Does the St. George Parade of Homes Actually Impact Our Market?


Does the St. George Parade of Homes affect our real estate market? Here’s what we found from a three-year analysis.

Want to see which St. George area homes are currently for sale? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You can always call us at (435) 215-4533 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today’s video comes from atop the iconic Red Hill, looking into the iconic St. George Valley, talking about the iconic St. George Parade of Homes, which is now in its 27th year.
It’s an iconic video!

Every February right around President's Day weekend, as many as 35,000 people from Washington County and all over northern Utah descend upon our community for the Parade of Homes to look at the best and brightest of St. George building.

“
As many as 35,000 people come to Washington County for the Parade of Homes.
”




They come here also to hit soccer tournaments and enjoy softball and baseball tournaments, and of course to get out of that smog and into this beauty. It was at least 65 degrees on the early February day we shot this video!

The question is, how does it affect St. George real estate? Often at this time of year, our clients at the Larkin Group reach out and say, "Hey, Jeremy, we want to hold an open house during the Parade of Homes because we think that someone will buy our home."
The reality is that two years ago, we conducted a three-year analysis of home sales between January and April to determine what the Parade of Homes is really doing for or against St. George real estate. We were able to determine the following.

The parade itself during the parade does not really impact St. George real estate in any way, shape, or form unless you are selling a parade home or selling a luxury home very near a parade home.

The long-term benefit later in the spring and into the summer and year after year is that it continues to sell what is so great about living here in St. George. If you're living in smoggy Logan or Salt Lake City and you come see St. George on an early spring weekend and look at luxury real estate, there's a great chance that you will eventually purchase a secondary or even primary home here in beautiful Washington County.

If you've got questions about your home's value, I'd say don't put it on the market just because it's the Parade of Homes. Put it on the market if it's time for you to sell your home. If you've got more questions, visit us online at soldinstgeorge.com or give us a phone call. Now get out and see the parade!

3 Things Every Homeowner Should Do in 2017



The St. George real estate market is ripe for the picking in 2017. Here’s how you can take advantage of it.

Want to see which St. George area homes are currently for sale? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You can always call us at (435) 215-4533 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

One of the questions we often get around January 1st of every year is, "How do I take advantage of St. George Real Estate in the coming new year?" I've got three very simple and practical tips for every St. George homeowner as we move into 2017.
  1. You need to determine your home's current market value.
The rationale for this is you might want to use the equity in your property for, say, home improvements or take that equity and trade over or trade up to a new home. You can do that online at a free home valuation site like DixieHomeValue.com, Zillow.com, or contact an appraiser who can conduction an independent appraisal for about $350.00.
  1. Every homeowner who has a mortgage should consider a refinance.
A refinance can save you between $100 and $300 per month on your mortgage during 2017 and many years beyond. So don’t walk, RUN to a good Lender and see if you qualify!
We work the best lenders in St. George daily. One of our favorites is Chantry Abbott of Guild Mortgage. He can be reached at 435-979-1775. Here’s a video we shot with him last year: http://www.soldinstgeorge.com/1-reason-home-buyers-dreams-may-crushed/
  1. Finally, every homeowner should consider purchasing an investment property.
Now that you own your own home, you might want to consider investing in a property that a stranger will pay the mortgage on, and build your retirement nest egg. How cool is that?
If you don’t have copy of the book “Hold”, please contact us at 435-215-4533 and if you mention this blog post, we’ll give you a FREE copy! It’s arguably the finest book on investing in real estate ever written.
Those are three very simple tips to help you have a profitable and happy real estate year in 2017.


If you have any questions about selecting the right lender, determining your home's value, or finding an investment property please give us a call and we'll help point you in the right direction!
-Jeremy Larkin & The Larkin Group
435-215-4533 / sales@gostgeorge.com

How Will Election Results Affect the St. George Real Estate Market?




How will the election results affect the St. George Valley market? Not as much as you might think. Allow me to explain.

Want to see which St. George area homes are currently for sale? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You can always call us at (435) 215-4533 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

When the U.S. election comes down to people “writing in” their favorite cartoon character, there’s naturally going to cause for concern in the U.S. economy! We’ve of course been getting questions at The Larkin Group about the direction of the St. George real estate market after this absurd election cycle.

While most folks are primarily concerned with how the elected President will affect the real estate market, we’re most concerned with:

  1. What direction will interest rates go? (Making it more or less difficult to buy and sell St. George real estate), and…
  2. Will consumer confidence fall (also making it more or less difficult to buy and sell real St. George real estate)?

Regardless of election results, a lot of people are going to be unhappy. But even since November 9th the sun has risen every single day on the St. George valley and it continues to be one of the finest places in the country to live, work, retire, and raise a family.

Even as recent news articles ranked St. George as having the 2nd LOWEST wages in the nation, other news is emerging saying that per capita, St. George was ranked the 2nd HIGHEST American city for adding jobs. Kinda’ bizarre, no?


“
The St. George valley is still one of the finest places in the country to live.
”


People still want to live in “Utah’s Dixie” and they always will. Which means folks will continue relocating to St. George That will continue to drive this market long term. Don't pay attention to presidential cycles, pay attention to real estate cycles and you'll make better real estate decisions.

If you have any questions about our market, especially about your home’s value as we enter 2017, don't hesitate to give us a call!