Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue, we’re talking about making friends with your neighbors. It may seem daunting, especially when you’re settling into a new place—but in my experience, which I describe below, it’s so worth it.

We also look at some rentals with enticing features, chat about choosing to rent versus buy, and look at new efforts to bar corporations from buying single-family homes.

The next edition of Rent Check PHX will be in your inbox on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Hope you learn something useful, and make sure to forward this to a fellow renter and encourage them to sign up!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

I became friends with my neighbors to stop porch pirates. Here’s what happened next

illustration of pie, keys, and a package

(Francesca Daly/COURIER)

Is anyone else tired of feeling like they have to schedule hangouts with friends weeks in advance?

I found myself feeling this way a lot in my last living situation, and I realized distance played a big role. Driving from Phoenix to, say, Chandler to see a friend might not seem like a huge hike—but it’s also not something easy to do multiple times a week, especially on weekdays when you’re battling rush hour traffic on the 10.

Distance also makes spontaneity nearly impossible. A half-hour drive on the freeway takes way more energy than knocking on a neighbor’s door or running into someone at the bar down the street.

When I’ve lived in apartment complexes in the past, they felt transient and anonymous, and it didn’t feel worth it to try to form a relationship with neighbors. But when I moved into my current rental in downtown Phoenix two years ago, I decided this time was different. I was going to at least try making friends with people who lived close by—and the easiest place to start was next door.

Here’s how I introduced myself

🚗 If the garage is your favorite room of the house: This 1,883-square-foot home off 48th Street and Chandler Boulevard has a three-car garage with a workbench and built-in cabinets. The three-bed, two-bath also has a swimming pool with a diving board, and the owner covers yard and pool maintenance. The property is listed for $2,900 a month, and it looks like pets are a maybe—the listing says to contact them about it.

🛁 If you picture yourself in a cozy cottage: This 1930s bungalow near 24th Street and McDowell Road has so many cute features: a shady, fenced-in backyard, a cast-iron clawfoot tub, a front-porch sitting area, and raised garden beds. It comes fully furnished and is available Feb. 14. The two-bed, one-bath is 1,266 square feet, and cats and dogs are allowed. The monthly bill is $2,450, which includes utilities and internet.

⬆️ If you want to get some bang for your buck in north Phoenix: This is a huge place with a lot of features for under $3,000 a month. This 3,277-square-foot home off of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway features a private patio, balcony, fireplace, three-car garage, primary suite with a walk-in closet, solar panels, and more. There are also community pools, playgrounds, and walking/biking trails nearby. The five-bed, three-bath is listed for $2,750 a month, and pets are not allowed.

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

Email here

Listings available as of Jan. 20. 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!

This is The Tenant’s Voice, a place where we can share our renting frustrations, helpful tips, and pressing questions.

In the last edition, I shared a report that 3 in 5 renters are planning to continue renting in 2026.

I asked you and our social media followers if anyone chooses to rent because they want to—not just because they can’t afford to buy.

Here’s what you said:

🔑 “I prefer renting because someone else has to fix things. I prefer living alone because I was previously financially tied to someone who let me go. I don’t want to let that happen again.” — @dotcartman

🔑 “This feels like ragebait. People WANT to own homes, but most people CANNOT AFFORD IT. Even with 2 incomes. Let’s be real for once.” — @emilykpettit

🔑 “Anything but directly acknowledging that we live under a housing crisis.” — @yngev

🔑 “SO few [want] to rent. It’s not staying, it’s being trapped in renting. Since you know the corporations bought all the houses because our government let them and now we get to rent them because you ruined FMV [fair market value].” — Kay O.

I hear you. Lots of people would buy a home in a heartbeat if they felt like it was in their reach.

If you are curious about people who do choose to rent, though, you can read their stories here.

Email here

*Paywalled content noted with 🔒

🫟 HGTV did a survey to see what home design trends are standing out across the states. Here was Arizona’s top pick. (azcentral, 🔒)

❎ Both President Donald Trump and Democrats are taking aim at corporations buying single-family homes. (NPR)

🧑‍⚖️ Speaking of this, Arizona Democrats are pointing out that Trump’s comments align with legislation they’ve been trying to pass for years. (KJZZ)

🏡 US Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona unveiled a 36-page housing affordability plan that has support from multiple AZ cities. (Arizona Mirror)

🛠️ An Arizona bill encourages school districts to partner with developers to turn closed school buildings into affordable housing. (ABC 15)

🚿 If you like taking showers at night, these renter-friendly bathroom upgrades are for you. (Apartment Therapy)

Homes have been hard to come by and even harder to afford. Here are the 20 Arizona cities where it’s most affordable to buy. (The Copper Courier)