September in Scottsdale: Home, Life Local News, ChatGPT Fun, & Market Updates

September is here, and this month’s newsletter has a little bit of everything - from the never-ending surprises (and expenses!) of homeownership to fun things to see and do around town. I’ll share what Americans continue to see as one of the best long-term investments, catch you up on what’s happening in Scottsdale, and wrap things up with a rather unusual question: Who’s the smelliest? Trust me, you’ll want to see what ChatGPT has to say about that one!

Here's the September lineup:
One Thing After Another
September Sights
Americans Say This is the Best Long-Term Investment
The Scottsdale Scoop
Who's the Smelliest?

One Thing After Another

About two months ago, we discovered that one of our split HVAC units wasn't working in the basement. It…

19 Views, 0 Comments

New Fannie Mae Condo Rules: What Scottsdale Owners Need to Know

Quick Answer: Fannie Mae rolled out big changes to condo financing rules in 2026. The biggest one raises the required HOA reserve fund from 10% to 15% of the annual budget, starting with loans dated January 4, 2027. Lenders also dropped the "Limited Review" shortcut starting August 3, 2026, so most Scottsdale condo buildings now go through a full review. If you own or want to buy a condo here, these changes could affect your HOA dues, your closing timeline, or both.

What Changed in Fannie Mae's Condo Lending Rules for 2026?

Fannie Mae buys or guarantees a huge share of home loans in this country. When it changes its condo rules, lenders everywhere have to follow along. On March 18, 2026, Fannie Mae published Lender Letter LL-2026-03 (see below…

44 Views, 0 Comments

Buying or Selling in Scottsdale? Watch These 5 Numbers

WHAT ARE THE 5 IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO WATCH FOR THE CURRENT SCOTTSDALE REAL ESTATE MARKET?

Quick Answer: Scottsdale's housing market runs on five numbers: inventory, days on market, price reductions, months of supply, and mortgage rates. Right now, Scottsdale has about 2,208 single-family homes for sale, and homes take a median of 73 days to sell. Nearly 52% of active listings have had a price cut. Together, these numbers tell you whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, and what to expect if you list or buy this year.

These five number valuations are for any market, anywhere in the United States. The actual numbers in this post reflect Scottsdale real estate. 

What's the Current Inventory in the Scottsdale Housing Market?

…

63 Views, 0 Comments

How to Buy a Home in Scottsdale: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is The Real Homebuying Process?

Quick Answer: Buying a home in Scottsdale comes down to four stages: building a plan, getting preapproved, touring and making offers, then closing. Scottsdale's median sale price sits at $954,429, and homes are averaging about 43 days to go under contract, according to Redfin and Zillow data from mid-2026. Most first-time buyer mistakes happen before anyone steps foot in a house, not after. With roughly 4.1 months of housing supply on hand, Scottsdale is running close to a balanced market right now, not tilted hard toward buyers or sellers.

Buying your first home in Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, or North Phoenix feels like a lot at once. It doesn't have to be. Once you know the four stages and what…

53 Views, 0 Comments

August in Scottsdale: What's One More, Free Museums, and a $1M Surprise

Your August Scottsdale Guide: Free Days, Market Updates, and Local Fun

August is here, bringing plenty of reasons to get out, explore, and stay informed. In this month's roundup, I'm sharing a fun personal update (yes, our family grew by one more furry friend!), highlighting some of the best activities happening around the Valley, and rounding up seven days when you can visit local museums for free. You'll also find the latest local headlines in The Scottsdale Scoop and a look at an interesting housing trend as more cities see starter homes top the $1 million mark.

Whether you're looking for things to do, curious about what's happening around Scottsdale, or keeping an eye on the real estate market, I hope you find something that catches your…

150 Views, 0 Comments

Selling in Scottsdale? Here's What Buyers Want in 2026

What Makes a Scottsdale Home Listing Stand Out in 2026?

Quick Answer: Scottsdale's median home price sits near $960,000, and homes are averaging 63 days on the market, so today's buyers have room to be picky. In 2026, listings stand out by being move-in ready, showing beautifully online with professional photos and a 3D tour, and priced right from day one. Homes that skip any of these steps tend to sit and then need a price cut to catch up.

Why Is It Harder to Sell a Home in Scottsdale Right Now?

Buyers simply have more options than they did a couple of years ago. Scottsdale's median home price is up 6.67% year over year to $960,000, but homes are also taking longer to sell, averaging 63 days on the market compared to a much tighter…

147 Views, 0 Comments

Home Buying Red Flags: The Ones That Are Actually Opportunities (And the Ones That Aren't)

Not Every Red Flag Means Run: A Scottsdale Buyer's Guide to Spotting Real Problems

Buying a home does something funny to people's brains. You'd think the hard part is finding the right place, but for a lot of buyers, the real emotional rollercoaster starts the moment the inspection report lands in their inbox.

Suddenly, a small roof leak becomes a catastrophe. A little mold in the bathroom feels like the house is uninhabitable. And instead of asking the seller to fix the obvious stuff and negotiating on the rest, some buyers just walk. I've seen people lose a home they genuinely loved over a $400 repair because the inspection report scared them into thinking the whole thing was falling apart.

The inspection isn't there to talk you out of…

2548 Views, 0 Comments

July in Scottsdale: Events, Local News, a 75th Birthday, and Elon Musk's Trillion-Dollar Fortune

July in Scottsdale: Celebrating 75 Years, America's 250th, and the Latest Real Estate News

July is here, and with it comes plenty of reasons to celebrate, explore, and maybe even be a little nostalgic. This month's newsletter converted to a blog post is filled with a little bit of everything - from saying a heartfelt goodbye to one furry friend while giving a warm welcome to another, to celebrating Scottsdale's 75th birthday and all the history that comes with it. And don't forget, this Fourth of July commemorates the 250th birthday of the USA!

I've also rounded up some fun local events to help you make the most of July, along with a few Scottsdale news stories that could affect our community. And just for fun, we'll take a look at Elon Musk's…

411 Views, 0 Comments

The Buyer's Advantage Nobody's Talking About: How to Use Seller Concessions

Seller Concessions Explained: Closing Cost Help, Rate Buydowns, And Repair Credits

If you’ve been watching home prices and interest rates and thinking, “How is anyone buying right now?”, here’s a little bit of good news. A huge share of sellers are tossing in extras to help buyers make the numbers work. We’re not talking about free throw pillows. We’re talking real money.

Recently, sellers gave some kind of concession in just under half of U.S. home sales. That’s a record-high share for the month of May. In plain English, almost one out of every two sellers is offering some financial help to get their home sold.

If you’re buying, that’s a big deal. The trick is knowing what those concessions actually are, why sellers are doing this, and how…

1336 Views, 0 Comments

Chicago to Scottsdale: The Honest Guide From a Prior Chicagoan

So You're Thinking About Trading Chicago Winters for Scottsdale Sunshine?

Let's be real for a second. If you've ever stood on a Chicago street corner in February, wind ripping through your coat like it has a personal grudge against you, and thought "there has to be a better way," you're not alone. Thousands of Chicagoans make the move to Scottsdale, Arizona every single year, and most of them will tell you the same thing: they wish they'd done it sooner. Illinois is among the top 10 states from which residents move to Arizona.

But moving from one of America's biggest cities to a desert resort town is a big deal. It's not just a change of address. It's a completely different way of living. So before you start packing boxes and Googling "how to…

394 Views, 0 Comments