Talking Stick Resort Arena: Cheers to over 40 million visitors and even more to come in 2019! (Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents the Phoenix Suns.) Talking Stick Resort Arena rings in the new year with a tweet and highlight reel featuring just a sampling of some of those 40 million visitors (#investindowntown). http://bit.ly/2F3w2Yg
U.S. housing market to get uglier in near future; Metro Phoenix ‘immune’? Real estate consultant Jim Belfiore examines. Seeking Alphalooks at the latest national housing-market data which shows that “[a]ll four regions got whacked by year-over-year declines.” • Zeroing in on Phoenix’s “seemingly immune” housing market, Jim Belfiore tells RLGR: “Not only have resale transactions fallen off, new home sales were down 21% from mid-October thru mid-December. The question analysts grapple with now is, ‘Is Phoenix’s challenge the same as other areas’ challenge?’” Tap on for Jim’s entire comment. http://bit.ly/2LKlgHE
Phoenix replaces Seattle among top three home-price gainers. Jim Belfiore sees into the future! Back in August, the real estate consultant hit us with this: “Home prices are set to rise at the fastest pace in 5 years, fueled by absurdly low supply.” Call it home-price prescience, but Jim was right on the money! — as Zillownow reports Phoenix has replaced Seattle as a top home-price gainer, “climbing 7.7 percent year-over-year in October.” http://bit.ly/2BQYARe
Phoenix housing market ‘staying strong’ while nation sees dropoff. Zillow senior economist Aaron Terrazas discusses Phoenix’s housing market “stability” and also offers “some recommendations for those looking to buy or sell in the new year.” KTAR. http://bit.ly/2CJZxN9
2019 real estate trends underscored by uncertainty. “The Urban Land Institute’s real estate trend predictions for 2019 include high levels of uncertainty when it comes to the impact of technology, demographics, and affordability, on the real estate market.” Curbed via Pro Builder. http://bit.ly/2QiMlSM
AZBEX 2018 major stories in review. Editor Roland Murphy is our guide in this run-through of the 16 biggest stories brought to us the past year by AZBEX. http://bit.ly/2SvYtSh
2019 in EV: Quiet politics, lots of construction noise. “Of the four major East Valley cities, only Chandler will have a new mayor, as Kevin Hartke takes the reins in January… A few new names also will appear on area city council rosters. The most predictable feature of the coming year is that by the time it ends, the physical face of the region will be different. EV Tribune. http://bit.ly/2BUCJIP
Auto plants, Johnson Utilities, #RedForEd top Pinal stories of year. “The pending location of two automobile plants [Nikola Motor Company in Coolidge and Lucid Motors in Casa Grande] was chosen as Pinal County’s top story of 2018.” For a rundown of these and 9 other top stories of 2018, as “chosen by PinalCentraleditors,” tap on. http://bit.ly/2LSlvR7
Maricopa’s top stories of 2018. Among the top 15 stories in this Maricopa Monitor look-back: APEX groundbreaking; a housing-needs assessment; the city’s first hotel; and the agreement by the Gila River Indian Community to “study SR 347 widening.” http://bit.ly/2StblIN
Casa Grande, Pinal officials look forward to good things in 2019. “As the calendar turns to a new year, local leaders [including CG City Manager Larry Rains, County Manager Greg Stanley, and County Economic Development Manager Tim Kanavel] spoke with PinalCentral about where they see Pinal County in 2019.” http://bit.ly/2Rrib4x
Growth a common theme in biggest Tucson business stories of 2018. Home prices, downtown hotels, airlines at TIA, and Raytheon Missile Systems — each saw GROWTH (in one way or another) and are among Arizona Daily Star’s top biz stories of 2018. http://bit.ly/2BT34qJ
2018 in review: Large developments continue in Flag, while new city policies provide guidance. “Flagstaff saw the construction of one controversial development finish up just as others begin to gain attention. But perhaps more important, the year also saw the city council passing policies governing how the city should shape development…” Daily Sun. http://bit.ly/2GQYQFV
Q & A: Uncharted Tiny Homes. Arizona Foothills Magazine gets the “lowdown on the tiny homes trend from Mike and Mary Beth Partanna of Phoenix’s Uncharted Tiny Homes.” http://bit.ly/2F0XPZf
Regents try to reign in university development. “The Arizona Board of Regents recently adopted new rules that aim to reign in real estate deals done by universities, just as Arizona State University has begun to move forward on several big projects.” Arizona Mirror. http://bit.ly/2TizVfA
Perkins declines Paradise Valley Town Manager position. “Less than one month before newly hired Paradise Valley Town Manager Mark Perkins was to take his post, the Missouri-resident has decided to stay put.” PV Independent. http://bit.ly/2BT3aP7
Cities move to regulate scooters, but Phoenix holds back for now.“[O]fficials in at least three East Valley municipalities are moving to regulate them as they face complaints about blocked sidewalks and restricted access for the disabled as well as fears of serious collisions. But Phoenix is following Chandler in taking a wait-and-see approach…” AFN. http://bit.ly/2CLlGuy
Hitching Post permit for outdoor activities may be revoked, city of Apache Junction says. “The possible revocation” comes after AJ City Council “last summer granted a permit” allowing the Hitching Post Restaurant “to conduct certain outdoor entertainment activities, subject to conditions of approval, some of which were time sensitive.” AJ Independent. http://bit.ly/2s70wAG
Initiative drive would exempt Arizona seniors from property taxes on homes. “The way self-proclaimed tax activist Lynne Weaver sees it, anyone who makes it to age 65 should not have to pay property taxes on their homes. Now she is working with Randy Pullen, the former chairman of the state Republican Party, to try to put that exemption into the Arizona Constitution.” Cap Media Services/Howard Fischer reports in the Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2QjSoGH
Arizona jumps 6 spots in ‘best for business’ ranking. “Arizona was helped by growth forecasts and hurt by quality of life” — and Forbes’ annual ranking gives the state a “slightly favorable” rating in a category that includes property rights. AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2SxSigK
Insane battle to block a new apartment building explains why San Francisco and other cities are so expensive. “Bob Tillman has spent nearly five years and $1.4 million on a legal battle to turn his coin-operated laundromat into an apartment building. His saga perfectly encapsulates the political dysfunction that’s turning San Francisco — once a beacon for immigrants and home of the counterculture — into an exclusive playground for the ultra-wealthy.” Reason. http://bit.ly/2LLoTNo
Utah Inland Port Authority Board moves forward on possible tax differential deal with a Swiss rail-car maker. In May, Salt Lake City approved “a first-of-its kind development incentive to help Stadler Rail, a Swiss rail-car maker, expand its headquarters.” The area was then “taken over by the Utah Inland Port Authority Board,” which has created “a project area for the property that would make it possible to give the company a tax deal in the future.” Salt Lake Tribune. http://bit.ly/2F1We6b
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
