Real Estate Information

St. George, Utah in May. That means it’s once again IRONMAN ST. GEORGE time! Depending on where you LIVE on the Ironman St. George route, you may not be as enthusiastic as some folk will be due to challenges with getting around.

So here it is, the official Ironman St. George “Traffic Impact” guide with all of the information you and yours will need to navigate the area on race day, Saturday May 4, 2013. Just click here: Ironman St. George Traffic Guide

Ironman St. George race day truly is “electric” however, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to spectate, volunteer, or RACE the event, you’re missing out. While I wouldn’t recommend RACING at this point (you couldn’t get into the sold-out event anyway), you can certainly volunteer. Here’s a link to do that! Ironman St. George Volunteer Opportunity

Until then, enjoy some fantastic video we took during the inaugural Ironman St. George and get ready for the Ironmen! (and women…). 

If you haven't heard yet, the St. George Real Estate Market is shifting....AGAIN. What was a Seller's market, became a DRAMATIC Buyer's market, which is now becoming, yet again, a SELLER's real estate market not only in St. George, Utah, but all over the West. If you're BUYING St. George Real Estate, here's what that means for you. 

We have been so fortunate to continue GROWING our business, even during some wild economic times. Much of this thanks is to you, our friends, family and clients. THANK YOU! We are looking for some really great talent right now. They can even be GAINFULLY EMPLOYED currently, no problem. We have incredible culture and hope you know someone we can speak with. THANK YOU! 

DO YOU KNOW THIS PERSON? 

• A “Servant’s Heart” and the “Will of a Bulldog
• Computer savvy, proficient in all Microsoft Office applications, specifically Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Strong ability to handle multiple projects, deadlines and details simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Specifically, ability to work with multiple personality types to comfort and educate clients. 
• Exceptional organizational and deadline management abilities
• Detail oriented and thorough
• High Integrity: concerned about doing things the right way and win/win relationships at all costs!
• Calm under pressure
• Learning-based: Willing and anxious to BE, DO and LEARN more every day
• Ability to collaborate with peers, all levels of staff, and a variety of personalities
• Real estate industry experience (Sales, Title, Mortgage, etc.) is helpful but NOT required

MOST IMPORTANT: We are looking for an individual who is interested in PERSONAL GROWTH, not just a short-term "J.O.B." 

Only the Awesome need apply!

Send introductory email and resume to:  larkingroup@gostgeorge.com

PLEASE NO PHONE CALLS, even if we already know you! 

No, I'm SERIOUS. This is month's "This Month In Real Estate" shows how the concept of "starting high, then lowering later" with your home listing price may SOUND good...., but ultimately just costs you money. 

Properly pricing a home is equal parts SCIENCE....and ART. Check out the vid now: 

I could write a book on how many times my personal Home Selling clients have made this little "boo-boo"...included my own danged parents!

They'll kill me if they ever see this, but we were selling a home in Washington for them. Trying to avoid a loss, (as any self-respecting person would), my Father started HIGH. We went through 6 months of reductions and along the way turned town an offer that was $30k more than the final sales price!!!! Oops. 

Have you ever had a similar experience? 

I’m always careful to thrown the phrase “I’m proud” around too flippantly as it has the dreaded “P” word in it – PRIDE. But today the Larkin Group is TRULY PROUD to announce their Partnership with the Homes For Heroes Organization!

Homes for Heroes® is a company that works hand in hand with Realtors®, lenders and other real estate-related service providers to offer substantial rebates and discounts to the Heroes who serve our nation and its communities every day. “Heroes” include military personnel (both active and retired), firefighters, law enforcement officers, health care professionals, school teachers and others who make our communities a better, safer place to live.

The Homes For Heroes program was created after the tragic events of 9/11 as a way to say “THANK YOU” to the men and women who have given so much. Heroes across the United States of America register on the Homes For Heroes website every day looking for the savings.

The official Homes For Heroes Organization connects the Heroes with local Realtor, Lender and other Affiliates who assist them with their home buying or selling needs.

So what’s so cool about that?

SAVINGS. MOOLAH. $$ rebates back to the Heroes at closing. We rebate a full 25% of our gross commission to the Hero at closing. On an average $215,000 home that’s $1600.00! Lenders and other affiliates also offer savings taking the average up to well over $2500.00 in most cases.

Check out the Homes For Heroes Story here: 

Full Service With Benefits

Our service is not dumbed down or “lowered” in any way. We offer heroes full service real estate representation and as a way of saying “thanks”, we rebate that 25%. Pretty cool!

For a long time now we’ve asked ourselves how to best “give back” to the community as we assist Washington County Buyers and Sellers. It’s tricky because there are SO MANY organizations: Habitat for Humanity, the Doctor’s Free Clinic, the Erin Kimball Foundation, Dixie Care and Share…how do you choose?! The Homes For Heroes program is fun because it streamlines the process for us, and beyond just writing an anonymous check, we get to actually say "THANK YOU" by participating in the process with the Hero – very cool.

If you believe that you, or someone you know, qualifies for “Hero” savings in Buying or Selling a St. George area home, REACH OUT TO US! Details and contact info here: Washington County Homes For Heroes

LISTEN TO OUR RADIO SHOW LAUNCH OF THE HOMES FOR HEROES PROGRAM BELOW!

Ahh yes, the St. George Parade of Homes. That time when the Northern folks flee the cold and smog of Wasatch Front inversions, local folks view their dream homes, and about 200 million FSBO's (For Sale by Owners) throw a sign in their yard with dreams of selling their home for more than it's worth!

Not only that, I've always said that if you don't hate your own home now, you will after the parade! At least my wife feels that way after she leaves these beauties and lands back at the "dreary" Larkin Residence. 

Which begs the question: Do more homes sell during the Parade of Homes, or NOT? Are people really here to BUY St. George Real Estate, or just spectate? We've been asked this about 5x in the past few weeks, so we did the research for you. Here's what we found (video). 

Are you going? 

10,000 SF? 2.5 acres? In Little Valley? For under $500k? YES. After years of area residents wondering if the home was some type of “compound”, a Little Valley area home is now occupied by a new Owner. And it only took us 68 showings (yes, we actually track that...find out how here: Showing Feedback System)

                                         "She's a big un'!"

We received all sorts of bizarre questions while marketing the property. The most typically asked was, ‘is that some type of bizarre multi-family compound?', and....(drum roll please), 'Is that a Polygamist house?' No, we’d reply, it’s just a home!” 

I'll admit it, the "hugeness" (is that a word?) of the home, and the way it sits up off the road made it quite a sight. Boasting nearly 10,000 SF living space on 2.5 acres with a massive 5-car garage and a huge Fort-Knox style wood beam gate to the backyard, the home was featured in an MSN Real Estate Article titled “Bargain Mansions” last fall. You can view that article here: 10 Bargain Mansions 

And a bargain it was. This Little Valley home ended up selling right around $450k. You just don't run across that much space in this area for that price. The sheer size made it non-functional for most Buyers, resulting in a sweet deal for the new owners. 

Curiosity killing you? The home can be viewed right here: http://www.gostgeorge.com/Property/2206-E-2800-S-St-George-Utah

It’s tough to beat huge cookies and Root Beer floats. It’s even tougher to beat them served by St. George Mayor Dan McArthur and his St. George, Utah City Council. It’s TOUGHER YET to beat them served in the historic Opera House with a band playing Pioneer Music in the background!

So my beloved hometown is 151 years old. 151 years!

St. George City again marked the day as they have in the past with free rides on SunTran Shuttle, free admission to all St. George City recreation facilities, including Sand Hollow Acquatic Center, St. George Arts Museum, St. George Rec Center, free rides on the Town Square Carousel, and of course – free Root Beer Floats and Cookies served by Mayor and City Council!

My personal favorites? Riding SunTran from a stop just outside our Neighborhood to the Arts Center, walking to Town Square, enjoying the Carousel with my kids, then grabbing SunTran at the Library to head home.

My kids loved every minute of it. Who knew public transportation could be so cool? SIMPLE PLEASURES!

For me, there’s more to St. George City than great real estate! I love this City. I love what they’ve done downtown with Town Square and the Carousel…YES, the “controversial” Carousel.  My Father and I were both born and raised here. He’s now 72 years old and has traveled the globe, as well as lived in 2 foreign countries and he continues to maintain that there just isn’t any place better to live and raise a family.

Here’s to 151 more years!

Seriously...who isn't? The best is when you get a random Holiday greeting at some ABSURD hour that was obviously sent out through some robot email service...."Thanks for the sincere wishes!" Right. 

So I thought I'd send out friends, clients and associates something of value...the most gorgeous picture of St. George this time of year EVER produced!

The Story

Some of you know the story, but we originally had a similar photo taken in 2004 by a friend,  Larry Gardner from this same spot. He called it, "Falling In Love With Dixie". The quality was average, colors not as moving. It was taken immediately following a November rain storm. 

For years I watched the weather hoping to get a better shot. In November of 2009 it rained like crazy and then the clouds started to part. I saw this from our (then) St. George Boulevard Office window....and thought, "this is it!"

I dialed SUPER-Photographer Danny Lee, (http://www.dleephotography.com/) and said "DANNY I NEED YOU! Are you in town?" And the rest, as they say, is history. This picture now graces all of our Larkin Group branding as well as my office wall in a 36" x 60" format on a huge slab of clear acrylic...very cool. 

So there's a story, AND a pretty picture to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. And the reality is, I think most of us have a lot to be thankful for!

Best to you and yours this Holiday Season!

-Jeremy

PS - If you'd like a digital copy, reply to this email and your wish will be my command. 

Well....BILLIONS of dollars and 4 years later, the Presidential Election came...and went. There's no question that St. George...and the entire State of Utah for that matter, are predominantly Conservative, Right-leaning, Republican areas. And as such, MANY locals have expressed utter dismay over Presidential Election results.

I cannot tell you how many facebook posts, emails and tweets I saw from friends saying, "I'm sick to my stomach, we're ruined!" Then there were those on the other side who were simply elated...interesting how life works isn't it? 

Regardless of your political affiliations, this type of sentiment CAN, but doesn't NEED to affect local consumer confidence. In this week's piece, Obama and Romney don't know anything about St. George, Utah...but we do!.

Jeremy Larkin talks about why the the future of St. George Real Estate is bright regardless of who's in office. THESE ARE "GLAD TIDINGS" about the future of this local market - PLEASE PASS THE WORD ALONG to your friends!

PS - we've already got folks contacting us concerned about what election may results may do to their property values long term. We've opened up a brand new resource page for you to look at values in your neighborhood IMMEDIATELY. Enjoy by clicking below: