Eileen Schreiber, ABR, EcoBroker, Flagstaff, AZ

This report provides information for every home that sold in Forest Highlands in 2008, as well as the overall averages that resulted from those sales. The data was taken from the Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service with all appropriate disclaimers.

This Forest Highlands Market Report is a snapshot of the overall community. Nothing beats a personal report that reflects your homes' size, location, age, amenities, views and lot size. I am happy to create a personal report! Just ask!

The Forest Highlands 2008 Market Report for Single Family Homes.

For all Flagstaff Golf Properties, Please see the Flagstaff Golf Property Website.

Synopsis of the Flagstaff Market Report, 2007 & 2008

Based on Statistics from the Northern Arizona MLS, the average Sale Price of Flagstaff Single Family Homes dropped 8.5% from 2007 to 2008.

Quarterly Synopsis of Sell Price/SF

Avg. Sell Price/SF dropped in the First Quarter of 07 to 08 by 4.6%

Avg. Sell Price/SF dropped in the Second Quarter of 07 to 08 by 6.9%

Avg. Sell Price/SF dropped in the Third Quarter of 07 to 08 by 8.8%

Avg. Sell Price/SF dropped in the Fourth Quarter of 07 to 08 by 13.8%

Average Sell Price/SF for calendar year 2007 was $216.17

Average Sell Price/SF for calendar year 2008 was $197.73

For the full Flagstaff Arizona Market Report on Single Family Homes Sold in 07 and 08

All information is taken from the Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service and includes Single Family Homes only. It does not include condos, townhomes or For Sale By Owners.

This is only a snapshot. There is nothing better than an up-to-the-mintue report designed specifically for your home's location, size, amenities, age and condition. Please call me or email me for your personalized report.

Doing the Snoopy Dance- An Update.

If any of you read my story about "Saying Goodbye to 2008...", as of this morning, the escrow is still on and we are going to do our best to close this puppy to bring in the New Year.

I have started my new year with a spinning class that forced me to sweat out all of the old toxicity of 2008. I am out of breath, clear and cured! :) :) Hope all of you are, too!!!

I hope we all have a great 2009!

It started out on a great note.  The escrow I had open, and which had been struggling along for months, looked like it would close!  With final documents (not loan docs) being rushed around for signatures, my Buyers were hopeful that in the first week of January they would have their beautiful little Flagstaff home with the great views of the trees.

Rewind.  We had started in September.  These buyers, like many others, were looking for their dream second home - the beautiful cabin in the trees for under $200,000. 

If you don't know the Flagstaff market (and most people on the planet do not), that dream is almost a pipe dream, in some instances a fantasy.

Flagstaff is unique in Arizona.  We are at 7000 feet, at the base of a mountain, surrounded by the world's largest (I think) Ponderosa Pine Forest.  We are a treed oasis in the high-desert, complete with four seasons, temperate summers, and plenty of outdoor fun.  We also have a great hospital, a university and community college, and are on the road for everybody coming from the East and South to go to the Grand Canyon.

What I mean is that Flagstaff is special and knows it, and therefore is not cheap.  And we haven't crashed like many larger markets.  Finding something for under $200,000 that doesn't make you want to bring out the smelling salts is not often easy. (Affordable Flagstaff)

So, my buyers have a $208,000 escrow on a home in the trees that is in really good condition!  A dream come true!  We are ecstatic!

Except that right in the middle of the escrow, the banks changed all the rules, and from one day to the next they became un qualified for their loan.  Except for the fact that the sellers are very elderly, do not "do" fax or email, and are used to being able to be stubborn rather than follow contractual law.

Yesterday, as it looked like we had survived these land mines, I approaced Phoenix, AZ for my New Years Eve party at about 4:45 PM. I received the call that I hope signifies the end of all horrible surprises of 2008.  "If we can't close today, the Sellers don't want to sell".

Without boring you with the rest of the details, let's just say that for the next two hours and multiple phonecalls with Realtors, Lenders, Buyers and my Broker, the strategy was in place, the emails sent, and I was finally able to start bidding adieu to 2008.

We don't know what will happen with this escrow, but I do know that as of today, I'm giving strict instructions to the Universe that these types of surprises are no longer welcome, or acceptable!  In 2009 we want all great things to come easy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Eileen

1. I will learn from my dogs and play more exuberantly in the snow.

2. I will continue to NEVER watch the local, regional or national news.

3. I will remember that there is always Plan B: Move to Phoenix, Become an Executive Assistant and wear tight skirts, panty hose and heels.

4. I will think of Plan B every day as a way to motivate me harder within Plan A.

5. I will always remember that even if I have to redefine my definition of success, I will always strive for succes.

6. I will remember that enjoying life and what I do is the best recipe for success.

7. I will learn from my dogs and remember that I can be happy in any moment, regardless of what happened a moment before.

8. I will continue to grow my love for Flagstaff, and especially all of the wonderful outdoor and athletic things we can do here. (check out www.FlagstaffAthletics.com)

9. I will only consider giving up being a Blog and Web-O-Holic if my life truly becomes unmanageable.

10. I will remember that someday, I might actually work for money!

Happy New Year if I don't post before then. But I think I will!