The valley housing market continues to transform with 6517 houses selling on the MLS in February, up 20% over February of 2009. Starting 2010 with productive sales numbers is promising to the recovery of the housing market in the Phoenix Metro Valley. We currently have 35,059 active listings on the market of which 5263 are bank owned. Inventory has increased over the winter months which is a normal real estate phenomenon for our valley. A normal, health supply of homes would be expected to range from 24,000 to 30,000 according to local housing experts. The following are some number of interest for the northwest valley subdivisions:

Comford Report 85083 Price Per Square Foot

• Arrowhead -141 active and 81 pending
• Pleasant Valley-7 active and 8 pending
• Sonoran Foothills- 30 active and 19 pending
• Sonoran Mountain-43 active and 49 pending
• Stetson Hills-19 active and 25 pending
• Stetson Valley-61 active and 31 pending
• Terramar-29 active and 18 pending
• Westwing Mountain-33 active and 47 pending
• Vistancia-94 active and 71 pending

If you are interested in looking a real time real estate market information for any zip code in the Phoenix valley including 85383, 85308, 85083, 85085 85310 go the Cromford Report. Here you can monitor the unadulterated information and follow the housing market recovery.

The Arizona Republic reported this week that Peoria police are cracking down on off-road vehicles in the north Peoria desert.  Major laws outlawing most motorized vehicles used off-road in unpaved areas went into effect two years ago. The dust-abatement laws now require cities and towns in the Valley, including the zip code of 85383, to adopt ordinances outlawing most of these activities on unpaved areas.

Under the new law, off-road motorized vehicle use in this area is limited to state-designated trails and private trails watered down to prevent dust. Unfortunately, that means very little of the land in the northwest valley, including north Peoria and north Phoenix can be used for off road adventure.

Since residents have been riding out here for 15-20 years legally the police are currently just educating most offenders of the law change instead of ticketing them. If they have repeat offenders they will fine them $150 for the first offense.

Police were spotted in the Lake Pleasant area this last Saturday informing riders of the law changes and enforcement plans by the City of Peoria.

Recently I had 2 people call me who live in Terramar, the subdivision (located in North Peoria at Happy Valley and 67th Ave). They told me about their experience with a rude sales person selling a cleaning product. I had a similar experience in Stetson Valley (located at 51st and Happy Valley, Phoenix, AZ, 85083) where I live. These sales people were nothing short of rude, refusing to accept “no” for an answer when it came to buying their product. Somehow it was a relief to know it was not something I had done to upset this young man, instead it appears to be his style of dealing with people who don’t respond in the way he would like. It brought my mind back to the words I heard many years ago by Oprah Winfrey, “People use anger to control”.

A couple of days ago I came across this article  at ABC news confirming the people of the Northwest Valley were not the only ones experiencing this sales technique. The company, T & B Sales, apologized for their pushy, door to door salesmen after people in Ahwatukee contacted the police with incidents of spitting on windows, peering in windows and refusing to leave.

The question is, “should we be opening the door to people we don’t know?”.  According the police, the answer is “No”. Because the northwest valley, including the zip codes of 85383,85083, 85308, 85310 and 85085 have lower crime rates than many other zip codes in the valley, we tend to feel safe and relaxed about opening the door to strangers. The police offered this  safety tip instead: Do not  open the door to strangers but question them by speaking through the door.

Although I would rather talk of the joy of living in the NorthWest Valley (including areas of Glendale, Peoria and Phoenix) I thought I should bring this “good news/bad news” housing market information to your attention.

The bad news is: Foreclosures continue to plague the recovery of our housing market in the areas of:

Foreclosures at Westwing Mountain, Peoria AZ

• Stetson Valley with 88 homes in foreclosure
• Stetson Hills with 34 homes in foreclosure
• Terramar with 69 homes in foreclosure
• Arrowhead with 176 homes in foreclosure
• Vistancia with 146 homes in foreclosure
• Westwing Mountain with 119 homes in foreclosure

The good news: This year brings us more help and programs then ever before:

• New HAFA program to the streamline loan modifications and short sale process
• Loan balance reduction loans where one can refinace their home at current market value
• Short sales program to short sale your home and immediately purchase a new home
• Seller’s Advisory provided by the Arizona Association of REALTORS® which answers many homeowners questions concerning short sales

If you, or someone you know, is having trouble keeping their mortgage current let me know so I can put you in touch with a couple of attorneys who are willing to do a free consultation to answer homeowners concerns specific to their situation.

This Saturday, Vistancia will host the second annual car show from noon to 4 p.m. With an estimated 1500 visitors and 150-200 vehicles it should be a great show. From 1920 to today, classic, competition and collector cars or trucks will be available to check out. They are even going to let us vote for our favorite with awards being given for the People’s Choice and Teen Choice.

This is more than a car show however, with the Andie Ramirez Band performing, Grande Pizza is sponsoring a pizza-eating contest, on-site car pin-striping, raffles, a caricaturist and a bounce house, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The cost is free, but St. Mary’s Food Bank will be collecting donations so be generous to this worthwhile cause by bringing some dry goods from the panty.

You can find this event at the Vistancia Marketplace on Vistancia Boulevard and El Mirage Road in Peoria. See you there.

One of the exciting things about living in the northwest valley is the brightly colored hot air balloons floating across our neighborhoods on an almost daily basis due the desirableness of the north valley as a fly over area. With the Sonoran Desert views, open desert and wild life many of the hot air balloon companies have chosen this area around Terramar, Stetson Valley, Stetson Hills and Norterra for their fights. This balloon launch was at 1-17 and Happy Valley on the southwest corner. I believe this event was provided by the Hot Air Expeditions Inc.. You can find their website at www.hotairexpeditions.com.

Have you ever wondered what causes interest rates to go up and down? Will these historical low rates last? I found this great video that tells all. We have seen very low rates in the northwest valley including Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria for the last year, now we know why. Don’t break out the popcorn, it is only 7 minutes long.

Many people in the valley are asking what 2010 will bring to the housing market in the metro Phoenix market. Check out the chart below provided as a courtesy of the Cromford Reports. Their statistical research indicates the following concerning the demand for homes in the valley: A number above 100 would  indicate a higher than normal demand and a number below 100 indicate lower than normal demand. A number of 100 represents balance.

In Feb. 2005 with an index number of 136.9 the valley reached it peak for demand where as Nov,2007 the indicator was reached a low of 56.6. In Dec 2009 we were at a demand index number of 147.5 which would indicate strong demand. Demand is being driven by low interest rates plus low prices ,which are similar to prices we saw in 2000 in many areas. Demand is expected to remain strong according to housing market experts through the summer selling season.

This is the way we in the northwest valley like to enjoy our snow. Either admiring from afar, as I did when I took this photo, or if you are really missing the white stuff, in less than 2 hours you can drive to the mountains to enjoy it, hands on!

I drive past the Sunrise Mountain Library quite frequently while showing properties in the area. Today I finally decided to stop and check it out. Oops, Peoria’s latest library does not open until 1 p.m. on Sundays, so make sure you check out their hours of operation before heading over. The building is architecturally interesting  so I shot a few pictures for you. I am looking forward to getting back over to this 22,000 sq ft  library when they are open to see the amenities in person.

The library is convenient to Westwing Mountain, Vistancia, Terramar ,Stetson Hills, Stetson Valley and Arrowhead, or anyone who lives in the zip codes of 85308,85083, 86383 and 85382. If you live in Maricopa County you may use this facility so check out  the Sunrise Mountain library website . They seem to have great programs for preschoolers, teens and adults.

The most exciting part for me was to learn how easy they have made returning books or renewing  items with the easy drive through book return and online or phone renewal. No more excuses for late fees!  Located at 21109 N. 98th Ave.,Peoria, Az. 85382. Let me know what your experience has been with this NORTHWEST VALLEY  library. Hours. FAQ.