sonoran foothills lifestyle

A Housing Shortage In The Valley?

Demand is Up, Supply is Low

Perfect Poolside FareWindsor’s Mixed-Grain Salad

Sonoran FoothillsReal Estate Report

Stylizing the Heart of the Home

May | June 2012

Sonoran Foothills

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

• As a Sonoran Foothills resident since 2005, a 36-year resident of Phoenix by way of Minnesota and a real estate professional, I am well-versed in the growth of our community and have a solid reputation of integrity. • I keep my clients and neighbors informed about all aspects of the market, including crucial statistics to help you make decisions. • Whether you’re considering selling, moving up, downsizing or investing in real estate to add to your wealth portfolio, working with me and my team of professionals will provide you with top-notch results. My top priority is to serve my clients promptly and pro-actively, paying careful attention to detail, while providing unrivaled customer care.

Contact the Kelli Grant Group today for a private consultation or to discuss your questions. I always welcome questions, even if you need a good landscaper or are deciding to invest in expensive home improvements!

If you haven’t already, check out the community website and subscribe to the monthly newsletter for local events, job openings, tips, news, and much more!

Call or Text: (602) [email protected]

www.PhoenixHomeResource.comPLATINUM PREMIER REALTY

Kelli GrantYour Sonoran Foothills Real Estate Specialist

WE HAVE BUYERS WAITING TO LIVE IN SONORAN FOOTHILLS! ARE YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBOR

READY TO SELL YOUR HOME? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE HOUSING INVENTORY IS AT

A LARGE DEFICIT IN PHOENIX? Contact me for free Neighborhood Market Watch

reports or a value analysis of your home. My team is also proficient in Short Sales and

foreclosure alternatives. Find out how our marketing plan and exquisite customer service keeps our

clients working with us again and again, call or email me today.

www.SonoranFoothillsCommunity.com

Sonoran FoothillsREAL ESTATE REPORT

Source: ARMLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

ACTIVELISTINGS

UNDER CONTRACT/TAKING BACK UPS

SALE PENDING

CLOSED 2012 YTD

OVERALL

# Listings 15 15 11 25 67

List/Sold Volume $5,482,000 $3,805,600 $2,933,300 $6,994,153 $19,722,176

List/Sold LowPrice Avg High

$144,000$365,467$549,000

$119,000$253,707$429,000

$145,000$266,664$369,900

$120,000$279,766$455,000

$119,000$294,361$549,000

Approx. Low Sq. Ft. Avg High

1,8823,6266,112

1,5192,7033,983

2,0922,8763,831

1,5192,9884,824

1,5193,0446,112

List/Sold Low Price Per Avg Approx Sq. Ft. High

$76.51$101.87$144.48

$69.31$91.11$130.12

$65.52$91.18$123.59

$60.47$92.42$122.65

$60.23$95.25$144.48

Days On Low Market Avg High

886268

8117261

090421

0123523

0108523

Afteraslumpduringthethirdquarterof2011,mostoftheGreaterPhoenixhousingmarkethasimproveddramaticallyforsellersandastrongrecoveryisnowwellunderway.ThesupplyofsinglefamilyandcondominiumhomesstarteddeclininginDecember2010andisnowverylow,atlevelswelastsawinthesummerof2005duringthepeakofthehousingbubble.Withinterestratesatrecordlows,theeconomyshowingsignsoflife,andprices,althoughrising,stillveryaffordablecomparedwithearningsandrents,buyershaveplentyofreasonstopurchasehomes. Howeverthesupplyofhomesisnowsotightatthelow-to-mediumpricerangesthatbuyingoneisoftenquiteastruggle,primarilyduetotheintensecompetitionforthefewhomesavailableforsale.Publicsentimenttowardhousingstillremainsrelativelypoorbutisnowstartingtoimproveassignsincreasethattheworstofthehousingcrisisisover.Loansarestillhardtoqualifyfor,andafinancedbuyerisusuallyatadistinctdisadvantagewhencompetingagainstacashbuyerwhoispreparedtowaivetheirappraisalcontingency. WithpricesthathavedeclinedfromtheirpeakinJune2006morethanalmostanywhereintheUS,theValleystillhasalargenumberofhomeownerswithloansthatexceedthemarketvalueoftheirhome.FollowingthelaunchofHARP2.0

andtherecentsettlementbetweenthestatesandfivelargelenders,thesehomeownersmayhavemoreofanopportunitytorefinanceintolow-interestloans.Thiswillnotresolvetheirunderwatercondition,butperhapsitwillreducetheirmonthlypaymentsandallowthemtofeellessfinancialstress.Atthemomentthesuccessoftheseprogramsremainstobeproven. Giventhatwholesalereductionsinloanprincipalsappearunlikely,themainmechanismforresolvingourunderwaterloanproblemsisformarketpricestorise.AsoftheendofMarch2012,priceshaveinfactincreasedbyanaverageof18%sinceSeptember2011andarecurrentlyonastrongupwardtrend.Howeverthattrendisfueledmainlybytheriseinthepricesoflender-ownedproperties,auctionedhomesandflips.Normalresalesandshortsaleshaveyettoparticipatestronglyintheimprovingpricemovement. Anothersectorthatisnotparticipatingfullyintheupwardtrendistheluxurymarket,wheresupply,thoughslightlylowerthanin2010,isstilladequatetomeetbuyerdemand.Ontheotherhand,relativelylowdistresslevelsinthissectormeanthereisalsolittledownwardpressureonpricing.Consequently,pricestabilityhasbeenestablishedandluxuryhomesellerscannowwaitfortherisingtideofpricesfromthebottomendofthemarkettograduallyliftvaluesofluxuryproperties.

