Scottsdale Real Estate News & Lifestyle

The Scottsdale luxury home market performed well in April. For the purposes of this analysis, I am considering a luxury home as one with an asking price of $1 million or above. Since there is a bit of variation in this segment, I have further separated the information into four luxury home price bands.

Each of these price bands will contain the following information:
Active - The number of homes for sale at the end of the month.
Pending - The number of pending home sales at the end of the month.
Sold - The number of homes that sold during the month.

- April 2013 -
Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 - $1,499,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  Inventory dropped in April, in part due to the large number of sales that took place. However, this figure is still ahead of the 12 month average of 182.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales slipped a little bit, but they were still the third highest we have seen in the past year.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Thirty-six homes sold in this price range in April. This is the highest I have seen this figure since I started tracking it in September of 2007. The next closest to this was 31 sales and that was in June of 2008 and April 2012.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 94.2% - This is the highest this ratio has been since October of 2012.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 - $1,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory in this category was also down at the end of the month. I would attribute it to the very large number of pending sales in the pipeline.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Twenty-six homes were pending at the end of April. This is up 62.5% over March and is double the 12 month average for this price point. Some of these were carryovers from March and others were new contracts.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Only seven homes sold in April despite decent pending inventory coming into the month. I expect to see this number jump back up in May.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 92.3% - This figure has been in the low 90% range for many months now.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 - $2,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was more or less flat between March and April. It is slightly ahead of the 12 month average of 109.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were healthy again at 10. This is almost double the twelve month average of 6.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Sales were up slightly to 7 in April.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 91.2% - This is pretty standard for this price point.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  Inventory was down 2.5% over March to 116 homes.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were also down slightly to two, which is on par with the 12 month average.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold:  Three homes sold in April which is right on par with the average.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 85.6% - This figure is pretty common for this price point.

In summary, the Scottsdale luxury home market had a great month in April, particularly in the $1-$1.5 million range. Inventory is down or somewhat flat and there are some very encouraging pending numbers. Looking forward, May should be another strong month for this segment.

To see more detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale Luxury Home Market Reports page and click on the "Scottsdale Market Trends" downloadable report.

Search Scottsdale Luxury Homes for Sale

Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 5/1/2013 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 © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

I have been a fan of Binkley's in Cave Creek for many years and recently had the opportunity to visit its "little sister" restaurant in Carefree called Cafe Bink.

Cafe Bink is great in that you get to experience all of Chef Kevin Binkley and team's great food and flavors, but in a more casual and less expensive setting.

We were for lunch and had a great meal. Our server recommended the fries and said they were a favorite item among Cafe Bink diners. He was correct - the fries were outstanding. They were super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. (My guess is that they were fried a few times to get that level of crispiness?) The fries come with three dipping sauces - truffle ketchup,  a green herb sauce and an aioli. They were all tasty but the green herb sauce was my personal favorite.

We then each had a cup of the Wild Mushroom Soup which was made with clamshell mushrooms and leeks. It was delicious and satisfying. Finally, we split a Chopped Salad, that had a ton of ingredients mixed in including chives, feta, radicchio, egg, avocado, chicken, bacon and more. It was quite tasty and a perfect way to finish off our meal.

Other lunch offerings at Cafe Bink include many sandwich and burger options, different salad choices, as well as entrees like trout, pasta and steak frites.

Cafe Bink is open for lunch and dinner as well as Sunday Brunch. They also have happy hour specials every day from 3-5PM.

If you find yourself looking for a great lunch or dinner in North Scottsdale or Carefree, head over to Cafe Bink.

More Information: Cafe Bink
36889 N. Tom Darlington
Carefree, AZ 85337
(480) 488-9796
Website
- Located in the Carefree Marketplace
- Open Daily from 11-9 October through May.
- Closed Mondays during June -September

 Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

- Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – April 2013 -

The Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market experienced and excellent month in April. Sales were the highest we have seen in a while and there was solid pending inventory as well.

Below you will see a chart with sales activity of luxury condos during the month of April. I am defining luxury condos as those with asking prices above $1 million.

ACTIVE LISTINGS & PENDING LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

The inventory of luxury condos for sale has been hovering in the just under 30 listings range for many months. Asking prices range from $1,070,000 for a three bedroom unit at The Landmark in the Kierland area to a penthouse at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences listed for $3,695,000.

