Where Sellers Still Have the Upper Hand in Phoenix

I keep hearing it: “So… it’s a buyer’s market now, right?” 

That depends. 

Yes, the frenzy is over. Inventory is higher than it was during the pandemic surge. Homes aren’t disappearing in 48 hours across the board. But that doesn’t mean sellers everywhere have lost leverage. 

Phoenix is not one market. It’s dozens of small ones stitched together. And some of those are still very much in the seller’s column. 

Start in the East Valley. Chandler and Gilbert continue to show real strength. There’s consistent demand, steady employment centers, and buyers who specifically want those communities. When a home in the mid price range is updated and priced correctly, it still moves. Sellers in these pockets are not giving away the house on concessions. 

Tempe behaves similarly in certain neighborhoods, especially near jobs and lifestyle hubs. Parts of Mesa and Queen Creek also lean seller, particularly when the home is move-in ready. Not everything flies, but the good listings do not sit. 

Then there are the lifestyle markets. 

Fountain Hills tends to operate on its own wavelength. Views, identity, a defined buyer profile. When something special hits the market and the price makes sense, it attracts attention quickly. 

The same is true in select central and east Phoenix neighborhoods. Historic homes. Amenity-rich pockets. Walkable areas. Places where buyers are not just shopping for square footage, but for a specific feel. Those areas often outperform the broader stats because they are not interchangeable with anything else. 

And here’s the part that surprises people: some West Valley suburbs still have heat in the right segments. 

Glendale and Peoria have family-oriented communities and master-planned areas where demand remains solid. Goodyear has price bands where updated, turnkey homes still draw serious interest. Not every listing is hot. But the right one, in the right condition and price range, can absolutely favor the seller. 

So what does this actually mean? 

If you’re selling in one of these stronger pockets, you may still have leverage. That does not mean you can overprice and hope. Today’s buyers are careful. But if you price strategically and present the home well, you are not in a weak position. 

If you’re buying in these areas, expect less flexibility. Cleaner offers matter. Strong financing matters. Being decisive matters. 

The headlines describe a metro average. Your block might be telling a different story. 

If you want to know whether your neighborhood is behaving like a seller’s market, a buyer’s market, or something in between, ask. In Phoenix, the answer can change a few streets over. 

Every neighborhood is behaving a little differently right now. If you’re wondering whether your street still favors sellers or has shifted toward buyers, I can pull the numbers and walk you through it.

Send me your ZIP code, or even your address, and I’ll give you a clear, no pressure read on where you stand.