In the days before the internet, when people were looking for a professional – a contractor, for example – they would often ask a friend or neighbor, “Do you know a good Plumber?”

Well, guess what? The same thing still happens today! It’s just done a little differently. These days, people often ask for recommendations online, such as on their community’s Facebook page.

However it’s done, the intention is obvious. People prefer to work with professionals who are recommended. That definitely includes real estate professionals.

In our business, we work hard to be the kind of trusted real estate professionals that clients rely on to help sell their property, find their next home, and make the entire process go smoothly. In addition, we stay in touch long-term to be an ongoing resource of information and advice.

In fact, that’s one of the reasons we send you this informative e-newsletter.

So, if friends or neighbors ask for a real estate agent recommendation, we hope you’ll feel comfortable giving them our names. We’d really appreciate your support!

Renee and Jeff

Strong Home Sales in 2021 - 6 Month Housing Review

The below data was pulled on July 21st and as expected the strong 2020 market has carried through to 2021. 

We have sold 9.7% more homes this year than the year prior.  Flagstaff's Median Sales Price jumped from $413,459 to $515,000, an increase of 24.6%.  Number of new listings is up 5% but one of the most drastic data points and what fuels the misconception of fewer homes available is the decrease in Days on Market.  The average Days on Market in 2020 was 107 and with a decrease of 40.2% that puts the average Days on Market in 2021 at only 64. 

The Absorption Rate currently sits at 1.68% which means we have less than a 2 months supply of homes available.  As we have mentioned in previous updates the Real Estate experts say that a 6 month supply is ideal, any less indicates a Seller's Market, any more indicates a Buyer's Market.  

Hiking into the Chicago Basin outside of Durango Colorado

What an adventure we had planned as we head up to Durango Colorado, spending 7 days in the vast Weminuche Wilderness. At 499,771 acres, the Weminuche Wilderness isthe largest wilderness area in Colorado, and as a comparison,  ¾ the size of Rhode Island. After talking to many locals, the general thought is leave the ‘E’ off the end when you pronounce the Weminuche(whem-a-nooch). The trip started months ahead of time, with planning the route, the timing when we wanted to get into Chicago Basin, preparing the meals for every day, doing some dehydrating of assorted things, and of course picking up the first mornings Breakfast and that evening’s dinner, which I cover more later. Once we finally got started on Sunday morning, the 5 plus hour drive up was uneventful, we got to Durango midafternoon, giving us time to explore the downtown.

Our first Day

Up early today, we car camped last night at the end of Vallecito Lake, wanted to be on the trail by 7. 
For Breakfast, out of the cooler before we started our hike, I had the traditional Flagstaff Best Breakfast Burro from the Dog Haus, a great way to start this adventure. 

The overall plan, we will hike up the Vallecito River, to Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass (12,665ft) to the eastern edge of Chicago Basin, then west out through the basin to the Animas River and back to Durango.
This is the seldom taken route into Chicago Basin and when I say seldom, we saw no one for the first 3 ½ days.
Most will come in on the west side riding the Silverton-Durango Railway up the Animus River to a spot the train lets off at times over 50 hikers a day, so they can scramble as fast as they can into Chicago Basin to find camp sites. We chose not to be in that race up into the basin, so came in the longer, harder, better route from the East.

We knew that the Train let hikers off at 11:00 every morning and will take those hikers at least 2 hours to get into the basin. So our plan was to get into the Eastern edge of the Basin by 1:00 on Wednesday Day 3, just in case it was hard to find a great camp spot. 

The days started out nice, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Trail conditions were excellent all day as we hike along the Vallecito River gently climbed from 7900 feet to our camp spot at Deadhorse Creek at 9,100 feet. 
The treat of the hike, we did not have to carry gallon+ of water which would have added 8.32 lbs. of weight to our pack. Instead, as we crossed little creeks and such, I got out my BeFree Water Filter I would highly recommend for any hikes. 

