Men are slower than women at making up their minds when it comes to decisions about real estate, according to a survey conducted for Coldwell Banker.

Almost 70 percent of women said the knew they day they walked into a house if it was right for them, versus 62 percent of men who said the same thing.

Coldwell Banker contracted with International Communications Research in Pennsylvania, which conducted the survey of 1,000 adults in May. The questions included: “How long did it take for you to know that the last home you purchased was right for you?” and “If you found the home of your dreams but had concerns about its security, would you still be interested?”

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“Not only did we uncover some of the inherent differences between men and women, but we also pinpointed a number of ways that the two genders are actually the same,” said Coldwell Banker’s Diann Patton. “For example, both men and women are increasingly concerned with having a space to work in their homes – something we would not have seen 40 years ago. We also found that feeling insecure about a home’s safety is a deal-breaker for most people, regardless of gender.”

Patton said the survey was an attempt to better understand the clients’ wants and needs in the process of buying a home.

“We wanted to learn if there were differences in what they are looking for,” she said. “We also wanted to find out how we can communicate differently with different clients.”

Among other findings:

• 55 percent of women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job, versus 37 percent for men.

• 64 percent of women said it would be deal-breaker if their dream home had issues regarding security, versus 51 percent for men.

• Almost 70 percent of respondents who said they were living with a significant other said they made large financial decisions mutually. 

• Men were four times more likely than women to turn an extra 12 foot-by-12 foot room into an entertainment room.

Pace of home sales

Residential real estate closings in the Tucson region for the first three weeks of August averaged 188 per week, which is 23 percent off the weekly pacing since June of 244 closings. But the pace is about to pick up, according to Long Realty Research Center, which reports that during those same three weeks, there were 929 properties put under contract, for a weekly rate of almost 310 — up 7 percent over the weekly pace of 290 since June.

It’s expected the pace will continue to pick up as the Nov. 31 deadline approaches to qualify for the federal government’s $8,000 first-time home buyer’s credit.

Short sale on 14 lots

Steve Johnson, of GS Real Estate Investments, has acquired 14 builder-ready lots for $380,000 in the Savage Place subdivision at the southwest corner of E. Speedway and Harrison Road.

The sale was a foreclosure distressed sale from M&I Bank.

Johnson is planning to build new homes on the lots that will be price competitive with foreclosure sales to offer affordable housing on the far eastside.

“Only through a distressed sale would our client be able to deliver a new home product in this current market condition and still make a reasonable profit”, said James P. Robertson Jr., of Long Commercial Services, who represented GS Real Estate Investments, along with Mary Diaz of Long Realty Company. 

“You’re going to pay the bottom price for today and three months from now, so you may as well get it over with now,” Robertson said. “Deals like these aren’t going to last once they come up.”

Certification for J.B. Steel

Steel fabricator J.B. Steel has received the quality certification for Standard Steel Building Structures from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

J.B. Steel, 2850 E. Ganley Road, has been in business since 1994. Among its current projects, it is supplying the steel for the Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain Resort and Spa.

The certification, which is reviewed annually, is confirmation by an independent auditor the company has the personnel, knowledge, organization, equipment, experience, capability, procedures and commitment to produce quality work as a structural steel fabricator.

Sales and leases

• QuikTrip Corporation has purchased 2.6 acres, at 5154 E. Speedway, from Don Medoff for $1.3 million. Steve Cohen with Picor Commercial Real Estate Services represented the seller. Doug Wright with Commercial Investors Realty represented QuikTrip.

• Earhart Equipment Corporation purchased the 115,627 square feet of land at 13968 N. Adonis Road, Marana, for $300,000 from Andy Frank. Steve Cohen, Picor Commercial Real Estate Services handled the transaction.

• Larsen Vending Inc. leased 2,300 square feet of warehouse space at 210 W. Fifth St. from Rich Rodgers Investment. Phoenix-based Larsen Vending is expanding into the Tucson market. James P. Robertson Jr. of Long Realty Commercial Services represented the tenant. Brandon Rodgers of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord.

• SCL Enterprises leased a 2,000 square-foot industrial suite at 1684 S. Research Loop, Suite 502, from Foothills Business Ventures LLC. SCL Enterprises intends to use the space for an auto repair facility. Ron Zimmerman and Gary Emerson of Bourn Partners LLC represented the landlord and the tenant.

• Wheels & More leased a 1,860 square-foot automotive building located at 3502 N. Oracle Road from the McTarnahan Family Trust. Ron Zimmerman of Bourn Partners LLC represented the landlord and the tenant.

• Global Prevention Services-Tucson LLC extended its lease for 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 27, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Nicolas Robles leased 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 34, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Catalina Scientific Instruments leased 1,440 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 21, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Fairway Homes Inc. leased 1,293 square feet of retail space at Cortaro Crossing, at the northwest corner of Cortaro and Silverbell roads, in Marana from Cortaro Retail LLC. The space will be used for a new home showroom. Aaron LaPrise and Brian Harpel, with the Harpel Company Inc. handled the transaction.

• Inverse Lighting Inc renewed its lease for 1,200 square feet in Exchange Place Business Park, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 64, from Presson Corporation. Rob Glaser and Paul Hooker with Picor Commercial Real estate Services handled the transaction.

• Desert Valley Aire Inc. leased 980 square feet at Prince West Plaza, 1015 West Prince Road, from Prince West Plaza LLC. The company plans to open an HVAC store. Rob Tomlinson, Picor Commercial Real Estate Services handled the transaction.

E-mail items for this column to jpangburn@azbiz.com. Real Estate and Construction appears weekly.