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 issue blends the personal with the practical. I’ve even tucked in a fascinating (and slightly unsettling) “did you know?” from the past -because February is a great time to look back, learn something new, and maybe see everyday things a little differently.

My Valentine's Day Weakness

One of the days I throw caution (and my diet) to the wind

I have a confession to make: I have absolutely zero willpower when it comes to Brach's Conversation Hearts - especially the softer big ones. Every February, I tell myself I'll just buy one bag, and somehow I end up eating the entire thing in one day.

It's one of a few days of the year I allow myself to completely abandon my everlasting diet, and honestly, those chalky little hearts are worth every guilt-ridden bite. There's something about "BE MINE" and "SWEET TALK" that just gets me every time. Nah, it's just the sugar sweet taste and mouthfeel.

Anyone else have that one candy that completely derails their good intentions? I actually have more than one - I also love the holiday peppermint nougats (I couldn't find them this year), salt water taffy you find in the bins of those touristy candy stores, and the wafers with candy beads and sometimes a sweet/sour powder inside called Flying Saucers, also called Satellite Wafers. I also learned that I can't stop at one Nerd's Gummy Clusters I bought to hand out last Halloween.

I'm looking at my bag of sugary hearts right now, waiting to be opened on the 14th. Unfortunately, they were all sold out of the big hearts, so I had to get the small ones. They're still good enough.

February Fun Around Town

Whether you’re here for the Open, the horse shows, or just the desert sunshine, February in Scottsdale is packed with reasons to get out and explore.

I'm attempting to post my newsletter on my blog as early in the month as possible, as some of these events might have ended by the time you read this. Every one of my newsletters will have an events calendar, so if you'd like to receive it in time to attend one at the beginning of the month, please use my Contact Form. Add your name, email, and in the Subject Line type Newsletter, and I'll add you to the subscriber list. If you've registered to search homes on my website, you will be automatically enrolled.

Arizona Renaissance Festival (East Valley day-trip option)
Dates: February 1 – March 30, 2026 (weekends)
Time: Typically daytime hours (often around 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; check ticketing for exact times).
Location: Festival grounds in Gold Canyon, AZ (easy day trip from Scottsdale).
Jousting, costumed performers, artisan booths, themed foods; popular with families and groups.

WM Phoenix Open (PGA Tour) – “Greatest Show on Grass”
Dates: February 2–8, 2026
Time: Daily tournament play begins in the morning; exact tee times vary by round and pairings.
Location: TPC Scottsdale, 17020 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Major PGA TOUR stop, huge crowds, hospitality suites, and a party atmosphere, especially around the 16th hole - my husband took the picture above.

Coors Light Birds Nest Concert Series (concerts tied to the Open)
Dates: Evenings February 3–7, 2026
Time: Nightly concerts (typically early evening into late night; specific set times released closer in).
Location: Birds Nest venue at TPC Scottsdale, near the WM Phoenix Open grounds
2026 headliners include John Summit, Zach Top, and Bailey Zimmerman on select nights.

Après Golf – The After Party to the Open
Dates: February 6–7, 2026
Time: Evening event; typically after daily play at the WM Phoenix Open (exact hours listed on the event ticket page).
Location: Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Refined post-golf experience with music, food/drink, and social atmosphere.

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Dates: February 12–22, 2026
Time: Competitions and classes run throughout the day; schedule varies by discipline and day.
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Nearly 2,400 Arabian horses, multiple show rings, shopping marketplace with equestrian-inspired clothing, jewelry, leather goods, and more.

Arizona Strong Beer Festival
Dates: February 14, 2026
Time: Opens at 11:30 am
Location: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick - 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Enjoy offerings of over 500 beverages, mingle with brewers, live entertainment, and many more activities!

Concours in the Hills (Fountain Hills – car-lovers’ Valentine week event)
Dates: Mid-February 2026 (Scottsdale.com February 2026 calendar notes the 12th annual event on a Saturday around Valentine’s Day).
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Fountain Park, 12925 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Billed as the “Greatest Car Show on Grass,” showcasing cars, motorcycles, helicopters, and military vehicles, benefiting Phoenix Children’s Center.

10th Anniversary Furry Friends Fine Arts Festival
Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Shemer Art Center, 5005 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Voted BEST ART FESTIVAL in 2022 by the Phoenix New Times! This fun, animal-themed arts festival is “purr-fect” for the ENTIRE family, sure to be a “dog-gone” fun day to remember!

