Heather Tawes Nelson - Scottsdale Luxury Real Estate

My Favorite Things to Eat in Scottsdale AZ - Part 5

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:54:00 GMT

It's been a while since I have done one of my favorite things to eat in Scottsdale, Arizona blog posts, so I figured it was time again.

Today, there are five things on my list that I love to eat in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas.

1) Jasper's Peak Deviled Eggs with Crab - Jasper's Peak in Grayhawk prepares these deviled eggs with crab meat, capers, mayo and mustard and more. They are great - very creamy and salty and delicious. You tend to see a lot of deviled eggs on the menu in the southern states, but not so often in Scottsdale, so these are a treat.

2) Lush Burger Ahi Burger - My next pick is the ahi tuna burger at Lush Burger at DC Ranch. The ahi is diced, seasoned and formed and cooked like a traditional hamburger. It served on a bun with a delicious slaw and sauce. I have tried tuna burgers elsewhere and they don't even compare.

3) Blue Burger Grille Turkey Burger- Keeping on the burger track, the turkey burger at Blue Burger up at the Summit in North Scottsdale is my favorite turkey burger I've ever tried. The turkey itself is extremely moist and juicy and I have yet to be able to replicate it at home. Since Blue Burger lets you "build your own," I love mine with some Swiss cheese on whole wheat bun and lots of vegetables. It doesn't hurt to have the sweet potato fries on the side. They too, are excellent and it's hard to keep everybody's hands off my plate when these are ordered.

My last two picks go to the sweeter side.

4) Oatmeal Cookie Frozen Yogurt at Yogurtology - The Oatmeal Cookie yogurt at Yogurtology in Grayhawk is delicious. I don't know how they do it, but it somehow has a little bit of the texture of oatmeal cookies combined with the yogurt. It's one of my favorite flavors and if it's on the menu, I definitely have some.

5) Nothing Bundt Cakes - My final pick for today is actually from a small chain called Nothing Bundt Cakes and that is exactly what they do - they make Bundt cakes. They have larger cakes that can be used for special events and parties with tons of decorative options to choose from. But they also have smaller "Bundtlets" that can be shared between one or two people. Then, they have the "Bundtinis." These are the perfect bite sized ways to enjoy the cakes. One of my favorite flavors is the lemon Bundt cake with their cream cheese and butter cream frosting. They also have a chocolate chocolate chip that is delicious. The Scottsdale location is just north of Kierland on Scottsdale Road and the best part is that they always seem to have samples available. It is a great way to try before you buy and a nice little sweet treat.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of my favorite things to eat in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas. If there are things that you really like to eat, please feel free to share them in the comments as we're always looking for new things to try and there's definitely abundance of the great food and treats all around Scottsdale!

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Distrito at The Saguaro

Heather Tawes Nelson — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:20:00 GMT

If you have not had a chance to eat at Distrito in the The Saguaro Hotel in Old Town Scottsdale yet, I recommend that you take the time do to so. A while back a group of us had the chance to try it and we ended up having a great meal in a fun, cheeky atmosphere.

To get us started, a couple people ordered the white sangria and were not disappointed in the least. The rest of us ordered margaritas and also enjoyed them thoroughly. I saw a few other traditional Mexican drinks like the Paloma and Michelada on the menu as well.

We began with the traditional guacamole and everyone agreed it was spectacular. We all wanted to get that last and final dip before it was gone. From that point, we wanted to try a variety of things on the menu and share among the table.

Needless to say, we enjoyed everything we tried. That included the Tacos de Pollo, which were simply prepared with chicken, a little radish and cream and a sprinkling of cheese. We also tried the Chicken Tamales with mole poblano sauce. We also sampled from the BBQ or "Barbacoa" side of things with the Pollo Ahumado a la Yucateo, which is a smoked chicken plate. It came with a nice orange chile sauce. For a side dish, we all agreed the Esquites, or corn with fresh cheese, chipotle and lime, were excellent.

The design of the restaurant is fun and funky. Bright colors and Dia de los Muertos art pieces brighten up the space.

If you are a fan of reality cooking shows and/or celebrity chefs, Distrito is the creation of Chef Jose Garces of Iron Chef America fame. This is his first Arizona outpost, adding to his list of very successful other ventures in the United States.

If you are a fan of Latin flavors, definitely give Distrito a try.

More Information:
Distrito at The Saguaro
4000 N Drinkwater Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 970-4444
Distrito Website

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – April 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:10:00 GMT

The Scottsdale luxury home market in April 2012 are below. This purpose of this analysis is to look at the performance of luxury home sales within specific price segments in detail.

Each price band includes one year of monthly data and three sales statuses. They are:
- Scottsdale luxury homes on the market
- Pending home sales
- Completed Scottsdale luxury homes sales

- April 2012 -

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 - $1,499,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory dropped quite a bit in April to 203. However, this is still above the 12 month average of 201 homes on the market.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were down slightly, but were still the third highest we have seen in the last year.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales hit the second highest level we have seen in a year in April. The 31 sales were way ahead of the 12 month average of 23.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 92.4% - This figure is pretty in line with what we have been seeing. So, on average, buyers received a little over 7% off of asking price.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 - $1,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes on the market dipped slightly at the end of April to 133. This is just below the 12 month average of 134.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales saw a slight lift to 15. This is ahead of the 12 month average of 12.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales have been holding steady in the last several months at around 9 sales. This is also the same as the 12 month average.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 91.4% - This is the highest we have seen this is in the last year, meaning buyers saw a smaller discount off of list price on average.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 - $2,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: After increasing in March, inventory was back down again at the end of April. However, this figure is still well above the 12 month average of 127 homes.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales saw a 50% increase in April to 8. This is almost double the 12 month average.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: After an incredible March, sales settled back down again in April to 6. This is still a strong performance and comes in ahead of the average.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 87.1% - This is the lowest we have seen this figure since the end of last year. That means buyers got about 13% off on average in April.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes on the market dropped about 4% by the end of April to 93. This is just under the 12 month average of 94.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales more than doubled to 7. This is the highest we have seen since May 2011.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: There was only a single sale in April, coming off a strong sales month in March. However, with pending activity so high, I anticipate sales in May will be much better.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 96.1% - This is the highest this figure has been. The buyer of the home only received about 4% off of the asking price.

Al in all, the Scottsdale AZ luxury home market had a decent month. As we are seeing all over the market, inventory is going down. Pending sales were up in three of the four categories. And in the fourth one, homes between $1 and 1.5 million, the pending figure was still strong. Sales were good or great as well in April. Pending sales activity indicates we should see an excellent sales month in May.

