I started a statistics blog for September (FOUND HERE), and I touched on property taxes.  I had more thoughts than I realized, so I separated the article; here are my thoughts on property taxes for Washington County and the St George area. Keep in mind; this is MY opinion. Perhaps you may feel different, and that's okay. I'm not attempting to push "my" agenda, I'm only exampling our county taxes and a possible (brainstorming) solution. 

This report will take a look at the greater St George area (including Santa Clara, Ivins, and Washington). Below, you’ll see a two-year snapshot. If trends repeat, we may expect to see sales dip for September but, likely hold relatively steady as we enter Spring (when sales typically spike).  

Happy 4th of July! Let's take a look at the current market conditions for the greater St George area as well as a specific look at Sunriver, this report is reviewing June 2019. In a quick briefing, the real estate market performed precisely as expected (and noted in my previous blog)…well ALMOST…

4595 S. Deer Poppy Circle SunRiver St George

4594 S. Deer Poppy Circle.
St George UT. 84770

Offered at $445,000.

Sunriver St George is an Active Adult community located within St George Utah. Sunriver is almost built out (completed), and the last remaining lots are small, near the freeway (noise), and expensive! My new listing is in a PRIME LOCATION! Deep in Sunriver, nestled about as far away from I15 as you can get, with one of the larger lots ever available, and ultra-private on a rare-find Cul-de-sac, just down the street from the Dog Park. This new listing is incredible, and in "like new" condition.  Minimally lived in over the years, and it shows with its immaculate presentation. This is a 3 bedroom PLUS a den, and 3 baths. 4595 S. Deer Poppy Cir is a popular Windsong model (currently called Aspirations) and the main house features an open, spacious floor plan having 2 bedroom and a large den (or office) that opens into the great room.  There is a large detached casita (among the largest casita Sunriver builds), and the casita features an open room with an attached bathroom and kitchenette. The casita is independently heated and cooled, and it can be used for multiple purposes…a guest room, studio, office, or a private owners retreat.  

Tastefully and generously appointed with over $125,000 in upgrades (more today if you tried to duplicate it) and every inch of the home offers attention to detail. A short list of upgrades are: enclosed front courtyard (to enjoy the view), full outdoor kitchen, upgraded (and tinted) windows), multiple bay windows, attic fan, plantation shutters, reverse osmosis, hot water recirculating loop, water softer, pull out shelves in cabinets, stainless/double oven, added storage, added can lighting and hose bibs, all fixtures and ceiling fans upgraded, wired for surround sound, phantom screens, neutral travertine tile, all tile shower surrounds, fireplace (with blower), sink in laundry and garage, storage cabinets in garage, and epoxy floors in garage.  Walking in the front door, you’ll be captivated by the elegance, and with neutral tones, you’ll be able to decorate specific to your own style.

The backyard space is impressive, with the extended patio and east facing backyard, you'll enjoy shaded afternoons and a perfect entertaining area complete with a full outdoor kitchen.  There is a pre-plumbed area for a fountain or water feature, and the yard is large, with even more space behind the casita. The front courtyard is enclosed and gated, and being on a cul-de-sac with only a couple of homes on the street, vehicle traffic is virtually non-existent.  A short walk will take you to the dog park, Veterans Park, or the trail system.  Of course, the Sunriver Clubhouse is yours to use and offers an indoor and outdoor pool/spa, full gym, computer lab, library, billiards room and multi-use room available for club meetings or weekly card games. 

This home cannot be duplicated for anything close to this price. Surrounded by mature landscape, you won’t have to wait years to enjoy the park-like natural beauty that you desire today.  Don’t settle for new construction, with half of the upgrades at a higher price—enjoy this home and features with no wait! Quick closing is possible. If you'd like a private tour of this home, contact Paula Smith today and I will set it up.  I don't expect this home to last long, so do not delay.

All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listed by Paula Smith RealtyPath St George. 

I am Paula Smith, Associate Broker with RealtyPath of St George. I have been a licensed, full time, real estate agent in Southern Utah since 2006.  I have been selling residential real estate during all of the changes in the market as well as witnessing our St George area grow to become one of the fastest growing cities in America. I keep my finger on the pulse and not only pay attention to what is going on, but I've also been able to accurately predict what's to come.  

Allow me to be of assistance and earn your business. If you’ve got a home in Southern Utah that you’re thinking of selling and you’d like a property market report, I can send that to you.

If you're ready to buy or sell, I'm ready to make it happen. 

 Find Paula Smith on Facebook

Summer is scheduled, but not without an encore from Spring. That's fine with me! I'll take a heat reprieve and enjoy this fantastic spring weather a little longer. I'm jumping in with some interesting information; perhaps I'm on to something …let's see.  

