Are You Up to Date on Health Insurance?

I’m joined by Anna Monterosso of Halsi Insurance Group today to talk about health insurance and the upcoming open enrollment periods.

Today I'm happy to be joined by Anna Monterosso of Halsi Insurance Group who is going to tell us a little bit about open enrollment, Medicare, and some other healthcare information.

Fall is definitely health insurance season, Anna says, with three open enrollment periods coming up. The first is Medicare, which runs October 15th through December 7th, then, the open enrollment period for individuals under 65 runs November 1st through January 31st. Lastly, there's a special open enrollment exclusively for small businesses that runs from November 15th through December 15th.

This open enrollment for small businesses isn't really advertised much, but it's really valuable for them. If small businesses haven't offered coverage in the past due to cost, this open enrollment period allows them to offer benefits to employees without paying a minimum amount toward the premium or having to meet participation requirements.

Even with these dates approaching, rates always change, which Anna says is just the nature of the business. Changes really depend on the type of product, so what Anna likes to do with her clients is to go over them annually to look at increases or decreases in price, as well as changes in benefits. They want their clients to know what to expect.

Rates always change, so stay up to date.

So what does Anna recommend for people who are 65? Anna says it depends. If they are 65 and already on a Medicare product, they're going to want to wait until open enrollment to make any changes. Anna and Halsi would be a good group to call to schedule an appointment to review their current coverage.

If they're going to be 65 within the next few months, Anna recommends giving her a call three months before their birthday so she can sit down and walk them through the process from beginning to end; enrolling in Medicare for the first time does take time. They want to ensure they have the correct coverage in place in time for their 65th birthday.

Thanks to Anna for joining us today, and a big thanks to Halsi for all they've done. They've been in business in Tucson for more than 20 years and they have a real hands-on relationship approach to serving people. I think that's really what separates them from a lot of the other health insurance companies out there.

Health insurance is accessible to anyone, so if you're considering making a change in your policy or you want to get health insurance for the first time, give Anna a call at (520) 296-7881 to help you with any insurance information. You can also visit Halsi's website for more information.

Should You Buy or Sell in the Fall?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

The summer home selling season passed, but people are still buying and selling homes. Fall is a terrific time to sell!

First, you will face less competition. Most sellers think the market comes to a screeching halt this time of year. During the spring and summer, there are lots of buyers, but there are also more sellers. In the fall, your home will stand out.

Secondly, fall buyers are extremely motivated. In the spring and summer, buyers have plenty of time to shop before they make an offer. In the fall, buyers cannot afford that luxury. This means you will have a smoother and quicker transaction in the fall, and still get a fair price for your home.

Fall is a great time of year to sell a home. Check out THIS ARTICLE to learn more about what makes fall such a great time to sell. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Favorite Fall Events in Tucson

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

One of my favorite things about fall in Tucson is the mornings and nights get cooler. Plus, we are just a short drive away from higher elevations, small towns, and daytime temperatures that are in the 70s. It's the perfect time to take part in autumn festivities, and there are some great Halloween and fall events happening in and around Tucson.

Ever since we moved to town 10 years ago, Apple Annie's in Wilcox has been one of our family's favorite places to go. It's a great place for pumpkins, hay rides, corn mazes, and more. Their Pumpkin Celebration is going on now through Halloween. Apple Annie's is a great place for the whole family. The corn mazes are divided into different levels: easy, intermediate, and so difficult you'll need a helicopter to come find you! For more info, go to AppleAnnies.com.

Marana Pumpkin Patch is a little closer to town, and there's plenty to do there as well. Marana has zip lines, a petting zoo, and, of course, pumpkins. We spent all day there last year. They even have a pumpkin cannon! There's nothing quite like a bunch of kids at the helm of a pumpkin cannon. Go to MaranaPumpkinPatch.com to learn more.

If you're looking for more scary stuff this Halloween, then you need to check out Nightfall at Tucson Studios. Nightfall has been nominated for Best Theme Park Halloween Event by USA Today. Nightfall is a haunted town. No pets are allowed, and unless you want your kids waking you up every night because they had nightmares, call a babysitter. Go to NightfallAZ.com, and make sure you have your sound turned up a bit when you do!

As always, Halloween is October 31st. Trick-or-treating hours run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

As you can see, there is plenty for you to do here in Tucson this fall. If you have any questions about today's video or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Best Bang For Your Buck Home Improvements

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

Every homeowner wants to add value to their home, but not everyone knows the best way to do so. Today, I will share some of the things you can do around the home that will get you the most bang for your buck!

It's well known that the kitchens and the bathrooms are the best places to sink your home improvement dollars, but there are other things you can do as well. Improving these areas will increase your enjoyment of the home and make your home worth more too. Take a look at the ways you can get the best return on your investment:

• A minor to mid-range kitchen remodel will get you a 99% or more return; what you need to do is replace the kitchen sink, the countertops, and faucets.
• Replacing your door with a steel front door will get you 98% or more return on your investment.
• A minor to mid-range bathroom remodel will get you a 95% return on your remodel.
• Replacing your windows is simple and easy, and will net you an 85% return on your dollar!
• An exterior repaint of your property will increase your curb appeal and get you a solid return on your dollar!

What these stats fail to reveal is the increased marketability of your home, which will get you a great value for your home as well! If you have any questions about this topic, or if you would like real estate assistance, please don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you!

Is the Tucson Market Leaning Towards Buyers or Sellers?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

Today we are here to talk about the Tucson housing market. One of the most common questions we're asked is if we are in a buyer’s or a seller’s market. Right now, we are actually in a balanced market.

Another question we get asked about a lot is inventory. Currently, we have 5,500 single-family homes, townhomes, and condos available for sale in Tucson. Inventory is balanced right now, so we haven’t seen a big rise in home values lately.

Now interest rates have hovered right around 4% over the last few years. These are historically low rates, and your buying power now is higher than it has been for quite some time.

If you have any questions for us, please don’t hesitate to call us or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!