News and Views

Feeling the Squeeze? Household Budgets 2026

Feeling the Squeeze? Give Me Some (Household) Breathing Room

You leave the grocery store with 2 bags of groceries and you’re $85 lighter…sound familiar? If it feels like your money doesn’t stretch like it used to, you’re not imagining it. I looked at 10 years of household data to see who’s actually gaining breathing room, who’s losing it, and what that may mean for the economy next.

Are We Really Running Out of Water? A Phoenix Metro Water Report Card

Is Phoenix really running out of water? Not exactly. The bigger story is where each city gets its water, how secure that supply looks over the next decade, and what homeowners may have to pay to keep it that way. Here’s a plain-English report card for Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Buckeye, Goodyear and more.

Buying or Selling a Condo? The HOA Matters More Than You Think

Condo lending rules changed in 2026. Here’s what Phoenix-area buyers and sellers need to know about HOA reserves, warrantable condos, financing, and where the opportunities are.

Appraisal Rules are Changing in November

New Appraisal Rules Are Coming November 2

Big changes are coming to residential appraisals on November 2, 2026. Here’s what homeowners need to know about UAD 3.6, the new appraisal format, and why better records on updates and improvements may matter more than ever.

Arizona Deed Fraud: Free ERAS Alerts Can Help Protect Your Property

Deed fraud is real—and that “cheesy title lock radio ad” is not the full story. Arizona’s new free ERAS system can alert property owners while a sale is still pending. Here’s how it works, why AI is making real estate scams easier, and three free steps you can take to protect your home, vacant land or rental property.

Maybe 7% Isn’t the Real Problem

Mortgage rates above 7%…ouch. Believe it or not, the big affordability problem isn’t mortgage rates…and it’s not really home prices either.

Moving to Phoenix? Take Your Time — 13 Years Later

I was poking around my old YouTube channel recently — the one that has been sitting in mothballs for the last few years — and I came across my most-viewed video. It was called “Moving to Phoenix — Take Your Time.” … Read more