At the end of April, there were three pending sales. Two of them were in Scottsdale and the other was in Phoenix.

APRIL  2013 LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

April saw an excellent month for luxury condo sales, coming in at five. Four of these sales were in Scottsdale and the final one was in Phoenix.

• Optima Camelview Village in downtown Scottsdale had a sale in April for $1,050,000. This unit was a three bedroom, three and one-half bathroom with 2,315 square feet. It had been listed for $1,100,000 and was on the market for one day.
• The second sale took place at The Mark, in Old Town Scottsdale. This unit had two bedrooms and a den, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,470 square feet. The asking price had been $1,090,000 and it sold for $1,057,000.
• The Scottsdale Waterfront Residences also saw a sale in April. This 9th floor condo had two bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,469 square feet. The sales price was $1,475,000 on a listed price of $1,725,000.
• The final sale in Scottsdale in April was at the Kierland Plaza Lofts. This sixth floor unit had three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,802 square feet. The asking price was $1,650,000 and the sales price was $1,550,000.
• Phoenix's single sale took place in the 2 Biltmore Estates community and it was the highest priced sale of the month. This unit  had three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 4,877 square feet. They had been asking $2,200,000 and it sold for $2,000,000.

April was a positive month for the Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market. Sales surpassed expectations and there was healthy inventory in pending status to move us into May. May numbers should come in decent as well.

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 5/1/2013 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.  There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013  Heather Tawes Nelson

- Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale and Home Sales in April 2013 -
Home sales activity in Scottsdale Arizona for April was excellent. At the end of the month, pending sales were up as well as home sales. Inventory was down again though, which could hamper upcoming sales activity.

SCOTTSDALE HOME SALES ACTIVITY FOR APRIL 2013
The chart below shows the past year of activity broken into inventory for sale, pending sales and actual home sales.

- Homes for sale are shown in red.*
- Pending sales are shown in green.*
- Completed Home Sales are are depicted in purple.

APRIL 2013 RESULTS

• Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Inventory was down 5.6% at the end of the month to 1,528. This drop could hamper home sales going forward as sales have been brisk over the last couple of months.
• Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending sales were up again to 523. This is the highest we have seen them since this time lat year.
• Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales saw another excellent month, coming in at 531. Again this is the highest we have seen sales since this time last year.

Below are two additional charts. The first one illustrates how the figures have changed on a month over month basis. For instance, pending sales were up 8.5% over March.

The second chart shows the final sales price compared to what the home had been listed for. It is a quick way to get a feel for how much the average discount off of asking price was. Since August of 2012, this ratio has been in the 95%'s, meaning the average discount buyers have been getting is between 4-5%. However, this can vary a bit as many of the lower priced homes are selling over asking price and some luxury homes are going for a larger discount.

In summary, April 2013 was a strong month for Scottsdale home sales activity. Pending sales and home sales were up again and posted strong numbers. On the other hand, inventory was down a bit, which means buyers may have a harder time locating the ideal home, therefore constraining sales going forward.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

* Homes for sale and pending home sales figures reflect the number of homes in that status at the end of the month. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 5/1/2013 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. information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represent5s the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

- Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Crudo -

I had been reading a lot of accolades about Crudo and finally had an opportunity to dine there. (Crudo is actually located in Phoenix's 85018 zip code, but it is a quick trip from Scottsdale.)

Crudo's menu is quite straightforward, but the flavors in the dishes themselves are complex and delicious. And while all items can be purchased a la carte, most diners opt to do one of the tasting menus that come with three, four or five course options.

The menu is divided into four sections:

• Crudo - "Raw" preparations of various fish
• Cotto - "Cooked" items, including pastas
• Mozza - "Mozzarella" and other cheese selections
• Griglia - "Grilled" which is where you will find the meats and seafood

There are also several side dishes that you can select from. One of the ones that kept coming up as a favorite among diners was the crispy pigs ears, but unfortunately, I am not brave enough to try them...

My dining companion and I both opted for the tasting menu and we are glad we did. We both thought the albacore crudo was outstanding. It comes with slices of albacore that are layered with truffle, black garlic and thinly sliced apples. I also tried the ahi tuna crudo that came with smoked olives, lemon and egg. It was another good choice.