Throughout the day we passed through meadows of flowers, Jack and Rob stopped to fish, though not successfully I might add.
Close to camp we had to navigate an approximate 100 ft river crossing of the Vallecito River. We are in the wilderness now and when that bridge was washed out a few years back, since in the wilderness it could not be rebuilt. 
Was a sketchy crossing but with hiking poles to help braced against the current we made it safe, though a little wet
Exciting way to end the day, shortly after the crossing we found a great level spot to camp for the night. Tonight, for me was the Pizza I mentioned above, traditionally I take 4-5 piece of NiMarcos Pizza I get the day before our hike, cool, wrap and put in the top of my pack. Pretty hard to smash cold pizza any more than it already is, and gosh, was a treat out on the trail

Our Second Day, Once again it was a nice casual hike all the way to the Johnson Creek trail junction, fortunately the trail Bridge was still up and a good place to fish, both Jack and Rob were successful. From that point it was a steady climb to 11,069 feet. The trail maintenance of this section was not as good, seemed like every time we turned around, we were climbing over downed trees, this section did not appear to have much use. This was the second day we have not seen a single other person on the trail.  We arrived early afternoon into Crystal Valley at 11,600 ft., the last possible camp before tackling Columbine Pass at 12,665 ft tomorrow. Perfect camp sight and came with two, very welcoming Marmots. We have never seen Marmots that do not duck and hide at any sound or people. More than likely, we are the first they have seen since sometime last year.  Because of the river crossing and the miles to get into Chicago Basin, I would venture to say this little valley gets little to no other hikers thru it. These two marmots had mischievousness on their minds, trying to get into Deb’s pack with me waving a hiking pole at them, then trying to eat at Jack's hat hanging on his hiking pole, or getting into Robs stuff when he had his back turned.  They were super cute with big fluffy tails wagging back and forth when they waddled away, but soon to return.  My tent, they stayed away from, maybe my secret deterrent from critters, Cat Hair. I brush the cats and bring some of their hair with me in the pack on each adventure, tends to work, so far Day 3 This is the day we head up and over Columbine pass and into the eastern edge of Chicago Basin. The first 2 miles is a steady climb up to the pass at 12,665 ft, after passing Columbine Lake. The plan was to fish at the lake, but alas, frozen over, with just a smidgen of water at the edge, but again, no success on the fishing front, but the beauty of the area was breath taking, As we crested the pass, we ran into difficulties. A major section of the trail was still snow covered. Taking the leading we each talked about the best was to get across, then tackled each section. Slow and smooth with poles in hand we trudged through the snow as best as we could, careful not to misstep. As we entered into Chicago Basin, we found a super camp site at the far eastern side of the Basin.  After hiking at elevation, having some challenging trail issues, camp was a welcome site. this will be our camp for 2 nights as we explore and fish Chicago Basin.  What we found out was hardly anyone from the Basin comes to this end. This was a planned layover day and for the next two days, we only saw 2 couples stop by in their exploration of our side of the basin. The History of Chicago Basin stretches back prior to 1877, it is better described in the link I attached. The Durango Herald talked about the mining claims in the area  in an article early this year. 'Mining claims in Weminuche Wilderness protected from development' Day 4 This is a layover day in the splendor of the Chicago Basin. Today we head up to Twin Lakes, elevation 12,655 ft, to hopefully do some fishing. Today's treat was seeing our first Mountain Goats, a small herd or family of 6. Not afraid of us one bit. They followed us as we climbed the trail, but broke off at about 12,000 ft.  As we crested into the Twin Lakes Basin, we found the lakes were still iced over or 90% or so, we tried to fish in the few open spots with no luck.  Instead, we explored the high mountain basin, had some lunch and circled around and back to camp some 7 hours later. Jack stayed at camp for the day, we found when we got back, another small family of goats came to visit him. One particular mama goat, we named Gertrude, was in love with Rob and his tent, so they had a sparring match for a while.  Rob not wanting the added attention, but 'Gertrude the Goat' could not get enough of Rob, not sure what happened after we all hit the sack. Day 5 As we headed out of Chicago basin, we realized how fortunate we were to have come into the Basin from the east, Today we head out after our 2-day layover in Chicago Basin, and what a treat it has been. We did discover that our camp site at the very far Eastern end of the Basin was by far the best in all of Chicago Basin for a couple reasons; by far better views, closer access to water and over the 2 days, only 2 other couples walked by.  We had our end of the Basin to ourselves and the goats of course. As we hiked down and out of the basin, we passed many hikers coming up from the train, along with that, a lot of this trail had not been cleared of log fall, so up and over fallen trees was the norm for the day. As we headed out, a storm was brewing in the Basin and found out later that inch size hail hit most of those left camping. But that was behind us, tonight we are camping on the bank of the Animas River. Day 6 As we left our first night on the Animas River, we realize that our timing for this trip was the best. So far, our camp sites have been the very best, only one camp site did we see others.  The hike down the river was uneventful, pretty level, very lush in some areas and at times could see and hear the Silverton-Durango Train as it passed on the other side of the river. We tried fishing in a few spots, but with no luck.  This is a short day on the trail, our goal today is to enjoy the river, hike 6 miles or so to the confluence of the Animas River and Crescent Creek. Got in to camp early found a great camp site right by the bridge that will take us over the Animas since at this point it is a fully fledge river, and not possible to wade across. Before dinner, we all tried our fishing on Crescent Creek, everyone caught something, but that was about it. This was not the best fishing trip, Day 7 Up early today, this is our last day on the trail. The trail out was gentle uphill, through the Crescent Creek canyon, with the creek falling further and further below us. The closer we got to our takeout point and vehicle, the more folks we started to see, The last 2 miles or so of our adventure was obviously a popular spot for day hiking. We saw more and more hikers the closer we got to the trailhead. Most that wanted to talk were amazed we started our trip way over at the Vallecito River Trail Head and came as far as we had and more to the point, spent 7 days out hiking and camping. To some this was not on the bucket list to do, but with that said, they were out in the open air doing the day hike and that is a positive. We are back to the takeout spot mid-morning, cleaned up some, then had to go pick up Robs vehicle. This was not a loop, so took two vehicles, maybe 1+ hour drive time between start point to where we ended the adventure. We had heard that Chicago Basin was a must-see adventure to take, and we proved that right. We took a chance going in from the Vallecito Creek Trail head and it paid off in huge dividends; in the sights we got to see, the serene wilderness, the lack of other hikers’ day after day, and the quality of camp sites as a group were as good as we have ever had. The only thing missing was good fishing, but all the others make up for this in Spades. An adventure above most others we have done, and one for the books.

