Snowbird real estate purchases have been down the past 3 years in the Phoenix Metro area, and also Maricopa.
The winter season in 2010 was HUGE for snowbirds. There were less homes on the market for sale, there were more snowbirds in the area and the Canadian dollar was at a great price vs. the USD.
Many of the snowbirds competed against each other because of the minimal home inventory. Some of our Northern friends went home in March with no house L.
In 2011 and 2012, there were more homes on the market. Investors and flippers started buying homes in early 2011 and 2012 just to be able to sell these homes to the snowbirds later on that year. Unfortunately, demand was down. Fewer snowbirds were looking for homes that year, possible because of the exchange rate, or maybe the prices of homes went up. It was about that time that foreclosures and short sales were getting rare and those “smoking deals” went away!
The truth is that there are some GREAT deals still out here! Homes are still increasing in value. The Phoenix area is very snowbird friendly! Unlike California and Florida, in Arizona we do not penalize you with higher property taxes if you are not a full time resident!
Please remember. You never have to shovel sunshine!