Weekend Warrior | October 9-11, 2026

 Weekend Warrior: New Listings, Real Opportunities, and a Whole Lot Moving

This week has that unmistakable “everything is happening at once” energy — and we’re here for it.

We’ve got a brand-new Tempe listing live today, and if you missed our recent recap of the grand opening at Kiwanis Park, it’s worth going back because this part of Tempe is such a good example of why location matters beyond the house itself. And that’s not the only new listing coming. Keep an eye on our socials because tomorrow we’re launching another one on the other side of town in a beautiful active adult community right in the middle of all the shopping, dining, and new restaurant development happening in Queen Creek.

You’ll also want to keep scrolling for this week’s market update because yes — rates are all the rage right now. But we’ve been doing this long enough to know that rate fluctuation is only one piece of the puzzle. Seller concessions, credits at closing, strategic financing, and builders working hard to move inventory before year-end are creating some incredible opportunities for buyers. Some of our recent buyer success stories are genuinely the kind that make us emotional.

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Curious what YOUR HOME would look like as a Zillow Showcase Listing by the Amy Jones Group?

Zillow Showcase is a premium listing experience designed to help a home stand out where so many buyers begin their search. Showcase listings receive enhanced placement and a more immersive presentation with features like high-quality photography, interactive floor plans, and richer visual content that helps buyers spend more time engaging with the property. For our sellers, that matters because the goal is not simply to be listed — it’s to be noticed. At the Amy Jones Group, Zillow Showcase is one more way we help create stronger online visibility, attract more serious buyer attention, and give each listing the best possible opportunity to convert clicks into showings and showings into offers.

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And sellers, this does not mean you’re out of luck. Homes are moving. We just have to be thoughtful about price, preparation, staging, marketing, and the way your home is positioned against the competition. The good news? We can help with all of that — and we love getting involved before the sign ever goes in the yard.

Meanwhile, we’ve got a month full of families closing, sellers preparing to come to market, ICAN volunteer opportunities, Verde community events, and plenty happening in between. This is exactly the kind of season we’re built for: real estate, community, connection, and helping people figure out what comes next.

And yes, we know you’re asking your AI chat buddy for advice. We encourage it. 😄 Just make sure we’re part of the conversation when you show up with your 10-page printout of what to do next.

Scroll on for listings, market updates, community events, and all the ways to get involved.

 One Less Upfront Cost: Desert Financial’s Free Appraisal Offer

Buying a home comes with plenty of expenses, so anytime there’s an opportunity to remove one of those upfront costs, it’s worth paying attention.

For a limited time, Desert Financial is covering the appraisal fee for qualifying mortgage borrowers. The offer applies to completed loan applications received between September 1 and December 31, 2026, as long as the loan closes by February 15, 2027. 

That matters because an appraisal is one of the standard costs buyers typically encounter during the mortgage process. Having that fee covered can help reduce the amount of cash needed along the way and make the process feel a little more manageable.

Desert Financial is also highlighting local mortgage support, competitive rates, and flexible terms as part of the program. For buyers who participate in its Home Plus program, there may also be an opportunity for up to $7,500 in closing-cost credit, subject to the program’s terms and participating broker requirements. 

As always, the important thing is not just asking, “What’s the rate?” but looking at the full picture: interest rate, monthly payment, cash needed at closing, available credits, appraisal costs, and which loan structure best fits your goals.

If you’re thinking about buying before the end of the year, this is one more program worth comparing as part of your overall strategy.

At the Amy Jones Group, we’re happy to help you look at the options side by side so you can understand what actually saves you money - not just what sounds good on the flyer.

📊Market Watch: The Market Is Shifting — But Your Strategy Matters More Than the Headline

Last week, we talked about why “How’s the market?” is only part of the question.

This week, the numbers have moved even further toward buyers.

The average Cromford Market Index across the 18 major Greater Phoenix cities is down 12.9% from a month ago, the weakest reading since November 2023. Supply is now higher in all 18 cities, demand is weaker in 16 of them, and every city is currently moving in a buyer-favorable direction.

That sounds dramatic — and it is a meaningful shift.

But it still doesn’t mean every buyer should rush out and purchase a home or every seller should panic.

It means we have more information to work with.

Buyers Have More Leverage — But Not Everywhere

We still have 5 seller’s markets, 5 balanced markets, and 8 buyer’s markets across the major cities we track.

Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Chandler, and Cave Creek remain seller-favorable even as conditions soften. Phoenix, Avondale, Mesa, Gilbert, and Glendale are now balanced. And markets like Tempe, Maricopa, Queen Creek, Buckeye, and others are offering buyers considerably more leverage.

Even that doesn’t tell the whole story.

A beautifully prepared home in Chandler can still attract multiple offers while another property ten minutes away sits. A buyer in Queen Creek may have substantial negotiating power on a resale home while simultaneously comparing it against a builder offering a rate buydown and closing-cost assistance.

That’s why we don’t stop at the market headline.

We figure out your market.

📈 Let’s Talk About the 7% Rate Conversation

Rates are the loudest part of the real estate conversation right now.

And we understand why.

A buyer hears “7%” and immediately starts wondering whether they should wait. But we want to turn that question around.

Instead of asking:

“Is 7% too high?”

We want to ask:

“Given the market we’re actually in, how can we use your buying power to create the best possible outcome?”

One recent buyer came to the table with exactly the concern we’re hearing from so many people: rates were sitting in the mid-6s, and she wasn’t sure she could afford to buy. Her initial plan was to wait for rates to come down.

Instead, her agent sat down with her, looked at the actual numbers, and built a strategy around the property and her financial situation.

Two months later, she closed on a resale home with an effective interest rate of 3.75%.

The general market rate didn’t suddenly fall to 3.75%.

What changed was the strategy.

Seller concessions, credits at closing, negotiated rate buydowns, loan structure, builder incentives — these are all tools that can materially change the affordability conversation.

That doesn’t mean everyone can or should get a 3.75% rate. It means the number you see in a headline is a starting point, not necessarily the number that determines your outcome.

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Land Scarcity Near Phoenix Is Driving Up Competition in Chandler and Gilbert

Six cities in the Phoenix Valley are in a seller’s market. A short drive south, in Maricopa, inventory has accumulated to a degree that could take years to absorb. The difference has less to do with demand, which remains relatively healthy across both areas, and more to do with where new homes can physically be built.

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Elevating the Luxury Real Estate Experience

Luxury real estate is about much more than a home with a higher price tag. It's about thoughtful representation, strategic marketing, trusted relationships, and understanding that every client's definition of luxury is different. That's why we've expanded the luxury resources on the Amy Jones Group website—to give buyers and sellers a place to explore not only Arizona's exceptional properties, but also the expertise, global connections, and personalized service that make a difference when navigating the luxury market.

As members of the Luxury Real Estate network, our clients benefit from far more than a designation behind our name. Sellers gain access to one of the world's largest luxury real estate platforms, connecting their home to qualified buyers both locally and around the globe. Buyers gain access to an extensive network of luxury professionals, exclusive opportunities, and experienced guidance throughout every step of their search. Combined with more than two decades of experience serving the Phoenix metro area, these relationships allow us to deliver local expertise backed by international reach.

Whether you're considering the sale of a luxury property, searching for your next home, relocating to Arizona, or simply exploring what's available in our market, we invite you to browse our Luxury Real Estate resources. Our goal has never been to impress clients with credentials alone. It's to show how those relationships, designations, and partnerships translate into better marketing, stronger representation, broader exposure, and an elevated experience from beginning to end. 💛

One of our favorite things about this time of year is seeing how many different ways this community continues to show up for one another. 💛 We’re officially wrapped up our Rhinestone Ranch project with Branching Out, and what started as a big idea turned into more than $5,000 in donations, incredible partners helping with the work inside the home, and so many people contributing time, resources, furniture, supplies, and heart. We are so excited to know the girls will be moving in soon and that these spaces were created with so much care behind them.

And we are definitely not slowing down from here. Fall is packed with opportunities to connect, serve, celebrate, and spend time together. We’ve got Girls’ Night Out at Verde with Mummies Day Out on October 14, Hocus Pocus on the Green and EcoRoofing’s annual Trunk or Treat on October 16, Tiny Pumpkins Play Date on October 20, a healing Sound Bath at The Village Athletic Club in Chandler on October 24, and an ICAN Harvest Party on October 27. Then we roll right into another First Sips on November 3. Whew!

There’s a little bit of everything ahead - volunteer opportunities, family events, women’s events, community gatherings, and plenty of chances to simply get together. Around here, community is never a side project. It’s woven into how we do business, how we build relationships, and how we make sure the people and organizations doing important work around us feel supported.

So save a few dates, bring a friend, bring the kids, volunteer where you can, and keep telling us about the causes that matter to you. We’ll keep doing our best to connect the people who want to help with the places that need them most and if you see something you want to come to, email us at [email protected] and we'll get you signed up!

We’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes, event updates, and ways to get involved over the next few weeks - so if you’re not already following along on Instagram, that’s the best place to stay connected and see it all unfold in real time. 💛

Around here, events aren’t just things to attend - they’re how we build relationships, strengthen families, and create lasting memories together. If you’re looking for a way to plug in, serve, or simply spend time with great people, there truly is something for everyone this season. 💛

Weekend Events