After years of pain and a market free fall that has shaved $6.8 trillion off the value of the nation’s 104 million homes, the decline in U.S. house prices may be nearly over.

U.S. homeowners lost $681 billion this year, according to a study by real estate website operator Zillow set for release today. That’s less than the $1.1 trillion drop in value in 2010, let alone the $2.7 trillion in losses in 2008, Zillow said. And a Zillow survey of 109 economists says U.S. home prices will stop falling late next year or early 2013, with the most optimistic quarter of economists predicting an 18% rebound by 2016.

The reason is that the economy is slowly turning around, as prices have come into balance with buyers’ incomes and how much they’d pay to rent comparable homes, said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at Standard & Poor’s, which publishes the S&P/Case-Shiller national home price index.

The negatives are that consumer confidence is low and there’s an overhang of foreclosed homes whose owners will discount them for resale, economists say.

“If it weren’t for confidence and consumer debt, we’d be in a boom,” Blitzer said. “Houses are cheaper than they have been since 2003, and mortgage rates are the lowest in 40 years.”

Two key numbers that foreshadowed the housing bust that began in 2006 now point to a stabilization and recovery, economists say.

•The ratio of the average home price to median income is now 13% lower than its average from 1990 to this year, Moody’s says. In 2005, the average price was 44% higher than the long-run average.

•The ratio of rental costs to home-buying expenses is about 15% lower than in 2000, according to S&P. At the peak, housing prices were about 20% higher than average, relative to rents.

Economists differ over how sharp the housing recovery will be, said Stan Humphries, chief economist for Zillow. The most pessimistic economist in Zillow’s survey thinks prices will decline an additional 26%, he said.

His own forecast is 3% appreciation by 2016 — total, not annually, he said. One reason is that unemployment, while falling, is still high.

The nation’s largest real-estate brokerage firm expects little recovery without a turn in the job market, said Richard Smith, CEO of Realogy, owner of Coldwell Banker and Century 21.

“I don’t see a spiking recovery until there’s an improvement in jobs, and until then it’s a steady but slow recovery off a pretty dismal pace,” Smith said.

Click the link for the article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2011-12-21/home-prices/52149756/1

May you always have an angel by your side
Watching out for you in all the things you do
Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days
Finding ways for your wishes and dreams
To take you to beautiful places

Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun
Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide
May you always have love and comfort and courage
And may you always have an angel by your side

May you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all

In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel,
May the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely,
May they give you the kind of gifts that never, ever end:

Someone wonderful to love
And a dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm
And may you always have an angel
By your side…

~Emilia Larson~

And Paradise Valley is the brainiest of the mid-sized cities in Arizona. The population of those cities are between 10,000 and 49,999 residents.

On Numbers rated local brainpower by using raw 2009 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s five-year American Community Survey. Each place’s score was based on its percentage of adults (25 or older) at each level of a five-rung educational ladder:

AND, Scottsdale and Tempe are the smartest big cities in Arizona. The East Valley is the place to be for the smartest big city folk in Arizona, based on a population of a city of at least 100,000 people. It’s followed, in order, by Tempe, Gilbert and Chandler.

Another interesting statistic is that only 38% of Arizonans were born in the state. When I moved here 33 years ago, the joke was finding someone who was a native.  But, we’ve surely had an influx of people from all over during that time looking to enjoy our sun and amenities since then!

Arizona was the No. 2 state for relocations from California, with 47,164 people moving here last year from the Golden State. A majority of people who moved during 2010 reported housing related issues (44.9 percent) as their reason for relocating. Family related (27.9 percent) and employment related (18.5 percent) were reasons the others cited in the U.S. Census Bureau report.

Stats from Phoenix Business Journal, November, 2011

It’ll be on a new location on the Salt River Reservation on the border of Scottsdale’s 101. The same Salt River tribe that gave us the new Talking Stick spring-training fields for the Diamondbacks this spring. They bought the Pavilions Shopping Center just south of it, and are renovating that right now, so it will be one dynamite shopping mecca. The Tangier Factory Outlet will complement the Pavilions at Talking Stick and typically includes Aeropostale, Banana Republic, Coach, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Reebok and Rockport
 

First Solar Inc.’s Mesa plant represents a $300 million investment and 600 jobs for the Phoenix area. Construction will began in the second quarter and be complete a year later with the first shipments beginning in third-quarter 2012, officials from the Tempe company announced That will mean some 400 to 500 construction jobs.