From the mozza category, I tried the burrata which they paired with arugula and a light vinaigrette. It was excellent.

Moving onto cotto, we had two dishes. I opted for the mushroom dish which was mushrooms and truffle with mozzarella cheese and an egg on top. It was decadent and delicious, but not too heavy. My dining companion had the gnocchi with cauliflower and spicy tomatoes and really enjoyed it.

Overall, it was an excellent meal and the portions were just right. We were full, but not overly so.

On the drink side, they have a selection of creative cocktails as well as wine and beer offerings. And, there are Happy Hour specials from 5-7 PM daily.

Since Crudo focuses on only using fresh, seasonal ingredients, the menu will evolve over the course of the year. However, based on what we experienced, any other preparations are going to be just as good.

More Information:
Crudo
3603 East Indian School Suite B
Phoenix, AZ 85018
- Restaurant is located on the rear side of the Gaslight Shopping complex
(602) 358-8666

Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Happy Hour from 5-7PM.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

-2013 Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales By Type-

Below are the sales numbers for the first quarter of 2013 in Scottsdale Arizona zip code 85255. The sales have been broken into sales type categories so that you can see the impact of distressed home sales on the numbers.

The 85255 zip code can be found in North Scottsdale and it is home to many top golf and luxury communities. It is at a higher elevation than central and south Scottsdale and many homes and lots enjoy beautiful mountain and city light views. Some of the top communities in 85255 include Troon Country Club, Desert Highlands, Grayhawk, DC Ranch,  Silverleaf and Mc Dowell Mountain Ranch.

Definitions for the Real Estate Sales Types:

• Non-Distressed Sales: These are "regular" or "typical" home sales. A homeowner sells to the homebuyer and no third party approval is required for the sale to complete.
• Short Sales: This is one of the two "distressed" sale categories. In this case, the home will not sell for the amount the owner has out on it. In order to complete the sale, the third party or parties who hold liens against the property will need to approve the contract terms before the sale can go through.
• Foreclosures: This is the other "distressed" category. As the names imply, these homes have been foreclosed upon and the homeowner no longer has possession. Other name for these homes are "lender owned" or "REO."

 Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales Market for Q1 2013 - Data as of April 1, 2013

• Active Scottsdale 85255 Homes For Sale: Almost all of the homes for sale (98%) at the end of Q1 2013 were regular sales. There were only two foreclosure homes on the market.
• 85255 Pending Homes for Sale: When we look at pending sales, we see an increase in the representation of distressed properties, even though they are such a small part of the inventory now. This highlights the demand for distressed homes as buyers seek out "deals" on homes.
• Q1 2013 Scottsdale 85255 Home Sales: 90% of all Q1 sales were on regular homes. Short sales and foreclosures made up the remaining 10%.
• 85255 Home Prices: Looking at average price per square foot on sales, the numbers come in as we would expect with regular sales having the highest number, followed by short sales and foreclosures. The larger average square footage of the foreclosures accounts for the higher average sold price over short sales.
• Cumulative Days on Market: Again, the numbers are coming in where we would expect. Regular sales with the shortest days on market, followed by foreclosures then short sales.
• Discounts Off of List Price: Buyers of non-distressed homes saw an average of 4.5% off of asking prices. What is interesting is that short sales on average came in above asking price. This is the first time I have seen this.  Foreclosure buyers got a larger average discount than what we have been noting. Usually it comes in around a 2-3% discount.

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 –2012 Sales Data

This last chart is a snapshot of sales activity by quarter and by sales type for the year of 2012.

You can see that over the year, the percentage of non-distressed home sales increased. It went from 67% in Q1 2012 to 78% in Q4.  A lot of this gain came from the declining number of foreclosure homes that sold due to limited inventory.

If you would like to review this same information for all of Scottsdale in 2012, please visit the report below:

View Scottsdale Homes Sales by Type 2012

Search homes for sale in Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85255

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 4/1/2013 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 2013. 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. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

- Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Searsucker -

Last week, I had the opportunity to finally try Searsucker in downtown Scottsdale and I am glad we did.

If you follow TV shows like Top Chef, you may be familiar with Brian Malarkey from San Diego. Since the show, he has opened several restaurants in California and this is his first venture in Scottsdale.

