In the Phoenix area, including Goodyear, Avondale, and Buckeye, the sales are down, down, down. We had 10.3 listings for every house that went into PENDING status last month (single family detached).Many of the sellers with fantasy prices have let their listings expire but there are still plenty that are overpriced, especially for today's market. Buyers have gotten smarter, comparing prices and shunning the highest 75% of the listings; they don't even get shown.Buyers also seem to be holding out for future price reductions. True, some are buying, but some have to buy (relocations, growing families, etc.). There is a reduction due to the mortgage companies being scrutinized by the regulators. Some buyers don't seem to realize that the great selection and low interest rates are making thi... 04/29/2007

Well this wasn't a personal best week. I had one that's a week late closing but I pushed an offer thru the fax at 5:30. End of week.I'm going to try something different tomorrow (Saturday).  I answered an e-mail by our chamber of commerce looking for a volunteer to help out (10am-2pm) with people coming to the chamber for information on Saturday. They tell me they often get a lot of strangers asking where to find a good restaurant or something else. (mmm, maybe a REALTOR?) I'll give it a shot. I've got brochures and cards at the chamber already, maybe I'll get a chance to pass a few out, or get a lead or two.We'll see! 04/27/2007

I live near Goodyear, Arizona, which is next to Avondale, next to Cashion (only Cashion has been absorbed by Avondale) and next came Tolleson. I used to get up early on the weekends and take my grandson (Gads, he's driving now!), for little rides in the morning so my wife and daughter (his mom) could get a few extra minutes sleep.One of my grandson's treats was catching a slow freight train along MC85, then Buckeye Rd. The freight was usually headed  to phoenix from the west and it went very slow through the little towns. We would catch it at a crossing and sit there as the train set off the flashing lights and started blaring the horn. As the train passed 20' in front of us the vibrations would shake the car. My grandson would just laugh and laugh. As soon as the train passed, we would... 04/24/2007

Wow! This has never been more true, that what goes around, comes around.Four years ago I was fortunate enough to list 4 houses in the middle of one block. One was owned by an air force couple from Luke AFB that were selling their first house due to a transfer.They were worried that the house had to sell right at their transfer date and to add to their concerns they had a new child. Well, luck (always augmented by prior preparation) was on our side and everything came together, all at the right minute. In fact, I took a notary to their house to get the seller's papers signed while the movers were packing everything. The sale went perfectly and they were transferred to Maryland.This week, friends of theirs, stationed at the same location in Maryland, called me to buy a house. They will be... 04/20/2007

Keller Williams Realty will be breaking ground for a new office building. The new office, on Pebble Creek Pkwy just north of McDowell Rd, will house Keller Williams on the ground floor and have other, related businesses on the top floor.The new location will be adjacent to the new mall that will be welcomed by all Goodyear residents. 04/20/2007

Ok, I know a lot of my recent posts have been devoid of Goodyear info so here goes: Goodyear Lakeside Symphony Pops Concert: presented by West Valley Arts CouncilJoin an Adult Sports Leage (softball, vollyeball - drop in tennis, you name it) More infoParent/Tot Music time - presented by the city of Goodyear Rec dept and Phoenix Conservatory of music is an interactive fun way for families to bring some music into their homes.  Click on More info link above to get details on thisMamma Mia...visit Bella Luna (Litchfield Rd and Indian School Rd) for some Italian grubdo I hear gelato? Yep folks, in the Walmart Neighborhood store plaza there's a new coffee shop/gelato/wine shop coming.  Cheers,Uzi HusainArizona Realtor, serving Goodyear & The Phoenix metropolitan area   04/18/2007

When: This weekend (April 21st & April 22nd)Where: email me and I'll tell yaWhy: information isn't free...just kidding...I went furniture shopping the other day and didn't find much to my liking or in my budget.  I'll be rolling up my sleeves and driving down in a truck to pick up some awesome pieces...if you're familiar with builder models in Palm Valley, you won't want to miss this one, especially if you are a discerning buyer and want some quality pieces for your digs.Cheers,Uzi HusainArizona Realtor, serving Goodyear & The Phoenix metropolitan area  04/17/2007

