Weekend Warrior | February 14-16, 2025

Weekend Warriors: Spreading Love & Busting Myths This Week! 💖📢

Valentine’s Day may be wrapping up, but we’re still riding high on community love! From dancing the night away at ICAN’s Valentine’s Dance to delivering nearly 300 heartfelt cards to our friends at Senior Helpers this week, your generosity made this week one to remember. We’re so grateful for each of you who showed up and helped spread joy!

But we’re not stopping there! This weekend, we’ve got more ways to connect and give back:

• Gilbert Feeding Families Food Drive – Ongoing all month! Bring your donations to one of our open houses, and let’s fill those boxes for local families in need.
• Home Buyer Success Workshop – If you’re thinking of making a move, this is the perfect way to get prepped for the spring market.
• Business Mixer & Women Empowered Spring Social – Because nothing beats networking with inspiring people in our community. 🌸

Also in this edition: 7 Common Myths About the Real Estate Market—we’re setting the record straight on everything from market timing to mortgage rates. Thinking about buying or selling but feeling unsure? This is a must-read. You might be surprised by what’s really happening in today’s market!

On the real estate front, we’re seeing the spring market heating up fast! With buyers back in full force, we’re helping families across the East Valley find their perfect match—whether it’s upgrading, downsizing, or that big first step into homeownership.

And if you’re looking for ways to keep the Valentine’s magic going, check out our Valentine’s-inspired ideas for the weekend and visit the FREE kid's calendar from East Valley Moms. There’s plenty of LOVE to go around and tons of family fun still to be had!

Thank you for being the heart of our community. Keep tagging us in your adventures at @amyjonesgroup—we love celebrating all the moments, big and small, with you.

PS. Scroll through to find out who won our Valentine's Day Giveaway sponsored 4EverYoung by on Instagram and Facebook!

Market Trends: Mid-February Market Update 🏡 ❤️

The spring market is picking up steam, and while buyer demand may have cooled in 2022, it’s definitely holding steady now. We’re seeing renewed interest across many price points, with buyers learning how to navigate mortgage rates and sellers stepping up with smart pricing and incentives. If you’ve been hearing buzz about the market slowing down, keep reading—our article later in this newsletter sets the record straight on 7 common real estate myths you’ll want to know before making your next move.

What’s Happening in the Market?

• Buyer Activity: The number of active buyers is stable, and homes in good condition that are priced right are still moving quickly. Certain areas like Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, and Scottsdale continue to see competitive activity, while places like Maricopa, Queen Creek, and Buckeye are offering buyers more options and room to negotiate.
• Under $300K is Back: Believe it or not, there’s growing inventory for single-family homes under $300K, particularly in Pinal County. Condo and townhome shoppers have even more choices, with more than 1,200 active listings in Maricopa County alone.
• Assistance is Available: Homebuyer assistance programs are expanding, and many don’t require you to be a first-time homebuyer—or have income limits as low as you might think. Some even allow funds to be used for mortgage rate buydowns, helping buyers combat affordability challenges.
• Mortgage Rate Hacks: Speaking of mortgage rates, seller-paid incentives are helping buyers secure lower rates through temporary and permanent buydowns. Roughly 57% of recent sales in key price ranges involved seller incentives, and many sellers with FHA or VA loans are offering assumable rates below 5%.

Price Stability and Negotiation
Despite what you may have heard about an impending crash, prices in Greater Phoenix have largely stabilized after a brief correction in 2022. Most buyers today are negotiating prices about 1.9% below list—far from the bidding wars of 2021-2022 when offers were 2.4% over asking. While some areas may see slight price reductions, the data simply doesn’t support massive declines in home values.

For sellers, condition is king in this market. Aggressive pricing and buyer incentives only go so far—homes in excellent condition are the ones rising to the top of buyers’ lists. If you’re thinking of selling, make sure your home is show-ready to stand out.

Whether you’re considering buying or selling, it’s all about understanding the local market dynamics and finding the right strategy. Keep reading to learn more in our 7 Myths About the Real Estate Market article, or reach out if you want to chat about how these trends could impact your plans!

♥️ Valentine's Weekend Eats, Drinks, and Fun ♥️   

📅  Upcoming Events Calendar 📅  

🏆 WINNER WINNER 🏆 

Congratulations to our new friend Denise Hamon who won our Valentine's Day Giveaway sponsored by 4EverYoung and local business owners Robert & Kim Ehlbeck. For more information regarding this brand new medspa located in Chandler, visit their website or follow them on Instagram. A huge thank you to everyone who participated by liking, sharing and tagging their friends - be on the lookout for MORE giveaways as we THRIVE in 2025!

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.

We want to send a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support the ICAN Me and My Family Night! Whether you helped set up craft tables, handed out food and goodie bags, or just brought the fun, you made it a night to remember for the kids and their families. Seeing so many smiling faces and creative masterpieces was the best way to kick off Valentine’s season!

And to all of you who joined us for one of our many Valentine’s card-making days for Senior Helpers—you truly showed what community is all about. Thanks to your time, energy, and love, we delivered over 300 handmade cards that brightened the day of so many seniors in Chandler and Gilbert. Glitter, stickers, and heartfelt messages for the win! ✨💌

We couldn’t do this without your support, and we’re so grateful to have you in our corner. Want to get involved? Follow along with the Amy Jones Group and Community on Purpose for more opportunities to give back and make a difference. Together, we’re building a stronger, kinder community—one event at a time.

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!