Upon walking in, we were warmly greeted. The space itself is beautiful and well-designed. It is open, industrial and contemporary. Sliding curtains throughout allows the staff to create more intimate or more open spaces depending on what is going on. The large bar and lounge area is to the left and has a darker, sleek palette.

We were there for lunch, which has a different menu than dinner, but there are a few carryover items on both menus. The menu descriptions are creative if a little cryptic and our friendly server was happy to answer any and all questions.

We started with the recommended farm bird lollipops, which are a fun play on traditional hot wings. Chicken meatballs on skewers are basted with a sweet and not too spicy "snake bite" hot sauce. You can then dip the meatballs into a blue cheese fondue for a cooling effect.

For our main courses, we had two "crusts" (a.k.a. sandwiches) and one "main" (which includes salads and entrees.) The "Dip," a french dip sandwich looked delicious and filling. It was traditionally done and my dining companion really enjoyed it. I tried the "Drunken Chicken," which is a creative play on a chicken salad sandwich. It too, was quite good and another generous portion. Both our our sandwiches came with a simple and tasty green salad with vinaigrette. Our third companion tried the Cobb Salad. It was probably the most nicely composed Cobb salad I have seen. It was fresh and piled high with ingredients. Large pieces of bacon on top completed the presentation.

I had heard that the fries they serve with lunch were great so we ordered those as well as a side. They were quite good and got polished off quickly.

Another table had ordered the mussels + frites , which come with the fries I just mentioned, and it looked outstanding. I am planning to try that the next time I am in. I also want to come and try dinner as there are a lot of interesting looking dishes on the menu.

Searsucker is located adjacent to Scottsdale Fashion Square on Camelback and there is mall access from the building. Valet parking, which is complimentary at lunch, is very convenient. Or, you could always park at the mall and walk over.

More Information:
Searsucker Scottsdale
6900 East Camelback Road, Suite 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480.664.3777
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner Daily

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

- Scottsdale AZ Q1 2013 Home Sales By Type - Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales -

Below are the first quarter 2013 sales figures for the single-family home market in Scottsdale Arizona.

The information is divided into three home sale categories and how these categories are defined is below:

- Non-Distressed Sales - These are "normal" or "traditional" home sales. In this case, the seller and buyer agree to the terms and the sale proceeds.
- Short Sales - A short sale is when a homeowner can only sell the home for less than what is owed on it. A third party approval from the lienholder or lienholders is required in order for this sale to move forward.  A short sale is considered a "distress" sale.
- Foreclosures - Foreclosure is the other"distressed" category. As the name implies, these homes have been through the foreclosure process and the homeowner no longer owns the home. You may also hear these called "Lender-Owned","REO", and/or "Bank-Owned" homes.

Overall Findings for the Q1 2013 Scottsdale Single-Family Home Market - Data As of April 1, 2013

• Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Almost all of the for sale inventory is "regular" sales at 96%. The distressed category only comprises the small 4% remaining and it is evenly split between short sales and foreclosures.
• Scottsdale Pending Home Sales: When you look at pending sales, distressed inventory has a larger impact. Short sales make up 18% of the pending sales and foreclosures come in at 3%. Regular sales are still the majority though.
• Q1 2013 Scottsdale Home Sales: In the first quarter of 2013, distressed sales were 15% of the market. Again, regular sales were the most dominant sales type.
• Home Prices: As we would expect to see, non-distressed homes had the highest average sales price. Normally, you would see short sales come in as the next highest, but in Q1, foreclosures had the second highest average sales price. This same pattern holds when you look at average sales price per foot as well. Traditionally, foreclosures were the "most discounted" when compared to market price, but we have been seeing a shift lately in some areas where short sales are coming in with the lowest average prices.
• Days on Market: Days on market for each of the sales types is what we generally see. Regular sales sell the quickest, followed by foreclosures and then short sales.
• Discounts Off of List Price: Over the last several quarters, we have seen the average discount off of the asking price shrink as the market has improved. As of Q1 2013, buyers of non-distressed homes only saw an average of 4.6% off of asking price and short sale buyers only saw 0.6% on average.

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales 2012
To see how this first quarter stacks up to 2012's figures, you can refer to the chart below which shows 2012 home sales by type for Scottsdale broken out by quarters.

