Home Values Stabilizing
2009 turned out to be the third best year on record for overall sales in Metro Phoenix! Approximately 93,000 properties closed escrow, resulting in a 55% increase over 2008 (with just over 60,000 escrows). The increase in sales volume has been coupled with a stabilization and improvement in pricing. Home values hit a bottom-low in April of 2009 but have rallied strongly with a year-end 14.8% increase. According to The Cromford Report, a local real estate research firm, lender-owned sales hit their price bottom in late April 2009 and have been rising since; non-distressed “normal” sales hit their price bottom in mid-November 2009; and short sale prices are expected to have hit bottom in late 2009 or early 2010. While the overall housing market is recovering nicely, the luxury market (often defined as $500K+) is lagging. However, there are signs of improvement. The Scottsdale $1M+ market now shows about a 24-month supply, down from a 60-month supply about this time last year. Did you know that in 2009, fully 36% of Valley Realtors did not have a single closed transaction? There are many licensed agents working on a part-time or “hobby” basis. Be sure to work with a full-time professional dedicated to real estate… I will be honored to be that person for you!
Arizona Homeowner March / 2010
We Close Short Sales! NEED OUR HELP? COUNT ON MY TEAM TO SELL YOUR HOME TOO!
SAVED FROM FORECLOSURE!
achieve tranquility Creating A Sense Of Calm In Your Home
About Wendy...
She is a full-time Realtor who pours her heart and soul into serving her clients’ best interest. Whether it be listing and selling your home for the best price in the shortest amount of time possible or finding the perfect home to suit your needs, she is tireless in her efforts. When she is not working with clients she spends time furthering her real estate education. In 2009 she completed courses to become an “Accredited Buyer’s Representative,” a “Certified Distressed Property Expert,” a “Certified Negotiation Expert,” a “Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource,” and other additional courses. Not a day goes by that she is not learning something new.
GRAYHAWK
2659 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 3.5 • $395,000
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHORT SALE
2010 is the year of the short sale
Bank-owned homes are accounting for less and less of the sales in the Valley, while Short Sales are occurring much more frequently. It appears that banks are streamlining their systems and what was once a frustrating and often unsuccessful process is now more conducive to Short Sales. Real estate analysts predict that Short Sale transactions will dominate our market.
SONORAN HEIGHTS
2897 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 2.5 • $430,000
UNDER CONTRACT – PENDING LENDER APPROVAL
protectors of children The Heroes of Childhelp
WENDY KIRTLAND RE/MAX Fine Properties 21000 N. Pima Rd., Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 eFax: 480.355.9514 WKirtland@FineProp.com
If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
VENTANA LAKES
1734 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 2 • $194,000
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net
poolside pleasure
P.F. Chang’s Lemon Grass Non-Tini
Event Calendar
childhelp: Helping Children In Need
Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival Downtown Carefree, March 5th – 7th 480.837.5637 or thunderbirdartist.com This award-winning, three-day festival has something for every art lover. Not only will you view one-of-a-kind pieces displayed throughout the festival, but this event also promises the state’s largest wine tasting featuring first-class vintages from all over the world. Plenty of boutique shopping, dining at outdoor cafes and live music are available for your entertainment. 17th Annual Beach Ball J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge, March 6th 602.538.5381 or pchbeachball.com You may not make it out to The Hamptons this spring, but Phoenix Children’s Hospital is throwing their own white-themed soiree. This elegant night includes cocktails, silent and live auctions, dinner and lively dancing. Arizona welcomes back the talented duet Zowie Bowie as the musical entertainment. Oscar Night America Arizona Biltmore, March 7th 602.212.9900 or arthritis.org Since you probably won’t get an invite to Hollywood for the Academy Awards, come to the next best thing, Phoenix’s Oscar Night benefitting the Arthritis Foundation. The entire evening replicates the swanky real deal with a red carpet entrance flanked by paparazzi, champagne with your gourmet meal and even a take-home “swag bag.” Guests will feel like a true celebrity as they watch the award show live on a giant screen. Avenue Q ASU Gammage, March 9th – 14th 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com This Broadway musical may feature talking and singing puppets, but leave the kids at home for this one! Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a college grad with big dreams of making it in New York City but with a small bank account. Walk for Wishes Kiwanas Park, March 13th 602.395.9474 or arizona.wish.org Choose from the 5K run or the 1-mile walk. The theme this year is “Pancakes and Pajamas” with prizes for participants with the best PJs. The event benefits the Make a Wish Foundation, granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Spring Training: Giants vs. Cubs Scottsdale Stadium, March 30th 480.312.2580 or cactusleague.com Bring your hat, sunscreen and glove and take in a fabulous spring day at the ballpark! Home to the San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale Stadium is in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale and seats 11,500 fans which includes a large grassy area for really spreading out!