Itwilltakemanymonthsofstrongimprovementforthenegativeequityproblemtoabate,andthereislittlechanceofpricingachievingtheheightsof2006inthemediumterm.Howeverwenowfaceaseveresupply/demandimbalancethatfavorssellersandsetsusupfortheprobabilityofasignificantriseinpricingatthelowerandmiddlesectorsofthemarketintheimmediatefuture.

FridayNightFranksFortMcDowellAdventures,May11th,18th,25th480.816.6465|FortMcDowellAdventures.comWhen’sthelasttimeyouexperiencedacowboy-stylecookoutinthedesert?Bringyoursweetieoryourwholefamilyforliveentertainment,horseshoes,wagonridesandofcourseagoodold-fashionedwienerroast.Finishyournightwiths’moresandsomestargazing!

ArizonaBBQFestivalSaltRiverFields,May19th–20thAZBBQFestival.comIfyoulovetoeat,thisfoodiefestisamust-do.TeamsofBBQcompetitorswilltemptyourtastebudswhilelivemusic,acookingdemostage,kids’zoneandWhiskeyRow–atentwheresignaturewhiskeycocktailsarecraftedforyourpleasure–allvieforyourattention.

ArizonaDiamondbacksvs.LADodgersChaseField,May21st–23rd602.462.6500|Dbacks.comTakemeouttotheballgame!Canyouthinkofamorepleasantwaytospendyourtimethanatthisthree-gamehomestandagainsttheDodgers?Don’tforgettobringyourglovetoscoreyourselfafoulballandbesuretoindulgeintimelessballparkfareofpeanutsandCrackerJacks!

MillionDollarQuartetGammageAuditorium,June5th–10th480.965.3434|ASUGammage.comOnDecember4,1956,rock‘n’rolliconsElvisPresley,JohnnyCash,JerryLeeLewisandCarlPerkinsweregatheredtogetherbySamPhillips,the“FatherofRock’n’Roll”atSunRecordsinMemphisforwhatwouldbeoneofthegreatestjamsessionsofalltime.Million Dollar Quartetbringsthatlegendarynighttolifewithanirresistibletaleofbrokenpromises,secrets,betrayalandcelebrationsfeaturingtimelesshits.

MusicintheGardenDesertBotanicalGarden,June8th480.481.8188|DBG.orgAfterreceivingmultiplestandingovationsintheirperformancehonoringTheBeatles,Crossing32ndStreetMusicEnsemblereturnstoDesertBotanicalGardentoperformA Musical Tribute to The Who. Thistributetooneofrockmusic’smostinfluentialandcontroversialbandsincludesclassicWhohitsincludingMy Generation, I Can See for Miles, Baba O’Riley, Behind Blue Eyesandmuchmore.

MAY|JUNE2012

MIXED-GRAIN SALAD

FeaturingWindsor602.279.1111|WindsorAZ.com

FORTHEORANGE-BASILVINAIGRETTE:Zestof1orange 1/2cupoliveoil1/2cuporangejuice 1/2cupcanolaoil1tsp.mincedshallot 1/4cupchoppedfreshbasil3Tbs.whitewinevinegar pinchsalt2Tbs.honey

Combineorangezestandjuice,shallots,vinegarandhoneyinablender.Withblenderrunning,slowlydrizzleintheoils.Turnoffblenderandfoldinthebasilandsalt.

FORTHEROASTEDVEGETABLES:2cupsjulienne-cutzucchini 1cupcherrytomatohalves2cupsjulienne-cutyellowsquash 1cuppeeled&dicedbutternutsquash2cupsshreddedcarrots 1/2cupdriedcurrantsoliveoil 1Tbs.freshbasilchiffonade(longthinribbons)saltandpepper 11/2tsp.fresh,torntarragonleaves

Heatovento350.Combinezucchini,yellowsquashandcarrotsinabowl.Drizzlelightlywithoilandseasonwithsaltandpepper.Placeonfoil-linedbakingpan.Onanotherfoil-linedpan,placetomatoescutsideup.Drizzlewithalittleoilandseasonwithsaltandpepper.Placedicedbutternutsquashonathirdfoil-linedpan;drizzlewithoilandseasonwithsaltandpepper.Roastallvegetablesat350degrees.Eachwilltakeadifferentamountoftimetocook,socheckoften,removingthevegetableswhentheyaretender.Whenallvegetablesaredonecooking,allowthemtocooltoroomtemperature.Mixthemtogether,andaddcurrants,basilandtarragon.