To see the detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale luxury real estate market reports page and click on the "Scottsdale Market Trends" report.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 5/1/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family luxury resale homes in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – April 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:10:00 GMT

Below is a chart showing April 2012 Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo sales activity. In this report, I am considering luxury condominiums as those with an asking price in excess of $1 million. I have divided the data into units on the market, pending sales and actual sales. In addition, there is sales activity data for each Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Pending Luxury Condo Sales - At the end of April, there were five pending luxury condominium sales. All of the five were located in Scottsdale in a variety of communities.

- This first one is a holdover from March. This condo is located within Safari Drive in Downtown Scottsdale. It has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 2,610 square feet. The asking price when it went pending was $1,075,000.

- There was a second holdover from March for a unit at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences. This sixth floor unit has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 3,884 square feet. The asking price was $1,649,000.

- Two units at the Plaza Lofts at Kierland went under contract in April. Both units were the same model with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,047 square feet. The unit on the fifth floor was listed for $1,050,000 and the sixth floor unit was listed for $1,060,000.

- The final pending sale at the end of April was at the Optima Camelview in downtown Scottsdale. This unit was a 3 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom condo with 3,066 square feet. The asking price was $1,649,000.

April 2012 Luxury Condo Sales
There was a single luxury condo sale in April. This was a 12th floor unit at the elegant Scottsdale Waterfront Residences in the heart of downtown Scottsdale. It was a three bedroom, three and one-half bathroom condo with 3,363 square feet. It had been listed for $2,000,000 and sold for $1,950,000.

All in all, the luxury condo segment in Scottsdale had a good month in April. The single sale and all five of the pending sales were located in Scottsdale. Based on the large pending number, May should be another good month. The luxury condo market in Phoenix did not fare as well in April as there was no activity.

Learn More About Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos
Search Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 5/1/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: Another Beautiful Saturday in Old Town Scottsdale

Heather Tawes Nelson — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:12:00 GMT

Here is a Guest Post from Joyce Tawes - Associate Broker - Realty ONE Group Scottsdale

Another beautiful day in Scottsdale and a return visit to the Farmers' Market in Old Town Scottsdale

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Many of the winter visitors to Scottsdale have headed home as witnessed by the thinning crowds on the streets of Old Town. With that said, there was still a huge turnout for the weekly Saturday morning Downtown Scottsdale Farmers' Market. On this visit, I noted more booths with tantalizing foods for tasting or lunch as well as a larger variety of baked goods.

As we strolled through the market we had several opportunities to stop and chat with the vendors. I enjoy doing this, as I always learn something new. For instance, a local honey maker showed us an article on the demise of honey bees due to a pesticide being used on corn that was developed in Europe. He commented that one of the local growers had lost his entire colony of honey-producing bees due to the pesticide. He’s promised to give me a full tutorial on my next visit down with photos and articles to describe what is going on.

There was also a new booth filled with small containers of succulent plants and cacti. Susan Tyrrel doesn’t have a store and sells her plants out of her home and at Farmers' Markets. I thought you’d enjoy seeing some of the smaller plants in full bloom. They are great to put on a small table, or transplant into your garden where they will add a little color at this time of the year.

You can’t go to the Farmers Market without a stroll through the courtyard of Bischoff’s Shades of the West located across the street. heir gardens are lush and shaded and I couldn’t resist sharing photos of some of their wonderful sculptures. We finished off with a quick tour of the Old Scottsdale Schoolhouse and headed home. Another great day!

More Information:
Susan Tyrrel - Decorating the Desert – Everything Plants -(480) 797-8952

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Scottsdale AZ Single-Family Homes for Sale – April 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:22:00 GMT

Below are April 2012’s results for Scottsdale Arizona homes sales.

This report groups the information into three categories - Active Scottsdale homes on the market, pending home sales and actual home sales in April 2012. It is broken into monthly segments so that you can see the trends have been forming.

This first graphic represents active, pending and actual sales month-by-month over the past year.

This second graphic shows the percentage change between the months and the average sales price to list price percentage for Scottsdale home sales.

April 2012 Highlights for Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale:

Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: The number of active homes on the market hit the lowest level we have seen in the last year. It was a 10.5% drop over March. This shrinking inventory will cause competition among buyers to increase.
Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending sales were up again, another 10.8% over March. They have been on the upswing since the beginning of the year, which fits with seasonal trends.
Scottsdale Homes Sold: The number of homes sold was the second highest we have seen over the last 12 months. Based on pending inventory, things look promising for May sales.
Sales Price to List Price: 95.1% - This is back more in line with what we have been seeing recently.

April 2012 was a standout month for the Scottsdale real estate market. The last time monthly home sales exceeded this amount was June of 2011. We also continued to see a lot of activity in the pending sales area, which bodes well for May. Inventory is down again, which means there will most likely be increased competition among offers, especially in the non-luxury segments.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Originally Posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 5/1/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and home sales in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales By Type Q1 2012 - Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:58:00 GMT

Here are the results for the first quarter of 2011 for Scottsdale’s zip code 85266.

85266 is found on the northwest portion of Scottsdale, just to the east of North Phoenix and just south of Carefree and Cave Creek. Just like the other North Scottsdale zip codes, 85266 is home some of the top Scottsdale golf communities including Whisper Rock, The Boulders and Terravita. The elevation of 85266 is higher than many parts of the Valley, so a number of homes and lots in the area have wonderful city light views.

Here are the Q1 2012 home sale results for zip code 85266. The sales data has been split into three different sales types which are described below:
- Non-Distressed Sales – These are what you think of when you think of a “normal” sale. It follows the traditional model where the home seller and home buyer agree to price and terms and at the end of the transaction, ownership is transferred to the buyer.
- Short Sales – A short sale occurs when an owner would like to sell the home, but needs to sell it for less than what is owed on it. In this case, third party approval has to be secured from the lender or lenders. Short sales fall under the “distressed sale” umbrella.
- Foreclosures – These properties have been foreclosed on and ownership has reverted to the lender. These are also considered “distressed sales.”

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales Market for Q1 2012 - Data as of March 31, 2012

Active Scottsdale 85266 Homes For Sale: 92% of homes on the market at the end of Q1 were "regular" sales. The very small remainder was split between the two distressed sale categories.
85266 Pending Homes for Sale: Regular sales did not lose much ground when you look at the pending activity and the end of the quarter. Typically, you see a larger percentage of short sales and foreclosures in the pending mix.
Q1 2012 Scottsdale 85266 Home Sales: Actual Q1 sales resulted in 72% of sales falling into the non-distressed category. Short sales and foreclosures were more heavily represented, highlighting the popularity of distressed sales with homebuyers.
85266 Home Prices: Pricing for the various types came out as would be expected. Average sales prices on regular sales were the highest, followed by short sales and foreclosures.
Cumulative Days on Market: As we would anticipate, short sales had the longest days on market because of the longer sales process. Sometimes we do see foreclosures with shorter days on market in comparison to regular sales, but for Q1, regular sales had the shortest time on market.
Discounts Off of List Price: Buyers of non-distressed homes saw an average discount of 5% off of asking. This is the same as it was at the end of the year. Buyers of distressed homes saw a larger discount than they did in Q4 2011, with an average of 5% off on short sales and an average of 2% off of foreclosures.

