I hope last weekend's Sand, Water, and RV Expo got you pumped for springtime fun. It's never too early to start planning your next outdoor adventure! But first, Thanksgiving. If you are entertaining out-of-town guests, take them to the Lake Havasu Festival of Lights. Now in its 27th year, the Festival of Lights is a time-honored tradition to ring in the start of the Christmas holiday here in the desert.Lake Havasu Festival of Lights 2022Beginning at dusk on Friday, November 25th, the Old English Village, the London Bridge Resort, the Bridgewater Channel, and even the London Bridge herself shine with twinkling lights. Other cities hold simple tree-lighting ceremonies. Someone steps up, flips a switch, and the lights go on. In Havasu, we do things differently. We hold a swimming competiti... 11/23/2022

Havasu's weather has begun to cool off. For us, that means highs in the upper-60s. It's looking like it will be another beautiful, sunny Thanksgiving. But before you carve that turkey next weekend, make plans to visit the Lake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2022 this weekend.What: Lake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2022 Where: Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 3 & 4 When: Nov 18th (11 am to 5 pm) & Nov 19th (9 am to 5 pm) Admission: $8 per adult, FREE for kids ages 6 and under (cash only)Lake Havasu Sand Water and RV Expo 2022Whether you enjoy racing your Mystic Powerboat across the water, pull skiers behind your Sea Ray, head out offroading in your Wrangler, Bronco, or Forerunner, plan on traversing the desert landscape atop your Honda, Yamaha, or Polaris, or just want to get away for the... 11/16/2022

When purchasing a new Lake Havasu home, it is important to do in-depth research on all facets of the home buying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment in case anything goes wrong. Check out the information on homeowners insurance versus home warranty below to educate yourself on your options.Homeowners Insurance vs Home Warranty: What's the Difference?Homeowners InsuranceHomeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss that are caused by fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, and hail. However, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered. It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person gets injured in your home or on your property. According to L... 11/09/2022

As the cost of pretty much everything continues to rise, home buyers may actually like the way our local real estate market is going. According to October 2022's Lake Havasu Market Report, year-over-year prices went down for the first time in years. Unfortunately, interest rates continued to climb. This put a further crimp on home buyers' budgets. But you should not lose hope if you wish to go from "renter" to "homeowner". It is still an attainable goal.Lake Havasu Market Report for October 2022October 2022 Property SalesOur local MLS reported a total of 142 properties sold in October 2022. That marks a 32.4% decrease from October 2021's 210 sales total. But it breaks the month-to-month downward trajectory we have been experiencing since March of this year. It's also a 20.3% increase fr... 11/02/2022

Here in Lake Havasu City, we love any excuse to play outdoors. When you add a bit of gambling into the mix, it makes things really interesting. In the spring, we have the Desert Storm Poker Run. In September, the Monster Storm Poker Run. But if you still want more, let me guide you to a little thing called the Havasu Side x Side Poker Run. Still in it's infancy, this poker run may give the bigger events a run for their money soon.What: Havasu Side x Side Poker Run 2022 Start/Finish Line: Anderson Toyota (6510 Showplace Ave) When: Saturday, November 5th, 7 am to 10 pm Admission: $100 Contact: Desert Hills Professional Firefighters Association (928) 764-3333Havasu Side x Side Poker Run 2022The DHPFFA hosts its 4th annual Side x Side Poker Run on Saturday, November 5th, 2022. Start off wit... 10/26/2022

After a booming couple of years, the market appears to have shifted lately from a hot seller's market to one more in the buyer's favor. That means that sellers need to shift their thinking to accommodate current real estate trends. My home selling tip this week helps you separate fact from fiction and tells you how to avoid losing out on a sale.Home Selling Tip: Two Truths and a LieTruth #1 - Rising Interest Rates May Hurt a Home SaleHome buyers became used to extremely low interest rates over the past couple of years. That is one of the reasons that the Lake Havasu real estate market remained so hot during the pandemic. But now, interest rates have gone up. In fact, they more than doubled since January 1st of this year. That adds hundreds of dollars to a home buyer's monthly mortgage p... 10/19/2022