make your home your haven Between family and work and the demands of today’s busy lifestyle it may seem as if you’re always on the go. Why not give yourself a sense of peace and tranquility the moment you walk into your home? With the right design elements, your favorite space can be your own private sanctuary from the rest of the world. Follow these calm-inducing tips from interior designer Anita Lang, owner of Interior Motives design studio in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, who created the gorgeous guest suite above and on the cover. Color is the key to calm. “The first step in creating this escape from life’s hectic pace was to select the color palette,” says Lang. “A spa blue was carefully chosen so its tone would evoke a calming emotional response. The simplistic color scheme used only spa blue and neutrals mixed with textural natural materials, resulting in a refreshingly simple sanctuary.” For your space, think neutral colors, such as tans, creams, whites, pale blues, and sea glass greens. Avoid bright hues such as reds and oranges, which can have the opposite energizing effect (instead, try these colors in your home office or kitchen where you need some invigorating!). Texture can lead to tranquility. The look and feel of the fabrics and materials in your space can also help create a feeling of serenity. After all, who wouldn’t want to relax in a room full of soft, velvety linens and lush upholstery that invites a touch? “To keep the monochromatic color scheme of this space from slipping into boredom, careful consideration was given to the textures in fabric selection,” says Lang. “Ultra suede for its velvety look and luxurious feel was the primary fabric for bedding, the built-in bench, and the Roman shades.” Steer clear of anything that feels rough or harsh or that wouldn’t be pleasant to the touch. Declutter for that Zen feeling. Another key to calmness is simplifying your space. “The act of accessorizing this space was mostly about editing,” notes Lang. “Items were removed to allow the simple yoga sculpture and shell-inspired bowls at the foot of the bed to finish the composition.” In your home, stand back once you’ve finished designing your space and try to choose at least five items you could remove to give your home an open and airy feeling. Finding a place for paperwork, kids’ toys, books, and all the other clutter that fills a home will help immensely. Get into nature. Natural elements in a home also add to a relaxed and simple aura. Just think the opposite of what fills up our techno world (ditch the computers, cell phones, alarm clocks, and other electronics). Choose a simple non-shedding plant, candles, rock sculptures, or bold seashells. These items make a statement without being distracting, overbearing, or fussy. In Lang’s interior, natural elements were chosen for the custom bed clad in Anigre wood veneer, as well as many of the accessories made from wood, stone, and sea shells. Don’t overlook lighting. A glaring light in the wrong spot can be anything but peaceful. That’s why lighting is so important when creating a haven in your home. “Throughout this room, lighting was given careful attention,” adds Lang. “From soft lighting in fixtures around the bed and halogen cans that pinpoint the light perfectly for bedtime reading, to appropriately placed cans in the seating circle and vanity lights, ambient and task lighting enhance the environment.” Just remember to keep lighting soft and bring natural light into your space by removing heavy drapes or window treatments. Choose just one room for your own private escape. If creating an entire home of neutral colors or decluttered spaces seems a bit too daunting for you, try choosing one room for your tranquil escape. Bedrooms and bathrooms are perfect choices for these peaceful locales. For bedrooms, keep televisions and glaring alarm clocks at a minimum or tucked out of sight when not in use. And keep work out of the bedroom, because thinking about deadlines and bosses is usually anything but peaceful!
Your Home
In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month coming up in April, learn about the impact of an incredible organization that celebrated 50 years of work in 2009. Childhelp, founded in 1959 by CEO and Co-Founder Sara O’Meara and President and Co-Founder Yvonne Fedderson, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, and at-risk children. With its national headquarters in Scottsdale, the organization focuses on advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community outreach. In doing so, Childhelp has brought healing to countless children during the last five decades. But just how did this wonderful organization get started? In 1959, while on a governmentsponsored goodwill tour of Japan, young Hollywood actresses Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson discovered 11 JapaneseAmerican children wandering the streets of Tokyo, Japan. The children, born from American troops during the Korean War, were not welcome at orphanages because of their mixed-race. Eventually, the actual number of these orphaned children grew to more than 100 and it became clear to the actresses that a separate orphanage needed to be created. Raising funds back in the States, O’Meara and Fedderson helped fund a home for the children and eventually founded International Orphans Incorporated (IOI). From 1960 to 1964, IOI helped establish nine orphanages, a school, and a hospital in Japan and Vietnam. In 1974, the group helped rescue
thousands of orphans from Vietnam. The organization’s focus shifted to America’s problem of child abuse when the founders met then-First Lady of California Nancy Reagan, who suggested bringing to light America’s “best-kept secret.” In 1978, now-called Childhelp developed a residential treatment facility exclusively for severely abused children. Known as the Village of Childhelp West in Beaumont, California, the center offered therapeutic programs and innovative art and animal therapy programs. And, as they say, the rest is history. Today, Childhelp operates treatment centers across the country—including a center in Phoenix and a mobile center traveling throughout Northeastern Arizona—and, since 1982, operates the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD®, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. The hotline is for children of abuse and for parents who feel they are losing control and want to be sure they don’t endanger their children. To learn more about Childhelp, or how you can volunteer time or make donations, call 480.922.8212 or visit childhelp.org.
