• Skip to main content
MH Logo_1
  • About
  • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
  • My Favorite Spots
  • Home Tours
  • Testimonials
  • Get In Touch
Hide Search

Mike Hardesty

Hi, I'm Mike

I once owned a vintage shop in the Melrose district because I love everything about historic and mid century homes. So much so, that now I am a Realtor specifically helping others capture that same charm for their lives. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, I'm happy to partner with you in your journey.

Get In Touch
Book a 30-Minute Call
aaron-kes-photography-michael-hardesty-realtor-headshots-6

Featured Neighborhoods

Explore

My Listings

View

My Favorite Spots

Learn More

Home Tours

Learn More

Featured Neighborhoods

See More

Arcadia

Known for its graceful blend of vintage charm and modern amenities, Arcadia offers a diverse range of homes. From sprawling estates boasting stunning mountain views to cozy ranch-style abodes, there is a residence to suit […]

Read More

Willo

The Willo Historic District is a beloved neighborhood located in central Phoenix, known for its beautifully preserved historic homes, tree-lined streets, and a strong sense of community. Willo is recognized as one of Phoenix’s most […]

Read More

Woodlea

Woodlea Historic District showcases a stunning array of architectural styles, ranging from Spanish Colonial Revival to Tudor and Mid-Century Modern. As you explore its picturesque streets, you’ll encounter beautifully restored residences, each with its own […]

Read More
BG Blue Shape

My Story

I once owned a vintage shop in the Melrose district because I love everything about historic and mid century homes. So much so, that now I am a Realtor specifically helping others capture that same charm for their lives. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, I'm happy to partner with you in your journey.

Read More

Client Testimonials

star 1_1

Above and Beyond

We had an amazing experience working with Michael as our realtor. We did not live locally when we needed to sell our property, and he went above and beyond to help get the house ready for sale, including meeting companies for repairs, staging and follow-up. We then had multiple offers on our home within days of listing and were able to pick a wonderful family to sell it to. Would absolutely recommend Michael and use again if we ever move back to the area!

— Tina W.

star 1_1

Always One Step Ahead

Can’t say enough about Michael and his skills as a sellers and buyers realtor. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him 3 times now and every time I’m completely comfortable and left with less worries than I had with previous realtors. He’s always on his game and always one step ahead. He’s both honest and realistic however, he always game to try to push the envelope. Although I don’t look forward to selling a house again, it’s an inevitable situation for us and I take comfort in knowing Michael will be there for us once again.

— Becky S.

star 1_1

A Knowledgeable Professional With Your Interests in Mind

We would 100% suggest using Mike if you’re looking for a home, have already referred family members to him, and would absolutely do so again. It’s easy to get caught up in shiny social media real estate accounts run by people that don’t actually know what they’re doing, or “on-line house browsing”, underestimating the importance of an experienced realtor. Mike will put you at ease knowing that there’s a knowledgeable professional with your interests in mind, likely saving you time, money, and headaches, while helping you acquire your perfect home!

— Casey C.

Read More
row shape yellow

Latest from Instagram

I need a couple of days to collect my thoughts bef I need a couple of days to collect my thoughts before I post my final reel about my journey with the Coronado Hotel.

Through this journey, I met people who are now friends, but I also lost sleep over this fight. I spent many nights wondering why I care so much about these buildings, why I let it get to me, and why it feels so personal.

The truth is, I do care. And I’m heartbroken.

Not only are we unnecessarily losing these two buildings, but we’re destroying materials that could have been salvaged, reused, or recycled. 

Thankfully, the owners found a home for the sign and sold some items during the final sale a couple of months ago. But there’s no reason the demolition couldn’t have been handled more thoughtfully. We didn’t have to lose so much in the process.

I’ve been told the property will be a parking lot for the foreseeable future.

And before you direct your anger at the wrong people, please understand that True North did not end up buying the property. I’m not going to name the new owner right now, because this isn’t about pointing fingers at one developer. It’s about something much bigger than that.

Our system is broken.

 @preserve_phoenix and @azpreservation can’t put out every fire. We’re volunteer advocates doing the best we can with the time, resources, and support we have. We can show up, raise our voices, tell these stories, and fight like hell. But we can’t keep doing this one building at a time without better policies and stronger support from the city.

Something has to change.

Maybe that starts with us getting more organized, getting louder, and making it clear that constantly fighting to preserve the culture, character, and history of the city we love is absolutely ludicrous.

I don’t have all the answers right now. I just know that this one hurts.

More to come.
Maggie Keane was driving past a building one day w Maggie Keane was driving past a building one day when she noticed a long purple wall. She saw the potential, and Prince was the obvious choice.

The result is an 18-foot-tall, 47-foot-wide tribute to one of the greatest to ever do it. And no matter how many times you pass it, it never gets old.