Jeff Ross * Renee Gaun Your 1st Choice in Real Estate® Your Team for Success 928-607-5556  Jeff Jeff@AllFlagstaffHomes.com 928-606-6232 Renee Homes@ReneeGaun.com www.AllFlagstaffHomes.com

15 E. Cherry Ave Flagstaff, AZ. 86001

To say Flagstaff is a health and wellness hub is like saying our crystal-clear mountain skies are blue. Here you’ll find a community of uber-certified fitness and nutrition professionals, along with exceptional medical facilities and top-rated physicians and surgeons.

With no shortage of state-of-the-art gyms, qualified trainers, high-tech gear, healing arts studios and a supportive community to cheer you toward your personal goals, Flagstaff is eager to step you up to Arizona’s highest peak or relax you into a deep yoga savasana. And no matter what stage of life you or your loved ones are entering, Flagstaff is equipped to keep you at your best with chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists and rehabilitation experts, plus highly-acclaimed senior living communities designed to maintain lifestyles and activities.

Northern Arizona Healthcare’s Flagstaff Medical Center looks to the future of health care with its many state-of-the-art services and resources. NAH includes more than 4,000 employed doctors, nurses and other health care experts in more than 50 medical specialties.

The medical center provides emergency transport services through Guardian Air and Guardian Medical Transport’s seven helicopters, 17 ambulances and one fixed-wing air ambulance.

