Phoenix Agent magazine

10/28/2026

The pace of home-price growth across the United States continued to accelerate in August despite varying widely between markets.
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/27/case-shiller-city-home-price-growth/

The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index rose 2.1% year over year in August, up from a 1.9% gain in July. Month over month, the index slipped 0.02%.

S&P Dow Jones noted that home values actually fell in real terms for the 15th month in a row, as August’s 3.4% inflation erased the 2.1% gain in prices.

In Phoenix, home prices inched 0.42% higher year over year and slipped 0.53% month over month in August.

The pace of U.S. home-price growth continued to accelerate in August despite varying widely between markets.

10/27/2026

Phoenix agent Shawnee Doherty, United Real Estate Specialists was named one of five 2026 Good Neighbor Award winners by the National Association of REALTORS®.
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/27/shawnee-doherty-2026-nar-good-neighbor-awards-winner/

Doherty, an agent with United Real Estate Specialists, was honored for her work with her charity Hope Through Hollis Foundation, which was founded in memory of her son, Hollis. The nonprofit works to raise research funds for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer. Doherty also raises funds for the March of Dimes.

Doherty, an agent with United Real Estate, was honored for her work with her charity Hope Through Hollis Foundation.

10/23/2026

The Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service is one of six major MLSs to join a new lawsuit against Compass.

ARMLS, bridge MLS, Canopy MLS, Doorify MLS, Hive MLS and REcolorado filed a joint complaint with the United States District Court in New York’s Southern District, alleging that Compass policies give the brokerage an unfair advantage by withholding properties from the public.
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/23/armls-joins-lawsuit-against-compass/

Compass previously threatened lawsuits against the MLSs unless they stopped enforcing rules requiring all listings to be publicly marketed and shared with all participating listing databases.

The complaint from the six MLSs is asking the court to find that each organization’s rules abide by federal and state antitrust laws — namely Section 1 of the Sherman Act — and to prevent Compass from pursuing further legal action pertaining to the cas

ARMLS is among six MLSs to file a complaint alleging that Compass policies give the brokerage an unfair advantage.

10/23/2026

🕊️The Arizona Housing Fund granted $500,000 to three nonprofits in the state for three new housing developments. The projects include two tiny home villages and a refurbished apartment building.
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/23/azhf-3-new-phoenix-area-housing-projects/

Half of the funds will go toward the Veterans Community Project of Glendale, which will develop a community featuring 50 furnished tiny homes for veterans who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Land for the project was donated by the City of Glendale, Arizona - Government, with additional funding from Maricopa County, the State of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Housing, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems Legacy Foundations, QuikTrip, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and the Arizona Veterans Donation Fund.

Another $150,000 will go to Old Pueblo Community Services, which will refurbish the Water Street Apartments in Tucson. Residences will be reserved for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System members with serious mental illnesses.

Additionally, $100,000 will go to La Mesa Ministries for the Eden Village of Arizona project in Mesa. The tiny home project will feature 21 furnished units for residents with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness.

The Arizona Housing Fund granted $500,000 to three nonprofits in the state for three new housing developments.

10/20/2026

2026 Phoenix Agents' Choice Awards winner - MPC/Project of the Year: Optima McDowell Mountain, Optima, Inc
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/08/31/project-of-the-year-optima-mcdowell-mountain/

Set to redefine elevated living in Arizona for generations to come, Optima McDowell Mountain is a mixed-use development nestled in the heart of North Scottsdale. The 22-acre neighborhood blends modern luxury and sustainability, offering for-sale and rental residences across six eight-story buildings.

Developed by Optima, the mixed-use community is built around the principles of biophilic design, with 75% of its expansive grounds dedicated to open space. Optima McDowell Mountain incorporates numerous sustainability features, including the largest private rainwater harvesting system in the United States and a pioneering vertical landscape system that transforms the community into a desert oasis.

Set to redefine elevated living in Arizona for generations to come, Optima McDowell Mountain is a mixed-use development in North Scottsdale.

10/19/2026

🎓 The National Association of REALTORS® announced the class of its 2027 Leadership Academy, which is a 10-month program that prepares Realtor volunteers for future leadership positions at NAR.
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/16/nar-2027-leadership-academy/

Since the Leadership Academy was created in 2008, more than 300 participants have graduated, and of these, over 160 have chaired an NAR committee or volunteer group, 98 have served as state association presidents, and 39 have served as NAR regional vice presidents.

The 2027 class comprises 20 Realtors from 16 states, and class members have an average of over 13 years in real estate.

