The Dealmaker: 6/7/2018

Taylor Morrison to acquire AV Homes. Both companies announced today that “they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Taylor Morrison will acquire all of the outstanding shares of AV Homes common stock at $21.50 per share in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $963 million.” MUCH MORE on this huge deal in Builder. http://bit.ly/2JCiPbn

Sunbelt successfully bids $26.5 million for land in Phoenix. Sunbelt was the successful bidder yesterday on just over 93 acres of land located South and West of the SW corner of 19th Ave. & Bell. More info for auctions past and future at Arizona State Land Department. http://bit.ly/2kUVbJ5

Real estate competition fierce, experts say. And “new entrants [representing nontraditional business models] are expected to increase competition” going forward. But experts at an FTC-DOJ workshop on competition in real estate “cautioned regulators about intervening in the industry given how well competition is flourishing.” REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2sN0cXW

[SLIDESHOW] Farming, classrooms, eye scanners and smart toilets: Westfield unveils its vision of retail’s future. “Westfield described the shopping center of 2028 ‘as a hyper-connected micro-city, driven by social interaction and creating its own community.’” You can check it out in a captioned 6-image slideshow at Bisnow. http://bit.ly/2Jte948

Where are millennials moving – 2018 edition. At one end of the ‘millennial mobility’ spectrum is New York City, which M’s are bolting. At the other end is Virginia, where they’re flocking. In between those top departure and destination points lies Arizona and Tempe. SmartAsset did the analysis. Builder has highlights, plus a link to the full report. http://bit.ly/2kTPw65

Phoenix suburb selected as top U.S. destination for retirees. Rather than spoiling it by blurting out the answer, let’s have a little fun with a guessing game… This suburb was “one of eight cities profiled for downtown living” in Where To Retiremagazine. The city is cited for its “high-brow amenities” and has an institution that “enlivens the town.” It also has “easy access to the light rail.” Figured it out? Get the answer at KTAR. http://bit.ly/2M8uPjm

Gilbert expects to ask voters to pay for police, fire training facility. “The [$84.6 million, 158,000 sq. ft. public safety] training center would offer space for the town to train new police and fire recruits, instead of relying on academies hosted by neighboring cities.” AZCentral has details on what this “ambitious facility” near Power and Pecos would include, plus info on what the town plans to do with property near Germann Road where the facility was originally planned. http://bit.ly/2M9U0BU

Florence chamber, council talk working together and the need for a plan.With “low property values to entice investors” and the “hope” to “stimulate some redevelopment and infill,” why would Florence vote against paying for the “services of a facilitator to help” the chamber “develop a strategic plan”? As Chamber Treasurer Antoinette Smith puts it: “It looked like the chamber didn’t care about it.” But Florence Reminder reports that the turndown may have been more about a “lapse in communication.” http://bit.ly/2JmapFC

New economic specialist says Eloy deserves to be successful. “Jeff Fairman, a long time Pinal County resident, has come onboard as Eloy’s economic development specialist.” The former Avondale economic official and Sundt Construction vp strikes an upbeat “heavy industry” development tone in Eloy Enterprise. http://bit.ly/2JrJcgO

Supervisor Goodman: San Tan Valley’s only elected official updates. Supervisor Goodman’s office delivers quick-hitting news concerning water pressure matters, solar generation, the FY 2018/2019 budget, Kelvin Bridge, and more — in San Tan Valley News. http://bit.ly/2kUQdfp

Don’t miss anything… follow multiple winner of the Arizona Republic’s tweet of the week contest, and Senior Partner at Rose Law Group and Director of RLG Renewable Energy Department, Court Rich. http://bit.ly/Court_RichTwitter