I just ran a check on currently available residential properties for sale in the city of Flagstaff as of February 14^th 2012.   Presently, there are a total of 278 residential properties for sale. The number includes condos, town homes, single family homes, and mobile homes. Of this number, there are only 175 single family homes for sale in the entire city. As you will note, there just isn’t much inventory to choose from if you are looking for a regular home.  Lack of inventory and the fact that there are a lot of buyers looking for homes (yes this time of year) has really put pressure on the market to find nice clean homes for sale in good locations. When you take out the foreclosures and short sales, the number is even less. This year most likely will be a tough one if you are looking for that above average single family home.  Time will tell.

Destination Flagstaff,” the 2011-2012 visitor and relocation guide to Flagstaff has been published. This official Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce guide gives you the low-down on all things Flagstaff – from business and education to arts and leisure. Check it out online at http://www.villageprofile.com/arizona/flagstaff/.

First Friday "Art Walk" is this coming Friday, February 3, 2012 in downtown Flagstaff. This every month event is lots of fun. Come visit historic downtown, walk from shop to shop and enjoy the fun.

There is increasing evidence that consumers are more likely to call or email an agent about a listing from a mobile device than from a laptop or desktop computer. Realtor.com, the nation’s largest real estate website, reports that as much as 45% of its weekend traffic comes from mobile users-i.e. Apple iPad, iPhone, Android and other users. This trend will most likely increase exponentially and thus it will be very important for real estate agents and companies to offer high quality mobile websites. These websites will need to focus on property searches, offer photos, mapping, and basic property information while being simple in nature to navigate. I for one, have my website, www.GreggMunson.com optimized to work on most mobile devices. When desktop users type in www.GreggMunson.com, these users get the full version of my website, while mobile users can type the same URL into his or her web browser and get a mobile optimized version of the website. It’s quick, clean and simple to use. I am quite confident that from 2012 on, mobile devices will dominate and eventually replace desktop and laptop usage for the most part. I am curious as to your thoughts. Please don’t hesitate to share them. Thanks for reading.

Hi All: As we know, just about everyone is using his or her Smart Phone for getting everything from social media to the latest news and weather. In the past, lagging a bit has been finding real estate via a good Smart Phone (mobile) website.  Rest assured that’s no longer the case. As it pertains to finding Flagstaff and Northern Arizona real estate, I am pleased to introduce my new mobile website, www.GreggMunson.com. (This is my regular website which automatically converts to a mobile version via your phone’s web browser). Via my user friendly website, you can search ALL Northern Arizona real estate listings for ALL companies. This website is extremely easy to use and offers everything from multiple photos, satellite mapping, school info, and social media, to an appointment app and much more. I hope you will take a minute, visit my website and let me know your thoughts. I think you will be very pleased. In the meantime, have a great week. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Warmest Regards

Gregg Munson

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1. 2012 will be the start of the housing recovery: Flagstaff real estate numbers for the last quarter or so have shown positive results with non-distressed homes selling far better than distressed homes. Buyers are out there looking for good homes to buy. I have been seeing buyers in record numbers for this time of year.

2. Banks will start lending again: And not just to people with good credit. After 5 years of foreclosures and short sales, banks will strategize that there are millions of Americans with jobs, good income and, except for that that upside down mortgage, an otherwise good credit history. There will be reform in the banking industry that will affect who and how banks lend that will include those that experienced a foreclosure or a short sale.

3. Flagstaff homes will see positive price increases in 2012: Many of our neighborhoods are already experiencing modest increases in pricing. There will still be some price declines where lower end homes in poor condition are on the market via REO agents.

4. Land will heat up: Land sales have been dead for years as the cost to buy land and build is too high compared to the choices offered in the resale market. As the economy improves buyers desiring a new home will be forced to buy land and build. Land prices won’t go up much but land/lot inventory will start to turn.do with consumer confidence.  The increase in activity we are experiencing is being buoyed along by stronger than usual consumer confidence in the overall marketplace.  Gas and oil prices are stable.  Unemployment figures are improving.  The stock market is becoming more predictable and overseas markets seem to have stabilized as well. These are all factors that make people feel better about the overall economy and will cause them to spend again.  Need more evidence?  Holiday Sales for 2011 were up 16% over last year.  Americans are tired of feeling poor.

6.       Baby Boomers will buy real estate again:  Pre-boom, (pardon the pun) the Baby Boomers were going to retire earlier, richer and look to buy lots and lots of real estate.  The housing crash and poor economy delayed the onslaught, but they are still out there.  Maybe not as rich, maybe not as young, but still there.

7.       Interest rates will remain exceptionally low:  It’s an election year.  Interest rates of every variety will be stable throughout 2012.  But, they have do have to go up eventually.  Buyers need to take advantage of these historically low rates soon.

Regular single family home sales (not short sales or bank owned properties) have dominated the market since mid-year with November sales accounting for approximately 63% of the market.  The average sales price for a regular single family Flagstaff home is up a bit since mid-year.  In addition, the dollars per square foot for all homes sold has been relatively flat since mid-year but up somewhat in the 4^th quarter. The days on market for all homes have been relatively stable throughout 2010 with short sale DOM improving somewhat.  Distress sales have declined in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters and overall sales year to date are up 8% since the same time last year.   Let’s hope this trend continues and improves. http://bit.ly/sCzXFi