Biltmore Sep. 10

September 2010

Featured Property

THE PHIL TIBI GROUP My goal is to inform you and to be of service should you have any questions about our neighborhood real estate.

As a 25 year resident of the Biltmore area and a real estate professional, I am well-versed in its unique neighborhoods and exclusive communities. I keep my clients informed about all aspects of the market including crucial statistics, the pros and cons of each property, and small but important details often overlooked by other agents. My personal goal is to not only meet - but to exceed - your expectations.

Enjoy this issue of Biltmore Estates Lifestyle – it’s packed with practical articles on living in the Valley of the Sun and includes an exceptionally useful real estate market update. Are you considering selling, moving up, downsizing or investing? We will market your property and/or find the ideal new home that fits your needs - quickly and efficiently. Contact the Phil Tibi Group today for a private consultation and experience true customer satisfaction!

78 Biltmore Estates Dr. • 7977 Sq. Ft. | 5 Bed | 5.5 Bath • $2,998,500 Seller financing available. Incredible opportunity to own a premier estate in one of the most desirable locations in Arizona Biltmore. Golf course lot (4th hole), one of three homes in a private gated enclave that shares ownership in a fourth lot providing ultimate privacy. Master suite features exceptional his & hers closets and panoramic views. State-of-the-art movie theater with rich wood panels, fabric lined walls and a lobby for the guests. Exterior consists of iron, glass and canterra stone. Resort-style backyard with golf, lake and mountain views. Courtesy of Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s.

# HOMES FOR SALE PRICE

# HOMES PENDING PRICE

# HOMES SOLD PRICE

$1,795,000 low 2 $2,231,000 avg $2,499,000 high

$1,595,000 low $1,685,000 avg $1,775,000 high

Biltmore Estates 3

$2,200,000 low 1 $3,397,833 avg $4,995,000 high

$2,170,000 low $2,170,000 avg $2,170,000 high

Biltmore Gates 1

$699,955 low 2 $699,955 avg $699,955 high

$524,900 low $609,950 avg $695,000 high

Biltmore Greens 7

$538,000 low 1 $621,557 avg $675,000 high

$890,000 low 7 $890,000 avg $890,000 high

$425,000 low $660,000 avg $995,000 high

Biltmore Shores 3

$688,000 low $912,667 avg $1,300,000 high

Biltmore Square 1

$625,000 low 1 $625,000 avg $625,000 high

$560,000 low $560,000 avg $560,000 high

Biltmore Villas 4

$549,000 low 1 $630,975 avg $825,000 high

Colony Biltmore 4

$335,000 low 4 $690,000 avg $880,000 high

$334,000 low $389,725 avg $449,900 high

Taliverde 2

$640,000 low 1 $650,000 avg $660,000 high

$930,000 low $930,000 avg $930,000 high

Phil@CambridgeProperties.com

Village on the Lakes 2

$789,000 low 2 $794,008 avg $799,017 high

$480,000 low $542,667 avg $627,000 high

www.CambridgeProperties.com

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Statistics represent single-family and patio homes. Information gathered from ARMLS.

Ask me about fantastic Biltmore properties for sale, but not yet listed to the general public.

PHIL TIBI

Associate Broker / Director of Resale

CAMBRIDGE PROPERTIES

602.692.0780 If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Paint Makes Your Rooms POP!

REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN THE BILTMORE SUBDIVISION

Alta Vista Park 3

GET EXCLUSIVE ADVANCED INFORMATION.

Color • Texture • Finish

Landscaping Tips

Wow Your Potential Buyers

Craving Light & Fresh Fare?

Estate House’s Chicken Chopped Salad

$379,900 low $379,900 avg $379,900 high

$470,000 low 3 $511,000 avg $552,000 high

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

The Biltmore Area’s

Real Estate Report

Q: What should a homeowner consider when choosing colors? A: Is this a color I would wear? Q: How else can someone choose colors that they will be happy with? A: I have a system I refer to as “colorprinting.” I ask clients various questions after which I can identify what are a person’s color likes and dislikes. Through an interview system, I derive at a client’s “colorprint.” Typical question topics include hobbies, room usage, existing furniture, art, collections, room orientation (feng shui), and the client’s emotional ties to stuff. Usually astrology and a client’s profession will play into the color selection as well.

