Campus Housing Market is Strong- Arizona State University Keeps Growing

"How is campus housing doing?" I was asked recently. Hmmmm.... funny you should ask.

"By 2020, Arizona State expects its student count to jump nearly 60% to 100,000, competing for just 22,500 campus beds."

This is one line that from CNN Money's July 22, 2008 report "In Bruised REIT World, Student Housing Defensive Bright Spot" ... it's also a harsh reality facing today's college student.

Today's student is most likely going to rent an apartment or live in a dorm. Few will be able to (or will desire to) purchase a home. I work with parents of students who have seen an opportunity. They can purchase a home for their student; rent the other rooms out and turn the expense into an income opportunity.

Is there a market at Arizona State University? Here's another line from the report, "The first tenants won't move into Vista del Sol in Tempe, Ariz., until next month, but its nearly 2,000 beds have been preleased for months. Cancellations aren't a concern: There's a lengthy waiting list."

Is there a market near your University? Let's see... quoting again "As the population swells and the majority of high schoolers seek degrees, enrollment is projected to hit 20.4 million, up 42% in 25 years"

Colleges and Universities aren't going away. Wherever there is a growing campus there is scarcity. Scarcity drives up prices. Though students have a limited income they also need a place to live. During this market downturn, housing prices are down- even near the universities.

There are great buying opportunities for those willing to put the time into finding them.

-------

Chuck Willman is a real estate agent based in the Phoenix metro area.

www.AZvest.com  -  480.292.0600

--------

photo credit: Clifford Wong, "More shots around ASU 4"

Enough Already About the Buyers' Market- Top 7 Phoenix Hot Spots for Home Selling

Enough Already about the Buyers' Market
For the past couple years real estate agents have been broadcasting the facts that it's a buyer's market. Less time has been spent on the other side of the market- home sales.

Queen Creek, Arizona - Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre is Underway

Sometimes you see a project and you just know it's going to be something good. The Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre is one of them.

It's the $15.9 million centerpiece of the 128 acrea master plan community that includes a level equestrian park, a variety of neighborhood parks and trailhead facilities. The entire system of parks trailheads and masterplan is expected to finished at an entire cost of $225 - 250 million.

Located at the Southwest Hawes and Riggs Road in Queen Creek it is bound to be a destination address for the southeast valley of Phoenix Arizona.

The Queen Creek area has grown so quickly that it has attracted the attention of large venue and commerce groups from around the nation. Several marquis projects are in the planning stages- this is one of several that has made it past the hurdle and is currently being constructed.

Sometimes a cities biggest secrets are found on the official website. To keep up with the latest community events, go here: QueenCreek.org. You can also download the planning document for this and other projects. Here's a pdf explaining the project in great detail: Final Plan.

The .me Domain "Land Rush" is on- Do you have yours?

There's a new top-level domain available and people appear to be loving it. Many of the common business words have already been reserved. If you've wanted to regiser your own name, and found that it's unavailable as a .com or .net, well, this is your chance.

Who wants a .me address? Bloggers, people who want a personal resume site, families who wish to post events and pictures. In short, a person. If you fit that description then maybe you can be a part of the "land rush" to see if you can beat the next person with your name rushing to the sites to check.

I know that GoDaddy is selling the .me domains, but check your favorite registrar to see if they have it as well. If you prefer GoDaddy, their link is here: goDaddy's dot.me ... I believe they also give you a free email address.

Queen Creek will be home to Central Arizona College Expansion Campus

Arizona's Copper Basin area of Queen Creek is one of the fastest growing communities in Pinal County. Pinal County is the fastest growing county in the nation. So, it only stands to reason, that the services that accompany such growth are arriving.

Among current projects in the planning and construction phases are new high school, shops, hospitals and now- an expansion campus for Central Arizona College.

Central Arizona College has an enrollment of 12,000 students. The new 7,000 square foot facility will offer two year degrees, continuing education programs, as well as GED certification.

The program also has partnership agreements with other state universities such as Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University.

Classes will be available days, nights and weekends to accomodate working residents.

-------------

Chuck Willman is a real estate agent specializing in first time home-buyers and investment homes.

www.AZvest.com - 480.292.0600

Sparky Wants Your Hundred Dollars (Minus One)

It's the late July in Tempe Arizona and that means two things.

• ASU football begins real soon.

• It's time to buy season tickets.

I was reminded of this when I was at Tempe Marketplace last evening. It's our new outdoor mall that has become all the rage.

The misters were going full blast, like a tropical fog. When I looked to the ground I saw this.

It's Sparky, the mascot of the Arizona State University Sun Devils. He's telling you to buy season tickets for as little as $99. In typical fashion he taunts, "You probably spent more on the shoe's you're wearing."

"They're cheap flip-flops, Sparky" thought I "but your point is well taken."

If you're looking for some real fun, go to Sun Devil Central and order your season tickets. You can claim the sundevil made you do it.

People are getting very excited about this team. Though USC is the odds-on favorite to win the Pac-10, many pollsters have the team from Tempe ranked right up there at number two.

Some sporting news companies predict big things for the USC/ASU match-up on October 10th as both teams have a relatively good chance of facing each other undefeated. (Of course, I fully expect my Tucson friends to look back at that last sentence and laugh.)

What's in the Glass?

There is the classic question pair:

• Is the glass half empty?

• It the glass half full?

