Weekend Warrior | September 14 - September 15, 2024

We Salute You, Weekend Warriors!

As we close out this week of remembrance, I can't help but reflect on the incredible power of community and how it has shown up in my life personally and in the lives of those we've been honored to serve over the last two decades. I recently had the opportunity to be on a podcast where I shared my passion for service and the culture we've built at the Amy Jones Group leading with service as one of our core values as well as integrity, grit, compassion, self reflection, maintaining a growth mindset, and above all - providing our community with the absolute best resources for all things real estate and CONNECTION.

This week we had the opportunity to serve at the Welcome to America Project based in Tempe where we assembled welcome packages for resettled refugees who often have nothing in hand when they are placed in Arizona - because you have allowed us to support you in your real estate journey, we were also able to make a donation to the organization to purchase furniture and household kits for the families as well- thank you, thank you, thank you. 

We also joined forces with All About Your Placement and hosted a Dementia Friendly Business training at our offices at Expansive - we know that there is more to do to support the families that we serve, and it was amazing to see business owners come out and take advantage of this important training. In addition to the nine families who will be closing on their new homes or making a big move out of their home this month - we've also got Legacy Planning at Gilbert Memorial, a brand workshop for our female entrepreneurs and our almost SOLD OUT movie event at Majestic - HINT HINT: GRAB YOUR SEATS NOW! 

No matter what you've got on the agenda for this weekend, we want you to know how much you mean to us - keep scrolling for other ways for us to connect and thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of our community!

 📊 Sellers Get Off the Fence as Mortgage Rates Continue to Drop 📊   

September and October are the last hurrahs for home sale activity as 2024 enters its last stretch. New listings activated during this time should be well priced and in competitive condition to the listings around them. The median marketing time before contract is currently 33 days, so most properties listed in September should expect a contract in October. However, sellers who wait to list until late October will run into holiday speed-bumps that could tack on an extra 1-2 weeks before an acceptable contract putting them into December for scheduling moving trucks.

While lower mortgage rates are expected to boost demand in price ranges under $2M, they don’t have much effect on the high-end luxury market where 55% of sales over $2M are cash. Recessions are not good for luxury because they coincide with poor stock market performance and stagnate corporate profits, which are the primary drivers for demand in this segment. So far, multiple headlines warning of an approaching recession are not tanking the stock market, and luxury listings under contract for September are higher than any other year. Other good news for luxury sellers, high cancellation rates from May-July dropped supply counts and launched Paradise Valley back into a seller’s market.

This good news for sellers might give future buyers one tiny little obstacle to overcome, and that’s selling their existing home. As expectations of sustained rate declines increase, it’s sellers who are getting off the fence first. Weekly new listings are up 11% since rates began their decline on August 1st. These sellers will most likely become buyers within 1-3 months. This creates a good opportunity for buyers who are ready today. An early boost in supply without an offsetting boost in competing buyers means the buying environment will remain relaxed and accommodating over the next few months...until the new year begins. After enduring more than 2 years of declining sales, sellers and eventually buyers will start moving and transacting again - which one are you?

I'm curious, how has the recent increase in available options for both loan programs AND houses changed your moving plans this year? If unemployment rates continue to rise and uncertainty grows over a November election, you might have until the kickoff of 2025 for a return of perfect weather, tourism, and a bustling real estate market - which will bring more competition and a little less of those relaxed and accommodating vibes.  Click the link below and let us know the deets!

This week 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. 

We've got two super fun events coming up to help YOU grow your local business. Want to know how to get people to line up around the block because YOU are exactly the person they want to do business with? Join myself and Colleen Biggs, Business Coach and Strategist, as we take local female entrepreneurs through a hands on workshop that will leave you feeling confident in delivering your value in front of your next client. This hands on workshop will cover strategies for becoming a locally known expert, building a personal brand, and empowering a hungry client base to be your biggest advocates. Space is limited at this in person event, so register today and reserve your seat at the table. 

And for you real estate agents out there, this next one is for you! 

This month, we’ll be talking about all things value propositions - why you need ‘em, why you struggle with them, and how to convey them to the people you want to work with. Join us for some caffeinated networking, a panel discussion and more - at this FREE meet-up open to ALL brokers, all real estate professionals - well, at least those with a good vibe. Register to snag your spot and remember collaboration over competition always wins.

😲 In Case You Missed It!