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Leanne Smith
The Grit and Gratitude Agent Who Goes the Extra Miles as Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends
Cell: 219.508.2859
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Real Estate Broker/Owner
Corrine "KoKo" Taylor
3615 Neptune Way Golden Valley, AZ 86413
Cell: 928-530-4353
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Golden Valley, AZ Real Estate News

By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
The other day I read this quote:"A picture is a poem without words."Quintus CornificiusFor many who may be somewhat older, we learned of poems in our earlier educational years. As a refresher, one definition of a poem is per Collins Dictionary:A composition in verse, usually characterized by concentrated and heightened language in which words are chosen for their sound and suggestive power as well as for their sense, and using such techniques as metre, rhyme, and alliteration.Over the years I have several favorite poems. Now taking the words of Cornificius, I remember some picture or photographs stirring my memory of  my favorite poems.My favorite poem is still by Robert Frost The Road Not Taken. The backyard of our home in Indiana bordered a forest and the family farm in NW WI had fore...
Comments 11
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Often professional real estate agents request client reviews on Zillow, Facebook, brokerage websites, and sometimes those requests are granted.  Imagine my surprise when I received this client review on Zillow by B.Lee "I recently worked with Leanne to sell a difficult piece of land with a challenging access road, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Leanne's communication was always timely and clear. She promptly notified me of all offers and prepared counteroffers efficiently. Her advice throughout the process was invaluable. Leanne truly went the extra mile, taking excellent photos of the land and even ensuring my property, which didn't have a formal address, was listed on Zillow. She is a true professional and I highly recommend her services." My broker, Elise Harron, sent...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Golden Valley, AZ is nestled between three mountain ranges. There is the Hualapai Mountains to the East, the Black Mountains to the West and the Cerbat Mountains/Cliffs to the South. With peaks , plateaus, unusual buttes to rounded ridges, these mountains make for incredible sunrises and sunsets.As Golden Valley, AZ is considered high desert, the temperatures encourage many snow birds to winter here.  Additionally, in recent years there seems to be more individuals living full time in travel trailers and recreational vehicles.Maybe that is why vacant land properties here in Golden Valley, AZ and elsewhere in Mohave County, AZ are becoming more popular.What I hear potential buyers want is to leave the busy, crowded, noisy cities for a slower, less crowded, more peaceful life if not just ...
Comments 10
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
In rural areas where there are washes, flood plains, easements, water allocations, poor road access, etc., selling vacant land is not easy.  Patience is required as well as a seller who understands these issues.Recently I sold this 2.35 acre parcel north of Highway 68 in Golden Valley, AZ. The seller is happy because he tried to sell it himself and had no offers.Working with a professional real estate agent who is also a REALTOR® the seller quickly saw more views from the local MLS twice monthly reports. I physically showed this property a couple of times.This property had two very significant hard to sell issues.First, was road access. The road was literally washed out and became a wash as you can see from the featured photo. Four wheel drive was necessary as the wash was quite sandy a...
Comments 1
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Since I truly love selling dirt here in Mohave County and especially Golden Valley, AZ, I have witnessed a lot of vacant land properties where the anxious owners made improvements. These improvements included: Clearing the property Septic installation Well Fencing Electric to the Property Line Rural water to Property Line Water Meter   RV Ports or Vehicle Ports RV Hook Ups RV Pads Power Pole Power Pole with Meter Sheds Pads for Sheds Large Workshops Pads for Workshops Surveying the property Unfortunately, LIFE happens.  Suddenly those plans for that last home, that snow bird recreational property or that future horse ranch have been sidelined.One of my clients bought 5-1 acre lots with power and water in the street. The client’s goal was either building homes on these lots or selling va...
Comments 1
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Today is Christmas Day with children excited by the presents Santa left to cooks busy in the kitchen making Christmas dinner. Being Swedish, Christmas Eve was the celebration with Christmas Day devoted to Church and then a family meal. When my Swedish grandmother visited, we would have a cooked goose and sometimes Lutefisk.Often in the rush of the holidays, we fail to appreciate the peace we have as well as the abundance. For each of us, our peace may be different as well as our abundance.Possibly as I grow older, I have come to appreciate the peace both my husband and I have in spite of the aging aches and pains. As to abundance, for us, we are continually amazed at our lives and how much we have tho' not in material things.When we moved here to Golden Valley, AZ, we learned the true m...
