AZ MLS Homes Sales and Listings Statistics

Often we get asked "What is going on with real estate in Scottsdale, or Phoenix, or Surprise" and it is difficult giving an explanation without some actual numbers.

These charts show Sales and Listings from the past 6 years.

2001 - 2007 New Listing Chart

2001 - 2007 Sold Charts

If you would like more detailed information, we have the latest survey from the National Association of Realtors, as well as monthy reports by city. Contact us on our website and note "Statistics" in the request page.

The Cameron Team Has A New Listing!

The Douglass Family Has Listed Their Wonderful Home For Sale With The Cameron Team.

This 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath Home Was JUST LISTED For $962,500 and is Priced To Sell!

Located in Monterra. In The Gated Community Of Quial Run at: 27262 N. 73rd St. In Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Photos and More Coming Soon!

MLS #: 2834264

Jeff Cameron's Weekly Weight Watch

Well, time is ticking away and with two weeks into his weight loss Jeff has gotten 29 sponsors to contribute a total of $109.25 per pound of weight lost when he completes the Muddy Buddy Race. So far Jeff is down over 5 lbs! He is well on his way to his 20 pound goal and $300 per pound sponsorship. With these goals in mind, Jeff can raise $6000 for Living Without Limits, Ben Comen's foundation. If you have not signed up for sponsorship please email us at Jeff@TheCameronTeam.com, with your name, address, phone number and your dollar per pound donation to the Ben's cause.

Click here to learn more on Ben Comen,

and here to learn more on Muddy Buddy.

Arizona Economy and Job Creation

"Arizona’s economy lost a total of 18,800 non farm jobs in July. This loss was slightly less than seasonally expected. The private sector lost 5,700 jobs, while government lost 13,100" and service sector lost 20,000. So, without the seasonal layoffs in the service sector (resort workers) and the loss in the government sector (teachers) Arizona would have gained 14,300 jobs in July. Arizona is still a job creating machine. The full report can be read through the link below.

http://www.workforce.az.gov/admin/uploadedPublications/2541_PrAug07.pdf

So Many Short Sales in Metro Phoenix, What's up?

I heard all these reports about the adjustable rate mortgages and how they would be such a problem. I thought I was so smart and justified in my mind how they would refinance or sell their home when the adjustments occurred. I did not understand why others were making such a stink about it, until NOW. Now we are looking at a flood of foreclosures and short sales for the near future. I have seen 8 to 10 forecloses in McDowell Mountain Ranch and even some in DC Ranch.

What is causing these issues? This stems from all the irresponsible mortgages made over the past few years. Many home owners bought with 100% financing and now can't refinance. Some are looking at 25% jumps in the their mortgage payment, the one they barely qualified for 2 years ago. Borrowers expected their home to appreciate so they can refinance into a new mortgage. Many of these borrowers are not sub prime as all the hype in the news. But they are regular A paper borrowers, just caught up in a market cycle.

Why so many? There are many reasons. The top reason is as mentioned, folks bought expecting to refinance their mortgages before they reset to a payment they cannot afford. They next issue is that home values are dropping, in some cases 30 to 40%. So, regular good credit borrowers are looking at 5 or more years of a huge payments just to get back to break even or get out now. Many are choosing to get it over now versus suffering and failing. People are always moving due to work, family, illness, divorce, death etc... For years, refinancing and pulling out the equity has been rampant. These issues are causing more and more people to default on their mortgage.

What to do, when you cannot afford the payment? Contact a good professional Realtor. One experienced and certified in Short Sales. Start the process with the bank. Your Realtor can help you with this presentation. List your home for sale with a Realtor that is an aggressive marketer. Get it sold and have your Realtor negotiate the Short Sale. Then move on with your life and be happy you do not have a foreclosure on your record. By the way, I am certified in Short Sales and have sold several recently. I am also an aggressive marketer.

