Investor-friendly real estate agents in Phoenix, AZ
We match investors with vetted Phoenix-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in Phoenix7 vetted investor agents across the Phoenix metro
Phoenix is not a 1% rule market, and an agent who tells you otherwise is selling you something. For most investors the best fit here is a short-term rental: winter demand is deep, Arizona can't ban STRs, and an STR is the vehicle for the STR loophole tax strategy. Value-add and house hacks can still work if you buy right. Either way, the deal is made on purchase price and strategy, which is exactly where an investor-focused agent earns their keep.
Phoenix's strongest play. Scottsdale and Phoenix STR acquisitions, including a team with in-house luxury STR management.
Long-term single-family rentals across the Valley, underwritten on today's rents, not 2022's.
Value-add purchases with contractor relationships for the rehab and refinance.
2–4 unit properties and small apartment buildings across the Valley.
First investment properties where you live in one unit or room and rent the rest.
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What investors say about our Phoenix agents
“He was willing to go out to the property a number of times during the due diligence and closing process since I am out of state and unable to. He was great with communication and checked in regularly… Even after closing he followed up a few times and continues to feed me deals that look promising.”
“Since Andrew has been investing for several years, his experience with rehab costs, how to best cash flow the property, and potential issues has been incredibly helpful for me. It's given me the confidence to write offers. Plus, he already has a team of people, so it saves me time looking for trustworthy people.”
“He is knowledgeable about his market, real estate investing and he has access to many vendor/partner/contractors that he can go to or give you for help with pretty much anything. I would highly recommend him to any investor!”
Is Phoenix worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Phoenix metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,199,536 |
| 2011 | 4,229,671 |
| 2012 | 4,287,608 |
| 2013 | 4,342,241 |
| 2014 | 4,409,354 |
| 2015 | 4,480,231 |
| 2016 | 4,556,103 |
| 2017 | 4,622,428 |
| 2018 | 4,694,480 |
| 2019 | 4,777,488 |
| 2020 | 4,875,256 |
| 2021 | 4,949,187 |
| 2022 | 5,025,111 |
| 2023 | 5,087,631 |
| 2024 | 5,169,873 |
| 2025 | 5,228,938 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +6,076 |
| 2012 | +34,663 |
| 2013 | +30,342 |
| 2014 | +39,879 |
| 2015 | +46,673 |
| 2016 | +53,677 |
| 2017 | +50,757 |
| 2018 | +63,682 |
| 2019 | +73,318 |
| 2020 | +82,380 |
| 2021 | +63,240 |
| 2022 | +46,119 |
| 2023 | +19,110 |
| 2024 | +21,267 |
| 2025 | +22,256 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,692,100 |
| 2011 | 1,717,200 |
| 2012 | 1,760,400 |
| 2013 | 1,811,600 |
| 2014 | 1,852,700 |
| 2015 | 1,914,400 |
| 2016 | 1,978,400 |
| 2017 | 2,037,900 |
| 2018 | 2,106,100 |
| 2019 | 2,177,300 |
| 2020 | 2,120,000 |
| 2021 | 2,216,700 |
| 2022 | 2,328,400 |
| 2023 | 2,402,200 |
| 2024 | 2,456,000 |
| 2025 | 2,462,500 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $957/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $1,004/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $1,072/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $1,159/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,252/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,364/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,677/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,703/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,704/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,706/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,695/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,722/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $146,121 |
| Dec 2011 | $135,755 |
| Dec 2012 | $165,420 |
| Dec 2013 | $197,813 |
| Dec 2014 | $207,124 |
| Dec 2015 | $225,888 |
| Dec 2016 | $241,308 |
| Dec 2017 | $258,138 |
| Dec 2018 | $278,681 |
| Dec 2019 | $295,750 |
| Dec 2020 | $339,138 |
| Dec 2021 | $438,760 |
| Dec 2022 | $465,485 |
| Dec 2023 | $460,682 |
| Dec 2024 | $461,455 |
| Dec 2025 | $446,689 |
| Aug 2026 | $442,078 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 19.7× |
| Dec 2016 | 20.0× |
| Dec 2017 | 20.1× |
| Dec 2018 | 20.0× |
| Dec 2019 | 19.7× |
| Dec 2020 | 20.7× |
| Dec 2021 | 21.8× |
| Dec 2022 | 22.8× |
| Dec 2023 | 22.5× |
| Dec 2024 | 22.5× |
| Dec 2025 | 22.0× |
| Aug 2026 | 21.4× |
Data retrieved October 13, 2026. Figures cover the Phoenix metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Phoenix
Zillow Home Value Index, Phoenix metro, Aug 2026 (−1.2% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (+0.7% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values −1.2%, rents +0.7%.
Why short-term rentals are usually the best fit in Phoenix
Long-term rents in Phoenix don't support median purchase prices. Nightly rates can. Greater Phoenix pulls in winter visitors, golf and resort travel, spring training and the big events like the WM Phoenix Open and Barrett-Jackson, so January through April is peak season. Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia, Tempe near ASU and the resort corridors are where most STR buyers look.
