Weekend Warrior | March 15-16, 2025

Weekend Warriors: Lucky Market Moves, Fresh Listings & A Rainy Spring Kickoff! 🍀🏡

Happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend! Whether you believe in luck or just good strategy, the real estate market is full of opportunities right now—and we’re here to make sure you don’t miss them!

First things first—the market is shifting, and buyers have the upper hand. Phoenix has been in a buyer’s market for three of the last four months, inventory is climbing, and we’re seeing more price reductions and stronger negotiations than we’ve had in years. But here’s what might surprise you—prices haven’t dropped yet! The median price is still 4.3% higher than last year, and history tells us that if we see a dip, it’ll be more of a glide than a crash.

Buyers? Now is the time to lock in a great deal. More listings, seller incentives, and a mortgage rate dip to 6.78% means you have more power than you’ve had in a while. Be sure that you've got an agent that understands location and market preferences though - areas like Chandler are 🔥 in HIGH demand and properties that are highly upgraded are still going F-A-S-T.

Sellers? This is not 2023. With more homes on the market, presentation, pricing, and marketing are everything. But don’t worry—we know exactly how to make your home stand out and get the right offer. Want a sneak peek at how we do it? Check out our newest listings on Tonto and Goldenrod and prepare to swooooooon ❤️ ,

And if that wasn’t exciting enough… 🎉
📌 TWO new listings just hit the market (and another is coming next week!)
🏡 Open houses all weekend—yes, we’re still bringing the booties for the unexpected rain! 🌧️
📅 A new Community Connections event is on the way—this time, we’re talking budgeting & smart financial moves!
🤝 Our next business mixer is just weeks away—if you’re looking to grow your connections, this is for you.

Spring is moving fast, and so is this market. Whether you’re ready to buy, sell, or just stay informed, we’re here to help you make the right move. We've got more than a dozen families under contract and preparing for their next steps - want to make THIS the year you make moves that matter? Let’s go! 🍀🚀

🔥HOT New Listing🔥   

Market Update: More Homes, More Negotiation Power & What’s Next for Prices

Spring is here, and with it comes one of the most unique buyer’s markets we’ve seen in years. Phoenix has now been in a buyer’s market for three of the last four months, yet home prices haven’t budged downward - at least not yet!

For buyers, this is an exciting moment. More inventory means more choices, more negotiating power, and more opportunities to secure a home at the right price. While home prices are still up 4.3% year-over-year, history tells us that price shifts take at least 3-6 months to show up after a market shift. If supply continues to grow, we could see a gentle price dip, but not a crash.

📉 Where Are Prices Moving?

• Condo & townhome values under $400K are down -4.2% this month.
• Luxury homes between $1M-$1.5M are up +5.5%.
• Hot Spots in our market like Chandler (with SUPER low inventory) and those FULLY REMODELED homes (talk about ready, set, GONE)
• Most other price points are holding steady, averaging 1-2% appreciation, which is actually below the rate of inflation.

For sellers, competition is heating up. The number of new listings is at a 4-year high, making this the most active market since 2015. While buyer demand is improving, it’s not keeping up with rising supply, which has led to:

💰 58% more price reductions over the past 4 weeks compared to last year.
💰 Sellers negotiating more:

• Homes under $1M are selling at 98.3% of their last list price (down from 98.6% last year).
• Homes over $1M are selling at 95.4% of list price (down from 96.4% last year).

So, what’s the good news? Mortgage rates are falling. After hitting 7.26% in January, the 30-year fixed rate is now 6.78%, and if it dips below 6.5%, the market will shift in favor of sellers again. And keep in mind, most buyers are NOT paying posted interest rates thanks to seller concessions - we just got a buyer locked in at 5.3% on a NEW BUILD. Curious, now?

What Does This Mean for You?

🏡 For buyers: More homes, more negotiating power, and mortgage rates easing = a great time to lock in the right home. Be sure you are working with an agent that understands the market conditions in the neighbohrood you are searching - location and condition matter now more than ever.
🏡 For sellers: Condition, pricing, and presentation matter more than ever - see, we're consistent! Buyers have more options, but homes that stand out are still selling fast - check out our newest listings before they are gone because they check ALL the boxes.

Want to prepare for your next move together? Let’s connect and make a strategy that works for YOU! 🚀

🔥HOT New Listing🔥   

🏡 Weekend Open Houses 🏡    

🔥HOT New Listing🔥   

♥️ East Valley Moms Fun Family Events ♥️   

🔥HOT New Listing🔥   

📅  Upcoming Events Calendar 📅  

When it comes to real estate, there’s no shortage of opinions—whether it’s from well-meaning friends, family members, or online “experts.” But just because something was true a few years ago doesn’t mean it still holds water today. The market evolves fast, and some of the most common advice we hear is stuck in the past.

Here are 7 real estate myths that deserve to be gently (okay, maybe not so gently) debunked:

1. Buyer Demand Is on the Decline

It was true that buyer demand dropped in 2022 and 2023, thanks to fluctuating mortgage rates and affordability challenges. But today? Not so much. Buyer demand has stabilized and is closely following last year’s trend, with minimal reaction to rate changes. Buyers are back—and they’re making moves.

2. There’s Nothing to Buy Under $300K

A few years ago, finding a single-family home under $300K was like hunting for Bigfoot—almost impossible. In February 2022, there were only 90 active listings under $300K across Maricopa and Pinal counties. Today? There are over 500, with most in Pinal County. Condo and townhome shoppers have even more choices, with more than 1,200 active listings in Maricopa County.

3. My Income Is Too High for Homebuyer Assistance Programs

Think you’re making too much money to qualify for help? Not necessarily. Some down payment assistance programs focus on location rather than income. Others have income limits as high as $150,000/year—or no limits at all. Working with the right loan officer can unlock programs you didn’t even know existed, saving you thousands.

4. I Must Be a First-Time Buyer to Qualify for Assistance

Surprise! “First-time homebuyer” doesn’t always mean what you think. According to HUD, you’re considered a first-time buyer if you haven’t owned a home in three years. Been renting? You qualify. Only ever owned a mobile home? You qualify. Bought a home with a former spouse and now flying solo? You still qualify.

5. Mortgage Rates Are Too High—There’s Nothing I Can Do

Yes, rates are higher than the rock-bottom lows of 2020, but buyers have more tools than ever to work around them. In January alone, 57% of sales between $200K and $600K included seller-paid incentives, with most going toward rate buydowns. Builders are offering permanent buydowns, and sellers with FHA or VA loans are offering assumable mortgages with rates below 5%. A little research can help hack today’s affordability challenges.

6. We’re in a Bubble, and Prices Are Going to Crash

Not true. While Greater Phoenix saw a significant price correction in 2022—dropping 12.3% from May to December—prices have since stabilized. In most areas, home prices are up just 1-2% year over year, below the current rate of inflation. Today’s market is far from the chaos of the last few years, and buyers are negotiating sales prices roughly 1.9% below list—a huge improvement from the 2022 bidding wars.

7. I’ll Sell My Home “As-Is” and Just Offer Buyer Incentives

In a mild seller’s market, you could get away with an “as-is” sale and buyer incentives. Not anymore. Today, condition matters more than ever. Well-maintained homes in excellent condition rise to the top of buyers’ lists, while those that need work often sit longer, even with aggressive pricing and perks. It’s all about presentation.

Ready to Separate Fact from Fiction?

The real estate market is full of opportunities if you know how to navigate it. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned investor, or thinking about selling, don’t let outdated advice steer you wrong. Reach out to our team, and let’s build a strategy that works for today’s market.

For Deals, Discounts, Don't Miss Events and HOT local picks for your whole crew, visit East Valley Moms! and subscribe to the EVM Weekender.

Last year we announced the launch of our Community Heroes Appreciation Program with a special gift of gratitude for military members, veterans, educators, medical professionals, first responders, and government/civil servants when buying or selling a home with us. 

In recognition of these invaluable contributions, we offer a $1,000 credit towards closing costs as a thank you for the service to our country and community. This program was originally founded to honor our military heroes, inspired by Amy Jones’ late father, Richard (Mac) McGarrigle, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and we’ve since expanded it to include all community heroes who make a difference every day.

Additionally, we partner with title companies, lenders and even moving companies who offer special programs designed to assist community heroes with their moving and community connection needs. These programs can help make homeownership more affordable by offering lower down payment requirements, reduced interest rates, and other financial assistance to ease the burden of a big move.

If you or someone you know would qualify for this program, please reach out so we can share details with you and share our gratitude for your role in our community. 

😲 In Case You Missed It!