Washington County Real Estate Market

Washington County's real estate market, which fell apart in 2006 after an extraordinary run that attracted national attention, is struggling back to health.

An increase in sales of existing single-family homes has been fueled by a revived Utah economy and record low interest rates.  Foreclosed and short-sale properties are almost non-existent.  New construction of homes is on the rise as well.

"In Washington County, we have probably only 20 bank-owned properties left.  A lot of people are no longer upside down [in their mortgages].  The biggest problem we have in our market today is getting enough properties to sell," said Ryan Andersen, an agent at ERA Brokers Consolidated in St. George.

Homes priced under…

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Luxury Homes in Beautiful St GeorgeFinding the right home depends on a lot of different factors. Some, like price range or proximity to a certain area, can be assigned a straight number value. Other factors, however, are not so easily quantified. How does the floor plan make you feel? What does the neighborhood sound like? Does the view out your windows inspire you? To find these answers, you need to do more than just plug numbers into a search program... you need to look at a lot of houses.

The variety of real estate available in St George gives you a better chance of finding that perfect home. Offering some of the finest luxury homes in Utah, St George real estate boasts everything from breath taking natural views of the red rock cliffs and Zion National Park, to nationally recognized golf…

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Home-Price Growth Fastest in 7 Years, CoreLogic Says

As housing inventory remains low, prices continue to rise, posting the fastest year-over-year growth since 2006, according to data released Tuesday.

Home prices, including distressed sales, rose 2.6 percent in May and were up 12.2 percent from a year earlier, the largest annual growth since February 2006, according to CoreLogic, an Irvine, Calif.-based analysis firm. Excluding short sales and other distressed properties, prices rose 2.3 percent in May and were up 11.6 percent from the year-earlier period.

"As we approach the halfway point of 2013, home prices continue to respond positively to the reductions in home inventory thus far," said Mark Fleming, CoreLogic's chief economist.

Annual…

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Golfing in St. George, Utah: Come to Play and Stay!

A.A. Milne, an author best known for creating the Winnie the Pooh stories, once explained, Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad. Whether you are
only just beginning to swing a nine iron, a retired pro or just a person puttering around somewhere in between, in St. George, Utah, you are certain to find plenty of golf courses to practice and play on.

Long hailed as a stunning golf community, residents of Washington County, Utah, can enjoy the game of golf year round, all set against one of the most beautiful red rock backdrops in the world. The temperate climate and the abundance of space have quickly made St. George home to some of the best courses in…

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Big City Culture & Small Town Hospitality

When considering moving to a smaller community, some people fear the lack of culture and arts that might be available for entertainment and enjoyment. However, there is no need for such fear if you are thinking about relocating to St. George, Utah.

The stunning desert landscape of this Southern Utah area lends itself nicely to the arts, and because of this many organizations, theaters, galleries, concert series, readings series and artisans call St.
George, Utah home.

Before contemplating any homes for sale in any area, it is important to know more about the local community and culture. While St. George may be a smaller community, there are far too many cultural and artistic aspects to discuss in a single…

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A Lifetime of Adventure

Living in St. George, Utah, promises a life time of adventure for the outdoor enthusiast. Whether you love to hike, rock climb, 4WD, dirt-bike, mountain-bike, camp, backpack or simply take a drive through some beautiful country, you should certainly consider homes for sale in this area.

Called an Outdoor Mecca by many, St. George, Utah, and its surrounding lands, offers something for everyone. Located only an hour from both Bryce and Zion National Parks, when you live in St. George you truly live near some of our country's most treasured lands.

Just North of St. George, Zion National Park offers breathtaking views of Zion and Kolob canyons. This beautiful valley promises gorgeous scenery and lots of wildlife year round.…

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The 2013 Washington County Economic Summit, also known as What's Up Down South, took place this past week at the Dixie Center.  The overall census during the Summit is the economy in St. George, Utah is back.  2013 guarantees to be a year of increased growth as businesses continue to build new facilities, thus; creating more jobs and bringing more people to Washington County.  A few reasons businesses are looking at St. George to expand their businesses are its labor force and logistics.  The work force is educated and reliable.  St. George City is also centrally located to allow companies effective shipment of their product.  Businesses, such as Family Dollar, feel St. George and Washington County area's great locations just a good place to be.

Lt.…

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Looking for some tax relief?  According to a study conducted by The Tax Foundation, Utah has one of the top 10 climates in the nation for businesses.  See the Tax Foundation's Report.

The report ranks States according to how business friendly they are, and has Utah ranked 3rd in the nation for property taxes, and 5th for corporate taxes - with an overall ranking of 10.  Utah's sales tax rate is ranked 22nd in the U.S.

Touting Utah's business-friendly atmosphere, Spencer P. Eccles, Executive Director of the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, said "We've done a good job ensuring that we have a very business-friendly environment in the state of Utah and that's attractive to companies...whether you're talking about Salt Lake or all the way…

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A Little Local Flavor

I've often heard people say that they really felt at home in a town once they knew where all the great local eateries were. If you are considering moving to St. George, Utah, discovering all of the wonderful cuisine this town boasts is sure to be one of the most delicious parts of your relocation process.

The dining and cultural scene is certainly something that anyone contemplating homes for sale in any area must think about. After all, you aren't only thinking about moving into a new home, but you are considering becoming a part of a new community. It is important that you can enjoy and experience that community to the fullest. This is easy to do in St. George. This small, friendly Utah town is home to a wide array of…

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St. George Art FestivalSpring has finally arrived and St. George is getting ready for their annual Art Festival on April 6 & 7. Attracting over 30,000 people, this longstanding Easter weekend event is located outdoors in the beautiful Town Square, against a backdrop of fountains, landscaped gardens and antique carousel.

Dating back to 1980, this 32 year old event has something for everyone and features thousands of original works of art, live music, amazing food, and a creative children's area.

The Art

110 of the best quality artists who apply for the festival are chosen to display their work. You can expect a variety of painting mediums, sculpture, pottery, photography, woodworking and other surprises. There are cash prizes for the top entries, so the competition is…

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