Why a Longtime Washington Businessman Is Selling Up and Moving to Arizona — What It Means for Real Estate USA

A prominent Washington owner sells two properties and heads for Arizona

Scott Fitzsimmons has been part of Washington life for decades. He hit a home run at the Kingdome, did a backflip on home plate, and still drives the car he won years ago with the license plate "I-1THIS." Now he is selling two properties in Washington, moving his businesses to Arizona and becoming an Arizona resident within weeks. Fitzsimmons told the John Curley Show on KIRO Newsradio he has been planning the move since 2019 and that a series of problems finally pushed him to change states.

This is a story about one man's personal and financial choice, but it raises wider questions for anyone watching the real estate USA market: what happens when established business owners and property holders relocate, and how should buyers, investors and expats interpret moves driven by taxes, transport and local politics?

The man, the move and the stated reasons

Fitzsimmons is not leaving because of a single issue. In his interview he cited a combination of factors: high taxes, including the state estate tax; worsening traffic; and dissatisfaction with city and state leadership. He said Washington is "not a very fun place to do business" and that he feels his work and assets are at risk of being "stolen" by policy decisions. He also criticized local leaders by name in the interview.

Key facts from the interview:

• He is selling two properties in Washington.
• He plans to become an Arizona resident within weeks.
• He has been planning the move since 2019.
• He described carrying a small presence in Washington even after the move.
• He aired his views on KIRO Newsradio's John Curley Show.

Those are concrete actions: listing properties, shifting business operations, and changing domicile. For the local property market and for investors watching cross-state relocations, those actions have knock-on effects.

Why taxes and policy matter for real estate decisions

Fitzsimmons singled out taxes — in particular the estate tax — as a major factor in his decision. To put that in plain terms for real estate owners and investors: state-level tax rules influence both personal wealth planning and the economics of owning property.

• Washington state has a state estate tax; Arizona does not. That difference affects the afterlife transfer of wealth and can be a decisive factor for owners of high-value property portfolios.
• Taxes are one piece of a broader business climate calculation. Other pieces include regulations, permitting delays, and costs tied to commuting and logistics.

We hear frequently from clients and contacts that tax considerations are moving from the background to the foreground. High-net-worth individuals and business owners often make relocation choices that reduce both lifetime taxation and estate exposures. Those choices ripple into the real estate market when they trigger property listings or change demand patterns.

Transport, quality of life and the cost of doing business

Fitzsimmons also called out traffic as a reason for leaving. Traffic affects commercial operations, employee recruitment and quality of life — all of which matter when entrepreneurs decide where to base their companies.

For city and regional property markets, traffic and other infrastructure challenges influence:

• Commercial lease demand and location premiums for logistics-dependent firms
• Office market dynamics as firms weigh commute times against central locations
• Residential preferences, including willingness to pay for shorter commutes or better transit links

When long-term residents cite infrastructure as a reason to leave, it’s a signal that public policy and investment choices are part of the story behind property decisions.

Local politics and investor sentiment

In the radio interview Fitzsimmons criticized local elected officials and singled out particular leaders. That kind of public critique matters for investor sentiment. Investors watch political signals as proxies for regulatory risk and future taxes.

What investors should note:

• Vocal departures by established owners can hurt perception of a market even before prices move.
• Policy announcements that increase tax or regulatory burdens can accelerate listings by owners who have flexibility on where to domicile their assets.
• Public disputes often create short-term uncertainty for tenants, lenders and buyers.

That said, politics does not uniformly translate into property value declines. Markets are complex and local demand fundamentals — jobs, incomes, housing supply — still matter. A city that feels politically difficult to some owners can remain attractive to new buyers and renters with different priorities.

What Fitzsimmons’ sale could mean for the Washington property market

One business owner selling two properties is not a systemic shock. Still, it is worth assessing the possible implications for the Washington housing and commercial property markets.

Short- and medium-term effects to watch:

• Increased supply in specific segments: If the properties are residential, they add supply to the neighborhoods involved; if commercial, they change local leasing or redevelopment opportunities.
• Pricing pressure in niche submarkets: Sales by motivated sellers sometimes come at slight discounts, which can set local comps.
• Signaling effect: Other owners watching might choose to list if they share the same concerns; that could amplify supply changes.

From an investor point of view, opportunities can appear when motivated sellers list assets. But buyers should not rush. We advise careful due diligence on location fundamentals — job growth, rent growth, vacancy rates — rather than buying solely on headlines about outmigration.

Why Arizona is attractive — and what that means for its real estate

Fitzsimmons said he is moving to Arizona because he expects his business to be better "appreciated" there. Without predicting individual business outcomes, there are broadly observable reasons why Arizona often attracts relocations:

• No state estate tax and generally lower personal income tax burdens compared with some other states.
• Lower operating costs for certain business types and lower property tax rates in many jurisdictions.
• A growing population and persistent demand for housing in major metro areas.

That combination appeals to some entrepreneurs and investors. For real estate markets, inflows of residents and capital can support price appreciation and rental demand — especially in high-growth corridors.

But there are trade-offs. Rising demand can push affordability down for locals. Climate risk in parts of Arizona and water availability are real considerations for long-term investors and owners.