The Dealmaker: 12/11/2018

HOA HOA HOA! – Outdoor Christmas decorations banned by North Phoenix HOA; Rose Law Group Founder and President Jordan Rose throws light on the matter. It’s a not-so-jolly Christmas for Pinnacle at Desert Peak residents who’ve been notified by their HOA that exterior  displays are a no-go this year. Commenting on the news, Jordan Rose tells RLGR: “We were so happy to have helped save Christmas for the family in Phoenix whose light display was shut down last year by the city. They are up and running again; however, they aren’t in an HOA. The added layer of regulation does not always favor holiday cheer.” So what’s behind this lack of holiday cheer in North Phoenix? Find out in this FOX 10 report. http://bit.ly/2UCrspg

Pinal files RTA appeal, wants to keep collecting tax. (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents a coalition of property and business owners throughout Pinal County working to bring new transportation infrastructure to the county.)  “Counsel representing Pinal County has formally filed a notice to appeal a judge’s ruling that declared its new voter-approved excise tax is ‘illegal.’ ” CG Dispatch reports the notice was flied on Friday, in the hope of reversing “a Maricopa County judge’s decision last month against Proposition 417.” http://bit.ly/2GdyFZL

California water agency tentatively agrees to Colorado River drought measures. “The Imperial Irrigation District [has] tentatively agreed to a one-time contribution of up to 250,000 acre-feet of surplus water if needed to stave off shortages in Lake Mead. But they tacked on several last-minute conditions…” The story in AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2zSIRkO

Mayor Lord enthusiastic about Acero Estrella Commons apartments. Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord is pretty psyched in West Valley View, over IDM Companies’ plans for “several hundred new apartment units” near “I-10 and Estrella Parkway, as she fully expects the new complex to “bolster development in the area,” and “jumpstart it in another direction.” http://bit.ly/2G73xLc

Poll of likely voters shows most don’t want to pay to fix Phoenix Suns arena. Or as the owner of Data Orbital (the company that commissioned the poll) puts it: “The only thing that’s worse than the Suns’ record is the support for spending $185 million in public money to improve the arena.” Ouch. OTOH, perhaps those rooting for an arena makeover can take solace in the survey’s sample size and its margin of error. The report at KTAR. http://bit.ly/2EfWU6F

So long, New York and L.A.! Here are the cities luring (and losing) the most Americans. Realtor.com® “analyzed migration trends to find the metropolitan areas gaining the most new residents, and those seeing the biggest population declines.” Phoenix might be quite a ways from having the best team in basketball, but when it comes to move-ins, we’re No.1, baby! Take THAT, LeBron! http://bit.ly/2UBqkC0

Arizona has 2 of Top 25 most affordable cities to live and work. Both Phoenix and Tempe impress in a new study from BusinessStudent.com, The 25 Most Affordable Cities to Live and Work In 2019. Check out the findings in AZ Business Magazine. http://bit.ly/2QJwAsq

Maricopa surpasses key 50,000 population milestone. “50,000 has long been seen as a goal for city leaders due to the economic advantages the number can bring.” Mayor Christian Price says the milestone provides “another layer of proof when we talk to companies about how people continue to move here. Now the numbers back it up.” Maricopa Monitor. http://bit.ly/2EpffiD 

Historic Jerome mining hotel for sale for $6.2M. “The 100-year-old former Little Daisy Hotel in Jerome, which was later turned into a single-family home, is now on the market.” Check it out and learn a bit about the hotel/home’s history (including its connection to the atomic clock), in a 57-image SLIDESHOW tour at AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2B9V2Jz

Greyhound may break ties with Casa Grande, eyeing Eloy. The move comes a few months after council members “voted against allowing the bus service to continue operations at the Chevron station at Trekell and Kortsen.” CG Dispatch reports that it’s a decision that “may bring a Coolidge-operated transportation system to its knees.” http://bit.ly/2zSuJrG

Town Council doubles down on halting Paradise Valley Doubletree project. “Improvements for Doubletree Ranch Road have been tabled. Following impassioned commentary from residents, Paradise Valley Town Council members seem to side with those concerns admitting too many unknown factors to move forward with the project.” PV Independent. http://bit.ly/2RTAuME

Pollack: The stock market had a horrible week. Does it signal a “recession is imminent”? For the answer,The Monday Morning Quarterback kicks things off by heading back to school, to Econ 101, and a famous quote from Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Samuelson, followed by data ‘Snapshots’ that include… U.S.: Employment (disappointing) • Trade (worrisome) • Consumer Sentiment (optimism!) • Manufacturing (rising!) • Yield Curve (sky isn’t falling… yet). AZ: The Cromford Report – Listings & Resales. http://bit.ly/2zSMo2v

---

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!

---

[COMMENTARY] The rigged investigation that blew up in NBC’s face.Senior Reporter/Writer Phil Riske on why “being first with a story” isn’t always the best “strategy” for news organizations — in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2Puande