Featuring Estate House 480.970.4099 | estatehouseaz.com

GRILLED CHICKEN CHOPPED SALAD WITH CURRY VINAIGRETTE INGREDIENTS For the salad: 2 chicken breasts, grilled and cubed 1/4 cup grapes, halved 1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped 1/8 cup raisins 1/8 cup Marcona almonds, chopped 1/2 cup arugula, chopped 1/8 cup small diced apples 1/8 cup dried currants 1/8 cup chick peas 1 teaspoon chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoon chopped mint Salt and pepper For the dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise 1 Tablespoon sour cream 1/4 cup yellow curry paste 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 Tablespoons honey Salt and pepper METHOD: 1. Mix all ingredients for the salad in a bowl and chill for 10 minutes. 2. Whisk all ingredients for the dressing and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. 3. Season salad with salt and pepper and add dressing. 4. Mix thoroughly and place in a bowl. 5. Serve with fried pita chips or grilled bread.

Q: How do you choose colors that work together? A: Through this colorprinting process and through experience I get to what works. There are rules, but I break them. There are no clashes, just a way to balance everything. There are no wrongs, just better rights. Q: How can different paint textures evoke different moods and feelings? A: Wall textures play an important part in creating a mood. Also paint can impact that texture. A smooth texture is considered more formal and a sand or troweled texture is more informal. A professional designer or painter or faux finisher can help you achieve these textured looks.

DECORATING INSIGHTS FROM INTERIOR DESIGNER MIKE MCDANIEL OF ROBB & STUCKY Sure, painting a room sounds easy, but then it’s time for all those decisions. What color, what finish, what technique? Should you try trompe l’oeil? Should you paint those columns or leave them white? Who better to turn to than interior designer Mike McDaniel, IDS Professional with Robb & Stucky, for all our painting conundrums. Q: How can paint work as a design element? A: Paint is the most important element and yet the most inexpensive to accomplish. Paint is always the canvas we build off of to complete an environment. Q: Where should someone start when it comes to choosing paint as part of a room’s overall design? A: Identify what activity and mood you are trying to achieve. What is the end-use of the room? A relaxing room would work well with cool hues, while a television/game/ entertaining room will be best in warm hues. A room’s activities dictate the blending and range of colors.

Q: What types of faux paints are hot right now in our area? A: A Venetian plaster finish for that formal Tuscan environment, and scored, raked, or swirled in a tone-on-tone color for that informal or contemporary environment. A room’s mood comes from both texture and color. Q: What’s new when it comes to choosing a finish? A: With the new wave of less things and the green story, use an eggshell or low-sheen finish on everything. This reflects more light and highlights the canvas or walls we design on. Q: How did you choose the colors and design of the room on our cover? A: This typical dining area needed some life and intimacy. I visually brought down the ceiling by painting wide horizontal bands to make the space feel more intimate, and I enhanced the architectural features with a metallic wash of copper and pale gold. This gave the dining area some personality and balanced the elements. A little bling never hurts! Also, using my L.U.M.A. process and the principals of feng shui, I chose colors to enhance the dining experience and balance hot and cool colors to create a relaxing environment perfect for conversation. My L.U.M.A process follows a “today” design-feel using Loft, Urban, Metro and Asian influences.

LURE THEM IN WITH LANDSCAPING Considering selling your home and looking for a competitive edge? Before you assess the interiors, perhaps make some improvements to the outside. After all, when it comes to real estate, nothing says “I’m beautiful inside” better than a beautiful outside. One of the best ways to lure potential buyers in for a longer look is to wow them with the perfect landscaping. “Attracting potential homebuyers has everything to do with curb appeal,” says Andy Page owner of Arte Verde, a landscaping company in the Valley. Here, he shares some of the best tricks of the trade. 1. ADD COLOR—IN JUST THE RIGHT WAY. “A costeffective way of punching up curb appeal is to use medium-size colorful shrubs,” says Page. (Tip: Look for shrubs between two and three feet high and two feet wide.) But here’s the clincher: “Rather than planting two or three shrubs of differing varieties, use 20 of the same plant with the same bloom color,” he says. “This makes a bigger impact and defines the space well.”