Helping Arizona’s Children Childhelp offers two ways to help the children of Arizona. The Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona, opened in Phoenix in 1998, uses a one-stop approach to investigating and treating child abuse. This facility uses a team-approach between law enforcement and medical and child protective services. The center staffs more than 60 full-time professionals. And in keeping with the goal of minimizing trauma to the child, there is a playroom and each child who visits the center is allowed to take and keep a toy from the gift closet. For children in Northeastern Arizona, Childhelp, in partnership with the Safe Child Center at Flagstaff Medical Center, provides various services from the Childhelp Children’s Mobile Advocacy Center of Northern Arizona. Specially designed for abused children in rural and tribal communities, the mobile center is the first of its kind in Arizona, offering one-stop services at selected locations. The goal of this groundbreaking service is to reduce investigation time and trauma for abuse victims who simply are not able to travel to the Phoenix location.
P.F. Chang’s Lemon Grass Non-tini
Local Flavor!
March 2010
Ingredients: Fresh-squeezed juice from 1/2 of a lemon, 1/2 of a lime and 1/2 of an orange 1.5 oz Monin Lemon Grass syrup .5 oz simple syrup Procedure: Squeeze juice into shaker. Muddle fruit and juice with Monin Lemon Grass syrup and simple syrup in shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Featuring P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Locations Valleywide • pfchangs.com
Event Calendar
childhelp: Helping Children In Need
Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival Downtown Carefree, March 5th – 7th 480.837.5637 or thunderbirdartist.com This award-winning, three-day festival has something for every art lover. Not only will you view one-of-a-kind pieces displayed throughout the festival, but this event also promises the state’s largest wine tasting featuring first-class vintages from all over the world. Plenty of boutique shopping, dining at outdoor cafes and live music are available for your entertainment. 17th Annual Beach Ball J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge, March 6th 602.538.5381 or pchbeachball.com You may not make it out to The Hamptons this spring, but Phoenix Children’s Hospital is throwing their own white-themed soiree. This elegant night includes cocktails, silent and live auctions, dinner and lively dancing. Arizona welcomes back the talented duet Zowie Bowie as the musical entertainment. Oscar Night America Arizona Biltmore, March 7th 602.212.9900 or arthritis.org Since you probably won’t get an invite to Hollywood for the Academy Awards, come to the next best thing, Phoenix’s Oscar Night benefitting the Arthritis Foundation. The entire evening replicates the swanky real deal with a red carpet entrance flanked by paparazzi, champagne with your gourmet meal and even a take-home “swag bag.” Guests will feel like a true celebrity as they watch the award show live on a giant screen. Avenue Q ASU Gammage, March 9th – 14th 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com This Broadway musical may feature talking and singing puppets, but leave the kids at home for this one! Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a college grad with big dreams of making it in New York City but with a small bank account. Walk for Wishes Kiwanas Park, March 13th 602.395.9474 or arizona.wish.org Choose from the 5K run or the 1-mile walk. The theme this year is “Pancakes and Pajamas” with prizes for participants with the best PJs. The event benefits the Make a Wish Foundation, granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Spring Training: Giants vs. Cubs Scottsdale Stadium, March 30th 480.312.2580 or cactusleague.com Bring your hat, sunscreen and glove and take in a fabulous spring day at the ballpark! Home to the San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale Stadium is in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale and seats 11,500 fans which includes a large grassy area for really spreading out!
