You're ready to upgrade your living situation. Whether you're looking for your first home or your next one, you're ready to come home to luxury every day. While many people may strive to buy a luxury home, the process can be tricky.
Finding luxury homes for sale in Arizona is often a longer process than buying a standard home. But rest assured that it's not impossible to find the home of your dreams.
If you know how to make your way through the process, you'll have an easier time finding the exact kind of home you want, exactly where you want. These 10 tips will help you find a luxury home in Arizona.
1. Enlist a Luxury Listing Agent
Realtors help their clients navigate the process of searching for and buying a house. But if you want to purchase a luxury property, you don't want to hire the average real estate agent.
Look for a realtor or broker who specializes in luxury properties. They'll know and understand the luxury real estate market in Arizona better than anyone. They have connections that can get you into exclusive showings.
Their work with previous clients may also allow you to know about a house going on the market before it's listed. Beyond their connections, they'll know what constitutes a luxury home and how one property compares to the next.
Luxury home realtors will also be able to advise you, which can make the process run smoother and ensure you're getting exactly what you want in the end.
2. Determine Your Location
A major part of luxury real estate is the location of the property. Beautiful houses in beautiful places will naturally cost more money. Conversely, a beautiful home in a less ideal place doesn't evoke luxury.
Keep in mind how the area around the home contributes to its value and factor that into your decision-making.
Similarly, there are some neighborhoods that offer more luxury features than others. Good schools, restaurants and shops within walking distance, and low crime often contribute to the luxuriousness of an area.
Consider where you want to live, not only city-wise but also neighborhood-wise. Narrowing down some places you want to live with makes the search much easier on you and a realtor.
3. What Features Do You Want?
Stunning and unique features are what make luxury homes luxurious. Things like backyard pools, outdoor living spaces, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, and square footage are all common features in a luxury home.
Determine which, if any, of these features you want in your home. Consider both the basics, like
how many bedrooms you want and need, as well as features on the fun side, like pools and game rooms.
Whether the home is turn-key or will require some work should also be a consideration. A finished home will typically have a higher list price than one that needs some renovation.
However, cosmetic features like flooring, tile, and wall color are easily swapped out. So, if a home has all the features you want but might need a facelift, the property might be worth it in the long run.
4. Think About Your Lifestyle
As you start the home search, you'll want to consider your lifestyle and how you use your home. Do you like to entertain friends and family, having them over for dinner parties and holidays?
In that case, you may want to prioritize common rooms like the living space, kitchen, and backyard, where your gatherings may occur. Having extra bedrooms for overnight guests may also be a priority.
But, if you're one to turn your home into an oasis or engage in your hobbies, investing in private spaces might be what you need. A large primary suite and extra rooms for hobbies may be the priority in this case.
In Paradise Valley AZ, a pool can serve as both a personal or gathering oasis. Your home may have a unique combination of wanting private space and gathering spaces. Luckily, with a luxury home, you often have room for both.
5. Get Finances in Order
It's no secret that luxury homes come at a higher price tag. Before starting the home-buying process, determine your budget and how you'll pay for the home. This will also help narrow down the properties you're willing to see.
But the cost and downpayment on the home aren't the only finances you have to keep in mind when buying luxury real estate. Not every buyer can afford the higher prices of luxury homes.
This means some properties may have liens, which are fees or bills that haven't been paid to developers, lenders, or tax authorities. There may also be back taxes or other fees associated with the property.
6. Tour the Home
Pictures can be deceiving, even on a luxury property. Pictures can make a room seem bigger, ceilings taller, and a home in better condition than it actually is.
Real estate photographers know how to frame an image to make the property look better. Even if the listing provides plenty of pictures or even a virtual walk-through, you'll still want to view the property in person.
Take a day to walk through the home to get a feel for how large the rooms are, the layout, and how much work the home might need. You may also want to hire a professional to inspect the home to ensure its condition.
Seeing the home in person will also help you visualize yourself there and get a first-hand look at whether the home will work for you.
7. Learn About the Location's Future
Many people buy luxury real estate for the location. And with a stunning location also comes views. With Arizona luxury homes, you may have beautiful views of the desert or red rock hills.
And because the beautiful view most likely factored into the price of the home, you'll want to ensure you'll get to enjoy those views while you live there. Do a little research and learn about any future projects in the area.
Are they building new homes or skyrises? Is a multi-floor office building or other commercial project going to block your million-dollar views? This not only affects views but also potential
property value.
Similarly, additions like parks and new restaurants can boost property value in the future.
8. Consider All Types of Luxury Properties
Large, sprawling mansions aren't the only option for luxury properties. For those who enjoy living in a denser or city-like area may prefer a luxury condo or a penthouse in a high-rise building.
Luxury condos also tend to have amenities like a concierge service, an on-site gym, and a pool and spa that can make living there even more luxurious. Often you'll also be within walking distance of trendy restaurants and stores.
Your dream home may not be built yet. With some luxury properties, you may be able to custom-build a home from the ground up. You can decide on the layout and all the finishes so the home is exactly how you want it to be.
9. Prepare to Negotiate
Being in a higher price range for a luxury home doesn't mean you shouldn't negotiate. You're still able to negotiate with the seller and try to get the list price into a range you'd be comfortable with purchasing.
But if you're planning to negotiate, be ready for them to negotiate with you back. You may have to go back and forth a few times to find a price that both you, as the buyer, and the seller are comfortable with.
Luckily, you don't have to do this alone. A luxury real estate agent can also guide you through this process, offering advice and suggestions on the price to bring to the table.
Beyond the price, a real estate agent can also negotiate other parts of the deal, like including certain features, furniture, or decor that may not come with the house.
10. Be Patient
Real estate isn't always a fast game. It can take weeks or even months for a real estate deal to work out and for the property to pass hands. But even before that, the process can take time.
Luxury properties often don't come on the market as quickly or as often as standard properties. That means you might take months or years searching for the right property or waiting for one to come on the market.
Similarly, preparing to buy a home can take time as well. Doing research on the area, determining your budget, and setting your must-haves all add to the timeline.
Though the overall real estate process might take weeks or months to play out, when it comes time to strike, be ready to do so quickly.
Luxury Homes for Sale in Arizona
With beautiful landscapes and near-perfect weather, Arizona, on its own, is a luxury location. Of course, it makes sense to live in a luxury home in such a stunning location.
Finding luxury homes for sale in Arizona doesn't have to be a difficult process if you know the right steps to take. With proper preparation, you'll be living in the home of your dreams.
Search for luxury real estate in Arizona and find your forever home today.