You’ve found your dream Lake Havasu home. Now it’s time to cross all your "T"s and dot all your "I"s before it becomes all your own. One of the first items on your closing checklist? The home appraisal. So, what exactly is that?Buyer's Guide to a Home AppraisalThe home appraisal is essentially a value assessment of the physical home and the property it sits on. First, a certified third party conducts the appraisal. Then, the report generated is used to determine whether the home is priced appropriately.During a home appraisal, the appraiser conducts a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the home. He or she factors in a variety of things, including the home’s floor plan functionality, condition, location, school district, fixtures, lot size, and more. They adjust t... 10/12/2022

Looks like the local real estate market now favors the buyer. According to the Lake Havasu Market Report for September 2022, prices fell for the second month in a row. While music to home buyers' ears, increasing mortgage rates still put a crimp in many buyers' budgets.Lake Havasu Market Report for September 2022September 2022 Property SalesOur local MLS reported a total of 118 properties were sold in September 2022. That marked a 49.4% decrease from September 2021's totals. It's also the lowest total monthly sales so far this year. Active listings rose for the seventh month in a row. Reports showed a 70.7% increase from last September (427 in 2021 vs 729 in 2022). New listings fell slightly (from 265 in September 2021 to 242 in September 2022). Pending sales dropped off by almost one-t... 10/06/2022

Landscaping. In Lake Havasu. Pretty simple, right? Well, if you want to sell your Havasu property anytime soon, you need to think about how the outside of your home looks to potential buyers. Last week, I offered up some ideas for staging the inside of your home on a budget. But as summer gives way to fall and the temperatures (eventually) begin to dip down to a more reasonable level, you should think about getting your home's exterior into shape as well. These easy landscaping DIY projects might help you with some simple ideas that create a big impact once completed.Easy Landscaping DIY ProjectsCreate a PathwayTo guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet... 09/28/2022

In the latest Lake Havasu market report, home sales continued to fall. Some of this can be blamed on higher interest rates and the threat of a recession. We also saw prices begin to fall. With an apparent shift toward the buyer's favor, sellers cannot just sit back and wait for the offers to pour in. They need to stage their homes to highlight the positive and pull focus away from the negative. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, staged homes sell "three to 30 times faster than nonstaged (ones)" and may even bring the sale price up by as much as 20%. While a good professional stager knows exactly what to do to make your home look its best, they easily cost between several hundred and several thousand dollars depending on the size of your home. For some home sellers, this... 09/21/2022

Lake Havasu City sits roughly an hour and a half drive from Laughlin and a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Las Vegas. If you really have an itch to gamble, Havasu Landing is located on the California side of the lake. But we love it most when you put gambling together with our love of the water. In the spring, it's the Desert Storm Poker Run. But Fall brings us the Monster Storm Poker Run 2022.What: Monster Storm Poker Run 2022 Start/Finish Line: London Bridge Resort (1477 Queens Bay) When: September 30th to October 2nd Cost: FREE for Spectators Contact: Storm Poker Runs, Christina (623-238-1330 or via email) & Jimmy (602-739-4739 or via email)Monster Storm Poker Run 2022Unfortunately, they already filled up all of the spots for this year's Monster Storm. But that does not mean that you ... 09/14/2022

After a huge upward trajectory over the past two years, our local real estate market appears to be experiencing a "course correction". Month-over-month prices dropped off. Total sales remained unchanged. And inventory levels rose above three months for the first time in more than two years. What else does the August 2022 Lake Havasu Market Report show us? Read on to find out.Lake Havasu Market Report for August 2022August 2022 Property SalesAccording to our local MLS, a total of 140 properties were sold in August 2022, the exact same number sold during the prior month. However, it marked a 32.7% drop from August 2021's total sales. Active listings continued to climb up, with 693 reported last month (a 66.6% increase from the same time last year). In fact, active listings increased every... 09/08/2022

When you’re getting ready to list your Havasu home, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. This especially helps now that the Lake Havasu real estate market appears to be tilting back towards a more balanced level between buyers and sellers. Focus on these four areas that may need to repair before listing your home.What to Repair Before You ListRepaint WallsGiving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up. Plus, it is one of the updates buyers look for in today's market. Generally, this can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure to cover any walls with scratches and chip... 08/31/2022

