Is the Phoenix housing market crashing, or is this the best time to buy a house in Phoenix in

years? Mortgage rates are back near 7%, home prices have been flat for four years, and sellers

are cutting prices. Arizona REALTOR® Rebecca Rei and her lender and title partners break

down what the data actually says.

Rebecca is joined by Anthony Penna of Navi Title, Tara Krieg of TK Team Lending, and Joe Smith

of Epic Mortgage, with more than 100 combined years in Arizona real estate. Together they

cover the 2026 Phoenix real estate market: why the median home price went from $444,000 in

August 2022 to $445,000 today, why rising foreclosure headlines look nothing like 2008, and

why buyers suddenly have real negotiating power.

In this episode:

context

- Is the Phoenix housing market going to crash? Foreclosures, short sales and price cuts in

- Mortgage rates in 2026: what is pushing them toward 7% and what could bring them down

- Should you buy a house now or wait? Why you can refinance the rate but never the price

- Temporary rate buydowns and seller concessions: when they help and when they backfire

- First-time home buyers in Arizona: gift of equity, gifted down payments and shared equity

with parents

- Where to find single-family homes in the $300s in Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek and

Maricopa

- Seller reality check: 76% of August sales closed under list price and 51% had price cuts

- Why Phoenix is shifting from boom market to steady 2–5% appreciation

- The most affordable U.S. cities to buy a home in 2026

Recorded September 14, 2026. Point-in-time market update, not financial advice.

GUESTS

Anthony Penna, Senior Vice President, Navi Title

B•Real Media | Rebecca Rei Podcast | Show Notes 1Title and escrow services for Arizona real estate transactions.

apenna@navititle.com | 602-510-8848

https://www.navititle.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-penna-04b55620

Tara Krieg, Founder & Senior Loan Officer, TK Team Lending

Mortgage planning, purchase and refinance loans, and credit education.

tkrieg@tkteam.us | 480-344-1951

https://www.tkteam.us/about/

Joe Smith, Mortgage Broker, Epic Mortgage LLC

Independent mortgage broker since 2002, comparing loan options across multiple lenders.

joe@myepicloan.com | 602-741-4121

https://myepicloan.com/joe-smith-2/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-smith-6027414121

Anthony, Tara and Joe are sponsors of the Rebecca Rei podcast.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Rebecca Rei Hidalgo is a Phoenix-area real estate agent with 33 years of experience. Every

week she breaks down the Arizona housing market, mortgage rates and home prices with the

lenders, title experts and agents who live it, plus real stories from inside the home. The show

helps fuel the Rooted in Gratitude Foundation, a nonprofit advocating for affordable housing in

Arizona.

Follow the show, leave a rating, and share this episode with anyone thinking about buying or

selling a home in Arizona.

We are back!😄 With the new year in full swing, our host Rebecca Rains is joined by our expert guests Tara Krieg with the TK Team, Joe Smith with Epic Mortgage, and Anthony Penna with Navi Title to share fresh stats, market insights, and expert advice to help you navigate the housing🏠 market in 2025!Anthony kicks things off with a shocking stat: 71% of real estate agents didn’t close a single deal last year.🤯 Tara dives into buyer trends, revealing why people are tired of waiting for rates to drop and are jumping into the market now. Rebecca breaks down the Cromford Report, showing which Arizona cities are hot for buyers and sellers—and why Maricopa might not be the best bet right now.🙅Anthony shares his 2025 housing market forecast, while Tara explains why rates could drop this year. Rebecca highlights the importance of acting now, sharing a story about a client who almost waited too long to buy. Plus, she voices her concerns about the future for first-time homebuyers amid commission changes.💸Packed with actionable insights, this episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to make smart moves in real estate this year. Don't miss out!Listen & Learn:0:45 - Rebecca intros Tara, Joe, & Anthony2:54 - How business has been this year so far for Joe, Tara, & Anthony4:05 - How has it been for Rebecca in the real estate sector5:13 - Anthony’s stats on real estate agent closings in the previous year9:52 - Tara’s chart on the percentage of people looking to buy a home this year & why10:45 - People are tired of waiting for rates to come down and are starting to buy again11:45 - Rebecca explains the Cromford chart on the top cities in Arizona today12:40 - It’s a buyer’s market in some areas but in popular markets it is still a seller’s market14:40 - Maricopa may not be the best place to invest right now according to the Cromford index18:00 - Anthony’s slides on the 2025 housing market forecast19:30 - Tara’s belief as to why rates will hopefully be going down this year21:28 - Mortgage Rate Projection chart explained22:15 - Mortgage rates by decade and will more homes sell in 2025?23:11 - Good houses are still selling fast and buyer’s markets are area specific in Arizona25:30 - Anthony’s charts and why he believes home prices will continue to increase26:50 - Rebecca’s example of a client of hers that was thinking of waiting to buy and how it would be more beneficial to buy now vs waiting28:40 - Rebecca’s concerns about the future for first time home buyers and how the commission settlement is going to affect them32:00 - Final thoughts from Tara, Joe, & AnthonySpecial Guests:Anthony Penna - Senior Vice President at Navi Title"There is nothing more satisfying than helping people achieve their goals by providing them with opportunities to excel in their business. It’s an awesome process that I feel very fortunate to be a part of." Navi Title Agency is an Arizona-based full-service title agency. They offer competitive escrow and title solutions complemented by a strong tradition of grassroots standards.Phone: 602-510-8848Email: apenna@navititle.comWebsite: www.navititle.com/Joe Smith - Owner/Broker of Epic Mortgage:Joe Smith first started in the mortgage business in 2002 as a loan officer. He quickly established himself as a top producer, eventually managing the state of Arizona for a top 10 mortgage lender. After 17yrs in traditional retail banking, working for many top companies in the mortgage business he decided to make a jump to becoming a mortgage broker himself. Currently, Joe is the Broker and Owner at Epic Mortgage and is definitely someone you're gonna want to go to for advice on lending!Phone: 602-741-4121Email: joe@myepicloan.comWebsite: www.myepicloan.comTara Krieg - Owner of TK Team Lending:Licensed to provide mortgages and loan programs for homeowners and buyers within Arizona, she has over 12 years' of experience in all aspects of real estate finance, real estate investing, mortgage planning, and business planning. Her specialties include loan origination, credit education, mortgage-related financial consulting and planning, and personal coaching of Junior Loan Officers.Phone: 480-344-1951Email: tkrieg@amerifirst.usWebsite: www.tkteam.usFollow us on Facebook or Instagram @GratefulHeart.Tv💖Listen🎧, Rate🌟, & Subscribe on Spotify & Apple Podcasts