Maricopa County (January 29, 2026) -- The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) region is entering 2026 with three big storylines that cut across housing supply, homelessness response, and long-range transportation investment: elevated vacancy that doesn’t necessarily translate into available homes, the Valley’s annual Point-in-Time homelessness count, and the first wave of projects tied to Proposition 479.
Vacancy looks high—until you factor in seasonal and investor-owned housing
Housing vacancy rates are often cited as a simple indicator of whether a market has “enough” housing. But MAG is underscoring a key nuance in metro Phoenix: a meaningful share of vacant units are not sitting empty and available for new full-time residents. Instead, seasonal occupancy, short-term rentals, and second-home or investor ownership can inflate headline vacancy while leaving the effective supply of year-round housing far tighter than the raw numbers suggest.
MAG points to Maricopa County Assessor data showing roughly 25% of housing units are investor-owned or second homes—conditions that can make vacancy a misleading shorthand for availability.
More than 1,000 volunteers take part in the annual homelessness count
On January 27, more than 1,000 volunteers spread across the Valley—checking streets, alleys, parks, riverbeds, and other locations—as part of the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness.
PIT results help determine how much federal funding the region can compete for, inform how resources are directed among service providers, and establish a baseline for tracking progress year over year.
The most recent published PIT count recorded 9,734 people experiencing homelessness across the region, a 3% increase year over year. Data from the January 27, 2026, count is expected in late spring.
Prop 479 projects begin, starting with major freeway and arterial upgrades
Voters approved Proposition 479 in November 2024, extending a dedicated half-cent transportation sales tax for 20 years. MAG says January marks the start of Prop 479-funded work, kicking off with projects intended to improve freeway connectivity and key regional corridors.
First up is the construction of a new system interchange between Loop 303 and I-17, along with other major efforts, including the El Mirage Road extension between Jomax Road and Loop 303, the completion of State Route 24 (including grade-separated interchanges between Loop 202 and Ironwood Drive), and planned improvements at I-10 and Jackrabbit Trail.
MAG notes 183 projects are currently planned under the Prop 479 umbrella—an ambitious pipeline that will roll out in phases as funding and schedules align.
Photo of the Month: “Imagine This Place” at Bullard Wash Park
MAG also highlighted “Imagine This Place,” a public art installation in Bullard Wash Park, City of Goodyear, by artist Mary Lucking. The project invites visitors to picture the park across different moments in the past and future as they move along the trail.