Experience Southern Utah

Use a Good Realtor When Buying or Selling Saint George Utah Real Estate

The next time you decide to either sell a piece of Saint George Utah real estate, or you think it's time to buy some St. George Utah real estate, be sure to contact a Realtor in Saint George to help you.  There are several very good reasons why you want to do this.

Local Realtors Know the St. George Utah Real Estate Markets Better Than You

First, a local Realtor will know the market in Saint George and Southern Utah better than you do.  This isn't always the way it is, but you can count on this statement being a pretty sure thing most of the time.  Especially so if you are a seller, not a buyer.  You see, sellers get all caught up, emotionally, in their real estate and they forget about a whole lot of things — like how to price their real estate to actually sell.  Why bother if it's just going to sit there for years on end waiting for some uneducated soul to come along and relieve you of your miserable burden?

Buying Saint George Utah Real Estate can be Dangerous

And, if you are a buyer, you really do want a Realtor to chum up with, because when sellers are desperate it is a very dangerous time for buyers who don't know what they're doing in the market.  For example, how would you like to step into a Santa Clara, Utah property that is built atop a vein of 'blue clay' that the seller isn't telling you about?  Oh, you don't know about blue clay??  See, you're already in need of a good Realtor.

Lisi and Associates of Keller Williams Real Estate is Ready to Help

It's time to introduce Lisi & Associates, a trusted name in Saint George Utah real estate and your professional guides and coaches.  Whether you are a seller or a buyer we have trusted Realtors who are ready to assist you in making good decisions about real estate in Washington County and the St. George Utah area.  We are here to basically save you money; lots of money.  Give us a call at 435-215-3090 today, and let's get started.

Thank you!

Let Lisi & Associates Save You Money                                                  

Minorities Suffer Worse During Saint George Utah Real Estate Downturn

It probably comes as no surprise to anyone, but the down turn in the Saint George Utah real estate markets have created more havoc to minorities than to other groups people here.  This trend actually mimics the national averages.  The National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program reports an extraordinary high number of African Americans and Hispanics received counseling through the service, and minorities in general have received more than half of the counseling offered by the program, nation wide.  In St. George, Utah most of the minority involvement (need for the program) comes from our Hispanic population, as we have a very low number of African Americans in Southern Utah.

Mostly Hispanics Taking Advantage of Counseling in St. George, Utah 

Nationally, African Americans represent only 9% of total homeowners.  They, along with Asians and Hispanics, accounted for 52% of all counseling under the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program.  Nearly 1 million households have received foreclosure counseling thus far in the United States. 

 Pat Lisi (L) Ira Stone (R)/1968 – Viet Nam                                          

Saint Georg Utah Resident Pat Lisi, Vietnam Veteran

That's me, Pat Lisi, on the left.  My buddy, Ira Stone (from Little Rock, Arkansas), and me are standing beside a latrine at the An Hoa Marine Combat Base in South Vietnam.  The year is 1968.  It's hard to believe that all these years have come and gone.  We grew up fast that year in Nam, and the experience changed a lot of lives forever.  Mine included.

If I Make it out Alive, I'll be a Better Citizen in St. George Utah

I once told myself that if I made it out of Vietnam alive I'd be a "model" person.  You know, obey the laws, love my fellow man, stay close to God, be a good person.  I know I've slipped on occasion from those promises, but by and large it's been a good life.  PTSD caught up with me right out of the war, and I do things now to help me control that problem — although, it will never go away.  War is something you don't get to forget, especially when you serve on the battle field.  And, we spent a lot of time NOT at the An Hoa combat base.  The photo for this article was taken during a 3-day retreat to the 'rear' after spending 4 consecutive months in the field.

You Probably Know a Veteran From Saint George Utah Who is Serving

The reason I post this picture and article on my web site is to remind all of us that we have our military all over the globe.  And, whether or not you support our government's decision to station these brave people, I beg you to at least support the troops in as much as you'd like to see them all return safely to the US.  I have a son, Tim, in the Air Force, who is deployed right now (August 2010) in Afghanistan.  He has been stationed outside the US 6 times in his AF career.  When he returns this winter he will have to decide if he wants to stay in the AF or not as his 20-year stint will be over.  

