Race fans get to take in night racing at PIR (Phoenix International Raceway) tonight. the track, actually located in Avondale, has access routes through Avondale and Goodyear. (Until the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, the site was 1/2 mile into Mexico!) The race is the Subway Fresh Fit 500 tonight which is 312 miles under the lights. race starts at 5:30.Another event for Avondale and neighbor Goodyear!Over 100,000 are expected to see the race; any doubters can just look at the traffic tonight at around 10pm (til midnight). Drive carefully when you leave. the streets aren't the track! 04/20/2007

One of the most interesting men in Avondale, Arizona (in Phoenix's West Valley) has to be Chuck Lakin, owner of Lakin Mills and Lakin Feed. Chuck has been a rancher, cowboy, sheriff's deputy, businessman and so much more since early in the last century. Chuck is in his upper 80's now and beginning to slow down a bit but he is just as impressive as ever.Chuck started a business, Lakin Feed, to produce horse feed in the form of pellets. Taking hay, alfalfa, molasses and other stuff that I as a non farmer/horseman don't know of, he chops, mixes and cooks it then shapes it into pellets and dries them. The pellets are bagged and sold to horse owners for convenient feeding. Chuck told me of his first days when he went to country hardware and feed shops trying to wholesale his pellets. He was ... 04/16/2007

Look for the return of the traditional down payment as it grows harder to find a 100% loan, particularly a sub-prime one.  While No-down loans will still be an option for those with good credit, nervous lenders are becoming acutely interested in ensuring that borrowers don't over commit.   You still are going to be able to buy a home, but you will be expected to put something down.The self-employed and those with marginal credit are the ones who will really feel the changes trying to get a sub-prime, Low Documentation (Stated Income) product.  Stated Income loans were great for self-employed people that had good income, but took lots of tax deductions which, in turn, created a low NET number on their income tax returns --the very document lenders used to verify their income.  This is wh... 03/31/2007

Avondale Sales for the 7 days prior to March 19, 2007The previous 7 days saw 26 homes close escrow the week in Avondale. Average home sale price was up to $283,322 while the average asking was $287,654. Average days on the market were up 8 to 108, with 12 homes expiring from the MLS, down from 30.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,994. That comes in at just over $142 per square foot (sf), up about $7 per sf. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location, location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. Call me to find out the value of your home in this market and what it takes to sell quickly in the present market... 03/20/2007

Avondale Sales for the 7 days prior to March 19, 2007The previous 7 days saw 26 homes close escrow the week in Avondale. Average home sale price was up to $283,322 while the average asking was $287,654. Average days on the market were up 8 to 108, with 12 homes expiring from the MLS, down from 30.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,994. That comes in at just over $142 per square foot (sf), up about $7 per sf. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location, location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. Call me to find out the value of your home in this market and what it takes to sell quickly in the present market... 03/20/2007

Avondale Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007The previous 7 days saw 27 homes close escrow the week in Avondale. Average home sale price was down to $250,379 while the average asking was $252,442. Average days on the market were up 3 to 100, with 30  homes expiring from the MLS.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,848. That comes in at just over $135 per square foot, up about $1 per sf. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location, location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. Call me to find out the value of your home in this market and what it takes to sell quickly in the present market.Darryl King, B.S... 03/07/2007

February 26, 2007, Darryl L. King, Avondale AZ, will attend the ABR core course classes this coming week in Flagstaff, Arizona. Four (4) requirements must be met to attain and use the ABR® designation:   1.Successful completion of the two-day ABR® Designation Course, including an 80% passing grade on the exam.  After successful completion of the ABR Designation Course, you will have three (3) years in which to complete the other ABR designation requirements    2.Successful completion of one of the ABR elective courses, including an 80% passing grade on the exam, within three (3) years of completing the ABR® Designation Course.  Click here for a complete list of the ABR elective course listing.       3.Documentation verifying five (5) completed transactions in which you acted solely as a... 02/25/2007

Avondale Sales for the 10 days prior to February 21, 2007The previous 10 days saw 33 homes close escrow midway through the month in Avondale. Average home sale price was $266,750 while the average asking was $276,000. Average days on the market were 97, up about 10 days, with several homes expiring from the MLS.The average square footage for all these homes was 1,982. That comes in at just over $134 per square foot, up about $7 per sf. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location, location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. Call me to find out the value of your home in this market and what it takes to sell quickly in the pres... 02/21/2007

Avondale Sales for the week prior to February 7, 2007The previous week saw 10 homes close escrow as the month ended in Avondale. Average home sale price was $258,333 while the average asking was $269,749. Average days on the market were 82 with several homes expiring from the MLS.The average square footage for all these homes was 2,025. That comes in at just over $127 per square foot. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location location, location! While many forecast a downward spiral the economy for Arizona looks good with a net influx of people to the state. Call me to find out the value of your home in this market and what it takes to sell quickly in the present market.Darryl King, B.S.GRI REALTOR®, e-PRO®, MRE... 02/07/2007

3 FACTS EVERY For Sale By Owner SHOULD KNOWFACT #1Real Estate brokerage has been part of our society, and Sellers have been paying full brokerage commissions, for over 200 years.Would you agree that nothing lasts that long in our society unless there is real value there?Would you agree that Sellers wouldn't have been paying Realtors for their services for over 200 years unless Realtors were worth more than they were charging?FACT #27 out of 10 owners end up having to choose a broker to help them sell, or having to change their plans, sometimes when it is too late to save them from costs they could have avoided.Would you be curious to know why?FACT #3As a licensed Realtor, I can generally sell a house for more money than a private owner can; and I can generally sell it in less time. And ... 02/06/2007

