Real Estate Morning Drive

Jeremy

Join Jeremy Larkin & Jesse Poll as they discuss the real estate environment in Southern Utah. 

  1. These 7 Cheap Fixes Made Sellers $50K More

    3D AGO

    These 7 Cheap Fixes Made Sellers $50K More

    Buyers don't purchase square footage. They purchase confidence. Luxury real estate agent Jessica Taggart Marron breaks down the small, cheap fixes that separate homes that sell in weeks from homes that sit for months in St. George and Hurricane. The difference? A $50K swing in final price. The Brutal Truth About Competition: Your home isn't competing with itself. It's competing with dozens (sometimes hundreds) of similar listings. When buyers tour 10 homes in a day, the smallest details decide who gets the offer. Missing light bulbs, scuffed baseboards, dirty switch plates, cluttered closets—these aren't "minor" issues. They tell buyers there's hidden work. What You'll Learn: Why "luxury" is a mindset, not a price point ($550K or $1.5M) How to beat competition in St. George's active market Curb appeal details that decide drive-by reactions Why you should OWN visible drawbacks in photos (steep driveways, power lines) The light bulb mistake costing you $50K (warm white, matching wattage) Interior trust signals buyers look for (condition cues matter) The "half it" decluttering rule to create space instantly Low-cost high-ROI fixes: power washing, paint touch-ups, fixture updates Why accessibility and easy showings protect your net proceeds How to coordinate vendor costs and pay at closing Real example: bad access + poor condition = months on market The 7 Cheap Fixes That Add $50K: Warm white matching bulbs - Mismatched lighting screams neglect Clean/replace switch plates - Dirty covers = dirty home perception Power wash everything - Driveway, walkway, siding (instant 10-year reversal) Paint touch-ups - Scuffs and dings signal deferred maintenance "Half it" decluttering - Remove 50% of closet/counter contents for space feel Simple fixture updates - $30 hardware swap = modern feel Own the drawbacks - Show steep driveway in photos to filter tire-kickers Why Timing Changes Everything: Bring an agent in EARLY. Before you paint. Before you stage. Before photos. We walk through homes and spot the $500 fixes that create $50K in perceived value. Slowing down before listing puts more money in your pocket. Real Story: What NOT To Do Jessica shares a listing that sat for months because of poor access and visible condition issues. Buyers walked in, saw the work, and walked out. The fix? Address it upfront in photos and marketing. Filter out non-serious buyers, attract the right ones. The Emotional Detachment Strategy: Sellers who emotionally detach from their home price and prep more rationally. We share how to separate your identity from your property so you can make smart business decisions. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports lo

    25 min
  2. 50% of St. George Homes Are Overpriced Right Now (Is Yours One of Them?)

    APR 25

    50% of St. George Homes Are Overpriced Right Now (Is Yours One of Them?)

    50% of St. George homes are overpriced right now. Here's how to know if yours is one of them. We break down the brutal math: every 30 days your home sits costs you 1.4% off asking price. Meanwhile, the RIGHT homes sell in 2-3 weeks with multiple offers. The difference? Pricing like it's 2026, not 2021. Real Story: Bidding War in a "Slow" Market Client listed correctly, got multiple offers, closed OVER ask in weeks. Same neighborhood? Overpriced homes sitting for months, bleeding equity. We show you exactly what separated them. The 2021 Hangover Problem: Sellers still anchor to COVID-era comps. Buyers wait for 5% rates that may never come (and if they do, demand will explode). Both strategies lose. Here's what works instead. What You'll Learn: Why 50%+ of current St. George listings are overpriced The 1.4% per month cost of sitting on market (data-backed) How top-dollar homes sell in 2-3 weeks with bidding wars Washington County median prices: 2022 vs 2026 reality Major bank rate outlook (spoiler: low 5% isn't happening soon) Why a sudden rate drop could trigger affordability crisis The chronic housing shortage hiding in plain sight Buyer objections that predict stale listings (busy road, etc.) Pricing Reality Check: St. George feels expensive to buyers AND sellers think it's undervalued. Both can't be right. The market decides—and it's speaking clearly. Homes priced correctly get multiple offers. Overpriced homes sit, then cut, then sell below where they should've started. The Rate Trap: Waiting for lower rates? A major bank's outlook says low 5% isn't coming soon. And if rates DO drop fast, demand surges and you're competing again. Best move: act when life needs it, price smart, negotiate hard. The Bottom Line: 2021 pricing anchors are costing sellers thousands per month. Buyers waiting for perfect rates are missing positioned inventory. The data is clear: price right, sell fast, keep more equity. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Why Homes Feel So Expensive [00:03:36] Overpricing And The 1.4 Percent Rule [00:08:44] Objections Buyers Say Out Loud [00:12:34] The 2020 To 2021 Market Hangover [00:16:01] Bidding Wars Still Happen Today [00:21:50] Rate Forecast And Housing Shortage