SUMMARY - 2011 Scottsdale Home Sales in Zip Code 85266
Below is a summary of 2011 home sales in 85266. The quarterly sales data has been broken down by home sale type.

If you would like to see this information for the City of Scottsdale AZ, please see these previous reports:

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Search Homes for Sale in 85266

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85266 for Q1 2012. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales By Type Q1 2012 - Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

Heather Tawes Nelson — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:11:00 GMT

Here are the home sales figures the first quarter of 2012 for the Scottsdale Arizona zip code of 85255.

85255 is one of the premier zip codes of Scottsdale and is located in North Scottsdale. It covers a large area from Scottsdale Road north of the 101 all the way east to McDowell Mountain Ranch. Many of the top Scottsdale luxury golf communities can be found in 85255 and they include Troon Country Club, Desert Highlands, Grayhawk, DC Ranch and Silverleaf. Home options vary greatly. You can find anything from smaller condos and townhomes all the way up to large estates on multi-acre lots. Another plus to living in 85255 is Pinnacle Peak, which is visible to many homes in the area and fun to hike.

Below are the results for Q1 2012 homes sales in 85255. I have broken the information into three sales types and they are defined as follows:
- Non-Distressed Sales – Non-distressed sales are what you think of as "regular" or "traditional" home sales. In this common scenario, the home seller and home buyer work together to transfer the home from the seller to the buyer. No third-party approvals are necessary.
- Short Sales – A short sale occurs when a seller is looking to sell the home for less than what is owed on it. In this case, third party approval of the contract from the lender(s) is needed for the sale to go through.
- Foreclosures – Foreclosures, also called "Lender-Owned" homes, "REO'" homes or "Bank-Owned" homes are homes that have been foreclosed on and are now back in the possession of the lender.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales Market for Q1 2012 - Data as of March 31, 2012

Active Scottsdale 85255 Homes For Sale: The vast majority of homes for sale at the end of Q1 were regular sales at 93%. The small percentage left was split almost evenly between short sales and foreclosures.
85255 Pending Homes for Sale: Short sales and foreclosures saw a larger share when you look at pending sales at the end of the quarter. For instance, short sales were only 4% of the active inventory, but were almost 20% of pending sales.
Q1 2012 Scottsdale 85255 Home Sales: Two-thirds of sales in Q1 were regular sales. The remaining third was comprised of distressed homes, even though homes like these were only 7% of the market for active homes for sale.
85255 Home Prices: As we saw at the end of last year, the average price of lender owned homes exceeded that of short sales. This is pretty unusual as foreclosures usually have the steepest discount. As would be expected, regular home sales had the highest average sales price and cost per square foot.
Cumulative Days on Market: The figures here are pretty typical. The quickest closes were on lender-owned homes followed closely by regular sales. Short sales had the longest average cumulative days on market.
Discounts Off of List Price: Distressed homes saw little to no discount off of asking prices on average. This was in the 5% discount range a while back and we have seen discounts steadily disappearing. Regular sales sold at an average of 7% off of list price.

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 - Sales Data By Quarter for 2011
Below is a quarter-by-quarter snapshot of home sales in 2011 for 85255.

If you would like to review this data for the City of Scottsdale AZ versus a single zip code, please visit these previous reports:

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Search 85255 Scottsdale Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85255 for Q1 2012 and for the year of 2012. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales By Type Q1 2012 - Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:06:00 GMT

Below are the home sales results for Scottsdale's 85262 zip code for the first quarter of 2012.

The 85262 zip code occupies a large portion of North Scottsdale. This premier location makes it a perfect fit for some of the top, luxury golf communities, including Desert Mountain, Mirabel, Troon North, Legend Trail and Estancia.

The northern position and hillier terrain of 85262 means it can actually be a few degrees cooler in the warm summer months, which is a nice bonus. In addition, many homes and homesites in are privy to excellent city light and mountain views.

This report covers first quarter 2012 activity for home sales in 85262. I have split the information into three categories and have defined them below.

- Non-Distressed Sales - These are the "regular" sales of homes. In this traditional sales model, the buyer and seller agree to the terms of the sale.
- Short Sales – In a short sale, the homeowner is looking to sell the home for less than what is owed on the home. Here, third party approval is required in order for the sale is to take place.
- Foreclosures - Foreclosures are just what they sound like, homes that have been through the foreclosure process and now are back with the lender. These homes are also called "Lender-Owned" homes, "REO'" homes or "Bank-Owned" homes.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales Market for Q1 2012 - Data as of January 1, 2012

Active Scottsdale 85262 Homes For Sale: Almost all of the homes for sale in 85262 (94%) were regular sales. The small remainder was almost evenly split by short sales and foreclosures.
85262 Pending Homes for Sale: The ratios shift dramatically however, when you look at pending sales. Now, regular sales drop to 69% and you see the large jump in representation for short sales, in particular.
Q1 2012 Scottsdale 85262 Home Sales: Regular sales gained some traction back, at 75% of sales in Q1, but you can still see the effect the popularity of distressed sales has.
85262 Home Prices: Prices are aligned as we would expect them to see. Average sales price and average price per square foot were highest with regular sales, second highest with short sales and foreclosures came in with the lowest figures.
Days on Market: This is also what we would expect to see. Foreclosures, due to high demand, are only on the market for about 3 months. Whereas short sales, with the longer sales process, had an average days on market of 334.
Discounts Off of List Price: These figures, while tightening up in other areas, remained more or less where we saw them throughout 2011. Regular home sales going for about 10% off of asking price and distressed sales going at about a 5% average discount.

Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 - 2011 Home Sales by Quarter

For comparison purposes, here is a quarterly recap for home sales for 2011 in Scottsdale zip code 85262.

To see this same information for the entire City of Scottsdale AZ, please visit these previous reports:
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Search Homes for Sale in Zip Code 85262

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85262 for Q1 2012. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: May 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:25:00 GMT

With the Scottsdale, Arizona season officially winding down for 2012 and temperatures starting to rise, don't despair there are still plenty of things to do in and around Scottsdale.

Here is a sampling of some upcoming events in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas that might be of interest.

