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Frank Merlo

Frank Merlo

Hello, my name is Frank Merlo, II, and I am a resident of Queen Creek, AZ.

I served during the Vietnam War as an Air Traffic Controller aboard the USS Oriskany. This was the last wooden flight deck air craft carrier in the navy. I was in Charge of the daily flight plans and had a top secret clearance. I left with an Honorable Discharge and married my high school sweet heart Cathy in 1974.

In 1978 I  graduated from the University of California Irvine with a Bachelors degree in Biology/Psychology/Math and Science with a minor in History, and a 4.0 GPA.

We raised 4 great children and have 8 grand children, three boys this year we call the triplets.

I sold AMS Wholesale and moved to what was known as Queen Creek in 2000. We bought the third house built in Johnson Ranch (which is now part of San Tan Valley) on the first green.

Today my wife, daughter, son and I are the Number One real estate team in the South East Valley. We were in the top 2% in the nation out of 78,000 Prudential Real Estate Agents in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. We are now members of the Chairman Circle Gold Club.

I am sure you have seen our blue Prudential banners in front of some of your neighbors homes around town.

I will share my views about the market, politics or anything else that comes to mind.  I hope you enjoy what I write and I encourage you to comment and share your thoughts as well.

Website URL:

Contact Details

  • Address
    22209 S Ellsworth
  • City
    Queen Creek
  • State or Province
    AZ
  • Zip Code
    85142
  • Country
    United States
  • Telephone
    480-888-6133

Since January real estate has changed. It happened faster than I have seen in over 40 years of selling real estate. I have seen markets turn from a buyers market to a sellers market but never this fast and this strong. I think the reason could be bent up buyers demand. 

February sales according to Security Title Company are as follows.

REO or Lender Owned are selling for $70 per sq ft up from $55. The prices are being bid up my a much smaller supply of homes going back to the banks. Why? Very few homes are being sold at auction, even less are going to short sale; Homeowners are trying to weather the economy and stay in their homes. 

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 17:00

Like Lazarus, Phoenix is rising from the dead!

Median home pricing is now $129,000.

Why? We got JOBS! We are currently working with dozen’s of new buyers from Intel in Chandler. Banner Hospital recently opened and Doctors nurses and support staff are moving into San Tan Valley! 

Saturday, 31 December 2011 12:09

This is a 'me' generation on steroids

Watching, and listening to, the #OWS crowd on TV provoked a 'flashback' to the time I was readying myself to enter the corporate world.

I was a Marine jet pilot with an engineering degree, a wife, two young kids, a dog...and a cane. After sixteen months of 'paint and repair' at a naval hospital following a plane crash, and an additional half-year of rehab, it was decided that I would never sit in an ejection seat again.

Sunday, 18 December 2011 19:29

The Feds Don't Have a Clue

 

FHA Jumbo loans went from $417,000 to $287,000 and back to mid $300,000 this last year. Two questions come to mind. Firstly Why? And secondly Why?

If you own a home in the mid $100,000’s and want to move up you most likely have to find someone selling the bigger home who also wants to move up. If the bigger home buyer cannot finance the home he wants to purchase he cannot sell you his home.

Friday, 11 November 2011 09:00

When is the best time to sell your home?

Most newbies will tell us June, July or August.

But the best time to list and sell your home is actually November and December! Why? There are several reasons!

The average sale price in Queen Creek is going up! What did you just write? Are you crazy!

The average sale price is actually going up in Queen Creek. The prices of homes have stayed the same but the average is higher. What happened?

One year ago, the average 2200 sq ft home sold as a bank owned for $100,000. The bank owned needed some work. The above average retail home, really special home, 2200 sq ft sold for $150,000.

One year ago 90% of the sales were bank owned and 10 % retail.

Today, sales are 10% bank owned and 90% retail. So the average has gone from $118,000 to $134,000 but the prices are the same, just the weighting is towards retail.

Monday, 03 January 2011 00:00

2000 to 2010 Before and After the Big Boom!

Real Estate News you won't find in the papers!

In 2000 my son and I were looking for a place to Golf. He had just helped me and as part of his pay I agreed to take him and his cousin golfing. It was October and all the courses were booked and expensive. So I got out the yellow pages and found an ad for The New Johnson Ranch Golf and Country Club. I called and was told they were wide open and at ½ the price of courses “in town.”

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