By The Russo Fadler Group at Realty ONE Group. Reviewed by Lianne Russo Liddell, Associate Broker. Updated November 2026.

Relocating means making one of your biggest financial decisions from a distance. Whether you're moving to Greater Phoenix or leaving it, much of the process can be handled remotely, as long as someone here is managing the details you can't see from where you are.

This page covers what's different when you're buying or selling from out of state: how the remote process works, what tends to surprise people new to the Valley, how to time a move and how to sell a home you've already left.

Moving here? Get Expert Guidance on Moving to Phoenix. Moving away? Get Your Free Home Value Report.

How Do You Buy a Home in Greater Phoenix From Out of State?

The purchase itself follows the same contract, deadlines and protections as any Arizona purchase. What changes is how you search and how you stay involved from a distance. Here's how it typically works with our team:

1. 1 Video or phone consultation. We talk through your goals, timeline and budget, and review the paperwork with you so nothing is a surprise later.
2. 2 Buyer agreement. Before we tour homes together, either in person or by live video, we'll review and sign a written buyer agreement. This outlines our services, responsibilities and negotiable compensation.
3. 3 A focused search. We narrow the metro down to the areas that fit your commute, home features and budget, so you're not trying to evaluate the whole Valley at once.
4. 4 Video tours. Live or pre-recorded, so you see the home as it really is, not just the listing photos, and can ask questions as we go.
5. 5 Offer, contract and signing. Documents are reviewed and signed digitally, and closing signatures are coordinated with your escrow company.

Video tours narrow the list. They don't replace seeing the home. We don't recommend buying sight-unseen, so we'll help you plan an in-person visit that's short and focused on the homes and areas that made the cut. Ideally, that visit happens before you write an offer. If your timing doesn't allow it, we can discuss visiting during the inspection period, when you can evaluate the property in person and exercise any cancellation rights available under your purchase contract.

For the full purchase process, from preapproval to closing, see our Greater Phoenix Home Buyer Guide.

How Big Is Greater Phoenix?

Bigger than most people expect. Greater Phoenix isn't one city. It's a metro area made up of many cities and towns that run together, and getting from one side to the other can take far longer than the map suggests. This is the thing out-of-state buyers most often underestimate.

That matters because where you live shapes your daily life more than almost any feature of the house. A home that looks like a great value can come with a commute you'll make twice a day for years.

When is traffic heaviest?

Traffic across the Valley is typically heaviest from about 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from about 2 to 7 p.m. That afternoon window starts earlier than many newcomers expect. Actual drive times vary by route, direction and day of the week.

How Do You Choose an Area Before You Move?

Start with how you'll live, not with a list of city names. Before we look at a single home, we ask:

• Where do you need to be? Your commute, and how far you're willing to drive at rush hour.
• What do you need in a home? Size, single-story or two-story, a pool and other features.
• What's your budget? Including the monthly cost of owning, not just the price.

Those answers usually narrow the Valley to a handful of areas. From there, we look at what's happening in your segment of the market, meaning your price range, location and property type. Two areas can look similar on paper and behave very differently for buyers. Our Home Buyer Guide explains why there's no single Phoenix market.

How should you research schools?

If schools are part of your decision, research them directly. The Arizona Buyer Advisory notes that nothing replaces visiting a school and talking with its principal and teachers, and it points buyers to the Arizona Department of Education as a starting point online. Confirm attendance boundaries with the school district, too, since boundaries can change and online listings aren't always current.

The Arizona Department of Real Estate suggests finding a district's boundary map through AZ School Report Cards.

Arizona public school districts have open enrollment policies, but acceptance at a particular school may depend on available capacity and other applicable enrollment rules. Contact the school or district directly to confirm attendance boundaries, enrollment options and availability before making a housing decision.

Which Greater Phoenix Communities Should You Consider?

Greater Phoenix includes communities with different home styles, price ranges, commute patterns and amenities. We help relocating buyers explore areas throughout the Valley, including Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Scottsdale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, Chandler and Mesa.

The right location depends on your budget, housing needs, commute and daily routines. Rather than recommending a city based on popularity, we help you compare the areas that fit your circumstances and understand the current real estate market in each.

For additional information about city services, parks, community programs and local amenities, explore the official websites for the City of Phoenix, City of Glendale, City of Peoria, City of Surprise, City of Scottsdale, City of Goodyear, City of Buckeye, City of Avondale, City of Chandler and City of Mesa.

What Surprises Buyers New to Phoenix?

Besides the size of the metro, two things come up again and again with buyers moving here.

How common are HOAs in Greater Phoenix?

Very common, especially in newer neighborhoods. If you're coming from an area where homeowners associations are rare, it's worth understanding them before you start touring. An HOA can bring monthly dues, rules about how the home looks and how it can be used, rental restrictions and the possibility of special assessments. Those affect your monthly cost, your daily life and how easily you can sell later.