Scottsdale AZ - Upcoming Events for May 2012

May 4-5 - If you're looking for a little comedy, the famous performer Dana Carvey will be in town in early May at StandUpLive in Phoenix.
May 4-25 on Friday evenings - From a musical perspective, the Desert Botanical Garden's "Music in the Garden" weekly concerts are going on during the month of May. They take place from 7-9PM and are for adults, 21 and over.
May 4-13 on select dates - Another musical offering involves the Musical Instrument Museum in North Phoenix. They have a series of concerts going on as well as many other excellent events throughout the month.
May 5 & 6- Looking for a way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? If you're feeling a little adventurous on May 5th, head up to Sedona for the Sedona Chili Cookoff. It will be taking place at the Tlacquepaque shopping complex. On May 6th, go ahead and head on up to the El Pedregal Shopping Center at The Boulders in North Scottsdale. They are having a "Cinco de Salsa" competition that includes live music all day.
May 11 - The Gainey Ranch Golf Club is hosting a benefit for Horses Help. This tournament supports Horses Help, a program that uses equine therapy to assist people with special needs. In addition to the golf tournament, there will be games and a raffle.
May 12 & 13 and 19 & -20 - Another fun event is to head down south to Queen Creek and go to the Schnepf Farms Peach Festival happening over the weekends of May 12th and May 19th. It's a great way to go pick some peaches, enjoy some peach dishes and have some fun. It is a very family-friendly event so bring your kids or grandkids and admission is free.
Looking a little further in the future starting in June, Cirque du Soleil is bringing a new production to town called Kooza. It runs from June 8 to July 1 over at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. It should be a very entertaining performance as Cirque rarely disappoints.

This list is certainly not exhaustive as Scottsdale and the surrounding areas always have lots of things going on, but I thought it was a good cross-section of events. If you have any events you would like to add to the list, please feel free to do so in the comment section.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Scottsdale AZ Q1 2012 Home Sales By Type - Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

Heather Tawes Nelson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:05:00 GMT

Here is a look at first quarter 2012 performance for the Scottsdale Arizona single-family home market. I have broken this information into three categories based on sales type so that you can see how each of the segments is performing.

Below are the three categories of home sales and their definitions:

- Non-Distressed Sales - I often refer to these as "regular" sales. These are what we think of when we think of a "traditional" home sale. In this case, the buyer and seller come to terms and the home is sold without any third party approvals necessary.
- Short Sales - Short sales are now quite common as a home sale type. In this scenario, the owner of the home needs to sell the home for less than what is owed on it. Therefore, the lender or lenders need to approve the terms of the home sale before it can be completed. This can be considered a "distressed" category.
- Foreclosures - These are homes where the lender has foreclosed and the home ownership has now reverted back to the lender. You will also hear these called "Lender-Owned" homes, "REO" homes and/or "Bank-Owned" homes. This also can be considered a "distressed" category.

Overall Findings for the Q1 2012 Scottsdale Single-Family Home Market - Data As of March 31, 2012

Scottsdale Homes for Sale: If you look at the allocation of homes on the market, the vast majority of them (91%) were regular home sales. Only about 10% of the market was distressed inventory.
Scottsdale Pending Home Sales: As we look at pending home sales, distressed inventory took over a larger percentage with short sales at 22% of pending sales and foreclosures at 12% of pending sales.
Q1 2012 Scottsdale Home Sales: The distribution of home sales was almost identical to the pending sales. Regular sales made up about 2/3 of the homes sold .
Home Prices: As to be expected, regular home sales' average sold price as well as average price per square foot sold were quite a bit higher than the distressed average sales prices, even though the sizes of the homes sold were comparable.
Days on Market: Lender owned homes had the shortest average days on market at 101. This is not surprising as there is high demand for foreclosures. Regular sales came in next with 114 average days on market and short sales trailed with 171.
Discounts Off of List Price: As we have been seeing over the last several quarters, discounts are getting smaller or holding the same pace. Buyers of regular priced homes saw an average of 6% off of the asking price. This had been closer to 10%. And distressed homes were only being sold at an average of 2-3% off of asking. This had been closer to 5%.

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales 2011
For comparison, here is a snapshot of 2011 home sales by type for Scottsdale.

If you are interested, you can browse through the previous reports for Scottsdale home sales:
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for Q4 2012
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for Q3 2012
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for Q2 2012
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for Q1 2012
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to a perfect 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ on a quarterly basis. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Desert Mountain Scottsdale AZ - First Quarter 2012 Home Sales and Real Estate Update

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:58:00 GMT

Desert Mountain is a golf lover's dream community. It features six Jack Nicklaus golf courses and six clubhouses. Even if you are not a golfer, there is plenty going to to keep you active such as the miles of trails, a fitness center and spa, a tennis and pool complex, a packed social event calendar and more. Desert Mountain is the farthest north golf community in Scottsdale and lies adjacent to the Town of Carefree and National Forest Land.

Below is a chart showing first quarter 2012 home sales in Desert Mountain as well as homes currently for sale and pending home sales.

Sales are off to a decent start for 2012. The lowest priced sale at $427,500 was a cash sale and it was for a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2,088 square foot Sonoran Cottage. It has been priced at $475,000. The Sonoran Cottages are are smaller, located steps away from the Sonoran Clubhouse and Fitness Center and are perfect for people looking for the "lock and leave" lifestyle.

The highest priced sale for Q1 2012 was a Bing Hu designed home with amazing views of the Geronimo Golf Course. It had 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and had 5,544 square feet. The asking price was $2,675,000 and it sold for $2,375,000.

What is interesting to note is the large number of pending home sales in the pipeline. If a large number of these were to close in April, it would be a great sales month for Desert Mountain.

If you would like a little historical sales information, here is a Desert Mountain Home Sales update from November 2011.

About Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona:
Desert Mountain is one of Scottsdale's top golf communities. Take advantage of the 8,000 acres Desert Mountain encompasses as well as Scottsdale's wonderful weather and experience the miles of trails that wind throughout the community. As mentioned previously, there are six golf courses that offer a variety of challenges for golfers as well as a tennis complex with multiple court surfaces, a pool complex including lap and play pools and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The six clubhouses have offerings that range from the more formal to the more casual and service is exceptional.

Search Desert Mountain Homes For Sale
Search Desert Mountain Homes Under $1 Million
Search Desert Mountain Homes Between $1 and $2 Million
Search Desert Mountain Homes Over $2 Million
Search Desert Mountain Short Sales
Search Desert Mountain Foreclosures

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/20/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and home sales in Desert Mountain Scottsdale AZ.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

City Center Phoenix Market Festival - Bread, Cupcakes and Kettle Corn, Oh My!

