Randy Hooker ~ Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

MESA, ARIZONA

...continues with its long-standing reputation of being one of the most desirable communities in The Valley of the Sun!

February 2009 vs. February 2008

• 377 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 252 last year.

• The average price paid was $174,218 vs. $235,263 last year.

• The median price came in at $135,000 vs. $210,000 last year.

• The ratio of purchase price to list price was 95% vs. 96% last year.

• 236 of the homes (63%) were bank owned vs. 60 homes (21%) last year.
  

• The average time on the market was 85 days vs. 109 days last year.

• There were 4,151 Active single family listings vs. 4,450 last year.

Click Here for full current Mesa Market Report

Mesa Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

GILBERT, ARIZONA

...a shining star in The Valley of the Sun!

February 2009 vs. February 2008

• 240 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 175 last year.

• The average price paid was $221,280 vs. $298,733 last year.

• The median price came in at $197,000 vs. $254,990 last year.

• The ratio of purchase price to list price was 97% vs. 96% last year.

• 122 of the homes (51%) were bank owned vs. 43 homes (22%) last year.
  

• The average time on the market was 85 days vs. 115 days last year.

• There were 2,644 Active single family listings vs. 3,182 last year.

Click Here for full current Gilbert Market Report

Gilbert Homes

CHANDLER, ARIZONA

...is truly a sparkling gem in The Valley of the Sun!

February 2009 vs. February 2008

• 184 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 138 last year.

• The average price paid was $249,693 vs. $313,741 last year.

• The median price came in at $210,000 vs. $241,500 last year.

• The ratio of purchase price to list price was 96% - unchanged from last year.

• 88 of the homes (48%) were bank owned vs. 28 homes (17%) last year.
  

• The average time on the market was 83 days vs. 117 days last year.

• There were 2,281 Active single family listings vs. 2,750 last year.

Click Here for full current Chandler Market Report

Chandler Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

I met some extremely nice clients this morning - a mom and her son. She had been looking at listings I had been sending her for a couple of weeks, gotten her financing arranged, and they were both quite excited to tour some of the homes that looked and sounded so appealing on-line.

The first listing was a relocation property - fresh paint, clean, newer appliances, vacant and immaculate.

The second listing was an owner/agent property - vacant but staged, nicely updated, clean and inviting.

The third listing was a foreclosed, bank owned property - anybody wanna guess what we found?

1. We were greeted by a warm, friendly family of nice, healthy cockroaches.
2. They lead us to the kitchen, which was filthy beyond imagination and smelled like a sewer.
3. Down the hallway we went, with ripped flooring that created a serious tripping hazard.
4. Throughout this lovely home, light fixtures were missing and open wiring was everywhere - in spite of the fact that the electricity was in fact turned on.
5. The bathrooms had been torn apart, apparently the craftsmanship of either copper thieves or disgruntled homeowners, who left open plumbing and open, gouging pipes just waiting to cut an unsuspecting child.
6. There were holes in every single door in the house, and drywall damage was everywhere.
7. Much of the trim and molding was damaged, leaving numerous exposed boards and rusty nails.
8. There were more fire and safety hazards than I could count.
9. The back yard welcomed us to beautiful 10' diving pool with 6" of stagnant pond sludge and no safety barrier to prevent a person from falling in and being seriously hurt or killed.
10. The access gate to the back yard was wide open, the latch was broken and there was no lock - nothing to prevent children from wandering in to the open concrete pond.

Now this isn't the first bank owned property that I've seen in such a deplorable, hazardous condition, and it probably won't be the last, but here are my questions/beefs:

Who is supposed to be responsible for such properties that are listed and accessible to the public?

Are there no risks or liabilities to Listing Agents, Brokers and/or bank for injuries or death to other Agents or their clients?

Is there no liability for making it easy for a neighboring child to access the back yard, thus risking serious injury or death to the kid(s)?

Should the burden be placed on the bank, the listing Broker, or both?

What I witnessed again today is sheer insanity. How and when will this insanity it end?

"Marketing 101 For Banks With Active Foreclosures"

Arizona Homes - Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Follow Your Dreams"

Jenifer's "Bubbling Lemon"

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Jenifer's "Butterflies - Spectacular Works of Art"