Media Contacts & Coverage

Michelle Lind, Esq., Of Counsel, Arizona REALTORS®, michellelind@aaronline.com
OR
Abbie Fink, HMA Public Relations, afink@hmapr.com

Primary Media Contacts

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Video Library

2022 President Gary Nelson

How a REALTOR® Can Help You Find the
Right Home for your Family

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Taking a closer look at Arizona’s shifting real estate markets

Gary Nelson, the 2022 president of the Arizona REALTORS® and the Delegated Associate Broker at Realty Executives of Flagstaff, discusses the real estate market shift in Arizona.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have seen a shift in both home buyer and home seller activity. Many people welcome this and believe that these changes needed to happen. Many were under the impression that the 2020 and 2021 real estate markets nationally, statewide and locally were artificially inflated and were going to adjust. Some even predicted a bubble bursting and market crash. That has not happened.”

AZ Association of Realtors addresses concern over ‘racist’ community rules

Eric Gibbs, the incoming president of the association and a broker at the Realty One Group Integrity in Tucson, said amending such documents would be very unlikely.

“I have talked to other realtors across the state that have also had this similar issue where the buyer sees these in there and wants them removed. The unfortunate part is it’s very difficult to get those removed,” he said. “Here’s the case with 1946, that’s not going to get changed because it’s already recorded, and you can’t go back and find every document that has it in there.”

Tempe’s tech boom fuels skyrocketing home values

Sindy Ready, 2022 treasurer for the Arizona Realtors Association, is an ASU grad and spent several years in Tempe. Now, she works to sell homes in the bustling city and has seen it evolve over the years. 

“For us in Arizona, the southeast Valley is a mini Silicon Valley,” she said. “For years, that really meant mostly Intel with three plants, and that’s down in the Chandler area but it all kind of filtered back into the Tempe area. So now what’s happening is Tempe is starting to get its own global reputation for being an area that is a really good opportunity for companies to get young workforce members.” 

State needs rules for exempt water wells

“Many other states license both well drillers and pump installers for a more complete management of what is possibly a state’s most precious resource, groundwater. It’s a shame that a trade association had to take matters into their own hands to get essential information about the equipped water well and how it performs. Perhaps it’s time for the state of Arizona to step up and do as other states have done, get involved in the sale and transfer of real estate served by water wells. Private water well owners deserve to have the same level of assurance of their future water supply as citizens who live in big subdivisions.”

Mortgage rates are rising, but the hot housing market is slow to cool

Gary Nelson is starting to see signs that the red-hot housing market is cooling off in Flagstaff, Ariz., like more buyers bowing out and houses taking a bit longer to sell.

The president of Arizona Realtors said the “double whammy” of soaring home prices and rising mortgage rates is a welcome shift after two years of fierce bidding wars and monster growth.

“We’re going to welcome a kind of plateau in activity,” Nelson said. “Perhaps things will slow a little bit. I’m hopeful that’s what we’re seeing.”

AZ Association of REALTORS Names New CEO

As chief executive officer, Drucker will oversee Association operations and play an active role in advancing the growth and mission of the Arizona REALTORS® by implementing the Association’s strategic plans and initiatives across Arizona.

Tempe realtors keep it in the family

Laurie and Chelsea McDonnell are about as close as two people can be. 

Not only are they mother and daughter, but they often finish each other’s sentences and, until just a few months ago, they lived a few blocks from one another. They also happen to own a business together. 

The McDonnells started Locality Real Estate in October. The real estate brokerage now counts 43 realtors on its roster and boasts listings across the Valley, with a speciality in the Tempe area. They also do some work in northern Arizona and hope to expand their reach across the whole state eventually. 

As Metro Phoenix Home Prices Rise, so Does the Number of People Forced to Rent

“It’s really a concern that we all have to be aware of because there’s not enough houses for the number of people that are wanting to live here,” Ready said. “For the first time in the history of our market, we’re seeing very low inventory on rental listings, just like we’re seeing low inventory on purchasing.”

Cost of owning a home in metro Phoenix up nearly 50% from last year, report finds

“We have so many businesses moving into the Valley right now that our market is being driven by supply and demand,” Sindy Ready, a board member with the Arizona Association of Realtors, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Friday. “There are more buyers than there are houses.”

Housing Market Expected to Remain Strong for Years

Arizona’s real estate market remains “ridiculously hot,” says Arizona Association of Realtors President Gary Nelson. “We are seeing tremendous increases in home values in the last two years, increasing about 25% year over year in localized markets and about a 12% to 13% per-year increase in median home prices.”