Meet the 2027 class:
Melissa Atchley (Texas)
Michelle Braat (North Carolina)
Robert Carney (Virginia)
Keianna Carty (Florida)
Annie Caruso (Indiana)
Joel Cooke (Texas)
Jade Crow (Arkansas)
Tiffany Harris (Maryland)
Katey McGrath (Pennsylvania)
Theresa Miller (California)
LaurieAnne Minoff (Florida)
Tamar Myers-Moffatt (Virginia)
Lisa Nguyen (Colorado)
Kyla Niewinski (New Jersey)
Aline Pitney (Colorado)
Brian Sharp (Ohio)
Christopher Tanner (New Mexico)
Wendy Uzelac (Minnesota)
Carrie Vos (Michigan)
Robin Wallace (Montana)

NAR announced the class of its 2027 Leadership Academy, which prepares Realtors for future leadership positions at NAR.

10/18/2026

September’s priciest home sales in Arizona include a 21,000-square-foot estate, a luxury penthouse and a modern mansion in the mountains.

🥇 24258 92st St., Scottsdale
$14,000,000
Listed by David Newman and Pushpit Tandon of Real Broker
Bought with Heather Gagne and Elisabeth Chicoine of Compass

🥈 6453 E. Luke Ave. Paradise Valley
$13,750,000
Listed by Kirk Linehan and Davon Wade of Apex Residential APEX Residential
Bought with Brooke Fair of RETSY

🥉 3569 E. Secret Canyon Place, Tucson
$8,640,000
Listed by Anthony Schaefer of Long Realty Company
Bought with a non-MLS agent

4. Listed by Katrina Barrett of Local Luxury | Christie’s International Real Estate
Bought with Joan Levinson of Realty ONE Group - The UNbrokerage - Real Estate

5. Listed by Dave Patterson and Amy Cook of BHHS Arizona Properties
Bought with Adreanne Harris of SERHANT. Arizona

6. Listed by Andrew Beardsley of Silverleaf Realty
Bought with Mike Sweeney of Silverleaf Realty

7. Listed by Brian North and Adam Bowman of Compass
Bought with Tucker Blalock and Oleg Bortman of The Brokery

8. Listed by Mike Fratantoni of Realty ONE Group
Bought with a non-MLS agent

9. Listed by Christopher Karas of Compass
Bought with Victoria Parejko and Robin Orscheln of Compass

10. Listed by Brett Lee Brett Lee and Deana Keck Deana Keck of SYMMETRY
Bought with Jonny Miller of Bridgevalley Properties

10/16/2026

2026 Phoenix Agents' Choice Awards winner - Builder/Developer of the Year: Belgravia Group
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/08/31/builder-developer-of-the-year-belgravia-group/

Belgravia Group has over 75 years of experience designing and building homes. With a longstanding reputation established in Chicago, Belgravia has built upon that legacy in Arizona through its North Scottsdale communities, Portico and Atavia.

Made up of industry leaders, Belgravia considers the longevity and loyalty of its team its greatest asset. On the consumer side, Belgravia’s renowned floor plans and building designs make for a stress-free homebuying experience — and a positive living experience.

With a longstanding reputation established in Chicago, Belgravia Group has built upon that legacy in Arizona through Portico and Atavia.

10/13/2026

2026 Phoenix Agents' Choice Awards winner - Social Media Influencer of the Year, Lender: Christine Wenger NMLS: 261653 at Guaranteed Rate Affinity, Guaranteed Rate Affinity
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/08/31/social-media-influencer-of-the-year-lender-christine-wenger/

As an originating manager and vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate Affinity, Christine Wenger has built her career on helping clients navigate one of the most important financial decisions of their lives with clarity, care and confidence.

Known for her patient, educational approach, Wenger is skilled at breaking down complex mortgage options into straightforward, empowering conversations. Her clients and partners rely on her not only for her deep industry knowledge, but also for her responsiveness, consistent communication and unwavering commitment to doing what is right for each individual borrower. For Wenger, mortgage lending is more than a profession — it’s a way to strengthen the community she loves, one household at a time

Known for her educational approach, Christine Wenger is skilled at breaking down complex mortgage options into empowering conversations.

10/12/2026

Despite more year-to-date sales so far in 2026 than in 2025, pending and closed home sales and new listings all declined annually in Maricopa County in September, according to the latest data from Phoenix Realtors®.

🤝 Closed home sales declined 5.3% year over year
📈Home sales were up from 2025 volumes, with 37,600 sales so far in 2026 compared to 36,457 during the same time frame last year.
📉Pending listings plummeted 39.3%, though, indicating slower sales in the coming months.
Meanwhile, new listings decreased 1.2% year over year as sellers added 5,502 properties to the market

💬“September often marks the start of increased fall activity, but this year people are navigating more affordability pressure and rate uncertainty,” Sammy Glassman, president of Phoenix REALTORS®, said in a press release.

More details on September market activity in Phoenix and Scottsdale here:
https://phoenixagentmagazine.com/2026/10/08/maricopa-county-report-sept-2026/

Pending and closed home sales and new listings all declined annually in Maricopa County in September, according to Phoenix REALTORS®.