make your home your haven Between family and work and the demands of today’s busy lifestyle it may seem as if you’re always on the go. Why not give yourself a sense of peace and tranquility the moment you walk into your home? With the right design elements, your favorite space can be your own private sanctuary from the rest of the world. Follow these calm-inducing tips from interior designer Anita Lang, owner of Interior Motives design studio in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, who created the gorgeous guest suite above and on the cover. Color is the key to calm. “The first step in creating this escape from life’s hectic pace was to select the color palette,” says Lang. “A spa blue was carefully chosen so its tone would evoke a calming emotional response. The simplistic color scheme used only spa blue and neutrals mixed with textural natural materials, resulting in a refreshingly simple sanctuary.” For your space, think neutral colors, such as tans, creams, whites, pale blues, and sea glass greens. Avoid bright hues such as reds and oranges, which can have the opposite energizing effect (instead, try these colors in your home office or kitchen where you need some invigorating!). Texture can lead to tranquility. The look and feel of the fabrics and materials in your space can also help create a feeling of serenity. After all, who wouldn’t want to relax in a room full of soft, velvety linens and lush upholstery that invites a touch? “To keep the monochromatic color scheme of this space from slipping into boredom, careful consideration was given to the textures in fabric selection,” says Lang. “Ultra suede for its velvety look and luxurious feel was the primary fabric for bedding, the built-in bench, and the Roman shades.” Steer clear of anything that feels rough or harsh or that wouldn’t be pleasant to the touch. Declutter for that Zen feeling. Another key to calmness is simplifying your space. “The act of accessorizing this space was mostly about editing,” notes Lang. “Items were removed to allow the simple yoga sculpture and shell-inspired bowls at the foot of the bed to finish the composition.” In your home, stand back once you’ve finished designing your space and try to choose at least five items you could remove to give your home an open and airy feeling. Finding a place for paperwork, kids’ toys, books, and all the other clutter that fills a home will help immensely. Get into nature. Natural elements in a home also add to a relaxed and simple aura. Just think the opposite of what fills up our techno world (ditch the computers, cell phones, alarm clocks, and other electronics). Choose a simple non-shedding plant, candles, rock sculptures, or bold seashells. These items make a statement without being distracting, overbearing, or fussy. In Lang’s interior, natural elements were chosen for the custom bed clad in Anigre wood veneer, as well as many of the accessories made from wood, stone, and sea shells. Don’t overlook lighting. A glaring light in the wrong spot can be anything but peaceful. That’s why lighting is so important when creating a haven in your home. “Throughout this room, lighting was given careful attention,” adds Lang. “From soft lighting in fixtures around the bed and halogen cans that pinpoint the light perfectly for bedtime reading, to appropriately placed cans in the seating circle and vanity lights, ambient and task lighting enhance the environment.” Just remember to keep lighting soft and bring natural light into your space by removing heavy drapes or window treatments. Choose just one room for your own private escape. If creating an entire home of neutral colors or decluttered spaces seems a bit too daunting for you, try choosing one room for your tranquil escape. Bedrooms and bathrooms are perfect choices for these peaceful locales. For bedrooms, keep televisions and glaring alarm clocks at a minimum or tucked out of sight when not in use. And keep work out of the bedroom, because thinking about deadlines and bosses is usually anything but peaceful!
Your Home
In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month coming up in April, learn about the impact of an incredible organization that celebrated 50 years of work in 2009. Childhelp, founded in 1959 by CEO and Co-Founder Sara O’Meara and President and Co-Founder Yvonne Fedderson, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, and at-risk children. With its national headquarters in Scottsdale, the organization focuses on advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community outreach. In doing so, Childhelp has brought healing to countless children during the last five decades. But just how did this wonderful organization get started? In 1959, while on a governmentsponsored goodwill tour of Japan, young Hollywood actresses Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson discovered 11 JapaneseAmerican children wandering the streets of Tokyo, Japan. The children, born from American troops during the Korean War, were not welcome at orphanages because of their mixed-race. Eventually, the actual number of these orphaned children grew to more than 100 and it became clear to the actresses that a separate orphanage needed to be created. Raising funds back in the States, O’Meara and Fedderson helped fund a home for the children and eventually founded International Orphans Incorporated (IOI). From 1960 to 1964, IOI helped establish nine orphanages, a school, and a hospital in Japan and Vietnam. In 1974, the group helped rescue
thousands of orphans from Vietnam. The organization’s focus shifted to America’s problem of child abuse when the founders met then-First Lady of California Nancy Reagan, who suggested bringing to light America’s “best-kept secret.” In 1978, now-called Childhelp developed a residential treatment facility exclusively for severely abused children. Known as the Village of Childhelp West in Beaumont, California, the center offered therapeutic programs and innovative art and animal therapy programs. And, as they say, the rest is history. Today, Childhelp operates treatment centers across the country—including a center in Phoenix and a mobile center traveling throughout Northeastern Arizona—and, since 1982, operates the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD®, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. The hotline is for children of abuse and for parents who feel they are losing control and want to be sure they don’t endanger their children. To learn more about Childhelp, or how you can volunteer time or make donations, call 480.922.8212 or visit childhelp.org.
