The story is quite different in Arizona. In late 2012, Amber and Ben Hodge, working with Realtor Mike Caruso, quit their search to buy a home in Queen Creek, about 38 miles (61 kilometers) southeast of Phoenix, because competition was so heavy that agents for sellers didn’t even bother to call back when they made offers.
This year, homebuilder William Lyon Homes allowed the Hodges to choose from three nearly-finished houses in the layout they wanted and held one of those off the market for 10 days while the family completed the sale of their previous home. The builder agreed to kick in $5,000 toward closing costs.
The Hodges and their two sons plan to move next month into a 2,300 square foot property at The Villas at Hastings Farm, said Amber Hodge, 34, whose husband retired from the Army after being injured in Iraq.
“It’s nice being a buyer in this market because there are so many options,” she said.