February Newsletter: A Confession, a Big Number & a Deadly Appliance

I hope you're staying warm and finding reasons to smile this February! Of course, you're probably laughing since it's not that cold here in the Phoenix area and we've gotten up to the 80's, so who's cold? Well, I am, which is why we moved here from the Chicago suburbs. And we're shivering just looking at the weather they've been having in the Midwest. This makes me appreciate winters in Arizona.

I'm excited to share what's been happening in our corner of the world. February has a way of mixing heart and history, and this month’s newsletter does exactly that. From a small Valentine’s Day confession to fun happenings around town, a real-life example of how $43,000 can make a major difference, and reflections from four decades in real estate, this…

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The Equity Sitting in Your House Deserves Your Attention: Here's Why and What to Do About It

Your Home Has Been Quietly Building Wealth for You

When was the last time you really thought about what your house is actually worth to you financially? Not as a place to live, but as a genuine financial asset. If you're like most people, probably not recently. And honestly, that's exactly why you might be sitting on way more wealth than you realize without even knowing it.

Here's the thing about home equity. It's one of those financial concepts that sounds complicated but really isn't. Yet somehow, most homeowners don't give it much thought until something forces them to. Maybe they're thinking about selling. Maybe they need cash for something. Or maybe they're just curious about where they stand financially. But the truth is, understanding…

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How to Boost Your Scottsdale Rental Income (Without Turning It Into a Full-Time Job)


If Scottsdale rentals are supposed to be such a great investment, why do so many landlords feel like they accidentally signed up for a second job?

On paper, everything looks right. Strong demand. Solid rents. Plenty of people are eager to live where sunshine is basically part of the lifestyle.

Then reality shows up. Usually, as a maintenance request. Or a late payment. Or a tenant who is very sure about a lease clause you are quite sure you did not write.

If you are trying to figure out how to increase rental income in Scottsdale without slowly turning into a 24/7 help desk, you are not alone. Most landlords start out thinking they will manage things just fine. And for a while, that might even be true.

But Scottsdale rental property…

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Hello to 2026: Homes, Headlines & What’s Ahead in Scottsdale

New year, new newsletter.

I haven't sent a newsletter in years, so I’m bringing it back as a simple way to share practical, local insight about Scottsdale and the surrounding areas - things I’d want to know if I lived here or was thinking about a move.

This was sent out as an email newsletter, and I've converted it to a blog post with some extra features and information.

Here's the January lineup:

A New Year's story featuring my crabby Grampa

Things to do in and around Scottsdale in January

It's an even drier heat (aka, the thermostat wars)

2026 Housing Vibes: No Wild Swings, Just a Smoother Ride - Or So the Experts Say

Free subscription to azcentral and more from The Phoenix Public Library

Market Trends for Carefree, Cave…

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I Saved $2,400 on Property Management Fees. It Cost Me $12,000.

You know that feeling when you're convinced you can handle something yourself? That smug satisfaction of skipping the "middleman" and keeping more money in your pocket? Yeah, I had that feeling too. Spoiler alert: it didn't last long.

When I bought my first rental property in Scottsdale, the math seemed obvious. Property managers typically charge around 8-10% of monthly rent. My place rented for $2,000 a month, so we're talking roughly $200 monthly, or $2,400 a year. That's a decent chunk of change. I thought, how hard could this be? I'd save thousands and pocket the difference.

Turns out, very hard. And very expensive.

The $2,400 Decision That Haunts Me

Let me paint you a picture. It's 2 AM on a Tuesday. My phone buzzes. The tenant is…

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The Quarter-Century Shift: A Realtor's® Honest Take on 2025's Market and 25 Years of Change

You know that feeling when you're flipping through old photos and suddenly realize just how much time has passed? That's exactly where I found myself as 2025 winds down.

Not because I'm getting sentimental about another year ending—though there's certainly some of that—but because this particular year marks something bigger. We're closing the door on a full quarter century, folks. Twenty-five years since we collectively panicked about Y2K, wondering if our computers would implode at midnight. (Spoiler alert: they didn't, but plenty of other things in real estate certainly exploded, imploded, and transformed beyond recognition.)

I started in this business in 1983, which means I've now spent 42 years watching people make one of the biggest…

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Your Dream Home Isn't What It Used to Be: Inside the Biggest Shift in American Housing

The Great Home Reboot: What Americans Truly Value in a House Now

If you asked someone ten years ago what their dream home looked like, they'd probably describe something big. Think multiple stories, a massive kitchen, and maybe a fancy home theater. Bigger was better, at least back then. But according to Zillow’s new 2025 Zeitgeist Report, times have changed.

After studying millions of online home searches, Zillow found that Americans are no longer obsessed with square footage. What they really want now are homes that fit their lives, not just their furniture.

The data tells a pretty clear story. We've moved past the era of wanting the biggest house on the block. Instead, buyers are thinking hard about how a home actually fits into their real…

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First Time Buyer? Here Are 10 Myths You Need to Stop Believing Right Now

What Nobody Tells You: Busting 10 Myths Before You Buy Your First Home

The Real Story Behind Common Home Buying Misconceptions

So you're thinking about buying your first place. Exciting, right? But here's the thing: you've probably been getting advice from literally everyone. Your parents have opinions. Your friends who just bought houses won't stop talking about their experiences. And don't even get me started on those house flipping shows that make everything look so simple and glamorous.

The truth is, there's so much noise out there that it becomes really hard to figure out what's actually accurate and what's just straight up wrong. I mean, some of these "facts" people throw around about buying homes are about as reliable as that friend…

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Peeking Ahead at 2026 Real Estate: Prices Up, Rates Steady, and Why You Might Not Want to Wait

2026 Housing Vibes: No Wild Swings, Just a Smoother Ride—Or So the Experts Say

You can almost hear it now—the collective sigh of buyers and homeowners, each wondering the same thing as we inch toward 2026: Is this finally the year things start feeling normal again?

Ever think about how housing markets are like those old roller coasters at the county fair? The ones that creak and jolt, leaving you exhilarated but a bit nauseous. Yeah, that's the vibe I'm getting for 2026—not a plummet into bargain-bin prices, but a steady chug uphill toward something resembling normal. Or at least, that's what the crystal balls from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Realtor.com, and Zillow are whispering.

I’ve been around long enough to know that…

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The 3 New Construction Upgrades Scottsdale Buyers ALWAYS Regret

When Dream Upgrades Don’t Deliver the Value You Expected

So, you've found the perfect new construction home in Scottsdale, AZ. The floor plan is exactly what you envisioned, the location checks all your boxes, and the builder's reputation seems solid. Now comes what they call "the fun part": the design center experience.

But here's what they don't tell you upfront—this is where excitement can quickly transform into long-term financial regret.

Are you worried about making the wrong financial choice when building your new home? You absolutely should be. The design center is a carefully orchestrated sales environment where those shimmering samples and tempting upgrade options are strategically designed to feel not just appealing, but necessary.…

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