5 places in the Phoenix area to watch your next sunset

1. The views. You will be pleased with the spectacular views that comes with high-rise living. Most towers will garner some type of views including mountain views, city views and even water views. Arizona high-rises offer all three options depending on location. Downtown Phoenix, Arizona can offer both city and mountain views, often times the rooftop will feed your eyes with 360 degree views. Tempe and Scottsdale offers high-rise developments that are nestled next to some type of water ways. No matter where you end up, you are sure to get some amazing Arizona views. 2. Location, location, location. High-rise living is all about location. One of the best benefits of high-rise living is the walking access to some of the best restaurants and shopping available, not to mention the entertainment life. Many high-rise buildings are located near bars, restaurants, clubs, shopping, comedy clubs and more. This convenience will make going out worry free as you are just a quick walk away from your favorite spots. 3. Less maintenance. High-rise living can mean less owner maintenance than the single-family home. This is because a lot of the typical maintenance items are covered by the HOA. This might include the pool, landscaping, common areas and even some utilities like HVAC systems, etc. It is always a good idea to check with the HOA to see what maintenance is including in your monthly HOA fee and what you will be responsible for. 4. Access to luxurious amenities. One of my favorite benefits of high-rise living is the access to luxurious amenities. These can be quite convenient and include things like business centers, entertainment space, pools and spas, high-end gyms, yoga studios and even gaming amenities like pool, ping-pong and even golf. Most high-rise developments even have entertainment space/pools on the roof-top making the sunsets and surrounding views breathtaking. 5. Increased security. Another great benefit of high-rise living is the increased security. Not only does your unit have less access to the public or ways of entry but you often have on-site security at the front entry or lobby area. This increased security can even save you on homeowners insurance. Having peace of mind that when you are traveling or away that your home will be protected and secure will make your travels a bit more peaceful. 6. Lower utility costs. Since most high-rise units are smaller or built with efficiency features like multi-pane windows, state of the art heating and cooling systems and built in technology apps to control your usage, your utility costs will typically be lower. Some developments may even include certain utilities like water, gas or even heating and cooling with your HOA fee. It is good to double check with the HOA to see what utilities you will be responsible for. 7. Socially enhanced. High-rise living can enhance your social life by offering amenities and features allowing you to entertain more than you usually would. This includes luxurious features like roof top entertainment spaces and even movie rooms. Often time, high-rise communities put together social gatherings for residents that allow you to meet your neighbors and form new friendships easily. This is great for both the socially active people and those who want to become more social or tend to be shy by being comfortable in your living corridors. Do you currently live the high life or considering about buying in a high-rise development? Let's talk about the pros and cons and determine if it aligns with your real estate and lifestyle goals!

