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Mesa Infrastructure Update: Road Improvements, Commercial Growth, and How They Impact Property Values Mesa is in the middle of one of its most active stretches of road and commercial investment in years, concentrated heavily on the southeast side near Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport. For buyers, sellers, and investors, understanding where this growth is happening, and what it does and doesn't mean for property values, is worth a closer look. Several major road projects are underway. Ellsworth Road between Ray and Germann is being widened to six lanes with dedicated bike lanes, upgraded signals, new lighting, storm drain upgrades, and landscaped medians, wrapping up in 2027. Broadway Road from Lesueur to Spur is getting a full reconstruction, including replacing aging underground water, gas, and storm drain infrastructure, with completion expected in early 2028. The city is also improving the University and Stapley intersection, Elliot Road, and Val Vista Drive, and recently finished resurfacing and new bike lanes on Extension Road connecting to the light rail line, part of Mesa's Safer Streets program targeting a 30 percent reduction in serious roadway injuries and fatalities by 2030. Southeast Mesa's Elliot Road Technology Corridor has become one of the biggest employment and industrial growth areas in the Southeast Valley, drawing major tech and data center investment tied to Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, and EdgeCore. Recent activity includes a $70 million sale of 270 acres for a proposed manufacturing and technology employment park, and the groundbreaking of Elliot Tech Center, a 1 million square foot mixed-use industrial and retail project at Signal Butte and Elliot, with roughly 620,000 additional square feet planned in later phases. The surrounding Gateway area spans roughly 35 square miles, functioning as a developing aerotropolis anchored by an airport serving more than 1.5 million travelers a year, plus ASU's Polytechnic campus. Mesa is also adding housing and hospitality near these job centers: Cabana Mesa Drive, a 180-unit infill apartment community near downtown with light rail access, is expected to complete in January 2027, and the Cambria Hotel Mesa is under construction at 3501 S. Ellsworth Road. Does all this growth raise property values? Generally, yes, over the medium to long term — new employers bring jobs, jobs support housing demand, and better roads make daily life easier. But it isn't immediate or guaranteed for every property. Homes closest to active construction can see real, if temporary, disruption from noise, dust, and traffic, generally one to two years for a major corridor rebuild, before the long-term benefits show up in demand and pricing. If you're weighing a purchase or sale near any of these corridors, I'd be glad to help you understand what's happening nearby and what it could mean for your timeline. Dawn Forkenbrock, Mesa Realtor w/ Real Broker

If you’re already paying $2,500+ a month in rent, you’re already paying a mortgage. It’s just someone else’s. And one thing about renting is that your rent can go up again next year. With a fixed rate mortgage, your principal and interest payment stays the same, and you’re actually paying toward something you own. I’m not saying everyone should run out and buy a house tomorrow. But if you’re paying $2,500+ a month to rent, it’s probably worth having the conversation and seeing what buying would actually look like. You might be surprised! DM me to set up a mini consultation. Dawn Forkenbrock, Queen Creek Realtor w/ Real Broker #queencreekrealtor #santanvalleyrealtor #arizonarealestate #firsttimehomebuyer #phoenixrealestate

Upgrading from a Starter Home in San Tan Valley or Tempe to Queen Creek: Strategy & Timing A starter home in San Tan Valley or Tempe builds equity quietly for years, and then one day the question shifts from whether to move up to how. Queen Creek is a common next step for buyers from both markets, but the price gap and the logistics of selling one home while buying another deserve real planning, not a decision made under pressure after falling for a listing. San Tan Valley's median has generally run $400,000 to $430,000 through 2026, and Tempe's $445,000 to $470,000, while Queen Creek's median has generally run around $650,000. That puts the typical gap at roughly $220,000 to $235,000 from San Tan Valley, and roughly $180,000 to $205,000 from Tempe. But that gap doesn't need to come from savings alone — what actually funds most move-up purchases is the equity built in the current home through appreciation and mortgage paydown, not the raw price difference between the two markets. Every move-up buyer faces the same core decision: sell first, or buy first. Selling first with a rent-back arrangement, commonly 30 to 60 days, avoids financing costs and carrying two mortgages, but can require temporary housing if the rent-back isn't long enough. Buying first using a HELOC or bridge loan lets you make a cleaner, non-contingent offer, but adds financing costs and the risk of carrying two payments if your current home takes longer to sell than planned. A HELOC is generally the lower-cost option, with 2026 rates commonly 7.5 to 8 percent and no origination points, but it must be set up before your current home is listed — most lenders won't issue one once a property is actively on the market. A bridge loan can be arranged later in the process but typically costs more, with rates commonly 9 to 11 percent plus 1 to 2.5 points in origination fees. On $100,000 borrowed for roughly four months, a HELOC at 7.8 percent runs about $2,600 in interest, while a bridge loan at 10 percent plus 2 points costs roughly $5,300 once fees are included. Can a contingent offer work in today's Queen Creek market? It has a reasonable chance — recent data shows average days on market in the 90 to 96 day range and a sale-to-list ratio around 97.5 percent, conditions reflecting a balanced market rather than a fast-moving seller's market with routine multiple offers. Still, a contingent offer competes less favorably against a non-contingent one when more than one buyer is interested, so having your current home already listed or under contract meaningfully strengthens it. If you're starting to think through this move, start with a current equity estimate and a mortgage pre-approval for the Queen Creek price range you're considering — ideally before your current home goes on the market. That gives you time to compare your real options (HELOC, bridge loan, contingent offer, or sell-first) rather than deciding under pressure once you find the home you want. Dawn Forkenbrock, East Valley Realtor w/ Real Broker