Mesa, Arizona - the Biggest, Little City Around

Quick quiz - which of these cities (not MSA's, just cities themselves) has the highest population - St. Louis, Pittsburgh, or Mesa?

The answer is Mesa!

Mesa, Arizona is an interesting city of around 450 thousand, making it a large city unto itself, even though it is part of the Phoenix MSA.

The city is a mix of all different kinds of people, including about a 10% Mormon population. The city was founded by Mormons and still houses one of the religion's oldest temples.

Despite its relatively large size, the city is mostly residential, as its residences make their living primarily by driving elsewhere, such as into Phoenix.

The median family income of the city is $49 thousand. Like most cities, Mesa has its fair share of poverty, although the city also has more than its share of extravagant neighborhoods. If you work in the Phoenix area, Mesa may be an excellent option for you to locate your family. Call Choice Group Realty today and let us find your perfect home in this little big city.

Phoenix and Scottsdale's Mid-Century Gems

There is a movement in many Phoenix and Scottsdale neighborhoods to restore buildings built in the mid-twentieth century. Many of the buildings feature very distinctive architecture quite different from modern designs. The movement is especially strong in relation to homes from the period. There is even a web site devoted to the appreciation and restoration of mid-century commercial buildings and homes, www.modernphoenix.net.

With regard to homes from the era, it has resulted in very high demand, limited supply, and above average sale prices. There are just more people who want these homes than there are homes on the market. Little marketing has to be done and they often sell for 20% more than comparable homes.

Probably the most desirable of the mid-century homes are ones designed by or somehow associated with a few particular architects. The most notable of these includes Ralph Haver and Al Beadle, both of whom were local to Phoenix, as well as California architect Joseph Eichler. The homes are typically characterized by wide bands of windows, carports, and open floors.

Just a few neighborhoods identified as featuring these mid-century homes are Village Grove in Scottsdale, Paradise Gardens, and the Bon Vie condos in Central Scottsdale. There is a much more complete list at http://www.modernphoenix.net/neighborhoods.htm.

If you want to live in one of these mid-century gems...well, we can't guarantee it. But if you tell us what you are looking for, we will do our best to find it. We have hundreds of homes to show you, so the chances are excellent we have a home to show you that will be your dream home.

Arizona Home Sales: It's a Buyer's Market in the Valley

The real estate marketing in our areas (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, etc.) is in the midst of somewhat of a correction. There has been a lot of speculation nationwide about the bottom falling out of the housing market. We fear no such bottom here. Why? Because the economy here has always been strong and it continues to be strong, and we have a diverse housing market.

BUT...if you're looking to buy a home in this area, conditions are in your favor (especially relative to last year), so the time to take action is NOW. Don't wait until the market heats back up. At the present time, we are experiencing somewhat of a normalization as demand tries to catch up with supply. So you may be able to purchase more home for your money right now than you could last year, but that may not be the case a few months from now.

In general, Arizona is an affordable housing market, especially relative to our neighbors in California. That fact, combined with the present softening of the market, make this the ideal location and time for home purchasers looking to move to a pleasant climate while maximizing their home purchase value.

There will be no bust in our housing marketing because of our strong economy and strong job growth. So buyers should take advantage of a flattening of home prices while there is still time. Call Choice Group Realty today and we will walk you through the process of finding your perfect home and use our connections to help you get it financed.