Orovalley Homeowner Magazine - Sarah J Sowders 03 - REPRINT
I hope that 2024 finds you healthier, wealthier and happier than ever before.
As your trusted source for everything real estate, I am excited to introduce this issue’s REALTOR Spotlight Feature.
We have several real estate related and community articles included in this issue for your reading pleasure. Please enjoy our other articles on commercial real estate and mortgage lending.
Cheers,
Bryan Johnson Publisher/CEO
Recently Closed Transactions
11051 E. Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ $1,179000
897 W. Placita Luna Nueva Oro Valley, AZ $1,075,000
2236 E. 8th Street Tucson, AZ $740,000
5341 W. Calico Cactus Ct. Marana, AZ $540,000
12580 N. New Reflection Dr. Marana, AZ $530,000
5307 W. Arid Canyon Dr. Marana, AZ $500,000
12291 N. Kylene Canyon Oro Valley, AZ $415,000
12498 N. Reeves Pl Marana, AZ $399,990
10317 W. Zimmerman Marana, AZ $363,830 12462 W. Lilliston Way Marana, AZ $354,000
Sarah J. Sowders
REALTOR® SRES® ABR® 520-305-6974 sarah.sowders@russlyon.com Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty 3450 E. Sunrise Drive, Suite 150, Tucson, AZ 85718 Sarah Sowders - Your Luxury Real Estate Expert (sarahsowdersrealtor.com)
Wonderful, above and beyond.
Sarah was wonderful to work with. Her top-notch knowledge and professionalism made our first time home buying process very comfortable and assuring. She went above and beyond and made the experience very easy and quick for both me and my husband. We are very pleased with our new home and couldn’t be happier. Thank you Sarah! To new beginnings! ~Andrea C.
Outstanding Agent - Sarah Sowders
Sarah Sowders is an excellent agent. She is caring, efficient and knowledgeable. She does her research, knows the market locally and nationally. She gave us excellent advice on pricing, preparing the house for market, and listing the house. She has a strong network of resources to assist with downsizing. Sarah is easy to work with, offering encouragement, when moving seems impossible , to physical labor to improve staging. The online tools at her disposal are up to date and easy to use. She staged the house beautifully. Sarah Sowders is a truly remarkable person and agent. She is at the top of my list as an agent and we have used many agents over the years. We recommend her without reservation and she would be our first call for a realtor in the future. ~James & Edrice I.
Really got us the best deal ever!
Sarah knew that we needed time to find the house of our dreams. She was able to work with our buyer to get us that time. We were able to get our full asking price and two months before we needed to move. She then took us to see great houses in several parts of town. She was knowledgeable about the area and what we should expect. Once we found our dream house she took care of everything and it went off without a hitch! ~Anita H.
Very knowledgeable in the real estate profession.
Sarah is a very professional no pressure sales person. Listened to our requests and pulled through on exactly what we wanted in our AZ home. She’s a hard worker & kept in contact with us throughout the purchase. Would definitely recommend Sarah to anyone looking to purchase a home. ~Jay & Arlene K.
“But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” -
John 3:21
Are you on FIRE for the TRUTH ?
You know what to say - now you need to say it. PMG Studios will help.
PMG Studios has assembled one of the most cutting-edge collections of cameras, recording equipment, and live stream technology in all of Arizona. Located in peaceful Oro Valley, we offer a broad array of production services for individuals, nonprofits, and businesses.
On Location Photography & Video
We come to you! Capture a special family photo session in your favorite park or record an aging grandparent’s memoirs to keep forever. Companies can broadcast their annual gala or launch a content marketing channel with a new podcast. Let us do the traveling so you can focus on the moment and the mission.
State-of-the-Art Studio
The lights and cameras are ready – you bring the action! Our state-of-the-art studio offers a customizable three-camera set, a live TV interview booth, and a padded radio room for audioonly recording. Hourly rental options are designed to fit your schedule and your budget.
Special Video Projects
Great ideas need a great team and great equipment behind them. Create that documentary! Launch that educational video series! Start that new podcast! Truth-telling is a calling, and now is the time to turn your calling into a reality. Let us help you make it happen.