Arizona law also protects the strategy itself: cities can license and fine short-term rentals, but they can't ban them. That's a real advantage over markets where an ordinance can wipe out your business plan overnight.
- Summer is slow. Underwrite to full-year revenue, not peak-season months.
- Phoenix and Scottsdale STR supply grew a lot after 2020. Use real revenue comps and conservative occupancy, not a pro forma from a listing.
- HOAs can still prohibit STRs. Check the CC&Rs before you're under contract, not after.
Pair it with the STR loophole
If your average guest stay is 7 days or fewer and you materially participate (for example, 100+ hours a year and more than anyone else, including your cleaner and co-host), the IRS doesn't treat the property as a passive rental. Losses from it, including depreciation, can offset your W-2 or business income.
Most investors pair it with a cost segregation study to front-load depreciation into year one, and 100% bonus depreciation is back for property acquired after January 19, 2025. The strategy lives or dies on documentation: the stay averages and your hours have to hold up if you're audited. Run it past your CPA before you close.
STR Loophole: Our app for investors using the short-term rental tax strategy: track your material-participation hours, plus guides, calculators and cost-segregation workflows to use STR depreciation against W-2 or active income the right way.
Explore STR Loophole→Arizona landlord-tenant basics
Arizona's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10) is generally considered landlord-friendly. The points investors ask about most:
- Security deposit: capped at 1.5 months' rent (refundable). Return it, or an itemized list of deductions, within 14 business days of move-out.
- Nonpayment: a written 5-day notice to pay or quit is required before filing for eviction. Arizona eviction cases move quickly compared with most states.
- Entry: give the tenant at least 2 days' notice before entering, except in an emergency.
- No rent control: state law prohibits cities from imposing rent control, so Phoenix can't cap your increases.
- Rental registration: every residential rental must be registered with the county assessor (Maricopa County for Phoenix-area properties).
- Rental sales tax is gone: since January 1, 2025, cities can no longer charge transaction privilege tax (TPT) on long-term residential rentals (30+ days). Stays under 30 days still owe it.
Short-term rental rules in Phoenix & Scottsdale
Arizona law bars cities from banning short-term rentals outright, but since 2022 cities can require licensing and penalize bad operators — and Phoenix and Scottsdale both do.
- Phoenix requires an STR permit from the Planning & Development Department ($250 per property, renewed annually), applied for through the SHAPE PHX portal.
- Before applying, you must notify abutting neighbors and registered HOAs/neighborhood associations within 600 feet by certified mail, and designate a local emergency contact.
- Your permit number has to appear on every listing. Court-adjudicated violations carry escalating fines, and three in 12 months can suspend the permit.
- STRs must hold an Arizona TPT license and collect state, county and city transient lodging taxes — the 2025 rental-tax repeal does not apply to stays under 30 days.
- Phoenix ADUs permitted on or after September 14, 2024 can only be used as an STR if the owner lives on site.
- Scottsdale and other Valley cities run their own STR license programs. HOA rules are separate and can prohibit STRs entirely — check the CC&Rs before you buy.
Last reviewed October 13, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Phoenix metro; City of Phoenix — Short-Term Rentals; Arizona Department of Revenue — Residential rental tax changes; Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 33; 26 CFR §1.469-1T(e)(3) — rental activity exceptions.
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Questions investors ask about Phoenix
How many investor-friendly agents do you have in Phoenix?
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We currently work with 7 vetted agent partners across the Phoenix metro, covering Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, the West Valley, and Tucson. We match you with up to three based on your strategy, budget and target area.
Is Phoenix a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
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Not as a long-term rental at median prices. Typical rent-to-price in Phoenix is around 0.4% per month, far below the 1% rule. That's why most investors here run short-term rentals, where winter nightly rates carry the numbers, or buy below median and add value. House hacking also works for a first property.
What is the STR loophole, and does it work in Phoenix?
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It's a tax strategy, not a local rule, so it works anywhere, including Phoenix. If your rental's average guest stay is 7 days or fewer and you materially participate, its losses aren't passive and can offset W-2 or business income. Paired with a cost segregation study and bonus depreciation, that can mean a large first-year deduction. Our STR Loophole app (strhours.com) walks you through it; confirm the details with your CPA.
Can I run an Airbnb in Phoenix or Scottsdale?
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Yes. Arizona law prevents cities from banning short-term rentals, but Phoenix requires an annual $250 STR permit, neighbor notification, an emergency contact and an Arizona TPT license, and Scottsdale has its own license. HOAs can still prohibit STRs, so check the CC&Rs before you buy.
Is Arizona landlord-friendly?
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Generally, yes. Deposits are capped at 1.5 months' rent, nonpayment evictions start with a 5-day notice and move quickly, cities can't impose rent control, and since 2025 there's no city rental sales tax on long-term rentals.
Can I invest in Phoenix if I live out of state?
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Yes, and a lot of our Phoenix investors do. The key is an agent who will walk properties for you, attend inspections, and bring in contractors and property managers. That's a big part of how we vet the agents we refer.
What does it cost to get matched with a Phoenix agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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