Arizona Homeowner May / 2008

WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF…WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY REALTOR?

Featured Listings 14211 S. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 4,057 Sq. Ft. • 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath Offered at $1,100,000 Tastefulness radiates throughout the backyard with unimpeded views of hillside and South Mountain Park. Garage boasts two foot extension, chip resistant epoxy floors, 24 inch deep built-in cabinets on two walls and work bench. Beautiful interior features including white plantation shutters on most windows, gourmet kitchen with sub-zero refrigerator, double ovens, 17 inch tile floors laid on the diagonal with granite inlays and tile backsplash. Open floor plan with soaring ceilings and crown moldings in living and dining rooms, designer faux finishes throughout. Front and back yard redesigned with pavers, flagstone, raised flower beds, waterfall pool and spa. Great Home!!

Is Experience a Priority? I have been in the real estate business for more than 12 years and have been an Arizona resident for 30 years. I’ve sold single-family homes, condos, town homes and land in various price ranges all over the Valley. Time spent in the real estate industry has made me familiar with market trends and my sales experience is a valuable asset to my clients.

Is My Realtor Working Full Time on My Behalf? I am a full-time Realtor; this is what I do for a living. I’m on top of the ever-changing inventory and market conditions which allow me to properly assess the needs of my clients. I am available, as well as accountable, during every transaction, especially the more challenging ones. I love my job and my clients benefit from my enthusiasm!

Will My Realtor Be an Effective Communicator? I connect with my sellers at least once a week with helpful feedback, support and updates in market conditions. My buyers receive constant updates when new listings are available and guidance through the contract timelines and transaction process. I am proactive to ensure a stress-free closing for my clients.

8100 E. Camelback Rd. #104, Scottsdale, AZ 1,857 Sq. Ft. • 2 Bed / 2 Bath • Offered at $479,000 This home has been loved! The sellers took excellent care and put so many extras into this lovely Scottsdale home. Granite countertops, roll out shelves in kitchen cabinets, Bavarian oak flooring, new brass fixtures, towel racks, and lighting in bathrooms. Security roll down shade, wood blinds, carpet is two years old, shutters, dimmers throughout security system, satellite dish, garage roof replaced February 2008, water heater is two years old, storage cabinets in garage. Quaint patio with two fountains. The HOA maintains front yard and community pool, gated/guarded community with dog park two blocks away. A must see!

Will My Realtor Be Professional? As a Top Producer with Realty Executives, I negotiate and work with fellow Top Producers in the industry on a daily basis. I maintain a high standard of ethics and professionalism. As your representative, I have a fiduciary duty to you that requires honesty, disclosure and confidentiality. Ninety percent of my business comes from repeat clients and/or referrals from those happy clients.

Arizona Homeowner May / 2008

there’s gold in those hills!

Myths, Legends And Folklore Of Arizona

So many questions…one answer:

JUST SOLD!

4435 E. Chandler Blvd.

Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85048 Office 480.961.5800 Cell 602.679.9100 karrielaw@cox.net www.myrealtorkarrie.com

1964 E. Brentrup Dr., Tempe, AZ 2,769 Sq. Ft. • 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath Offered at $500,000 Meticulously cared for home in The Oasis at Anozira. Remodeled interior with fresh two-tone paint, window coverings and upgraded light fixtures and fans. Large 18” tile throughout, upgraded counters and cabinets. Shows great!

CONFUSED BY ALL OF THE SHORT SALES YOU’VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT? Call me for the details and benefits to both buying and selling Short Sales. I am your foreclosure and Short Sale specialist and have extensive knowledge to help guide you through the process.