Maricopa County leads nation in population growth; Pinal, Yavapai surge

Sindy Ready, state treasurer for the Arizona Association of Realtors, said she is not surprised by the population increase, given the “beautiful weather” and climate great for people who like the outdoors.

Ready said that while population growth is a good thing in her business, newcomers are finding there are not enough available houses or rental properties for the number of people moving in.

“Just the battle of being able to get into a property right now, because there’s so many people wanting to be here,” Ready said.

Zonie Living: Business, Adventure and Leadership

Watch Arizona REALTORS® President Gary Nelson talks about the lack of inventory, what is driving the real estate market as well as what local communities are doing to find housing solutions.

Arizona REALTORS®Treasurer Sindy Ready offers her thoughts on the housing market

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Arizona REALTORS® President-Elect Eric Gibbs offers his thoughts on the housing market

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Arizona REALTORS® President Gary Nelson Makes AZ Powerlist

The Arizona Capitol Times this month is profiling 12 leaders in Real Estate. This special section marks the first in our 2022 series that looks at some of the state’s most influential professionals in its leading industries. The 12 individuals profiled in the following pages represent a wide variety of firms, organizations and institutions and are united by a commitment to excellence. As you read through their profiles, take note of the variety of expertise represented, whether it is through developing landmark properties or advocating on behalf of the industry or causes, their hard work is evident in Arizona. Stay tuned for our next Power 12 list in May that focuses on unsung heroes in public service. 

Real estate predictions for 2022 from Arizona Realtors

Most economists agree that there will be at least another three to five years of growth in real estate across the United States. And although the year will end strong, inventory remains in short supply throughout the country. There are a variety of factors impacting that, but key among them is the increased number of people entering the housing market.

According to Gary Nelson of Realty Executives in Flagstaff and the Arizona REALTORS 2022 president, although builders are responding to the demand and putting more product in the market, “the U.S. failed to adequately prepare for the Millennial generation entering the housing market and we are dreadfully low on inventory as a result.”

“Here in Arizona, as people move in and out of the area and we see more and more of the Baby Boomer generation retiring, our hope is that primary homes, investment properties and vacation homes will slowly enter the market.”

Added to the mix are the influx of “instant buyers” or iBuyers, purchasing residential properties directly from private sellers, bypassing the professional REALTOR, and often paying cash at a higher price than market value.

Based in Tucson, Eric Gibbs, Sr, Arizona REALTORS 2022 president-elect, says these iBuyers will remain a threat in the coming year. “iBuyers may drive up the prices in certain communities, making it difficult for some buyers to qualify for a loan.”

Determining where the real estate market is going from here can be difficult. And some assumptions should be made, including that there is no unforeseen economic disaster in the next several years.

“The U.S. real estate market survived 9-11 and continues to weather the COVID-19 impacts,” said Nelson. “The only negative effect we have seen in real estate markets in the past 30 or so years is the Great Recession which lasted from 2007 through 2011.”

Coconino Voices: Prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in real estate

Arizona Daily Sun– December 16, 2021
BY GARY NELSON, Arizona REALTORS® President

As Realtors, it is our duty to assist clients in making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: buying and selling a home. Our profession is built on connections, relationships and most importantly, people. With the important work we do reaching every region and individual in our communities, we must take the necessary steps to recognize the importance of inclusivity in our communities.

Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in real estate

AZBIGMEDIA – December 3, 2021
BY GARY NELSON, Arizona REALTORS® President

As REALTORS, it is our duty to assist clients in making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: buying and selling a home. Our profession is built on connections, relationships and most importantly, people. With the important work we do reaching every region and individual in our communities, we must take the necessary steps to recognize the importance of inclusivity in our communities.

As REALTORS, there is nothing we do better than leading the way and helping dreams come true. Why not lead the way in cultivating a diverse membership as well, one that reflects the world we live in today? This starts by promoting our profession to future REALTORS as not just a first-time profession, but one that they know they can be a part of regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. As REALTORS, there is nothing we do better than leading the way and helping dreams come true. Why not lead the way in cultivating a diverse membership as well, one that reflects the world we live in today? This starts by promoting our profession to future REALTORS as not just a first-time profession, but one that they know they can be a part of regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. <MORE>

Gilbert couple get home with ‘love letter’

Gilbert Sun News – October 9, 2021

Nadia and Ernest Saco of Gilbert already had been searching for a new home before the pandemic hit, but after that, their quest became more urgent.

