>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONGRESSMAN RAULGRIJALVA TALKS ABOUT THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MAN AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CHILD AND TEENAGE MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER.

ON CRONKITE NEWS AS SCHOOLS BEGIN TO RE-OPEN, A LOOK BACK ONE YEAR AGO TODAY WHEN CAMPUSES CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," HOW TO BE SAFE ABOUT LOSING QUARANTINE WEIGHT.

ALL THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA-- ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA TODAY PASSED THE ONEMILLION MARK FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH ALSO REPORTS THAT 22% OF ARIZONA'S POPULATION HAS NOW RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF A COVID VACCINE.

THIS COMES AS THE STATE REPORTS FEWER THAN 500 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

IT'S THE FOURTH STRAIGHT DAY ARIZONA HAS RECORDED FEWER THAN A THOUSAND NEW CASES.

THAT HAPPENED BACK IN LATE OCTOBER.

STATE DEATH COUNT INCREASED BY 21.

THAT PUTS ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE DEATH RATE AT 14th HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> ECONOMIC NEWS, GAS PACES-- PRICES CONTINUE TO CLIMB, THE AVERAGE PRICE IS $3 A GALLON.

AAA EXPECTS PRICES TO CONTINUE TO RISE THIS WEEK AND STAY ON AN UPWARD TEND TO SUMMER.

AAA ADDS THAT HIGHER CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE THE MAYBE FACTOR DRIVING UP GAS PRICES.

>>> ALSO OF NOTE, RETAIL SALES FELL LAST MONTH AS AMERICANS SPENT 3% LESS THAN AT THE START OF THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S MORE THAN ECONOMISTS HAD EXPECTED.

ANALYSTS FIGURE BAD WEATHER LED TO THE DECLINE AND FEDERAL STIMULUS WILL LIKELY PUSH SALES FIGURES BACK UP WITH INCREASED CONSUMER SPENDING.

>>> AND FORMER NOGALES MAYOR MARCO LOPEZ ANNOUNCED NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

HE'S A DEMOCRAT.

HE'S EXPECTED TO BE JOINED BY A FEW OTHER DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS AND MORE REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO ENTER THE RACE TO SUCCEED GOVERNOR DUCEY WHO IS TERM LIMITED.

>>> LATEST ROUNDS OF SCHEKSES ARE-- STIMULUS CHECKS ARE STARTING TO HIT BANK.

S. WE GOT HIS THOUGHTS ON CURRENT CONDITIONS AT THE BORDER.

AND CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STIMULUS PACKAGE STARTING OFF.

WHY IS THIS A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTRY?

>> RIGHTS A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTRY AND IT'S A GOOD THING FOR ARIZONA.

WE HAVE BEEN NOW, YOU KNOW-- WE REACHED AN ANNIVERSARY OF A YEAR-MUST OF THE PANDEMIC-- YEAR-PLUS OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES, WAY OVER HALF AMILLION PEOPLE HAVE PERISHED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND TO SAY THE LEAST THAT WE'RE ALL FACING IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN ARIZONA.

AND THE STIMULUS PACKAGE HAD TO BE POLLED, IT HAD TO BE LARGE, AN INFUSION AND INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES FOR AMERICAN WORKERS, FAMILIES, AND TO DEAL WITH THE HEALTH CRIES FROM THE VACCINE SIDE AND I THINK WHAT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING NEED, THE TESTING SIDE.

AND I THOUGHT THE BIGGEST THINGS WERE-- DIRECT STIMULUS PAYMENTS OF 1400 TO THOSE THAT QUALIFIED, WHICH IS ABOUT 80-- OVER 80% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IF NOT MORE.

THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WORKERS WHOSE RUN OUT IN MARCH.

AND I THINK THE OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE ISSUE OF THE INFUSION OF RESOURCES INTO MAKING SURE OUR SCHOOLS OPEN, THAT IN-CLASS INSTRUCTION CAN BEGIN AGAIN, THAT ALL THE PROTESTORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED IN TERMS OF MAKING IT SAFE FOR STUDENTS, SAFE FOR FAMILIES, AND SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, ETCETERA, IS PART OF THAT PACKAGE.