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 Realty Executives Karrie Law 4435 E. Chandler Blvd. Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85048 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

ISSN-1939-9693

unlock your garage’s potential With Floor Finishings And Custom Cabinets

whet your appetite

Baja Style Shrimp Ceviche From Chelsea’s Kitchen If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Event Calendar May 2008 The Governor’s Ball Arizona Grand Resort, May 3rd 480.345.1811 or thegovernors.org Indulge yourself in a five-course gourmet meal, complete with wine, music and dancing, while helping at-risk infants thrive. The 22nd Annual Governor’s Ball, which benefits Healthy Steps, a program providing guidance to families with at-risk infants, also includes a silent auction, raffle and complimentary photographs.

Cinco de Mayo Salsa Festival El Pedregal at The Boulders, May 5th 480.488.1072 or elpedregal.com Can you take the heat? Head down to the 2nd Annual Salsa Festival held at El Pedregal at The Boulders where chefs from all over the Valley will compete to create incredible salsas.

Some of the other festivities include live mariachi bands in the courtyard, tequila tasting, and salsa tasting. Of course, no Cinco de Mayo festival would be complete without Mexican cuisine, which will be provided by The Spotted Donkey Cantina and The Bakery Café.

Big Screen Legend: Music of John Williams Symphony Hall, May 9th-10th 602.262.7272 or phoenixsymphony.org Cinema classics come to life with the help of world-renowned conductor and historian Loras John Schissel. With a salute to John Williams and the genius composers before him, you’ll hear music from Prince Valiant along with the themes from E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter and, of course, Star Wars.

Emily Center Fashion Show The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, May 10th 602.546.2652 or pchemilyfashionshow.com Join in on the fun at the19th Annual Emily Center Fashion Show and luncheon. There will be a fabulous fashion show featuring both children and adults, along with boutique shopping, a luncheon, silent auction and raffle. This is a great family event with all proceeds going to the Emily Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Mother’s Day Lunch and Concert with Esteban Desert Botanical Garden, May 10th 480.941.1225 or dpg.org Treat mom to a day of music and fun at the Desert Botanical Garden’s 6th Annual Mother’s Day Lunch. Relax and enjoy the beautiful garden scenery while you listen to the musical talents of Esteban out in the garden. A fabulous catered lunch will be available at an additional cost.

“Nothing screams pride of ownership louder than a clean, bright, organized garage,” says Marc Loberg, founder and CEO of PremierGarage, a company specializing in garage floor coatings, custom garage cabinets and organizers. Whether you plan to sell your home and are looking for ways to differentiate your house in the market, or just want to better organize and simplify your life, you should consider a garage makeover.

The first step in a garage makeover is to take stock of what you have in there already. You’ll want to categorize and prioritize each item. Which articles do you want to keep? Which are seasonal and used only once or twice a year? Are there any belongings that you can either donate or throw away?

There are two emerging trends in garages, says Loberg. One is that they are getting bigger – 20% of new homes built today have a three-car garage, which is up from 11% just five years ago. The other is that they are becoming more organized and clean. People are taking better care of their garages and treating them as an extension of their home – not just a warehouse to store stuff.

The old cement floor that cracks easily and is difficult to keep clean is losing ground to a variety of sturdy, heat-resistant and easy-to-clean surfaces and coatings. You can now install a hybrid polymer composite coating that is not only spill resistant – oil and other auto fluids pool up and are easily mopped away – but also doesn’t crack or blister and keeps its color for a long time.

Remember those makeshift The Organized Garage shelves made from two-by-fours Here are a few tips for organizing your garage and plywood? Now homeowners so that you make the best use of this space in are installing custom shelving that your home. protects their stored possessions • Store items that are only used once or twice a from dust and makes them easy to year, such as holiday decorations, on the top-most access. shelves. Yes, you’ll have to use a ladder to access “Can you imagine a kitchen them, but that won’t be very often. without cabinets?” says Loberg.

• Store items you use more often on the middle Garage cabinets act in the same and lower shelves. This makes them easy to manner, helping you organize and access and put away, which will help you keep store your seasonal and low-use your space organized in the long run. effects in a clutter-free manner.

