jennifer – Arizona Ascent

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Communities

Peoria, Arizona: The City of Opportunity and Lifestyle

Peoria, Arizona, was once a quiet suburban retreat, but today, it’s a city on the rise. With its population growing by 5.2% since 2020, Peoria has transformed into one of the Valley’s most desirable places to live and work. In 2025, Peoria boasts a growing community of approximately 201,000 residents, all drawn by the city’s booming economy, top-notch schools, affordable living, and rich quality of life. It’s no wonder that Peoria is not just growing—it’s flourishing.

Communities

The Phoenix Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Independent Filmmaking

When most people think of the film industry, Hollywood is the first place that comes to mind. However, our state of Arizona is shifting that view. From March 27th to April 6th, I had the privilege of attending the iconic Phoenix Film Festival for the third time. The Phoenix Film Festival turned 25 this year, which made this year’s festival all the more exciting.

Business Spotlight

From Heartbreak to Hope: How Brenda Muriera and TrialNAV Are Revolutionizing Cancer Care in Arizona

In Chandler, Arizona, under the bright desert sky, a quiet revolution is taking place—one rooted in loss, driven by empathy, and powered by innovation. Brenda Muriera, RN, BSN, CCRP, isn’t just another clinical research executive. She’s a woman on a mission to make sure that no cancer patient slips through the cracks of a system that too often misses the chance to offer hope.

Real Estate

Greater Phoenix Real Estate: What the Market’s Shifting Trends Really Mean

Spring 2025 has arrived in Greater Phoenix, and the housing market is showing signs of cooling off. For the first time in a while, buyers are starting to gain the upper hand—but not everywhere, and not in the same way. Underneath the headlines and average prices lies a much more complex and revealing story, shaped by neighborhood dynamics and the way we interpret the numbers.

Communities

Scottsdale’s Big Bet: Axon’s $1 Billion Project Sparks Hope and Controversy

Near Hayden Road and Loop 101, the future of Scottsdale is under construction — at least in theory — and with it, one of the most hotly contested debates the city has faced in years. On April 18, 2025, Governor Katie Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1543 into law, a move that cleared the path for Axon Enterprise Inc.’s $1 billion mixed-use development and, at the same time, overruled a local referendum drive that aimed to stop the project before the first shovel hit the dirt.

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