Williamson Valley in Prescott Arizona is the country, big space, horse area of Prescott. Located in Yavapai County, this part of Prescott is prized by those wanting country living and space, and the most desireable school district. You can find homes on one acre, with no HOA restrictions to homes on 20+ acres in gated communities, as well as the beautiful golf community of Talking Rock Ranch, with extensive restrictions, and pristine American Ranch. This quarter, from June 1 to September 1 there have been 61 new listings, compared to 80 last year at this time. This quarter there have been 29 properties sold, compared to last year of 21 at this time. There are currently 24 properties in escrow compared to 21 last year at this time. The average days on the market this quarter are 216 days... 09/03/2011

Prescott Arizona is a great getaway for most of the desert dwellers of the lower Arizona elevations. Prescott is a mile high and brings much needed relief to residents of Phoenix, Tuscon, Sedona, Scottsdale and the many other cities around Phoenix. While the "Valley" enjoys 113 degrees Prescott is a dry 93 degrees. While the "Valley" enjoys beautuiful Bouganvilla vines, stately Mesquite trees and an array of unique desert plants, Prescott enjoys the shade of tall Ponderosa Pines, Pinon Pines, Alligator Juniper, Cottonwood and Elms. Just a two hour drive from Phoenix, you can pack a lunch, leave the desert heat of 113, and be in shady, beautiful Prescott for a picnic and enjoy a cool 90 degrees. Bring your poles and you can fish at our tree lined Goldwater Lake. This holiday weekend, enj... 09/02/2011

  Prescott Students or "Preskit Students"   No matter what anyone says, Prescott High School students are the best in the country! Filled with integrity and values, we are proud to have these great kids as our future leaders, parents and artists. In welcoming them back to school I want to share the 2011/2012 school calendar so family, friends and future students can see what is happening. Be involved and support these great kids! Check the school calendar here. Prescott is a diverse community of students studying nursing, flying, engineering, liberal arts, sports and basic education. We have 3 colleges, Embry Riddle Areonautical University, Prescott College and Yavapai Community College. Go Prescott! Prescott High School Calendar http://mypusd.prescottschools.com/pusdwp/phs/calendar/ 08/24/2011

For those of you who may not be aware, the area around Prescott and Prescott Valley is sometimes referred to as the Quad Cities of Yavapai County, Arizona. Prior to the incorporation of Dewey-Humboldt, we went under the name of the Tri Cities, but we now include Dewey-Humboldt to make the Quad Cities. I recently made a map showing the uses of land in the area. Here is a map that shows the location of the towns as well as the uses of the land. Jerome, the town shown at the upper right side of this map is not included, as it is a much smaller town and is isolated from the Quad Cities by being on the far side of Mingus Mountain which is included in the Prescott National Forest in the eastern part of this area. Notice that the land shows a checkerboard of land use by individual sections. I ... 08/20/2011

Lowest Rates in History!   Over the last week world markets have been gripped by a tremendous amount of fear and uncertainty.  These kinds of events are very unnerving for all of us.  This is especially true if you are considering a major financial commitment like a new home.  It is our job as real estate professionals to help our clients understand what all of this means to a home purchase transaction.  Many people assumed the downgrade to US debt would mean a rise in mortgage rates.  That is not currently the case.  Mortgage bonds are the source of virtually all of the money used in home lending.  As the price of bonds goes up, rates go down.   In fact, they are currently pushing to new all-time highs.  This means that rates are now at new all-time lows!   Despite all of the turmoil i... 08/11/2011

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo. 08/05/2011

Williamson Valley Ranch Market Update for March to July 31, 2011. Ending July 31, 2011 there are 12 homes on the market. Days on market ranges from 12 to 581 days. Prices range from $159,900 for a  500 sq ft 1 bedroom home on 3 acres to the one below at $1,349,000 for a 6770 sq ft 6 bedroom on 4.89 acres. The most expensive home above, in Williamson Valley Ranch, currently on the market for $1,349,000. There have been 2 sales since March 2011. One at $385,000 and this one below at $610,000 Prices seem to be holding, just slow in sales. Patience is important!   07/31/2011

07/31/2011

Prescott is in the spotlight again. Our wonderful downtown is incredible. Summertime art shows on the Courthouse square, seasonal parades and festivities, weekly concerts on the square, Christmas lighting spectaculars, downtown Prescott is a true destination. Is it a wonder that AAA rated "Whiskey Row" downtown Prescott the best? Read the full article and enjoy the many great festive photos of downtown Prescott,................ Everbody's Hometown!     07/19/2011

Arizona is having it's 100 year Centennial Celebration. There will be celebrations in Prescott, Phoenix and Tuscon. Starting September 16-18, 2011 in Prescott. Prescott was the original capital of Arizona and had the title twice before loosing it to Tuscon and Phoenix. Then the celebration will be in Tuscon November 11-13, 2011 and Phoenix February 10-12, 2012. If you want to visit Arizona, pick one of these times and you will surely get a full dose of history and fun. How many more 100 year celebrations are happening in the United States? Come visit mile high Prescott this September! For more information visit Arizona Centinnial           07/15/2011

07/15/2011

Prescott Market Update will show positive signs of continued sales improvements June 2011 New Listings- 206         June 2010 New Listings- 243    Change -down 15.22% June 2011 Sold Listings- 109         June 2010 Sold Listings- 106    Change -up 2.83% June Average Selling Price- $239,474        June 2010- $274,046    Change- down 15.89% June Average Days on Market- 154           June 2010- 191           Change-down 19.39% Prescott Market Update: Less inventory, stable sales, continued price reductions, shorter time on market. Perfect time to buy! 07/12/2011

Property Tax Changes can cost you up to a $600 increase. Governor Jan Brewer signed the Jobs Bill, HB2001 into effect in February. In that bill, there is a change in the automatic tax exemption that people received on their property. Now, it is no longer automatic. Now you must file. Also, there are bigger hurdles of proof you will have to go thru if your property is in a Trust or LLC. Beginning in 2012, the exemption that previously was automatic, now every homeowner will be required to certify by afffidavit, that their home is their primary residence in order to receive the exemption, this exemption can be as much as $600. You will be required by law to do this certification every 2 years, in even numbered years. The assessor will send out an affidavit  with the notice of full cash va... 07/12/2011

Arizona Property taxes are a major reason my clients moved to Prescott, Arizona from New Jersey. In New Jersey they were paying $14,000 a year! Imagine, that is 14 with 3 zeros for a 3 bedroom 2 bath home! My happy new Prescottonians just closed escrow on this beautiful home for $345,000, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with views and property taxes of just $1732 per year. Located in the popular Haisley Homestead development, my new homeowners will enjoy walking with friendly neighbors, pool and tennis, tall pines, and one mile to downtown.   07/11/2011

This post is intended to provide an overview of the Prescott Area in Yavapai County, Arizona.  We have lately been referred to as the "Quad Cities" of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt. Notice that Prescott is bounded on the south and west by the Prescott National Forest, shown on this map in the green area. Also of considerable importance are the blue squares. These indicate full sections (one mile on a side for one square mile) that is Arizona State Trust Land. This land is, for all practical purposes, open space. The Prescott Area is blessed to have vast expanses of open space. Indeed, there is so much open space in the form of public lands that there is only a precious amount of privately-owned land. The small orange area in Prescott is the Yavapai Apache In... 07/10/2011

Hidden Valley Ranch and Haisley Homestead are two neighborhoods on the south edge of Prescott near the Prescott National Forest. These two neighborhoods were built among old Ponderosa Pine trees, so one has a sense of living in the forest. As the homes were built, care was taken to protect every Ponderosa Pine tree possible. Deer are quite comfortable here, as evidenced by this one. She seems to be telling me that she has claimed this place and not to trespass on it. Here is another photo of the deer. This photo was taken by my friend, Rick Henwood, in Haisley Homestead. It looks like the deer are quite content here. Another great thing about these neighborhoods is that they are close to the Prescott National Forest on the south side of Prescott. Access is via White Spar Road aka Highwa... 07/10/2011

Summer secrets in the desert. Being a native San Franciscan, I could never imagine how anyone could live in the desert in the summer. Poor people doomed to unbearable heat and suffering were cursed to live in the desert. When my husband said we are moving to Prescott, Arizona, I had visions of being broken down alongside the road sharing a water bottle and dying of thirst. When we moved to Prescott in July 1996, I got in the Penske Truck with my bottle of water and hoped for survival. Little did I know that in spite of Phoenix being 118 degrees, Prescott would always be 20 degrees less. Prescott, 100 miles north of Phoenix is a mile high and is surrounded by National Forest.  Also, little did I know the true summer secret...... Monsoon Season happens in the summer. Beautiful days! 9 mon... 07/10/2011

For me, Prescott Arizona's Dearing Park was only a rumor for the first few years after I moved to Prescott. Located 3 miles West of Thumb Butte, Dearing Park is a little slice of what Prescott must have been like a hundred years ago. Because the elevation is 6,000 feet, the Ponderosa pines blanket this beautiful neighborhood. And since it is surrounded by Prescott National Forest, there is very little traffic, but plenty of wildlife and scenic beauty. Deer, javalina, and coyotes are everyday neighbors. Dearing Park and neighboring Highland Pines hold roughly 200 homes so the neighbors tend to know one another. Nearly everyone you pass on the road will give you a friendly wave. For people who enjoy the outdoors and want to spend time in the forest what better place to live than in the mi... 07/01/2011

Most of the time when we have a property that we promote for its spectacular view we expect there to be a view involving water. That, of course would include waves breaking on the rocks in an ocean scene, an expanse of white beach or even a cabin on a smaller lake with beautiful trees surrounding it. It could even include a running stream or a waterfall. I believe the photo below is a spectacular scene even though it has no water in the picture. This scene was taken from the living room window of one of my listing clients.The property is in Inscription Canyon Ranch, a neighborhood in the Williamson Valley north of Prescott. The property immediately beyond the rocks is Arizona State Trust land, so there should be no development in the viewscape. Granite Mountain is just outside the view ... 06/27/2011

06/19/2011