In my last post, I talked about the charming town of Flagstaff, located in Northern Arizona on the famous Route 66, and all it has to offer. Flagstaff is a popular summer destination for folks from Scottsdale, Phoenix and nearby cities since it is an easy 2 hour or so drive from the Valley without traffic. In today's post, I want to introduce you to a wonderful, private golf community in Flagstaff called Forest Highlands. Forest Highlands is located just off of Route 89A - minutes from downtown and about 30 miles from Sedona and its magical red rocks and cliffs. Forest Highlands AmenitiesForest Highlands is a year-round community for all ages featuring two golf courses -the Canyon course, which is ranked number one in Arizona and was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and the Mead... 03/17/2008

There is plenty on tap in Flagstaff this weekend, even though Spring Break begins tonight at Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff Unified School District.  This is the time of year when Flagstaff's location and climate offer incredible variation. The forest trails in our lower elevations have dried and the temperatures are moderate, so hikers have a perfect time. In the mountains, the Arizona Snowbowl has a wonderful base for skiers and the temperatures make morning skiing still very enjoyable. Drop down forty minutes through beautiful Oak Creek Canyon and you'll find WARM temperatures for hiking or horseback riding in Sedona, AZ. The only downside is that my favorite restaurant, Horsemen Lodge, is closed for Spring Break (starting Sunday, for 8 days). Tomorrow, the Democratic Prec... 03/14/2008

Considering relocating to Flagstaff, AZ?  If you are into an active lifestyle or you want to kick back and relax in a beautiful location, Flagstaff is the place to be.  In the summer you will find sunshine every day with an occasional afternoon shower, just enough to cool things down with the fresh scent of pine trees.  There are summer activities from hiking, biking, fishing, ATV's, golfing, and summer picnics.  There is always the Friday night Art Walk in our charming downtown area.Winter sports abound in Flagstaff, down hill and cross country skiing, and snow mobiles are just a few.  There is a wide array of ongoing activities at the NAU campus, Theatrikos, and Lowell Observatory.  If you love the mountain fresh air and water, beautiful pine trees and a bright blue sky, Flagstaff may... 03/10/2008

I keep hearing that the smaller volume of sales will drive the amateur agents out of the real estate business. Is this happening in your market?  Not in mine. Here are the numbers of members of our Board and MLS, from February 2008 compared to February 2007, according to Friday's Northern Arizona Association of Realtors® newsletter:I heard at the RE/MAX Convention that the number of national members has gone from 1.4 million to 1.3 million, and the speaker projected it would go to one million before starting to rise again. NAR raised its fees - I guess they need to cover costs with the reduced membership! As far as I'm concerned, it's too easy, and too inexpensive, to be a Realtor®. Half the agents who are members of our MLS didn't record a sale last year. Yet, they can go out and try t... 03/08/2008

It's going to be another wonderful weekend in Flagstaff, with great sunny weather.  Bring a jacket and enjoy many great Flagstaff things to do, starting tonight.  While I've been attending the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas (see my posts here for the last several days), my mortgage blogging partner has been keeping our clients and other blog readers up-to-date on developments in the home loan market.To learn about the new FHA mortgage limits, and how they apply in Coconino County, to Flagstaff real estate, read Liz Fontanini's post entitled New FHA Mortgage Limits Announced. Once the details of this shake down to mortgage investors and the word of available limits gets out, this piece of the Federal Stimulus Package should give a boost to Flagstaff homes in the $400,0... 03/07/2008

Yes, this Flagstaff real estate agent did the 3 mile ("5K") Walk for the Cure this a.m. - I even ran up some stairs instead of using the escalator. I even made it on time to the 9 a.m. General Session on the last day of the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention.  The General Session featured two fine speakers - one an economic consultant and one a renowned motivational speaker. The first fellow would have been much more engaging if he had had some slides. As it was, he was a "talking head."  I'll tell you more in a later post because after the Susan G. Komen walk this a.m., it's now past time for bed.My afternoon was filled, starting at 12:30 p.m. with a session on sales building with two top agents - one of whom I've seen before at Star Power events. The other is a highly successful Pho... 03/06/2008