FORTHEMIXEDGRAINS:1cupcookedblackquinoa 1cupcookedbarley1cupcookedkamut

Combineallthecookedgrainsandrefrigerateuntilcool.Whencompletelycool,addtotheroasted-vegetablemix.

FORTHEROASTEDBEETS:1bunchbabybeets 1Tbs.redorwhitewinevinegar(optional)

Removetopsfrombeets,leavingjustalittlestemabovethebeet.Rinseoffanydebris.Placeinabakingdishandaddjustenoughwatertocoverthebeetsaquarterofthewayup.Addthevinegar.Coverwithalidorfoilandroastat350degreesuntilaknifecanbeeasilypokedthroughthebeet.(Itcantakeupto45minutes,dependingonsizeofbeets.)Allowtocooltoroomtemperature,thendraintheliquidandpeelthebeets.Cutintoquarters.

TOASSEMBLE:6to8cupsmixedsaladgreens 1cupcrumbledgoatcheeseorange-basilvinaigrette roastedbeetsmixedgrainandroastedvegetablemixture

Tossthemixedgreenslightlywiththevinaigretteanddishontoaservingplate.Topthegreenswiththegrain-vegetablemix.Crumblegoatcheeseontop.Garnishwithroastedbeetsaroundtheoutsideofthedish.

Servings: 6 to 8

In Good Taste Event Calendar

Doesyourkitchenneedanupgrade?Notatotalmakeoverperse,butsomeupdateshereandthere?Therearefourelementsinyourkitchenthatwhenaltered,candramaticallytransformyourspace:appliances,stovehoods,cabinetryandbacksplashes. Whenquestionedontheimportanceofkitchendesignandplanning,DebraMayHimesofDebraMayHimesInteriorDesign&Associates,LLCsuggeststhatthereshouldbegreatcarewhendesigningthekitchenspace.“Theadage‘formfollowsfunction’certainlyappliestothecurrenttrendsinkitchenstoday,”saysDebra,“andthatincludesappliances,cabinetry,andkitchenaccessoriesamongmanyotherthings.” Appliancesarenownotonlyenergyefficient,butareoftenmulti-functional.Forexample,somemicrowavesmayalsobeusedasaconvectionoven.Formerlyfoundinthehigher-endappliances,ovenandwarmingdrawercombinationsarenowofferedinthemoreeconomicallypricedappliances.Therearelargeovens

andsmallovens,largedishwashersanddishwasherdrawers.Onecanfindindoorbuilt-insteamersandgrills.Therearesomanychoicesforeachpersonalneedandkitchenrequirement. Kitchenhoodshaveachievedtheirownlevelofdecorativeimportance.Cladintile,travertine,stainlesssteel,orwood;hoodstodaycanrangefromlargeandmajordesignelementsforthekitchen,tosimplyfunandwhimsicalessentials.“Designingtherighthoodforthekitchenissignificant,”saysDebra.“Thehoodisamajordesignfactorinthekitchenandcanoftensetthetonenotonlyforthedesignforthekitchenbutsometimesthewholehouse.” Choosingtherightcabinetsforthekitchenshouldalsobeahighpriorityindesigndetails.Pre-planningforhowthekitchenwillbeusedbeforethecabinetsarebuiltwilladdmoreversatilityandfunctionalitytothespace.Ofcourse,ifyouroverallcabinetstructureisuptopar,perhapsasimplerefinishorre-facingcangiveyoutheoutcomeyoudesire.

Thestyleofthecabinetswillhelpsetthestageforthepersonalityofthekitchen.Cabinetswithraisedpaneldoorsanddecorativeappliedmoldingsaretypicallyfoundinatraditionalstyleofdesign,whileacontemporarykitchenmayincludecabinetswithsolidpaneldoorsandafulloverlaydesign.Addinginterestingcabinetpullsalsohelpstoaddpersonalitytothespace. Backsplashescanbeanotherimportantdesigncomponentforthekitchen.Notonlyfunctionalinthattheyhelpprotectfromsplashesandgreasespattersthatoccurduringfoodpreparation,thecolor

andcharacterthatbacksplasheswillbringtothekitchenisakeyfocalpoint.“Sometimesforcontemporarykitchens,granitebacksplashesareenough,”saysDebra.“ButIliketoaddaninterestingextradesignelementoveranimportantspacesuchasthecooktopthataddsabitofdramatothekitchendesign.” Debranotes,“Whenworkingwithclientsonthedesignoftheirhomes,muchofourtimeisspentinvestigatingdesigndetailsandopportunitiesfortheirkitchens.Itisoneofthemostimportantandhighusespacesinthehome.”

HAS VALLEY HOUSING EVOLVED INTO A SELLER’S MARKET?By: Mike Orr, The Cromford Report