An interesting business opend up in Goodyear around 10 years ago. Goodyear has a wonderful airport that was used for training bomber pilots in WWII. It eventually came under the control of the city of Phoenix.Lufthansa airlines, operating as the Airline Training Center (ATC) opened a flight school for its pilots. This school would be for initial pilot flight training and dual engine flight training. Students would attend classroom training in Germany, those who pass come to Goodyear for their pilot license and then their multi engine license.Why? Weather. Germany has about 250 days a year when you can fly light aircraft, Goodyear has about 350 days. Then for cross country flights we can have pilots fly for hours in many directions, in Germany that could put a pilot across two or three i... 04/15/2007

Estrella Mountain Ranch is an award-winning Master Planned Community located in Goodyear, Arizona nestled in the shadows of the Sierra Estrella Mountains. Estrella Mountain Ranch or EMR as it's also known covers more than 20,000 acres. Estrella Mountain Ranch boasts mountain views and undulating terrain. Roads wind throughout Estrella Mountain Ranch joining the various villages and neighborhoods. Each reflects its distinct environment and nearby amenities. Recreation options include the many parks scattered throughout the Estrella Mountain Ranch neighborhoods,  miles of walking trails, golf, water sports on the lake, and the list goes on....... If you are considering a move to Phoenix you owe it to yourself to visit Verrado as part of your home tour.  If you are considering buying a hom... 04/07/2007

Or 3 New Builders would not be ready to lay claim and stake their fortunes by announcing that they're entering the housing market here in the Valley.  Check out the article, 3 builders bet on Valley housing turnaround, from the Arizona Republic,  which reported this morning that "three new homebuilders are entering the Phoenix housing market, undeterred by the glut of unsold houses and high prices left over from the housing boom. Mattamy Homes of Canada, John Laing Homes of California and Orleans Homebuilders of Pennsylvania say that now is the right time to stake their claim in one of the most competitive housing markets in the country." For residents of Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, and Buckeye not to mention REALTORS and Investors, there's further good news by way of another article,... 04/02/2007

Look for the return of the traditional down payment as it grows harder to find a 100% loan, particularly a sub-prime one.  While No-down loans will still be an option for those with good credit, nervous lenders are becoming acutely interested in ensuring that borrowers don't over commit.   You still are going to be able to buy a home, but you will be expected to put something down.The self-employed and those with marginal credit are the ones who will really feel the changes trying to get a sub-prime, Low Documentation (Stated Income) product.  Stated Income loans were great for self-employed people that had good income, but took lots of tax deductions which, in turn, created a low NET number on their income tax returns --the very document lenders used to verify their income.  This is wh... 03/31/2007

As a Realtor in Maricopa County, and specifically in the Goodyear, Avondale, and El Mirage areas, I'm looking for substantial improvement in the resale market beginning in mid-summer of 2007.My reasons include the following: many of the homes currently listed will expire or be cancelled as homeowners accept that the boom has ended (12 months ago!). Some of these new believers will base their list prices on actual market conditions rather than the left over euphoria of 2005. And, they will see their homes actually begin to sell. Some buyers have been standing on the sidelines waiting to see if the market actually implodes and when it doesn't, they will gingerly get into the market. Then, the glut of spec homes by the builders will eventually subside to manageable levels as homeowners acc... 03/29/2007

Potential home sellers are quickly learning that if their home is improperly priced it only helps to sell the competition's homes.Whether in Goodyear or Avondale or the other West Valley cities, a home priced too high in the available inventory of homes just won't sell. What will happen is the higher and lower price homes that are properly priced will be aided by the improperly priced home.For example, a home that should be priced at $225,000 but is priced at $250,000 will be compared to other homes priced near the $250,000 level and it will no doubt have fewer features that those of the competition, making those appear much better buys. At the same time, when a buyer examines a properly priced $225,000 house and compares it to the improperly priced $250,000 house they will immediately ... 03/29/2007