Another beautiful day in Las Vegas -- mostly spent inside attending the 2008 RE/MAX International Convention, but I did get in my morning walk and still made the General Session starting at 8:30. Ok, I was there at 8:40. I've listened to NPR's Marketplace (the previous day's edition) each of the past two mornings while doing this city walk. I don't normally listen to my IPOD while walking in the forest at home in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona, but here it is a perfect way to pass the walking time. It's a good way to know what the public is hearing about the real estate market and economic news in general. Even arriving 10 minutes late, I caught the gist of Mr. Buckingham's motivating speech, which was: Make the most of your life and your career by working on your STRENGTHS, not your weak... 03/05/2008

I recently took a continuing education class covering the current status of the FHA. The Instructor, Nikki Turner, is a prominent Mortgage Officer with Wallick & Volk in Flagstaff. What is listed below is a paper she wrote for the class. With Nikki's permission I have reproduced the article in it's entity. I hope you get as much out of this presentation as I did.Jim Tress, ABRRuss Lyon Realty Company of Flagstaff  FHA the New Subprime, written by Nikki TurnerIn previous decades the mortgage industry followed the plain vanilla, one-price fits all approach.  If you qualified for a 30 year loan, the rate was the same for you as for the next applicant, regardless of your credit history.  In effect, interest rates were cross-subsidized.  People with the best credit paid a little more in orde... 03/05/2008

We have just started March and while temperatures in the Valley have been amazing, summer's heat is not too far off. With that said, have you considered finding a retreat in a cooler climate? Have you considered Flagstaff? Flagstaff is located approximately 130 miles north of Phoenix and Scottsdale and is a quick two hour drive up I-17 without traffic. Since the altitude in Flagstaff is 7,000 feet, temperatures during the summer are typically 20+  degrees cooler than the Valley - allowing you to enjoy plenty of outdoor pursuits. For those of you unfamiliar with Flagstaff, it is located on the historic Route 66 and is home to Northern Arizona University and Mount Humphrey's, the tallest peak in Arizona. The historic downtown of Flagstaff is utterly charming and retains the flavor of the ... 03/04/2008

I'm attending the RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas. Today, I went to a breakout session on blogging and learned nothing new, but got some reminders. Here is one: take your camera everywhere!  I knew that, but somehow I've gotten lazy about it. So, post-convention resolution: take my camera everywhere. (This blurry picture taken from my phone is what happens when I don't follow this rule.)One of today's presenters was Linda Davis of Gales Ferry CT. She did an excellent job explaining the value of our "social network" here on Active Rain.  Thank you, Linda. Desiree Daniels -- all the way from New Jersey -- approached me prior to the panel session, having seen my post yesterday saying I'd be here in Vegas for the RE/MAX Convention. Desiree invited me to Diablo on the Strip for ... 03/03/2008

Here's a picture of my drive tomorrow.I'm off to the RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas. Hope I learn a lot! I really do go to these things to learn and usually come back dazed and tired from learning. The party-part does not entice me. What attracts me to these out-of-town meeings is the opportunity to "network" with top agents from around the country (and the world!) and learn what they are doing to buy and sell real estate.I've been to other franchise conventions, but after 4 years, plus, with RE/MAX, I've not been. Since it's so close this year, and CRS was so far -- the one I usually do this time of year -- I decided to give it a try.I'll write a few notes each day to let you know how it's going. My first session tomorrow is about blogging -- I'll be surprised if I find o... 03/02/2008

Elegance in Flagstaff, Arizona. Magnificent Estate Style Home. Incredible mountain home site has mountain and lake views right in the middle of Continental Country Club. Across from Aspen Valley Golf Course..a total of .75 acres. GREAT HOME FOR ENTERTAINING, hugh Great Room, The Master Suite has his and hers closets and sinks, master bath (Jacuzzi tub, garden tub, steam shower & sauna), kitchenette & sitting room. There are three other master bedrooms that have private baths as well. This home has a room for a large craft/sewing are or kids play area. Library/Office has Alder paneling, book shelves, ladder and secret room. Large formal dining, Gourmet Kitchen w/redwood cabinets. 2 Fischer & Pakel dishwashers, Viking Range, 2 Decor Warming Drawers, Viking Oven & Microwave, Kitchen Aid Co... 02/21/2008

I hesitate to say there is a downside to living in Flagstaff, AZ. That's how much I love the place. But yesterday, even I had my doubts. Here's why.In a weak moment sometime ago, we agreed to take care of the grandkids while our daughter and son-in-law go away for a week to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Then, they told us that instead of going in May, when their anniversary actually is, they were going to Hawaii this February. Oh. The only problem with that is that they live in Iowa. Ok, love conquers all. We planned ahead -- the kids don't leave until tomorrow a.m. and our itinerary had us arriving at 1:30 p.m. yesterday. Then a Flagstaff winter storm intervened. Two inches on the ground when we arose at 5:30 a.m. to head toward the 16-seater prop flight scheduled to leave Flagstaf... 02/15/2008

Flagstaff is a little blue island in Arizona. (Actually, Tucson is a bigger blue island and much of the Phoenix area has turned purple in recent years -- a combination of Republican red and Democrat blue.) The Democrats in Flagstaff like to act-up and this weekend we were in full swing. Friday night, I attended a house-party fundraiser for a great young woman, Sara Presler-Hoefle, who is running in our non-partisan election for Flagstaff mayor this Spring. There are five candidates in the race, so there will be a primary in March and the top two will go to the final election in May. Sara represents the strong young energy of Flagstaff and hopefully will show well in the primary. Saturday morning was the annual Democratic Party Tamale Sale. Four hours of networking around information boo... 02/11/2008

Come on up to Flagstaff this weekend. The weather will be in the forties, maybe the fifties, in town at 7000 feet. At 8000-9000 feet where the skiing is there is plenty of snow. And, there is a plenty going on, including special Winterfest events organized by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, a choral music festival, prize-winning drama, and a chocolate celebration. (I know that last one is going to get some comments.) There will be racing at the Arizona Snowbowl and the Snowplay areas will be in full swing. NAU theatre performers are heading off to perform at the Regional Kennedy Center drama festival in Los Angeles, and their final dress rehearsals tonight and tomorrow are open to the public. Check out my selection of fun-filled Flagstaff events for this weekend.      Personally, I'm... 02/08/2008

Northern Arizona University is opening its new Convention Center & Hotel. Students at NAU's The School of Hotel  Management will being doing their internship at this new facility located on the campus at the corner of Milton Ave. and Butler. The campus is walking distance to the very heart of Downtown Flagstaff and should be able to draw a number of events to Flagstaff. It should also boost the number of visits for both winter and summer activities. In addition to tourism, the real estate market should benefit. 01/16/2008

The media is reporting that Chairman Ben Bernanke has pledged to slash interest rates that are needed to prevent the housing and credit problems so we don't enter into a recession in 2008.  Bernanke has made it very clear that the central bank is prepared to take agressive actions to stimulate our weakening economy.  As quoted in the newspaper Bernanke stated "we stand ready to take substantive additional action as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks".Economists are now speculating that the Fed's will lower the rate by one-half of a percentage point when they meet at the end of January.Another drop in rates should have the effect of lowering mortgage interest rates.  If your looking to buy a second home in Flagstaff or even upgrade your curr... 01/12/2008

After a snow-day on Monday (during which I did a lot of work at home), it's been a very busy week. I'm pleased to say that we put another home into escrow today, demonstrating again that homes sell in this market. I've also enjoyed meeting several new potential sellers this week and hope we'll be able to work together as the year goes along. We listed one home early in the week. My home stager has been hard at work with three of my listings this week. And there was an inspection on yet another of my listings yesterday. All-in-all, a very active week in Flagstaff real estate.Which may explain why I'm behind in preparing my annual report to clients. I plan to do some work on that this week-end and incorporate it into our monthly printed real estate newsletter to our clients and friends ar... 01/11/2008

Flagstaff, Arizona is a small mountain town but the Real Estate Market is doing reasonablly well inspite of the current market conditions around the US. Listed below are the current statistics from the Local MLS.  NORTHERN ARIZONA MLS WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL STATSStatus                                   Avg #                           DOM                                       Avg $Active                                    1179                             144                                       $485,951ACR                                               3                              136                                       $499,167PBK                                             15                              134                                       $388,813Pending                         ... 01/11/2008

SNOW SNOW SNOW. With snowbowl now open it is time to start marketing to the winter home buyers. We have many homes for sale in the Snowbowl ski resort area. Please feel free to call me and see if there is a seasonal home for you. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall .... Flagstaff Arizona has it all.http://www.jimtress-realtor.com/ 01/09/2008