Gilbert, Arizona Home Market News

New Search Features Added to Gilberthomes.com

2010-03-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the technology of Google and Realbird, I've added an awesome new search feature to gilberthomes.com! Please check it out and give feedback! Thanks. -Aaron

UPDATE: Realbird didn't quite cut it, so we've added new new search features. Please check them out and give us your feedback.

Tiny carpet patches

2010-03-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure who innovated the concept of tiny patches of carpet surrounded by a sea of tile, but they sure do make my life as a realtor hard. I can't sell a house like this! Tile it or carpet it - I don't care, but make up your mind!

'Extreme Makeover' Home in Gilbert is Heading for Auction

2010-02-13T22:27:00.000-08:00

I guess it's no surprise that this dream home that was gifted by "Extreme Makeover:Home Edition" ended up becoming a heavy burden on the recipients when the high property taxes, energy costs, landscaping, and other expenses started piling up. The listing is below:

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?reqx4ol9yyu,12,1

Get Ready for Spring Training!

2010-02-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

March is almost here, and one of the biggest tourist draws and most exciting times for local residents is Major League Baseball's spring training, when we get teams from all over the country to share our warm weather with us. Most popular here in the East Valley are the Chicago Cubs, who have called Mesa, AZ their spring-time home for 40 years (that's a guess -- not sure of the exact timeline). The San Francisco Giants, who play in Scottsdale, are also very popular with East Valley residents.

Games are usually under $15 per person and the weather is amazing here in March. Please visit the Cactus League Official Website for trip planning tools and details.

Gilbert Historical Home Values

2010-02-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

This chart from Zillow.com show the estimated value of an average home in Gilbert, Arizona over the last 10 years. According to Zillow, the average Gilbert home was worth $362,900 in 2006 at the peak of the market, but dropped as low as $188,700 at the end of 2009.

The above chart, also from Zillow, shows the average price-per-square-foot in Gilbert, Arizona of homes actually sold. Obviously, it varies by the house and the neighborhood, but in general, if you want to buy a 2,000 square foot house in Gilbert, AZ, expect to pay about $200,000 in today's market.

Shea's Spacy New Homes

2010-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Shea seems to be taking a bit of a risk with its new concept: "Shea Spaces." Putting a modern, urban-condo looking unit in a nice golf-course subdivision in the suburbs (Seville neighborhood of Gilbert, AZ) is certainly non-traditional. My concern is that those modernistic designs don't seem to stand up to time. It's always the more conservative homes that still look good years later. On the other hand, Shea is a great builder, and I'm sure they've done their research. Either way, I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Biking in Arizona

2010-01-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

It was an especially warm winter day today, and my brother-in-law and I took advantage of the opportunity to get some good cardio in. This picture was taken today just north of Mesa, Arizona on Usury Pass Road, a popular highway for cyclists.

Saving Your Trees from Frost Damage

2010-01-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

Only a couple of years ago, all the Ficus trees in Phoenix were dealt a huge blow by a severe frost that sent temperatures plummeting. This year, it has been the southeastern United States that has been hammered by frost and snow and ice. Many in the field of agriculture are worried that they won't have a harvest at all this year.

Anyway, I found this great article that gives suggestions on how to protect your trees and plants from frost damage. Remember that while trees generally do little to change the value of a property, they do make your home much more appealing, which will result in a faster sale if you put it on the market. They also provide much needed shade and aesthetic appeal for you to enjoy as long as you live there. Take care of your trees!

Prices Still Going Down

2010-01-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

It seemed as though the market had stabilized this fall when demand finally shot up as a result of bargain prices and first-time homebuyer tax credits, but it turns out that was not the case. Resale home prices have continued to plummet while only foreclosure prices seem to be stabilizing. Check out this article in the Tribune for more information: Home prices drop for 32nd straight month. But take it with a grain of salt because home sales are seasonal, and people have already started coming out of the woodwork, looking for a home to purchase this summer.

Biggest Storm in Years Hits Valley

2010-01-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

My sister who owns a tree service in Mesa, Arizona together with her husband, Dan (photo above), is running all over town today doing estimates on tree-related storm damage. Streets are flooded, there are rumors of tornadoes touching down in north Scottsdale, and the luxury car auction in Scottsdale was demolished when the tents came down. On a more personal note, I haven't been able to get out and go running or biking, and I can feel myself getting out of shape! Please take care of your trees. Get a certified arborist to trim them on an annual or semi-annual basis, depending on the tree, and you are much less likely to lose your trees to storm damage. Trees are a valuable asset to your property and are very difficult to replace, so take care of them.

Who knew the Agritopia Farm Stand had a blog?

2009-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Check out the farmstand blog to find out what's in season down at Agritopia, and to get great recipe ideas!