One interesting application of solar is the Solar rooftop and parking systems installed by USAA in Phoenix. The parking garage-mounted system, can power 75 homes, and is part of a project to reduce their power consumption by about 25%.

Another company in Tempe, Clear Energy Systems Inc. is planning to invest about $10 million in a large manufacturing facility  and the company plans to hire about 225 people there within the next three years.

Tempe-based company, First Solar Inc.  First Solar Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Readers Respond: SolarArizona hits rough patch with China on solar trade questionsFirst Solar quietly pioneers Phoenix solar industry Follow this company is building the Paloma Solar Power Plant in Gila Bend. It’s a 17-megawatt facility that will sell its power to Arizona Public Service Co.

Suntech Power Holding Co. Ltd. in Goodyear is creating the panels for Sempra Generation’s Mesquite Solar I facility. For APS it’s a big deal because it represents the first plant coming online for the utility’s AZ Sun program.

And here’s a list, thanks to the Phoenix Business Journal of companies new and hiring in the Valley..

Yulex gets $15M, opening Chandler site

Mach 1 Global opens distribution center

CX.com moving to Scottsdale Waterfront, hiring 100

Workers prepare downtown Phoenix Oakville Grocery for spring debut

White Glove to use $12.5M VC intestment to hire 50

PayPal still hiring for 2,000-employee center

Banner Health to build center in Maricopa

Gestamp Renewables to build steel facility in Surprise

Intel to invest $5B in new Arizona semiconductor plant

Children’s hospitals add staff as flu attacks

I/o Data Centers opens module manufacturing facility

World Wide Tech moves to Broadway 101

Arizona 1st Choice Roofing hiring sales reps

Menlo DevCo rehab center to create 140 jobs in Gilbert

Home Deport to make 60,000 seasonal hires

Paetec opens data center in Phoenix

Yelp hiring 300 more in Scottsdale

And Aquinty Interactive call center to bring hundreds of jobs to Gilbert

The Gift of Affection…Be generous w/appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back.  Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family & friends.

The Gift of Laughter…Clip cartoons, share articles & stories.  Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

The Gift of a Favor…Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

The Gift of a Written Note… It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet.  A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime.

The Gift of a Compliment…A simple & sincere, “You look great in red,”  ”You did a super job,” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

Of course, since my name is Alice, I remember “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” which is what I said when I left NY for Arizona. J

Here’s a few others that you might remember…

• A scene in “Casablanca” was filmed in Flagstaff.
• Kurt Russell starred in “Used Cars” which was shot in Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix.
• Some Arizona locations in “Midnight Run” with Robert De Niro, were Flagstaff, Globe and Sedona.
• Casa Grande and Tucson were locations for “Three Kings” with George Clooney.
• And how about “Psycho”? The film began in downtown Phoenix.
• The Grand Canyon was where Thelma & Louise launched their Thunderbird off the edge.
• Tom Cruise starred in “Jerry Maguire”, made an appearance at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.
• Now we’re going back to 1957 for “3:10 to Yuma”, and you may remember the 2007 version, but the 1957 version used several cities in Arizona.
• And well of course, the “Gunfight at the OK Corral” starring Burt Lancaster was filmed here.
• And “Raising Arizona” was actually, totally made in Arizona!

And who are some of the stars who lived here? Craig T. Nelson starred in “Coach” attended U of A in Tucson, Ted Danson grew up in Flagstaff, Barbara Eden was born in Tucson, David Spade grew up in Scottsdale, Garry Shandling grew up in Tucson, Andy Devine was born in Flagstaff, Mare Winningham was born here, Garrett Hedlund moved to Scottsdale, and Emma Stone was born in Scottsdale.

Arizona film buffs hope to have the film industry continue their economic impact in Phoenix as they did in 2010. http://www.commerce.state.az.us/Film

Starting with Intel… they’re investing $5 Billion into its Chandler location. At 10,000 employees, Intel is already one of the biggest employers in the Valley. This new plant will add 1,000 permanent employees, plus thousands of temporary construction jobs. Then there’s the ancillary companies that supply Intel with parts, supplies and services.

Then there’s eBay expanding its presence by bringing PayPal to Chandler with a 10-year lease in a 4-story building. The San Jose based company already has 300 eBay and PayPal employees in Scottsdale since 2006. The Chandler location is ideal because it’s not far from Chandler Fashion Center, offering amenities to its employees. This is the Intel, Orbital Sciences, Wells Fargo and the Continuum business park area.

Microchip Technology is recruiting for 200 jobs. It is the company’s 3^rd job fair held at its Candler location in the past 8 months.

Some other recent additions: Safelite Auto and Digital Trust Realty data trust center, PA-based plastics manufacturer Brentwoood Industries will be bring 40 full-time jobs to Surprise. One employee will work out of AZ TechCelerator, a city-owned tech incubator.

Putting our sun to good use! The West Valley is adding Solar excitement in their new manufacturing plant, Spain’s Gestamp Solar Steel in Surprise.. Last year China-based Suntech Power Holdings in Goodyear and California-based Power One chose the Valley as well. Sterling Energy Systems in Peoria also started in 2010.

First Solar’s Mesa plant plans to begin work next month on a $300-million, 600-employee factory on the former site of the General Motors Desert Proving Ground in Mesa, AZ. They feel the plant will generate a “sizeable multiplier of supply-chain and service jobs” in the state.

First Solar is also building a solar power plant in Gila Bend for Arizona Public Service and erecting a massive solar array in Yuma.

Southwest Solar is a solar facility in Phoenix to help companies test and rapidly develop cutting-edge energy-efficient solar technologies.

Kyocera Solar Inc which has developed solar technology for the railroad industry, employs about 100 people in the Scottsdale Airpark.

The good news with all this solar industry, companies that are hiring are willing to train new workers said an Arizona State University professor, at ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability. A broad-based bachelor’s degree program in engineering, “with a strong emphasis on verbal and written communication, as well as business and teaming abilities” is most valued by the employers.

They said that for solar to expand as an industry in Arizona, universities will need to respond to the needs of the industry, and ASU is very aware of this.

Mesa’s Gateway Airport continues to attract small businesses, now 45 employers and 1,145 jobs are at the airport. Allegiant Air has expanded service to 28 cities.

CX.com, a web storage and file-sharing company is moving its headquarters to the Scottsdale Waterfront and plans to hire 100. www.cx.com or follow them on twitter @cxthecloud or at www.facebook.com/cxthecloud

Boeing has about 4,800 workers in the Valley and their new win of a U.S. Air Force tanker contract means 680 jobs! And like other large corporations in the Valley, they use contractors and suppliers. In this case, it’s Honeywell which also has a large Valley presence. Boeing will also be closing its Irvine helicopter facility and moving 160 jobs to Mesa by the end of 2011.

Yulex is planning a Chandler factory to increase production of guayule-based rubber and materials and expects to create 100 full-time and 500 part-time positions. In addition, it plans to hire 300 to manufacture biomaterials and bioenergy.

AirSprint Aviation, a Calgary, Alberta-based company opened its first U.S. based hub at the Scottsdale Airport, saying they have fairly aggressive growth plans. AirSprint has 3 employees so far and 6 pilots are in the process of being hired. AirSprint’s founder said that the Scottsdale operation will grow to 50 over the next several quarters.

Yelp, a San Francisco-based company that features consumer reviews of restaurants and other businesses, is now in the Galleria Corporate Centre downtown in downtown Scottsdale hired 150 workers and invested $1.2 million in its facilities.

Sage Software which develops accounting programs, has invested about$2.3 million in its facilities and employs 300 in Scottsdale.

Last year International Cruise and Excursions moved its headquarters into the former Dial building in the Scottsdale Airpark and added close to 800 jobs.