• Hang bulky items, especially those you use If you’re planning on selling your often, from racks designed for them. There are home, an upgraded garage can not racks made especially for hanging gardening only improve your chances of selling appliances, workshop tools and sports equipment. at a good price, but also may help Hanging these items on racks not only keeps you sell more quickly. If someone your garage clutter-free but can also protect is on the fence about purchasing your valuables from getting tangled, dirty or your house, they’ll look at your damaged. backyard and garage for that extra • Installing cabinets with doors, rather than open bit of information. A nice yard and shelving, helps protect your belongings from organized garage will tell them the dust and spills, and can discourage insects and home has been well cared for and other pests, too. makes a great impression.

Your Home

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral One of the most famous legends of the West takes place in Tombstone. Here, in 1881, the Earps and the Clantons shot it out over what was probably a mixture of arrogance and misunderstanding. Many people believe that the gunfight took place at the O.K. Corral, but it didn’t.

It actually took place in an empty lot between Fly’s Photograph Gallery and the Harwood House, which is near the Corral. Also, many people believe that Wyatt Earp was the town marshal.

However, he was temporarily deputized the day of the gunfight by his brother, Virgil, who was the town marshal.

The U.F.O. of Dreamy Draw In 1973, the Army Corps of Engineers built the Dreamy Draw Dam to help control flooding in Maricopa County.

There are those who believe this is not the real reason it was built. Legend has it that in 1947 a U.F.O. crashed in the area and the dam was built around it to cover it up. Supposedly, two bodies – each about 4.5 feet tall – were found at the crash site and stored in a refrigerator before being carted off by the military.

Another story has the U.F.O landing in Dreamy Draw then taking off and crashing near Cave Creek. Neither story explains why it would take the Army almost 30 years to cover up the crash site.

Interestingly enough, a plot point very similar to this story showed up in one of last summer’s action blockbusters. In Michael Bay’s Transformers, Hoover Dam, which sits on the Arizona/Nevada border, was built to cover up the All Spark and the frozen body of Megatron.

The Ghost City: Jerome Jerome was once a thriving copper mining town, but is now a small artists’ community. Local lore says that ghosts from the past haunt several buildings in the town. The Community Center is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young prostitute. People who have stayed or worked at the Inn at Jerome claim to have seen the ghost of Jennie Banters and her cat. When Jennie was alive, she ran a brothel and was said to be the richest woman in Northern Arizona.

Today, she is said to move furniture about the inn and her cat leaves imprints in the sheets where it has napped.

The Jerome Grand Hotel was once the United Verde Hospital. People claim to hear the moans and groans of past patients, as well as the creaking of the elevator moving up and down – even when there is no power!

And then there is “Headless Charlie.”

This poor chap lost his head in a tragic accident in the mines. His head was found, but his body was never recovered. It is said that you can still hear him walking around in the dark of the now deserted mine shafts.

The Lost Dutchman’s Mine Arizona has more lost treasure tales than any other state in The Union, the most famous of which is the tale of the Lost Dutchman Mine hidden somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. In 1891, Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant mistaken for Dutch, was prospecting in the Superstitions.

The tale goes that he found a mine rich in gold. He came out of the mountains carrying as much as he could. Before he could return for more, he fell ill. On his deathbed, he told his friends of the treasure, hidden somewhere “in the shadow of Weaver’s Needle.” To this day, treasure hunters still try to find this mine.

Of course, this isn’t the only hidden treasure yet to be found in the Superstitions.

Throughout the years, plenty of Spanish gold has been found and lost in those hills. Many believe that there is a curse protecting the treasure and that people often disappear mysteriously, never to be found again – unless dead – after attempting to find the gold.

These are just a small sample of the myths, legends and folklore of Arizona.

If you would like to learn more, you might consider visiting the Arizona Folklore Preserve (arizonafolklore.com) in Sierra Vista, where Arizona’s songs, legends, poetry and myths are collected and presented for today’s audiences, as well as preserved for future generations. If you’d like to learn more about Wyatt Earp and other Old West icons, visit the Bison Museum (bisonhomes.com) in Scottsdale.