Top Ten Ways to Prepare for Retirement
Saving for retirement. What works best? If you said, “winning the lottery” or “inheriting money,” you’re missing the big picture. While it might be fun to dream, the only sure way to have enough money to live comfortably throughout your retirement is to have a plan and follow it through. No matter what your income level, you can maximize your retirement nest egg by following a few simple principles.
Have an emergency fund.
1 3 4
Life is full of surprises – some good and some not-so-good. Because you know that an unexpected expense will pop up, having a fund established to pay for it will help you avoid the temptation to tap your retirement accounts—a real setback on your future.
Adjust your spending habits so you can invest more in your future.
Pay close attention to your cash flow – and carefully consider those “small treats” you give yourself throughout the month. Investing those dollars instead can really add up.
This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It assumes amounts are invested monthly, an average annual total return of 6%, and monthly compounding. It does not represent the result of any particular investment. Your results will be different. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. If you can trim spending by:
Develop an investment strategy and stick with it.
No matter what the economy, investing is important for your future financial security. Develop an investment strategy that’s appropriate for you—one based on your tolerance for market risk and the amount of time before you need the money.
No matter which investment strategy you choose, diversify your investments. Spreading your investments among numerous securities may help reduce your risk. If one security loses value, the others in your portfolio may cushion the loss.*
Once you have an investment strategy, stick with it. You probably chose it based on logic; don’t make changes to it based on emotion.
Pay yourself first.
If you’re like many, you pay your bills first, enjoy some spending money, and promise to fund your retirement if anything’s left over. With the “pay yourself first” principle, you fund your retirement first, pay your bills next, and then spend a little on yourself with what’s left.
Here’s how to make it easy: Have your retirement contributions automatically deferred into an account. You don’t have to think about whether you can afford to make a contribution. You don’t have to go to the trouble of writing a check or transferring funds. And you don’t have to make investment decisions every time because your contributions are automatically invested according to your instructions.
Save
as much as you can as soon
as you can.
When retirement is a long way off, it may be hard to put money toward it if there are bills to pay, kids’ college expenses to plan for, and a mortgage to pay off. But by the time you’re ready to save for retirement, you may not have enough time to accumulate the money you’ll need. By waiting, you’ll miss out on years of contributions and potential compounded growth. A better strategy is to prioritize your financial goals and design a plan to meet them. But keep in mind that you’ll probably need a lot more to fund a comfortable retirement than you will for any other items in your life.
Don’t dip into your retirement savings.
Dipping into your retirement nest egg can move you backwards. You’ll lose principal and interest, and you may lose tax benefits and/or have to pay a withdrawal penalty.
Job Change – Don’t be tempted to cash out your 401(k) if you change jobs. Either leave the money where it is, move it to your new employer (if allowed) or roll it into an IRA.
Loans – Not only do you lose potential tax-deferred growth and compounding, retirement account loans have other consequences. Retirement loan repayments aren’t pretax. You’ll pay income taxes on the earnings you use to repay the loan and then pay taxes again in the year you receive taxable distributions of the repaid amount from your account.
Learn basic investment principles.
Some things never change: The prices of stocks and bonds will rise on some days and fall on others, and inflation will always be around. Understanding basic investment principles about the power of compounding, asset allocation and diversification,* risk versus return, etc. can help you better manage your retirement investments.
Plan to live a long time.
Statistically, you’ll probably live at least 20 years in retirement, although with medical advances, you could live much longer. That can impact your retirement.
Don’t simply plan to work longer since 49% of surveyed retirees retired sooner than planned.** That being the case, investing as much as you possibly can and investing it wisely are good strategies.
Get help from a financial expert.
A COUNTRY Trust Bank® Financial Advisor can build a financial plan that helps you reach your retirement goals. They’ll build a step-by-step plan that will give you peace of mind knowing you’re on the way to reaching your retirement goals.
Ask questions.
While these tips are meant to point you in the right direction, we know that retirement planning and investing aren’t easy for most people. Be sure to ask questions and make sure you understand the answers before you make any decisions about this important aspect of your financial security.
Thank you for your service
Tiffany Denlinger is a Navy veteran with vast experience in all aspects of the VA loan. She also has extensive experience with all other loan types and products, including Conventional, FHA, USDA and down-payment assistance programs – but the VA loan is near and dear to her heart. Tiffany is very involved in the community, from volunteer work to sponsoring veteran and youth-based non-profit organizations. In addition, she is an avid “foodie” and can provide many recommendations on amazing local restaurants and area activities.
loans in the following states: AZ, CA, WA
What makes VA home loans so great?
A VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) loan is a mortgage option available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and certain surviving spouses. Here are some benefits of using a VA loan:
No Down Payment (in most cases): One of the most significant advantages of a VA loan is that eligible borrowers can finance the entire purchase price of a home without having to make a down payment. This can be a substantial financial benefit, as traditional loans often require a down payment of 5% to 20% of the home’s purchase price.
2. Lower Interest Rates: VA loans often have competitive interest rates compared to conventional mortgages. The VA guarantees a portion of the loan, which reduces the risk for lenders and may result in lower interest rates for borrowers.
3. No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Since the VA guarantees a portion of the loan, borrowers typically do not need to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is a monthly premium required for conventional loans with less than a 20% down payment. This can result in significant cost savings over the life of the loan.
4. Flexible Credit Requirements: VA loans tend to be more flexible with credit score requirements compared to conventional loans.
5. Assistance in Case of Financial Hardship: The VA provides support to borrowers facing financial difficulties. They have programs to help veterans avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.
6. Limit on Closing Costs: The VA limits the amount and types of closing costs that veterans can be charged, which can help reduce the upfront expenses associated with buying a home.
7. Reuse of Entitlement: In most cases, it’s possible for veterans to reuse their VA loan benefit for subsequent home purchases. This flexibility can be advantageous for those who move frequently or want to invest in real estate.
8. Streamlined Refinancing Options: The VA offers streamlined refinancing programs, such as the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), which allows veterans to refinance their existing VA loan to a lower interest rate with minimal paperwork and no appraisal.
9. No Prepayment Penalties: Borrowers can pay off a VA loan early without incurring prepayment penalties, allowing them to save on interest by making extra payments or refinancing.
10. No Loan Limits: As of January 2022, there are no official maximum loan limits for VA loans. This increases the purchasing power and allows for no down payment or a minimal down payment in comparison to other loan options.
11. VA Appraisal: The VA requires a home appraisal by a VA-assigned appraiser to ensure that the property meets the VA’s minimum property requirements. This helps protect veterans from purchasing a property with significant defects.
It’s important to note that while VA loans offer numerous benefits - eligibility criteria and loan limits apply.
An insurance quote, review or a referral will get you $10 Visa Gift Card
We’re here to help protect families and help them prepare for the future. And we want to give you a little something for your time. Here’s all you need to know:
• Contact us for a home insurance quote or review
•Receive $10 Visa Gift Card
•This promotion ends 12/31/2024, so contact us today!
5 Questions to Ask When Selecting a Real Estate Specialist
When it comes to buying or selling your home over the age of 50 or supporting your senior parents through a move finding a real estate professional who is both qualified and understands your unique needs is essential These questions will help you choose the right specialist
1. WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WITH SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES?
Understanding the specific needs and challenges of senior clients is crucial Have they helped clients downsize, relocate to retirement communities, or navigate the emotional aspects of selling a longtime family home?
2. WHAT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT DO YOU PROVIDE?
A good real estate specialist should offer more than just buying and selling services Ask about the additional resources they can provide, such as connections to senior moving services, legal and financial advisors, or professionals who can assist with estate sales.
3. HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS?
Ask about their preferred methods of communication and how often they will update you on the progress Ensure they are comfortable using communication methods that work best for you or your senior family members, whether it’s phone calls, emails, in-person meetings, or even written letters
4. WHAT DO YOUR PAST CLIENTS SAY ABOUT YOU?
Request testimonials or references from past clients, especially those who are seniors Positive feedback from previous clients can give you confidence in the agent’s ability to handle your needs.
5. ARE YOU A SENIORS REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST® (SRES®)?
An SRES® designation means the agent has completed specialized training to better serve senior clients This includes understanding the unique financial and emotional challenges faced by their clients over age 50 Choosing an SRES® ensures you’re working with a professional who has the expertise and dedication to meet your specific needs.
