The Dealmaker: 11/15/2018

[OPINION] The time to secure Arizona’s water future is now. Calling the time ripe for “sustainable, long-term solutions to address the challenges we face on the Colorado River,” Gov. Doug Ducey lays out “key principals” that any viable Drought Contingency Plan “must adhere to” in order to “secure our state’s water future.” Arizona Capitol Times. http://bit.ly/2PsCSwA

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport finishes 3rd out of 20 in the ‘The Wall Street Journal’s’ 2018 U.S. Airport Rankings. Strong airline competition. Passenger traffic aplenty. New construction projects. These and other factors have Phoenix Sky Harbor flying high in the WSJ rankings. Read about it in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2FoUsNA

How the major makeover of Park Central will change midtown. “Slowly, but surely, bit by bit, the development duo of Plaza Companies and Holualoa Companies are unveiling their new vision for the Park Central Mall site along Central Ave.” AzBigMedia. http://bit.ly/2qMVsB3

Taylor Morrison ‘quiz’ matches home buyers and homes. “A future home buyer takes a short interactive quiz with questions about their lifestyle including cooking habits, their idea of a perfect Saturday night and even how they get their movie fix.” More than “7,000 people” have taken the quiz, and Builder highlights the “key trends” that have emerged. http://bit.ly/2K6C5M6

Most expensive homes for sale in Arizona. A SLIDESHOW of the priciest ten places up for purchase — from Chandler to Wickenburg — in Arizona Foothills Magazine. (And featuring a nice fresh pic of the David and Gladys Wright House, BTW.) http://bit.ly/2Q4xpeS

Americans shift their perceptions over the housing market. Five quarters in a row a majority felt “their housing markets were overheating.” Not anymore. This quarter, there’s been a perception about-face, from hot to cool, according to a ValueInsured survey. Housing economist Robert Shiller says the survey has “revealed some concerning evidence about the changing psychology of the housing market.” REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2ThI2tz 

Report cautions housing crisis looms from nation’s older households.  Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies is out with yet another uplifting housing report! The study — which may as well be titled “Housing: People Over 50 Are Doomed!” but is actually called “Housing America’s Older Adults 2018” — finds older Americans are struggling in a variety of ways when it comes to “housing needs and preferences.” REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2OLHYz0

SPEAKING OF GRAYING… 6 master bathroom trends to watch. “Grays, mixed metals, and farmhouse styles are some of the most popular trends for remodelers taking on sprucing up their master bathroom.” So says the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study which surveyed “more than 1,100 homeowners who are planning or recently have completed a master bathroom renovation.” REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2Tg4H9J

Developer tears down former artist space in Roosevelt Row. “The bungalow was demolished by Desert Viking… to create a mixed-use development called The Blocks of Roosevelt Row, which will include retail, small business, and restaurant spaces.” New Times reports, however, that bringing down the “former paint shop wasn’t part original plan,” and that Desert Viking did so only after working “nine months to find a solution.” http://bit.ly/2QLdGOz

New university slated for Thunderbird campus. After working out a “land deal with ASU,” Arizona Christian University will move into the 59th Ave. & Greenway Rd. campus which was vacated by Thunderbird School of Global Management earlier this year. AZCentral has a bit of info on the land-deal along with an aerial illustrating what ACU has planned for its new home.  http://bit.ly/2RTWNkT

Town Council gives staff go-ahead to purchase Hunt Highway property.“The Queen Creek town manager, attorney and clerk now have permission to pursue the purchase of property off Hunt Highway for future road improvements…” QCIndependent notes that some of the improvements will “support a new development south of Empire Boulevard.” http://bit.ly/2Q4y4wS

Bankrupt Bob Bondurant Racing School in Chandler says it’s closed ‘temporarily.’ Racing skidded to stop at Bondurant on Monday. However, Phoenix New Times received word that the ‘unexpected’ and ‘temporary’ closure is merely “an important first step” in the school’s ‘restructuring’ after its Ch. 11 BK filing. As for what closing “temporarily” means and how it might impact students, answers to those questions were a bit harder to come by. http://bit.ly/2QGqtSw

Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2zba4Pk

10th Annual AZ DealMakers – January 11, 2019. Don’t miss out on the BIGGEST homebuilding industry event for real estate forecasting and analysis, featuring the best speakers in the industry, including Meritage Homes Chairman & CEO Steven J. Hilton and Christopher Todd Communities CEO Todd Wood. Plus, Belfiore Real Estate Consulting President & Founder Jim Belfiore provides an Overview on Housing. For the full list of speakers & panelists, along with registration info for Arizona Housing: Growth, Its Costs, Challenges & Opportunities, tap on! http://bit.ly/2LAvclq 

As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!

Flake to block advancing judges if Senate doesn’t vote to protect Mueller.“Outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake vowed to block the effort to advance potential judges if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to bring a bill to the floor that would protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.” KTAR. http://bit.ly/2PuKizn

The color purple. “Arizona will be represented by six Democrats and five Republicans in Washington — a gain of one Democratic seat in the House and Senate over the current Congress. One expert called it evidence that Arizona is transitioning from a ‘straight Republican’ state to a ‘solid purple state.’ ” Cronkite News. http://bit.ly/2RYxVIX

Waymo to launch first robotaxi service in Phoenix within 2 months. “It will have two revenue streams: From people who summon an autonomous car to drive them to the destination of their choice, and from businesses that will ferry customers to and from their stores,” PBJ reports. http://bit.ly/2zUGFbE