Weekend Warrior | September 25-26, 2026

 Weekend Warrior: So Many Ways to Move Forward

We’re heading into the final weekend of September with a lot happening — in real estate, in the community, and all across the Valley.

The market is still giving buyers and sellers plenty to think about. Rates have been volatile, but prices remain relatively steady, and we continue to see opportunities show up in the details — especially for buyers who are willing to look beyond the headline rate and think strategically about incentives, concessions, and long-term affordability. In August, 59% of MLS sales included some form of seller-paid incentive, and historically the fourth quarter has been one of the strongest seasons for buyers to negotiate. 

And new construction is gearing up for year-end sales in a big way. We’re seeing communities across the Valley offer options that can help buyers who need down payment assistance, are working within a fixed income, or need rate reductions to increase buying power. There are brand-new communities from the East Valley to the West Valley, and we have agents all across town who can help you compare what’s available, what the incentives really mean, and which option makes the most sense for your family.

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

With a 2D and 3D Walk Through, Virtual Staging, Custom Video and Photography, Feature Placements and LIVE Transfer to agents, you can't lose with this extra marketing support of your listing.

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We’ve also got a few financial tools worth knowing about. One of our lending partners is currently offering a free appraisal for qualifying mortgage applications submitted through the end of the year, which is one more way to reduce the upfront cost of buying. 

And while dozens of families continue to move with us every month, our community calendar is moving just as quickly. We’ve got a Halloween costume drive coming up, the Sound Bath event, more opportunities to gather and give back, and then somehow we are already heading straight into the holidays.

This week’s edition is full of ways to move forward — whether that means buying, selling, preparing, volunteering, connecting, or simply figuring out what your next step could look like.

Scroll on for the full market update, upcoming events, real estate resources, and all the things happening around the Amy Jones Group and Community on Purpose. 💛

 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: Q4 Is About Buying Power, Not Just Price

As we head into the fourth quarter, the market is giving buyers something they haven’t had in every season: options.

Mortgage rates have been volatile, and that has slowed some buyer activity, but home prices themselves have remained relatively stable. The bigger story right now is how buyers are using incentives, credits, and financing strategy to improve affordability — and how sellers need to understand those same tools if they want to compete. 

🏡 Buyers: The Monthly Payment Is the Conversation

For many buyers, especially those on fixed incomes or working within a tight monthly budget, the question isn’t simply, “Can I afford this house?”

It’s, “How do we structure this purchase so the payment works?”

That’s where seller-paid closing costs, rate buydowns, down payment assistance, and builder incentives can make a meaningful difference.

In August, 59% of MLS sales included some form of seller-paid incentive, with a median cost to the seller of just over $10,000. In the $350,000–$400,000 price range, that number jumped to 71% of sales. 

That is a lot of negotiating happening behind the scenes — and it’s exactly why buyers should not assume the list price tells the whole story.

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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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🏠 Sellers: Your Competition Is More Than the House Next Door

If you’re selling this fall, it’s important to understand what your buyer is comparing you against.

It may be another resale home.

It may also be a brand-new home with a builder-paid rate buydown, closing-cost credit, and move-in package.

That means pricing and presentation still matter, but so does knowing when to use a concession strategically.

The market data continues to show that homes that go under contract quickly tend to retain more of their original asking price. Properties under contract within 15 days average about 99% of original list price, while homes sitting one to two months average closer to 95%, and those sitting three to four months average around 90%. 

Getting the strategy right early matters.

💛 The Big Picture

Q4 may end up being less about who can predict rates and more about who knows how to use the tools available.

For buyers, that means comparing builders, lenders, assistance programs, incentives, and resale opportunities.

For sellers, it means understanding the competition and creating a package buyers can say yes to.

There are still dozens of families moving every month.

The opportunity is not gone — it just takes more strategy to find it.

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 wrapping 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 the Women Empowered Fall Social on September 29, our Breast Cancer Awareness Month and chemo-pack fundraising projects underway, First Sips on October 6, 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, 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