What the Phoenix housing market did this week, in plain English.
One Friday email from a local REALTOR® with Maricopa County sales numbers, mortgage rates, upcoming events, weekend road closures, and all the hyperlocal news fit to print. I read the primary sources and name every one, so you don't have to dig.
- The 30-year mortgage rate held at 7.40% (Freddie Mac, Oct 15)
- Phoenix Greek Festival, AZ Taco Fest, and Haunts on High Street this weekend
- SR 347 overnight lane closure for paving, with the ADOT map
- A ceiling bubble, a fermentation class, and calling bingo at the HOA
- Sources named and dated in every issue
- No Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com links
- REALTOR® since 2018, license SA678781000
- One click to unsubscribe, any time
Send me the Friday report
Free. One email a week. Next issue lands Friday.
I don't sell or share your email, and nobody will call you unless you ask.
The whole week, sorted by what matters to a house
Each issue is built from the same standing sections. You can skim the headlines in two minutes or read it all on the porch.
The numbers
Maricopa County median price, homes sold, new listings, and contracts signed, pulled from ARMLS and compared with the same days last year. Then a plain-English line on what it means if you're buying, selling, or just own a house here.
Mortgage talk
Freddie Mac's weekly 30-year rate, the daily index, and notes from a local loan officer. You'll know whether this week was a good one to lock.
Hyperlocal news
The Valley stories that touch housing: city council and county decisions, zoning fights, data centers, new employers, builders, and utility rates. Every item has a source link and a "why it matters" line.
Upcoming events
This weekend's festivals, markets, and things to do around the Valley, picked by me. The full list on my events page is updated every Thursday.
Weekend road closures
ADOT freeway closures and lane restrictions, with the map, before you drive to the Greek Festival and meet a barrier.
New builds
Fresh new-home picks and grand openings from across the Valley, with prices.
A note from my house
The real part. A ceiling bubble after the rain, a fermentation class at the Arizona Worm Farm, calling bingo at the HOA when I hate public speaking. Real estate is one chapter of anyone's week, and I'd rather you know the person writing to you.
Your home's value
A button for a free monthly snapshot of what your home might be worth. It's an algorithm estimate, not an appraisal.
Numbers with dates and sources
Prices are holding steady, but far fewer buyers are signing contracts than a year ago.
Maricopa County single-family, last 30 days (Sept 16 to Oct 15) against the same days in 2025. Source: ARMLS Flexmls Year Over Year Comparison, run Oct 16, 2026. Rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Oct 15, 2026.
| 30-year fixed mortgage rate | 7.40%6.27% a year ago |
|---|---|
| Median sale price | $505,000down 1.0% from last year |
| Homes sold | 3,555down 11.2% |
| Homes under contract | 2,041down 45.7% |
Mostly people who live here
You're renting and wondering if this is the year, or if it's smarter to wait out a 7% rate.
You own a house in Peoria, Mesa, Tempe, or Surprise and want to know whether to sit tight.
Your parents are downsizing and you'd like to understand the market before the family conversation.
You own a rental or two and want to know how long leases are taking to close.
I go to the source of the source
Every number in the report links back to the agency or dataset it came from, with the date. When I can't verify something, I say so in the email.
I won't link to the big home-search portals. They route readers to paid agents, and I'm not going to send you there.
- ARMLS
- Freddie Mac
- NAR
- Mortgage News Daily
- ADOT
- Maricopa County
- Arizona Attorney General
- AZ Big Media
- AZBEX
- KJZZ
- azfamily
- Zillow
- Redfin
- Realtor.com
Sources shown are ones used in recent issues, including the October 16, 2026 report. Which stories run each week depends on what happened.
I'm DeDe
I've lived in Arizona since 2001. Before real estate I spent more than twenty years as a traveling project manager and video and LED engineer for big entertainment events, which is why I check things twice and show my work. I became a REALTOR® with HomeSmart in 2018.
I'm not your average REALTOR®. I care, I'm competent, I'm genuine, I'm real, and I want you to love where you live and how you live. The report is how I keep showing up for people before they ever need an agent.
Call or text 623-255-4485
[email protected]
DeDe Forwood, REALTOR®, HomeSmart, License SA678781000
Before you sign up
What is the Heart of PHX Friday report?
It's a free weekly email from DeDe Forwood, a Phoenix-area REALTOR® with HomeSmart. Each Friday it covers Maricopa County sales numbers from ARMLS, mortgage rates, upcoming events, weekend freeway closures, new builds, and hyperlocal news that touches housing.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. There's no paywall and no paid tier.
How often does it come?
Once a week, on Fridays. My events page on dedeforwood.com updates every Thursday, so the email is the most current list for the weekend.
Where do the numbers come from?
Market data comes from ARMLS through Flexmls. Rates come from Freddie Mac's weekly survey and Mortgage News Daily. Road closures come from ADOT, and news comes from county and state agencies and local business press. Each item carries a date and a link. I don't use Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com.
Do I need to be buying or selling?
No. Plenty of readers just own a home here and like knowing what the market is doing. If you want to talk to me about a move, you call or text me.
What area does it cover?
Mostly Maricopa County, all cities, plus state and national news that moves local prices.
Will you call me or sell my email?
Signing up gets you an email and nothing else. I don't sell or share your address, and nobody will call you unless you ask.
Can I unsubscribe?
Yes. There's an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every issue, and it works in one click.
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The numbers, the rates, the events, the closures, and the news from around the Valley, with a source on every item. Free, and you can leave in one click.