Is that true? In Arizona, do we see a significant slow-down of sales when the temperature climbs to 100 and above?

Not necessarily. While some agents feel that the heat stops people from looking at homes, that is simply not true. Our market is truly a 12-month market, certainly with peaks and valleys. April historically is the strongest month for real estate sales, both locally and nationally, while December is the weakest month. The strength of April is generally associated with weather; as the northeast and other parts of the country start to thaw out, those that hibernated in the winter come out and start looking. December, however, is not weather-related. It is that time of year from Thanksgiving to New Years where people are simply focusing more on family, gifts, etc and not real estate.

June, July and August are statistically strong months in Arizona. And, this year, we predict it to be even stronger, as several factors are in play. They are…

1. The market is coming out of a severe downturn and by simple timing, is improving.
2. Home prices have not been lower in decades, and many buyers are getting into the market.
3. Lenders, while actually tightening the rules, have money and are lending. In this market, however, someone needs to have a strong credit rating and a down payment in order to qualify. Believe it or not, lots of people do and they are ready to buy.
4. Investors are still grabbing foreclosed properties and placing them in the rental pool, believing that since many people cannot qualify to buy will still look to rent.

As a result, we expect a strong 3^rd quarter for 2009 going into the fall. While lots of real estate agents take the summer off, or a considerable amount of time, those staying in town and working are the ones that will grab these deals.