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:48:00 GMT

Here is a Guest Post from Wendy Kendall, from Farmers' Insurance and Phoenix resident.
____________________________________________________________________

On Sunday, my family and I went to City Center of City North’s final Market Festival of the season. The weather was just perfect so it was a great day to enjoy the sunshine and be outdoors at the Market Festival. They have great vendors with very healthy vegetables, salsas, Honey Bear’s BBQ you name it—but what does my family buy? Of course, bread, cupcakes and Kettle Corn.

It starts off with the location. The first booth we hit was Arizona Bread Company where we sampled the Cranberry Orange Bread—I have to say it was quite good and even my 5 year old liked it. We decided to get a loaf to bring home. In the booth next door, we met Nicki from Cupcake Café. My husband was determined to buy some of their cupcakes, so we ended up with mini cupcakes for $10. The flavors included wedding cake, which was white with almond frosting, chocolate with chocolate frosting and red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. There were 4 mini cupcakes of each- or should I just say bites because that is what they were! Needless to say, my husband was happy with his purchase.

We passed all sorts of cute things as we browsed through the stalls- tutus and accessories for girls, fun train rides for the kids, jewelry, cookies, vegetable booths, and more. It was all good stuff and it is so important to support your local businesses!

The last stop was my favorite as I’m a sucker for kettle corn and it was being served just the way I like it - hot right out of the kettle. I’ll take one of those please!! As I knew it would be, it was delicious. After a fruitful stroll, all were happy at the Market Festival.

Sadly, this was the final one of the season. But, the good news is starting in May on Saturday nights, City North will have free concerts mostly in front of Kona Grill. These concerts are a lot of fun- dancing and fun time. Even the kids have fun—so we will look forward to that.

The first City North concert for 2012 is May 12th at 7PM. The group playing that night is called Vinyl Station. They play indie folk ranging from Ryan Adams and Coldplay to Mumford and Sons! Sounds like a fun time to me and the best thing is the event is FREE!

P.S. The cupcakes, bread and kettle corn were gone by Sunday night!!

___________________________________________________________

Guest Blog Post Courtesy of Wendy Kendall - Farmers Insurance

__________________________________________________

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Where to Shop in Scottsdale AZ: The Potato Barn - Unique Home Furnishings

Heather Tawes Nelson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:43:00 GMT

For those of you who drive the 101 on the east side in Scottsdale , I’m sure you’ve all seen the new store at Indian Bend with "Potato Barn" painted building that used to house a large electronics store. I was taken aback when I first saw “Potato Barn” painted in huge letters on the side the building facing the freeway and wondered, what in the world is the Potato Barn??

Last week I had a few extra minutes before an appointment and stopped in to see what was going on. This was on a Tuesday, a day they are typically closed. However, Lindsey was there to catch up on paperwork and left the front doors open for those of us who couldn’t resist checking out the store.

I must admit it was rather daunting to enter a huge open warehouse with furniture of all shapes and sizes, accent pieces, oversized mirrors …. all totally unique. But, once I got over the initial size of the place, I had a great time walking around. As you can see by the attached photos the items are diverse in style and many are one-of-a-kind.

I asked Lindsey to give me a little history of the store, and specifically the unusual name. She said the Potato Barn is family owned and operated and they have brought over 30 years experience in the furniture business to this endeavor. They opened their first store in Gilbert on Power Road in 2002 in an old farm's potato barn – thus the unique and unusual name. Them about four months ago they opened their second store here on Indian Bend in Scottsdale.

The family imports items from all over the world and specialize in a wide array of styles – from “olde world” and rustic to shabby chic and industrial. I saw some pieces that I’ve heard described as “French warehouse” style. My favorite pieces were the industrial styling, and especially a bench with a “tin roof” for the back and distressed wood for the seating.

Potato Barn offers a large variety of items for the the home – sofas, sideboards, dining tables, beds, tables, unique benches and a huge assortment of pillows, art and accessories. Their inventory is eclectic with touches of heavily distressed finishes and reclaimed wood.

Since their items are one of a kind, they have everything displayed in the huge warehouse setting. If you like it – buy it and take home. Or, you can have it delivered.

More Information:
Potato Barn - 2 Locations
- 9190 E Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ (480) 745-3240
- 4900 S Power Road, Gilbert, AZ (480) 279-5500
http://www.potato-barn.com/

Hours:
They are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Sol Cocina

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:44:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, my friends and I made plans to try Sol Cocina, the new restaurant at Scottsdale Quarter in the Kierland area. Sol Cocina was inspired by the tastes and flavors of Baja California and does not disappoint in terms of the menu items being offered.

Even on an early in the week night, Sol Cocina was full. The folks at the reception desk were genuinely friendly and enthusiastic as they greeted us. Luckily, we had a reservation and were seated promptly.

I had eaten a few times in the restaurant that had been there previously and was looking forward to seeing the design changes Sol Cocina had made. The general layout of the space is still similar, but the feel and design is quite different. They did some creative and visually appealing things with wood beams throughout.

We all decided to start with a cocktail. On our server's recommendation, two of us tried the Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita. It was a nice blend of sweet with a bit of "burn." Our other companion tried the Watermelon Margarita and really liked it. In addition to the more playful takes on margaritas and cocktails, there are a few versions of traditional margaritas. And, if you have ever had a Paloma or Michelada in Mexico, these two drinks also made the menu.

For dinner, we decided to try and share a variety of the smaller plates versus ordering entrees. We had the "Naked "Guacamole which was excellent and fresh. Rather than the tortilla chips you usually see, Sol Cocina serves tostadas for salsa and guacamole dipping. There are a few other twists on guacamole that are offered. The next time, we decided we will try the Guacamole Sol, which comes with the addition of mango, goat cheese and pepitas.

Another item we ordered was the Grilled Sweet Corn. It was another hit at the table. There was a generous portion of the corn, which was covered in a tasty sauce that included butter, lime, chile and more.

I really wanted to try one of the many Ceviches offered, but there were no other takers, so we opted to try some of the tacos. We each had a Garlic Mescal Chicken Street Taco and liked them a lot. On our server's recommendation, we also tried the Sweet Potato Black Bean Taco which was excellent.

The final thing we ordered were the Chicken Enmoladas, which were served enchilada-style with a mole sauce. Larger plates come with a choice of two sides. Options include black beans, rice, quinoa salad and spicy slaw.

Overall, we had a great meal at Sol Cocina and look forward to returning. Our service was nice and attentive and the food was tasty. Plus, its location in Scottsdale Quarter means you can make a day or night out of it.