Interesting news and developments:The Surprise City Council unanimously approved Westcor's plans to build a 3,000 acre mixed-use project that will include auto mall, shopping mall, residential development and a hospital.  The project will be located on the Loop 303 between Greenway and Cacus; opening is expected in 2008. The City of Goodyear is reviewing plans for the Estrella Falls mall also scheduled to open in 2008.  This will be similar to the Chandler Fashion Center.   Population figures show the following growth:  Goodyear: 559% increase to 41,225 since 1990 ; Surprise population has tripled since 2000 to 103,000; Buckeye has seen a 368% increase, Glendale a 60% increase, and Peoria a 171% increase. The Peoria Center for Performing Arts opened in February after 1-1/2 years of cons... 03/24/2007

Goodyear Sales for the 7 days prior to March 20, 2007The previous week saw 32 homes close escrow toward the end of the month in Goodyear. Average home sale price was $290,450 while the average asking was $314,765. Average days on the market were 140, up from 84 with 40 homes expiring from the MLS, due in most part to the end of the month.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,950. That comes in at just over $148 per square foot, up from $145 per sf the previous week. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. The market is trending to a buyers market but effective ma... 03/20/2007

Goodyear Sales for the 7 days prior to March 20, 2007The previous week saw 32 homes close escrow toward the end of the month in Goodyear. Average home sale price was $290,450 while the average asking was $314,765. Average days on the market were 140, up from 84 with 21 homes expiring from the MLS, down from 40.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,950. That comes in at just over $148 per square foot, up from $145 per sf the previous week. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. The market is trending to a buyers market but effective marketing can get better expos... 03/20/2007

Cliched, yes I know but it's 1:21am AZ time so that's my excuse.  Tony M. thanks for enlightening me about the RAIN - not sure if I'm a believer yet but I sure will try...21,456 members in less than a year and you've got my attention! So, for my first Rain blog I resign to say, I need to catch my zzzzzzzzzzz's (remember, it's past 1am) but I will be baaaaaaaaaaaack and back to post, post and post some more...until then here's food for thought on http://realtytalkarizona.blogspot.com/cheers...  03/19/2007

Goodyear Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007The previous week saw 26 homes close escrow toward the end of the month in Goodyear. Average home sale price was $293,369 while the average asking was $308,900. Average days on the market were 84, down from 183 with 40 homes expiring from the MLS, due in most part to the end of the month.The average square footage for all these homes was 2,016. That comes in at just over $145 per square foot, up from $135 per sf the previous week. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. The market is trending to a buyers market but effective m... 03/07/2007

Darryl L. King, Goodyear AZ, will attend the ABR core course classes this coming week in Flagstaff, Arizona. Four (4) requirements must be met to attain and use the ABR® designation:   1.Successful completion of the two-day ABR® Designation Course, including an 80% passing grade on the exam.  After successful completion of the ABR Designation Course, you will have three (3) years in which to complete the other ABR designation requirements    2.Successful completion of one of the ABR elective courses, including an 80% passing grade on the exam, within three (3) years of completing the ABR® Designation Course.  Click here for a complete list of the ABR elective course listing.       3.Documentation verifying five (5) completed transactions in which you acted solely as a buyer representati... 02/25/2007

Darryl L. King ACCEPTED TO THE MRE SOCIETYOF THE ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®     Phoenix, Ariz. January 17, 2007 - Darryl L. King, a member of the WEST MARICOPA COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (WEMAR) was recently accepted into the MRE (Master of Real Estate) Society by the Arizona Association of REALTORS®.Criteria to belong to this Society within the Arizona Association of REALTORS® is:Be a REALTOR® in good standing  Hold an NAR-recognized designation (earned after completion of 90 hours of classroom instruction and examinations)  Hold another NAR-recognized designation or be a candidate for another designation awarded by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR)  Take 54 hours of continuing education during the two-year period immediately prior to application or renewal... 02/25/2007