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Realtor reveals recent real estate numbers
BY LISA BAKER Glendale Star Contributing Writer
Our local real estate market typically cools off going into fall — much more than our weather. And while we are seeing some numbers starting to change slightly like autumn leaves, there is no strong indication that we will see a signifi cant drop anytime soon.
The average number of days a listing spent on the market in Maricopa County increased again slightly, from 26.05 days in July to 27.2 days in August.
According to The Cromford Report, 53% of sales closed in Maricopa County during August sold for over the listing price, down from 57% of July sales. One could argue that rising list prices account for more sales selling at and not over those prices, but a slight drop in sales price per square foot — from $260.60 per square foot in
July versus $258.61 in August — makes a slightly different point.
August saw 416 MLS listing sales closed in Glendale and 343 closed in Peoria. Today, there are 261 active and available listings (not counting properties already under contract or pending close of escrow) in MLS in Glendale and 218 active listings in Peoria.
That is 63% of one month’s inventory in Glendale, up from 59% last month, and 64% of one month’s inventory in Peoria, up from 56%. But while we see a little higher numbers in Peoria and Glendale, the overall Maricopa County inventory is 75% of August’s closed sales, up only from 73% in July. According to ShowingTime, the platform Realtors use to schedule most of the MLS showings, showings of Peoria listings in the $200,000 to $399,999 range had an average of 13.9 showings per listing, while homes in Glendale in the $200,000 to $399,999 range had an average number of 15.6 showings per listing. That’s still quite a bit of buyer activity, and not all showings are scheduled through ShowingTime, so actual numbers are typically higher.
According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates are still holding steady. As of Sept. 16, National Mortgage Rates reported U.S. weekly averages of 2.86% for a 30-year fi xed, 2.12 % for a 15-year fi xed rate, and 2.51% for a fi ve-year ARM.
The buyers’ method of fi nancing can affect how competitive their offers are, how much they will end up paying for a home, or if they can get an offer accepted on a qualifying property at all. According to MLS statistics, 74% of Maricopa County buyers fi nanced their home purchase in August, while
SEE REALTOR PAGE 18
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Buyers using a conventional mortgage paid a minimum of $220,000 in Maricopa County, $250,000 in Glendale and $265,000 in Peoria. Buyers with these loans are more readily accepted by sellers, as they have fewer restrictions. Because of fewer restrictions, many properties qualify for a conventional loan that will not qualify for FHA or VA fi nancing. Conventional fi nancing made up 73.2% of August’s fi nanced sales.
In August, FHA buyers in Maricopa County paid a minimum of $200,000 for a detached home with three bedrooms and two baths. Peoria FHA buyers paid a minimum of $345,000, and Glendale FHA buyers $300,000. FHA buyers made up 9.1% of fi nanced purchases in August, signifi cantly fewer than the number of conventional buyers.
Maricopa County VA buyers paid a minimum of $260,990, Glendale VA buyers paid a minimum of $315,000, and Peoria VA buyers a minimum of $350,000. Home sales fi nanced with VA loans made up only 6.6% of August sales. Unfortunately, offers with VA fi nancing are often less likely to be accepted, especially in this hot housing market where conventional buyers are so plentiful.
The remaining fi nanced transactions used other fi nancing methods. For the week ending Aug. 29, only 3% of Maricopa County sellers contributed to their buyer’s closing costs.
At the other end of the market, the highest-priced detached home sale in Maricopa County last month closed at $9.6 million. Peoria’s highest price detached home sold for $1.55 million, and the highest price detached home in Glendale sold for $2.285 million.
If you think your fi nances could use a change, know that you are not alone. Homeowners, tenants and landlords are encouraged to contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s housing counseling program at 1-800569-4287 or visit consumerfi nance. gov/housing to fi nd assistance.
Lisa R. Baker is a Realtor and a community volunteer in the city of Glendale. She can be reached at me@lisarbaker.com.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s to hire 5,000 team members
BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are looking to hire thousands of fulland part-time “outfi tters” as outdoor recreation remains a popular for millions of Americans.
During a national hiring event on Thursday, Sept. 23, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s retail locations across the United States will conduct on-site interviews for local retail, distribution and contact center positions from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Full- and part-time positions are available in all of the company’s locations.
Friendly individuals who want to share their passion of the outdoors are encouraged to apply in advance by vis-
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are hiring on Thursday, Sept. 23. (Photo courtesy of Cabela’s) iting basspro.com/careers. Walk-ins are also welcome. All applicants must be at least 18 years old. Benefi ts include merchandise discounts up to 45% off; competitive wages; holiday and vacation pay; and health, dental and life insurance program for eligible team members.
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Juarez looks back on U.S. softball career
BY TYLER BUDGE Glendale Star Staff Writer
Former ASU softball player Giselle Juarez went out on top in 2021 with a Women’s College World Series win and the series MVP. But the 23-yearold from Glendale isn’t ready to hang up her cleats just yet.
Juarez, who graduated from Oklahoma in the spring, plans to continue her softball career overseas in the Japan Women’s softball league for the Toda Central General Hospital Medics.
“I’m super excited just to learn from them. Everything they do is so smooth, during the Olympics just watching them compete and seeing some of the plays they made. I can’t wait to learn from some of these people,” Juarez said.
While awaiting a visa to travel to play with her team, Juarez has refl ected on her long and storied college career.
“Just being able to play at the highest level was amazing, and now looking back and seeing that it’s over, obviously I see the posts of them practicing. It makes me nostalgic already, just like, oh, I want to be back playing,” Juarez said.
The 2019 Big 12 pitcher of the year started her college career at ASU before transferring prior to her junior year to Oklahoma University. She then led Oklahoma to a Women’s College World Series win in her senior year, being named to the all-tournament team.
“When I was transferring, I’m super blessed to have been able to go there and play and just for me being able to come back from my injury and compete at the highest level again at the World Series and then to end my career on the highest note,” Juarez said.
Juarez battled through an injury her junior season that would have forced her to skip a season and play a fi fth year. However, the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 and Juarez played with the seniors with whom she went through her career.
Juarez grew up in Glendale and graduated from Mountain Ridge High School. During her time there, the Mountain Lions won back-to-back softball state championships in 2014 and 2015. Coming out of high school, Juarez was ranked 45th in the 2016 softball class and was the fi rst person in her family to graduate college.
“As a student-athlete, I just got to be that fi rst in my family. It means a lot for them and for myself just knowing that I was able to have that time management,” Juarez said. “Without softball, I know it would have been harder for me to go to college, and I feel like I’m just really grateful that I have softball ability to compete and just get an education from using something I love.”
Oklahoma was the runner-up in the season prior to the 2021 Women’s College World Series title. Juarez ended her career ranked second in opponent batting average in Oklahoma school history and second in winning percentage.
Juarez’s success in college came full circle when she threw out the fi rst pitch at the Sept. 1 Diamondbacks game.
“It was surreal, because I was a baseball fan growing up. My family’s from Chicago. So, for a while I was a Cubs fan but still growing up, and I used to go to the D-backs games and I was a huge fan of them growing up,” Juarez said.
Juarez hopes to join her team in Japan as soon as her visa clears.
Giselle Juarez was joined by World Series Champion Luis Gonzalez, left, and her fi ancé Grant Collins, right, when she threw out the fi rst pitch at the Sept. 1 Diamondbacks Game against the San Diego Padres. (Photo courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks)
The Glendale tar