“I was working from home all of a sudden,” said Ernest Saco, a senior product manager for a software company and a father of three. “And we have all five of us just on top of each other in this 1,500-square-foot house. I’m working out of our bedroom. And our kids are home because school’s out, but they’re also home because all the places they would normally go to for fun are closed.”

But as the Sacos’ search intensified, they found themselves competing for a shrinking pool of available homes. From April to July 2020, active listings in metro Phoenix declined by 42 percent, according to data from Realtor.com. 

So, to stand out among the bidders, the Sacos turned to a tactic that’s become increasingly common – and increasingly scrutinized – in the homebuying process: the love letter.

Desperate Arizona Homebuyers Are Writing ‘Love Letters’ To Sellers. But Is That Legal?

KJZZ – September 21, 2021

“A buyer may write in a love letter, ‘I can imagine my children coming down the stairs at this home on Christmas morning.’ You’ve just disclosed to the seller, your familial status and your religious preference,” said Michelle Lind, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. 

Lind says so far she’s not aware that anyone in Arizona has faced repercussions because of these letters.    

“None of the attorneys that I have talked to are aware of any claims arising out of love letters,” she said.

Housing market cooldown on the horizon for Arizona?

ABC 15 – September 10, 2021

National housing experts say as temperatures cool down this fall, the recent home-buying frenzy could be slowing down as well, but will the same happen here in Arizona?

“We’re seeing a little more inventory creep on market, which means people are having to get a little more realistic about their pricing,” said Jan Leighton, President of the Arizona Association of Realtors.

Can ‘love letters’ from home buyers perpetuate racism? This state thinks so

USA TODAY – August 20. 2021

The Arizona Association of Realtors says listing agents should educate sellers about fair housing laws and the pitfalls of love letters, according to its CEO, K. Michelle Lind.

Real estate continues to boom in Rim Country

Payson Roundup – August 13, 2021

“There’s not a lot of people talking about the inventory shortfall,” said Gary Nelson, the 2021 president-elect of the Arizona Realtors. “We have more people wanting to buy than inventory available.”

Are Californians are ruining the market in Arizona?

KVOA Tucson

Arizona REALTORS® First Vice President Eric Gibbs shares his opinion.

Switching Lanes

Airpark News – July 2021

Former music publisher Louis McCall finds the perfect pitch in real estate.

Californian destination states see home prices skyrocket

KPVI – July 7, 2021

A popular gripe about Californians moving into nearby states is they bring their politics with them. The newest complaint could be they’re bringing high home prices as well.

Phoenix Business Journal – The List

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Glendale median house price up 40% in 2 years

Daily Independent – June 20, 2021

Whether Valley residents will first see relief from soaring home prices or relief from extreme weather is a hot summer topic right now.

Arizona housing market sparks bidding wars for homebuyers

KTAR 92.3 – June 8, 2021

Gary Nelson, a realtor in Flagstaff, is seeing something similar. He said homes in his area are selling for about 5% over asking price.

Nelson, who’s also the president-elect of the Arizona Association of Realtors, said nowadays it’s rare for a home to sell for the price it’s listed.

“We’re seeing that pretty much throughout the state, except for possibly the rural remote areas,” he said.

As for who’s making the big offers, Nelson said it’s mostly buyers from Arizona. He said about half of the buyers he works with are Valley residents looking to buy a vacation home in Flagstaff.

“But we do have some people from California and other states as well,” he said.

Are single-agent home sales risky? Study finds buyers, sellers harmed without own agents

ABC 15 – May 31, 2021

“I have read the Consumer Federation of America Report, but have not had the opportunity to evaluate the methodology used to create the report or its accuracy,” said Michelle Lind, CEO of Arizona REALTORS®. However, I can comment on limited representation (dual agency) in Arizona.”

“Clearly defining agency relationships in a real estate transaction is important for both the clients and the brokers. Clients deserve to know who is representing them and acting in their best interests. Brokers must be clear about who they represent in a transaction to determine what duties are owed to which party. Therefore, the Arizona REALTORS® has the widely used Real Estate Agency Disclosure and Election Form to address the different agency relationships.”

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CRE: What’s the Big Picture?

In Business Magazine – May 2021

Addressing the office sector as distinct from the industrial, retail and multifamily sectors, Rick Padelford, an Arizona REALTOR^® with Realty Executive Commercial, says, “As offices begins to open back up and vaccines continue to be more widely distributed, the office sector will need to consider how to clean and disinfect common area spaces and the evolution of air circulation throughout office spaces.” He adds, “This is also something that we could see transferring to the retail sector,” noting that COVID-19 created some common concerns among the sectors.