Below, you'll see an INVENTORY statistic, for the past two years. It's interesting to note that we are nearly identical to the number of homes in inventory and the number of sales when compared to 2017.  We are down in sales compared with 2018.  I plan to watch this, but I'm wondering if we may slowly start a decent, mirroring the assent over the past couple of years? For the past two years, we've proven to peak in May, and sales slide from there while inventory climbs, so a drop over the next several months is a statistical expectation.  The average sale price is still HIGHER, so prices have not started trending downward, and we're up 1.36% over last month (average sale price) as well as being up 9.4% since January 2019.  

Shadow Mountain Delight

59 N. Eclipse Dr.
St George UT. 84770

$338,000

1856sqft, built in 2001

4 Bedroom, 2 Bath

3 Car Garage w/shop area

RV Parking, NO HOA!

Welcome Spring! I apologize for being so behind in releasing this market report; it’s been busy out there for me so I’m just as curious as some of my readers may be as to the current market conditions in St George. Those of you who receive my monthly (mailed) newsletter, allow me to further extend my apologies for that is late as well.  The April newsletter was sent to the printer today, and it should be ready to mail next week.  

Here is my “go to” info-graphic.  I feel this shows the most amount of pertinent information.  The graph below shows a 2-year glimpse, for the Greater St George area, residential homes. 

Home For Sale with 3 Car Garage in St George Utah

February 2019 St George Utah Market Report

We are in the middle of the 2019 St George Utah Parade of Homes, which means the area is buzzing! Approximately 30,000 people make their way to the annual Parade of Homes. It’s busy for all things St George, especially the housing market.  Sales always surge this time of the year, so as of this report, it won't be including most of February, that report will be ready in a couple of weeks.

It’s interesting to note, home sales for the past three months have been on the decline. A decline such as this is not entirely unusual….UNLESS…February and March underperform.  Here is a look at the past couple of years, this shows similar trends in the months leading up to February and then an apparent surge for February and March, and into the summer season (I’m following the “black” line on here for the “sold” homes).  

The number of “active homes” is also following similar patterns, and I’d expect that to shoot up on the next report as well.  It should be a key indicator, assuming we follow similar trends, then I’d expect the market to continue as is. 

Are prices still moving up?

Pricing is a question I’ve been asked about weekly.  

Here is an interesting report, this is taking into account Jan 1, 2018, to Feb 10, 2018 and comparing it to the same time this year (I used these dates to keep the Parade of Homes out the mix since we are still in the middle of that as of this post—using these dates will skew the numbers). I am using ONLY the Greater St George area (not Hurricane). 

The number of SOLD homes for this time is down this year, 14%.  The average sale price for this time is almost identical.  It will take a little more time and comparison to determine how we are holding, specifically due to the patterns in the market for this time of year, but next month will be exciting. Next month I'll also take a closer look at SunRiver and let you know how the market is playing out there.  Stay tuned!

Here are some quick stats:

As of today in Greater St George (for Residential)

Current Active Listings: 1,028 (up from 891 as of Jan 25th)

Current PENDING Listings: 437 (up from 340 when I reported on Jan 25th—showing we are on trend)

Number of CLOSED (Jan 26th – Feb 20th): 151 (compared to 157 for the first 25 days of Jan)

Average DAYS ON MARKET:  62

HURRICANE:

Current Active Listings: 207  (up from 189 as of Jan 25th)

Current PENDING Listings: 82 (87 when I reported on Jan 25th)

Number of CLOSED (Jan 26th – Feb 20th): 33 (compared to 21 for the first 25 days of Jan)

Average DAYS ON MARKET:  66

My Newsletters are out! Are you on the list?  If you'd like to be included, send me an email with your mailing address and I'll include you (they are mailed out once a month).  Do you have other statistics or information you'd like to read?  let me know. 

I am Paula Smith, Associate Broker with RealtyPath of St George. I have been a licensed, full time, real estate agent in Southern Utah since 2006.  I have been selling residential real estate during all of the changes in the market as well as witnessing our St George area grow to become one of the fastest growing cities in America. I keep my finger on the pulse and not only pay attention to what is going on, but I've also been able to accurately predict what's to come.  

Allow me to be of assistance and earn your business. If you’ve got a home in Southern Utah that you’re thinking of selling and you’d like a property market report, I can send that to you. If you're ready to buy or sell, I'm ready to make it happen. 

 Find Paula Smith on Facebook

4-bedroom, 2 baths, POOL home, 4+ car garage

$345,000

1763sqft, built in 2001

4 Bedroom, 2 Bath

4 Car Garage

Larger Lot with Pool