Fast Facts from the Phoenix Business Journal:

• Arizona ranks 4^th in the U.S. in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 21,000 jobs.
• Arizona is 5^th in the nation for defense electronic jobs, employing 8,700.
• 54 of every 1,000 private-sector workers in Arizona were employed by high-tech companies in 2008, ranking Arizona 17^th.
• Arizona produces $4.9 billion in high-tech exports, ranking the state 8^th.
• 41% of exports from Arizona are tech-related.
• 28,000 jobs in Arizona are supported by tech exports.

In addition, The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), The Arizona Commerce Authority and The Arizona Technology Council offers facts and figures for our economic goals. A study has ranked Arizona #15 for developing technology, and science endeavors. Science Foundation Arizona has their focus on attracting research and development, and hope to crack the top 10 within the next 5 years.

Carefree Farmers Market, just north of Scottsdale, at the Amphitheater on Easy Street and Ho hum Rd. Don’t you just love their street names? Off Tom Darlington, which is actually Scottsdale Rd, but becomes Tom Darlington once you pass Carefree Hwy. 9am-1pm Fridays

North Scottsdale Farmers Market, 9375 E. Shea Blvd. in the parking lot in front of Renegade Canteen restaurant. 8am-1pm Saturdays

CityCenter of CityNorth Farmers Market – Deer Valley area – Loop 101 and 56^th St. 10am – 2pm 3rd Sunday of each month

Roadrunner Farmers Market – Roadrunner Park, 3502 E. Cactus Rd, Phoenix 8am – 1pm Saturdays Oct to May and 7am -11am June to September.

Scottsdale Old Town Farmers Market – The city parking facility at Brown Ave. and First Street. 8:30am – 1pm Saturdays

SkySong, ASU Skysong Innovation Center – 1475 N. Scottsdale Rd (McDowell and Scottsdale Rd.) 2:30 – 6pm Thursdays

Vincent on Camelback restaurant – 3930 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix 9am – 1pm Saturdays through May.

Sunday Market at the Shops at Gainey Village. – at the SE corner of Scottsdale Rd. & Doubletree Ranch Rd. 9am-1pm Sundays

And while you’re out shopping, take a tour of treasures in the Scottsdale Consignment Corridor. Seven consignment stores have put together a map for you!

And the Valley is providing it via schools and methods, such as SkySong. What is SkySong? SkySong is an innovation center designed to help companies grow by providing business services and programs offered or facilitated by Arizona State University. These services include access to new technologies, capital networks, business education and a skilled workforce.

It’s a huge building at the southeastern corner of Scottsdale Rd and McDowell Rd and houses about 20 global businesses, such as Canon: Japan, Airlight: Switzerland, eLearning: Turkey, DreamTec Software: Ireland, EyePower Games: Singapore, HVS Engineering: Singapore, Mahindra Engineering Services: India, Pacific Soft: Mexico, Ubidyne: Germany, and a latest start-up, nanotube technology with Brazialian entrepreneurs. However, there are also about 50 U.S. companies as well.

ASU’s Polytechnic campus set to launch aerospace center in an effort to compete in the defense and aerospace industries. It received a $1million grant from the Science Foundation of Arizona, and corporate partners matched it.

The center will be an ASU-led statewide initiative to build partnerships between education and industry. The center will partner with other universities, including the University of Arizona and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universty. It will have an office at ASU Polytechnic.

The East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) is a career and technical school in Mesa. The VA chose EVIT as the one place in the country where it would hold expanded training courses for its own employees. The VA spent about $1M to renovate part of the school’s Health Sciences Center and install state-of-the-art equipment for a full operating room and sterilization lab. EVIT use it during the day and the VA employees attend training at night.

STEM Network wants to improve competition in Arizona by backing science and math education. Freeport-McMoRan Cooper & Gold, said that improving the quality of science education is crucial to finding qualified workers for business. The company has 100 job openings that it can’t fill because it can’t find qualified workers.

Backed by a $900,000 grant from Science Foundation Arizona, the specialty school with 20 career and technical education program focuses on project-based learning, sustainability programs and interdisciplinary studies.