Anthem Az Home Buyer FAQ

Why are there homes for sale that look the same but have such a big variance in price?

Homes in Anthem with views from the back yard are in demand and could be significantly more expensive than homes with a block wall and no view. But most likely what you are seeing is the difference in pricing between bank-owned or short sale homes and homes that a homeowner wants to sell without losing too much equity.

I found a home I liked but it is a short sale. What does that mean for me?

Short sales occur when a owner is selling a home for less than the mortgage, and requires lender approval. Unfortunately, lenders are not staffing to handle the number of short sales they receive for review and subsequently they take 3 months or more to get lender approval. All the buyer can do is wait. Another uncertainty will be IF the bank approves the short sale. There are some things that a buyer can do to make sure your short sale is approved, including offering a price that can be supported by the recent homes that have sold. I recommend that buyers interested in purchasing a home in Anthem call me for a first showing WELL IN ADVANCE of planning a move here. Buyers looking for a winter place should CALL ME THE SUMMER BEFORE.

Is water an issue for the Anthem, AZ community?

Before the building began, Del Webb (the original developer of the Anthem community) had to assure a 100 year water supply. A private company handles the water supply and treatment for all of Anthem east of I-17. Generally, water is more expensive in those areas covered by the private water company than they are on the west side of I-17, which is subsidized by the city of Phoenix.

Will I see snakes and scorpions in Anthem?

You might. Anthem is nestled between two mountains, with plenty of desert washes that run through the community. Most snakes have cleared out of the areas near homes but snakes do live in washes and in the desert areas on Daisy Mountain. That said, most people have lived in Anthem for years without seeing a snake. Scorpions can be found in most areas of Phoenix, but they seem to like golf courses and are of course in the desert areas. On the plus side, you’ll see plenty of rabbits around the neighborhood too.

I’m looking for a home without alot of maintenance. Can I find that in Anthem?

Yes! Just because 98% of Anthem real estate are homes, that doesn’t mean that Anthem isn’t good for those looking for low maintenance. One of the biggest surprises out-of-staters have when looking at Anthem real estate is lack of grass. We’re all trying to do our part to conserve water here, so you’ll see many Anthem homes without grass, at least in the front yard (ok, so many of us haven’t given up our pools though). The second surprise is the lack of yard space. Many homes are set on less than 7000 square feet, though there are homes on much larger lots – about 10,000 square feet. No grass and smaller lots mean LESS MAINTENANCE. Consider this an opportunity to actually enjoy the outdoors rather than working on it. Meanwhile, Parkside residents can enjoy neighborhood parks and Anthem Country Club residents enjoy the golf course, where the grass is watered and mowed by someone else.

Next Article: Getting Prequalified