Lifestyle and community amenities sell homes. The old adage about location, location, location is still accurate, however, these days it is more about lifestyle plus location. During the summer a majority of buyers looking to purchase in Flagstaff are simply looking to escape to cooler temperatures. And also, to find outdoor activities for themselves and / or their children and guests.
As temperatures heat up in the Valley, we are experiencing the same with real estate sales in Flagstaff. In fact, in June we had the highest price point sale for all of 2022 at $5,350,000. The home is located in the gated community of Pine Canyon and features seven bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms at 6,772 square feet. This is the second highest priced sale in all of Flagstaff history only behind the $5,700,000 sale in October 2021 which was also in Pine Canyon.
Golf has been a longtime sought-after community amenity for many years. Nowadays there has been another amenity added to the list of most popular attractions and it is taking over the nation as the fastest growing sport according to NBC News. Pickleball. The USA Pickleball Association reports that there are more than 4 million people playing the sport in this country. At least 5 million are playing it around the world. Pickleball’s two-year growth rate was 39% in 2021.
The gated communities of Pine Canyon, Forest Highlands and Flagstaff Ranch all have pickleball courts and programs. Sign up for a social membership at Continental Country Club and join playing with over 200 pickleballers and a program that includes beginner lessons as well as a myriad of groups for weekly play at all levels. There are four public courts at Bushmaster Park with a couple of other public courts sprinkled around town.
One of the reasons for the popularity of the sport is the relatively low barrier to entry. All that is needed is a pickleball paddle and a ball. It is possible to order a decent set from Amazon or pick up from Big 5 Sports for around $50 or even borrow a paddle from a friend for free. Another large draw to the sport is the sociability of pickleball. There are many local organizations that play throughout town that also host social outings after matches.
Last month Flagstaff hosted the premiere pickleball tournament at Northern Arizona University which included 185 registered participants from all over the state. Spectators filled the bleachers to watch their favorite team heat it up on the courts. This is a healthy hobby for people to connect and create friendships. Now many seek communities where they will be able to connect and play with others. Timber Sky by Capstone Homes and Miramonte off of old Route 66 will have pickleball courts forthcoming when the amenities are built out.
Regardless of sport, real estate in Flagstaff remains competitive though we are taking strides towards a more balanced market. During the month of June, the price of the average single-family home sold was $976,939 at $411 per square foot. This is an increase of $14,714 over the month of May 2022 in which homes sold at $409 per square foot. June of 2021 the average single-family home sold for $720,231 which is $259,708 less than June 2022 which represents a 36% increase year over year.
The biggest question on everyone’s mind seems to be, will home prices continue to increase or have we seen the top of the market? At this moment in time according to the real estate statistics in Flagstaff we are continuing to see rising home prices and record setting sales. Stay tuned next month to see if this trend continues as quickly as the pickleball trend across the nation.
Text Lori