I am not in this situation, how does it affect me? Basically we are back to a couple fundamentals. First, supply and demand. This situation adds more supply to the market, thus more pressure on values. Short Sales are usually very aggressive and drive values down. The good thing about Short Sales is they are better than foreclosures. You don't have the abandoned houses. Foreclosures are usually in worse condition than Short Sale homes. Foreclosures drive the prices down more due to their condition.

If you know anyone fearing the loss of their home. Please send us their name, address and email address. We can help them sell their home. Selling their home before foreclosure will help them, their neighborhood and our market. In some cases, we can sell their home without destroying their credit. Our market, as with all real estate markets, will make it through this cycyle.

New Listing In Glendale - SHORT SALE

13231 N. 26th Dr. --- NEW LISTING

Running With Ben - Found the Video

You can watch the video of Ben Comen and see his whole story now too. We found it!

Watch the video of his story here: http://www.bluefoot.tv/movies/bencomen.html

Enjoy! And don't forget to sign up to sponsor Jeff and donate to the Ben Comen Foundation (if you don't know what this is about, read the blog below titled " Muddy Buddy Ride And Run".

MUDDY BUDDY RIDE AND RUN

August 14, 2007

Many of you know I have become an avid mountain biker. I ride 2 to 3 times per week and absolutely love it. I am the perfect example of how a heavy cardio work out needs to be mixed with a good diet to lose weight. Because with all the riding I do, I am still pushing a little over 245. My good friend, John Todaro, has convinced me to join him in the MUDDY BUDDY EVENT this year in Los Angeles. I have some information and a link below if you have any interest. Basically it is a race, both on bike and running. You and your partner take off together, but one runs and the other rides. The rider hits a check point and drops the bike and starts running. The runner gets to the check point and picks up the bike and rides. There are 6 check points and then we drudge thru the mud and to the finish line. Oh boy I can't wait... So, I have decided to mix diet with exercise and am looking for some help to get motivated. I am turning this into a fund raiser. Read my blog on August 13th about Ben Comen because I want to raise money for Ben's foundation, "Ben Comen, Living Without Limits Fund" ... So, I am looking for sponsors. Here is my proposal. Donate a sum for every pound I loose between now and the race, plus I must finish the race. I am looking for donations from $3 to $10 per pound. This is pretty safe for you all. I have been trying to lose weight my whole life and I just keep getting bigger. Plus I have been running or riding 4 to 5 days per week for the last 6 weeks. So, I am pretty close to my top cardio fitness. It is all about the diet from here on out!

Come on now, will it be $5 or $10 per pound? Just give me a call or shoot me an email. But do it soon, or you might be getting a call!

Muddy Buddy Event
http://www.muddybuddy.com/events.php?id=8
Muddy Buddy Los Angeles :: November 4, 2007
presented by

To all of our Partners in Grime, we welcome you to the 2007 Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series! This unique trail running and biking race is sure to be fun and challenging for everyone. Both beginning athletes and experienced racers alike will have a great time along the course and through the obstacles, especially in the infamous Mud Pit! We can't wait to see you there, so grab a buddy and prepare to Get Dirty.

Race Description
Each race features a 6-7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike, and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together!

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES...

From The Mortgage Market Guide. Provided by John Todaro of Great Southwest Mortgage of Scottsdale Arizona.
Last Week in Review 8-11

Wait, maybe last week was just plain the worst of times, as far as the financial markets around the globe were concerned. French bank BNP Paribas — the largest bank in France and second largest in Europe — touched off a crisis in Europe on Thursday when it announced that it couldn't determine the values of three of their mutual funds due to their containing US sub-prime mortgage investments, and actually prohibited withdrawals from these funds until a valuation could be made.
This led to a lack of confidence not only with their customers and investors, but also among all European Union banks. These banks, not knowing the extent of each other's investment exposure in US mortgage backed securities, suddenly realized they couldn't trust one another enough to lend each other money via normal inter-bank loans. This created an instant "liquidity crisis" in Europe, and Stock markets across the world reacted negatively as a result.
The European Central Bank, their equivalent of our Fed, took immediate action to stem the crisis by allowing their banks to borrow $131 Billion last Thursday and another $83.8 Billion on Friday. The amount borrowed shocked many analysts, as it was more than three times as much borrowed during the crisis created following the events of 9/11. Back in the US, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York intervened in the liquidity crisis here in the US by adding $84 Billion of liquidity to our own banking system. The Fed's intervention is designed to stabilize our financial markets by restoring confidence, and allowing the markets to continue to trade in an orderly fashion. And while the Fed left the Fed Funds Rate stable following their meeting last week, the current liquidity crisis will likely give the Fed the impetus to cut rates, and cut them aggressively. It may even happen before their next scheduled meeting on September 18th. For perspective, the last time the Fed made rate changes outside of a scheduled meeting was on September 13th and 17th, 2001 - just following the disastrous events of September 11th, 2001. Check back next week to see how the events play out in the market.

Wow, what a bullet we dodged. It looks like the systems that have been put into place to stop a major market meltdown worked. Good! A total of $298 Billion, that is 1/3 of a trillion dollars, had to be pumped into the system to stop the collapse. That is some serious cash. Last week, for some time on Thursday and Friday, lenders could not lock a loan. Wall Street had no investors interested in purchasing mortgage back securities, so they could not price a loan. The level of uncertainty was to a point that there were no buyers. Let's hope we hear some good economic news this week and the market recovers from its jitters of last week.

I met the #1 Realtor in the WORLD

August 10, 2007
Yes, it is true. I happened to pick a seat for a Marketing presentation at the Tom Ferry, success Summit and the person that sat next to me is the #1 Realtor in the World. Her name is Cristina Martinez. You can go to her site at http://www.cristinapowerhouse.com/ . I don't know how many houses she sold, but she made over $7 million, yes million, last year. What was she like? What's her story?

Well, she was quiet and dressed formal with her entourage. As we sat there watching the presentation we made small talk. But quite honestly, I didn't know what to say and I did not want to bother her. She works in San Jose California and she is of Asian decent. So, I foolishly thought she was rich and connected and that is why she became the number Realtor in the world. "She started at the top and just had to improve," was what flashed through my brain. Big deal, but let's here what she has to say.

Oh boy, I was pathetically WRONG! Cristina Martinez is an immigrant from the Philippines. She comes from a poor family but is intelligent and worked hard to get an Engineering Degree. Her church helped her relocate to America. She moved in with a family, in their 2 bedroom apartment with their two kids and worked as a fish cleaner in an Asian market. "What, who is this, boy was I wrong!" Later she got a job as an engineer, actually 2. She was working the night shift and in the day. Later she attended a motivational seminar. You see her manager was 62 and he could not afford to retire. She didn't want that for herself. Her motivational seminar got her into insurance sales and from there into real estate. She worked hard and 18 years later is the #1 Realtor in the WORLD. What an AWESOME story! Boy and if she can do it, I can do it. I just need to stop presuming and start being accountable.

Cristina is very motivated by money. But not to fill her pockets, she redistributes much of her wealth through the church. She wants to give back and help people. What a great lady.

So, yes, I met the #1 Realtor in the world and I did learn something from her. I just learned over time instead of through specific questions. I am very happy to have met her and heard her story. Keep up the Great work Cristina!

WE RAN WITH BEN COMEN

August 10, 2007
Yes, that is right. Thursday, while attending a real estate seminar by Tom Ferry in Palm Desert, Tom showed us a powerful story that aired on ESPN some 3 years ago. Yes, it was a motivational piece. But one worth watching. It is amazing how we go through life with all our trivial issues that just put us in a tissy. This piece really hit me. I am sitting here writing and holding back a tear for the emotions it stirs are incredible. I looked all over the internet for the clip, but I think it is too long. I have not been able to find it. When I do, you will get a link. For it is worth watching over and over. If it does not effect you...well I don't know what to say. I found this piece below on Google, it tells the story. Better to copy and credit then try and rewrite. So where was I? Yes, we watched the piece, all 2,500 of us. There was a few dry eyes, those who can hold it back in a crowd. Then Tom Ferry surprised everyone by bringing Ben Comen out on stage. He was incredible. Simple and sincere with a determination that could change our country and world IF it were contagious. Then, as the interview ended Tom suggested to Ben the idea of a run. Ben said, "I would very much like that." Tom stood up and said to the crowd, let's do it. He invited us to meet in the lobby at 5:45 a.m., yes a.m., not a big deal for me. As a matter of fact, I thought arrogantly that maybe 20 or so people would show. It would be fun and intimate. WOW! I was wrong. There had to be near 500 people that showed up to run with Ben. It was great. I love an early morning work out, it is all inspiring. This was 1,000 times better. As you can imagine, I didn't get a chance to talk to Ben, but just being there was AWESOME.

