Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Multiple Offers! Bidding Wars! Did you miss the bottom?  Maybe, it depends on where you are looking for property.  In Arizona the pace has really picked up both with buyer traffic and homes going pending.  In less than one week the number of closed sales has gone up by at least 100 homes.  That may not sound like a lot but in a small community that is quite a high number.

Is it the end of the summer rush?  Maybe, but I think it is that the potential buyers out there who have been waiting all year for prices to hit bottom are now rushing to get in to the market before the foreclosure and short sale properties disappear from the marketplace completely.  There are still a few out there, but the pickings are slim and the best buys may already be gone.  The rush is on and property is moving again. 

Don't let this discourage you from getting in the game though.  There is still a lot of property on the market and there are some very good buys on seller owned properties.  Sellers who have been waiting all year for a potential buyer are willing to talk when they get an offer.  Oh, I am not saying go in and low ball every house you see because that isn't going to fly.  But find a good agent to help you draft an offer that is within reason for the property you want and you will probably succeed.  

You haven't missed out yet, but there are signs that the recession is ending, unemployment numbers dropped today, and real estate sales are picking up.  The bell at the bottom may have already gone silent in your area so before you miss out on the best buys in years, get out there and start looking now.  The home of your dreams may be just waiting for you to find it.

For assistance in the White Mountain area, give us a call. 

- - - Remember ---

"WE WORK FOR YOU!"

SANDRA & BRUCE PAULOW, Your High Country REALTORS®

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I was just sitting here in my office thinking about the Real Estate Market and what our biggest obstacle is today.  I concluded that the biggest obstacle is Sellers for whom the clock stopped in 2005.

We all know those were the "Good Ol' Days" and we all remember how nice it was to be able to count on an offer coming in fairly quickly after listing the property and usually at full price, or for a particularly desirable property, even above the list price.  I hate to tell you folks, but those days are over.  That is not happening anymore and time does not stand still for anyone.   

We have been in a market slide for three years now and it isn't over yet.  In today's market, if you can break even you are doing well, but in many cases sellers are having to take a loss on their homes to sell them.  Buyers are simply unwilling to pay an inflated price for a property these days and they don't have to.  There are so may to choose from, they will keep looking until they find the one they consider to be a good deal.  

In some markets there are signs that the worst is over but that does not hold true in all markets.  Even where there are signs of recovery it is going to be a long time before we see prices begin to climb again.  They may stabilize, they may quit sliding downward at some point, but they are not going to appreciate significantly for a long time.  There are just too many other factors contributing to the present market conditions.  Lending is tight, lenders are very reluctant to lend even to well qualified buyers.  There are still a lot of home being sold at "Short Sale" prices and many more yet to hit the market as foreclosures.  As long as that keeps going prices are going to continue to slide downward in most areas.

So, I am sorry to inform you Mr. & Mrs. Seller, but the clock did not stop in 2005.  Markets go up and market go down, and right now we are still on the downward side of the slope.  If you can make a little profit on your sale - celebrate!  If you can break even on your sale -be grateful.  If you get an offer, even a low one, try to work with it and make it work, because with all the homes on the market it may be a long time before you see another offer.  If none of those options is acceptable to you then don't try and sell right now. 

In today's market you have a choice, you can be an "owner" or a "seller".  And if a "seller" is what you need to be than you need to be prepared to be competitive with your pricing.  If you can't be, or simply refuse to be, an "owner" you will remain.  

I know my Friday message wasn't a real positive one, but it is a truthful one.  And perhaps, for those of you who are trying to sell and are frustrated with the activity you have been getting on your property, it will give you some food for thought over the weekend.

If you have questions, feel free to call me.  As always, I am at your service.

Sandra Paulow, Associate Broker, GRI

(928) 242 -0300 

Good Afternoon Everyone,

It seems like forever since I visited with you.  I have been very busy the last few weeks showing and selling - yes - you heard me right - selling property.  Buyer have been very much in evidence these past few weeks with more coming all the time.  They don't want to miss out on some of those great late summer deals.  There are still some around with more coming all the time.  Short Sales & Foreclosures are still the dominating force in the marketplace because they are valued so far below the normal market.  But beware, they are going fast and before long the only things left will be the ones no one wants because they are basically knock down start over properties.

Lending is still tight so you want to make sure you get pre-approved before you start shopping so you know you can buy once you find the right home.  There are good lenders around though so if you need help finding the right one, just give us a call.