Darryl King, GRI REALTOR®, is proud to announce that he has achieved the At Home With Diversity Certificate in December of 2006.Attaining the AHWD certificate just makes good business sense. With minority buying power in America at over $ 1 trillion and minorities accounting for 40% of first-time homebuyers, it is good business for REALTORS® to develop the skills to reach the growing multicultural market of prospective homeowners. As the 2000 U.S. Census has reported, America is more culturally diverse than at any other time in the nation's history. This diversity is now considered to be one of the country's greatest assets. It is not only affecting the way we view the world, it is affecting the economy of the world. So, meeting the needs of America's diverse consumer groups has become ... 02/04/2007

The previous week saw 23 homes close escrow in Avondale. Average home sale price was $286551 while the average asking was $298,673. Average days on the market were 140 with several homes expiring from the MLS.The average square footage for all these homes was 2,014. That comes in at just over $142 per square foot. Not bad considering this last year of declines.Darryl King, B.S.GRI REALTOR®, e-PRO®, MRE SocietySee me on the Web623-293-2864 01/31/2007

Housing Market Report for Avondale, AZ - Zip Code 85323  As of 12/21/2006 Number Sold in the Previous 4 Weeks 180 Median Price of Houses Sold in Previous 4 Weeks $269,500 Compared to 12/21/2005 Number Sold in the Previous 4 Weeks 263 Median Price of Houses Sold in Previous 4 Weeks $264,900 2006 over 2005 Increase (Decrease) in Houses Sold (83) -31.56% Increase (Decrease) in Median Price $4,600 1.74% Market Data for Avondale, AZ shows significant drop in number of sales, however, the median price increased slightly. 01/13/2007

In the late 1800s Avondale was a just a stop on the way to the west coast gold rush.  Fast forward to 2006 and this city of more than 70,000 offers International NASCAR racing, Festivals, and all the amenities you would expect from a thriving community.  The official founder of Avondale, William "Billy" G. Moore, arrived in Arizona in the late 1860s, putting down stakes near the Agua Fria River around 1880.  Initially he called his settlement "Coldwater, Arizona".  It became a stage stop on the Butterfield Stage Run, had a saloon and a general store, and a Post Office.  In the early 1900s, the Coldwater post office moved to Avondale Ranch, became known as Avondale and the name Coldwater was forgotten.  Avondale incorporated in December 1946.   Avondale sits due west of Phoenix, a short ... 11/26/2006

http://www.southwestvalleychamber.org/index.htmlhttp://www.visitphoenix.com/The above are a few useful links for finding information on things such asRelocation Information Tourist Information Amenities (on this page along the right side is a quick link to a map of the area) Local Services  Government Employment Major Industries Restaurants Clubs Area ChurchesInteractive maps to Arizona Interactive maps to Metro Phoenix Interactive maps to Downtown Phoenix Interactive maps to Civic Plaza 11/06/2006

Money Magazine ranked AVONDALE as the THIRD HIGHEST PERCENTAGE job growth from 2000 to 2005.  Rated at 54.3 Percent growth, barely beaten out by Allen Texas (55.0%) by a mere 0.6 Percent. Surprise topped the U.S. list at an incredible 93.1 Percent. The magazine also ranked U.S. cities by annual home price appreciation.  AVONDALE, at 43.2%, ranked #2 in the U.S.   Providence Rhode Island, at 52.4%, was the only U.S. city to top AVONDALE.According to (City of Avondale) Mayor Chuck Wolf, that's good and bad.  High home prices mean Avondale is becoming an increasingly desireable place to live, but that also edges out first-time home buyers who want to live in Avondale.On a sunnier note, AVONDALE, Surprise, Glendale, and Peoria tied for the highest average temperature in July of 107.6 Degree... 11/06/2006

The Arizona Department of Education released Arizona Learns designations last week for nearly 2,000 schools across the state.  The Arizona Learns accountability system gives schools one of six acheivment profiles: Excelling; Highly Performing; Performing Plus; Performing; Underperforming; and Failing.The breakdown of the schools in each category for 2006 are:Excelling - 320 SchoolsHighly Performing - 235 SchoolsPerforming Plus - 670 SchoolsPerforming - 609 SchoolsUnderperforming - 123 SchoolsFailing - 8 Schools (pending site visit)In the West Valley, four Schools reached top honors of Excelling SchoolsLitchfield Elementary School (Litchfield District)Palm Valley Elementary School (Litchfield District)Estrella Mountain Elementary (Liberty District)Garden Lakes Elementary (Pendergast Dist... 11/03/2006

Avondale was founded in the late 1880s by William "Billy" G. Moore.  Moore set up roots near the Agua Fria River (Spanish for cold water).  He established a stage stop on the Butterfield Stage Run. Built a saloon and a general store, and from 1901 until 1905 he served as the Postmaster of Coldwater.   In the early 1900s, the Coldwater post office moved to a site near the nearby Avondale Ranch. The post office soon became known as Avondale, and the name Coldwater was discontinued. The City of Avondale was incorporated in December of 1946.Today, Avondale is a modern city, near the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The current population is over 60,000, and is expected to reach 125,000 by the year 2020. The anticipated build-out population is estimated to be 170,000 residents. That r... 10/25/2006

Avondale is a modern city, near the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The current population is over 60,000, and is expected to reach 125,000 by the year 2020. The anticipated build-out population is estimated to be 170,000 residents. That rapid growth makes Avondale one of the fastest-growing communities in the valley, and the nation. 10/25/2006