🏞️ Own a river, we hiked in the rain & a piano pool 🎹

Holy rain, I hope you enjoyed the weather the past week, but avoided any damage from the storms. I was in the East Valley last Friday when the wild rain storms blew through and it was an experience!!!

In this newsletter:

Thanks for being here, have an amazing weekend.

Not sure this is much of a deal, but this property is certainly a curiosity.

It is only $10k, but there are $31k in back taxes to pay, and the parcel is basically IN THE RIVER! And I’m not 100% certain how you would get access to the property either.

The western edge of the parcel is where the bike path is now, and none of the roads or driveways on the neighboring parcel lead to this one. I think the only way to access this property would be to negotiate an easement with the office complex and City, across the bike path…GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!

This is my favorite part from the listing: Although the lot is located within River Basin/Flood Zone, the development is possible, with the right amount of patience, planning and grading the lot with dirt to make ground higher. 🤣🤣🤣

See all of the pics & details here. Listed by Jonathan Minerick with HomeCoin.com

Have you ever had the thought, ‘my next house needs to have the most amazing views, and a piano shaped swimming pool’? If you have, boy are you in for a surprise.

This home in Desert Mountain in North Scottsdale checks both of those boxes, and more. Plus it sits on over 14 acres…

Desert Mountain Golf Membership available. Own this secluded Desert Ranch Contemporary ~15 Acre Estate which was strategically built on ridge in linear fashion to take full advantage of the southern exposure providing breathtaking Mountain, Valley, & City Light Views from every room. Magnificent entertaining spaces flow seamlessly throughout main level to exterior spaces showcasing a Piano-shaped designed Pool with Keyboard shelf & Spa as Bench. Unparalleled craftsmanship custom entry doors, stone walls, wood & copper ceilings, copper hearths, indigenous stone, & creative lighting fixtures. Extra Features: Fitness Room w/Sauna, Large Office, Media Room, Wine Wall, Wet Bar & Air-Conditioned 5-Car Garage. Architect Terry Kilbane/Manship & Re-imagined by Architect & Builder Justin Kilbane

See all the details here.

Property listed by Kathy Reed of Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty

🚨 Zillow & Redfin Face Antitrust Lawsuits. The FTC, joined by five states including Arizona, has filed lawsuits against Zillow and Redfin over their new rental listings partnership. Regulators claim the $100M deal unfairly reduces competition and could drive up rental costs. Zillow and Redfin defend the agreement, saying it gives renters more options and property owners better reach. This case could have major implications for the rental market nationwide.

🔑 What This Means for Renters Right now, nothing changes in how you search for rentals, but the lawsuit could shape the future. If the FTC wins, more competition could mean better prices and more listing options. If Zillow and Redfin win, their partnership might make searching easier in one place, but could eventually limit choices and push rents higher.

You can read more about this lawsuit here.

Interest rates are pretty much unchanged from a week ago. This is good news IMO. I was concerned rates would see a bounce back up after reaching a low point for the past year.

If you are thinking of starting your home search, and taking advantage of these lower rates, there is still time!

Here are today’s national averages for Conventional 30 year fixed rate, FHA 30 year fixed rate & VA 30 year fixed rate loan programs.

I currently have three buyer's looking for homes in the Arrowhead Ranch area, and we’re struggling to find the right fit.

All of them have flexible timelines and various budgets, if you have a house that fits one of these criteria, or know someone who does, and are thinking of selling, please reach out.

1) 4 bedroom single level home in or close to Arrowhead Ranch

2) Single level home with a pool & 3 car garage, with lot on lake, golf course, great belt or mountains.

3) Something special! Meaning a house with amazing views, or a very cool backyard & pool, something that is hard to replicate. They're flexible on the house, willing to remodel, but are looking for something unique & exciting with location or views.  

Have you had any thoughts of buying a rental property? Not sure where to start or what to look for?

I have an interesting property coming to market soon that has been a very successful rental for a client, but they have decided they want to do something else with these funds.

If you are wanting to get started as an investor, this could be a great way to hit the ground running and step right into some cash flow.

Fall is here, and that means pumpkin patch events are in full swing. I put together a list of local events in the Valley & across Arizona, which I think are the most noteworthy. (link)

Last week’s trivia question was ‘What is the smallest incorporated town in Arizona, with a population of just 296 people?’

The answer was: Winkelman

Winkelman, the smallest incorporated town in Arizona, was founded in the early 1900s along the banks of the Gila River. The town grew up around the copper mining boom that shaped much of southern Gila and Pinal counties, serving as a hub for miners and ranchers alike. Its name comes from Peter Winkelman, a local landowner who played a key role in establishing the community. At its peak, Winkelman bustled with railroad activity, farming, and smelter operations tied to nearby Hayden. Though the mines have long since slowed, the town remains a reminder of Arizona’s copper-rich past, with fewer than 300 residents keeping its history alive.

My friend Terence Daniels has an awesome golf newsletter here in Phoenix, called The Cactus Club, and he was gracious enough to let me share the story of my experience at the 1996 US Amateur golf tournament.

By the time we reached 15, I was hanging on. Three down. I needed special.

The hole was a par 3. Tiger flighted a 6 iron. I went 5. Our ball marks landed side by side, but his spun back, mine bounded long.

I needed magic.

Fifty feet of green, downhill, and the only option is a high, soft flop. I pulled the lob wedge and swung. Perfect strike. It landed where I had pictured, started rolling, tracking toward the hole.

At 10 feet out, I clenched my fist, ready to throw a Tiger pump right back at him.

It slid low. Just missed.

Later, my caddie, Tom, tells me Roger Maltbie had been standing next to him, whispering into the NBC mic that I had no shot of getting it close. And for one second, I proved him wrong.

By 16, I had one last chance. Tiger missed the fairway, and the ball caromed into the next hole’s fairway. The crowd thought maybe I’d steal one back. Not me. I’d seen this movie before.

Of course, Tiger had a window. Of course, he found the green. Of course, my putt slid by. 3 & 2. Match over.

And just like that, the spotlight vanished.

Walking to the clubhouse, I was no longer “the kid facing Tiger.” Just another guy in the crowd. It was a surreal, almost lonely feeling.

But here’s what stuck: afterwards, Tiger recalled my birdie on 6 in his press recap. “Yeah, I knew he was going to make that putt.”

That one sentence made the loss sting a little less.

Do I still think about what might have been? Sure. Without that penalty stroke in qualifying, maybe I would have gotten a different draw. Perhaps I can make a run. But then again, maybe I don’t get this moment with Tiger at all.

And that’s the thing.

Yes, I lost.

But I also won something else… a story that has carried 29 years, a memory I’ll never forget, and the ultimate clapback when someone talks trash on the golf course:

“Oh yeah? Has Tiger Woods ever watched you play golf?” So I got that going for me, which is nice…

A big thank you to Terence for letting me share my story, you can read his full golf newsletter at TheCactusClubAZ.com

Not one of my better moments of judgement. but Tyler & I hit the trail last Saturday in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell. A storm had just passed through, and we were looking to take advantage of the cooler weather…well, we definitely did that, but also got to experience the next wave of thunderstorms that came along!!

We didn’t get too wet, but the thunder & threat of rain helped increases our pace back to the car. I’m really good at this whole dad thing, lol.

I started a hiking newsletter called HikePhoenix. You can see all the trails where I’ve been out of breath and questioning my life choices…😎