None of that makes an HOA good or bad. It's part of the home's total cost and should be weighed like any other feature. Our Home Buyer Guide covers what to review in HOA documents once you're under contract.

Should you buy new construction or resale?

Greater Phoenix has a lot of new construction, and builder communities can be appealing when you're shopping from far away. But a new build isn't simpler. It comes with the builder's own contract, incentive-based pricing, upgrade costs and, in some cases, longer timelines. Many builders also have first-visit or registration rules for buyer agents, so talk with us before you contact a sales office or register online.

Neither choice is better for everyone. Our Home Buyer Guide compares new construction and resale side by side.

How Do You Time a Move Around Selling Back Home and a New Job?

The two most common timing problems for relocating buyers are selling a home somewhere else and a job start date that doesn't move. Planning the order of events early gives you more options and makes your offers stronger.

Depending on your situation, the options we typically walk through include:

• A contingent offer. Your purchase depends on selling your current home, so you're not carrying two homes at once. The trade-off is that a contingent offer can be less competitive than one without that condition.
• Short-term rental housing. This acts as a bridge when your job starts before you've found or closed on the right home. It also gives you time to learn the area before you commit.
• An agent in your current market. If you're selling back home and don't already have someone, we can connect you with an agent there, so both sides of the move are coordinated.
• Negotiated closing dates. Setting the close of escrow to fit your sale or start date, where the seller's needs allow it.

What about moving in early or staying after closing?

Some buyers ask to move in before closing, and some sellers ask to stay after the home closes. These arrangements, called pre-possession and post-possession agreements, carry real legal, insurance, tax and financing risks for both sides. For example, when a buyer takes possession before closing, the seller's responsibility for the home's condition can end at that point, even though the buyer doesn't own it yet.

Arizona real estate rules require agents to recommend that clients get advice from insurance, legal, tax and accounting professionals before agreeing to one, and we generally recommend avoiding them. For most relocation timelines, there are cleaner solutions, like the ones above.

Buying and selling at the same time takes coordination. If you're selling in Greater Phoenix too, our Greater Phoenix Home Seller Guide covers that side of the move.

Can You Sell Your Phoenix Home After You've Moved?

Yes. Many sellers have already moved by the time their home goes on the market, and the sale can be managed without you being here. What matters is having someone local who handles access, vendors and paperwork, and keeps you informed.

Here's how we handle it:

• Secure access. Your home is listed with a secure ARMLS lockbox, so showings happen through the MLS system rather than a key under the mat.
• Vendor coordination. We coordinate access for the contractors, cleaners, photographers, inspectors and appraisers involved in the sale.
• Remote signing. Title companies often offer remote online notarization or a mobile notary who comes to you, wherever you are. Options depend on the title company and the documents involved.
• Regular updates. You hear from us on showing activity, buyer feedback, offers and every contract deadline, so you're not guessing from a distance.

One practical note: keep utilities on until closing. The buyer's inspections, the appraisal and the final walkthrough all need power and water.

For pricing, preparation and the full selling process, see our Greater Phoenix Home Seller Guide.

Relocation FAQs

Can you tour homes in Phoenix without traveling?

Yes. After a buyer agreement is signed, we tour homes with you by live video or send pre-recorded video tours. Video is the best way to narrow your list from a distance, but it works best paired with an in-person visit, ideally before you write an offer.

Should you buy a home sight-unseen?

We don't recommend it. Video shows you a lot, but it can't show you the drive at rush hour, the noise from a nearby road or how the area feels day to day. Narrow your list remotely, then plan a short, focused visit.

Can you sign closing documents remotely?

Most transaction documents can be signed electronically. Closing documents may require notarization, and depending on the lender and title company, remote online notarization or a mobile notary may be available. We confirm those options early so your closing arrangements don't become a last-minute problem.

Can you help if you're moving away from Phoenix?

Yes. We handle the sale of your Greater Phoenix home, and if you don't already have an agent where you're moving, we can connect you with one there.

How The Russo Fadler Group Helps With Relocation

The Russo Fadler Group is a Greater Phoenix real estate team at Realty ONE Group, co-owned and led by Lianne Russo Liddell, Associate Broker, REALTOR®, and Jason Fadler, REALTOR®. We represent buyers and sellers throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, including clients moving here and clients moving on.

When you're not here, our job is to be your eyes, your local knowledge and your deadline tracker: helping you understand the areas and trade-offs before you arrive, showing you homes as they really are and managing every contract date from acceptance to closing.

Every move is different, and these reflect two clients' experiences. You can read more reviews on Google and on our RateMyAgent profile. For an overview of everything we do, see our real estate services.

Planning a Move?

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