Already you can see that in 2013, regular sales have seen a large leap in percentage of total sales and short sales have seen a large drop. Foreclosures are still a small part of the sales figures, but they also continue to taper off.

If you are interested, you can browse through this previous report for Scottsdale home sales:
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2012

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 4/1/2013 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.  This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

This post was written by Joyce Tawes, Associate Broker, Realty ONE Group Scottsdale

________________________________________________________________

One of Scottsdale's biggest gems is the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall in Old Town Scottsdale. It encompasses over 21 acres of green lawns, lovely flowers and fountains, walking paths and art installations. It is the site for many cultural and performing art exhibitions as well as fun community events like food festivals and more.

The following can be found at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall:

• Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
• Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
• One Civic Center
• City Hall
• Civic Center Library

As I walked around the mall recently, I enjoyed taking photos of many of the things I saw. The Spring flowers were in full bloom, the lawns were a vibrant green and it was a phenomenal day to be out and about.

The Old Town Tavern that is situated on the park has a colorful history. The Song family has owned the property since 1929.  In the early 1980’s Jack Song opened a bar and restaurant under the name of J. Chew & Co.  It closed down in the late 1990’s and then opened under new management as Brackin’s Bar.  The current owner, Paul Mitchell, re-opened it in 2009 as The Old Town Tavern.  It’s become a very popular place for locals and tourists and is well-known for its music. There’s a small upstairs patio that I’ve been told is known as the “cigar bar”.  Great idea!

The Clayton on the Park is a relatively new event venue that is gaining popularity for weddings, private parties and business events.  It offers tremendous versatility as it is broken up into three distinct areas. Use one of the smaller, more intimate settings or take over the entire building for larger events. When you rent the venue, all of any of the very trendy modular furniture is part of the deal.  I’ve attended an event offering cocktails and hors-d’ouvres utilizing the downstairs area and patio.  Their catering department did an outstanding job throughout the entire evening.

The bronze statues of the three horses is called The Yearlings by George Ann Tognoni. They were framed today by the colorful flowers beneath their hooves, and the foliage and colorful window boxes of the Bischoff building.

One of the most recognizable and smile-inducing art installations at the Civic Center is the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana. This iconic pop art piece is large, red and blue and sits in a large grassy area for all to see. It is made of aluminum and weighs 3,800 pounds. 

I admit to being partial to this particular part of  Scottsdale as a stroll through the Civic Center Mall is always so peaceful and refreshing as you stroll along the pathway surrounded by beautiful art and the sound of running water in the fountains and small creeks.

Exploring this area is a definite must-do for tourists as well as residents of Scottsdale.

Location of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall:
3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

 Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

This blog post was written by Joyce Tawes, Associate Broker, Realty ONE Group Scottsdale

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- Downtown Scottsdale AZ – An Entertaining Place to Explore on Foot -

I love Scottsdale and find it to be such a unique and wonderful city. I was recently attending an outdoor art event in Old Town Scottsdale with my husband and we decided to walk through town to the Waterfront near the Scottsdale Fashion Square for a bite to eat. The weather was outstanding and things were somewhat quiet as it was late afternoon on a Sunday. Here are a few things that caught my eye as we strolled through town.

We were on Main Street near the Civic Park when I saw a young lady demonstrating “something” to a customer.  I was intrigued and went into her store, Del Sol, to see what was so interesting. The charming young lady took one of their T-shirts from the rack. In the first photo, she’s holding up this pink T-shirt with a drawing on it. However, when the T-shirt was exposed to sunlight …..Surprise!  The sun triggered it to color in the drawing and we now have a beautiful mermaid.  The store is filled with items utilizing this technology.  How about nail polish that is silver when inside and turns red when you go out in the sun? Or a hair clip? There are way too many things to mention, so stop by if you have a chance.

Next door to Del Sol was an art store that had a couple of “whimsies” in the window about 5 inches high.  Couldn’t resist a quick shot of the small, glass peppers doing the “Salsa”, but I think they were somewhat outclassed by the bananas doing what appeared to be a “Tango”.

As we neared the Waterfront, I was admiring the statue in the round-about called the Horse Fountain that was done by Bob Parks in 1988.  It’s a beautiful piece of art featuring five champion Arabian horses.

As I started to step off the curb, I fortunately looked both ways as a tour group on Segways came whizzing by. It looked like a lot of fun and a novel way to see the town.