Lake Havasu City began with one man's dream (sprinkled with a massive dose of business acumen)and that turned into the oasis in the desert we know today. Millions of people come from far and wide to play out on our lake each and every year. Following safety protocols helps keep injuries to a minimum while in, on, or above the water. Life jackets play a huge part in keeping everyone safe. But last year's model may not fit so well this year. If you find that to be the case right now, then you're in luck. The Lake Havasu Life Jacket Exchange takes place this weekend!What: Lake Havasu Life Jacket Exchange Where: London Bridge Beach Stage When: Saturday, August 27th, 2022 from 10 am to 12 pm (while supplies last) Contact: Mohave County Sheriff's Office Non-Emergency Line (928) 753-0753Lake H... 08/24/2022

For the last couple of years, we saw home sales in Lake Havasu skyrocket. Sale prices rose even higher. But in the last couple of months, both sales and prices began to come down. We have now entered a balanced market. In fact, it may even be tipping towards the buyer's favor again. If you want to sell your Havasu home today, learn how home selling works in today's market compared to last year.Home Selling in a Balanced MarketBidding Wars Are the Exception, Not the RuleIn the not-too-distant past, we saw several buyers bidding for a single property. Low inventory partnered with high buyer demand often created a bidding war. That drove prices up and left more than a few buyers seeking out other properties. However, higher interest rates and higher inflation lowered home buyer demand. But... 08/10/2022

We might officially call our local real estate market "balanced" at this point. Rather than shooting sky high from month to month, sale prices appear to be mellowing out. July 2022's Lake Havasu market report showed a huge increase in active listings from the same time last year. And inventory levels continue to go up. Unfortunately, higher inflation and mortgage rates continue to dominate the headlines (and affect buyers' pocketbooks). So, how exactly did our market fare last month? Read on to find out.Lake Havasu Market Report for July 2022July 2022 Home SalesThe MLS reported a total of 140 properties were sold in Lake Havasu during the month of July 2022. That marked a 42.4% drop from July 2021's total of 243. Total sales also fell by 21% from June 2022's sales figures. In fact, tota... 08/03/2022

There is always something to do here in Lake Havasu. Boating. Fishing. Offroading. Camping. We also love our poker runs. Whether on land or on water, these events combine our active lifestyles with just a smidge of gambling. And it always benefits a local charity (or two). The Hav-a-Sis organization put together their own version for us called the Twisted Poker Run. And it sounds like lots of fun!What: Twisted Poker Run Where: Starts at Romano's (1519 Queens Bay) When: August 6th, 2023, 1 pm check-in Cost: $5 per person/vehicle Contact: Hav-a-Sis (928) 830-5566 or via emailTwisted Poker RunAll participants in the Twisted Poker Run must check in at Romano's restaurant at 1 pm on Saturday, August 6th. Better yet, come a little early and enjoy a nice meal at Romano's first. Once you check ... 07/27/2022

You’ve most likely heard the rule that you need to save up for a 20% down payment before you buy a Havasu home. The logic behind saving 20% remains solid. It shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. With interest rates on the rise, that translates to potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as 3%—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available. So, how do you decide which down payment strategy works best for you? Weigh the pros and cons before you determine which one to go with.Which Down Payment Strategy is Right for You?ConsThe downsides of a small down p... 07/20/2022

When you buy a Havasu home, you know that you must pay for your down payment, closing costs, a home inspection, and an appraisal (among other things). But when you sell your home, you just sit back and collect the profits, right? Not quite. It costs money to sell your property, too. To help prepare you for what to expect, I have explained the most common home selling costs below.Home Selling Costs ExplainedMarket PrepWhat do I mean by market prep? Whatever it takes to get your Havasu home ready to list. That includes any necessary repairs, landscaping, paint, flooring, etc. Buyers pay close attention to everything when they tour your home. So make sure you pay attention to the details, too. Leave plumbing and electrical issues to the pros. If you cannot pay for expensive repairs, you mi... 07/13/2022

It looks like our local housing market has started to move the needle to a more balanced setting. While it still favors the seller, more inventory helped level the playing field a bit, according to the Lake Havasu Market Report for June 2022. I know buyers are going to like the sound of that!Lake Havasu Market Report for June 2022June 2022 Home SalesOur local MLS reported a total of 176 Lake Havasu properties sold in June 2022. That marked a 28.7% decrease from the total sold in June 2021. This also means that sales fell by 12.9% from May 2022's total. Now, normally, we see sales taper off when the weather hits those triple digits. (Who wants to move furniture in 100+ degree weather, right?) But for the last couple of years, we saw sales continue at a higher pace than normal during the ... 07/06/2022