Phoenix real estate a big draw for . . . Canadians, eh? - 09/27/10 11:42 PM
USA Today reported today that Canadians have now surpassed Californians as top out-of-state buyers of Phoenix-area real estate. The Canadian dollar is gaining, up from an average of 80 cents on the U.S. dollar in 2005 to 97 cents last week. At the same time, home prices in the Phoenix area - as we know - have dropped significantly from their peak in early 2007.
Those two influential points have made for an enticing real estate market for Canadians looking to get out of the cold weather and enjoy everything Phoenix has to offer: sunshine, golf courses, and a ton of … (4 comments)

U.S. News & World Report recommends Phoenix homeownership for retirees - 09/27/10 11:39 PM
I love reading the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR). They have great information and some of the best data-supported rankings. Today, USNWR reported a compilation of the best retirement housing buys in America.
They discussed how the housing bust created a lot of opportunities in several real estate markets, Phoenix being one of them. With both home prices and mortgage rates at low levels, it's a great time to buy in markets that are healthy with jobs and employment. As the article put it, "Americans who are ready to embark on the second half of their lives are in a … (0 comments)

Two more reports released today indicate real estate is stabilizing - 09/24/10 11:50 AM
The Wall Street Journal reported this Thursday morning that "sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose 7.6 percent in August, bouncing off a record low as the housing sector fights to recover without government support." Existing-home sales increased to an annual rate of 4.13 million.
Inventories of used homes decreased by 0.6 percent at the end of August to 3.98 million available for sale. This is a real win for the housing market recovery as well as the economy, especially given that economists had expected existing home sales to climb by 7.0 percent to an annual rate of 4.10 million. Yup, … (1 comments)

How housing has changed in the last ten years - 09/21/10 11:53 AM
After blogging about fireplaces, I happened to run upon this article on Msnbc.com. They looked back over the last ten years reviewing the "American Housing Survey," that is published every two years by the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to Msnbc.com, "they compared key elements in the latest survey, covering 2009, against the same variables in the 1999 edition and discovered that we're living larger and, as a nation, collectively way cooler."
Here are some of the areas - and edited briefs - that stood out to me. But read the full article for all of … (0 comments)

Phoenix real estate on Realtor.com – The FHA Short-Refinance Program – can it help you? - 09/16/10 08:46 PM
I was featured on REALTOR.com® again - they posted a blog I wrote called "The FHA Short-Refinance Program - can it help you?" Go read the full post, but the gist was this: Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced enhancements to their refinance program via the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Short-Refinance Program. It began being implemented on September 7 but there is already a lot of confusion out there regarding who qualifies and how it will help.
Read more about "Phoenix real estate on Realtor.com - The FHA Short-Refinance Program - can it help you?," … (0 comments)

Even in hot Phoenix, fireplaces will help sell your home - 09/16/10 08:41 PM
Oddly, a lot of people in Phoenix choose to install fireplaces into their homes in the summer and outside grills in the winter - both times of year when the homeowners would use the appliances much less.
But sometimes it's not about the actual "use" of the appliance. The number one reason people have a fireplace in their home is decorative. Whether they work or not, fireplaces provide a focal point for the room or even the whole house. They exude warmth. They provide a sense of "hearth and home."
I've received many questions from people asking that - with the … (0 comments)

Arizona gets $45 million to help housing market - 09/11/10 10:33 AM
The Arizona Republic reported this week that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, has announced that Arizona is receiving an additional $45 million to lift neighborhoods struggling through the foreclosure crisis.
The state, three counties and eight cities were awarded the money through the federal government’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), aimed at preventing foreclosures. Of the eight Arizona cities, Phoenix received the most funds, more than $16 million.
This is the third round of NSP funding that Arizona has received, totaling more than $301 million, with more than $115 million going to the … (1 comments)

Phoenix home prices remain level - 09/11/10 10:28 AM
Last week, data from the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices was released. Case-Shiller is widely known to be the leading measure of U.S. home prices.
The data showed that the U.S. National Home Price Index rose 4.4 percent in the second quarter of 2010, after having fallen 2.8 percent in the first quarter. Nationally, home prices are 3.6 percent above their year-earlier levels. The data showed that in June of this year, 17 of the 20 metropolitan areas covered by the Case-Shiller study were up from the month prior. Las Vegas was the only city to go down (0.6 percent) while Phoenix … (1 comments)

Decorating your Phoenix home with limited space - 09/07/10 01:32 PM
Over this Labor Day weekend, I took some time to catch up on some reading. I hope you all had the opportunity to relax as well!
I read this great article "20 Small House Dos & Don'ts" that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens. I won't get into all of the 20 tips and tricks as you can read the full article here. However, here are some of the things that stood out most to me.
DO Start at the ceiling.
Hanging window treatments from the highest possible point on your wall longates the room giving the impression of a … (0 comments)

Housing Market Stalled?—I don’t think so and can prove it! - 09/07/10 01:29 PM
So I just got off the phone with a new client today and he's disappointed.  It seems that he has been listening to the media reports of a sinking housing market when in fact the truth is far different.  Today I called on three listings for various clients.  EACH ONE HAD MULTIPLE OFFERS... ONE HAD 17!!!  How crazy is that?
In fact, in a quick random survey of other top agents in my Keller Williams Office, I found that every one... yes.. every one has multiple offers on their correctly priced lisings.  I guess there are two lessons here.
First, if … (1 comments)

Considering new construction or a resale in Phoenix - 09/02/10 07:51 PM
I just worked with a great couple to find their dream home in the north Phoenix area. We narrowed their search down to two neighborhoods: one with new construction and one an established neighborhood with several resale opportunities. They really struggled with whether they wanted to pursue new construction or an existing home. Each choice has its advantages and there is no single answer that works for everyone.
You may be drawn to the shiny new, energy-efficient appliances, the great room, and the beautiful master suite offered in a new home. But you may also like the charm, the canopy of … (0 comments)

New data shows the Phoenix housing market remaining stable - 09/02/10 07:48 PM
We have experienced several months of gradually rising prices in the Phoenix-area housing market. This has been a warm welcome to homeowners.  New data is showing a flat year-over-year home-price appreciation from July 2009 to July 2010. Additionally, the report's author predicts that the market is likely to stay flat until the middle of next year.
This data comes from the most recent Arizona State University-Repeat Sales Index (ASU-RSI) report which measures annual changes in average Phoenix-area home prices. The entire report, as well as the data collected, can be found here.
The report quotes Professor Karl Guntermann, the Fred E. … (0 comments)

 
New_picture_web_page Rainmaker_large

Bob Stahl

Phoenix, AZ

More about me…

Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Address: Scottsdale, AZ, 85258

Office Phone: (480) 767-3000

Cell Phone: (602) 318-1114

Email Me

Knowledge is power. In that spirit, the MyPhoenixMLS Phoenix Real Estate Blog covers everything that's Phoenix-area real estate, with the goal of helping buyers and sellers navigate the market.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find AZ real estate agents and Phoenix real estate on ActiveRain.