue to evolve, but their purpose remains the same—to help listings gain exposure and gather valuable feedback from fellow REALTORS®. It's interesting to see how broker tours have evolved over the years. Years ago, broker tours meant driving from house to house and networking in ...

It's August 2026 already.Didn't this year seem to fly by?Like many people, I keep my appointments on my phone. But at the beginning of each month, I still enjoy opening a traditional wall calendar and looking at all those blank squares. I still print my annual client calendars because they remind...

Realtor Scott Smolen reminds us these important points when buying a home that has outdated features - the right property may need new flooring, paint, lighting, or cabinet updates. Those changes may be manageable when the home already provides the right location, usable space, natural light, and...

Home Inspector John Martino points out the need to read the whole inspection report. He encourages Buyers to ask him questions, understand recommendations.It's worth reading the blog post and re-reading the home inspection report. Check if you see more in it. Buying a home is one of the largest f...

How to Retire... and Celebrate ItLast week we had one of our wonderful Zoom discussions, this time on the subject of How to Retire... and Celebrate It. Thank you Debe Maxwell, CRS, and George Souto.The conversation began with an interesting question:Can you sell a real estate agent's business?I d...

This blog post is my participation in the Active Rain Challenge about our Vision for the Future of ActiveRain, in which Debe Maxwell, CRS , Lew Corcoran and Patricia Feager invited us to participate this June.Over the years, ActiveRain has evolved, and so have I as a member.One of the reasons I e...

This blog post is a participation in Active Rain's Challenge Women Who Shaped Us, which Carol Williams and Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs. are hosting this month. My Mom was a tremendous positive influence in my life. Looking back, I realize that many of the lessons that guide...

The content of the blog is great, Gwen has created a great visual, too - so you may want to head to her blog to see it. How Do You Figure Profit on Each Closing? (Step-by-Step Guide) A closing is not just a paycheck. It is a business transaction—and every one of them has a cost. If you want contr...

This month we are responding to a challenge by Patricia Feager and Lew Corcoran about writing our appreciation for Active Rain members.I kept thinking about whom to write about - so many great bloggers, so many wonderful ideas, content, friendships.I decided to write my second blog post for this ...