So the next time you find yourself wandering around the Grand Avenue Arts District, head over to 15th Avenue and Roosevelt. Roll down the windows, turn up Purple Rain, and take it all in. Phoenix has a few gems worth slowing down for. This is one of them.
There’s a little more to this story that didn’ There’s a little more to this story that didn’t make it into the video. I’m going to be honest with you: I don’t believe someone paid $11 million for this property simply to solve a parking inconvenience for a mixed-use development.
I think it’s a temporary solution while they move chess pieces around and position themselves to develop more of the area—including, potentially, the Valley National Bank building.

That’s my personal opinion. I can’t prove it.
But for now, I’m willing to take the developer at their word. If the goal really is simply to provide overflow parking, then I think the developer should fall in line with the values of Arcadia.

The Arcadia Camelback Mountain Neighborhood Association says its purpose is to preserve the qualities that make the neighborhood special, including its “non-commercial, family friendly, and single family residential character,” generous setbacks, large lots, broad lawns, and historic citrus trees.

So here’s where I stand:
I’m not in favor of doing the minimum and destroying part of one of the most iconic properties in Phoenix simply to create uncovered parking. I understand the property has already been sold. That’s reality.

But I don’t think the neighborhood association, City Council, or Camelback East Village Planning Committee should support the project as currently envisioned.
If overflow parking is truly the goal, then I think there’s a much better solution: Make it a public park that incorporates shaded parking for the development next door.

That would actually reflect the values of Arcadia. It would preserve the landscape, create something the neighborhood could enjoy, and still address the parking problem the developer says prompted the purchase.
Anything less feels like we’re sacrificing a historic piece of Phoenix for a parking lot.

And honestly, it would make me wonder even more whether the parking lot is really the endgame, and whether the ultimate goal is future development of the bank.

I hope I’m wrong. And if I am, great. Then prove me wrong by doing something worthy of the property.
It’s been a minute since I’ve done a home tour It’s been a minute since I’ve done a home tour, but I figured if I was going to bring them back, I might as well start with a gem. 

If you want to take a closer look, comment “PALMCROFT” below and I’ll DM you the listing link to this architecturally significant home in one of the finest historic neighborhoods in the city.

🏠 3 BD
🛀 4 BA
📏 3,541 SF
📍 7th Ave & McDowell
📅 Built in 1939
💰$1,650,000
🪧 Listed by Libby Cohen & Maggie Cohen Botha with RETSY
Part of preservation for me moving forward will be Part of preservation for me moving forward will be getting more involved in commercial real estate and helping owners find the right buyers and developers for these properties.

People who don’t just see an old building as something to replace, but as something worth investing in.

Because preservation isn’t about stopping change. It’s about making sure change doesn’t erase what makes a place special, and finding the right steward to carry these places forward.

And I believe thoughtful development can be part of that.

If you’re interested in learning more about this wonderful building, which is currently for sale, send me a DM. I’d love to tell you more.

Special thanks to Michael Levine for letting me tour the building a couple of times and for leading me down a rabbit hole I’m very glad I went down. I genuinely love learning about the history of our city, and I hope this story gave you something new to appreciate about the Valley of the Sun.
Fun facts: The Heard Building’s tower is frequen Fun facts: The Heard Building’s tower is frequently confused with the larger, 240-foot steel television tower atop the nearby Westward Ho hotel. While the Heard Building’s antenna is long gone, the Westward Ho tower still stands.

The antenna on the Heard Building went up in 1930, was rebuilt after a 1954 windstorm, and was still standing when Hitchcock filmed Psycho in 1960. Shortly after the movie was shot, the massive radio tower was dismantled and taken down.

The Heard Building was only one piece of Dwight B. Heard’s footprint on Phoenix. He helped develop Palmcroft and Los Olivos (now Willo), helped build the San Carlos Hotel, and, with his wife Maie, founded the Heard Museum. He was involved in land, agriculture, publishing, and getting the Roosevelt Dam built. The guy was basically betting on Phoenix from every direction.
Hotel Westward Ho - Maybe a building becomes icon Hotel Westward Ho - 
Maybe a building becomes iconic when a city stops seeing it as a building, and starts seeing it as part of itself.
What makes a building iconic? Is it the materials What makes a building iconic?

Is it the materials? The architect? The location or scale? The history behind it, the memories made there, or something we can’t quite put into words?

And maybe the bigger question is this: who gets to decide what becomes iconic?

I’m honored to be part of a conversation about exactly that, hosted by KJZZ’s Mark Brodie with fellow Phoenicians Taz Khatri and Darren Petrucci. We’ll be talking about what makes a place matter, why some buildings stay with us, and what it means to call something “iconic.”

Sunday, August 30 at 5pm at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe. 

I’d love to see some friendly faces there. But before then, tell me this: What is the most iconic home or building in the Valley, and why?

My Listings

Get In Touch

Let me be your yellow brick road to buy or sell your home. Let's avoid these lions, tigers, and bears!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

Resources

Featured Neighborhoods

Explore

My Listings

View

My Favorite Spots

Learn More

Home Tours

Latest posts

MH Logo White
2020_MLS_FINAL_WHITE

Stay Updated

© 2026 Mike Hardesty Realty. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2026 · Monochrome Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in