Thank Your Veteran

Saint George Utah is home to a lot of veterans.  Washington County has about 6,000 vets and most of them live in St. George like me.  The State of Utah is very friendly to veterans which is one of the reasons we live here.  We don't forget our vets; we admire them and reward them for their great service.  If you know a vet thank him or her.  They would be very happy to hear that you recognize the sacrifices they made to keep you and me safe at night.  If you are a veteran and are reading this article, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you've done in the name of freedom.  God bless you!

Thanks – Pat Lisi

USMC Retired

Saint George Utah Real Estate Shoppers Took Advantage of the Tax Credits

If you didn't, don't despair.  While the recent first-time home tax credit program brought many new shoppers to the Saint George Utah real estate table since its inception and life span of about a year and a half, those who missed out on the program are not exactly left out to dry.  This is because of outstanding interest rates since early May, 2010 that in some cases turned out to be a savings over the tax credit opportunity.  Here's an example:

Due to Lower Interest Rates, Not Using the Tax Credit Worked out Better for Some

Interest rates fell so dramatically across this country, and in Saint George Utah, of course, since April 30th, 2010 when the extended tax credit program expired, that the typical purchase of, say, a $350,000 home financed with a $280,000 mortgage, would have saved a bundle of money by waiting until May.

Substantial Savings Came to Those who Waited for St. George Utah Real Estate

At April's average mortgage interest rate of 5.34 percent, a homeowner in Southern Utah  would have locked a 30-year fixed rate loan with a monthly payment of $1,561.82 during the tax credit program days.  The same borrower could have landed a 30-year fixed rate loan at a rate of 4.625 percent in May, 2010 when the tax credit program expired and paid $1,439.59 per month instead, for an annual savings of $1,467.  Over the 30-year term that calculates out to a $44,003 savings over the tax credit scenario.

Short Sales in the Saint George Real Estate Market Used to be Anything but Short

If you looked at the Saint George Utah real estate market a year or two ago and were considering a short sale, you could count on the sale taking anywhere from eight to twelve months to actually close.  Buyers were waiting unreasonable amounts of time, and some of them got discouraged enough to move on to another property or another city.  Now, we are seeing many of these sales actually closing in a 10 – week period, instead of ten months.

Lenders are Full of Cases, Thus Taking Time to Close

Of course, this does not happen in all cases, as some lenders simply have so many short sales going on that it is just impossible to expect a quick turn-around period.  Bank of America (formerly Countrywide) is just one example right here in St. George, Utah. 

Current Processes are Good for Saint George Utah Real Estate Sellers

All in all, this shortening of the short sale process is good news for sellers, the housing market in Saint George Utah and the rest of the US, and the economy in general.  The improvement is a product of a few key developments creating momentum in the lending industry.  First, banks are starting to adjust to the market and becoming more proactive in creating systems and solutions for homeowners in distress. 

Feds Have Provided Programs to Deal With Distressed Properties

Second, and more important, the US Treasury has enhanced the guidelines and created incentives for banks that are committed to improving  the loan modification and short sale process.  Many of our local banks in Southern Utah and the Saint George, Utah area fall into this category — more 'loan mods' are entering the scene than ever before.

Eventually, Real Estate Sales in Saint George Utah will Pick Up

In the long run here in St. George Utah, current solutions to a once problematic short sale process will create a more robust market and will help return us to a seller's type market.  A short sale market is really a false impression of inventory movement, because it has meant the financial demise of so many of our neighbors.  So, yes more property is being sold, but many of those former home owners are now looking to rent a place to live.

Call Lisi & Associates for all your Real Estate Needs

Our experience at Lisi & Associates has been that short sales are taking less time to complete; Saint George banks are assigning negotiators more quickly, and they are accepting fewer REPC's as they start negotiations quicker, with a reasonable bidder that is.  We pride ourselves at Lisi at having the best short sale Realtor in Washington County.  So, if you are considering looking into doing a short sale give us a call at: 435-215-3090.  We'll be happy to have you come in and meet our short sales expert and figure out an educated strategy.

