May 2025

Podcast Interviews

Renter Relief or Budget Blow? The End of Arizona’s Rental Tax

Beginning January 1, 2025, cities across Arizona will no longer be allowed to charge a rental tax on many residential properties—a policy shift that could offer renters modest monthly savings while stripping local governments of an estimated $230 million in annual revenue. In this episode of Inside the Ascent, our Tax Editor Justin Quen, CPA, breaks down what this change really means for both renters and municipalities.

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Podcast Interviews

Losses Into Leverage: Smart Tax Moves for Arizona Investors

What if your biggest financial losses could actually work in your favor? In this episode of Inside the Ascent, we’re joined by our tax editor Justin Quen, CPA, to explore how Arizona investors can turn market volatility into a strategic tax advantage. From capital losses and tax-loss harvesting to the unique benefits of Arizona’s 2.5% flat income tax, Justin breaks down what you need to know to make smarter year-end decisions—and potentially save thousands.

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Taxes

Turn Losses Into Leverage: Smart Tax Moves for Arizona Investors

When you sell an asset like a stock, bond, or property for a profit, that gain is taxable. Federally, the rate depends on how long you've held the asset. In Arizona, capital gains are treated as ordinary income and taxed at a flat 2.5% state income tax rate.

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Real Estate

Phoenix Housing Market Panic? Not So Fast. Here’s the Real Story.

It’s hard to miss the bold headline that recently ran in Newsweek on May 1st, 2025: "Phoenix Housing Market Faces 'Mass Sell-Off' as Home Values Plunge." If you’re a homeowner, a buyer, or simply someone keeping an eye on the market, you probably felt a jolt reading those words. Mass sell-off? Plunging values? It sounds catastrophic. But here’s the truth: the market isn’t collapsing—it’s correcting. And that distinction matters.

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Real Estate

The Phoenix Housing Market in 2025: A New Chapter of Opportunity

Data from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) shows that 5,416 homes sold in April 2025—that is a 4.6% increase from the same time last year.

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