Weekend Warrior | October 5 - October 6, 2024

Weekend Warriors - It's Fall Y'all!

Listen, I know it was 106 degrees yesterday but I think if we just sip a little more pumpkin spice and stroll through the sweater aisle at Target - it's bound to cool off, right? I mean, it can't hurt to SAY it's Fall when we're literally going to be hunting for Halloween costumes ANY day now. As someone with a "Fall" birthday, I remember very well that even in November it was a toss up whether it was going to be too hot or not to have a birthday party outside...I get it, I'm from here - which is why I'm claiming Fall and still wearing sandals. 

I also feel a teensy tiny bit responsible for this hot weather as we brought our community appreciation even indoors this year to the Majestic Neighborhood Cinemas - but I'm so glad that we did! It was an absolute blast seeing so many of our clients and the message of the Wild Robot movie was just incredible, especially for all the mommas in the room. We got to treat our community to a little indoor fun, a lot of game night raffle prizes from our community partners including Katy Building and Design, All About You Placement, Fidelity National Title and Home Warranty, Guild Mortgage, Stratton Home Inspections and Eco Roofing. 

As we plan ahead for the last few months of 2024, we've got lots more events that we'd love to see you and the kiddos at including two volunteer opportunities, a business mixer for all our local business owners (tell a friend!) and our annual community appreciation Fall party with a brand new location this year in Gilbert. We're also starting to see encouraging signs of life in the housing market, just as our sellers were worried that buyers were going to sleep Fall away. While the response to lower mortgage rates since July has been gradual, September brought a 9% increase in under-contract listings, now sitting nearly 12% higher than this time last year. 

The best news for buyers? Pricing has stayed stable, with the median sales price up only 2.3% from last year but as supply continues to grow, we may see a shift by the end of 2024 if trends follow their usual patterns. Take a few minutes to scroll through this Weekend Warrior with a cup of coffee or in between errands and let us know what you love most about it by commenting on our social posts at /amyjonesgroup on both FB and IG. There's so much to catch up on!

We put together this short little video to thank everyone who came to our movie event and wanted to share it with you! It was so fun to see it played up on the big screen as we expressed our gratitude for all of you letting us be on this incredible journey with you. It's because of you that we are able to continue to show up in really big ways through real estate and community and we hope to continue to serve this community for many years to come!

 📊 Market Update: October Opportunities for Buyers and Sellers 📊   

As we enter October, the local housing market is showing signs of life after a quiet Summer that offered plenty of opportunities for buyers to get in under he radar. Active listings have risen significantly, with a 47% increase compared to this time last year, now sitting at 19,643 meaning there are even more choices for buyers who have been ready to go, but struggling to find the one. Listings under contract have also seen a noticeable improvement, up 11.7% year-over-year due in part to lower mortgage rates and the opportunity for seller concessions with low competition. 

Pricing remains relatively stable which is great news for buyers and sellers trying to time the market, although we’ve seen a slight decline in average price per square foot compared to last year - we do expect that with more supply coming into the market, buyers will continue to have a bit of an edge in negotiations until we see that supply tighten up as it usually does towards the end of the year. 

Stepping back and looking valley wide, we are still in a balanced market however we're seeing movement in cities like Surprise, Glendale, and Fountain Hills which are heating up and Avondale, Chandler, and Goodyear giving buyers a teeny more wiggle room. Still, eight out of the 17 major metropolitan cities we track remain in seller’s market territory so working with a team who understands market dynamics is imperative to getting your offer accepted. 

This is the time that our phones typically start ringing with questions about the market, questions about the election, questions about why to wait or when to move - and we're loving all of the conversations we're getting to have with you about such big, exciting life changes! With so much experience under our belt in SO many different kinds of markets, we are well prepared to navigate the challenges that come with this type of market and are celebrating seeing clients WIN. Don't hold back, ask away!

Last month 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. 

Out to Lunch Concert Series - Mesa Arts Center's free Out to Lunch Concert Series starts Thursday, Oct. 24 with Guitarras Latinas from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Every week is a different sound, a different style. Relax and enjoy captivating live music and the marvelous Arizona weather in a beautiful, shady outdoor setting. The full fall concert schedule is at mesaartscenter.com.

Día de los Muertos Festival - Mesa Arts Center is proud to celebrate the memories of departed loved ones with the 18th annual Día de los Muertos Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free festival offers nonstop live entertainment, hands-on artmaking activities, traditional face painting, a wide variety of food options and a vibrant mercado marketplace showcasing traditional and contemporary merchandise, jewelry and Mexican arts and crafts from local artisans and vendors. Learn more at mesaartscenter.com.

Trick or Treat Trail at Epicenter: Join East Valley Moms for FREE trick or treat trail through Epicenter to kickoff our fall play date series and take advantage of outdoor play season! Plus, there'll be treats for moms as well–chances to win from Epicenter retailers.

For a full list of Halloween and Fall Fun events (especially for those kiddos who still nap) check out the East Valley Mom's blog here.

😲 In Case You Missed It!