For the third month in a row, all three indices buoyed with new confidence. And for the very first time, all three indice are standing on 87 and higher.

The current Subscriber Confidence Index rose 4.3 points to 87.5.The Present Confidence Index also increased, by 1.4 points, to 87.1.  More notable is the greater uptick in the Ex-pectation Index which, unlike the other two indices, factors in the respondent’s expectation of their own family income in the next six months. The Expectation Index rose 6.4% to 87.7.

Here below is the quick review of the SCI index performance in last 3 months –

• Current Subscriber Confidence Index – 78.6/Dec 2012  >> 83.2/Jan 2013 >> 87.5/Feb 2013
• Present Confidence Index – 81.3/Dec 2012 >> 85.7/Jan 2013 >> 87.1/Feb 2013
• Expectation Index –  76.5/Dec 2012 >> 81.3/Jan 2013 >> 87.7/Feb 2013

For how these indice being developed and measured, check out our Jan 2013 ARMLS SCI posting for more information.

Phoenix Premium Outlets will open April 4, off Interstate 10 adjacent to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler.

The new outlet mall is expected to create 800 full- and part-time jobs, adding that it’s also expected to generate $8 million a year in sales tax revenue. It’s going to be a positive impact for the community.

Premium Outlets broke ground last March. Upon completion, the mall will encompass 360,000 square feet of gross leasable space. It will feature about 90 stores, including designer brands, accessories, shoes, home furnishings, luggage and jewelry.

So far, the only tenant that has been announced is Off Fifth, the outlet brand of upscale retailer Saks Fifth Avenue.

The luxury market of $1,000,000+ continues to have the lowest absorption rate of any market segment. There was a 7% absorption rate for the last month. Only 71 properties in all of the MLS were sold for more that $1,000,000 in December 2012.

Short Sales represent 28% of the closings for Decemberfor. Lender Owned (REO) Sales represent 12% of the sales from last month. Total of Distressed Sales (Short Sales and REOs combined) accounted for 40% of the total sales for the month of December 2012.

Meanwhile, Normal, non-distressed sales are 60% of the last month. Regular resales are the main stream now.

Two years ago the distressed properties represented 69% of the total market and it has been shrinking since August 2011.

Forbes magazine named Phoenix as one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Forbes says the list was compiled by assessing the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and their surrounding suburbs as defined by the U.S Office of Management and Budget. Factors assessed were the estimated rate of population growth for 2012 and 2013, the rate of job growth in 2012, and the rate of gross metro product/economic growth for 2012.

Phoenix ranked No. 8 out of the 100 MSAs.

Here’s how Forbes broke down metro Phoenix:

• MSA: Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Arizona
• 2012 population growth rate: 1%%
• 2013 expected population growth rate: 2.7%
• Job growth rate: 2.5%
• Unemployment: 6.5%
• Gross Metro Product growth rate: 4.1%
• Median salary: $62,600

The list of the top 20 MSA’s are —

1. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
2. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
3. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
4. Raleigh-Cary, NC
5. Salt Lake City, UT
6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
7. Provo-Orem, UT
8. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
9. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
10. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
11. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
12. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
13. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
14. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
15. Boise City-Nampa, ID
16. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
17. Oklahoma City, OK
18. Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
19. Bakersfield-Delano, CA
20. Ogden-Clearfield, UT

Click here for more on the Forbes report.

The Arizona Department of Education has ranked the state’s high schools with the highest average SAT scores, with two charter schools taking the top two spots.

The state education department added the average scores from each of the three test subjects on the SAT test: critical reading, math and writing.

1: BASIS Scottsdale, 2038 *
2: BASIS Tucson, 1966 *
3: University High School (Tucson), 1896
4: Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, 1856 *
5: Gilbert Classical Academy, 1832 *
6: Tempe Preparatory Academy, 1817 *
7: Mesa Preparatory Academy, 1809 *
8: Veritas Preparatory Academy (Phoenix), 1806 *
9: Arizona School for the Arts (Phoenix), 1805 *
10: Glendale Preparatory Academy, 1759 *
11: Catalina Foothills High School (Tucson), 1697
12: Northland Preparatory Academy (Flagstaff), 1690 *
13: New School for the Arts and Academics (Tempe), 1677 *
14: Horizon Community Learning Center (Phoenix), 1675 *
15: Chaparral High School (Scottsdale), 1668
16: Heritage Academy (Mesa), 1665 *
17: Vail High School (Tucson), 1660
18: Sonoran Science Academy (Phoenix), 1659 *
19: Foothills Academy (Scottsdale), 1647 **
20 (tie): Desert Mountain High School (Scottsdale), 1646
20 (tie): Ironwood High School (Glendale), 1646
20 (tie): James Madison Preparatory School (Tempe), 1646 *
23 (tie): Mountain View High School (Mesa), 1638
23 (tie): Prescott High School, 1638
25: Payson High School, 1635
26: Desert Vista High School (Phoenix/Ahwatukee), 1633
27: Cactus Shadows High School (Cave Creek), 1632
28: University High School (Tolleson), 1629
29: Barry Goldwater High School (Phoenix), 1628
30: North Canyon High School (Phoenix), 1622
31: Hamilton High School (Chandler), 1621
32: Corona Del Sol High School (Tempe), 1620
33: Arizona Virtual Academy (Phoenix), 1619 *
34: Tri-City College Prep High School (Prescott), 1618 *
35: Empire High School (Vail), 1617
36 (tie): Flagstaff High School, 1613
36 (tie): Ironwood Ridge High School (Oro Valley), 1613
36 (tie): Casa Verde High School (Casa Grande), 1613
39 (tie): Highland High School (Gilbert), 1610
39 (tie): Chandler High School, 1610
39 (tie): Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center (Phoenix): 1610 *
42: Liberty High School (Peoria), 1605
43: Academy of Tucson, 1604 *
44: Horizon High School (Scottsdale) 1601
45: Gilbert High School, 1600
46: Wickenburg High School, 1599
47: Coconino High School (Flagstaff), 1590
48: Kingman Academy of Learning High School, 1589 *
49: Mesquite High School (Gilbert), 1587
50: Shadow Mountain High School (Phoenix), 1586

* Charter schools.

** Private schools.

With the recent Fiscal Cliff behind us, for now, all three indices buoyed in January for the second month in a row. The current Subscriber Confidence Index stands at 83.2%, up 4.6 points from December. The Present Confidence rose 4.4 to 85.7%, while the Expectation Index increased 4.8 to 81.3%. To be sure, more brinksmanship by the Executive and Legislative branches loom on the horizon, but in this now, Subscribers are feeling more optimistic about the present and future of the economy, employment in the Valley and their own personal income in the next six months.

Similar to the Consumer Confidence Index, the SCI mirrors Subscriber reaction to changing market conditions and their experience with current Buyers and Sellers. This sentiment influences Subscriber investment and strategy regarding their professional real estate activities.

Survey Questions:
1.What is your appraisal of current real estate conditions in the Valley compared to six months ago?
2.What is your expectation of real estate conditions in the Valley six months from now?
3.What is your appraisal of current business conditions in the Valley compared to six months ago?
4.What is your expectation of business conditions in the Valley six months from now?
5.What is your appraisal of current employment conditions in the Valley now compared to six months ago?
6.What is your expectation of employment conditions in the Valley six months from now?
7.What is your expectation of your family income six months from now?

Results:
Each question is given an index calculated by: (# Better / # Better + # Worse) x 100
•Current Subscriber Confidence Index is the Average of all seven indices.
•Present Confidence Index is an Average of the indices from Questions 1,3, and 5.
•Expectation Confidence Index is an Average of the indices of Questions 2, 4, 6 and 7.

Below is the reading of ARMLS Subscriber Confidence Index for December 2012:
•Current Subscriber Confidence Index: 83.2% up 4.6%
•Present Confidence Indxex:  85.7% up 4.4%
•Expectation Confidence Index:  81.3% up 4.8%

With a housing market on the mend in many areas, some cities are experiencing big increases in home prices.

In 2012, prices rose in 82 of the 100 largest metros, compared with just 12 metros seeing price increases in 2011. The 2012 price turnaround was strongest in the West and Southwest, where steady job growth and vanishing inventories lifted home prices by more than 10 percent in many markets.

The following are the five best “turnaround” housing markets in the real estate recovery, including the year-over-year change in asking prices, according to Trulia’s research.

•  Phoenix – Year-over-year change in asking prices (Dec. 2012): 26 percent
• Las Vegas – Year-over-year change: 16.3 percent
• San Jose, Calif. -Year-over-year change: 16.1 percent
• Oakland, Calif. -Year-over-year change: 12.7 percent
• Seattle -Year-over-year change: 10.2 percent