Get insider information about the St. George, Utah real estate market.  Where are the best places to buy, handy stats, and other helpful tips.

Earning a home is a life goal for many people.  Homeownership affords you privacy, gives you equity and there are even tax advantages. 

Even for people who already own a home, the essential dream doesn't go away. It just alters focus slightly. You start considering questions about whether a better home is practical.

There is one question that confronts everyone during their quests for homeownership. Should I buy an existing house or look into new construction homes?

Both options provide advantages, but they also include disadvantages. It's important to have a handle on these issues before you make a final decision.

With that in mind, let's dig into the pros and cons of...

Existing Vs. New Construction Homes

Since a home is one of the…

6966 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

According to a new report from NIA Excel, a commercial real estate firm operating in much of the western United States, 2017 was a notable year for construction in Southern Utah. Records were made in both money spend and square footage created.

This won’t come as a surprise to locals who have been seeing new retail shops and housing developments popping up the last several years, but in 2017 there was a notable increase.

Additionally, vacancy rates are low across Southern Utah. Vacancies in multi-family units are below one percent, and single family homes booming. In July, The Spectrum reported, that halfway through the year asking prices had never been higher and homes were selling fast. In 2018, two large apartment complexes are expected to be…

2864 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

House Republican leaders proposed a tax bill Thursday that would reduce the popular mortgage interest deduction by 50%, for some households. Currently, homeowners can deduct interest payments for mortgage loans up to $1 million. With the newly proposed bill this deduction would be preserved for existing mortgages, but would limit new purchase loans up to $500,000.  In addition, the rule allowing homeowners to deduct property taxes from their taxable income would be capped at $10,000.  If passed, the bill will most assuredly have a negative impact on housing and real estate nationwide.  In a statement, National Association of Realtors President William Brown said, "Eliminating or nullifying the tax incentives for homeownership puts home values and…

3180 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Image result for real estate trends

Whether you're buying, selling, or a first-time home buyer, you need to know the pulse of the St. George Real Estate Market. Here are 5 big trends to watch!

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the St. George, Utah area? If so, you're in luck! The real estate market is booming in this scenic southwestern city and for good reason. Sometimes referred to as "Utah's Florida," St George offers great weather including over 300 days of sunshine per year, world-class golf, and close proximity to Zion National Park and many other state and national parks and monuments.

Today, we're breaking down St George real estate trends to watch, so you'll know what to look for when making your next move.

Ready to learn more? Let's dive in!

1. The Market is…

2129 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

When we moved from the Salt Lake area to St. George, Utah this past spring we knew we wanted to have a swimming pool in our backyard.  After 3 crazy months we just had our first pool party in our new, beautiful swimming pool.  I am definitely not an expert on pools, but I will share with you my experience, as a first time swimming pool owner, who was involved in the entire process of building a pool.

First of all when we decided to build a pool we checked around and talked to everyone we could about what kind of pool we wanted and who should build it for us.  We were very impressed with several companies.  We had four different companies come out and give us bids in our backyard.  We decided we wanted a gunite pool after talking to our fabulous…

2708 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

St. George is among the fastest growing cities in the United States.  People relocate to Southern Utah for various reasons.  According to the St. George Chamber of Commerce, “the excellent quality of life, the many breathtaking scenic areas, the temperate climate, the healthy lifestyles, the variety of beautiful gold courses, our outstanding school system, the Dixie State College education opportunities for all ages, and the growing business opportunities” are just a few of the reasons. 

St. George is a great area to live, play and work.  St. George is located within the Mojave Desert.  The desert climate contributes to generally clear skies, relatively mild winters and hot summers.  Residents and visitors to St. George enjoy over 300 days of…

1461 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Reports from the first quarter of 2017 show now is the best time to sell a home in 10 years. Housing markets have recovered from the recession, home prices are up, and home builders are having a hard time keeping up with demand. If you've ever considered selling, now is the perfect time to place your home on the market.

By the Numbers

Nationally, sellers are seeing an average of $44,000 in gains right now and home prices are up 13%. In Utah, median sale prices also reached an all time high of $295,000. Homes are on the market for shorter amounts of time, in some of the fastest-selling areas around the country they're only on the market for about 3 weeks. While these are statistics and not guarantees, they show much growing home values are…

1671 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

With real estate prices, trends and laws constantly in the news, there is a lot of misinformation floating around. Real estate myths spread like wildfire and not doing your proper homework could cost you. Here are six real estate myths to clear up.

Selling a Home Yourself Saves You Money

Some people might think that they can save money by selling a home themselves and saving on a real estate agent’s commission. As shown in another blog post, this is not the case. Sellers who use a real estate agent almost always make more money than those who try to go it alone. Even after paying a real estate agent’s commision, you are still more likely to walk away with more money.

When Selling, You Don’t need to Stage Your Home

You may think it’s…

1763 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

When selling your home, keep in mind that there are many different factors that contribute to the resale value. A recent study shows that one business, one coffee house in particular, is increasing property values of the homes around it.

And yes, that coffee house is Starbucks.

A recent study printed in the book, Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate by Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries, explains how Starbucks is affecting the real estate market. While homes have appreciated by an average of 65% since 1997, homes near Starbucks have appreciated by 96%. To compare, homes near Dunkin Donuts appreciated by 80%, which is still better than the national average, but not as fast as Starbucks. Home prices near Starbucks have recovered more quickly…

2781 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A recent article in the New York Times argued it was time to refinance your mortgage since interest haven fallen to their lowest point in years.

“The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.8 percent at the end of last week. That is down from 4.5 percent as recently as last spring, the lowest since May 2013 and far below the 5 percent-plus rates that prevailed as recently as early 2011.”

Is it a good time to refinance your mortgage? Is that always a good decision? Here are some things you need to know about refinancing your mortgage.

How Does Refinancing Work?

Refinancing your mortgage mean you effectively pay down your current mortgage and take out a new one with a new interest rate. As the New York Times article points…

2165 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post