FMC is a Level I Trauma Center, the only one in Northern Arizona, and also is a Primary Stroke Center. Besides these specialty services, FMC offers:

• Primary care at Northern Arizona Healthcare Medical Group – Flagstaff.
• Medical imaging.
• Cutting-edge cancer care at Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare.
• EntireCare Rehab & Sports Medicine.
• Children’s Health Center.
• Specialty Clinic.

In addition, NAHMG – Orthopedics is one of the first clinics in Northern Arizona to offer robotic arm assisted total knee, partial knee and total hip replacements with Stryker’s Mako System. This highly advanced robotic technology enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.

Whether you need joint replacement surgery or emergency services, you are in good hands with highly-trained surgeons who are ready for unexpected injuries and offer same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.

The Children’s Health Center has recently relocated to East Flagstaff. This one-of-a-kind facility offers specialty pediatric and youth medical care for the communities of Northern Arizona. With a more convenient location and expanded footprint, the CHC is able to provide more unique services for your family including a specialized physical, speech and occupational therapy gym space, and an adaptive playground and a sensory gym, as well as the inspire program designed to motivate kids of all ages to lead healthier lifestyles.

Northern Arizona Healthcare’s mission is to “Improve Health, Heal People.” Governed by a volunteer board of directors, NAH is a nonprofit organization and is supported by the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation. For more information, visit NAHealth.com

North Country Healthcare serves as the medical home to nearly 50,000 people in Flagstaff and the surrounding area, providing family medicine, pediatrics, dental care, obstetrics and gynecology, telemedicine and behavioral health. North Country has locations in 12 communities across Northern Arizona including three in Flagstaff with the Flagstaff Pediatric Care facility on Yale Street.

The organization provides a team-based approach to treating patients. Answering the call to provide more doctors in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona, North Country has implemented the Colorado Plateau Family & Community Medicine Residency Program, bringing in 12 new residents throughout the three-year program.

CycleBar Flagstaff provides indoor cycling classes for those looking for calorie-burning, pedal-turning fun. A running injury made owner Sarah Milios re-think her activities. She jumped on a spin cycle and never looked back.

“It’s a totally different experience to be in one of our classes rather than training on your own,” she said. “There’s the community feel that makes it fun and an in-person instructor who holds you accountable.”

The Spin Box is a high altitude, mobile fitness studio. While the focus is on beat-driven stationary bike cycle classes, The Spin Box also provides interval training through core conditioning and bodyweight exercises. You’ll find everything you love about indoor cycling, but with beautiful views, crisp, clean air and physically distanced bikes. Get your workout on and leave no trace (except sweat) in the majestic outdoors of Flagstaff. Let the endorphins commence!

Massage Envy – Flagstaff licensed therapists know the demands of daily life can be taxing on the body. That’s why they encourage you to take care of yours by smoothing out aches and pains, stretching overused or underused muscles and kneading the stress right out. Massage also is known to increase flexibility, calm digestive and other disorders, improve posture, relieve headaches, reduce fatigue, lower blood pressure and even help us sleep better.

The Peaks, A Senior Living Community and The Peaks Health & Rehabilitation are nestled into the forest at the base of the San Francisco Mountains. In collaboration with the Museum of Northern Arizona, Southwestern artwork adorns public spaces. Amenities in this pet-friendly environment include an indoor pool, salon, fitness center, nature trails, an auditorium, restaurant-style dining rooms and chef-inspired meals. Residents enjoy enrichment programs; memory-care activities are based on the Montessori method.

Brookdale Flagstaff operates like a loving family, serving residents with a balance of independence and assistance so they can say goodbye to chores like meal planning and cleaning and focus on the activities and relationships. Brookdale in West Flagstaff offers individual apartments, personalized assisted living and memory care.

The Bluffs of Flagstaff centrally located on Butler Avenue, is bringing its upscale independent, assisted living and memory care senior living community to Flagstaff in fall 2021, offering studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. “The feeling is relaxed elegance, the style is soft contemporary and the design team will be adorning the property with local art,” said Executive Director Janet Mars. Resort-inspired amenities include an indoor pool, salon, magnificent mountain views, a dog park and dog spa.

