2026 So Far

[Mason Weiss]

I've been investing in the Phoenix metro since 2022 and every week someone asks me if it's still worth it. My answer is still yes and here's why. The semiconductor and advanced manufacturing boom (TSMC, Intel, Fujifilm) has pumped over $113 billion in long-term investment into the Valley, which means stable, high-wage jobs and consistent rental demand that doesn't evaporate when the hype cycle ends. Population keeps climbing, there's no state income tax, Arizona is landlord friendly, and you can run a portfolio here remotely without much friction. The West Valley including Buckeye, Goodyear, and Surprise still has room to run on price appreciation, and Pinal County is where smart money is quietly picking up entry-level rentals before the metro overflow fully arrives.

A few niche angles worth explore: Phoenix STRs near Glendale and Peoria cash flow well off sports tourism year-round between the Cactus League, Cardinals games, and concert events at State Farm Stadium. If you have W-2 income, pairing a Phoenix STR with a cost segregation study is one of the cleanest bonus depreciation plays in the country right now. Sellers are currently offering around $10K in concessions and savvy investors are using that to replace HVAC or roofing pre-close instead of taking a rate buydown, which stretches the value well beyond face value. Compared to Austin or Nashville, Phoenix still wins on rent-to-price ratio and isn't getting buried in new construction supply. Happy to dig into any of this and curious what you all are seeing out there?