14Sep
Reading a Desert Floor Plan
Orientation, overhangs and window placement matter more here than square footage. A short guide to spotting a comfortable plan on paper.
The Journal
Nora Ellison02Sep
What a First Weekend Tells Sellers
Showings, feedback and saved listings in the first few days are the clearest signal a price is right. Here is how we read them.
Dana Whitfield“The right house is rarely the first one, and almost never the fastest decision.”
Claire Ashworth
A Note on Patience
HOA Documents Worth Reading Before You Offer
28Jul
Summer Cooling Costs, Explained
What drives a summer power bill in the valley, and the upgrades that bring it down the most.
Owen Baptiste15Jul
Valley Market Letter: Autumn
Inventory, days on market and price reductions across the valley, read aloud and summarized.
Between posts
Homes worth a look
Desert Ridge Villa
Board-formed concrete, cedar and glass on a quiet hillside lot. $2,450,000
Old Town Row Homes
Three stories and a roof deck, a short walk from Old Town. $925,000
Fairway Terrace Estate
An infinity-edge pool on the fairway, with mountain views. $3,950,000
Illustrative demo listings. Not an offer.
The writers
Who writes the journal
Senior agent
Nora Ellison
Twelve years selling hillside homes north of the 101, and a stickler for good data.
Listing agent
Dana Whitfield
Turns a cluttered listing into a clear story buyers can walk through.
Investments
Owen Baptiste
Runs the rent, tax and cap-rate math before a client ever tours.
Topics we cover
What you will find here
Buying guides
Plans, inspections and offers explained.
Selling notes
Pricing, preparation and launch week.
Market letters
Quarterly figures in plain language.
Desert living
Heat, water, cooling and outdoor rooms.
About the journal
Reader questions
Two or three posts a month, plus a quarterly market letter on prices, inventory and days on market across the valley.
Yes. Many posts start as a client question. Send yours through the contact form and we may answer it here.
Yes. Add your address in the footer. It arrives four times a year and you can unsubscribe anytime.
No. Posts are general information from working agents. For a specific home or decision, talk with an agent and, where it applies, a lender, attorney or tax adviser.