I hope you enjoy Ben's story.

Watch the video of his story here too: http://www.bluefoot.tv/movies/bencomen.html

Worth the Wait -- Rick Reilly -- 911 words -- 20 October 2003 -- Sports Illustrated -- 76 -- English -- Copyright (c) 2003 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.





Why do they come? Why do they hang around to watch the slowest high school cross-country runner in America? Why do they want to see a kid finish the 3.1 miles in 51 minutes when the winner did it in 16?



Why do they cry? Why do they nearly break their wrists applauding a junior who falls flat on his face almost every race? Why do they hug a teenager who could be beaten by any other kid running backward?



Why do they do it? Why do all of his teammates go back out on the course and run the last 10 minutes of every race with him? Why do other teams do it too? And the girls' teams? Why run all the way back out there to pace a kid running like a tortoise with bunions?



Why?



Because Ben Comen never quits.



See, Ben has a heart just slightly larger than the Chicago Hyatt. He also has cerebral palsy. The disease doesn't mess with his intellect--he gets A's and B's--but it seizes his muscles and contorts his body and gives him the balance of a Times Square drunk. Yet there he is, competing for the Hanna High cross-country team in Anderson, S.C., dragging that wracked body over rocks and fallen branches and ditches. And people ask, Why?



"Because I feel like I've been put here to set an example," says Ben, 16. "Anybody can find something they can do--and do it well. I like to show people that you can either stop trying or you can pick yourself up and keep going. It's just more fun to keep going."



It must be, because faced with what Ben faces, most of us would quit.



Imagine what it feels like for Ben to watch his perfectly healthy twin, Alex, or his younger brother, Chris, run like rabbits for Hanna High, while Ben runs like a man whacking through an Amazon thicket. Imagine never beating anybody to the finish line. Imagine dragging along that stubborn left side, pulling that unbending tire iron of a leg around to the front and pogo-sticking off it to get back to his right.



Worse, he lifts his feet so little that he trips on anything--a Twinkie-sized rock, a licorice-thick branch, the cracks between linoleum tiles. But he won't let anybody help him up. "It messes up my flow," he says. He's not embarrassed, just mad.



Worst, he falls hard. His brain can't send signals fast enough for his arms to cushion his fall, so he often smacks his head or his face or his shoulder. Sometimes his mom, Joan, can't watch.



"I've been coaching cross-country for 31 years," says Hanna's Chuck Parker, "and I've never met anyone with the drive that Ben has. I don't think there's an inch of that kid I haven't had to bandage up."



But never before Ben finishes the race. Like Rocky Marciano, Ben finishes bloody and bruised, but never beaten. Oh, he always loses- -Ben barely finishes ahead of the sunset, forget other runners. But he hasn't quit once. Through rain, wind or welt, he always crosses the finish line.



Lord, it's some sight when he gets there: Ben clunking his way home, shepherded by all those kids, while the cheerleaders screech and parents try to holler encouragement, only to find nothing coming out of their voice boxes.



The other day Ben was coming in with his huge army, Ben's Friends, his face stoplight red and tortured, that laborious gait eating up the earth inch by inch, when he fell not 10 yards from the line. There was a gasp from the parents and a second of silence from the kids. But then Ben went through the 15-second process of getting his bloody knees under him, his balance back and his forward motion going again--and he finished. From the roar you'd have thought he just won Boston.



"Words can't describe that moment," says his mom. "I saw grown men just stand there and cry."



Ben can get to you that way. This is a kid who builds wheelchair ramps for Easter Seals, spends nights helping at an assisted- living home, mans a drill for Habitat for Humanity, devotes hours to holding the hand of a disabled neighbor, Miss Jessie, and plans to run a marathon and become a doctor. Boy, the youth of today, huh?



Oh, one aside: Hanna High is also the home of a mentally challenged man known as Radio, who has been the football team's assistant for more than 30 years. Radio gained national attention in a 1996 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED story by Gary Smith and is the hero of a major movie that opens nationwide on Oct. 24.



Feel like you could use a little dose of humanity? Get yourself to Hanna. And while you're there, go out and join Ben's Friends.



You'll be amazed what a little jog can do for your heart.



Why do they nearly break their wrists applauding a kid who falls flat on his face almost every race?


POWERFUL!

I hope you enjoyed Ben's story. Check out the foundation by visiting: http://www.livingwithoutlimits.org/
Watch the video of his story here too: http://www.bluefoot.tv/movies/bencomen.html

Carter Cameron Can Swim

I was wondering if we would get there this year and all of the sudden he went from not even trying to swimming. What am I talking about...My Son Can Swim! Yes, that is right. Carter swam for the first time this past weekend. Over the past couple of months Carter has been floating around the pool in a tube. I was thinking, how will he ever learn to swim. I tried to get him out of the tube, but he was very fearful of the water. I finally got him to hold onto my back while I swam around the pool. I think that was the straw that took him to the next level. Lisa, my brilliant wife, kept saying, "he will swim when he is ready." Of course being the father of 4 and my only boy not swimming at 3 when we are in the pool 5 days a week, I have been ready. Oh, ready for about 2 years! But it's not about me, I needed to wait... be patient and supportive until he was ready. So, YES, my son can swim!!!!!

AUGUST VALLEY HOME INVENTORY REVIEW

Many of you know I am in Palm Desert this week for a Tom Ferry real estate seminar. It has been a great week and it is AWSOME to learn from the top agents and coaches around the country what is working today to sell homes. Why reinvent the wheel when you can pay the best to share their knowledge and experience. I am very excited about what I will be bringing back to my team so we can service our clients better. Service? I mean market their home to be SOLD! Sold for the highest price in the desired time frame and with the least amount of inconvenience.

Back to the INVENTORY levels. Many of you know I am a numbers guy. So, I started tracking the inventory levels for single family homes in metro Phoenix back in 2005. I was frustrated with the way the Arizona Republic would mix their stats when reporting numbers.

With my tracking I run the numbers weekly, actually on Monday late in the afternoon. We have begun to see the inventory of homes for sale level off. As of August 1st there were 45,092 single family homes for sale valley wide. With 29,394 single family homes sold YTD, that calculates out to 10.74 months of inventory. WOW! The inventory level has only grown about 500 homes since July 1st, but is up from 33,523 on January 1st.

We experienced the same type of activity in 2006 with inventory levels. In 2006, the inventory of single family homes in metro Phoenix peaked at 39,950 according to my tracking. That was in September of 2006, however, we passed the 39,000 level in July. So, once we peaked we stayed at that level for some time. Then as we went into the off season and holidays, inventory levels dropped ending up down 15% from the peak at the first of the year. I expect to see the same type of activity this year.

The amount of homes being listed for sale each week has dropped dramatically. The 4 week moving average of net new listings is at 924. Unfortunately, sales have dropped too. The four week moving average of home sales is at 780 per week. So we are still adding about 144 homes to the inventory level each week.

This supply and demand issue is the basis for the transition in our market. With 15,000 homes being listed each month and less than 4,000 selling, most homes will not sell this year. Sellers that need to sell are being aggressive to draw the buyers. This has created a situation where values are being reset in neighborhoods.

If you are thinking about buying or selling in today's market, you need The Cameron Team's help. We assist buyers in making informed decisions and help sellers with proven marketing that works in today's world of real estate. Call us today for a FREE personal Total Market Review and Consultation.