For the first time since 2006, violent crime was on the rise last year, according to FBI data. But in some cities, violent crime remains well below national averages. AOL Real Estate recently analyzed the FBI’s report on crime to find the cities with populations of more than 200,000 that have violent crime rates “substantially” below the national average. Here are the top 10 “safe zones” that made its list: Irvine, Calif. (ninth consecutive year named safest city in the nation) Fremont, Calif. Plano, … [Read more...]
10 Safest Cities in the U.S. (hint: 2 Arizona cities made the list)
July 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The kids aren’t buying homes: Generation Y may be holding back the housing recovery
July 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The number of “missing households” — that is, Americans who would be owning or renting a home now if prerecession economic trends had continued — hit 2.4 million as of March, according to an analysis of raw monthly government data by real-estate marketplace Trulia. That is down slightly from its peak of 2.6 million in 2011, but up 100,000 from the year prior. And 18- to 34-year-olds account for more than half of the missing households, according to the data. “Household formation is the most important indicator of … [Read more...]
The 10 Hottest U.S. Housing Markets of 2013
May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
After a long and painful downturn in the housing market, home prices in many—but not all—regions of the U.S. are showing signs of recovery. According to Zillow, a real estate listing website, home values rose 5.1% across the U.S. between February 2012 and February 2013. Many local housing markets are performing considerably better than the country as a whole. Home values rose more than 13% in 10 of the 30 largest housing markets for which Zillow has data, and rose more than 20% in five of them. Most of the 10 … [Read more...]
Metro Phoenix luxury home sales on the rise
April 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The number of metro Phoenix luxury houses for sale is on the rise, something real estate analysts say is a good sign for the market because fewer of the houses are foreclosures or short-sale listings. At the beginning of April, there were 2,267 houses listed at $500,000 or more on the market, a 3 percent increase from March, according to the latest report from a local real estate firm and Arizona State University housing analyst Mike Orr. Of the upscale houses for sale, 90 were short sales. That compares … [Read more...]
Selling your home? The cards are in your favor
April 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Selling your home? In most parts of the country, you have finally regained the upper hand. So says Beth Braverman, CNN Money on April 8, 2013: 4:33 PM ET. To get your best price, though, you need to finesse your timing, list competitively and match your marketing strategy to local conditions. Lower your sights to make more money. Rising prices breed rising hopes: In a recent poll, brokers complained that 75% of homeowners think their agent's recommended listing price is too low. Pricing your property above … [Read more...]
5 Cities Where Houses Are Still Cheap
March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Buyers have been rushing into Phoenix in search of big deals. Short-sale purchases increased 43% during the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with a year prior, according to RealtyTrac. It’s not just investors who are behind the trend. Owner occupants are also competing for these properties. Given the competition, experts say, buyers looking to pick up a short sale will have a better shot if they come to the table with an all-cash offer. But real-estate agents warn that the window of opportunity to snatch up … [Read more...]
U.S. Housing Prices
November 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Phoenix real estate market is still red hot according to the latest data released by the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite. The Phoenix real estate market was hit extremely hard when the housing bubble burst but we are now in the midst of an extraordinary comeback. Phoenix home prices have increased by 20.4% from the prior year, more than any other city in the nation. Click here to read the full article from MarketWatch. … [Read more...]
Scottsdale Homes For Sale Update
October 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Scottsdale continues to be a destination for both tourism and residency. The city offers Western character as well as world class high end shopping and nightlife. Scottsdale real estate encompasses both North Scottsdale with communities such as DC Ranch, Grayhawk, and Desert Ridge Lower Scottsdale with communities such as McCormick Ranch, Kierland, and Old Town. As a result, the real estate in Scottsdale continues to improve as our current market transitions from a distressed level into healthier territory. Some of … [Read more...]
Low Inventory Creating Buyer Frustration
October 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Low inventories of homes for-sale are becoming troubling to home buyers, Inman News reports. Almost every major market in the U.S. has posted double-digit decreases in for-sale listings. "The buyers tend to become a little frustrated as they are seeing homes that they want to 'think about' and before they can even get home to discuss it there are already multiple offers on the property," Sheri Moritz, a real estate broker with Keller Williams' Wake Home Team in Raleigh, N.C., told Inman News. In Raleigh, … [Read more...]
