Weekend Warrior | January 11-12, 2025

Brrrrr - It's Cold Outside, Weekend Warriors!

There are very few months out of the year, ahem...days, where our kiddos really NEED a jacket outside but this is definitely just a few of them. Those heat warriors who have stubbornly kept the heater off are even tempted to turn it on, just to get the chill out. I know for you folks who have joined us in Sunny Arizona from other parts of the country aren't necessarily feeling those goosebumps - but us Native Arizonans, are definitely beyond chilly. 

The good news is, there's lots of ways to play indoors - usually reserved for those extra hot Summer days - those indoor play areas, activities and events also make a nice place to step indoors when its getting a little too cool outside. It also means there's even cooler places to play up North for a quick snowy getaway and even better - it's the start of some of the BEST activites on the calendar - outdoor events, festivals, and so much more! 

It's hard not to mention that while we're gearing up for an incredibly busy real estate season with some great news for all planning big moves this year, packing our calendars with fun outdoor activities, and our kiddos are finally back in the swing of things at school - our neighbors in California are suffering through some of the hardest, most difficult times that many families might ever experience. The sheer devastation to neighborhoods, homes, schools, and communities is beyond our comprehension. We have been actively reaching out to the real estate community in California trying to find ways to help, and have partnered with area organizations to start taking donations through our nonprofit Community on Purpose as well as scheduling pickups of gently used and new clothes and other necessary items. 

Our goal continues to be to help families with moves that matter - whether expected, unexpected, happy or sad - our team is there through the ups and downs of life. In this Weekend Warrior, we've included ways to give back, information about how you can plan for ANY big moves this year, and opportunities to grow your business - the more you grow, the more you can give, and the better we can make the world around us together. 

It continues to be one of the biggest honors to serve the Valley through real estate with community and if you've worked with us before, please do us a HUGE favor and consider leaving us a review - so that we can help more people this year. It is because of you that we have been able to grow AND GIVE and we plan to do this for many years to come.  

Families Helping Families

In response to the devastating wildfires, we are collecting donations to support families impacted that will be driven to California for distribution TOMORROW. We have included several ways to give including an option to have a PICK UP tomorrow of NEW OR GENTLY USED items which we have received several requests for. 

How You Can Help:

Donate Clothing or Other Essential Items by filling out this form for pickup details: https://form.jotform.com/SPHEREGLOBALRE/help-victims-of-california-wildfire.

Make a Financial Contribution at www.communityonpurpose.com/donate and be sure to note “CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES” in your donation.

Please help us spread the word as soon as possible - in-kind donations are due on your porch ⏰ by 8am tomorrow morning to be included in the shipment - financial donations can continue to be made for distribution. We are sending our love and prayers to all of those impacted including many of our clients and families who have recently made the move to Arizona.

If there is an additional opportunity to serve that you have heard of or ar organizing, please email us to let us know how we can help!

A Steady Start to 2025

The first full week of 2025 is in the books, and while the market isn't giving us a dramatic start, there are some interesting trends worth noting. Let’s dive into the latest numbers and what they mean for buyers and sellers in Arizona real estate.

A Market In Motion

Active listings without a contract have grown 4.1% this week, climbing from 19,776 to 20,583, while listings under contract rose slightly faster at 4.4%, moving from 5,496 to 5,737. This has nudged the contract ratio just a hair higher, from 27.79 to 27.87. While these shifts signal stability, they don’t indicate a significant swing toward buyers or sellers just yet.

For perspective, active listings are growing faster this year compared to the same week in 2024, but contracts are being signed at a slower pace, likely influenced by rising mortgage rates. The market feels balanced but without clear momentum in either direction.

Cities Making Moves

Over the past month, 15 of the largest cities in the region have seen improvement in their Cromford® Market Index (CMI), with double-digit percentage gains in cities like Tempe, Chandler, and Scottsdale. As of now, 11 cities have moved into seller’s markets, one remains balanced, and five still lean towards buyers. Notably, Maricopa and Surprise are lagging behind, yet to show monthly improvement.

December by the Numbers

Looking back, December closed with a 16% increase in transactions compared to 2023, totaling 5,803 sales. Resales drove this growth with a 22% jump year-over-year, while new home sales remained relatively flat. Median prices climbed across the board, with the overall median hitting $482,733, up 4.9% from December 2023. However, this increase was primarily fueled by new homes, as resale prices dipped slightly compared to November.

What’s Next?

The market remains in a holding pattern with the strongest cities continuing to see more competition for sellers and the weakest cities continuing to provide more opportunities for buyers. The second week of January may bring more clarity as we watch for shifts in buyer activity and new supply levels - and if there are any conclusions we can draw from our weekend schedule - its that more buyers are buying and more sellers are listing - something that will keep these trends going long into the first quarter. 

📅  Upcoming Events Calendar 📅  

Carl's Animals

A FREE absolute gem of a tiny little zoo/animal sanctuary/backyard barn nestled right in the heart of Gilbert where kids can feed cows, pigs, ducks, turkeys and more.

Free Art Fridays

A seasonal offering by Tempe Arts & Culture, this three-hour art party is incredible for kids 0-5 years old. Each event’s arts and music activities, sensory play, and decorations are based on a theme which changes each month.There will be a bounce house, backdrop with photo opportunities, snacks & drinks, and a goodie bag for each registered child! 

Fire Station Tour

This takes some planning, but Gilbert Fire Department offers FREE fire station tours for small groups. Here’s everything you need to know to book a private tour for your kids and their friends.

Culture Pass

Library card holders can get 2 FREE tickets to more than 15 attractions through the Act One Culture Pass, including: Desert Botanical Garden, Gilbert Historical Museum, Superstition Mountain Museum, Boyce Thompson Arboretum and more.

Check out "Making a Magical Childhood on a Budget" with this handy guide to memberships, free fun and more from East Valley Moms!

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!