Saint George Utah Real Estate Mortgage Rates Will Rise

Word here in Saint George Utah concerning mortgage rates on St. George Utah real estate, is that signs of improving economic conditions could lead to the feds raising key interest rates which would drive up mortgages.  Some of the evidence of this happening in Southern Utah and Saint George is that more consumers are paying their bills on time. 

Zions Bank in Saint George Utah Says Consumerism is Improving

Another good sign of economic improvement is when fewer banks report tightening lending standards, which is something that has occurred here in Saint George Utah recently.  Locally, Zions Banks of Utah reports consumer borrowing has been rising.  This is great news for people here in the Saint George, Utah area.

NAR Predicts Housing will Improve as Well

Economists at the NAR (National Association of Realtors) believes interest rates will remain low for the remainder of 2010 but could start to rise in 2011 through 2012.  The key to recovery, according to NAR and to the feds is employment, or more specifically unemployment.  Nation wide, the future is fairly bright, and the NAR predicts housing will improve throughout the year and into 2011 as inventories are reduced, thus decreasing the numbers of foreclosures.

Saint George Utah Needs Big Business to Move in

Locally, meaning Southern Utah and the Saint George Utah real estate markets, under-employment has been a problem for quite some time and will take longer than the national average to recover.  This is due to the comparatively low number of manufacturers and other big businesses setting up here in Saint George, Utah.  For a long time Saint George Utah was considered a retirement Mecca, which does not exactly encourage outside corporations to come here.  We need big business to recognize our region as an area of fantastic potential, full of eager and skilled workers to help businesses grow and prosper.  When this happens Saint George Utah will once again compete in the real estate markets with the other top communities.  We enjoyed being one of the fastest growing cities in the US back in 2005, and would like to get there again, soon.

To stay in touch with current economic prediction, contact us at Lisi & Associates and we'll guide you into the right Saint George Utah real estate at the right time.  We can be reached at 435-215-3090.

Getting Away From St. George Utah is a Good Thing Now and Then

Everybody needs a break now and then, right?  You can't spend every moment of every day selling Saint George Utah real estate and St. George Utah homes.  It just isn't feasible.  In fact, studies aimed at sales people from all walks of life point to an interesting statistic:  Once your sales business is established you will actually increase sales by taking time off.  This makes sense to me, because it always seems like when I'm out having some fun is when the phone rings off the hook.  In other words, if you just cool it for a bit and don't necessarily think about your real estate business, things have their own way of turning a corner for you.

And so, my wife Marjorie and I decided to head back to Wisconsin where we moved from to Saint George Utah, and join the rest of my family for a few days of fun, sun, and other reunion type activities.

There is not much Canoeing in the Saint George Utah area

Pictured here was the infamous canoe/tubing ride down the Namakogan River in Northern Wisconsin.  Three of us couples decided to use a canoe while the other 20 or so family members opted for the inner tubes.  Everything went quite smoothly until some of the tubers got tired, at which time they thought it would be neat to attach themselves to our canoes so as to get a free ride without having to put out any more effort.  This worked out fine, really, but with 6 extra inner tubes of people grabbing your canoe, it can influence the way you are able to stear!  Marjorie and I ended up getting a workout that we hadn't previously planned on.

The total float took about 3 hours, just as the folks back at the rental office along the river predicted it would take.  Those of us in the canoes the whole time were tired and sore from the extra energy we spent lugging the relatives from one side of the Namakogan to the other, but the tubers were soaking wet and very cold.  So, it was an even trade-off.  No one got attacked by a Muskelunge (fish) while tubing, which has happened in the past to other less fortunate adventurers, and we all had a great big picnic lunch when we got to shore and stowed the float equipment.