Val Vista Lakes Boatride

2009-09-28T22:02:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Bob and CJ Carpenter for taking me out on their boat at dusk on Sunday to get these shots;)

Val Vista Lakes is a waterfront community in Gilbert, Arizona. It features an awesome clubhouse, sandy beach, lap pool, weight/fitness room, reception areas, and 8 tennis courts.

Foreclosure in Stonebridge Lakes Estates listed at $265k

2009-09-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Click on the images above to view a larger version.

Stats:

Current price: $265,000 (Sold for $490,000 in 2006)
4 bed/2 bath
2,357 SQ FT
Private pool
Backyard leads to man-made lake
2 community pools

Give us a call at 480-699-1403 if you want to go look at it!

August 2009 Shows 19% More Home Sales in Gilbert than August 2008

2009-09-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Although the average sale price per home has dropped from $268,682 to $226,839 from July of 2008 to July of 2009, the 19% increase in total sales of detached single family homes in Gilbert, AZ from 701 last year to 841 this year has effected a 1% increase in total sales. Mesa, meanwhile, has seen an even greater jump over 2008 with a 50% increase from 807 houses sold in August of 2008 to 1218 sold in 2009. Queen Creek's climb has been more mild at 11% (from 721 in '08 to 806 in '09).

Foreclosure Rates Going Down. A recently occurring phenomenon is dropping Arizona foreclosure rates. It seems that many lenders have been holding off on foreclosure until October when the new Arizona law that was supposed to protect small lenders would make it possible for lenders to go after all of the money they were owed in many cases. Fortunately, our good legislators got some sense and repealed the law before it went into effect.

Fresh Ice Cream, Made Daily in Gilbert, AZ

2009-08-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

If you like to frequent locally-owned ice cream shops where the ice cream is made fresh every day, and the delivery truck from the local dairy is parked out front, check out Udder Delights. On the SW corner of Val Vista and Ray in Gilbert, AZ, they offer a variety of ice creams from vanilla to cinnamon streusel. Make sure that you ignore the $1 scoop sign, though, because if you want real ice cream, you're going to have to pay for it! Not sure what the sign is for; let me know if you find out.

Short Sale Pitfall #379: Realtor Commission Disputes

2009-08-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I dislike short sales. They always seem to involve too much work, too much uncertainty and too much waiting. Below is one potential pitfall that you may encounter during a real estate transaction that is listed as a short sale.

Pitfall #379: The bank approves the buyer's offer, but with conditions...

That's great! What's the catch? The bank demands that the total commission paid to the real estate agents involved is decreased by 2%. Logically, neither the listing agent, nor the buyer's broker wants to decrease the amount of commission they expected to receive in this transaction. Aren't they legally obligated to do so? No. Neither party has any legal obligation to decrease his/her commission. Yes, this can turn ugly as they decide who gets paid less, and by how much, and yes, this can stall or cancel your real estate transaction. The most likely scenario is that they split the commission-ectomy 50-50, which is good for you because you have a sale, but you shouldn't count on it being so neat and simple.

The information in this article is pulled from the Arizona Association of Realtors website.

Create Live AZ in Gilbert Coffee Shop

2009-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know about you, but I am definitely planning to attend the second installment of Create Live AZ, featuring two very interesting artists and two musicians I know little about. I guess not knowing what to expect is what makes it fun. It's right here in Gilbert AZ, so I hope to see you there, but if not, I'll let you know how it goes.

Details:

Who: Open to the general public
What: Create Live AZ -- Natasha painting, Daniel illustrating, Jack and Josh performing live music
When: August 15, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Where: The Coffee Shop, 3000 East Ray Road, Building #2, Gilbert, AZ 85296
Why: Because it's going to be awesome (I hope)!

Update (Aug 16, 2009): Yeah, okay, I didn't make it. I was showing a house during that time. It turns out that Saturday afternoon is a great time to show a house. I'll make it next time.

New Home Sales on the Rise in Gilbert AZ

2009-08-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

New home builders in Gilbert, Queen Creek and the rest of the East Valley have been using large incentives, great prices, and generous terms to move their inventory faster this summer than anyone expected. On new home builds, the price is generally set, but the incentives - closing cost assistance and quantity of free upgrades - are often negotiable. You can get great deals on foreclosures right now, but new homes are definitely worth checking out if you like to have new tile and appliances that you picked out yourself at the home gallery.

On Saturday, I helped one of my clients find a beautiful new home in the Village at Queen Creek that is being built by Richmond American. The design and quality of construction they are using is remarkable and the big open floor plans and large lots are unbeatable in their price range ($200,000). The other great thing about Queen Creek is that buying a house there may make you elligible for a Rural Housing loan. With zero down, the benefits are comparable with a VA loan. Queen Creek has such a bad reputation because of the developments full of vacancies and foreclosures to the south, but the truth is that Queen Creek itself is actually quite nice still, and there are a lot of good bargains there.

Give me a call at (480) 699-1403 if you would like help finding a new home in Gilbert or the rest of the East Valley.