Melrose Street Fair
Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: 7th Avenue And Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Phoenix’s largest street fair is back with local artisans, live music, local beer gardens, food trucks, car show, and more!

When $43,000 Makes All the Difference

How we turned a deal-breaker into a deal-maker

I recently worked with a senior buyer who was purchasing what he calls his "last home" - a condominium where he plans to stay put for good. He had an accepted contract on one unit, but during inspections, we discovered the A/C unit was ancient and on its last legs. Rather than move forward with a potential headache, I helped him get out of that contract with his full earnest money returned.

Here's where it gets good: I found him another unit in the same complex with the exact same floorplan for $43,000 less! Yes, it needed some cleaning and spiffing up, but the A/C was newer and the bones were solid. We acted fast when it hit the market, and he got it without any bidding wars. Sometimes the best deals come from being willing to walk away from the wrong one first.

Reflections from Four Decades in Real Estate

What 25 years of change teaches us about today's opportunities

I recently wrote about the incredible transformation our industry has experienced over the past quarter-century, and it got me thinking about what this means for anyone considering a real estate move right now. Read the full article: The Quarter-Century Shift: A Realtor's® Honest Take on 2025's Market and 25 Years of Change

When I started in 1983, I was printing MLS listings and handing them to clients in person. There was no Zillow, no online research, no virtual tours. Buyers depended entirely on their agent's expertise because there simply wasn't another way to access information. We've lived through the 2008 crash, the pandemic boom, and now the recent NAR lawsuit settlement that fundamentally changed how agent compensation works.

Here's what 2025 taught us: Inventory finally started improving after years of shortage. Homes began taking longer to sell as buyers regained their ability to think and negotiate rather than panic-buy. Interest rates started easing throughout the year, bringing some buyers back into the market who'd been priced out earlier.

What this means for 2026: We're heading toward more balanced market conditions. Not perfect conditions—those rarely exist—but more reasonable ones. Buyers have negotiating power they haven't had in years. Sellers need to adjust expectations from the five-day listing sensations of 2020-2022, but good homes are absolutely still selling.

The bottom line? After 42 years in this business, I've learned that the perfect moment rarely announces itself. The best time to buy or sell is when your life circumstances align with reasonable market conditions. And right now, we're seeing some of the most reasonable conditions we've had in years.

Whether you're buying, selling, or just trying to make sense of it all, remember: you don't have to navigate this alone. At its core, real estate is still about people and their dreams—finding a place to call home, building a life, and creating memories.

Did You Know? When Refrigerators Were Deadly

A fascinating look at home appliance history

Here's something that might make you appreciate your modern kitchen a little more: the first affordable home refrigerators from the 1920s could literally kill you in your sleep.

GE's 1927 Monitor Top model, widely considered the first refrigerator most families could afford, used either sulfur dioxide or methyl formate as refrigerants—both highly toxic gases. The cooling mechanism was the same as today's fridges: liquid gas absorbs heat and turns into gas, gets compressed back into liquid, and repeats the cycle. The problem? If the compressor malfunctioned or pipes eroded, these deadly gases would leak into your home.

Even worse, earlier industrial and wealthy household refrigerators often used ammonia, which is both toxic AND flammable. Imagine that in your kitchen!

Here's my favorite part of this story: Albert Einstein actually got involved. In 1926, after reading about a Berlin family who died from a refrigerator leak, Einstein teamed up with colleague Leo Szilard to invent a hermetically sealed, electromagnetic refrigerator with no moving parts. They received a patent in 1930, but by then Freon had been developed as a safer alternative, so Einstein's refrigerator never made it to market.

The refrigerant problem was eventually solved with CFCs (Freons) in the 1930s, which didn't pose immediate health risks. Of course, we later discovered they were destroying the ozone layer, so we had to replace those, too. Sometimes progress takes a few tries to get it right!

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Thanks for letting me share a bit of my world with you! Whether you're curious about your home's value, thinking about making a move, or just want to chat about the market, I'm always here.

February Real Estate Stats

Below is a look at current market stats for Carefree, Cave Creek, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. If you’re curious about what this means for your home—or want to explore what’s on the market—I’m always happy to chat. Want numbers for a different town? Just ask. Unlike last month's data, this is a mix of all residential properties, including attached, detached, and more. Data courtesy of ListReports.

I'm lining these up from most expensive to least. You'll see that Carefree took the top spot in terms of price.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me this February. Whether you’re out enjoying local events or staying cozy at home, I hope something here sparked a smile—or a new perspective.