Highgate Senior Living is scheduled to open in downtown in spring 2021 with assisted living, memory care and couples care.

The Arizona State Veteran Home – Flagstaff is bringing an 80-bed skilled-nursing and rehabilitative care facility to Arizona’s veterans near Buffalo Park this year as well.

~Destination Flagstaff @7000ft, 2021 Official Relocation & Visitor’s Guide, A Publication of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.  www.FlagstaffChamber.com

Often, in old western movies, when the good guys were overwhelmed or in danger, the cavalry would come riding to the rescue.

It made for an exciting scene!

These days, you may never get into a situation where you need soldiers on horseback to help you. However, it can be all-too-easy to become overwhelmed with questions and concerns, particularly when it comes to real estate.

When that happens, rather than waiting for the cavalry to come galloping over the hill, you can call or email Renee or I.

We are happy to “come to the rescue” and provide you with any answers or advice you need. In fact, We have access to the latest data on the Flagstaff to Williams market, so you can always count on the insights and recommendations we provide to be current.

So, even if you’re merely curious about our local real estate scene — what’s available, prices, etc. — feel free to reach out to one of us at any time.

Now, let’s dive into a bit of the data...

What has the market done in the last 4 years?  How substantially have prices increased?  Below is a chart showing the percentage of change throughout Flagstaff neighborhoods or the surrounding areas between 2017 - 2021. 

As you can see, the percentage of change is quite drastic and since 2017 Flagstaff’s median sales price has increased by 51.5%.

With numbers soaring we are often asked when the bubble is going to pop. Well, our crystal ball is currently broken but we do know that if inventory slowly climbs then prices will continue to rise rapidly but if inventory sharply increases, house price growth will slow. 

Please reach out to Jeff or I if you have any questions or would like more data for a specific area. 

~Renee

Did you know there are 6 fires currently burning in our county? Be fire READY!

Guidance from our county's emergency department recommends being fire safe around your home AND they provide a service for having you stay in the know for evacuation alerts.

Learn about evacuations here - be ready - set - go! 

https://www.coconino.az.gov/1908/Ready---Set---Go

Sign up for notifications from Coconino County here:

https://www.smart911.com/smart911/registration/registrationLanding.action?cdnExternalPath=

Map of current fires here:

https://coconinocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=745e7806b0444387bf32792b9c25e169

How to have a fire ready home:

https://coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13462/HaveAFirewiseHome?bidId=

https://coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40147/We-Can-Adapt-to-Wildfire?bidId=

Jeff Ross * Renee Gaun Your 1st Choice in Real Estate® Your Team for Success 928-607-5556  Jeff Jeff@AllFlagstaffHomes.com 928-606-6232 Renee Homes@ReneeGaun.com www.AllFlagstaffHomes.com   15 E. Cherry Ave Flagstaff, AZ. 86001

With an abundance of natural beauty, landmarks, ski areas and cultural sites to enjoy, don’t forget to look up! Flagstaff is the world’s first International Dark Sky City.

The fascination with Northern Arizona’s night sky began with the earliest civilizations. Native American stories, shared around campfires, captured meaning in and reverence for the stars. In modern times, astronomer Percival Lowell is credited with nurturing our appreciation for the cosmos and building a consciousness about the possibility of life in the universe.

LOWELL OBSERVATORY

In 1896, Lowell built the Clark Telescope at what is now Lowell Observatory to study what he thought were canals on Mars. Although he couldn’t prove there was life on our neighboring planet, he inspired throngs of future scientists and casual observers to wonder, explore and learn. It is here that Pluto was discovered, as well as planets orbiting around stars trillions of miles away. One of the most significant findings was the first evidence of the expanding universe.

Lowell’s legacy continues on as the observatory promotes world-class research and public education. At an elevation of 7,200 feet, the new Giovale Open Deck Observatory (affectionately called GODO) boasts five advanced telescopes on an elevated plaza. Visitors can enjoy a unique experience and connection to the universe through extraordinary views of our moon, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and planets while knowledgeable professionals interpret these observations.

