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Your Advocate in the Luxury Home Market

From the first moment I experienced the hypnotic beauty of the desert, I knew I was home and that a new life had begun for me. I had been a successful matrimonial litigator living in New York, believing I could never leave that life and the excitement it generated. The magic of the desert and its environs changed that forever. Though the lifestyle may be different, the excitement remains. Representing clients in the luxury real estate market has enabled me to utilize my skills as a negotiator and communicator to their fullest extent. Both buyers and sellers expect not only to be listened to and responded to, but to be represented by someone who places their interests and needs above all else, whose personal integrity demands that. “Selling” or “buying” a luxury home requires far more than those words themselves. It requires a skilled professional who takes pride in what she does, who has a depth of knowledge of the market…and who honors the very specific needs of her clients. It is an ever-changing profession, with each client bringing a new challenge. That is the excitement: to meet that challenge in an uncompromising way and to form new and ongoing relationships because of the mutual respect and trust that are the products of each transaction. I pride myself on consistently accomplishing this. And that is why I so love what I do.

Featured Properties

37245 N. Holiday Ln. Carefree, AZ 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath • 4,800 Sq. Ft. Offered at $1,975,000

8445 E. Sombrero Rd. Cow Track Estates IICarefree, AZ 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath • 5,058 Sq. Ft. Offered at $1,850,000

42595 N. Spur Cross Rd. Cave Creek, AZ 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath • 3,900 Sq. Ft. Offered at $1,699,000

7440 E. Ridgeline Rd. The Crossings - Carefree, AZ 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath • 3,200 Sq. Ft. Offered at $995,000

7500 E. Boulders Pkwy. The Boulders - Scottsdale, AZ 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath • 2,086 Sq. Ft. Offered at $910,000

7800 E. Boulders Pkwy. The Boulders - Scottsdale, AZ 3 Bed / 3 Bath • 2,387 Sq. Ft. Offered at $865,000

Address Square Foot / Bed / Bath List Price CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN THE BOULDERS Currently for Sale: 71611 E. Quartz Valley Dr. 3304 / 3 Bed / 4 Bath $1,245,000 3105 E. Arroyo Hondo Dr. 3,129 / 4 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,360,000 34245 N. Boulders Pkwy. 3638 / 3 Bed / 3 Bath $1,395,000 2155 E. Quails Nest 3200 / 4 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,499,000 3071 E. Ironwood Rd. 3344 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,525,000 7859 E. Thorntree Dr. 3,800 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,650,000 3103 E. Arroyo Hondo Dr. 3,775 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,795,000 7850 E. El Sendero Dr. #26 3630 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $2,098,000 7850 E. El Sendero Dr. #20 3577 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $2,250,000 34767 N. 79th Way 5304 / 4 Bed / 4 Bath $2,995,000 7347 N. Arroyo Seco Rd. 6630 / 4 Bed / 7 Bath $4,675,000 CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN CAREFREE Currently for Sale: 34825 N. Summit Dr. 4089 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,050,000 36601 N. Nevermind Tr. 3410 / 3 Bed / 2.75 Bath $1,250,000 5675 E. Villa Cassandra Way 5210 / 4 Bed / 4 Bath $1,399,000 7102 E. Leisure Ln. 4421 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath $1,495,000

paula solomon 10458 e jomax rd scottsdale, az 85262 phone: 480.221.9023 www.paulasolomon.com paula@paulasolomon.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Myths, Legends And Folklore Of Arizona

CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN MIRABEL Currently for Sale: 10995 E. Lofty Point Rd. 4320 / 5 Bed / 4.5 Bath $1,027,400 36849 N. 105th Way 3129 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,410,000 9983 E. Addy Way 4755 / 5 Bed / 4.5 Bath $1,879,900 10987 E. Wildcat Hill Rd. 4772 / 4 Bed / 4.5 Bath $2,400,000 10732 E. Wildcat Hill Rd. 4832 / 4 Bed / 4.5 Bath $2,695,000 10738 E. Addy Way 6068 / 5 Bed / 5.5 Bath $2,995,000 10660 E. Wildcat Hill Rd. 5471 / 4 Bed / 4.5 Bath $3,150,000 37891 N. 104th Pl. 6208 / 3 Bed / 6 Bath $3,495,000 10865 E. Winter Sun Dr. 5851 / 5 Bed / 5 Bath $4,000,000 10612 E. Winter Sun Dr. 9471 / 5 Bed / 6 Bath $5,995,000

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

there’s gold in those hills!

Address Square Foot / Bed / Bath List Price CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN CAREFREE 37450 N. Nevermind Tr. 4053 / 4 Bed / 3.5 Bath $1,750,000 6227 E. Villa Cassandra Way 6544 / 6 Bed / 6.5 Bath $2,995,000 36631 N. Peaceful Pl. 7200 / 4 Bed / 4 Bath $3,950,000 6919 E. Languid Ln. 11544 / 6 Bed / 5.5 Bath $4,350,000 7055 E. Stagecoach Pass Rd. 11000 / 6 Bed / 9 Bath $5,200,000

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed by various participants in the MLS.

Paula Solomon 10458 E. Jomax Road Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Arizona Homeowner May / 2008

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

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.