• What's in the glass?

Forbes Ranks Phoenix in the top ten of "U.S. Real Estate Markets for Investment"

Forbes July 10, 2008 edition is out. Once again Phoenix, Arizona makes the list of cities in the United States most suitable for investment.

Though Forbes recognizes the issues facing the city, such as lending related hardships- they still find much to like in the area.

I couldn't agree more; there are distresses in the market but there are also bright spots.

Notably areas closer to the heart of the metroplex are the new target for housing. The areas on the fringe of the valley, with their low prices are still seeing growth but gas prices have made the areas near the down town more desirable.

Many of the bank owned properties are receiving multiple offers- particularly in Tempe and Scottsdale where prices are swinging upward in many neighborhoods.

First time investors would be well advised to seek guidance from experienced investors. Among the landmines in the valley are these elements: devaluation in areas that are overbuilt, above average rates of foreclosure, softness in economic sector typical in the rest of the nation.

Even so, population growth levels many of the negative. Some investors see the devaluation as a blessing in disguise. Those who missed out on the opportunities several years ago now see their chance to invest again while prices are suppressed.

Remember- the height of the doom and gloom brings the lowest prices. It's anyones guess where that point is. It's Forbes guess that the opportunities exist.

---------

Chuck Willman is the founder of USAvest... a nationwide network of investors specializing in real estate. He makes his home in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area.

www.AZvest.com - 480.292.0600

Investment Properties- Short, Medium & Long Term Strategies

Since the market is ever-changing, it's nice to have several different investment vehicles. There is a time value to investing. It's always good to find strategies that can pay off in the short, medium and long term.

Among the activities many investors employ are these.

Short-term: Currently, there are many opportunities in purchasing properties at wholesale. Here's a for instance- let's say there is a neighborhood where homes are selling near $200k. The homes were built in the early 1960's. The neighborhood my have a home or two that is in disrepair. If the homeowner has a tremendous amount of equity but is facing a five-digit repair bill to bring the home to market-ready condition he/she has a decision to make: Fix and sell at full value or sell at a discount to a re-habber. Selling to a rehabber will bring an immediate sell but at a rate that is discounted. That discount will be Market value- (repair costs + rehabber profit). Some home owners will find the time benefit worth the cost reduction. Investors will have the decision of selling such a home at a slight profit to a rehabber or becoming the rehabber to enjoy more profitability. Wholesaling is a short term strategy while rehabbing is medium term.

Mid-term: There is a market for those who wish to purchase property under rent-to-own arrangements, also known as leasebacks. Here's an example- A condominium project sells units for $200k. There are those who are unable to qualify due to poor credit. The project owner sells units in bulk for $175K to investors willing to participate in a leaseback arrangement. Poor-credit clients enter a program allowing them to purchase a unit in one year after demonstrating an ability to pay on time and keep other finances in check. The investor receives monthly payments plus the possibility to sell the unit to the occupant at a pre-approved future price. The renter earns better credit and the opportunity to live in their future property. The condo owner is able to procure a present buyer and future resident. The investor has current cash-flow and near-future profitability. The investor needs to make sure that there are no "gotcha" clauses and that the opportunity is legitimate. Be careful- some investments look too good to be true.

Long-term- This one requires time. Most real estate properties tend to be worth more over time. If someone buys low, time will eventually reward holding on to the property. Someone who purchased two years ago may very well have "lost" money. In a few years the situation may have reversed itself. Those who have a knack for purchasing will notice the condition of the neighborhood and the potential for population growth. Those who buy homes at a monthly rate below current rental rates will earn cash flow. Holding on the property over time should allow for future rental growth and increased cash flow. Selling after the property has appreciated will bring even more profitability.

Experienced investors tend to take approaches that satisfy short, mid and long term profits.

------

Chuck Willman helps investors find properties in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. www.AZvest.com

It is the nature of blogs to be written to explain current market conditions. Future readers will discover conditions whose elements have changed. All investments require due diligence.

The Lemonade Stand- Arizona Kids Help Cool the Summer

The Lemonade Stand:

As we were building our home several years ago I asked my daughter what she thought of the location.

"It'll make a great place to sell lemonade!" she said.

Within a week she had her stand set up in the front yard and... turns out, she was right.

I marveled at her ability to grasp commerce. First there was lemonade... then lemonade plus fresh squeezed oranges. Orange slices were added to the collection as were otter pops, water and other items.

Then they placed signs near the street that fed into the subdivision.

I noticed that she liked to see the different ways that she could make her stand more popular. She also became good at learning the best times of day to open and close shop.

Though she enjoyed having money of her own she seemed less interested in what she would spend it on. I was very happy to see that she enjoyed the experience more than the profits.

I like to think that we all run a lemonade stand of our own. We choose products or services that our customers will find most beneficial. Sure, there's a profit motive- the stand would stay in storage if the service proved unpopular. Above all, I enjoyed my daughter's attitude. She enjoyed herself most when she made her customers happy.

Inc. Magazine has a series they call, "The Best Lemonade Stand in America". If my daughter were younger I'm sure she would want to enter. A local boy from Gilbert is one of the newest winners. Check out his story here:

Gilbert Boy has Best Lemonade Stand of the Week.

-------------------

Chuck Willman helps people find and sell properties in Phoenix and metro area cities of Arizona.

480.292.0600 - www.AZvest.com