Weekend Warrior | February 1-2, 2025

It's the Month of Love, Weekend Warriors!

We’re cruising into the first weekend of the new month, dodging the chilly mornings and soaking up those perfect Arizona afternoons—because let’s be honest, this weather is prime time for getting out and about! We hope you’re staying healthy, caffeinated, and maybe even sneaking in a little extra sunshine before the spring chaos officially kicks in.

The real estate market is buzzing, and we’re working hard to help our clients stay ahead of the shifts. For buyers, there are motivated sellers ready to make a deal, and for homeowners thinking about cashing in on their equity, we’ve got a game plan to make sure you maximize your move. Timing, pricing, and strategy are everything—so keep reading for what’s working right now, plus details on this week’s open houses from Mesa to Maricopa, and a real beauty in Scottsdale you've got to stop by and see!

On the community side, we’re keeping the momentum going after wrapping up our AZ to LA Fire Relief efforts (seriously, we’re still blown away by your generosity!) and jumping right into our teddy bear drive with Gilbert Public Schools. Plus, we’ve got Valentine’s Day events lined up supporting ICAN and Senior Helpers this week and as always, we’re sharing the best family-friendly happenings around town, thanks to our friends at East Valley Moms.

Every week, putting together this Weekend Warrior reminds us why we love what we do—helping people make moves that matter and showing up for the community we care so much about. Your stories, your support, your trust—it all means the world to us. If you haven't had a chance yet, please share YOUR story - we're so grateful we get to do this every single way and are committed to helping ever more families in 2025. 

Market Trends: Your February Market Update

The market is shifting, and opportunities are emerging for both buyers and sellers. The Southeast Valley continues to be a standout with Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Tempe and Chandler all showing tighter markets (think more competition when buying a home) while areas like Phoenix, Goodyear, Peoria, and Scottsdale are holding on to their strong January start.

For buyers, key markets are offering strong bargaining power. Maricopa is in a strong buyers market, making it a prime spot for negotiations as there are more houses available to choose from and less buyers ready to buy. Buckeye and Surprise are also trending in favor of buyers, providing additional opportunities for those looking for more options and negotiating power.

For sellers, well-positioned homes in high-demand areas are still HOT commodities. Chandler, for example, has less than 4 months of supply, and with sales activity expected to accelerate in February, that number may drop even further. This keeps competition strong and supports pricing stability for sellers looking to maximize their return.

New home sales are seeing a shift as builders adjust to changing demand, too. Permit counts in December were at their lowest levels since early 2023, and some builders are scaling back production plans. This could mean less competition from new builds in the coming months, creating an advantage for sellers of existing homes. However, with the supply tightening in some areas, buyers who are looking for new construction may want to act sooner rather than later.

The overall market remains dynamic, with 9 cities in a seller’s market, 3 balanced, and 5 favoring buyers. A recent uptick in contract activity suggests buyers are starting to re-engage - have you thought about making a move in 2025? Find out first which part of town you are looking in and how the current market conditions of that area can work in your favor!

📅  Living in Dobson Ranch 📅  

📅  Upcoming Events Calendar 📅  

Little Artists: National Parks

This program encourages children to dive into the wonders of nature through hands-on creativity. Your child will explore National Parks through a messy art project. You’re welcome to join in for collaborative creations, or watch your child express their love for nature with their unique artistic touch.

Let’s Play Drama Storytime Valentine’s Book Series!

Get ready for an exciting book series adventure that’s fun for all ages! This February, let your imagination run wild with Let’s Play Drama Storytime, happening every Thursday at 10 AM in The Plaza. Enjoy captivating stories, engage in dramatic play, and spark your creativity in a program that brings books to life! Don’t miss out on this magical blend of storytelling and fun. Each story time session includes a story, craft and snack.

Feb 6th-Love Monster by Rachel Bright

Feb. 13th-Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool by James Dean and Kimberly Dean

Feb. 20th: Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

Feb. 27th: The Nice Book by David Ezra Stein

February Pop Up Play Date

✨Pop up Playdate with East Valley Moms✨ See you Wednesday, February 12, at Epicenter for our last Midweek Mommy Mingle of winter!

We're celebrating 💖💖 Valentines Day 💖💖 and we're bringing in all sorts of local love

From 9:30 to 11 a.m., play games with your littles while enjoying a FREE morning of fun:

🫧Bubble party by East Valley Bubble Truck🫧

🕷️Spiderman character visit and photo ops🕷️

📚Valentines themed story time📚

👟Stroller walk led by Let's Stroll (scooters, bikes, strollers, etc. all welcome!)👟

🍼👶🏼A lot of moms with babies have asked if there's fun for the littlest: 💖YES💖! Join us! Bring your stroller, get some sunshine during our stroller walk, grab a coffee, play bubbles with your baby and meet other moms.

For More 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!