Gorgeous red rock views and an outdoor lifestyle may have a lot to do with it, but according to local Realtors, new homes in St.George, Utah are being purchased as soon as they are built.

Explains Realtor Penny L. Weston, "The hub of southern Utah is St. George. Built on a heritage of hardy pioneers, St. George has become a thriving community with countless business and recreational opportunities. St. George is a popular resort and retirement community. St. George, also called 'Dixie,' is located at the extreme southwestern corner of Utah. It is nestled against impressive sandstone cliffs. Added to its charm is breathtaking blue skies that make it a picturesque valley. St. George has a comfortable climate that makes it an ideal attraction destination."

"St. George has been named as the fastest growing 'micropolitan' city in the country," says Realtor Paul Herbert. "It has over a dozen golf courses in the surrounding area and averages well over 300 days of sunshine and crystal clear blue skies. It is not only a tremendous retirement community, being consistently ranked in the top 10, but is a great family and recreational area."

Herbert suggests, "You can bike, run or just walk along the many paved jogging paths located throughout St. George. Several national parks including Zions and Bryce Canyon are located nearby in which you can hike and enjoy the outdoors. Water activities such as boating, skiing and fishing can be found within minutes of St. George. Las Vegas is located 80 minutes away. Something for everyone can be found in St. George and for the quality of life and the climate, St. George can't be beat."

About the market, Herbert advises, "The St. George area is experiencing a dichotomy of activity. New home construction is selling about as fast as it can be built, with most homes being presold or sold prior to completion. Older homes, generally pre-1990, are sitting on the market until they are bargain-priced. The only exceptions would be homes under $130k as they are limited and are being bought quickly by investors or first-time home buyers. For the year 2003 vs. 2002, single-family home sales volume increased by 40 percent with the average sales price of a single-family home increasing 10.3 percent. For condos/townhomes, total sales volume increased 35.7 percent with the average price increasing 9.8 percent. Total lot sales volume increased a whopping 90.8 percent with the average lot price increasing 45.1 percent. The market experienced brisk investor activity in 2003 as St. George area real estate prices are very reasonable and interest rates remained low. Also, investors are seeking an alternative to the stock market and low bank savings rates."

Published: January 29, 2004

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.