A statewide property scam is now targeting homeowners in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This scam comes in the form of an official-looking county property tax relief that is so official looking it has scammed thousands throughout the state already. It comes through the mail offering the assistance of a property review board to help lower taxes for a fee of $189. The scam also includes a deadline date for quick processing. Even the local newspapers are getting calls from homeowners with questions about the suspicious letter to see if anyone has any answers for them. Some owners, but not all, already know that it is free to file a property tax appeal. So, those who do know that it is free are the ones onto the scam and questioning it. It is the ones who don't know that it is free to file a property tax appeal and it is also too late to appeal 2009 property valuations that are the ones falling for the scam, not questioning it and losing their money. Some local residents are getting letters stating that they are eligible for savings of $500+ if they will just mail in their $189 service fee to the post office box stated in the letter, which is a Phoenix address. There was a very similar scam in California directed at residents there, but no one was ever caught. Supervisor Johnson confirmed the letter being circulated is definitely fraudulent and a scam. For now, the county assessor's office will monitor the situation. In the meantime, I am trying to do my part by helping get word out to all homeowners to be on the lookout for a very official looking advertisement letter that claims homeowners qualify for a "property tax reduction review". This is only an attempt to scam all homeowners out of their money and nothing more. Remember, there is no fee to file a property valuation appeal within Arizona and the 2009 appeals process has already ended, so it's too late for this year anyway. If you think you are a victim or you receive one of these scams, you can contact the Attorney General's Office at 1-800-352-8431. You can also file a complaint online at www.azag.gov. For the ninth consecutive month, residential home sales in Lake Havasu City have increased over the same time period for the year before. In fact, Lake Havasu homes experienced a 54% increase in June 2009 over home sales in June 2009 (150 vs 97). Vacant land sales in Lake Havasu also experienced a 33% increase in June 2009 from the previous year (12 vs 9) and sales of multi-family homes were up 150%. The average sell price of a Lake Havasu City home was $173,603, while the average sell price of a vacant lot was $80,679. Prices for single-family homes seem to be staying pretty steady now as well. If you are looking to purchase a home in Lake Havasu City, now is definitely the time to buy. The inventory is full of great bargains and prices will not stay this low forever. Besides, you have until the end of November 2009 to use the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit to help finance your home. And, with the Your Way Home AZ program firmly in place for all Arizona residents, it would be silly of you not to purchase that Lake Havasu dream home today. Liz Miller - Just Call Liz for Your Lake Havasu Real Estate Needs! Realtor® Liz Miller ~ Lake Havasu City Real Estate As home prices decline in many areas of the country, we are seeing one of the most affordable housing markets in years. This housing market combined with low interest rates is motivating millions of home buyers to hit the market and find their dream home for a bargain. Realtor.com recently did a Homeownership Survey that showed home buying affordability is what is driving more than two-thirds of potential buyers back into today's real estate market. That's means about 65.2% people are looking to buy a home nowadays. One in five of prospective buyers said foreclosures have motivated them to purchase a home. They look at foreclosures as bargains. Just over 15% of prospective buyers said they are motivated to buy now or very soon because they think this is where prices will be bottoming out and they want to get in on the low interest rates before they begin to rise. The $8,000 Federal tax credit was the motivation for just over 14% of first-time home buyers. The Homeownership Survey also found that many Americans are still not aware of how affordable homes are today. Approximately 76% think that a median income family cannot afford much these days when, in actuality, a family earning the median income of $53,000 can afford almost 75% of the homes on the market. The only downside to the survey was that it found one in ten current home owners have been delaying selling their home because of the low home prices. Many fear they will not get what they purchased their home for. This survey has clearly shown that potential buyers are motivated by value and affordability. Now, with such a wide variety of quality homes currently within the average American families reach, the motivation is greater than ever and many buyers are taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity. And why not? Low prices seem to work for everyone. State in the southwestern United States. It is bordered by Utah, New Mexico, Mexico, and, across the Colorado R., Nevada and California.
Area, 113,909 sq mi (295,024 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 5,130,632, a 40% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital and largest city, Phoenix.
Nickname, Grand Canyon State, Copper State.
Motto, Ditat Deus [God Enriches].
State bird, cactus wren.
State flower, blossom of the saguaro cactus. 
State tree, paloverde. The state's principal crops are cotton, lettuce, cauliflowers, broccoli, and sorghum. Cattle, calves, and dairy goods are, however, the most valuable Arizona farm products. Manufacturing is the leading economic activity, with electronics, printing and publishing, processed foods, and aerospace and transportation leading sectors. High-technology research and development, communications, and service industries are also important, as are construction (the state is rapidly growing) and tourism. Military facilities contributing to Arizona's economy include Fort Huachuca, Luke and Davis-Monthan air force bases, and the Yuma Proving Grounds. Testing and training with military aircraft and desert storage of commercial and military planes are both major undertakings.
Arizona abounds in minerals. Copper is the state's most valuable mineral; Arizona leads the nation in production. Other leading resources are molybdenum, sand, gravel, and cement.  Between 1940 and 1960, Arizona's population increased more than 100%, and since then growth has continued. By the 2000 census the cumulative increase since 1940 amounted to more than 1000%, and Arizona was ranked among the fastest growing states in the nation. The mountainous north, however, has not shared the population growth of the southern sections of the state. Over 80% of the people are Caucasian and nearly 20% are Hispanic.
*Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition |