Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Good Morning Everyone,

It is so nice that Spring is finally showing itself in the White Mountains.  The last few days have been absolutely perfect.  Today, well not so much,since there is weather coming in and it's windy with the possibility of rain and snow showers.  It won't last long though and soon we will be back to that wonderful High Country Weather.

Along with the fine weather come the summer home buyers.  In the past week or so the number of homes showing pending sales has increased dramatically.  I know there are quite a few of you who have been waiting for nicer weather to venture up to the White Mountains, but if you really want to find that "Cabin in the Woods" before summer you need to start making your plans now.

There are some fine properties beginning to hit the marketplace too but they are selling much more quickly than they have in a long time.  The time to sell is decreasing daily.  A nice cabin at a good price will be gone in a matter of days now, not months as they have been for the past couple of years.

If you are searching for a good buy on a nicer home, say something in the $250K & up range, now is really the time to start searching in earnest.  There are some truly lovely homes on the market that are not necessarily Foreclosures or Short Sales.  They are conventional sales  with very motivated sellers who are just hoping this will be the year they will finally be able to sell their properties.   They are looking for a showing, an offer, any activity so they can finally move on with their lives.

There are still some very good values to be found in the Foreclosure Market, particularly in the higher end subdivisions.  Most of the lower end value properties are gone and it is highly unlikely that they are going to return.  I've been watching the Trustee sales and now what we are seeing going in to default are the nicer, mid to high range homes.  There are some nice commercial properties and businesses available  too.  

The Tax Credit deadline is only about a week away now but there is still time to get in if you move quickly.  If you are a First Time Homebuyer and you are tired of paying rent, now is really the time to get going.  You only need to have a home in escrow by the end of April to qualify.  The sale does not need to close until the end of June.  

The USDA 100% Loan program is back too but the funding is limited.  The qualifications on this program are liberal and it's a great opportunity to get in to a home for very little cash out of pocket.  If you would like lender information on companies handling the USDA Rural Housing Loans, call me.  I'll be happy to help you find the right lender to assist you. 

So there you have it for today.  Spring has sprung and with it the market is moving again!  That means properties are going to start moving much faster and if you have your eye on one hoping for further price reductions you may miss it!  If you wait much longer the best buys are going to be gone.  Condo buyers, there are some sellers out there who really want to move their properties too.  Opportunities for buying right now are practically unlimited but if the signs don't lie, this year could be the last year to find a great value in the White Mountain marketplace.  

Have a wonderful Wednesday and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

SANDRA PAULOW, ASSOCIATE BROKER, GRI, SFR  (928) 242-0300

Your High Country REALTOR®