More Information:
Sol Cocina at Scottsdale Quarter
15323 North Scottsdale Road, Ste 195
Scottsdale Arizona 85254
(480) 245-6708
http://www.solcocina.com/scottsdale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – March 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:15:00 GMT

Below are the March 2012 statistics for the Scottsdale luxury home market. This report looks at homes on the market with list prices of above $1 million and then breaks the data down into four distinct price segments for more detail.

In each price band, a year's worth of data and three key pieces of information are included. They are:
- Luxury homes for sale in Scottsdale
- Pending home sales
- Actual Scottsdale luxury homes sales

- March 2012 -

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 - $1,499,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was up by 5 homes at the end of March to 205. This is above the 12 month average of 205.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: We saw a healthy rebound in pending sales to 33. This is well ahead of the 12 month average of 23.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales doubled over the month of February to 24. This is also ahead of the 12 month average.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 90.0% - This is pretty typical for this price segment, although it is quite a bit lower than we saw in February.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 - $1,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes on the market decreased 9.4% to 135. This is just under the 12 month average.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Again, we see pending sales experience a nice jump. At the end of March, there were 14 pending home sales.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: March home sales were pretty much on par with what we have been seeing over the last few months.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 88.7% - Although lower than the last couple of months, this ratio is pretty common for this price range.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 - $2,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes in this price range were up 3.6% over February to 144. This is well ahead of the 12 month average of 127.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales dropped in March to 6. Although this is still slightly ahead of the 12 month average.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Eleven homes sold in March. This is the highest we have seen in the last year and is more than double the 12 month average number of sales.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 90.2% - This is lower than it has been in the last several months.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory dropped 4.9% by the end of March to 97.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were the same as February with 3. This is also on par with the 12 month average.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: There were three home sales in March. which was a great improvement over the last couple of months' performances.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 54.7% - This number is a bit misleading. There was a luxury estate that went to auction and sold for about 1/3 of the posted asking price. So, this huge discount is having an effect of this figure.

We saw another month of mixed results in the Scottsdale AZ luxury home market. One thing to continue tracking is inventory. In most cases, it went up in March. Additionally, we saw larger discounts off of asking price in all of the various price bands. Sales and pending sales for the most part were quite good or flat, which is nice to see.

To see the detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale luxury real estate market reports page and click on the "Scottsdale Market Trends" report.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family luxury resale homes in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – March 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:06:00 GMT

Here are the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo sales for March 2012. This report considers luxury condos as those with list prices of $1 million or above. The data is broken into the current inventory for sale, pending sales as well as actual sales. You can see the summary information as well as individual sales information for Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Pending Luxury Condo Sales - By the end of March, there were three pending luxury condominium sales. All three of them were in Scottsdale and were at three different communities.

- The first pending sale was found at Safari Drive in Downtown Scottsdale. It was a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom unit with 2,610 square feet. The asking price was $1,075,000.
- The second pending sale was at The Landmark at Kierland. This unit was a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2,688 square foot condo with a list price of $1,082,000.
- The final pending sale was a sixth floor unit at Scottsdale Waterfront Residences. This one was a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom condo with 3,884 square feet and an asking price of $1,649,000.

March 2012 Luxury Condo Sales – In all, three luxury condos sold in March. Two of them were in Phoenix, which were the first luxury condo sales of the year. The final sale was in Scottsdale.

- The first sale was at 2 Biltmore Estates. This ground-floor luxury condo had 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and 4,877 square feet. It had been on the market for $1,658,000 and ultimately sold for $1,510,000.
- The next sale was at The Residences at 2211 Camelback. This unit had 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 3,673 square feet. It sold after only being on the market 12 days at above asking price. It had been listed for $1,290,000 and sold for $1,300,000.
- The third sale in March was the largest sale of the year so far. It was at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences and was a penthouse condo. It had 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 3,940 square feet. The asking price was $2,499,000 and it sold for $2,400,000.

SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX LUXURY CONDO SALES - FIRST QUARTER 2012

Here are the results for the first quarter of 2012. There were 9 luxury condo sales in all. Of those, 7 were in Scottsdale and the remaining 2 were in Phoenix. This is a good pace as it is almost one half of all of 2011's luxury condo sales of 20. In Q1 2011, 6 luxury condos sold.

The communities these sales took place in include:
- Optima Camelview Village (Scottsdale)
- Scottsdale Waterfront Residences (Scottsdale)
- The Residences at 2211 Camelback (Phoenix)
- Kierland Plaza Lofts (Scottsdale)
- Two Biltmore Estates (Phoenix)
- The Landmark (Scottsdale)

Overall, March 2012 was a strong month for the luxury condo segment. Sales were brisk and there are three more sales in the pipeline. Inventory was down slightly as well. Looking forward to April, it should be interesting to see if any other quick sales pop up. For instance, at the beginning of March, there were no pending sales, but we ended up seeing three sales take place.

Learn More About Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos
Search Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale AZ Single-Family Homes for Sale – March 2012

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:32:00 GMT

Here are the most recent real estate sales figures for Scottsdale, Arizona for the month of March 2012.

This report looks at three types of sales data. The first is the current inventory of homes for sale in Scottsdale. The second is pending home sales and the final is actual home sales activity for the month of March 2012. The most recent 12 months of data have been included so that you can see how things have been trending.

The first chart below is a representation of active, pending and actual sales month-by-month over the past year. The chart below it shows you the percentage change between the months as well as the average sales price to list price percentage for Scottsdale home sales.

March 2012 Highlights for Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale:

Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Inventory is back on the downward trend right now. This is the lowest Scottsdale home inventory has been in the last 12 months.
Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending home sales were up slightly (1.1%) over February and are at levels we last saw in June and July of 2011.
Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales jumped almost 30% between February and March to 492. This is the highest we have seen in the last 12 months and based on pending figures, we can expect a similar sales month in April.
Sales Price to List Price: 91.5% - This is the lowest this has been in a while, but it is still in the 90%'s.

The Scottsdale real estate market had an excellent March 2012. Home sale activity skyrocketed and inventory was down to some of the lowest levels we have seen in a while. And, with pending sales close to what we saw in February, we should have an equally strong April.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/31/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and home sales in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Desert Highlands Scottsdale AZ - 2012 Home Sales Performance

Heather Tawes Nelson — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:51:00 GMT

Desert Highlands is one of Scottsdale’s top private golf communities. It has been around since the early 1980’s and was developed by Lyle Anderson and features an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

There are 560 homesites spread over Desert Highlands’ 850 acres. Desert Highlands is located just to the south of Pinnacle Peak and many of the homes are nestled into the foothills, affording amazing Valley views. All homeowners in Desert Highlands become members of the Desert Highlands Golf Club and can start enjoying all of the great amenities and activities right away.

