To get a PDF copy of The Forecast, Email Me. To get a report of sales activity and comparisons in a specific neighborhood, contact me and I’ll prepare one for you.

Friday June 22, 2007

It’s official! Kelli Grant joined one of the valley’s most influential real estate group, Platinum Premier Realty. She is happy to be among top real estate professionals who are known for their excellent quality and professional service. Call Kelli Grant for you real estate needs today!

Platinum Premier Realty, LLC
8765 E. Bell Rd. Suite 210
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Office 480-419-1151

For more details and stats on other zip codes, click HERE

Weekly Inventory Level comparison

As of 4/20/07

Inventory levels took another 2% jump to 43078 available homes, an increase of 727 homes. Closing rates slowed slightly with 4676 closings in the previous month and the net was an increase in the available supply of homes to a 9 ¼ month supply.

The properties that are selling are the ones that represent the best “value” in their respective market areas. This is continuing to be reinforced in the stats that I see every week.

The comparison of current active listing change is based on the previous week’s inventory. Supply numbers are based on the number of closings in the previous month, divided in to the total number of active listings. This data is for Single Family Detached homes only and does not include patio homes, condos, or town homes.

Entire MLS (Maricopa and Northern Pinal county), listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 43078 active listings. Based on current rate of closings, about a 9 ¼ month supply.

200’s area (Central Phoenix). Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 5915 active listings. About a 7 ¾ month supply.

300’s area (West Valley). Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 14410 active listings. About a 10 ½ month supply.

400’s area (NE Valley), Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 6532 active listings. About an 8 ½ month supply.

500’s area (SE Valley), Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 11375 active listings. About a 7 ¾ month supply.

Scottsdale over $1m. Listings inventories are up 1% from last week.

Total of 1343 active listings. About a 13 ½ month supply.

Scottsdale under $1m. Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 2133 active listings. About a 7 month supply.

Paradise Valley. Listing inventories are down 1% from last week. Total of 305 active listings. About a 9 ½ month supply.

As of 3/16/07

This week inventory levels took a 3% jump to 39740 available homes, an increase of just over 1000 homes. We are closing in on the highest available number that I have recorded that was just under 40,000. However, closing rates also continued to increase which kept the market supplies stable in almost all areas.

We had 4323 closings in the previous month. This kept the overall market supply at 9 months.

I continue to believe that we will see an increase in closing activity over the next several months due to seasonal buying, and some pent up buyer demand, as many people are waiting to see if the market has truly “hit the bottom”.

The comparison of current active listing change is based on the previous week’s inventory. Supply numbers are based on the number of closings in the previous month, divided in to the total number of active listings. This data is for Single Family Detached homes only and does not include patio homes, condos, or town homes.

Entire MLS (Maricopa and Northern Pinal county), listing inventories are up 3% from last week. Total of 39740 active listings. Based on current rate of closings, about a 9 month supply.

200’s area (Central Phoenix). Listing inventories are up 3% from last week. Total of 5431 active listings. About a 7 ½ month supply.

300’s area (West Valley). Listing inventories are up 3% from last week. Total of 13395 active listings. About a 9 ¼ month supply.

400’s area (NE Valley), Listing inventories are up2% from last week. Total of 6074 active listings. About a 9 month supply.

500’s area (SE Valley), Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 10422 active listings. About an 8 month supply.

Scottsdale over $1m. Listings inventories are up 2% from last week.

Total of 1304 active listings. About a 16 ¾ month supply.

Scottsdale under $1m. Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 1956 active listings. About a 7 ¾ month supply.

Paradise Valley. Listing inventories are unchanged from last week. Total of 296 active listings. About a 11 ½ month supply.

As of 2/23/07

Inventories increased by about 1% from last week moving up by 451 homes. We currently have 37959 SFD listings on the market.

The closing rate is starting to pick up. We had 3795 closings in the previous month. The overall available supply dropped to 10 months. Available supply dropped across the board and I expect this trend to continue for the next few months.

The number of homes in the pending category has increased by over 50% since the first week of January. I expect the closing rate to pick up substantially in the next month.

The most stable market over the last several weeks continues to be Scottsdale under $1M, which is sitting at 8 months of supply. By comparison, the overall market is still at 10 months, and the market with the lowest average sale price, the West Valley, is still at 10 ¾ months supply.

The comparison of current active listing change is based on the previous week’s inventory. Supply numbers are based on the number of closings in the previous month, divided in to the total number of active listings. This data is for Single Family Detached homes only and does not include patio homes, condos, or town homes.

Entire MLS (Maricopa and Northern Pinal county), listing inventories are up 1% from last week. Total of 37959 active listings. Based on current rate of closings, about a 10 month supply.

200’s area (Central Phoenix). Listing inventories are up 2% from last week. Total of 5170 active listings. About a 9 month supply.

300’s area (West Valley). Listing inventories are up 1% from last week. Total of 12708 active listings. About a 10 ¾ month supply.

400’s area (NE Valley), Listing inventories are up 1% from last week. Total of 5866 active listings. About a 8 ½ month supply.

500’s area (SE Valley), Listing inventories are up 1% from last week. Total of 9996 active listings. About an 8 ½ month supply.

Scottsdale over $1m. Listings inventories are up 1% from last week.

Total of 1250 active listings. About a 17 ½ month supply.

Scottsdale under $1m. Listing inventories are up 1% from last week. Total of 1886 active listings. About an 8 month supply.

Paradise Valley. Listing inventories are down 1% from last week. Total of 296 active listings. About a 27 month supply.