Shrimp Ceviche Baja Style

Local Flavor!

Mad Mud Run Kiwanas Park, May 3rd madmudrun.com Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty at this year’s Mad Mud Run, benefiting the Arizona Burn Center. The race consists of five miles of fun and excitement where participants will be passing through many obstacles such as the low crawl, five-foot wall and hay hurdles all on the way toward the giant mud pit.

Maybe it’s the desert sun playing with the mind, but Arizona is home to a wide variety of myths and legends. From hidden treasure to haunted inns, tall tales abound within the borders of this state.

Here are just a few of them.

Ingredients: 15 cups cooked shrimp 2 quarts fresh lemon juice 10 cloves garlic, crushed 2-1/2 tsp. kosher salt 3 cups jicama, 1/4-inch diced 1 cup orange juice 1/2 cup lime juice

1 quart pico de gallo 2 Tbsp. Cholula hot sauce 1 Tbsp. picholine olives, pitted and chopped 2 Tbsp. avocado, diced 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil 3-4 leaves cilantro lime slices tortilla chips

Preparation: 1. In a bowl, combine shrimp, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Set aside and let brine for two hours. (Do not let it sit in the brine overnight!)

2. Drain and remove garlic. Set aside.

3. In a bowl, combine jicama, orange juice and lime juice. Let sit for about 15 minutes.

4. In a blender, mix brined shrimp, pico de gallo and hot sauce until evenly blended.

Featuring Chelsea’s Kitchen 5040 N. 40th Street • Phoenix 602.957.2555 or www.chelseaskitchenaz.com

Serving: 1. Put one cup ceviche mix in a glass and place on a plate.

2. Drain marinated jicama.

3. Top ceviche with olives, jicama, avocado and olive oil.

4. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

5. Serve with lime slices and tortilla chips.

Event Calendar

December 2008

Celine Dion Jobing.com Arena, Dec. 6th 623.772.3200 or jobingarena.com Stepping away from her four-year run at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Celine has decided to take her show on the road to promote her new album Taking Chances. Throughout Celine’s career, this talented songbird has been honored with more than 1000 awards and is the top-selling female artist of all time!

Las Noches de las Luminarias Desert Botanical Garden, Dec. 11th - 23rd 480.941.1225 or dbg.org Looking for an alternative to a typical holiday light display?

Then visit the Desert Botanical Garden and stroll through their paths lined with glowing luminarias. Many performers, including international recording artist Khani Cole and the Dickens Carolers, are on hand to put you in the holiday spirit throughout the night.

The Nutcracker Symphony Hall, Dec. 12th - 28th 602.381.1096 or balletaz.org This classic ballet comes to life through Ib Anderson’s revered interpretation, and the unforgettable music by Tchaikovsky. This wonderful story enchants audiences as a little girl, Clara, falls into a magical dreamland in which her nutcracker comes to life. A battle with the Mouse King and the dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy are highlights. What a treat for the whole family!

21st Annual Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon / 5K Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, Dec. 14th 602.277.4333 or raceplaceevents.com Put your athletic training to use at this annual half marathon and 5K event. Runners will wind through scenic Old Town Scottsdale and the community of Gainey Ranch. The top three winners in each division will receive awards and every participant will receive a unique commemorative medal.

POP! Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Dec. 31st 602.253.0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.com The ultimate New Year’s Eve extravaganza may be at a children’s museum, but this night is all about adults!

Celebrate the beginning of a New Year and dance the night away on Phoenix’s largest dance floor. If dancing’s not for you, make your way to the swanky jazz lounge for some soothing music or enjoy the entertainment from a multitude of performing artists!

During the holiday season, many of us travel “back home” to visit friends and family. If you find yourself planning an out-of-town holiday this year, take some extra time to secure your home while you’re away.