After having an iced tea and salad at Olive and Ivy on the waterfront, we were heading back to the bridge when I spotted “Willy”.  Willy is a 6 week old pig who was having a great time frolicking on the grass by the waterway.  His owners said he’s a great pet, will grow to be about 20 pounds and is already “house broken”.  It wasn’t an easy task to get a picture as Willy was having too much fun running through the grass and entertaining the many folks who stopped to give him a pat on the head.  Too cute!

I don’t think I’ve ever walked through Downtown Scottsdale without seeing something new and interesting.  That’s where I head when I have a little time as it’s always entertaining and a relaxing time.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

- Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market Performance for March 2013 -

Here are March 2013's figures for the Scottsdale luxury home market. I am defining the luxury home market as homes for sale in Scottsdale with list prices in excess of $1 million. This information has been broken into four price ranges to show additional detail.

Each price range contains the following information:
Active - How many homes were for sale at the end of the month.
Pending - How many pending sales there were at the end of the month.
Sold - How many homes sold during the month of March.

- March 2013 -
Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 - $1,499,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  The number of homes for sale at the end of March was up 4.7% over February. This is well ahead of the 12 month average of 181.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were the highest they have been since last Spring. At the end of the month, 31 homes were under contract in this price range.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: As with pending sales, home sales in March were the highest they have been since last Spring. Twenty-eight homes sold, ahead of the 12 month average of 22.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 92.9% - This is about where this figure has been for the last several months.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 - $1,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes for sale was up in March, a 4.7% increase over February. This is the highest inventory has been in the past year.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Sixteen homes were pending at the end of the month. This is up one over February and is ahead of the 12 month average of thirteen.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: Fourteen homes sold in March. This was less than February's fifteen sales, but is still ahead of the 12 month average of 10.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 94.6% - This is the highest we have seen this ratio in the last year.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 - $2,999,999
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was up to 116 at the end of the month, just surpassing the 12 month average of 112.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending home sales came in at 9, down one over February, but ahead of the 12 month average of 6.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold: There were six home sales in March, sightly ahead of the 12 month average of five.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 91.3% - This is on par with what we have been seeing in this price point.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
- Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  Inventory was down by one in March to 119. This is still well ahead of the 12 month average of 96.
- Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Three homes were pending sale at the end of the month.
- Scottsdale Homes Sold:  There were two home sales in March, which is on par with February and the 12 month average.
- Sales Price to Listed Price: 83.2% - This is lower than we have been seeing over the last few months with sales. However, it was trending in the 80%'s for most to last year.

March 2013 was a decent month for luxury home activity in Scottsdale. Inventory was up in most of the price bands. But unlike the lower price points where inventory is constrained, there are still many months of inventory for sale when you get to the luxury segment. Pending sales were solid and should lead to another decent sales month in April.

To see more detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale Luxury Home Market Reports page and click on the "Scottsdale Market Trends" downloadable report.

Search Scottsdale Luxury Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2013 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 © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

- Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – March 2013 -

Here are the numbers for March for the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo market. For the purposes of this analysis,  I am defining this market as condos with asking prices of $1 million or more.

March was another somewhat quiet month for this segment. Below you will see a chart with sales activity during the month. The first column looks at summary data and then activity for each city is presented.

ACTIVE LISTINGS & PENDING LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

The least expensive luxury condo for sale at the end of March was a 4th floor unit at The Landmark in the Kierland area. It is a three bedroom, two and one-half bathroom condo with 2,630 square feet. It is listed for $1,070,0000

The most expensive unit was the same as last month. This 10th floor unit is at Esplanade Place in the heart of Phoenix's Biltmore area. It is listed for $2,650,000 and has 4,286 square feet, three bedrooms and four bathrooms.

There  was a single pending sale at the end of March. This is a unit that was under contract for several months last year and never closed. It was taken off of the market and is now back as pending. This is a very unique property as it is the entire top floor of the Camelback Tower. It has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 7,254 square feet. It currently needs very extensive renovations and was priced at $2,499,000 at the time it went under contract.

MARCH  2013 LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

There was a single sale in March. It was at the Fairway Lodge at the Biltmore. This top floor unit had two bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,992 square feet. It had been listed for $1,150,000 and sold for $1,000,000.

