Trends are not made by one or two months, but I had a feeling one might have begun last month when the stats report from the Tucson MLS was released the afternoon of the data pull last month. Not only bowled over but a big ATA Boy went out to the Tucson MLS for giving agents and the public the data as quickly as possible for the previous month. (I even got a note from “Stats Guy” )

Well Stats Guy ATA BOY. A trend is established and we all have the report with a new feature at the end showing in graph form the closing of the gap between Inventory and Pending Contracts.

Inventory to Pending Contracts

I’ll call this “Closing the Gap” Yeah I know it looks like like a big fish getting ready to swallow up some little ones. But it isn’t. It is actually the window of opportunity on supply and demand closing as these two lines come closer together. That narrow part back there a couple of years ago, That was the “Frantic Market” time. Trust me, no one wants to go back there.

Could there be a housing shortage in 2009 in Tucson

Might sound like a silly question. I know a lot of eye browse raised when Rosie Koberlein said it back in January of this year. What prompted this statement wasn’t Rosie Colored Glasses or a CEO painting a Rosie picture for a bunch of REATORS(copywritethingygoeshere). It was the lack of building permits being asked for by builders meaning there were no new properties going into the pipeline.

It was also the knowledge that the investors were back in the market and they know a bargain when they see it. No Look, look, look, and sit on the fence. They know what they are after and they buy it. They are buying up the foreclosure properties, even the highly vandalized ones which clears them off the books and out of the inventory.

She also pointed out that builders can’t ramp up production in weeks or even months. When the supply drops as it is now, and the financial institutions are now over zealous in lending requirements meaning there isn’t available capitol to builders this could and might lead to a shortage.

Now Lets Do the Numbers

The charts pretty much speak for themselves. The average and Median sale price are down. We have talked about this before. The inclusion of short sale and foreclosure properties in these stats will reflect a decrease in these areas till that part of the inventory is reduced enough that it doesn’t cause this kind of inordinate skewing of the number.

The plus side is the reduced number of active and new listings are reduced while there is a healthy increase in pending sales. Total Units sold show only a 10 difference but that isn’t true. The number in the system right now for March is 922 not 882.

Year over Year

The numbers for year over year show very similar indicators. Active listing and new listing are down. While pending sales show less than last year we still have our * in place indicating we aren’t quite to an apples to apples comparison. Last year in April we were still counting All Pending contracts even if they were pending for several months. Last summer the MLS made the change to count only sales that went Pending during the month. The fact we are withing 200 of this number means we are equal to or better than last year, even though there were 1015 compared to the 882 for this year.

I’ll have the Absorption Rates for April posted tomorrow.

In the navigation to the right there is a link to the entire monthly report. It is a PDF document and you can view and save for a good view of all the detail.

Tucson MLS Statistics for April 2009 is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Lizzie Bell Blood Drive Champion

Elizabeth is alive today because someone donated their blood. She stays Alive because you keep donating.
Be a hero, donate blood.

At the Extreme Home Makeover event at the Fox Theater we received bags with bottles of water and snacks to be given to someone to donate blood.   If we couldn’t we were asked to give the bag to someone that could.   I’m in that category of those who’s blood is (too sweat) to donate. Along with the bag was this picture of Lizzie.

On the back of the card was the following information about blood drives and other events coming up.   This little hero is tireless in her efforts and didn’t miss an opportunity to keep the momentum rolling for blood and toy donations.

2009 Event Dates

March 26: Michelle Grenier Blood Drive on UA Campus, Santa Rita Room.

June 14: Lizzie Bell Blood Drive and World Donor Day.
Location: to be announced (when I know I’ll fill this in)

September (all month long) Alma Chandler, Arizona’s   2x Judo Champion, platelet drive at Kolb and Broadway.

November 26: Sean Coleman Drive at Mayfield Florist on Tanque Verde.

Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to make an appointment today!

Before You Donate

The Red Cross was also there passing out cards with before you donate. . .     Thought it would be good to pass along that information here as well.

• drink plenty of water – be sure to limit caffeinated beverages
• eat a good breakfast to keep your blood sugar up
• eat iron-rich foods such as Cream of Wheat and raisins
• bring a friend – we always need more donors
• bring your donor card or other id
• call 1-800- GIVE-LIFE for donor qualification information

Little Friend’s Remembered Golf Tournament

September 19th, 2009 “Little Friend’s Remembered” Gold Tournament.   Call Gary Bell at, (520) 955-0964 for more information.

