St. George Ranks in Money Magazine

Picture courtesy Money Magazine

Ranked #47 in the nation.

We say it all the time. Southern Utah is beautiful. We love it, and we can give you 101 reasons that it is a great place to live, but we are biased. We know we are. The red sand is between our toes and there is no other place we’d rather call home.

But take a look at a more quantitative, non-biased opinion.

Money magazine evaluated factors such as population size, median income, cultural diversity, education scores, economic opportunity, housing affordability, crime, health, arts & leisure, and ease of living. Click here to read about the criteria factors in greater depth. St. George ranked number 47 in the nation. The article summed up St. George’s attraction saying:

Stunning red-rock cliffs frame this sunny metropolis, which is located midway between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Dry summers, mild winters, and short commutes add up to an overall ease-of-living score higher than any other place in the top 50.

Terrific weather and low cost—the median home price is just over $200,000—has attracted many retirees to St. George. But top employers such as SkyWest Airlines also draw folks still in their working years.  St. George’s population has grown 50% since the turn of the century, and the downtown is now peppered with new cafes, shops, and upscale restaurants, plus historic buildings that date back as far as the 1860’s.

Not surprisingly, the region is also a hotbed for outdoor adventures. There are several award-winning golf courses in town, and Zion National Park is less than an hour away. (Link to article.)

The word is spreading about the treasure that is Southern Utah.

We can help you find a home so that you can put roots down in the red sand of Dixie as well.

Call Chris 435-313-3966.

Or Visit: www.whystgeorge.com

Huntsman Games: Fun for all ages

image courtesy of southernutahvacations.com

The Huntsman World Senior Games are right around the corner (October 6 – October 18) and as a community, we welcome seniors from all over the world to enjoy our little slice of heaven here in Southern Utah.

The Senior Games have been part of our community since 1987 and have grown in popularity over the years. There are now over 10,000 participants each year and our volunteer force of over 2500 people supports these athletes as they compete.

image courtesy of sorrellacycling.com

As soon as you turn 50, you are eligible to compete in the games. Many of these competitors bring serious game to the competition. A few years ago, I listened to some teenagers talking about watching the badminton competition that was being played at their school. Those teenagers were amazed at how fast and furious the games that they watched were. When you can impress a bunch of teenagers with your badminton skills, you've accomplished the near impossible.

Registration for the 2014 games is now closed but you can still enjoy being a part of the games whether you are post-50 or pre-50. You can simply watch the athletes compete and cheer them forward (click for game schedule). There are still oppportunities to volunteer. You may also enjoy the opening ceremonies or the free concert that is offered. They are open to all, not just the athletes, and it is fun to enjoy the energy that all of the athletes bring to the games.

The opening ceremonies are October 7, 7:00 p.m. at Dixie State University’s Hansen Stadium. They are FREE and everyone is invited. This year NBA great, Thurl Bailey, is the featured guest speaker. He is a fantastic speaker and would be worth your time to listen to.

The Concert and Celebration is October 14, 7:00 p.m. at Dixie State University’s Burns Arena. This concert is also FREE and open to anyone. This year attendees will enjoy a journey back through the 70’s with Jim Witter’s Piano Men. 

Our team is ready to help you with any of your real estate needs.

Call Chris at 435-313-3966

or Visit www.whystgeorge.com

SunRiver Retirement Community, St. George, Utah

Courtesy SunRiver Website

Southern Utah is a wonderful place for all ages. We love raising our family here and our out-of-town family and friends often come to challenge themselves in the outdoors, but there is no denying that we are also known as a GREAT retirement community. We have people who come here to retire and “snow birds” who come in the winter to escape the harsher climates.

St. George has plenty of services that cater to the retired demographic. There are even a few small developments that cater to the 55+ community; however, none are as large or comprehensive as the master planned SUNRIVER COMMUNITY just south of St. George.

Sunriver has established a beautiful community that provides various activities. They say that their goal is to create a balance between privacy and sociability. 

They have a community center that hosts:

• Pottery workshops
• Woodworking
• Lapidary
• Library
• Billiards
• Card Room
• Craft Room
• Computer Room
• Ballroom
• Exercise Room

Outdoors they have:

• Pickleball
• Tennis
• Lawn Bowling
• Horseshoe/Shuffleboard
• Outdoor & Indoor pools
• Golf

At present, they have 14 homeplans to choose from ranging from 1262 square feet to 2848 square feet.

Sunriver has created a beautiful community that is worth looking into if you are considering retiring in St. George. Check out their webite at www.sunriver.com.

My team would love to help you find the right home whether it be in Sunriver or somewhere else in Southern Utah.

Call Chris at 435-313-3966

Or visit www.whystgeorge.com

Facing the Reality: Pickle Ball Take-over

Vernon Worthen Park

Okay. I’ll confess. I was a tennis snob. The day I saw pickle ball courts take over the tennis courts adjacent to Vernon Worthen Park in downtown St. George, was a day of mourning. Smaller courts. Silly paddles. Only the weak, slow and retired could be opting for such a water-downed sport. Imagine my consternation when I started seeing more tennis courts being adapted for pickle ball and then when a whole pickle ball complex was installed at The Fields at Little Valley. What were people thinking??? http://www.sgcity.org/departments/leisureservices/parks/park.php?id=129

Little Valley Park

Yes, friends would suggest that I should give it a try. More and more friends began inviting us to go play as a couple. I declined several times—but I started to feel isolation creeping in to my choice of eliteness. Wednesday night at the Summit was where we could find our friends, hanging out on the %$@*$ pickle ball courts. I finally relented when our friends told us they were going to bring extra paddles so that we could come and give it a try. http://summitathleticclub.com/

Summit Athletic Club

I stood on the court with paddle in hand, listening to the crazy rules, trying to make peace with my step onto the dark side. We started warming up, dinking the ball back and forth. My competitive juices started to warm, as well, and it didn’t take long for those competitive impulses to take over. The harder I hit the ball, the harder it came back. The more finesse I used, the more finesse my opponents shoved right back. This little “paddle ball” game grew into an all out war, and the moment I lost, I wanted back on the court for a re-match. Sweat was pouring down my face, and I was guzzling water to keep up the pace of this wuss sport. http://www.usapa.org/rules-summary/

Pickle Ball is described as a mix between ping pong, tennis and badminton, all sports that I enjoy, and I could definitely feel a little of each of those sports as I played.

Our evening ended. The façade of eliteness stripped away. I was a convert. We discussed the best kinds of paddles and where to buy them as we walked—humbly walked—off the courts. Tennis is still my first love—but pickle ball has earned my respect and attention, and we’ll be back on the courts next Wednesday. But for now I’ll go take some Ibuprofen and rub some icy hot on some of those muscles that got whooped by Pickle Ball.

Pickle Ball Tournaments in St. George: http://www.sgcity.org/departments/recreation/adultsports/pickleball_tournaments.php

http://www.seniorgames.net/sports/pickleball/handbook/

Looking for a spot in St. George? Find me at the pickle ball courts or just call:

Chris at 435-313-3966

Or

Visit: www.whystgeorge.com