According to CNNMoney.com, Scottsdale ranks 7th in the Top 100 Best Places To Live in 2006. So, what criteria did they base this on? The categories listed are:

• Financial
• Housing
• Education
• Leisure and culture
• Quality of Life
• Weather
• Health
• Meet the Neighbors

So, when you look at the financial category, the Median family income per year is $84, 747, where we actually rank 8th. Out of the top 10 cities, Scottsdale had the highest home price gain from 2004-2005 at 25.40%. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD was the only other city that exceeded 14.80%, coming in at 21%.

In regards to education, we were the highest above our state average for test scores in reading and math. However, that poses the next question: How does our state rank?

Ironically, when you look at quality of life, we had the highest incidents of personal/property crime. It must be because we have more property that can be stolen, right? Leisure and culture is where we really shine. Proudly, we have more restaurants and bars (within 15 miles) than the other nine cities. (3822 restaurants and 241 bars!) AND, we rank third for number of libraries (within 15 miles), at 45. So, does that mean the parents can drop the kids off to get educated on their reading and math while they have a cocktail?? You’ll be happy to know that we rank equally with the other cities under health for body mass index, who all have scores of 26 except for Fort Collins, CO and Sugar Land, TX with BMI scores of 25. Whew!

Now, let’s meet our neighbors. Scottsdale, AZ ranks second in the “divorced” category only exceeded by Boise, ID. Is it because we have too many bars and not enough museums?

You can also check out best places to live for various categories, such as “Hottest”. Arizona has 15 out of 25 cities in this category!! Calm yourself. They’re not referring to the people, but to the temperature. Darn. We didn’t even make the skinniest list of top 25. This surprises me a little when I look around at the gym.

All in all, we can see why people come here in droves. It’s a really “hot” place to live and I’d say we’re pretty well-rounded, comparably.

Women Helping Women!

Denise Bentley is in one of my networking groups and is a beautiful person with a beautiful story about her premature twins. She needs some help reaching out to local businesses for silent auction items for a fundraiser coming up for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Please read her story below. Her email is dbentley@sbconsultants.biz

Donations are ranging from $100 in value on up, so get creative and donate something for the auction and/or spread the word to your friends and colleagues.

Blessings,
Kelli Grant
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Dear Friend,

In December 2004, after many years of trying and losing the battle to get pregnant, after numerous miscarriages and many tears, my husband Rob and I were delighted to discover we were successfully pregnant with twin daughters.

It was a rough pregnancy that included 6 weeks hospital bed rest for me. I never left the hospital until the girls were born and, most difficult of all, I left the hospital without my new precious baby girls.

Ashton Reese and Sydney Monet entered the world June 30, 2005, a full 10 weeks before they were due to have been born. They came into the world weighing less than 3 pounds each and were so fragile that I was not even able to hold them or look at them until after they had been rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to save their tiny, underdeveloped lungs.

Over the next two months, the girls battled blood transfusions, brain bleeds, treatments for pneumonia and other respiratory complications. They had other complications such as trouble maintaining their body temperatures as well as difficulty sucking, breathing, and swallowing. The girls had to learn how to breathe while eating; eat enough to gain a healthy weight and many other obstacles. Over time, the girls slowly grew and gained strength. After a 2 and half month stay in the NICU, the girls finally came home at just 6 pounds each.

The doctors, nurses and support staff at Scottsdale Shea NICU were our biggest cheering squad and still check in on our progress from time to time.

Ashton and Sydney had a tough start in life, but thanks to the NICU, most of that is now forgotten.

Many other preemie babies have a similar, if not more challenging beginning. Some preemies make it and, unfortunately, some are now angels hoping for a second chance for their parents.

Seconds count in responding to a premature baby in distress and the Scottsdale Shea NICU was created with a uniquely built design that unfortunately requires the staff to leave the bedside of an infant if they need to race for help.

We, the parents of the NICU, are helping the unit to raise $50,000 for a new emergency response unit similar to what your local firefighters and police use today to respond in an emergency.

We, Ashton, Sydney as well as their mom and dad, are hoping you can offer any assistance to help us with our NICU fundraiser event being held March 17, 2007 at the DC Ranch Country Club.

We are looking for auction items that can be donated to the event to help raise money and/or sponsorships to help meet our goal.

Please see the attached donation request letter, if you choose to donate, feel free to call me and I will pick up any donated items.

Thank you for your generosity and the chance for other preemies to come home and smile for their parents too.

With love and tiny hugs,

The Bentley family

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A fundraising dinner will be held on March 17, 2007. The dinner will be held at Country Club at DC Ranch. You can help by donating a prize for the silent auction that will be held that evening!

The Bowe Special Care Nursery is a designated Level 2 Enhanced Qualifications neonatal intensive care unit. Located within the Family Birthing Center at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea, the nursery cares for infants and families who require services that are more advanced.

Scottsdale Healthcare is a non-profit comminity hospital system. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Denise at dbentley@sbconsultants.biz, or call Joanne Gain, Vice-President, Annual & Major Gifts at 480-882-4541

Scottsdale, Arizona (December 2006)

You may have seen the television commercials with Terri O, heard the radio advertisements or even received your new yellow pages for 2007 and got your refrigerator magnet with ToFixIt’s web site and phone numbers.

ToFixIt has been your one stop shop for companies you can trust. If you do not know someone in the business whose products or services you are seeking, they have done all of that time consuming homework for you! All of the ToFixIt companies have been prequalified and adhere to very stringent qualifications.

ToFixIt is launching their Realtor division in January of 2007 with the top real estate agents in the valley as their designated Realtors. Kelli Grant has been chosen as one of their highly specialized realtors serving clients in their home buying and selling needs for Scottsdale, Arizona.