Comments 14
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
As we celebrate our 8th Christmas Eve here in NW AZ, Mohave County, Golden Valley, today is going to be another beautiful day here. My how fast the time flies. The high is predicted to be 68 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a mild wind of 4 MPH. Our weather is a far cry from Valparaiso, IN located in NW IN where the current temperatures are in the 30’s.Even though we no longer have the opportunity for White Christmas, we also don’t have to shovel snow.  Neither one of us minded the cold, but the shoveling or snow blowing of the half foot to foot high plus snow was truly no longer fun.With a hotter than usual summer and no recent precipitation, the mountains still don’t have snow. I am hoping that changes in the next few weeks as snow capped mountains are always beautiful.Today we ar...
Comments 14
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Hope is a word we hear often. I recently came across this quote and had to ponder it. "Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still."Thales of Miletus, Greek philosopherFor me, the Christmas season is the second season of Hope for me. The first season of Hope is spring with the trees and flowers starting to bloom and the celebration of the resurrection. After pondering the above quote and I am still thinking about this quote, I decided to read the wisdom of others regarding hope. "Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hope of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant." Epictetus"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albe...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Sometimes the gratitude in selling vacant land property is not the dollars but rather knowing the successful sale has relieved the seller of stress. In this rural vacant land sale, the seller was elderly and wanted to sell this property to avoid her heirs from having to deal with the property. Thankfully through the combined efforts of the niece who is also a REALTOR®, the seller’s daughter and myself, this property was sold in 31 days.Some of the grit challenges included a flood plain, a septic system that was installed in 1977 (failed septic inspection which I had anticipated), a dirt dam that someone had placed preventing easy access to the property and the original access from Highway 68 had been closed by the AZ Highway Department.  Selling vacant land in these situations requires ...
Comments 8
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
My entire life I have been a dog person. My father professionally showed Boxers in the 1950’s. Later we had rescued dogs from a Dalmatian name Gus to a Mixed Shepard named Moki. Before my marriage I had a Border Collie Mix who I named Fritz.My husband also came from a dog loving family.  His family had a purebred Shepard named Fritz as well.Back in Indiana, our younger son “found” a Siberian with the most gorgeous blue eyes. These dogs are runners and are quite strong. Since we were moving to a very “hot” climate, we found a good home for “Puppy Dog.”When relocating here to the high desert of Mohave County, Golden Valley, AZ we donated to a local rescue organization and selected a six month old mixed Rottweiler/Australian Shepard puppy.  We named him Fritz the Third.Two years ago, we ad...
Comments 10
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Today is truly a day for enjoying a Thanksgiving Feast and Fun with Family and Friends.  For friends here on Active Rain, may today be filled with peace and abundance.  For friends I have yet to meet may you also have a blessed day.And for all of us, let us remember to be grateful for what we have, appreciate the past and look forward to the future with determination and hope to have another year.Thanksgiving Is A Time of GratitudeNow off to the kitchen for my Thanksgiving "feastly" duties, sweet and sour coleslaw, deviled eggs, baked sweet potatoes with walnuts and an apple pie (gluten free).🍗🏡 Thanksgiving without turkey? That’s like house hunting without a great agent! 🙃 Don’t let your dream home or vacant land slip through your fingers—I’m here to help you find the perfect nest to h...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Holidays often remind us of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland running around shouting “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date.” People are scurrying from airports to loading the family vehicle for that long drive to Grandma’s.I remember reading my home church pastor’s homily in which he  shared  his goal to stay calm during this holiday season by not being overburden with the cramped, very full holiday to do list. This year he decided to focus on one day at a time.When reading his message, I remember something I shared with my executive coaching clients and something I must continually tell myself that being: “Focus on what you can control, let go of everything else.”This holiday our son and our granddaughter will stay home in CA as our son must work the day after Thanksgiving. Ye...
Comments 8
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Imagine our surprise when pulling up to our local water haul station here in Golden Valley, AZ and seeing a not so little doggie resting almost right under the water station. This open range cattle probably drank some left over water from another water hauler and decided to take a rest.As we slowly moved forward, the “little doggie” finally decided to get up and join his friends across the road in the empty field.  Well as they say, Mohave County is still the Wild West. One never knows what to expect as in "Move Along Little Doggie" Yee Haw!Leanne M Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent Who Goes the Extra Mile Because Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends.Feature Photo Courtesy of Leanne M SmithAny reproduction of Leanne M Smith’s blog for use by any AI or GAI, distribution or reproduction ...
Comments 5
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
This past weekend, I had a last minute call for a home showing about 4 miles down the road from our home. I explained the new requirement for the Buyer Broker Agreement and the couple agreed. This house in Golden Valley, AZ showed financing to be cash or 1031 exchange. In viewing the online photos I was somewhat confused as to this financing limitation.Fortunately I was able to arrive about 5 minutes early. Upon viewing the roof and seeing exposed wood on the fascia, I understood the reason for the cash or 1031 exchange.As the potential buyers arrived, the wife and I met outside.  We did not tour the home as I shared securing an appraisal on this home would be difficult given the roof and other exterior conditions including considerable exposed wood.  This couple shared they would be fi...