• Unplug appliances that won’t be used. Not only will you reduce the risk of dangerous malfunctions while you’re away, unplugging appliances that aren’t even turned on will save you money on your energy bill.

• Double-check that the oven and range aren’t left on.

• If you have a gas fireplace, range or BBQ, it may be prudent to turn off the pilot lights if you’ll be gone for an extended period.

• Clean out the refrigerator of any food that may spoil and turn your automatic ice-maker to the “off” position.

• Turn your hot water heater down or to “vacation” mode.

• Make sure all faucets are off and that no toilets are running. If possible, turn the water main off completely. If pipes leak or burst for any reason, the water damage will be minimal as opposed to catastrophic.

• Adjust the thermostat to save on energy bills.

• Close the flue in fireplaces.

• Dispose of all garbage from inside the home and make arrangements for a friend or neighbor to take your trash cans out and back in on pick-up days.

• Run the garbage disposal one last time to avoid any unpleasant “surprises” upon your return.

• Check your calendar and change or cancel any scheduled deliveries.

• Stop your newspaper delivery and put a hold request on your mail.

• Delete old messages from your voice mail so there is room for new ones.

• Check your irrigation system in the yard. Is the timer set appropriately? Are there any underground water leaks or sprinkler problems? Better to address them now.

• Arrange to have someone water your indoor plants and mow your yard.

• If you don’t have a pool service company to care for your pool, make arrangements for somebody to make a special trip to your home in the event of a storm. Too much debris from fallen trees, etc. can clog up your pool’s cleaning elements and leave you with a broken pool pump and a big problem when you come home.

Just as you may be anticipating your travels, so might the local burglars! So take some precautions to keep criminal minds at bay: • Of course, lock and secure all entry points to the home. Don’t forget to lock the door from the garage into your home. Also, if you have a garage door opener, lock the actual garage door itself or disable the opener.

• Secure sliding glass doors with a metal rod.

• Attach timers to lamps and to your TV or radio. Set it for the hours you typically watch TV. • Adjust blinds, shades and curtains. However, if you normally have them open, completely shutting them down tends to alert a burglar that you have shuttered up the home in your absence.

• If you are leaving a car behind, be sure it is locked as well. Even if it’s in the garage.

• Never leave a message on your answering machine noting that you are out of town. That applies to your work voice mail too!

• Don’t discuss your vacation in public. And don’t leave a “vacation mail stop” to be picked up from your mailbox- deliver it to a postal carrier yourself.

• Contact police and tell them when you are leaving and returning. They will often initiate drive-bys of your property. Leave them with names and numbers of people to contact in case there is an emergency.

• If possible, ask a neighbor if they wouldn’t mind parking in your driveway every now and then.

Particularly at night.

Your Home

Wrapping a gift in beautiful papers and bows is like putting a beautiful thought into words. The first pleasure that comes with gift giving is handing a striking package to the recipient.

Next, there’s the shared pleasure of watching someone enjoy untying bows, pulling off paper, unfolding tissue, and finally seeing the gift, say gift-wrapping experts at Hallmark. Here are some tips to make your packages really shine: • Use tissue. White, colored or patterned tissue enhances the element of surprise, dresses up a gift and creates a pleasing rustle when removed or opened. Be sure tissue is fresh and crisp. (Tip: Combine two coordinating colors of tissue for a dramatic effect in a handle bag.)

• Finish with ribbons. Cut ribbon ends at a slant or use a “v” cut. Elegant wire-edged ribbon with pre-tied bows add a rich flavor to boxes and bags. Cascades of stick-on curled ribbons turn an ordinary package into a spectacular one.

• Use add-ons. A silk flower, a charm or a miniature ornament are examples of surprises that can be tucked into bows.

Add a fun pipe cleaner that’s been curled around your finger or even a photo of you and the gift recipient in a small frame attached to the gift.