Toy Drive for University Medical Center

Toy Drive for University Medical Center’s 3rd Floor Infusion Room
Call Lauren, (520) 325-3232 to sign your business or school up to collect toys and gift cards for the 800 kids receiving ongoing, out-patient treatment.   The toy box makes a difference.

Donate to the John P. Bell Family Foundation
1580 N. Kolb Road, Suite 206
Tucson, AZ 85715
www.johnpbellfamilyfoundation.org

Lizzie Bell Blood Drive Information is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Kathy Bell addressing the crowd after the show aired

Last night Congress street in front of the Fox Theater was closed for the viewing of the Extreme Makeover Tucson show aired nationally on ABC.   Kgun 9 was there to cover the event and what a wonderful event.   Lizzie looked fantastic and all the volunteers greatly enjoyed the interaction with the Bell Family.

CVS Pharmacies presented both Lizzie and Alicia with large stuffed bears.   They contributed $100,000 to Lizzie’s future medical bills which are in the thousands of dollars every years.

The event began at 6 PM with John Wesley Miller introducing on stage all the builders, contractors, and volunteers on the board of directors for the event.   Many, many people were introduced and thanked for their many hours work and money contributed to the project.

The Impact Of Lizzie Bell

Lizzie Bell is a tireless spokes person for the Red Cross.   Here efforts toward rallying people to be blood donors and contributors of stuffed toys to Lizzie’s Loot have been an ongoing effort.   What Extreme Makeover Home Edition has done to promote Lizzie’s causes by choosing her as one of this year’s “Heros” is nothing short of amazing.

Last night it was announce that even before the show had aired 11,ooo units of blood have been donated in Lizzie’s name.   The Red Cross says this amount will save 33,0o0 lives.

As the program was about to air here last evening I received an email from this site from a lady in Texas who was watching the program already airing in their time zone.   Here is what she had to say:

Janette from Houston,Tx. Was wondering if there is a blood drive in Houston in honor for Lizzy. I am watching extreme makeover as i write to you. Bless her heart and every little angel that is ill due to this sickness.

It so happened I was standing near the Red Cross display table when I received this message on my blackberry and showed it to the Red Cross volunteers.   They said people can donate blood at anytime anywhere in the country in Lizzie Bell’s name.   Just then Michael Bell walked up and we showed the message to him as well.   He expressed how amazed and emotionally touched his family has been with the outpouring of support and blood donations in Lizzie’s name.   I conveyed the answer to Janette with a snap shot of John Wesley Miller addressing the crowd.

There will be more blood drives coming up soon and I’ll be posting the schedule for those yet this week.   The first one is this week:

March 26:   Michelle Grenier Blood Drive on the UA Campus, Sant Rita Room

You can find out more about how to contribute to Lizzie’s Loot and the ongoing need for blood donations at the   John P. Bell Family Foundation

There is so much more I could write, but will keep to the topic of the celebration of life, because that is what it was about last night and throughout the event.   Without blood transfusions each month Lizzie can’t live.   Lizzie Bell is a true hero to the many thousands of people receiving blood in her name.   Lizzie represents Tucson as a positive teen roll model and a true Hero.   Thank to Extreme Makeover Home Edition the entire world now knows of our local hero with a heart big enough for the entire country.

Extreme Home Makeover Tucson at the Fox Theatre is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

New Lizzie Bell Home

The Lizzie Bell family arrived home a little after 4 pm in the black limo that pulled up behind the Extreme Makeover Home Edition bus.

The family was excited and surprised to see this brand new home standing on the same location there old on was just 7 days ago.   It is almost surreal for all of us that have worked tirelessly on this project for the past week.   It had to be totally surreal for the family.

The Gallery of Images

The gallery of images grew by more than 100 images since this morning.   Unlike the past days of the project when I would shot a couple of times a day and Barbara had a camera with her all the time she was on site to snap candid shots through out the day.   Yesterday we were both on hand for the day. We will continue to add images from others who are sending them to us over the next couple of days.

From early morning when people were wondering how it the world it would all come together by the time the family arrived right down to the turning over of the keys and the practice runs with the bus and limo side by side. But come together it did and in a wonderful way.   The weather was perfect, 80 degrees was T shirt weather.   The crowd gathered through out the day and by the time the family arrived it was ready to give them a very warm Tucson welcome home.

I’ll post a final update when I have the information on the toy, food and blood drive results.

What an amazing experience.

Many Many Thanks to the Volunteers and Workers

This project would not have been possible without all the volunteers and volunteer crafts people that contributed their time, energy, blood and sweat to make this dream come true.

Extreme Makeover Tucson – Welcome Home Bell Family is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

The announcement below is from an hour ago.   A couple of minutes ago the Construction Crew asked for ALL TRADES.

No tools needed they have tools, but they really need bodies.

Go to the staging tents at the corner of River and Craycroft

Press Release:

WHO: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and John Wesley Miller Companies
WHAT: Skilled landscapers, bricklayers and drywallers needed
WHEN: February 2, 2009
WHERE: Corner of River and Craycroft

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” needs help finishing the final details of
the Bell family’s new home. Skilled workers needed include: landscapers,
bricklayers and drywallers.

Volunteers do not need to be experts but must have a familiarity with tools
and experience. Volunteers with these skill sets should report directly to
the staging area, located at the corner of River and Craycroft. They do not
need to sign up via the website and can arrive immediately.

More information available at www.extrememakeovertucson.com.

All Trades Needed at Home Makeover Tucson is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Superbowl Sunday Construction Continues

This is a little piece of information Josh Brodesky either missed or failed to mention in his article yesterday in the Arizona Daily Star “Real Estate: Extreme Makeover’s Foreclosure Edition”

He doesn’t seem to be alone.   I’ve read a lot of comments since it was announced the Lizzie Bell family would be the recipients of this weeks Extreme Makeover Home.   Many are unaware of the theme for this years shows.   Heroes who have given of themselves to their community and others despite great need themselves.

Extreme Makeover Blitz into Town

It might seem like a “blitz” but in reality it has taken months of planning.   Several Teams have worked tirelessly to get ready for this project.   Yes it is a “feel-good story”.   If you have ever watched this show it is all about feel good stories.   Let’s face it Good News and Feel Good Stories seem to be the enemy of any Print Newpaper.

It is obvious that Josh Brodesky doesn’t get it.

And yet at a time when foreclosures are spiking and thousands of jobs are being lost, something about “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s” hit-and-run nature seems out of place, a throwback to our housing bubble.”

It is quite the opposite of his conclusion.   It is during this kind of time in our country there is an even GREATER need for good news, feel good stories.   It is NOW when we need people to pull together as a community and focus on the need of someone beside themselves.

It is amazing when this many people come together singularly focused on something that does nothing to improve their own lives.

It is while volunteering and working side by side with others that “opportunities” are born.   Many times people meet other people during the time they are volunteering and an informal networking of lives, interests and skills takes place. This isn’t why we volunteer, but it is often a result.

This is our opportunity to reach out to Lizzie Bell and her family.   She is a tireless volunteer of her time and energy.

This week isn’t about a TV show.   It isn’t about a hit-and-run.   It isn’t about a home in the Catalina Foothills.   It isn’t about someone who has a greater need.   It is about honoring a HERO.   That hero this week for us in Tucson is Lizzie Bell.

Singularly Focused to Improve Others Lives

This is our opportunity to acknowledge the tireless efforts on behalf of others in need by one who has life threatening challenges to overcome every day.

It is amazing when this many people come together singularly focused on something that does nothing to improve their own lives.

This is what this week of Extreme Makeover Home Edition Tucson is really all about.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition “Heroes” is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Your Help is Needed on Superbowl Sunday!

• SUPERBOWL SUNDAY BIG, BIG NEEDS!
• Carpenters!!!
• Trim Carpenters!!!
• Finish Carpenters!!
• Drywallers!!

I’ve just been told they also need:

• Framers
• Plumbers
• Electricians

Participants don’t have to be experts but should know their way around power tools (compound miter etc) and joinery. Come directly to the volunteer check in tent at the corner of River and Craycroft, and then take the shuttle over the build site! And enjoy the game while you work on a big screen TV, and enjoy plenty of wings courtesy of WingStop!

JOIN US FOR OUR SUPERBOWL PARTY
And you won’t even miss the game!

Enjoy the game on a big screen TV while you work, and enjoy plenty of wings courtesy of WingStop!

Extreme Makeover Tucson URGENT HELP NEEDED is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

This is a Teaser Set of Photos.   We have been at the site daily taking images of the construction.   Barbara is serving as a site coordinator through out the project as needed.   (LOL, most of the time)   She loves this stuff.

I’ve been putting together a gallery of photos of the project and it is all on the EHMT Gallery Page.   We will continue to build the gallery as the project progresses.

Many volunteers have emailed us images they have taken.   Those images are also incorporated into the gallery.   We aren’t tagging those images with who took them.   LOL, most of the time I don’t know.   I get them from Barbara to “put these in the gallery”.

PicLens for Viewing The Photos

If you are using Firefox or Flock as your browser IE 7 even.   Try using the PicLens option for viewing the gallery.   It is an amazing way to view photos.   If you are using IE and you are told you have to install something to view, it is OK to install this option.   PicLens is a wonderful way to view images.

You can also click on any of the images and they will enlarge right on screen for you.   There is also a slide show option at the top of the gallery.

You can see how it all works from this little teaser gallery on this post.   But for all the images check out the EHMT Gallery Page.

Submit Photos for the Gallery

If you have a special photo or two you would like to share we will try and get them in the gallery.   I know this is rather open ended.   There might be no photos or so many I don’t have time to process and post them.   So I can’t guarantee I’ll get your photos in the gallery, but I’ll do the best I can.

Extreme Home Makeover Tucson – Photos is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Here is a short clip of the progress on the house on Saturday and Saturday evening.   There is a continued need for volunteers Framers, Drywallers, Electricians, Plumbers, and late on Sunday Plaster workers.

Extreme Makeover Tucson Continued on Saturday is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.

Fill a Bus with Toys

Lizzie’s Loot is one of the things that put Lizzie Bell on Extreme Makeover Home Edition Hero’s List.

Lizzie’s Loot – Toy Drive

The toys don’t have to be expensive.   Especially needed are stuffed animals! These toys go into a special toy box and are provided to lessen the physical pain of children after under going treatment as described below.

Lizzy has been collecting toys for the University Medical Center.

“UMC has roughly 100 children visit its pediatric hematology/oncology center per week.
Children receive transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatment for blood and cancer diseases. While it may be impossible to lessen their physical pain, the John P. Bell Family Foundation is committed to at least putting a smile on a child’s face. Children who receive treatment for medical conditions in this department look forward to selecting a brand new toy from a toy box in the pediatric hematology/ oncology department after each treatment received. The toy box was established at the University Medical Center in 1992 and the John P. Bell foundation created the “Lizzie’s Loot” campaign to keep the toy box full. We are currently looking for partners to help keep the toy box full of toys so children have a wide selection to choose from, and so the toy box is never empty. We also want to be sure there are gift certificates available for the teenagers who are undergoing treatment.”

Lizzie’s Loot – Food Drive

Fill a Bus with Food

The food drive is to benefit the Tucson Community Food Bank.   Extreme Makeover Tucson would like to fill a school bus with food for the Tucson Community Food Bank.

It would be another great expression of the Tucson Communities support for Lizzie and for the Tucson Community Food Bank to fill a school bus with food for hungry Tucson families.

There will be a   school bus parked at Ft. Lowell Park on Craycroft  throughout the build to receive donations.

Times and Locations:   Food and Toy Drop-off

Bring your donations of Food and Toys there between the hours of 7 am – 5 pm.   After 5 pm take your donations to the corner of Craycroft and River from 5 pm till before 7 am.   There will be someone at that location 24 hours a day till the project is complete.

The food and toy drives will continue through Wed. Feb. 4, 2009.

You can also donate toys and food at the following:

Tucson Department Fire Stations:

• All Tucson Fire locations: View map

Rural Metro Fire stations:

• Station 71 – 4447 E. Benson Highway
• Station 72 – 2741 N. Houghton
• Station 73 – 4300 N. Kolb
• Station 74 – 4820 E Sunrise
• Station 75 – 3761 W. Cromwell
• Station 76 – 500 W. Magee
• Station 79 – 735 W. Sahuarita
• Sation 80 – 1833 E Skyline
• Station 81 – 966 E. Hughes Access
• Fire Admin 490 W. Magee

Extreme Makeover Tucson – Toys & Food Drive is a post Scrapped and Stolen from: Tucson Real Estate if you are not reading this in your Reader.