Comments 8
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Yesterday, November 17, 2024, this 9.69 acre parcel in Golden Valley with a power pole and permitted septic went under contract.  For me this is special as the owner is elderly and wanted to have this property sold so that her children would not have to deal with it.This vacant land listing was a challenge as over time the wash which in this instance is also a designated EPA flood plain expanded onto this property. However, this issue was fully disclosed along with the access from Highway 68 is no longer possible as the State of AZ closed that access.With a quick close, this should be an early Christmas present for the seller. I can imagine her smile when she receives the check and knows she no longer needs to worry about this property.#arizonaacreage #realestateagentLeanne M Smith, The...
Comments 8
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Being in sales is a challenge. Real estate sales takes that challenge to a much higher level. Envision an elevator that travels between those levels as your reputation while your character pulls that elevator up or pushes it down.  So how do I know I got both reputation and character?  Possibly these words by Abraham Lincoln may help to differentiate between these two words.“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A little history:Since March of 2017, my husband and I have called Golden Valley, AZ our home.  In December of 2017, I earned my real estate license even though I had never sold real estate before. My nearly five decades of sales experience was in the corporate business to business (B2B) world. I be...
Comments 6
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Soon we will be celebrating our eighth anniversary of living here in NW AZ. Each day I am filled with gratitude for our life here in Golden Valley, Mohave County, AZ.First, I am appreciative of the statement “Silence is deafening.” Moving from a 700-home subdivision outside of Valparaiso, IN to our home here in Golden Valley, AZ which by the way is the only site built house in one square mile, we learned the meaning of “Silence is deafening.”  Without all the ambient noise from living in a crowded subdivision, the quietness at nighttime is only disturbed by the howl of a coyote to the grunt of a open range bull. NOTE: There is one other manufactured home in the same one square mile. Otherwise the few other residents live in travel trailers and RV's.I am grateful for the early morning su...
Comments 6
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Yes, first time home buyers are seeking to purchase their first home while current home sellers are selling to move closer to family. Yet, from my nearly eight (8) years of being a professional real estate agent, my list for those buying homes or even vacant land differs somewhat.The number one reason for moving to Mohave County by my buyers is to be away from congested residential areas. This reason encompasses less crime, less traffic, less noise (peace and quiet are in demand), less government (more freedom), and views of the high desert including 360 mountain views.Also, health is often tied to moving here NW AZ. Many potential buyers want to be away from the cold and snow of other geographic areas. A climate where for nine (9) months of the year the temperatures are comfortable alo...
Comments 8
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
A recent article in Houzeo revealed the NAR Settlement has “spurred” a decline in buyer agent’s compensation. This article referred to data from Redfin as well as a decade long trend in compensation.What the reported data indicates as of July of 2024, residential property sellers are paying to buyer agents an average of 2.55% which is down from 2.62%. Additionally, compensation has increased from $15,124 in January 2024 to $15,377 in July.From Rocket Mortgage as well as other sites, AZ has a median residential property of $426,731.00.  However here in Mohave County of the three cities, the median home price has a definite range: Lake Havasu City, AZ is at $549,900 median home price and is down 1.3% year over year Bullhead City, AZ is $359,900  media home price and is down 5.3% year over...
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By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Today, we hear how real estate agents are making too much money. Yet very few actually know all the behind the scenes activities that happen within a real estate transaction especially for out of area buyers.Professional real estate agents and REALTORS® are the Source of the Source. These state licensed professionals can guide potential sellers and buyers to the various resources to expedite sales of residential property or vacant land parcels.For example, when buying a home in AZ, these professional real estate agents can be the source of the source for: Local Financial Lenders including for vacant land Local Title and Escrow Firms Local Insurance Companies especially for Manufactured Homes Local Vendors for Manufactured Homes, Plumbers, Electricians, etc. Local Inspectors such as Home...
Comments 4
By Leanne Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
Possibly you are thinking about buying real estate either a home or vacant land for a future home?  Given current inventory is still low, these tips may be helpful.Determine Your Bottom LineThis will take some time especially if you are already committed to a residential property or renting. Again, if relocating factor in those moving expenses and setting up new accounts such as utilities, insurance, property taxes, etc. Also determine potential insurance, property taxes, Home Owners Association (HOA) or Property Owner Association (POA) monthly or annual fees as well as future maintenance costs. By taking this action, you may avoid falling in love with a property above your budget.Ask a Couple of Family Members or Friends for a ReferralBy talking to family members or friends, you may re...
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