What is the Arizona Buyer's Advisory?

What Is the Arizona Buyer Advisory? A Realtor's Guide for Phoenix Area Buyers

If you're buying a home in the Phoenix metro area, at some point during your transaction your agent will hand you a document called the Buyer Advisory. Many buyers skim past it or set it aside with the rest of the paperwork. After 30+ years helping buyers across the East Valley, I always tell my clients this is one document worth actually reading.

What the Buyer Advisory Actually Is

The Buyer Advisory is a complimentary 13-page resource created by the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) for consumers purchasing a home or other residential real estate in Arizona. It was developed in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Real Estate, and it exists purely to help you, the buyer, make an informed decision. greenvalleyhomessweephoenixazhomes

It's not a contract, and it's not something you negotiate. Think of it as a guided checklist that outlines crucial areas to investigate, from property conditions to neighborhood factors, so nothing catches you off guard after you've moved in. livebetterinscottsdale

Because it's packed with useful information, most brokers require that a buyer's agent share this document with the buyer at the time a purchase contract is signed. greenvalleyhomes

What's Inside It

The advisory is organized into a few key sections. It covers:

• Common documents you'll encounter, such as Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and title reports, explained in plain language. elpisrealestate
• Physical conditions in the property to look into. As one example, if the roof is 10 years or older, the advisory suggests you may want a roof-specific inspection. wisemoveaz
• Conditions in the surrounding area, including zoning, area development plans, and things like nearby registered sex offenders, along with flood zones, airport noise, or nearby mining operations depending on where the property sits. elpisrealestateelpisrealestate
• The importance of professional inspections, since the document points you toward the right specialists rather than trying to replace them.

And importantly, a buyer is expected to communicate any special concerns about the property or surrounding area to the agents involved, whether or not those issues are specifically addressed in the advisory. sweephoenixazhomes

Why It Matters for Phoenix Area Buyers Specifically

Every state handles this differently, and many states don't have anything comparable to Arizona's Buyer Advisory. That's a real advantage for buyers here. Our desert environment brings its own set of questions, from expansive soils to monsoon-related roof and drainage concerns to irrigation systems on older properties, and the advisory helps put those on your radar early rather than after you've closed. wisemoveaz

When You'll See It, and What to Do With It

You'll typically receive the Buyer Advisory before or at the time you submit an offer. Once you have an accepted offer, it becomes your responsibility as the buyer to perform your own due diligence during the agreed-upon inspection period, which is typically 10 days in Arizona. That's the window to work through the advisory alongside your home inspection and the seller's Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS). greenvalleyhomes

One more thing worth knowing: the advisory is updated regularly by the Arizona Association of Realtors, so you're always working from current information rather than something outdated. wisemoveaz

My Advice: Don't Skip It

I've seen buyers save real money and real headaches simply by reading through this document carefully and asking questions before their inspection period closes. It's not meant to scare you off a purchase. It's meant to make sure you walk into your new home with your eyes open.

If you're planning to buy in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, or anywhere else in the Phoenix metro area, I'll walk you through the Buyer Advisory personally and make sure you understand exactly what to look for on your specific property.

David Thomas, Realtor, HomeSmart Realty
Serving the Phoenix metro area
(602) 763-6363