Hope to see you up here in the High Country soon.  Days are glorious and the nights are beginning to have just a hint of the fall crispness so it is a great time to visit the White Mountains. 

On Labor Day weekend the White Mountain Women's Club is sponsoring the First "Home and Garden Tour" a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful Homes and Gardens in the High Country.  Don't miss the Boutique or the Best Bake Sale Ever which will feature items for gifts, home decor, and some yummy goodies for your tummy in celebration of Harvest time in the Mountains. 

Tickets for the Day Long event are available at the Show Low Chamber Office, Classic Cookware, Lilly Bear Antiques in Pinetop, The Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber, and at Diane's Hallmark shop in Pinetop.  Ticket prices are $15.00 each and all proceeds go to benefit the various charities on the Mountain. 

So come on up and join us in celebrating fall in the White Mountains, take a tour, meet your friendly neighborhood REALTORS® and let us help you find the perfect get-away for your summer retreat or winter ski cabin.

SANDRA & BRUCE PAULOW, Your High Country REALTORS®

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Believe it or not, property is moving again!  In many cases it is moving pretty quickly now.  I know, I've been out with buyers the last month every weekend all weekend and by the next week's end half the properties we saw are pending sale.

Why all of the sudden have properties started to move?  Because inventories are dropping and the selection is getting smaller.  As a result if you see something you like you need to move on it.  No more waiting around to see if the price is going to come down more.   No more waiting to think about it.  If you want it, get your name on it or it will be gone.

The summer season is coming to a gradual end too.  And with that come properties disappearing from the market place because the sellers don't want to have to keep them open for the winter months.  In second home market like this one, once Labor Day is over many of the homes that were available will disappear from the marketplace until next Spring.

For you First Time Buyers, time is really running out for you on finding those affordable properties.  They too are disappearing from the market for those who didn't wait and moved forward when they found the one they wanted.  The time to get in on the tax credit of $8000 is also fading quickly.  Remember your sale must close escrow by the end of November to be able to qualify for that tax credit.

So if you have been waiting all summer for those late summer deals.  You better move now because summer is almost over and with it many of those deals are going to disappear.  Many many not reappear at all because for those sellers who are not willing to take a hit on their values, they are withdrawing those properties from the marketplace until prices begin to go up again and they won't be back for a long time.

So get out there, get your approval letter in hand, and start shopping.  If you don't it could cost you the home you really want.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Come on up to the High Country and enjoy the cool high country air.  If you are inspired to look at a few homes, give us a call.  We are here to help you find the home of your dreams.

SANDRA & BRUCE PAULOW, Your High Country REALTORS ®

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Good Morning Everyone,

Count the days! Wow, where has this year gone?  School has already started in some places and it starts in our area next week.  It just doens't seem possible that the year is nearly 3/4 of the way gone!

If you are a First Time Homebuyer and you have been thinking about buying a house this year to get in the "free" money Washington wants to give you, TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

There are only 122 days left for you to locate your home and close escrow.  Yes, that is right, only 122 days. 

When you consider that it takes at least 45 days for most loans to go through and these days even longer since most loans are government backed FHA Loans, it is time to get moving.  

Something else to consider!  Those great deals you have been seeing all year on the foreclosures and short sales are starting to fade in to the woodwork.  More and more of them are selling, banks are holding back large numbers of them and only letting them trickle in to the marketplace so values don't decline further.  Sellers are holding fast to their pricing now and are not willing to drop them further.  Markets are starting to stabilize and that means before long prices are going to start creeping back up. 

Looking at the latest stats prices in our area are up.  Marginally but they are starting to creep up, +.3% in July! Why?  Because the banks are seeing multiple offers on those Bank Owned properties they are releasing in to the marketplace and those homes are going to the highest bidder.  Multiple offers means higher prices.  We are also starting to see the inflation grow which is typical after a recession.  Prices of everything are going to go up:  Food, clothing, gas, interest rates, and yes, housing prices. 

Don't wait any longer if you really want to own a home in 2009.  The time is now to move because it may take you a while to find the right property at the right price, then you still have to go through the loan process.  That takes longer these days too.  So get out there, start looking, and give us a call.  Let us help you find your home before you miss out on this great opportunity to own your own home.  

See you soon!

Sandra & Bruce Paulow, Your High Country REALTORS®