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Seller’s market in Phoenix real estate is brutal for local buyers

3TV/CBS 5 – April 24, 2021

Jan Leighton, the president of the Arizona Association of Realtors, says in a normal market, there would be 20,000 to 25,000 active properties for sale in the Valley, specifically single-family detached homes. As of Friday afternoon, that number was below 4,000.

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Housing starts surge to 15-year high

AZ Big Media – April 18, 2021

According to the Arizona Association of Realtors, between March 2020 and March 2021, the number of active listings statewide fell 53 percent, while sales rose by just over 10 percent.  The sharp decline in listings meant just over one month’s worth of inventory at current sales levels, or falling nearly 55 percent, and prompting sales prices to rise by nearly 12 percent.

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Seller Property Disclosure Statement

Arizona Republic – April 8. 2021

Are you getting ready to sell your current home so you can purchase a new home? Here’s something you need to understand: the residential Seller Property Disclosure Statement, knowns as the SPDS.

What to Expect in the Greater Phoenix Commercial Real Estate Industry in 2021

InBusiness Magazine – March 2021

The buzzword for 2020 across all industries, including commercial real estate, was “pivot.” Fortunately, the fundamentals of the Phoenix-area commercial real estate market were strong before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we were prepared to weather the storm better than other markets across the U.S.

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Spotlight: Gary Nelson, Arizona Association of REALTORS®

Arizona Daily Sun – February 14, 2021

Just to start, tell us a bit about yourself. What drew you to a career in real estate?

I’m a lifelong resident of Flagstaff and in 1994, my wife Tammy and I were deciding whether we were going to stay in the Flagstaff area and start a family or relocate. After touring a large part of the western U.S., we decided to stay in Flagstaff. That meant I needed to look for a career change that would allow me to be rewarded for my own work ethic and also give me a schedule so that I could continue to enjoy what northern Arizona has to offer. That is when I became a Realtor.

What does your upcoming role as president of Arizona Association of REALTORS® encompass?

The Arizona REALTORS® focuses on four main subjects for its 54,000 members: professional development, ethics and arbitration, legislative concerns and business services. The Arizona Realtors are very proactive on improving new and existing programs and technologies for our members that ultimately benefit the consumer. Currently, we are trying to work with our state legislature to try to balance laws effecting both landlords and tenants related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also are very involved with fair housing, private property rights and housing opportunity on behalf of our clients and customers. I have been deeply involved with each of those aspects as a volunteer for the Association for many years.  My role as president will be to continue to serve our members by chairing meetings, working with our phenomenal staff on a daily basis, speaking on behalf of the Association and trying to improve communication to the membership.

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Bill provides protection against frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits

AZ Big Media

A bill that provides protection for businesses and others against frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits was introduced by Arizona Senator Vince Leach (R-SaddleBrooke) on Monday.

“What we’re trying to do is give targeted protection with some reasonable liability protection for businesses, educational providers, the healthcare industry, government agencies, religious institutions…,” Leach said. “We’re trying to give everyone the assurance that if they’re following sensible precautions against this terrible threat, this virus that we have, that they won’t see an onslaught of nuisance lawsuits.”

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Arizona Association of REALTORS offers 2021 predictions for seller’s market

Newsbreak

At the close of 2020, the Arizona real estate market continued to remain strong. Historically low mortgage rates kept buyers buying, meaning Arizona’s housing inventory was unable to keep up with demand. Representatives from the 2021 board of the Arizona Association of REALTORS share their predictions for 2021 as the seller’s market continues to flourish throughout the state of Arizona.

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Real Estate Market Maintaining Momentum in the New Year

Flagstaff Business News – Jauary 7, 2021

Staying strong since last June, the housing market on the local, state and national level has risen to a 14-year high, despite the pandemic, economic uncertainty and a difficult presidential election. Even during historically slow periods, like the holiday season, homebuyers are quickly purchasing the few homes listed for sale.

The shortage of housing inventory and extremely low interest rates have driven the hyperactive real estate market, says long-time realtor Gary Nelson, who heads the Gary Nelson Group and is the associate broker at Realty Executives of Flagstaff. That trend, he says, is expected to continue through 2021.

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Media Archive

About

The Arizona Association of REALTORS®

Arizona REALTORS® is the largest professional trade association in the state. It is comprised of individuals involved in the real estate industry, allied industries and firms. The association’s more than 40,000 members represent more than half of the real estate licensees in Arizona. For more information about the Arizona Association of REALTORS®, please feel free to browse around this site.