    24 min
  3. The Numbers Prove St. George Has Become A Resort Luxury Market

    APR 18

    The Numbers Prove St. George Has Become A Resort Luxury Market

    St. George isn’t playing small anymore, and the luxury real estate data proves it. We sat down on the Morning Drive to talk through a market shift we’re seeing every day: what used to feel “high end” now feels normal, and the real luxury conversation has moved far beyond the $1M mark. If you’ve been wondering who is buying these homes, how long they take to sell, and what the inventory actually looks like, we put real numbers to the story. We walk the funnel from $1M to $15M and talk about what’s happening at each tier: hundreds of sales in the $1M to $2M range, a noticeably narrower pool at $2M to $3M, and a very different decision-making style once buyers shop $3M to $5M. We also get honest about what sellers are up against when new custom construction becomes the default alternative and when second-home buyers can afford to wait for the exact fit. Jeremy Larkin and Jessica Taggart Marron share the real-world nuance behind Parade of Homes listings, spec-build risk, and why “my home is the best” is not a strategy in today’s luxury market. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Welcome To The St. George Real Estate Morning Drive [00:06:05] Inventory Funnel From $1M To $3M [00:09:10] St. George Value Compared To Aspen [00:16:10] Ultra Luxury Inventory And Builder Risk [00:20:55] Market Takeaways And How We Help

    23 min
  4. The St. George Nobody Talks About Anymore

    APR 11

    The St. George Nobody Talks About Anymore

    What does it mean to truly belong to a place — and what happens when that place changes faster than memory can keep up? We sit down with Lyman Hafen — local author, historian, and host of the Not Forgotten podcast — to talk about what makes St. George, Utah feel like more than just a city. From childhood adventures along the Virgin River trestle bridge to the launch of St. George Magazine, Lyman has spent a lifetime turning local stories into something sacred. We get into the Dixie spirit — what it actually means, why it shows up in nearly every Southern Utah story, and what Utah Tech's name change revealed about the tension between heritage and progress. And we don't shy away from where things stand right now: housing affordability, real estate prices, and why people keep fighting to live here despite the squeeze. If you love St. George, Zion National Park, or Southern Utah history — this one's for you. Find Lyman Hafen here: https://lymanhafen.com/ Find Doc Booth Foundation here: https://docboothfoundation.org/not-forgotten-podcast/ Find Preservation and Progress: The Story of Utah's Dixie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W08CtnK2WI Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Welcome And Why Place Matters [00:03:10] Disneyland Year And Hometown Change [00:09:55] Brooks Pond Adventures And Red Hill [00:15:30] St. George Magazine And Local Pride [00:19:20] How Not Forgotten Gets Started [00:23:28] The Meaning Of The Dixie Spirit [00:26:30] Preserving Dixie Heritage After Renaming [00:32:52] Books Built From St. George Lives [00:39:25] Hyperlocal Stories With Universal Pull [00:43:17] Home Prices And The Affordability Squeeze [00:50:30] These Are The Good Old Days

    54 min
  5. So Yes, People Are Buying And Selling Real Estate

    APR 4

    So Yes, People Are Buying And Selling Real Estate

    Bad headlines make it feel like nobody should be buying a house right now: higher mortgage rates, expensive fuel, and constant global uncertainty. But when we look at what is actually happening on the ground in St. George, Utah, the story is very different. We are seeing real momentum with active contracts across the spectrum, from a $350K condo near shopping to a $950K home in Washington and everything in between. Then we get practical about how to win as a seller. We talk home inspection fixes that matter, why honest feedback beats wishful thinking, and the core strategy we use when someone wants top dollar: it is a pricing war and a beauty contest. Condition creates confidence, but price creates emotion. And emotional buyers pay more. If you are trying to decide whether now is the right time to buy or sell in St. George, this conversation will help you stop guessing and start getting clear. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Bad Headlines And A Big Question [00:04:05] Proof The Market Is Moving [00:11:55] Real Reasons People Buy Or Sell [00:15:40] Pricing And Condition Win Offers [00:19:10] Growth Realities And The Right Time

    23 min
  6. How Many People Actually Have $180,000 Down?

    MAR 28

    How Many People Actually Have $180,000 Down?

    Spring heat hits St. George and the housing market heats up with it, and we compare what we’re seeing as realtors with what a lender sees first in the mortgage pipeline. We break down why rates near 6% change real buying power, why headlines can move markets through fear, and why sellers need to understand the buyer’s monthly payment. • April and May as the peak window for home sales and why listing now matters • mortgage applications rising and what a slammed processing team signals • why rates have bumped around the low 6% range and what drives short-term moves • how war risk, fuel prices, and emotion ripple into interest rates and buyer behavior • what a 2% rate drop does to buying power and monthly payment math • buyer profiles we see most often, from first-time buyers to move-up buyers with equity • who tends to buy high-end homes, including remote workers and top healthcare earners • jumbo loans, conforming limits, and why borrowers try to avoid jumbo territory • the seller reality check of PITI payments, down payments, and affordability • why trying to “play the market” can backfire for both buyers and sellers Find Chantry Abbott here: https://branches.guildmortgage.com/ut/stgeorge/chantry-abbott-521-sgcab.html Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Warm Weather Sets The Stage [00:03:28] Why Spring Is Peak Selling Season [00:05:04] Mortgage Office Surge In Demand [00:08:50] Rates Around Six Percent Explained [00:13:24] War And Fear Move Interest Rates [00:20:48] How A 2% Rate Shift Changes Buying

    24 min
  7. Real Estate Misfires And Mishaps!

    MAR 21

    Real Estate Misfires And Mishaps!

    A home deal can look perfect on paper right up until the day it doesn’t and the fallout is expensive. We’re talking real estate mishaps and misfires that derail closings in St. George, Utah and beyond, starting with a jaw-dropping story: a buyer moves into a $1.7M home and discovers there’s no hot water to half the house. One quick phone call later, a plumber recognizes the seller by name from a photo, and suddenly the conversation turns to the one thing that can poison trust faster than anything else in a transaction: disclosure. We also dig into the market-side pressure that makes these problems more common. Redfin reports nearly 40,000 canceled home sale agreements in January nationwide, a reminder that more contracts are failing during the due diligence period when inspections, reports, and reality collide. If you’re buying or selling in Washington County, this matters because a canceled contract can steal weeks, weaken your negotiating position, and create a stigma the next buyer will sense. From there we get practical. We break down Utah’s Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure, what “material defects” really means, and why “when in doubt disclose” can protect sellers as much as it protects buyers. We also explain what a home inspection is designed to do, what it can miss, and why for sale by owner deals can quietly increase risk when paperwork and inspections get skipped. Finally, we share the most common inspection deal killers and our best tip for sellers: pay for a pre-listing inspection, fix issues upfront, and show the receipts so buyers feel the difference. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Welcome And Local Real Estate Stories [00:07:05] Contract Cancellations And Why Deals Fail [00:11:40] Utah Disclosures And The D Word [00:14:45] Home Inspections And FSBO Risk [00:18:30] Due Diligence And Soils Report Fallout [00:20:40] Pre Listing Inspection And Top Deal Killers [00:23:14] How To Reach Us And Wrap Up

    24 min
  8. Home Values Double? What A Difference A Decade Makes

    MAR 14

    Home Values Double? What A Difference A Decade Makes

    Ten years can change a market. Twenty years can rewrite the entire map. We pull real St. George and Washington County real estate numbers from 2006, 2016, and 2026 and compare them head-to-head, including what happened before, during, and after the crash that reshaped so many homeowners’ lives. We talk listing price vs sold price, why the “average” can get dragged around by luxury homes, and why median price often gives a cleaner read on what most buyers and sellers will actually face. If you’ve ever looked at a headline stat and thought, “That can’t be right,” this breakdown shows exactly how outliers like $3M to $10M properties skew the story, and how to interpret local housing data with more confidence. If you’re trying to decide whether to buy, sell, or wait, this is the kind of honest, local market talk that helps you think clearly. Subscribe for more St. George real estate insights, share this with a friend who’s on the fence, and leave a review so more locals can find the show. Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!  P. 435-291-5443 E. sales@gostgeorge.com Web: www.GoStGeorge.com Insta: https://www.instagram.com/larkingroup FB: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeExperts 🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors. 📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.  💈  What?  Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it! 📻  Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate    🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/ 🔍  SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/  🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue [00:00:00] Weather Whiplash And Quick Updates [00:05:10] Twenty Years Of Market Experience [00:10:55] Luxury Sales And The Outlier Problem [00:15:30] Why People Move Beyond Money [00:20:55] Cutting Losses And Real Seller Triggers [00:23:05] Your Tipping Point And How To Reach Us

    24 min

About

Join Jeremy Larkin & Jesse Poll as they discuss the real estate environment in Southern Utah.