Back Home to our Saint George Utah Home

One thing that we miss about Wisconsin as residents of Saint George Utah are the rivers and deep forests that we knew back home.  So, once in awhile, when we get the urge to have those experiences again, we get on a plane and go somewhere other than the desert.  But, we're back now and it's time once again to pull up the shirt sleeves and tackle the business of selling Saint George Utah real estate.  It's a great job, and it keeps our minds off the Namakogan River of Northern Wisconsin!

 

My wife Marjorie poses for a second as we float the Namakogan River                

 

Lisi relatives glom onto our canoe for a free ride down the river!   

               

Housing Prices to go up in Saint George Utah

This shouldn't actually come as a shock to anyone who follows the housing market in Saint George Utah, but over the next couple of years we will see prices of homes increase despite the current falling off of St. George Utah real estate.  The end of the Federal home buyer credit also has caused sales to drop off a bit here in Southern Utah, but predicted improvement of the overall economics in the US, including Utah, will help push real estate back into a seller's market once again.

Over the Next Two to Three Years, Home Prices Should go up by 12.5 Percent in St. George Utah

Overall, meaning nationally, home prices are expected to increase 12.5% between 2010 and the end of 2014.  Certain communities like Saint George, Utah, however, will see a quicker recovery when available inventories are bought up.  St. George Utah real estate continues to be an amazing investment, especially in the $150 – $225,000 range.  This is where most of the activity has been seen so far in 2010.

Fundamental Economics is Key

More fundamental to the improving housing picture in Southern Utah and the Saint George Utah area, is the increasing strength of the economy, which is expected to expand by a little more than 3% this year after shrinking 2.5% in 2009.  Saint George Utah will not recover quite as fast as the rest of the nation, though, because jobs here are scarce and wages are barely above federally mandated minimums.  The few businesses that do exist in St. George will enjoy robust profits and their balance sheets will be in the best position that they've been in for a few years.  What we really need in St. George Utah to spur our total economy, including the moving of Saint George Utah real estate and Saint George Utah homes, are more businesses to come here and set up shop.

Saint George Utah Homes Need to Come out of Distress

There are almost 4.5 million distressed homes in the United States today, which means homes are in foreclosure or the owners are several months behind on their payments.  In Saint George Utah there are approximately 750 homeowners in this situation as of this writing (August 6, 2010).  The housing market cannot return to a normal balance until the overabundance of distressed Saint George Utah real estate is addressed and cured.  The large number of 'upside down' properties will keep prices low in all sectors of the Saint George Utah real estate markets for at least another year; after that, we hope to start seeing a reversal so that sellers can once again expect good prices and profits from the sale of their St. George Utah homes.

Contact us at Lisi & Associates to learn more.  We will teach you how to cash in on the current Saint George Utah real estate markets.  We can be reached at 435-215-3090.    

 

 

As you hike the many trails surrounding Saint George, Utah you will come across small stacks of rocks.  These markers are called "Cairns" and it is extremely important that you leave them just as they are so that other hikers can find their way.  Cairns are typically placed in areas where there is no real distinct, worn path.  A common place to find a Cairn would be along areas of 'slick rock', and not necessarily in terrain that is easily marked by peoples' footsteps.  If you take a Cairn away or knock it down it will be very difficult for other walkers to stay on the right trail.

Southern Utah is a hiker's paradise.  There are volumes of books written that will guide you into all sorts of hiking adventures in this part of the state.  So, it's not just Saint George Utah that we're talking about here.  Although, we do have some of the most scenic real estate around!  Please just use the Cairns to find your way and leave them the way you found them.

It is critically important that you do follow trails.  The saying, "Leave No Trace" is being promoted by the BLM, The Sierra Club, and most other organizations that support and maintain hiking trails all across the country.  We are lucky to have so many wonderful hiking trails here in Saint George Utah.  We also have several National Parks near St. George, like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon.  Yes, you will come across Cairns in those places, too. 

If you see a Cairn that needs a little repair, by all means add a rock or two to the stack.  Be careful on the trails and come back safe and sound.

Lisi & Associates

Saint George Utah

435-215-3090

  

 

A Cairn – Marking the Trail for Hikers