Helping Arizona’s Children Childhelp offers two ways to help the children of Arizona. The Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona, opened in Phoenix in 1998, uses a one-stop approach to investigating and treating child abuse. This facility uses a team-approach between law enforcement and medical and child protective services. The center staffs more than 60 full-time professionals. And in keeping with the goal of minimizing trauma to the child, there is a playroom and each child who visits the center is allowed to take and keep a toy from the gift closet. For children in Northeastern Arizona, Childhelp, in partnership with the Safe Child Center at Flagstaff Medical Center, provides various services from the Childhelp Children’s Mobile Advocacy Center of Northern Arizona. Specially designed for abused children in rural and tribal communities, the mobile center is the first of its kind in Arizona, offering one-stop services at selected locations. The goal of this groundbreaking service is to reduce investigation time and trauma for abuse victims who simply are not able to travel to the Phoenix location.
P.F. Chang’s Lemon Grass Non-tini
Local Flavor!
March 2010
Ingredients: Fresh-squeezed juice from 1/2 of a lemon, 1/2 of a lime and 1/2 of an orange 1.5 oz Monin Lemon Grass syrup .5 oz simple syrup Procedure: Squeeze juice into shaker. Muddle fruit and juice with Monin Lemon Grass syrup and simple syrup in shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Featuring P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Locations Valleywide • pfchangs.com
Home Values Stabilizing
2009 turned out to be the third best year on record for overall sales in Metro Phoenix! Approximately 93,000 properties closed escrow, resulting in a 55% increase over 2008 (with just over 60,000 escrows). The increase in sales volume has been coupled with a stabilization and improvement in pricing. Home values hit a bottom-low in April of 2009 but have rallied strongly with a year-end 14.8% increase. According to The Cromford Report, a local real estate research firm, lender-owned sales hit their price bottom in late April 2009 and have been rising since; non-distressed “normal” sales hit their price bottom in mid-November 2009; and short sale prices are expected to have hit bottom in late 2009 or early 2010. While the overall housing market is recovering nicely, the luxury market (often defined as $500K+) is lagging. However, there are signs of improvement. The Scottsdale $1M+ market now shows about a 24-month supply, down from a 60-month supply about this time last year. Did you know that in 2009, fully 36% of Valley Realtors did not have a single closed transaction? There are many licensed agents working on a part-time or “hobby” basis. Be sure to work with a full-time professional dedicated to real estate… I will be honored to be that person for you!
Arizona Homeowner March / 2010
We Close Short Sales! NEED OUR HELP? COUNT ON MY TEAM TO SELL YOUR HOME TOO!
SAVED FROM FORECLOSURE!
achieve tranquility Creating A Sense Of Calm In Your Home
About Wendy...
She is a full-time Realtor who pours her heart and soul into serving her clients’ best interest. Whether it be listing and selling your home for the best price in the shortest amount of time possible or finding the perfect home to suit your needs, she is tireless in her efforts. When she is not working with clients she spends time furthering her real estate education. In 2009 she completed courses to become an “Accredited Buyer’s Representative,” a “Certified Distressed Property Expert,” a “Certified Negotiation Expert,” a “Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource,” and other additional courses. Not a day goes by that she is not learning something new.
GRAYHAWK
2659 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 3.5 • $395,000
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHORT SALE
2010 is the year of the short sale
Bank-owned homes are accounting for less and less of the sales in the Valley, while Short Sales are occurring much more frequently. It appears that banks are streamlining their systems and what was once a frustrating and often unsuccessful process is now more conducive to Short Sales. Real estate analysts predict that Short Sale transactions will dominate our market.
SONORAN HEIGHTS
2897 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 2.5 • $430,000
UNDER CONTRACT – PENDING LENDER APPROVAL
protectors of children The Heroes of Childhelp
WENDY KIRTLAND RE/MAX Fine Properties 21000 N. Pima Rd., Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 eFax: 480.355.9514 WKirtland@FineProp.com
If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
VENTANA LAKES
1734 Sq. Ft. | 3 | 2 • $194,000
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net
poolside pleasure
P.F. Chang’s Lemon Grass Non-Tini