Here are the results for year-to-date 2012 real estate sales in Desert Highlands. The first chart looks at homes on the market. As you can see, there is a wide variety in prices available. The second chart looks at pending sales and the averages seem to be on par price and size-wise as what we are seeing for averages for homes currently on the market.

Desert Highlands' 2012 home sales are off on a pace that is similar to the last few years. Average sales prices have been around the $1 million mark and the days on market for these sales is quite a bit lower than what we see in the active and pending sales.

DESERT HIGHLANDS HISTORICAL HOME SALES

Here are the last four years of home sales at Desert Highlands Scottsdale. Total home sales were down slightly in 2011 over 2010, but we are seeing improvement in most of the other metrics. Average sales price was up slightly as was the average price per square foot. Days on market also improved slightly.

About Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert Highlands is spread over 850 acres with 560 homesites. Its great location means residents are minutes away from shopping, dining, outdoor activities, entertainment and more. The hilly terrain allows for great valley, mountain or city lights views from the homes.

Desert Highlands' homeowners are members of the private Desert Highlands Golf Club. As members, they are free to take advantage of all of the excellent amenities it has to offer, including the 18-hole Nicklaus golf course, tennis, an expansive fitness center, swimming pools, an onsite activities coordinator and much more.

Search Desert Highlands Scottsdale Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/29/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at home sale activity in the golf community of Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Arizona. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Troon North of Scottsdale AZ - 2012 Real Estate Activity

Heather Tawes Nelson — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:27:00 GMT

Troon North is home to two world-famous golf courses, The Monument and The Pinnacle. People come from all over the place to play these dynamic and visually-stunning golf courses. And nestled around the courses, you will find some of the best real estate North Scottsdale has to offer.

Below you will find a real estate report for Troon North for 2012 to-date.The top chart shows the current inventory of homes for sale in Troon North. As you can see they vary in price from smaller "lock and leave" homes all the way up to expansive golf estates.

The second chart takes a look at the homes that are currently pending sale in Troon North. At this time, the pending home sales fall into the lower end of the pricing spectrum.

The final chart is 2012 home sales in Troon North from January 1st through March 26th. Again, the sales have been more concentrated on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. And buyers averaged a 7% discount off of asking price on these sales.

About Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona
Troon North is a collection of various neighborhoods in the Troon North Golf Club area in North Scottsdale. It is located north and east of Pinnacle Peak and is just north of another prominent North Scottsdale golf community, Estancia.

Home sizes range from smaller condo and townhomes, which are great for seasonal residences, all the way up to expansive golf estates overlooking the course. Many of these area communities are gated and have community amenities for homeowners to enjoy.

Memberships to the Troon North Golf Club as well as discounted greens fees are available to residents of Troon North.

Search Troon North Homes for Sale

Search Troon North Foreclosures

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/21/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at home sale activity in the luxury golf community of Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Mirabel Scottsdale AZ - 2012 Home Sales Performance

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:51:00 GMT

Mirabel is a top, private golf community located in North Scottsdale, Arizona. It occupies one of the highest elevations in Scottsdale and therefore many Mirabel homes and lots have incredible city light and mountain views. On a clear day, you can see all the way across the Phoenix Valley.

Below is a snapshot of real estate activity in Mirabel for almost the first three months of 2012. The information includes homes currently for sale, pending home sales and home sales in 2012 to-date.

Only 10 homes are currently for sale. They range in price from $1,149,000 for one of the centrally-located El Corazon homes up to $3,475,000 for a gorgeous custom contemporary home overlooking the course.

As of March 23rd, there was a single pending sale with an asking price of $975,000. This pending sale is for one of the El Corazon homes.

There have been three home sales in 2012 so far, ranging in price from $920,000 for an El Corazon up to $1,855,000 for a 9,500 square foot custom home that was sold as a short sale.

About Mirabel in Scottsdale, Arizona
Mirabel is one of North Scottsdale's top golf communities. It is guard-gated and is nestled on 713 acres. There are 350 home sites and many of them enjoy golf course views, mountain views or city light views. A majority of Mirabel homes are custom builds, but there is an enclave of 35 centrally-located homes in the El Corazon section. These homes are a little smaller and are perfect for someone to "lock and leave" or for someone who is looking to downsize.

The Mirabel Club is private and is home to an 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, a lovely clubhouse with an onsite concierge, a spa, clay tennis courts and pools. You are not required be a member of the Mirabel Club to live in Mirabel, but it is certainly worth joining for the amenities. Both golf and social memberships are available to suit your needs.

View Mirabel Scottsdale Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/23/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at home sale activity in the golf community of Mirabel in Scottsdale, Arizona. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Troon Village of Scottsdale AZ- 2012 Real Estate Report

Heather Tawes Nelson — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:10:00 GMT

Troon Village is a luxury golf community located in North Scottsdale, Arizona. Troon is made up of a series of neighborhoods that dot the hills and adjacent areas of Troon Mountain. Many Troon Village homes are located on Troon Mountain and therefore enjoy outstanding Valley and city light views. The lifestyle at Troon Village truly feels like resort living, yet a large number of amenities are just minutes away.

The charts below provide a snapshot of Troon Village real estate activity. The first chart looks at current homes for sale in Troon Village. The second section looks at pending home sales. And the final chart looks at year-to-date 2012 Troon home sales.

There are a decent number of homes for sale in the Troon Village area with an average asking price close to $1 million. However, if you look at the pending sales, it seems the smaller, less expensive homes have been garnering the most interest recently.

Looking at 2012 home sales in Troon, the average sales price is more in line with the current inventory at close to $1 million. There was a wide range of home sales prices, going from under $400K to over $3 million. Buyers enjoyed an average discount of 6% off of the asking price.

About Troon Village in Scottsdale, Arizona
Troon Village is comprised of several neighborhoods clustered around Troon Mountain. The community is located just east of Scottsdale's famous Pinnacle Peak. A large number of the Troon neighborhoods are guard gated or gated, which makes them ideal for year-round residents or for someone looking for a second home to occupy on a seasonal basis. Troon Village's terrain is mountainous, so the homes on the hill enjoy great mountain, sunset and city views. The types of homes available range from townhomes and patio homes up to expansive hillside estates. There are also some undeveloped lots still for sale if you would prefer to build a custom home.

Troon Country Club is located at the base of Troon Mountain. You do not have to join Troon Country Club to live in Troon Village, but many area residents opt to do so and love the club and its amenities. Troon Country Club features an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and offers a variety of membership options.

Search Troon Village Homes for Sale

Search Troon Village Foreclosures

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 3/21/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at home sale activity in the luxury golf community of Troon Village in Scottsdale, Arizona. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: The Scottsdale Salad Co.

