In a nutshell:

• 10,500+ closings in June 2011. An ALL-TIME record.
• Both median and average prices are up.
• 11% over last year year-to-date

Watch Jim to get the rest of the story!

More evidence of the hot Phoenix real estate market:

• Average Sales Price for Phoenix Homes Stable and Climbing
• Phoenix Real Estate Market Heats Up for Summer
• Phoenix Real Estate Misses a Record by 100 Homes

I’ve included the full slide show, and invite you to take a look.

Highlights for the Phoenix area resale market include:

1. Seven straight months where number of home sales surpassed 2007.
2. The number of 2008 homes sales surpassed 2007 by almost 10%.
3. Results from the second half of 2008 showed significant improvement over the first half of the year.
4. Sales increases are definitely being fueled by dramatic price decreases, especially in the second half of the year.
5. Bank-owned properties are a significant portion (approximately 33%) of the homes sales.
6. Bank-owned properties are priced much lower than owner sold homes, and are selling at a faster rate.

I’m in the process of looking into home sales individual cities around the valley, and will be sharing some of those highlights.  The results have been surprising and may signal some significant opportunity for buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines, looking for the bottom.

Once associated with the company, I discovered a culture of volunteerism that was not readily apparent from the outside.  Jim Sexton, our broker is very involved at a professional and REALTOR association level.  He hosts an annual golf fundraiser for the the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.  And he is not alone, I’ve found many others in the company who contribute to society and their communities in countless and unseen ways.

Sometimes though, a person’s contributions are highlighted publicly, today I’d like you to know about Reita Hutson, who is a Realtor with the company in Scottsdale.  Later this month, she will honor at the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) convention in Orlando, as one of five winners of its Good Neighbor Awards.

The Arizona Republic ran an article Friday, and I think you will enjoy reading more about Reita and her contributions to our world:  Gabriel, Lost Boys led by their angel.  She’s also featured on the cover of this month’s NAR magazine, Reita Hutson: Meet the Smile Maker

Congratulations, Reita.  You inspire us.

I missed it seeing the article, but one of the parents from my son’s Challenger Little League team brought a copy to the game Saturday afternoon.  Thank you, Brad Taft.

When I hear about the number of real estate agents that have come into the business in the past five years (of which I’m one), it makes me wonder if these new agents really realize how much work it is, and the dedication it takes to be really successful in sales.  I came from a corporate background, rich in sales, marketing, and technology opportunities, that had a customer service focus.  There are just things, I do naturally that I have naively assumed that all agents do also.

I guess the reason for my sharing this statistic is to remind you to interview your prospective agent, and if they are a newer agent, ask them what they did before.  This week, I met up with a fellow John Hall & Associates agent, who works here in Scottsdale, also specializing in McCormick Ranch.  I discovered her through her blog.  One of the things she told me is that she can ask for anything, since she came from a non-profit background and was very successful at using the phone to get donations.  That’s a great skill to have has a Realtor, one that will serve her clients well in finding them a house and negotiating it successfully.

As for me, I remember my first sales position at AT&T.  It was very visible with a Fortune 50 company, and I was being interviewed because I was one of the few people technical enough for the client.  I remember walking down the street in Manhattan, being asked why I should even be considered since I had no sales experience.  My response, “I wouldn’t even be here talking with you now, if I hadn’t been successful in selling myself all my life.”

So, when you interview your prospective real estate agent, ask them some important questions, and listen to the answers.

1. What kind of sales experience to you have?

2. How will you communicate with me?

3. What type of negotiator are you?

4. How do you use technology to facilitate the purchase / sale of my home?

5. Why should I hire you?

Sometimes, it’s the “soft” questions that will tell you more about a person, than questioning about how much real estate they’ve sold.  Connecting with an agent, who will work with you in a compatible manner is critical in today’s market.  Yes, experience is important.  At the same time, when you get to the heart and soul of the matter, you want an agent you can trust, that you can communicate with, and who will do a good job for you. 

Ask some questions and find out!