The Dealmaker is a daily note of the day’s top real estate stories served just in time for lunch. Bon Appetit! Subscribe here to receive the Dealmaker to your inbox
Sale of the Arizona Coyotes finalized. Billionaire Alex Meruelo’s purchase of a “majority share” of the NHL team was finalized yesterday, with current owner Andrew Barroway retaining a “minor stake.” For more on the ‘done deal’ skate through to PBJ. http://bit.ly/316ZPa9
A slice of Gila River tribal land could connect to west side’s ‘north Scottsdale.’ “[Avondale] Mayor Kenneth Weise believes the area [south of the Estrella Mountains] could become the west side’s ‘north Scottsdale’ and hopes to see light development [homes on ‘one, five and 10-acre lots’], hiking trails and horseback trails crop up in coming years.”AZCentral (Subscriber Content). http://bit.ly/2OtrzEu
Fewer houses for sale in Sun Cities. Three local realtors give their takes on the impact of what could be the “new norm” for Sun Cities.YourValley. http://bit.ly/2YgnGY0
Town seeks to develop parcel next to Gilbert Regional Park. Officials have put out RFQ feelers, seeking to develop a “hotel, resort, retail, conference center space” within the 272-acre park off Higley and Queen Creek. Get full details viaCommunity Impact. http://bit.ly/2MssG4O
How ‘developer’ became such a dirty word. “It’s a demonized group, yet there are few solutions for the housing shortage that don’t at least partly involve more development.” New York Times. http://bit.ly/2YyXjYl
Office vacancies lowest since 2008. <- That according to the Cushman & Wakefield Q2 report. Reporter Mike Sunnucks has a quick rundown of the numbers in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2Zunwcd
[OPINION] Phoenix light rail and pension propositions must be stopped at all costs. Greg Stanton, Thelda Williams, Phil Gordon, Skip Rimsza, Paul Johnson and Terry Goddard join forces for an AZCentral piece blasting Props. 105 and 106, measures they call “direct attacks on light rail and Phoenix’s quality of life.” http://bit.ly/2OoOzUT
Chandler welcomes UA cyber operations. In a move that will help fill the area’s in-demand tech jobs, the University of Arizona is adding cybersecurity and cyber operations to its offerings at its Chandler center — and Mayor Kevin Hartke couldn’t be happier! A RLGR report by Mike Sunnucks. http://bit.ly/2YbkUTT
‘A chicken in every pot’: Politics and technology challenge transportation plans. Officials hope to extend the Prop. 400 sales tax, but changes in transportation and technology since Prop. 400 was approved have left backers in a bit of a quandary. A Mike Sunnucks report in RLGR. http://bit.ly/2ZhVsbS
Pollack: Beating expectations. “GDP numbers were the big news this week,” with Q2 growth besting the forecast. What lies ahead? TheMonday Morning Quarterback looks downfield then drills us with these data snapshots: U.S. • New Orders • Home Sales – New & Existing. AZ: • Lodging – Phoenix & Tucson • Multifamily Construction • New Home Permits – Tucson. http://bit.ly/2yr5Kuc
Ask the economist: First-time buyer misconceptions and the global economy. Fannie Mae Chief Economist Mark Palim “recently spoke with DS News about the economic factors impacting the U.S. housing and mortgage markets and what we can expect this year.” http://bit.ly/2YBqmP6
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
APS CEO Don Brandt breaks silence, agrees to appear before regulators.But Brandt’s appearance before ACC commissioners may happen later rather than sooner. New Times (RELATED: “Stacey Champion: What does APS head honcho Don Brandt have to hide?” AZ Mirror • “APS allies attack company critic on Twitter”AZ Cap Times). http://bit.ly/2SPEbo1
[OPINION] Cindy McCain is wrong to blast critics of APS CEO Don Brandt. “Cindy McCain mounts a stirring defense for APS CEO Don Brandt.” And what does Republic columnist Laurie Roberts have to say about that? “He must be in more trouble than I thought.” http://bit.ly/2ymq7cd
Arizona 3rd worst in US for per-person health care spending. “Nevada and Missouri are the only states that spend less,” according to research out the University of Minnesota. AZ Mirror looks at the findings and factors. http://bit.ly/2OoQPeP
As Gannett mulls monstrous merger with GateHouse, Republic staff mulls union. Or as the photo caption in this New Times report puts it: “Can a union drive stop the Gannett-GateHouse Frankenstein? Probably not, but it might be fun to watch ’em try.” http://bit.ly/2SWqBz5
You are what you watch? The social effects of TV. “The best of TV can be enriching and enlightening, but research suggests we should be cautious about what we give up for the sake of entertainment.” NYTimes. http://bit.ly/32XTDTA