March was a quiet month for the  luxury condo market in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Hopefully, activity will pick up in April.

 FIRST QUARTER 2013 RESULTS FOR THE SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX LUXURY CONDO MARKET

Here are the sales statistics for Q1 2013. As you can see, the lion's share of sales have occurred in Scottsdale and the average sales price is quite a bit higher. Ideally, we will see more activity in Phoenix as the year progresses.

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 4/1/2013 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.  There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013  Heather Tawes Nelson

- Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale and Home Sales in March 2013 -
Scottsdale Arizona home sales activity in March 2013 was brisk as the high selling season got underway. Below is an analysis that looks at homes for sale, pending sales and home sales over the previous twelve months.

SCOTTSDALE HOME SALES ACTIVITY FOR MARCH 2013
- Homes for sale are depicted in red.*
- Pending sales are depicted in green.*
- Completed Home Sales are are shown in purple.

MARCH 2013 RESULTS

• Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Inventory increased again in March to 1,619, a 2.9% increase over February. This is good news as low supply is hampering a lot of potential buyers from purchasing a home.
• Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending sales slipped slightly to 482. Part of this can be attributed to inventory constraints.
• Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales saw a very healthy jump in March to 503. This is 29% over February and what is interesting is that there were only 490 pending sales at the end of February. We generally do not see sales figures exceed the pending figure from the month prior. However, when there are cash purchases and quick closes, this can happen.

This next section includes two charts. The top chart indicates how things have changed on a month over month basis. Here you can see the almost 30% increase in home sales in March.

The second chart compares actual sales prices to the listed price. This ratio is a quick way to gauge how much the average discount off of asking price is. The Scottsdale single family home market has been trending in the 95%'s for a while now, meaning, on average, buyers received a 4-5% discount off of asking price.

March was an excellent month for home sales in Scottsdale, as we would expect from a seasonal standpoint. The increase in inventory is a positive thing since it has been running so low. It will be interesting to see if the number of sales in April again exceeds the pending figure from the end of March.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Disclaimer: * Homes for sale and pending home sales figures reflect the number of homes in that status at the end of the month. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2013 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. information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

The following is a post by Joyce Tawes, Associate Broker, Realty ONE Group Scottsdale

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-A Sunday Stroll in Old Town Scottsdale-
The weather was so beautiful today in Scottsdale that I couldn’t resist going down to Old Town to just walk around and see what was going on. We parked near the Scottsdale Civic Center Park and decided to visit the Sunday A’Fair.  This event has been going on for 26 years and is sponsored by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.  These free concerts are held on the outdoor area in the adjacent Scottsdale Civic Center Park.

As we walked nearer to the event, we could hear the soft and enticing music of the Alice Tatum Quartet.  Their music was easy listening and they had attracted a large, diverse audience. It was my first time listening to this quartet, but I understand Alice has been sharing her versatile repertoire for the last 30 years in Scottsdale.

Relaxing on the lawn area were families, young people, older folks and lots of very relaxed dogs.  The sponsors of the event encourage people to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and just sit back and enjoy.  But, if you leave home without your picnic basket, no need to worry – there are ample food and beverage offerings available within the park area, or you can always seat yourself at one of the neighboring restaurants bordering the park.

While strolling around the perimeter of the lawn, I couldn’t help but admire the beautiful fountain surrounded by colorful and sweet-smelling flower gardens.  And, I had not realized before that the adobe square table and chairs built in around the fountain feature a chess/checkerboard on top of it!

There were a number of vendors at this event, and I had a fun time talking to the three young ladies at the Twisted Gems of Scottsdale booth.  Between the three of them, they produce a varied and absolutely stunning collection of jewelry.  They also sell large brimmed straw hats and to adorn them, they offer unique and colorful bands made from different metals and gems.  Most interesting was the fact that the three ladies, Jeannine Christian, Karen Holihan, Ann Ciemnoczolowski, were all born in Scottsdale and have been close friends since grammar and high school.

Next weekend is the final Sunday A’Fair for the season and the program will be “OrigiNation – A Festival of Native Cultures”.  The event will offer the opportunity to explore and compare native cultures of Arizona and India.  There will be live music and dance, an arts and crafts market, kid’s activities plus native inspired foods and beverages.  Admission is free and it runs from noon to 4 PM.  You can find more information at www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale