Saturday, June 04, 2005

Arizona Leads Nation in Average Home Price Increases During the first three months of 2005, Arizona led the nation in average price increases, as homes statewide appreciated by 5.2 percent. This figure was more than double the national average of 2.2 percent during the same period. The data was contained in the Office of Federal Housing's quarterly report. The rating system is formulated on a "weighted repeat sales index." It is a different measure than simply evaluating median monthly sales prices. Here, price changes are tracked via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage data for existing homes sold or refinanced. Not included in the index, are new-home sales figures. When it comes to new-home building, metropolitan Phoenix leads the nation. Looking at resale data, home prices in the Greater Phoenix area climbed a remarkable 21 percent during January, February and March, 2005. 7:11:50 PM    comment []

Arizona's Small-Business Economy Among Best in Nation.  Arizona ranks #1 in a recent national survey of small-business owners when asked to assess how good business conditions were. The May, 2005 data was released in the latest quarterly report by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Small-business owners, when asked to assess how good business conditions were, rated Arizona first in net-percent-improving category, first in net-percent saying sales were good and first in net-percent claiming profits were good. The survey's first question asks small-business owners to rank how supportive their state's business environment is, including government, banks, media and community groups. Here, Arizona came in fifth among the largest state economies, in front of Texas and well ahead of California. Said Michelle Bolton, Arizona NFIB director: "It's no surprise at all that we're performing better than such states as California, but part of the reason is that we've naturally had a pretty darn good business climate overall, a climate which is conducive to creating stable conditions." 1:52:17 PM    comment []