-Destination Flagstaff @7000ft, 2021 Official Relocation & Visitor’s Guide ( A publication of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce  www.FlagstaffChamber.com)

We hope you’re enjoying the spring season so far!

A quick question for you: What kind of professional do you like to work with?

For us — whether it’s an accountant, lawyer or investment advisor — we prefer to work with someone who continually adds value. Someone who provides excellent advice, is responsive when we have questions, puts our best interests first, and regularly sends helpful news and information.

In other words, someone who focuses on being of service and we strive to be that same kind of professional to our clients.

If you have questions or need advice on anything real estate related, we want you to know that you can always reach out to us. And, of course, if you’re thinking about moving this year, let’s talk. We’ll show you what’s possible.

We are here for you.

Fun News!!  The Flagstaff Farmers Market is open and back at City Hall, 211 W Aspen Ave.  The market will run May 2nd through October 17th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.   Due to it being on city property, vendors and staff are required to mask up and follow COVID-19 mitigation guidelines.  Customers are encouraged to practice safe protocols and spaces will be left open to ensure that the area will not feel too crowded and everyone can flow through easily.     My family and I enjoy picking up produce for the week and a big cinnamon roll that we can snack on while sitting in Wheeler Park.  What a relief to have a bit of normalcy back and a beautiful space to enjoy as the warmer weather rolls in.

How Does Flagstaff Real Estate Market Compare?

To get a better feel for how Flagstaff compares to the rest of the nation and even the rest of Arizona, I included comments from sources throughout the nation.
As you will see the trend is similar nationwide.
We have a shortage of homes, an over abundance of Buyers, and interest rates are as low as we have seen.

There are a lot of reasons we live here in Flagstaff, and I get asked often, where are all the buyers coming from.

I have seen a couple of articles recently about the slight population exodus from California. CBS news just reported that for the first time since 1850, California had a population decline. The number stated was 182,000 or a decline of .46% in their total population.
MSN reported the top 5 states they are moving to, in this order. Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Idaho.
To put things in a little better perspective, that 182,000 figure equates to  approximately 61,500 households.

Are all the buyers coming from out of state and California? Unfortunately we have no true facts to measure that, though the perception I hear a lot is from our neighbors to the west.

	This is very close to Flagstaff, With our Days on Market in Flagstaff (the time it takes from start of the listing to closing and turning over to the new buyer), this year-to-date is 68 days, of those days, it took 14 days to get an accepted contract. Compared to 2020 of 117 days on market and 68 days to get a contract on the home
	As I am pulling together facts for this blog, in the General Flagstaff area, we have 105 homes on the market.  Over the past 4 months, we have sold an average of 110 homes a month. This comes to less than a 1-month supply of homes on the market today. The experts in the Real Estate field say a health market should have a 6-months supply of homes, meaning, we should have 660 homes on the market today, instead of the 110 homes we currently have.
	Today as I write this,  and as mentioned above, we have only 105 homes on the market, Compare this to April 2008 we had over 1,400 homes on the market and over a 12 month supply of homes, coupled with far fewer buyer. We are polar opposites of the crash in 2008, where we had too many homes on the market, and not enough buyers.
	Though there is no crystal ball, we will be hard pressed too find to many that are saying a crash is coming. Just too many things are different from the housing crash in 2008. The main differences today, lack of housing, the extremely large number of buyers on the search, and the low interest rates.
	New Listings are coming to the market every day. All year we have hovered around 60-70 active homes, today are up to 105 homes. The yellow line in this chart is the telling tale, yes we are getting more homes come to the market, but with the large number of buyers looking, those homes are getting snapped up faster then ever, as evident from the slide above that talks about Days on Market

I get asked frequently to look for Foreclosures, either Bank-owned or Short-sales homes. With the rise in prices there are fewer and fewer homeowners underwater with their homes. Over the past 16 months, only  3 Bank-owned and 1 Short-sale home have sold, out of over 2300 home sales.

Experts Say Home Prices Will Continue to Appreciate

It’s clear that consumers are concerned about how quickly home values are rising. Many people fear the speed of appreciation may lead to a crash in prices later this year. In fact, as mentioned above, Google reports that the search for “When is the housing market going to crash?” has actually spiked 2450% over the past month.

In addition, Jim Dalrymple II of Inman News notes:

“One of the most noteworthy things that came up in Inman’s conversations with agents was that every single one said they’ve had conversations with clients about whether or not the market is heading into a bubble.”

To alleviate some of these concerns, let’s look at what several financial analysts are saying about the current residential real estate market. Within the last thirty days, four of the major financial services giants came to the same conclusion: the housing market is strong, and price appreciation will continue. Here are their statements on the issue:

Goldman Sachs’ Research Note on Housing:
“Strong demand for housing looks sustainable. Even before the pandemic, demographic tailwinds and historically-low mortgage rates had pushed demand to high levels. ... consumer surveys indicate that household buying intentions are now the highest in 20 years. … As a result, the model projects double-digit price gains both this year and next.”

Joe Seydl, Senior Markets Economist, J.P.Morgan:
“Homebuyers—interest rates are still historically low, though they are inching up. Housing prices have spiked during the last six-to-nine months, but we don’t expect them to fall soon, and we believe they are more likely to keep rising. If you are looking to purchase a new home, conditions now may be better than 12 months hence.”

Morgan Stanley, Thoughts on the Market Podcast:
“Unlike 15 years ago, the euphoria in today's home prices comes down to the simple logic of supply and demand. And we at Morgan Stanley conclude that this time the sector is on a sustainably, sturdy foundation . . . . This robust demand and highly challenged supply, along with tight mortgage lending standards, may continue to bode well for home prices. Higher interest rates and post pandemic moves could likely slow the pace of appreciation, but the upward trajectory remains very much on course.”

Merrill Lynch’s Capital Market Outlook:
“There are reasons to believe that this is likely to be an unusually long and strong housing expansion. Demand is very strong because the biggest demographic cohort in history is moving through the household-formation and peak home-buying stages of its life cycle. Coronavirus-related preference changes have also sharply boosted home buying demand. At the same time, supply is unusually tight, with available homes for sale at record-low levels. Double-digit price gains are rationing the supply.”

Bottom Line

If you’re concerned about making the decision to buy or sell right now, let’s connect to discuss what’s happening in our local Flagstaff market.

Regardless of whether the overall housing market is up or down, there can be fierce competition when it comes to buying a home in a desirable neighborhood. So, if you want to live in a “hot’ area, how do you gain an advantage? Here are some tips:

• Schedule viewings of homes for sale in the neighborhood as soon as they go on the market. Have you ever heard the expression, “The early bird gets the worm”? It’s often true.

• Arrange to get alerted, via email or text, to brand new listings the moment they are available.

• Make sure you have your financing pre-approved, so you can make a quick and credible offer right away.

• Prepare your current home for sale, so you can list it quickly (if it isn’t already listed.)

• Know how to make an enticing offer that a buyer will take seriously. It’s not always the highest price that wins the deal.

Even in a competitive market, you don’t want to end up overpaying. That’s why
savvy offer preparation, presentation and negotiation are also keys to getting the
home you want.

It’s been long predicted, but the time has finally come when whole-home systems can provide a network to allow the electronic features and fixtures of your home to talk to one another. Often a family’s first such network involves controlling and sharing subscription services for movies, TV and music among personal devices.

Imagine finding a home that is perfect in every way, except for one nagging thing. That “thing” might be a smaller kitchen than you want, fewer closets than you need, or flooring that you dislike. Should you buy it anyway? How do you know if you should take a pass? It’s not an easy decision to make and depends on a number of factors.

Notable, Quotable, Quotes!

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Barbara De Angelis “Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.” Napoleon Hill

 About the Authors:

Jeff Ross * Renee Gaun Your 1st Choice in Real Estate® Your Team for Success 928-607-5556  Jeff Jeff@AllFlagstaffHomes.com 928-606-6232 Renee Homes@ReneeGaun.com www.AllFlagstaffHomes.com

15 E. Cherry Ave Flagstaff, AZ. 86001