Home Bargains Available in Outskirt Areas of Phoenix

If you are looking to move into the Phoenix area and are highly concerned with finding a nice home at a bargain price, you might want to look in one of the areas on the outskirts of Phoenix, such as El Mirage, Buckeye, and Gilbert. There is a rising trend in some of these areas of home owners getting behind on their mortgages and trying to sell before losing their homes. While this trend certainly has its negatives, the fact is that it is a positive for a bargain-seeking home purchaser.

Adding to the downward pressure on home prices in some area is the fact that there are many more homes on the market than there have been in recent years. It's a buyer's market.

A recent article on the Arizona Republic web site pointed out the following facts:

• During the first half of 2007, 84 homes were foreclosed in Anthem, compared to 3 during the same period in 2006.
• In Buckeye, there were 245 foreclosures through June of this year, compared to 66 last year.
• In Avondale, there were 122 foreclosures through June, compared to 5 in 2006.

Choice Group Realty specializes in high-end homes in the Scottsdale area, but these facts point to the fact that if you are a bargain hunter, there are certainly homes on the market in other areas that you may want to take a look at. We can help you find these homes. While we hate to hear about anyone losing their homes, selling and moving on is a better option for these home owners than accepting a foreclosure.

Call Choice Group Realty today and we'll get started working for you!

Scottsdale Home Prices Holding Up Market

As the number of homes on the market rises and home prices fall across the country, Scottsdale's real estate market remains strong. A recent report by USA Today demonstrated that although some home prices in the Scottsdale area have fallen, their time on the market remains less than 40 days. There are a lot of homes on the market, but buyers are still snapping them up, demonstrating the value attached to homes in this area.

There is value to be found in Scottsdale-area homes in the sub-$700,000 price range, as smaller home prices have fallen compared to a year ago. Homes priced above that level continue to sell very strongly.

The USA Today article highlights an 11.25 acre ranch purchased in 1999 for $3.2 million which is on the market at a price of $12 million, highlighting the strong appreciation in Scottsdale real estate over the last decade.

If you are going to purchase property in Scottsdale, we strongly advise you to seek the expertise of an agency that knows this area. Choice Group Realty specializes in Scottsdale and others areas around Phoenix, and we know how to get you the most home for your money (or get the most money for your home). So contact us today.

Your Dream Home Awaits in Paradise Valley, Arizona

Paradise Valley - it just sounds nice doesn't it? And you know what? It is! Paradise Valley is a small town near Scottsdale in Maricopa County. It is home to a number of celebrities, including Alice Cooper (who we discussed in a previous blog post). It also home to twelve resorts, making it a premier tourist destination in the Central Arizona region. The small town covers about 15 square miles, none of which is covered in water. The hilly areas outside of town include the Mummy Mountain Preserve Trust, which is over 300 acres of pristine wilderness.

Education is a high priority in the town. Children of Paradise Valley residents attend the Paradise Valley Unified School District, one of the better school districts in the state. In fact, Newsweek ranks the top two regular high schools in the state as BOTH being in the Paradise Valley district. Altogether, the district has 23 schools ranked as "excelling" and 8 as "high performing".

There are around 14 thousand people in the town, with the largest age group being 25 to 44. So this is not a retirement community - just a community of people looking to live life to its fullest.

Homes in the area have a median resale value of over $1 million, with many selling for $15 million or more. So it is definitely an exclusive area. If you are ready to step up to a fine Paradise Valley home, call Choice Group Realty today. We'll help you find the home of your dreams!

Home Prices Falling? The FEDs State Otherwise.

Many studies indicate that home prices are slowing. However, the OFHEO (Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight) states its housing price index saw a 4.3 percent increase during the first quarter of 2007. This is the least amount of growth in a decade.

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) reported a price decline of 1.8 percent during the first quarter vs the same period last year. The OFHEO also reported a decline in prices.

The discrepancy between reports may be due to the calculations of each organization.