Weekend Warrior | September 11-13, 2026

 Weekend Warrior: Remembering, Reflecting, and Moving Forward

Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, a day that changed our country and so many families forever. Before anything else, we want to pause and remember the lives lost, the families who still carry that loss, the first responders and helpers who ran toward danger, and the way communities across the country showed up for one another in the days that followed.

Tonight also begins Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which is especially meaningful to me personally. As we enter a season of reflection, renewal, and hope, I want to wish everyone — whether you celebrate or not — a new year filled with health, happiness, peace, and more of the people and moments that matter most.

This week has felt like such a gift. Alongside helping clients close, getting new families under contract, preparing listings to go to market, and helping families settle into their next chapter, I also had the opportunity to teach and speak in five different workshops and rooms this week. In so many different settings, the conversation kept coming back to the same idea: slowing down enough to have the conversations that matter most.

Continued below...

Curious What a Zillow Showcase Listing Looks Like? Check This One Out...

A Zillow Showcase listing gives a home a more premium presentation on Zillow, with enhanced visuals like high-quality photography, video, interactive floor plans, and a more immersive listing experience designed to help the property stand out. At the Amy Jones Group, that premium placement matters because buyers are often deciding which homes to click on before they ever schedule a showing. The more attention, engagement, and time we can earn online, the better chance we have to turn that interest into showings, offers, and ultimately the strongest possible outcome for our sellers.

READ MORE

 

That felt especially meaningful during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, when I had the chance to speak right here in Chandler about community, connection, and why we need to build our people and places around us before we need them. I read something on Instagram this week that said, “What a privilege it is to be exhausted by an ambition of your choosing.” That landed hard for me. This week was full, and I am tired, but I am also deeply grateful for the work, the people, and the opportunity to keep doing more of what feels meaningful.

And yes, there is still plenty happening around the Valley. We’ve got a fresh market update inside, along with listings, client wins, and local events. This week included Girls’ Night Out at Verde, and Movies on the Green is tonight — completely free! So if you’re looking for an easy Friday night plan, grab the family, a blanket, and head out.

Scroll on for this week’s real estate updates, community happenings, events, and all the ways we’re helping people move, connect, and settle into what’s next. 💛

 Our Homeownership Education Portal Is Live

One of the biggest misconceptions about buying a home is that you have to have everything figured out before you reach out to a real estate agent. The truth is, most people don't know where to start - and that's exactly why we created this resource. We're excited to announce our new partnership with FirstHomeIQ, bringing a complete Homeownership Education Portal to the Amy Jones Group website. Whether you're dreaming about buying your very first home, wondering how much you should save, trying to understand credit and financing, or simply curious about how the process works, you'll now have access to trusted, easy-to-understand education all in one place.

We believe buying a home shouldn't feel intimidating. It should feel empowering. The more you understand the process, the more confident you'll be when it's time to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. The portal is designed to let you learn at your own pace with articles, videos, calculators, and educational tools that answer the questions most buyers have long before they're ready to tour homes. Even if buying is still a year - or a few years - away, it's never too early to start building your knowledge. Of course, education is only one piece of the puzzle. Every family's goals, finances, and timeline are different, which is why we're always happy to sit down, answer questions, and help you create a plan that's personalized to you. Think of the portal as your foundation—and our team as your guide whenever you're ready for the next step.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, planning your next move, helping an adult child prepare for homeownership, or simply curious about what's possible, we invite you to explore the new Homeownership Education Portal. Because informed buyers make confident homeowners - and that's exactly what we want for every client we serve. 💛

📊Market Watch: The Market Is Moving - Just Not All in the Same Direction

Last week, we talked about buyers beginning to stir before that activity had time to show up in closed sales. That trend is still the most important thing we’re watching.

Pending listings are up 4.5% from last year, homes under contract are slightly ahead of last year, and the contract ratio has also improved. At the same time, August closed sales were down 5.6% year over year and down 13% from July. In other words, the deals being made now are stronger than the closings reflecting decisions made several weeks ago. 

That fits what we’re seeing on the ground. Buyers are back out, sellers are making plans, and activity has picked up — but that does not mean every neighborhood or every listing is suddenly moving the same way.

Inventory is Easing, Not Exploding

Active inventory continued to ease in August, with about 23,700 homes available without a contract. That's down from July and essentially flat compared with last year once we account for a small change in the areas included in ARMLS.

Active inventory dropped again in August to about 23,674 homes, down 1.6% from July. Once you adjust for the Sedona and Verde Valley listings added into ARMLS last year, supply is essentially flat compared with this time a year ago. Days of inventory also improved to 126, and the percentage of listings successfully selling rose noticeably from July. 

For sellers, that’s important.

We are not looking at a giant flood of inventory. But we are entering the time of year when more sellers begin preparing to come to market, especially as temperatures come down. If you’re considering selling this fall, this is still the window to get ahead of the people who wait until they’re ready to list before they start doing the work.

Continued below....

Is It Too Late to Sell Your Home This Summer?

By late July, it’s easy to assume the main selling season has come and gone. Spring listings have closed, school calendars are back on the refrigerator, and fall no longer feels far away. If selling has been on your mind, waiting until next year can start to sound like the sensible choice for your household and plans, but the calendar alone shouldn’t make that decision for you, especially here in the Valley.

READ MORE

 ...Continued from above

...Continued from above

⛳ One of Our Favorite Data Points This Week: Not All “Premiums” Are Equal

The Cromford Report also released a really interesting analysis this week about golf course lots, and it illustrates something we talk about all the time with pricing.

Yes, golf course frontage can create a major premium — but only when it’s scarce.

In Mirabel Club, golf-course homes showed a 91% size-adjusted premium. Grayhawk came in around 37%, DC Ranch around 33%, and Biltmore Estates around 24%. But in Rio Verde, where roughly four out of ten homes back to a fairway, the golf-course premium was essentially zero. 

That lesson applies far beyond golf courses.

A view, oversized lot, guest house, cul-de-sac, remodeled kitchen, or other feature is not automatically worth a fixed amount just because it sounds desirable. Its value depends on how rare it is, how buyers in that particular community respond to it, and what alternatives they have.

That is why pricing a home is part math, part market data, and part understanding what buyers actually value.

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 parts of pictures like these is getting to look back at all the ways this community continues to show up for one another. 💛 Just last week, more than 50 local business owners joined us for our quarterly Business Mixer, where we packed 50 Confidence Kits for distribution to local schools, nonprofits, and group homes—and together raised more than $700 for our Rhinestone Ranch project with Branching Out. That project is where so much of our heart is focused right now as we help transform four bedrooms inside an East Valley home for girls who have experienced exploitation into spaces that feel safe, comfortable, beautiful, and truly theirs. There are opportunities to purchase specific items for the home or make a donation toward everything from bedding to an entire room, and every single contribution gets us closer to welcoming these girls home. 💛

And there are plenty of ways to simply get together, too! Our Verde events are back with Movie Nights, Tuesday Play Dates, and the Girls’ Night Out series. We’ve got fliers and details for all of the upcoming events below, so save a few dates, grab a friend, bring the kiddos, or find the project that speaks to you. Around here, community isn’t a side project—it’s woven into everything we do, whether we’re serving together, doing business together, or just creating an excuse to spend time with the people we love. And as always, we’d love to know what local charities and causes matter most to you. Tag us when you share their needs so we can continue finding ways to connect this incredible community with opportunities to show 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