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Cornerstone Appraisal · Arizona insights

Phoenix Appraisal Blog

Market changes, property policy, and the value questions behind the headlines.

From the appraiser's desk

A clearer view of Arizona real estate.

Each Monday, we look at housing trends, changes in real estate rules, and what they can mean for property owners, attorneys, and real estate professionals. Each post brings an independent appraisal perspective to the topic.

October 2026

Photorealistic illustration of a Phoenix ranch-style home with a Phoenix Area Realty For Sale sign
· Market insight

September’s Phoenix housing market: More choice, fewer contracts, steady prices

Inventory increased and contracts declined, while the median sale price held at $450,000. Explore September’s numbers and our interactive look at who has the upper hand.

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Appraiser using a Leica DISTO D810 laser measure with appraisal forms and an Arizona home
· Appraisal practice

UAD 3.6: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

A critical look at whether appraisers, lenders, AMCs, and software companies are ready for UAD 3.6—and what the new temporary policy exception reveals.

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New homes under construction beside completed homes with for-sale signs
· Housing affordability

The New American Housing Crisis? Part 1

A buyer's market can offer more choices and negotiating room while homeownership remains painfully unaffordable. Here is why today's slower market still feels stuck.

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September 2026

Phoenix skyline at sunset
· Market insight

Fed raises rates: What might happen to Phoenix home sales and prices?

Mortgage rates were already above 7% in a daily measure. Two earlier Phoenix rate-rise periods show why sales and prices may respond at different speeds.

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Sunlit Phoenix-area home with desert landscaping in summer
· Market insight

Greater Phoenix in August: More choice, slower sales

Months of supply increased as closed sales eased, while new contracts edged higher. A property-level perspective on a mixed August market. Full-month figures added September 17.

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August 2026

Detached accessory dwelling unit beside a pool at dusk
· Policy & property value

Arizona’s ADU law: What it means for marketability and value

House Bill 2720 widened the path for casitas and other accessory dwelling units in many Arizona cities. Whether an ADU increases a particular home's value is a separate market question.

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Phoenix home with solar panels in the summer sun
· Energy & appraisal

Home solar in Arizona: How it works and how an appraiser sees it

From panels and batteries to ownership agreements, an appraiser’s guide to solar equipment and market value.

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July 2026

Illustration of a Phoenix home, appraisal checklist and magnifying glass
· Appraisal basics

Eight appraisal myths that deserve a closer look

From price per square foot to tax values and online estimates, a practical guide to what an appraisal really does.

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Illustration of a Phoenix house in spring and late-year light
· Market insight

When is the best month to sell a Phoenix-area home?

Two years of ARMLS residential closings rank the busiest and slowest months, with a closer look at why seasons matter.

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June 2026

November 2026 calendar with November 2 circled and a handwritten red UAD 3.6 is coming note
· Appraisal practice

UAD 3.6 is coming: What changes for homeowners, agents and lenders?

The November 2 transition changes appraisal reporting and preparation. Here is what each party can do before the deadline.

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Aerial illustration of a Phoenix-area residential neighborhood in spring
· Market insight · Updated September 17

Phoenix’s spring 2026 housing market: More closings, more room to compare

ARMLS spring sales rose from 2025 while buyers still had ample choice. Includes charts and a spring-to-summer check.

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More perspectives

Around the real estate blogosphere

Explore appraisal writing from other states and Arizona real estate insights from local agents.

Appraiser perspectives

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Published October 5: UAD 3.6: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss. New schedule: New Phoenix Appraisal Blog articles are planned for Mondays. The remaining parts of this housing series will continue the discussion of access, policy, and the differences between today's market and the 2008–2011 housing crisis.