2. DON’T GO OVERBOARD WITH HARDSCAPING MATERIALS. “Once you’ve decided on the plant palette, it’s helpful to include an appropriate hardscape material,” says Page. “Look for one that complements the architecture of the home, keeping the total square footage to what is functional and artistic. Too much of a good thing sometimes looks overdone.” 3. WOW ’EM WITH A WATER FEATURE. “Water features are desirable for any courtyard space,” says Page. “A fountain will take the edge off the summer heat and will be refreshing to guests as they enter your home.” Besides, what could be more relaxing—and put people more in the mood to sign on the dotted line and move in— than the tranquil sound of water flowing. Added bonus: The soothing trickle of water will help mask any unpleasant sounds, such as traffic, noisy neighbors, or barking dogs. 4. THINK TWICE ABOUT A LUSH LAWN. “The question of lawn or no lawn is one of personal preference,” says Page. “Seeing a lush green

lawn has a cooling effect for most people. However, lawns are high-maintenance elements that require lots of water.” Not such a good thing in our dry, desert environment. If you have a larger lawn, try to minimize the square footage by replacing grass with flower beds, mulched or rock areas, or special water features. 5. GO GREEN. “Any landscape can be both beautiful and environmentally conscious,” notes Page. A water-wise landscape will definitely appeal to today’s savvy and chic buyers. The features that should be included for a water-wise landscape, according to Page: an automatic irrigation timer, electric irrigation valves, a filter, a pressure compensator, half-inch poly hoses attached to each valve for the delivery system, and drip emitters for each plant and cactus (with a minimum of two adjustable emitters at the trees and palms). “The irrigation system should be configured by function and usage,” says Page. “Separate valves should be installed to service trees,

shrubs, cacti and agave, palms, raised gardens, and decorative pots. This layout will ensure that water is used efficiently and effectively, addressing all the horticultural requirements of your landscape.” 6. DON’T OVERLOOK LIGHTING. “The final feature one should consider to enhance the curb appeal of a landscape is low-voltage lighting,” says Page. “Low-voltage lighting is the icing on the cake with regards to showing off your property. It will highlight the focal points of your yard, add security, and make any landscape pleasing and complete.”

SEPTEMBER 2010 Phoenix Cooks JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, September 4th phoenixcooks.com Indulge in delectables from over 50 local restaurants and sample from boutique wineries and microbrews. Mingle with top Valley chefs, watch cooking demonstrations on three Performance Kitchen Stages and learn in an intimate and interactive environment how to cook like a top chef! Plus, win raffle prizes fit for a foodie with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The Banner Health Pro-Am Golf Tournament Superstition Mountain Golf Club, September 10th 602.747.4483 | superstitionmtngc.com Golfers! Come hit the links at one of the country’s most revered golf courses at this annual event in support of Banner Health School-Based Health Centers. Individuals, foursomes and even corporate teams are invited to play. Sponsorships are also available. Ravioli Workshop Sur la Table, September 11th 480.998.0648 | surlatable.com Cooking classes at the Kierland Commons location have proven to be in high-demand. Take a break from the heat and join Anne-Marie Bianco as she instructs this hands-on class dedicated to everyone’s favorite Italian pasta – ravioli! Make reservations in advance as the classes generally fill quickly. Arizona Restaurant Week Local Restaurants, September 18th – 26th 602.307.9134 x16 | arizonarestaurantweek.com Always wanted to try that new local restaurant or anxious to revisit an old favorite? Foodies unite! During this week-long event, 150 restaurants will offer a threecourse meal of signature dishes for $19, $29 or $39 per person. Look for the wine glass icon next to a restaurant listing which indicates a drink is included in the price. Some fabulous restaurants participating this year include Modern Steak, Ocean Prime and Ruth’s Chris. Ballet under the Stars Various Locations, September 22nd – 26th 602.381.1096 | balletaz.org Spend a relaxing evening under the gorgeous Arizona sky as Ballet Arizona continues its annual seasonopening tradition with Ballet under the Stars. The entire family can enjoy a combination of classical and contemporary works in a casual setting for free. Performances are scheduled for Glendale, Sun City West, Phoenix, Fountain Hills, and Tempe. Bring a blanket, plenty of cool drinks and soak up some culture! It’s in the Bag Phoenix Art Museum, September 24th 602.257.1222 | phxart.org Bring your gal pals to this ultimate girls’ night out. Enjoy signature cocktails, appetizers and live entertainment to dance the night away. The highlight of the evening is the silent and live auctions where each item up for bid is featured in a thematic bag such as a designer handbag with theatre tickets and a gift card, or a backpack filled with the latest hiking gear.