The Dealmaker: 12/16/2016

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa celebrates mid-century inspiration. “The [resort at 6114 N. Scottsdale] features 201 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites, situated among 50-foot pine[s] with giant saguaros and desert wildflowers… [in] a true oasis setting with views of… Camelback….” Yesterday’s opening marked “the Andaz brand’s introduction to the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley marketplace.” Click to Scottsdale Independent for more about the “Andaz brand,” and why the resort GM says he “know[s]” that guests who experience it “will arrive a visitor but depart a Scottsdale local.” http://bit.ly/2gJidyh

Preliminary digging begins on western end of South Mountain Freeway. “A 300-foot-long cut along the embankments of Interstate 10 near 55th Avenue is the first sign of construction in the West Valley for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway,” according to this report in Ahwatukee Foothills News. “Meanwhile, briefs by [the groups that really don’t ‘dig’ the freeway at all] are supposed to be filed [today] in San Francisco as [they] begin the lengthy process of appealing [a judge’s] refusal to stop the project.” More about both of these endeavors, here: http://bit.ly/2hPel3M

County to spend $73 million on CG land purchase. “Pinal County is planning to… acquire… [the] land for economic development purposes. A public hearing on Jan. 4… is scheduled to review the county’s plan.” Could this land acquisition and hearing be connected to Lucid Motors and its “plans to develop up to 500 acres in the area of Thornton and Peters roads”? Pinal Central’s Kevin Reagan attempts to sort it all out—> http://bit.ly/2gJoqtW

Mortgage rates move higher. “Mortgage rates inched higher, rising for a seventh consecutive week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 4.18%, according to [Bankrate’s] weekly national survey…” For what’s been behind this “run-up” in rates along with “another variable” that could “continu[e] to drive” them higher and higher, click to Builder. http://bit.ly/2hPocXm

Home builders’ confidence rises in anticipation of Trump administration boost. “[NAHB’s] sentiment measure… rose in December to the highest level since July 2005…. indicat[ing] that builders expect a Trump administration to lend more support to the industry, through reduced regulation and taxes….” However, as The Wall Street Journal reports, “[w]hat is less clear… is how a Trump administration will affect builders’ regulatory costs, which are largely controlled at the local level. http://bit.ly/2hG9a2z

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