Additional Resources:

More about new homes in Gilbert AZ
Gilbert Housing Market Shows Signs of Recovery - EV Tribune

The Islands of Gilbert, Arizona

2009-08-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Homes are selling in The Islands!
Conventional home sales have done surprisingly well this summer in The Islands. Check out this Report of Homes Sold in The Islands from mid-June through the end of July. This report only shows conventional home sales, not foreclosures or short sales. In total, 14 conventional home sales were made from mid-Jun through the end of July - signs of a strengthening market.

The Islands is a great waterfront community in the western part of Gilbert, bordering Chandler.

Gilbert, Arizona Home Market Statistics for July

2009-08-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

Residential home sales in Gilbert (from 1-31 July, 2009)

450 houses sold
$226,803 average sale price
393 pending sales (As of 31 Jul 09)
1,670 active listings (As of 31 Jul 09)
$297,510 average list price (As of 31 Jul 09)

This is pretty similar to the month of June, with the exception that the average sale price has increased by about $7,000 during July. Statistics courtesy of Arizona MLS.

Schools in Gilbert, AZ "Excelling"

2009-08-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

Once again it's time to see the results from the sometimes dreaded AIMS test. Gilbert schools did outstanding, with the vast majority earning the highest designation of "excelling." Two of Gilbert's school districts - Gilbert and Higley - were the only two public school systems in the southeast valley to meet federal testing standards. It's no wonder that Gilbert public schools continue to receive high online rankings in every category.

More about schools in Gilbert, Arizona.

Check out this review of Joe's Real BBQ

2009-07-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

"Who would think you could get good BBQ in the middle of the Arizona desert? Today I was driving through the Town of Gilbert and passed by a little place in an old brick building called Joe’s Real BBQ. I’m immediately intrigued..." (go to Good Greasy Eats article)

Joe's Real BBQ is located in downtown Gilbert AZ at 301 N Gilbert Rd. and is open year-round from 11 AM to 9 PM. Also see this Phoenix New Times review of Joe's Real BBQ. For information on other restaurants in the Gilbert area, check out UrbanSpoon.com.

Biking in Gilbert, Arizona

2009-07-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Anyone who know me knows that I love to ride my bicycle, and one of the best ways to stay in shape here in Arizona is to get into biking. Not only is it a great place for road biking, but mountain biking as well (that's me to the right, racing at McDowell Mountain Park). My favorite way to ride, though, is on my old Napoleon Dynamite-style 10-speed with my sister's kids on the canals and around the neighborhood. Gilbert is also a great place for night riding. Just get some lights, get on the canal, and go.

Here are some biking resources that I've found:

Road biking

Bikely routes in Gilbert AZ These are routes uploaded by local riders
AZ Brumbys Riding Club (of Mesa) These guys are really fun to ride with if you like to get up early. It can be good to find a fun group that you enjoy riding with.
GABA group rides and route maps

Mountain biking

If you're in to mountain biking, you'll need Cosmic Ray's Fat Tire Guide. There aren't really good internet resources available on this topic that I know of.
Also check out MTBR trail reviews

Leisure riding

Gilbert AZ bike trails map
A cool place to stop off during your ride is the Gilbert AZ Riparian Preserve. On Friday and Saturday evenings you can go in to the observatory and hang out with the local astronomy club. Also check out Freestone Park.

Wherever or whatever you end up riding, just be sure to keep it safe: drink plenty of water, wear a helmet, use lights if at night, and obey traffic laws

New Massage Studio in Mesa-Gilbert Area

2009-07-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so technically, Denae's new massage studio, DNA Massage, is located in Mesa, but since it's on Baseline Rd, I think it qualifies as a Gilbert-based business as well, so I thought it would be good to mention it here. I've known Denae Schmid for about 2 years now, and she's always been a great friend and hard worker. She is a certified adrenaline junky who worked for about 10 years in Taos, New Mexico as a ski instructor/river guide/firefighter. She's been working as a massage therapist ever since she moved to Arizona a couple of years ago, and she has built up quite a client base.

We are all benefited by having small, locally run businesses like Denae's massage studio, and I hope that everyone can get out and support local business. Plus, she's offering $25 massages for the next month or so as an introductory offer. That is a good deal!

Who's tired of the oppressive Arizona heat?

2009-07-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

I know that talking bad about Arizona weather won't help me sell more houses in Gilbert, Arizona, but the truth is I love Arizona weather. It's just that sometimes I need a little break in the middle of the summer.

This is a shout out for my mother who manages this beach house property in Yachats, along the Oregon coast. My mom is a great designer and you can see from looking at this Oregon beach house listing that she has put a lot of work into making it nice. It sleeps 6-10 people and rents for $205 per night in the summertime. I was up in that area visiting her last September and it was so much fun. We actually ended up hanging out in Ashland, Oregon for a couple of days with my cousins and got to see my Granny one last time before she passed away. I am a big fan of Oregon (I was born there). Check it out if you get the chance.