IT IS-- IT'S AN INFUSION OF MONEY THAT IS BADLY NEEDED.

THOSE THAT SAY THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT DIRECT GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENT AND SUPPORT ARE WRONG.

AND ACROSS THE STATE, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC MAYORS HAVE ENCOURAGED ME TO VOTE FOR IT.

I WAS ALREADY SUPPORTING IT.

BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND COUNTY, ETCETERA, HAVE ENCOURAGED SUPPORT FOR IT.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STABILIZATION MONEY DOES TO THE STATE AND COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE ATTENDED TO, BUT THE PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MISSED OUT ON THE CARESACT AND HAVE MISSED OUT IN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO STABILIZE THEIR PARTICULAR BUSINESSES AND KEEP THEM FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THERE IS A RETURN OF SHOPPERS AND RETAIL ACTIVITY IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND PARTICULARLY THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES HIT THE HARDEST.

THAT'S WHY-- >> KONGMAN-- >> IT IS A COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT IT WON'T BE MAGIC.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT IT OUT.

IT'S GOING TO-- WADE IT OUT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE EFFORT AND RESOURCES AND THE TESTING AND THE VACCINE BEING CRITICAL TO THAT.

AND THE PRECIPITATION I THINK BY-- PREPARATION I THINK BY HELPING PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY-- ANY FUTURE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WITH THE PANDEMIC OR WITH THE VIRUS OF THE NATURE OF THE COVID-19 THAT WE HAVE ALL HAD TO ENDURE.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN, I WANT TO STOP YOU THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS OR WE HEARD FROM IT A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION THAT ATRILLION DOLLARS IN THE PREVIOUS PACKAGE STILL HAS NOT BEEN SPENT.

THAT ONLY 9% OF THE 1.9 TRILLION IN THIS PACKAGE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HELP RELATED COVID CONCERNS.

WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE CRITICISMS, AGAIN, NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE IN EITHER CHAMBER THERE ON CAPITOLHILL, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WELL, YOU RESPOND BY POINTING OUT TO THE PARTICULAR CONGRESSMAN THAT YOU DID INTERVIEW THAT HE-- THAT THOSE MEMBERS VOTED FOR A 1.7 TRILLION TAX CUT THAT WENT PRIMARILY TO THE RICHEST INDIVIDUALS AND RICHEST CORPORATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, ABOUT 5% OF THE POPULATION.

1.7TRILLION-DOLLAR TAX CUT THAT WAS NOT PAID FOR, THAT IS NOW CAUGHT UP FOR US IN TERMS OF THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE ENDURING.

SO IT WAS GOOD TO DEAL WITH THAT TO A VERY SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS TO DO 1.7TRILLION, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD GOOD TO ENCOURAGE CHILD CARE AND TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO WORKING FAMILIES.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AND FUNCTIONAL.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO HAVE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THAT ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW ECONOMICALLY.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO KEEP EVICTIONS AND THE LOSS OF HOMES THROUGH MORTGAGE DEFAULTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THOSE I THINK ARE WHAT IS AFFECTING ON A DAY-TO-DAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN JUSTIFY A 1.7TRILLION-DOLLAR TAX CUT THAT YOU KNOW NONE OF THE PEOPLE WORKING POOR IN THIS COUNTRY ACTUALLY SAW.

THERE'S A HYPOCRISY THERE.

I THINK DAYCARE IS TIED TO WORK.

I THINK IT'S TIED TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE NEED A PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND SECURE.

AND USING MONEY AND RESOURCES INTO DAYCARES FOR THEM TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, I THINK, IS PART AND PARCEL OF GETTING OURSELVES DMELLY AND HEALTH-WISE BACK ON OUR FEET.

>> RUN OUT OF TIME, I TALKED FOREVER WITH YOU ABOUT THE STIMULUS PLAN.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER.

WE HAVE CHILD AND TEENAGE MIGRANTS ARE THERE.