According to data from the U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Arizona's job growth ranked 2nd in the nation last year. Arizona added 84,400 jobs in 2019 giving us a 2.8% increase in job growth. “Our focus will continue to be on cutting red tape and eliminating unnecessary regulations, while empowering people to get to work. My thanks to all our partners in the Legislature who have helped make Arizona competitive for people and businesses, and all the entrepreneurs and employees around the state working hard to grow our economy.” - Governor Doug Ducey Since 2015, Arizona has added more than 350,000 new private-sector jobs. From 2015 to 2019, Arizona saw the fastest decrease in its poverty rate of any state in the U.S. — equal to approximately 175,000 Arizonans who have lifted themselves out of poverty. Job growth in 2019 was driven largely by employment gains in sectors including trade, transportation, and utilities (17,700), education and health services (20,400), and professional and business services (6,600). Below are Arizona's 50 largest employers ranked by number of employees. It is important to note that since 1995 State of Arizona was the leader in jobs but has been overtaken by Banner Health int he last 5 years partly due to the increase in aging population and relocation of new residents to Arizona. *Employer name is followed with total number of employees. Banner Health - 47,000 State of Arizona - 41,847 Arizona State University - 35,730 Walmart, Inc. - 33,460 Fry's Food Stores - 21,738 University of Arizona - 20,462 Wells Fargo & Co. 17,217 City of Phoenix - 14,858 Maricopa County - 13,933 Intel Corp. - 12,190 HonorHealth - 12,163 Maricopa County Community College District - 10,870 Dignity Health Arizona - 10,598 JPMorgan Chase & Co. - 9,500 Amazon.com Inc. - 9,500 Freeport-McMoRan Inc. - 9,370 Bank of America - 9,000 Grand Canyon University - 8,682 Bashas' Family of Stores - 8,454 American Express - 7,940 Honeywell International - 7,661 State Farm - 7,600 Mayo Clinic - 7,500 UnitedHealthcare of Arizona - 7,056 Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) - 5,911 Phoenix Children's Hospital - 5,580 Salt River Project (SRP) - 5,286 Cigna - 4,700 The Boeing Company - 4,600 Abrazo Health - 4,363 City of Mesa - 4,013 Grand Canyon Education, Inc. - 3,910 Pride Group LLC - 3,883 Northrop Grumman - 3,600 Sonora Quest Laboratories - 3,328 ABM Industries - 3,125 Cox Communications Arizona - 3,100 Charles Schwab & Co. - 3,000 General Dynamics Mission Systems - 2,600 Humana, Inc. - 2,534 Waste Management - 2,352 City of Chandler - 2,227 Freedom Financial Network - 2,203 Discount Tire - 2,162 Empire Southwest - 2,160 Earnhardt Auto Centers - 2,121 Microchip Technology, Inc. - 2,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona - 1,938 Insight Enterprises Inc. - 1,723 Avnet - 1,416 *data contributed by Phoenix Business Journal

We love our local businesses and support them whenever we can! From local restaurants, makers and artists, to local photographers and entrepreneurs. We believe our local businesses are what makes us unique, and such an incredible place to live. Here is a small list of local businesses you must know about! Ruby Rideout – Photographer Ruby is a local Valley photographer, and she is an expert at her craft! She specializes in weddings, business photography and product shots! Her creative style allows her to capture people at their best and shine a light on their most important moments. If you’re looking a professional and experienced photographer, in The Valley head to Ruby’s website: www.rubyrideout.com (Ruby was the photographer for all the professional photos of myself on my website) Citizen Home Décor – Handcrafted Wood Décor Citizen HD is owned and operated by a sweet little family of Arizona natives. Scott Goodson brings us beautiful, Arizona inspired décor by using quality wood and craftsmanship. You can shop their items online, and follow them on Insta at: @citizenhd Berdenas – Coffee and Tea This hidden gem is located in Old Town Scottsdale and serves up the best avocado toast in The Valley! Known for their vibrant décor, and Honey Lavender Latte, this place is sure to give you small town vibes with style. Worth Takeaway – Sandwich Shop Worth is Mesa’s most popular local spot. The food is fresh, the staff is amazing, and it has revived Downtown Mesa! They even do a popup event, during October, where they turn their shop into Bob’s Burgers. Trust me when I say, they go all out! Also, keep an eye out for their Monday night specials! They serve up some of the best rotating features in the East Valley. Birdytell – Curated Gifts Lisa Morrow is an entrepreneur with compassion, and a love for the local community. She builds stunning curated gift boxes with local, quality, handmade goods! Her business offers support to local artisans and provides opportunities to build custom gifts for people you love. Follow her in Instagram here: @birdytell Paige Poppe – Artist Paige Poppe is a watercolor artist, who creates the most vibrant Southwest-inspired artwork. Her color schemes are bright, beautiful and she builds some amazing products through her illustrations. Her Instagram is filled with her work! You can find her here: @paigepoppe We have SO many amazing local businesses that you can support. Phoenix has always perpetuated the love and backing of our local business owners. We know they are the reason our city is so eclectic and unique. Check back for our next local business feature!