• Stockpile. Keep on hand in a special drawer, box or plastic container; a variety of plain and patterned papers, handle bags, tissue, tags and ribbons, as well as scissors, tape and boxes. A gift as simple as a bag of candy becomes extra special when tied with a bow or wrapped in tissue tied with ribbon.

• Choose wrap and accessories as you do clothing. Apply the same principles to gift wrap as to your wardrobe or home decor. Match or coordinate patterns, colors, textures and accessories to present a finished, pulled-together look. Stay in the same family (casual, elegant, whimsical, contemporary, etc.) for ribbon, wrap and add-ons.

• Let the wrap hint about what’s inside. Attach a useful hint to the bow on the box or bag: a loofah or bath brush on a gift of bath accessories; a bottle opener tied with ribbon to the handle of a wine or champagne bottle bag; a rattle or cuddle toy nestled in a fluffy bow on a box for baby.

• Let the wrap reflect personality.

Gift wrap can reflect the personality of the giver or the recipient. For someone who likes black and white contemporary styles consider patterned paper tied with a fabric ribbon and a hot pink flower.

Gifts for men look handsome in textured papers in plaids and printed craft papers.

• Match the setting. If a gift is to be displayed in your home or someone else’s home, choose wrappings that reflect the decor, mood or colors of the home.

Avanti Tiramisu Ingredients: 35 lady finger cookies 1 pound mascarpone cheese 6 egg yolks 4 egg whites 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups very strong brewed coffee or espresso, set aside 2 Tbs. rum or Marsala wine 1/2 cup ground dark chocolate

Local Flavor!

Glendale Glitters Downtown Glendale, Fridays & Saturdays in December 623.930.2000 or glendaleaz.com/events Historical Downtown Glendale is in the holiday spirit all through December! Each weekend has a special event planned such as Glendale Glitters Spectacular, Gingerbread Nights, Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights and the Spirit of Holiday Giving. Each night includes festivities such as live musical entertainment, great food, horse-drawn carriage rides and visits from Santa Claus.

Procedure: Soak lady finger cookies in a mixture of the espresso and liquor. In a long baking dish or aluminum half pan, layer the bottom with soaked lady fingers. In a bowl, whip egg whites and sugar with mascarpone cheese until fluffy. Fold in egg yolks. Layer on top of soaked lady fingers. Begin second layer of lady fingers and repeat process. Top with whipped cheese and shaved chocolate. Refrigerate to set. Garnish with fresh berries or berry sauce.

Featuring Avanti 2728 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix • 602.956.0900 or avanti-az.com

Serves: 8-10

Arizona Homeowner December / 2008

‘tis the season for gift giving

Tips For Stand-Out Packages WISHING YOU THE BEST OF THE HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. We all know 2008 was a tough year for real estate but I, and many local economists, are optimistic for 2009. There are so many great investment and move-up opportunities and I am excited to help my clientele take advantage of the historic values. If you’re still on the fence about making a move, let me provide you with comparable sales in your neighborhood so you can make an educated decision.

I’m also a great source for those of you staying put, by offering referrals to contractors, decorators, and handyman services. Count on me for advice and support when it comes to real estate investments, home improvement, and home values. I’m here for you, regardless of market conditions, and am happy to help.

One more thing…thanks to so many of you who were instrumental in my Fall Food Drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank. Your contributions were plentiful and I know they will be appreciated.

From My Family to Yours, Happy Holidays!

Karrie, Darren, Megan and Hannah Law

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 Realty Executives Karrie Law 4435 E. Chandler Blvd. Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85048 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

KARRIE LAW 4435 E. Chandler Blvd. • Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85048 Office 480.961.5800 • Cell 602.679.9100 karrielaw@cox.net • www.myrealtorkarrie.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

ISSN-1939-9693

traveling over the holidays?

Keep Your Home Safe And Sound

release your inner gourmet!

Avanti’s Luscious Tiramisu