FACILITIES ARE BEING OVERWHELMED.

YOUR THOUGHT?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE ANNOUNCEMENT I THINK YESTERDAY IF NOT BEFORE, THE DAY BEFORE, OF ABOUT FEMA INTERJECTING 560MILLION TO BORDER-- TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.

SO THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE NOT-- ARE MADE WHOLE AND THAT IT DOESN'T END UP COSTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH IT.

IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

YOU HAVE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS THAT BY LAW ARE HAVING TO BE PROCESSED FOR CREDIBLE FEAR.

WE HAD A BACK LOG AND A BOTTLENECK FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WHERE PEOPLE WERE PILED UP.

YOU HAD THE TWO HURRICANES.

YOU'VE HAD THE INCREASED VIOLENCE IN ELSALVADOR.

YOU HAD ADDITIONAL ISSUES COMING UP IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE THIS CENTRAL AMERICA THAT'S PUSHED THE POVERTY RATE AND PUSHED PEOPLE AGAIN TO COME TO THIS BORDER.

UNACCOMPANIED ADULTS ARE BEING APPREHENDED AND SENT BACK--A PRETENDED AND HENT BACK-- APPREHENDED AND SET BACK.

SO IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE.

DEALING WITH FAMILIES AND AN EFFORT TO TRY TO UNIFY.

BUT I THINK FOLLOWING THE LAW, PROVIDING THE RESOURCES SO THAT NO COMMUNITY IS LEFT OUT, HANGING OUT THERE, HAVING TO PAY FOR A COST THAT IS LEGITIMATELY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S COST, AND BEGINNING A PROCESS THAT ESTABLISHES CREDIBLE FEAR, THAT HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL IN ORDER TO PROCESS THIS, I THINK IN THE LOCK TERM-- LONG TERM, IT'S GOING TO BE-- IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE BOTTLENECK THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND A DIFFICULT SITUATION OF WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH CONTROL IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO AND WITH CENTRAL AMERICA IN TERMS OF PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY IS ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS UNDERTAKING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CANCELED.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S DIFFICULT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND IT BRINGS UP REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO EXPLOIT AND MAKE THIS AN ISSUE A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

BUT IN THE LONG RUN I THINK IT'S THE HUMANE AND THE LEGAL AND THE SECURITY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ON THE BORDER IN ORDER TO DO ALL THOSE THREE THINGS.

AND THE FACT THAT MORE RESOURCES ARE BEING REQUIRED IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NOTHING WAS DONE AND THE BOTTLENECK OCCURRED AND THE-- AND THE OVERFLOW OCCURRED.

AND NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT REALITY ONCE THOSE WERE LIFTED.

>> ALL RIGHT, CONGRESSMAN, GOT TO STOP YOU THERE.

CONGRESSMAN RAULGRIJALVA.

THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> ANYTIME, MY FRIEND.

TAKE CARE.

>>> UP NEXT, CONCERN OVER AN INCREASE IN SCAMMERS TARGETING MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.

>>> SCAMMERS ARE INCREASINGLY ATTEMPTING TO USE THE PANDEMIC TO STEAL MEDICARE INFORMATION AND OTHER DATA FROM SEEN JURORS-- SENIORS.

WE SMOKE WITH NICOLE BLUE, AN ADVISER WITH GOADED HEALTH-- GOLD HEALTH AZ'S MEDICARE BENEFITS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE TALKING MEDICARE SCAMS.

WHAT KIND OF MEDICAID OR MEDICARE SCAMS ARE OUT THERE?

IT SOUNDS-- IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ANOTHER SCAM, TRUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THERE'S A LOT OF SCAMS IMPACTING OUR SEEN YOUR POPULATION RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF THOSE SCAMS DO CENTER AROUND INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH INSURANCE, SPECIFICALLY THEIR MEDICARE PLANS.

>> SO SCAMMERS ARE TARGETING MEDICARE FOLKS FOR THE MEDICARE INFORMATION, PERSONAL INFORMATION?

OR BOTH?

>> ALL OF IT.

