Blog
N. Mark Kramoltz, JD, GRI, CIPS writes blog articles on the metro Phoenix, Arizona, national and global real estate markets. Written from his perspective as a designated broker and real estate attorney, his articles avoid the inaccuracies and vacuous industry propaganda common to most real estate writings. He also blogs about animals (mostly dogs in the military) due to his love of pets and military history.
2024 Metro Phoenix Housing Kudos.
Valley of the Sun cities finished high in many 2024 lists relating to housing and quality of life. Scottsdale: sixth best place in the U.S. to retire and the 10th happiest city; Queen Creek: Best small Arizona city and 72nd most affordable; Gilbert: sixth out of 180...
Arizona has some of the Lowest Energy Costs.
WalletHub analyzed energy costs for every state in the country using a formula that takes into account monthly costs for electricity, natural gas, gasoline and diesel and home heating oil. Arizona ranked 49th in the country - meaning it’s the second cheapest state in...
Where are Do-it-Yourself Movers From?
Net migration into the Phoenix metro area has remained strong for years. But where are these people coming from? According to U-Haul, through July 1, 2024, Californians using their trucks have supplied the most new Arizona residents. Second was Texas, then Colorado...
Live in an Office Building? Part 2.
Arizona doesn’t have enough new housing units, but like all states has vacant office and retail complexes that could be repurposed as apartments. Arizona lawmakers have recognized this possibility and have eased requirements that have hindered this type of...
Maricopa County Tops for Economic Development, Part 1.
Maricopa County contains most of the metro Phoenix area. It has been ranked No. 1 in the country for economic growth in the past year for its substantial surge in jobs and investment from businesses. The 2024 State of Site Selection report ranked counties in the U.S....
Haunted Home Stories for Halloween 2024.
Whispers Estate, in the small town of Mitchell, Indiana is said to be one of the most haunted homes in the Midwest. Its origin story is that in 1899 Dr. John and Jessie Gibbons built the house, which would serve as their home and John’s medical office. While living...
When Cats Ruled Over Dogs.
Though ancient Egyptians didn’t literally worship house cats, they revered them. Keeping a cat in one’s home was considered a way of both attracting good fortune and warding off evil spirits. A cat’s passing was considered a significant loss. Owners would shave their...
Check Property Taxes before you Move.
Americans who are deciding on a city to relocate to and want to minimize the cost of housing should take into account property tax rates. According to Rocket Mortgage Hawaii has the cheapest residential tax rates (although the high home prices offset that benefit),...
Home Building Catching Up?
Permits to build new houses in the metro Phoenix area were up 57% from January to May 2024. 11,775 permits were issued versus 7,511 in the same period last year. Admittedly that pace is not exceptional, as the rate of new home building has been considered below...