Heather Tawes Nelson — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:05:00 GMT

A new casual dining place called the Scottsdale Salad Co. has opened up in the Scottsdale Airpark area on Northsight. This new family-run restaurant serves a mix of breakfast, lunch and dinner with traditional and more eclectic menu items thrown in.

The owner was very welcoming when we entered and was happy to walk us through any menu items. Scottsdale Salad Co. is set up so that you order at the counter and then your food is brought out to you.

Our visit took place over lunch and there were lots of items to choose from. As the name of the restaurant suggests, there are several salad options to choose from. There are seven globally-inspired choices and you can choose from half and full sizes. For instance, the Scottsdale salad utilizes southwestern ingredients. The Beijing salad brings Asian flavors to the mix and so on. You can also add-on a variety of protein choices, like steak, chicken and shrimp for an additional charge.

Salads aren't the only lunch and dinner options. The Scottsdale Salad Co. also has a large selection of wraps ranging from vegetarian to steak. My dining companion had the chicken teriyaki on a spinach wrap and really enjoyed it. What she liked is that the teriyaki flavor in the wrap was not too heavy handed. For those of you who prefer more of a teriyaki flavor, the wrap comes with a side of teriyaki sauce for dipping.

One other section of offerings that makes the Scottsdale Salad Co. unique is the Eurasian Fusion menu. These items use classic Asian flavors and cooking, but incorporate them with whole wheat pastas and noodles. For instance, they offer a Chow Mein Spaghetti.

On the day I was there, they had tacos on the menu as well so I tried those. The chicken was well-cooked and the smaller, more traditional size of the tacos made for the perfect amount of food. I do know they offer weekend specials as well and was told their soups were excellent. We plan to visit again to try out some of the other menu items.

If you are down in Scottsdale Airpark area and want to visit a new and tasty place, stop by and give the Scottsdale Salad Co. a try.

More Information:
Scottsdale Salad Co.
15040 N. Northsight #104
Scottsdale, AZ 85060
(480) 991-9081
www.ScottsdaleSalads.com

Hours:
Monday through Friday 7AM to 8PM
Saturday 9AM to 7PM
Sunday 10AM-6PM

Free delivery with minimum purchase in delivery area.

Originally published on Live Better in Scottsdale

Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: Scottsdale Farmer's Market - Bigger and Better

Heather Tawes Nelson — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:38:00 GMT

This is a guest blog post by Joyce Tawes, Associate Broker, Realty ONE Group Scottsdale

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IT’S BACK – THE SCOTTSDALE FARMER'S MARKET IS BIGGER AND BETTER

The balmy weather in Scottsdale provided a beautiful background for the bigger and better Farmers Market held in Old Town Scottsdale on the corner of Brown and 1^st Street.

Visiting the Farmers Market early on Saturday mornings has become a ritual. My first stop is always at McClendon’s Select section. One of the largest booths at the market, it is filled with a huge selection of fresh organic vegetables from their local farm. I’ve never been disappointed in any produce I’ve purchased here.

This trip I bought a new (to me) vegetable called the golden beet that was recommended to me by a fellow shopper. I parboiled them, then sliced up and tossed them in my new bacon flavored olive oil I purchased at the Queen Creek Olive Mill booth. Fifteen minutes in the oven and they were delicious! It was a milder flavor than the traditional red beet and my next dish will be to prepare them in a beet salad along with red beets and a little goat cheese.

I was thrilled to see the Queen Creek Olive Mill booth this year. I had read about their new “bacon” flavored olive oil and was planning to drive down to their store to do some tasting. Having the booth at the Farmer's Market was great as it saved me a 75 mile round trip from my home in North Scottsdale.

The Scottsdale Farmer's Market has added an entire new section of booths and expanded into another part of the municipal parking lot they use. Also coming back this year to the market was entertainment – a lovely young woman strumming her guitar and singing ballads. Quite a hit!

I, of course, had to visit two of my favorite vendors – Decio pasta and Pickled Perfection's home-made pickles of all sizes and shapes. They have been at the Scottsdale Farmer's Market for a number of years and are always a favorite of the crowd.

There are also some smaller booths from family-owned organic farms. I always visit their booths as they continue to surprise me with vegetables I’ve never seen before. In particular was a carrot called “Paramek.” It has an unusual shape and I’m told it is delicious and sweet to the taste. Next trip, I am getting some to try.

One of the most fun parts of my Saturday morning visits is to enjoy the crowd filled with babies, strollers, lots of dogs of different breeds, local residents and visitors to Scottsdale. I always finish off my trip to the market by dropping my purchases off at my car and then strolling down the promenade leading to the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center, where I can enjoy the flowers and artwork that dot the landscape.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: Visit the Town of Carefree's Town Center

Heather Tawes Nelson — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:12:00 GMT

On the north side of Scottsdale, Arizona, you will find a charming town called Carefree. Dating back to the 1950's, Carefree is home to about 4,000 residents and some of the best-named roads in Arizona, Carefree is truly a delight to visit and/or reside in.

One of the focal points of Carefree is the Carefree Town Center. The Carefree Town Center is a collection of shops, galleries and restaurants and is host to many events throughout the year. Its main focal point is the 90 foot Sundial, which appears to be the 3rd largest sundial in the western hemisphere. There is the main central area and just down the way, there are more shops and dining options in the Spanish Village section.

Although I have yet to discover all of the stores and various vendors, here are some of the places we like to support and things we like to do at Carefree Town Center:

- The English Rose Tea Room - Experience traditional High Tea and escape for a little while in charming tea room. They serve my favorite scones here and I always love to try a new blend of tea. In addition to tea and food, there is a store area where you can purchase many tea-related items and items from the U.K.
- Friday Farmer's Markets - Come support local vendors as they sell their specialty products. Thinks salsas, spices, fresh vegetables and baked goods and treats.
-AZ Wine Company - AZ Wine has been a staple of Carefree Town Center for many years. They offer a huge selection of wines and spirits for all tastes and budgets. Customer service is friendly and knowledgeable and they are happy to locate a wine for you if they do not have it in stock. They also offer lots of wine tastings and events.
- Easy Street Shoe Repair - This is the place I head when I need some shoe and heel repairs. The owner is great at his craft and works hard. He also does handbag and luggage repair on top of many other items.
- Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festivals - Taking place a few times a year, this is a great way to enjoy the Town Center with lots of amazing art as the backdrop. Grab a glass of wine and peruse the various artists' work.

These are just a few of the large number of shops and events at Carefree Town Center. If you have not had a chance to visit, make sure to take a day to go and explore. And, if you have some favorites of your own, please feel free to share them in the comments section.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale