The Phoenix valley is home to three cities that made top 10 on a list of best cities in the nation to buy a family home. 
Chandler is in the #1 spot, with Gilbert at #3, and Scottsdale finishing up at #8, according to data compiled by SmartAsset. The study looks at a number of factors, including changes in home values and rent costs, property taxes, house sizes and median housing costs. 
Use these links to start your search for homes in each of these areas:

search Chandler homes
search Gilbert homes
search Scottsdale homes ...

We like to keep you informed about what is going on in the housing market, and right now, the update is easy: It's still a seller's market. Supply is still low. Home prices are still climbing. 
We talked to a client recently who wanted to break into this market, but was a little discouraged with these climbing prices. This had them considering renting instead of buying. 
It's important to know, however, that the cost to rent has been climbing right along with these home prices. In fact, here in the Phoenix area, it is 38.5 percent cheaper to own a house than it is to rent, according to Trulia's October Rent vs. Buy report. 


If you buy you also benefit from equity buildup, home value appreciation and even some tax benefits.
In this market, if you can afford to rent, you can typically afford to buy. We also work with some great lenders who have fantastic loan products if you don't feel you have enough money saved up for a down pay. ...

After seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, many of us Valley residents are grateful we live on land that basks in the sun 300 days a year. 
But in the wake of the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, it's important to take a look at what we can learn from afar.
According to an estimate by the Consumer Federation of America, only about 20 percent of Houston-area homeowners who experienced flooding actually had flood insurance when Hurricane Harvey hit. 
You might find yourself wondering how residents so close to the coastline would risk not having that important safety net. But what you might not realize is that many valley residents face similar risks of flooding. 
Remember back in 2014, when remnants of a tropical storm hammered the valley with record-breaking rainfall? There were pockets of flooding across they valley, including 200 Mesa homes adjacent to Emerald park.
Flooding and home insurance: what is covered and what isn't
Most insurance; ...

The big story in the real estate market this month is the low supply. The number of active listings is down nearly 12 percent from last year, and nearly four percent from last month.* 



That can make finding the right home a huge challenge. Not only are there less homes to choose from, but the homes available are snatched up quickly!

That is why our clients love having access to our off-market properties!

These are homes that you can't find on any of the go-to home search sites, like Trulia and Zillow. 

The map below shows you how many off-market properties we have now or in the works, and where they are located. Many of these will be upgraded beautifully, with new carpet, paint, granite, etc. 


If you would like to learn about any of these off-market properties, then please reach out to us. If you are one of our clients, we would be happy to show you!
*Research from Mike Orr ...

This month, there are two things on our mind: the heat, and this hot real estate market. We are here to help you weather both!
 
Right now, saving money on energy is all the rage. But we have seen clients sink tons of money into energy-efficient upgrades that don't necessarily pay off in resale value. 
 
That might not matter to you if you are planning on staying in your house for a while. But even it there is a possibility you might sell your home within the next couple of years, it is worth thinking about the numbers. 
 
Check out our list below for the best and worst energy-efficiency upgrades in terms of resale value.
 
Best energy-efficiency upgrades for resale value:

landscaping with shade trees
upgraded fixtures with fans in all rooms
energy-efficient appliances

We have sold hundreds of homes in the valley, and based on our experience, these upgrades pay off both in energy savings and increased resale value.
 
Worst energy-effr ...