Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue we’re talking about neighborhood meetings—and what it’s like to go to one. 

We’ve also got some news about plans for affordable housing in the Valley, rental listings in 55+ communities, and upcoming community events.

Hope you find this edition useful, and please forward to any renters you know! I’ll be back in your inbox next Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

*Paywalled content noted with 🔒

📈 Increases in mortgage rates are keeping buyers out of Arizona’s housing market at a time of year when demand is typically rising. (Phoenix Business Journal, 🔒)

🧑‍⚖️ A pilot program to help Maricopa County renters avoid eviction will launch by the end of this month. (Daily Independent, 🔒)

👷 An affordable apartment building with 20 units will be built next to Phoenix’s Acacia Library. (Daily Independent, 🔒)

🔑 A Glendale nonprofit bought 3 acres to build an affordable residential community for people with disabilities. (ABC 15)

☀️ If you want to get more use out of your patio this fall, here are nine small sets on sale now. (Apartment Therapy) 

💸 Want to help out your neighbors and build community? Consider setting up a “free stuff” table. (Instagram)

🐶 Here are 15 dog breeds well-suited for apartment living, considering behavioral traits and size. (Quartz)

My first neighborhood meeting involved discussions with police and the city about crime, parking, and more—plus a chance for residents to bring up concerns. (Kelly Lennon/COURIER)

I’ve lived in downtown Phoenix’s Garfield Historic Neighborhood for nearly three years now, renting a condo in a small community. 

In that time, I’ve made friends in the neighborhood, become a regular at local businesses, and joined neighborhood potlucks and trash pickups. But until last month, I had never been to one of the neighborhood organization’s monthly meetings. 

Part of that was because I didn’t think it was for people like me.

In my 13 years as a renter, I never saw myself having much say in a neighborhood. I was only familiar with homeowners’ associations doing this kind of work, and the name makes it clear who those are for. I didn’t realize that some neighborhoods have organizations where anyone who lives there, whether you own property or not, can show up and help shape the community. 

It also hasn’t helped that I’ve rarely stayed in one place for more than one or two years at a time. I’ve never felt rooted enough to weigh in on local issues—and even if I wanted to, it didn’t feel like I’d be taken seriously. 

But attending this Garfield meeting made me realize that that’s not always the case.

One of our readers asked me to spotlight some listings in 55+ communities, so here are some I found this week. 

🌹 Rosewood Court: This community near 15th Avenue and Camelback Road has a 680-square-foot, one-bed, one-bath listed for $966 a month. Tenants must meet income eligibility requirements in order to qualify for the apartment. The property has a community playground and shared laundry. It’s unclear if pets are allowed. 

🏊 Washington Pointe: This income-restricted community for seniors 62 and older is located near 16th and Jefferson streets. Its cheapest open rental is a 674-square-foot one-bed, one-bath for $841 a month. There are several 836-square-foot two-bed, two-baths listed for $1,175 a month. The community offers shared laundry, a gym, a resident lounge, and a pool. Cats and dogs are allowed. 

🧘 Zen Senior Living: This property near 24th Street and Cactus Road has several two-bed, two-baths listed for $1,375-$1,425 a month. The square footage ranges from 877 to 1,077. The community is pet-friendly and has a dog park. It also offers in-unit laundry, a gym, and a pool. 

If you come across any interesting, weird, or surprisingly affordable listings that you think should be featured here, please send them my way!

Listings available as of Aug. 3. I’m not paid to share these listings, but that doesn’t mean I can personally vouch for them. Please do your research before applying and signing a lease!

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner and edited by Crystal Niforos.

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