SO REALLY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE MEDICARE NUMBER, PRIOR TO 2020, MEDICARE DID HAVE-- YOUR MEDICARE NUMBER AS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE, WERE MULTIPLE SCAMS GOING AROUND OF SCAMMERS, CON ARTISTS, TRYING TO GET THAT NUMBER FROM OUR SENIOR POPULATION.

BUT STARTING IN 2018, MEDICARE STARTED-- 2019, MEDICARE STARTED MAILING OUT NEW I.D.

CARDS WITH A VERY UNIQUE I.D.

NUMBER ON IT NOT ASSOCIATE TO A MEDICARE NUMBER.

TODAYS, ALL MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES SHOULD HAVE AN I.D.

CARD IN THEIR HAND WITH A UNIQUE NUMBER FOR THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE TRYING TO CALL SENIORS, VISITING THEM THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO GET A NEW I.D.

CARD OR NEW TOMORROW IN-- NEW NUMBER.

AND THEY'RE GIVING THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.

>> EVEN WITH THAT EXTRA STEP, THAT EXTRA WALL IN PLACE, HOW OFTEN ARE THESE SCAMMERS DUCK SEED-- SUCCEEDING.

SOME IT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

OUR SENIORS ARE VERY VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION SO THEY CAN ACCESS TO THEIR HEALTHCARE.

SO WE'RE STILL HEARING ABOUT THE SCAMS HAPPENING.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I EXPECT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THEM.

YOU KNOW, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

BUT AS I ALWAYS TELL SENIORS INCLUDING MY OWN RNTS THE AND GOVERNOR-- PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, IF SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, WAKE-- WALK AWAY, CLOSE THE DOOR, HANG UP THE PHONE.

IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IT PROBABLY ISN'T RIGHT.

>> Reporter: I WOULD IMAGINE SOMEONE WHO SAYS THEY'RE REPRESENTING MEDICARE AND THEY'RE CALLING YOU AT HOME, I WOULD THINK-- THAT WOULD BE JUST A COMPLETE WARNING FLAG IN AND OF ITSELF.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

MEDICARE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A CALL.

AND THEY DEFINITELY WILL NOT ASK YOU FOR YOUR NUMBER.

SO I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS, IF YOU GET A CALL FROM MEDICARE, GO AHEAD AND HANG UP THAT PHONE.

AND YOU CAN GET MEDICARE A CALL RIGHT BACK.

THEY CAN VERIFY THAT SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO REACH YOU.

GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY'RE GOING TO SEND YOU A LETTER AHEAD OF TIME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT CALL IS COMING.

>> BUT HE'S SCAMMERS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOOD AT BUILDING TRUTH, GOOD AT CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO HAND OVER PERSONAL INFORMATION.

YOU JUST-- I WOULD IMAGINE JUST THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU GET A CALL FROM MEDICARE, LIKE YOU SAID, HANG UP.

FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN HANG UP, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON BY CALLING MEDICARE.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND FILE A COMPLAINT IF YOU THINK FRAUD IS HAPPENING.

THE OTHER THING I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT PESTERING ANYONE BY FILING THAT COMPLAINT.

YOU'RE BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY AND IF YOU DON'T FILE THAT COMPLAINT, THAT SCAMMER THEY'RE GOING TO GO AFTER YOUR NEIGHBOR OR FAMILY MEMBER.

SO BEST TO RAISE A RED FLAG AND JUST AS A PRECAUTIONARY EFFORT.

IF SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

>> THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, I WOULD IMAGINE THE SAME KIND OF THING WOULD GO FOR THE ACA, TRUE?

>> AS TRUE-- NAS TRUE-- THAT IS TRUE, ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF RIGHT NOW.

>> NICOLE BLUE, DEVOTED HEALTH ARIZONA.

WATCH OUT FOR THE MEDICARE SCAMS.

GOOD INFORMATION, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE PHOENIX AREA REAL ESTATE MARKET IS RED-HOT RIGHT NOW.

SUPPLY IS LOW, DEMAND IS HIGH.

