Covid-19, Real Estate, and Trail Access Updates from Prescott Arizona

Just some info updates from Prescott, Arizona and surrounding areas for those planning for a move to Arizona and Yavapai County in particular. For the Governor's Executive order, go to the Governor's webpage and click on "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" about half way down on page for the PDF. A summary version on the page is here.

In Yavapai County, as of 4/23/2020 the AZDHS website shows 75 cases out of 2149 tests. There is a 2019 population of about 235,000 according to the US Census. The area size of Yavapai County is just over 8,000 square miles. Like everywhere we have essential business only. Stores seem normally populated, there was a mass influx when the order was issued, but things seem to have calm down to a normal clip at this time. Hiking, Biking, Horses, and Golf Courses are open. We have a tremendous trail system in Yavapai County. I have heard over 200 miles of trails open to hikers, runners, bikers and horses. There are different numbers with different sources but there are plenty of trails. Alltrails.com shows 97 trails in Prescott alone. There are probably much more depending on how one aggregates them and including National Forest fire roads and such. It does seem like there has been an uptick in trail usage with hiking and biking, but they are still quite open. You can go 10 minutes from town and be on a trail with virtually no one depending on which trail you choose. Here is the biker and hiker density from a trail quite near town from a couple days ago:

and here:

I saw one person on this ride of 30 minutes. Sometimes there may be more, sometimes less....but the point is there are plenty of trails for everyone, even at this time of restricted socialization. For details on the Covid-19 situation in Arizona, go straight to the source, Arizona Department of Health Services and (or) CDC.  Regarding National Parks and National Forest areas in Arizona, you have to research particular areas, it seems the regulations are on case by case.  Developed recreation sites are closed and there are possibly group limits in general open forest area according to US Forest Service as of 4/23/2020.  Get that information from www.fs.usda.gov. 

Regarding the general real estate market, inventory is relatively low.  There is still activity and closings.  There are about 130 properties in escrow in the Quad-Cities area (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt).  No one knows exactly how things will develop over Summer and the near future, but at this time there is still activity.  At a glance over the last week there were about 100 price changes in all types of properties: land, commercial, residential.  Most of those were slight reductions.  The sheer limited mobility of home seekers likely has decreased showings, especially for those making a substantial trip.  I imagine that will pick up after changes to stay at home orders change.  

Stay Safe.  Thoughts and Prayers to all and in all places.