About Yavapai County, AZ

The Sedona real estate market continues to show signs of recovery with an increase of sales by 23% since 08. Our pending home sales are up by a whopping 150% (which includes foreclosures and short sales). However, of those pending numbers - 80% are either a foreclosure or a short sale home - 80%. That is staggering. The median price point is down from 08 by 21% to $429,000. This price represents all price ranges including the luxury market (over $1 Million). We are having buyer's come back into the market since the price point has dropped so substantially. Our inventory has dropped by 23%. Our bottom was in January with the median price point of $341,500. So we are somewhere in the trough. With the stock market continuing to rally, consumer confidence returning, and some signs that we are heading out of the recession, now would be the time to buy. For all your Sedona Real Estate Buying needs, I can be reached at www.barbarabaker.com, barbara@barbarabaker.com, or at 800-975-5943.

On my recent trip to Sedona Arizona, real estate was not top of mind. The beautiful scenery, the vibrant community, and a visit with family was, however. But I have to admit that Sedona Arizona real estate is fascinating and colorful architecture, and with the fabulous views virtually everywhere you go, it was hard, as a REALTOR, to not be pretty interested in what Sedona had to offer. And so different from what I am now accustomed to in Southern California. More on that later.

But I digress. This really is about a beautiful community in red rock country less than 2 hours north of the thriving and sprawling Phoenix Scottsdale metropolis, about 7 and 1/2 hours from my home in Carlsbad. 

We enjoyed a gorgeous, but slower, drive north of the 10 freeway through the mountains and Prescott National Forest, along winding roads with spectacular views of the valley far below. Our schedule didn't permit time to explore Prescott (at over 5000 feet above sea level), known as a resort community with a long history as a mining town. 

Nor did we take time to stop in Jerome, a small mountain-side community which became a virtual ghost town (when the nearby copper mines closed in 1953) but if now preserved  and a thriving tourist and artist community with shops, galleries and other retail businesses. Jerome if perched on Cleopatra Hill and only accessible by a steep and winding road for miles. 

While I had heard wonderful reports of the beauty of Sedona Arizona, I was still surprised, and perhaps unprepared for how spectacular the scenery really is - I think you will agree if you have been, or once you take a moment to enjoy the photo show.

The town itself is very attractive with all the trees, the views, the earth-tone colors of the buildings, and an obvious attempt to have things blend together and preserve the beauty of the landscape and vistas of the red rock formations, many of which have been named (Bell Rock, Coffee Pot Rock Cathedral, Snoopy). 

We enjoyed dinner with my elderly uncle and his wife at an upscale restaurant, Cucina Rustica (the chef-owners have also owned and operated Dahl and DiLuca, a highly recommended eatery, for over a decade) near their home (dinner and the ambiance were terrific, by the way), as well as a several hour tour of the town the next day before heading to Scottsdale. 

 Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, a landmark in Sedona since the 1970s, was the most charming and beautiful of the shopping areas we saw. We took a quick drive through the uptown area which has a more touristy feel to it and is crammed with a wide array of retailers.

Sedona has dozens of galleries, eateries, New Age shops and metaphysical practitioners, clothing boutiques, and the usual services folks need, with unique items only found here as well as the more traditional and chain-store offerings.

Sedona is also known for art and cultural events including a famous jazz festival (we hear this may not happen this year due to the economic times), art walks and demonstrations throughout the year. You can even participate in the Sedona Marathon, a half marathon or a 5K walk in early February 2010. 

Sedona Arizona has several vortexes (one at the Sedona Airport mesa) and is known as one of the places in the world where you can find all 3 types. 

Lastly I had to explore Sedona Arizona real estate a bit, and not surprisingly there is a wide range of homes available. If the budget suits, you can spend well in excess of $10 million for spectacular homes of 8000 SF+ on lots of more than 10 acres with 5 and more bedrooms (the most expensive I found, for $29 million, is a 9750 SF home with 4/4 and 173 acres, with amazing views). But there are also over 100 listings for under $300,000.  If you are interested in Sedona Arizona real estate, let me know - I know several great REALTORS in Sedona and would be happy to provide an introduction. 

We crammed a lot in during the 20 hours we were there, including sighting some of the local wildlife - a bob cat and a quail family - and vowed to return and spend more time.  

Perhaps the 5K walk in February?

I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that buyers are pulling the trigger. Sure they are offering low but that is the market. I have even seen some people looking for land as of late. I have a tickler file that I put buyers on. They have been getting more and more active. It is a great thing having the tickler file. It gives the buyers more power as they see what is happening in their search critieria of homes or land. They even know about their search items before I do. I guess it goes back to why shop left overs when you can see the first things on market first. So if you are interested in getting the information first just email me and we can get you started..

Let's define the masses as the biggest piece of a pie graph for whatever subject we are discussing. For our purposes we'll select Real Estate/owners of one residential home. Statistically this mass of people finds a reason to sell their home and buy a different one every 3- 6 years. In the long haul most of these people make money and eventually have a more valuable home or have refinanced cash out. Strategies notwithstanding, the masses tend to profit and real estate is historically sound. That's the good news.

In this mass of people a small percentage leads the way through the market cycles and a large percentage will lag behind what the market is doing. In simple terms "THE LEADERS" risk and profit more by anticipating the low peak and selling at the crest. The biggest part of the group will wait a little too long to buy or sell their home. They still do all right but waiting until the market cycle is well on it's way up or down misses some of the value potential. It's safer but produces less profit, just like other markets. Let's call that great news for "THE LEADERS" and medium-good news for the masses.

In Prescott, Arizona residential real estate is selling for at least 30% less right now than it was in late 2005. Interest rates are at a 35 year low, and "THE LEADERS of the Masses" are becoming active in the market. Mind you there is still plenty of hysteria in the media designed to influence the masses to lay low and wait but there is good evidence that history will confirm 2009 as the bottom of the market cycle and a fabulous time to buy a home. I don't fault the logic if you prefer to wait the extra year or so to make sure.

There is a powerful search engine on my website www.craigmann.net if Prescott is on your list of stunning places to consider moving your life. Pay attention, work hard, and by all means live it up!

For those of you waiting on the fence about the Sedona Real Estate market to continue to drop. I would suggest you hop off the fence and start to buy. We are seeing prices not seen since 04. We are seeing homes coming on the market priced aggressively and having 4 to 5 offer! We are seeing foreclosures bring the market down even further. We are seeing the Stock Market continue it's tick upward - which brings back consumer confidence, which brings back buyer's. And we are seeing interest rates remain low! All this adds up to a great time to buy in the Sedona Real Estate Market. Bargain hunters can find some great value, whether it's in the Sedona Real Estate Residential Market, the Sedona Vacant Land Market, or the Condo Market. Now is the time. Are we at the bottom? Well... we are in the trough! Don't pass up this opportunity! For all your buying and selling needs I can be reached at barbara@barbarabaker.com or www.barbarabaker.com or 800-975-5943.