IT'S A GREAT MARKET FOR SELLERS, NOT SO MUCH FOR BUYERS.

WE GOT THE LATEST FROM KATHRYN REG-- CATHERINE REAGOR.

WHO COVERS REAL ESTATE FOR THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HOUSING MARKET RIGHT NOW?

>> HI, TED, ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE.

AN ANALYST DESCRIBED IT AS A MARKET ON STEROIDS.

AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE HOUSING ANALYST AND HE TRACKS THE NUMBERS DAILY.

IT'S-- IT'S A WILD RIDE.

IF YOU'RE A SELLER, THEY'RE GOING REALLY, REALLY FAST.

YOU CAN JUST-- YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IN A DAY, SOMETIMES EVEN BEFORE THE SIGN GOES UP.

I KNOW THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND IF YOU'RE A BUYER, IT'S TOUGH TIMES.

ESPECIALLY A FIRST-TIME BUYER AND YOU'RE CAUGHT IN BIDDING WARS THAT HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY HOUSE UNDER 600,000.

>> ARE WE SEEING SIMILARITIES AROUND THE STATE?

WHAT'S TUCSON?

IS THIS JUST BASICALLY PHOENIX-FOCUSED?

>> PHOENIX IS THE STRONGEST BUT TUCSON IS STRONG, TOO.

AND THE HOUSING MARKETS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE AND ARE DRAWING POPULATION GROWTH NUMBERS AND NEW RESIDENTS ARE SEEING IT.

BUT METRO PHOENIX IS ONE OF THE STRONG OFF-THE-IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IN THE VALLEY HERE, THE PRICE SECTOR, WHICH ONE IS THE HOTTEST?

>> IT USED TO BE 200 TO 250,000.

OUR MEDIUM NOW IS 345,000.

>> WOW.

>> I THINK-- THINK OF THE CRASH.

AND DURING THE BOOM, IT HIT LIKE 260,000.

SO WE'RE WELL ABOVE THAT.

AND THE HOTTEST MARKET IS RIGHT FROM IN THE MILD, 300 TO-- MIDDLE, 300 TO 500,000.

>> ARE THERE HOT SPOTS AROUND TOWN?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS-AREA THAT WERE HOT-- AREAS THAT WERE HOT BEFORE HAVE NOW BECOME TOO PRICEY, CENTRAL PHOENIX, ARCADIA, STILL VERY STRONG, BUT WE ARE SEEING BUYERS GO A LITTLE FARTHER OUT, TRYING TO FIND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY CAN FIND THE DEALS.

PHOENIX IS DOING REALLY WELL AND PARTS OF THE WEST VALLEY ARE DOING REALLY WELL, IS TOO.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE CONDO MARKET?

ARE WE SEEING THE SAME KIND OF INCREASES THERE?

>> YEAH, VERY STRONG, BECAUSE IT'S MORE ORDERABLE.

WE HAVE MILLION-DOLLAR, MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR CONDOS.

BUT OVERALL, IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS TO GET IN.

BIDDING WARS ON THOSE AS WELL.

>> BIDDING WARS.

ARE WE-- IS THERE FLIPPING GOING OR SOME ARE WE SEEING INVESTMENT ACTIVITY GOING ON?

>> WELL HARD-- REALLY HARD TO FLIP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET A GREAT PRICE.

AND SOME ARE DOING SIGHT UNSEEN AND SOMEONE I KNOW BOUGHT A HOME SIGHT UNSEEN AND AS-- TO DO AS A FLIP AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT NEEDED ALL NEW PLUMBING.

SO THE PROFIT MARGIN DROPS DRAMATICALLY THERE.

AND SO MANY BUYERS COMING IN TO THE MARKET WITH PREAPPROVED FINANCING AND WITH REALLY BIG DOWN PAYMENTS OR CASH.

AND THAT'S CORRECT PAY MORE.

-- THEY CAN PAY MORE.

>> ARE THESE FOLKS FROM OUT OF STATE?

IS THE POPULATION INCREASE IN ARIZONA FUELING THIS?

>> YES, A LOT OF IT.

WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, AND YOU KNOW, COVID HAS ALMOST DRIVEN THIS, IS SO MANY PEOPLE CAN-- HAS REALLY DRIVEN THIS, SO MANY PEOPLE CAN LIVE AT HOME.

YOU CAN LIVE HERE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE LICENSE PLAITH AND I ASK AROUND APARTMENTS, THEY'RE LEASING UP WITH RESIDENTS FROM CALIFORNIA, SEATTLE, AND THEIR JOBS ARE STILL BASED THERE BUT THEY CAN WORK FROM HERE.

SOLD HOMES THERE, CAN BUY A LOT MORE HOME HERE.

CAN PAY A LOT MORE RENT HERE AND IT'S COAST, TOO.

THAT'S WHY RENTS AND HOME PRICES ARE DROPPING ON THE EAST AND WEST COAST.

>> WE HAVE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROBLEM HERE.

IS THAT IMPACTING NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION?

>> NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION IS UP.

AND YEAH, BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS THERE AND AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GO FARTHER OUT AGAIN.

LIKE MARICOPA AND THE SOUTHEAST VALLEY AND BUCKEYE.

LOWER PRICES.

YOU HAVE HIGHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS BUT IF YOU ARE WORKING FROM HOME, YOU DO NOT HAVE THOSE HIGHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING THAT.

BUT WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR LEVEL LIKE 2005 OR 2006.

WE'RE AT ABOUT 25,000.

BUT HIGHER THAN IT'S BEEN.

>> AND RENTAL MARKET IS RESPONDING?

HOW?

>> STRONG.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE LUXURY COMPLEXES GOING UP.

WHO'S GOING TO RENT THEM?

THEY'RE BEING RENTLED.

AND FROM A LOT OF OUT-OF-STATE BUYERS.

A NEW ONE AT THE END OF MY BOCK.

IT SAID CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, ON LICENSE PLATE, GOING IN AND OUT, ILLINOIS.

I TALKED TO THE APARTMENT MANAGER, AND THEY WERE LIKE WE'RE GETTING CONCESSIONS.

WE'RE-- RENTS ARE CLIMBING AND PROBABLY FOUR TO FIVE PERCENT-- 5% DURING THE PAST YEAR.

BUT SOME AREAS LIKE IN THE WEST VALLEY WHERE FLOATH IS HAPPENING OR IN-- GROWTH IS HAPPENING OR IN GILBERT, 8, 9, 10%.

>> WOW.

LAST QUESTION, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS-- THESE KINDS OF THINGS FOR YEARS NOW.

AND WE'VE SEEN BUBBLES COME AND BUBBLES GO.

IS THIS A BUBBLE?

>> WE HAVE TO DO OUR GUT CHECKS, DON'T WE?

>> YEAH.

>> LOOKING AT IT FROM EVERY ANGLE, AND-- [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] WE DON'T HAVE THE BAD PREDATORY LOANS THAT WE HAD IN THE BOOM THAT LED TO THE BUST-- BUST.

WE HAVE MOSTLY BUYERS THAT ARE MOVING INTO THE HOUSES.

PURCHASING MORE THAN 80%.

BACK THEN WE HAD MORE THAN 40% INVESTORS AND SPECULATORS.

AND WE KNOW POPULATION IS GROWING.

SO SUPPLY IS LOW.

AND I'M HEARING THAT THE PRICES TO EVEN START TO DROP, THAT YOU WON'T BE THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE-- [INAUDIBLE] 40% FROM LAST YEAR WHERE IT WAS ALREADY IF A TOO LOW.

AND NOT TOO MANY NEW HOMES GOING UP.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WOW.

IT REALLY IS CRAZY OUT THERE.

ARIZONA REPUBLICAN-- REPUBLIC, ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND GREAT INFORMATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS, TED.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF-HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "CRONKITE NEWS," WHY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS FACING ITS SECOND MILLION-DOLLAR FINE IN THREE YEARS.

ON "BREAK IT DOWN," HOW TO BE SAFE ABOUT LOSING QUARANTINE WEIGHT.