Candlewood Estates Lifestyle

July | August 2012

Candlewood Estates

11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85254

KELLY KARBON & VICKI KAPLAN

Specializing in Candlewood Estates and the Pinnacle Peak area

WHEN IT’S TIME TO BUY OR SELL, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHO TO WORK WITH?

Distressed Inventory Levels Plummet

• FIRST AND FOREMOST, work with a team that understands the unique nuances of our neighborhood. As a resident of Candlewood Estates, our in-depth knowledge of our community within Troon North, as well as other areas in Scottsdale, Carefree, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Fountain Hills, allows us to cater to the special and individual needs of both sellers and buyers.

REO Short

• YOU’LL BENEFIT FROM our extensive internet marketing programs and our alliances with two powerful luxuryoriented networks. With more than 87% of buyers beginning their home search on the internet, we’re able to market your home with a formidable advantage. Your property will be advertised and networked to nearly 150,000 agents in 69 countries through Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

Normal

• OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT to listening to our clients and understanding their unique needs and goals, while maintaining the highest level of professionalism and client confidentiality, is a hallmark of our service to you.

Scottsdale

The chart above for the City of Scottsdale and data below represent all active listings on the MLS and all price points. February 2011 February 2012 June 2012

REO 394 102 63

SHORT SALES 618 204 115

NORMAL LISTINGS 2741 2227 1678

85262

Data below is for Zip Code 85262, home of Candlewood. For Zip Code 85262, at the peak of the market, April 2007, the inventory level for active listings of single family homes was 1080. As of June 2012, active listings are at 347—a drop of 68%! February 2011 February 2012 June 2012

REO 32 7 4

SHORT SALES 50 22 21

NORMAL LISTINGS 453 415 356

Data shows the market has shifted significantly, however, a word of caution. Consider all factors when interpreting market information. While we are seeing stabilization in home values with the inventory reduction of distressed properties, more time is needed to prove a stable and steady increase in home values.

KELLY KARBON

480.313.4952

KKarbon@ArizonaBest.com

VICKI KAPLAN

480.677.1330

VKaplan@ArizonaBest.com

Insure You’re Always “In The Know”

Stay informed about the real estate activity and home values within Candlewood Estates by subscribing to our FREE NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT where you’ll receive automatic notifications any time a new home comes onto the market, or a home is sold. Log onto www.CandlewoodAtTroonNorth.com, click on “Communities” and fill out the form under “Receive Market Updates.” Or call Vicki at 480.677.1330 to be added to the list.

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

How To Create Strong Family Relationships

Property Values

When Adjacencies Make A Negative Impact

Delectably Decadent

Del Frisco Grille’s Coconut Cream Pie

Candlewood Estates Real Estate Report

In Good Taste Featuring Del Frisco’s Grille Exciting Cuisine | Expansive Wine List | Hand-Crafted Cocktails 602.466.2890 | DelFriscosGrille.com

MINI COCONUT CREAM PIE COCONUT CREAM FILLING INGREDIENTS: 1 box vanilla pudding base 2 cups coconut milk (or as directed on the pudding mix) 2 oz. whole butter, unsalted 1/2 cup shredded coconut, toasted whipped cream DIRECTIONS: 1. Follow recipe instructions and cook all ingredients to point of being done. Pour into pre-molded mini pie tins. Place into refrigerator overnight to set. 2. To serve, unmold, place on plate, pipe whipped cream onto top of pie, sprinkle toasted shredded coconut over whipped cream and serve. WAFER CRUST INGREDIENTS: 6 oz. vanilla wafers 1 Tbs. sugar 2 oz. melted butter, unsalted DIRECTIONS: 1. In food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until medium coarse consistency and remove. 2. Press 4 ounces of crust into the 2 mini spring form pans and press into bottom and up the sides. Chill crust before filling. Yield: two mini pies

SIMPLE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS Family. Whether you have fond memories of family closeness growing up, or perhaps came from a family that felt distant and disconnected, there is no denying that your family bonds (or lack thereof) have shaped who you are and how you view the world. Most people would agree that family relationships are the most important thing in one’s life. Desmond Tutu once said, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” With that being said, does your family feel close and loving? Do your children or grandchildren feel a real sense of unity and community within the family? Building family bonds and strengthening relationships is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself, whether you have young children, teenagers, or even grown children with kids of their own. You’ve heard it many times before, and now it’s a cliché: “Families that play together, stay together.” But it’s true! Spending time together in the pursuit of fun and recreation brings happiness and shared joy to all involved. Keep in mind, “playing together” needs to be just that. Cheering your son on at his high school baseball game, or pushing your toddler in the swing at the park is wonderful, but isn’t as

participatory as engaging in an activity WITH them. Try setting up a game of Frisbee golf, or silly sack races with old pillow cases. Or when you take your little ones to the park, don’t just supervise their play – get in the middle of it and help build the castles in the sandbox, or team up on a ladybug search. Creating family traditions and rituals works to develop your family’s identity. A strong family identity gives children the tools to develop a healthy self-identity, and gives them a clear starting point for finding their own place in the world. Traditions and rituals needn’t

be elaborate. It can be as simple as a standing Wednesday night ice cream run, or a special high five you’ve created for especially good report cards. It’s just something your family is able to count on in today’s often hectic and sometimes difficult society. Knowing that Sunday mornings always mean hot, fresh cinnamon rolls, or that every fall your family visits the local pumpkin patch, increases everyone’s sense of connection to others in your household. We’re all busy and it seems that finding the time (or the energy) to play games or engage in other activities such as cooking or reading together can be difficult. Well just remember that family bonding can occur in “the little moments” of our day as well. A trip to the hardware store can also be the time that you catch up on your son’s girl troubles and offer some advice. Or cleaning up around the house can turn into the highlight of the day if you transform the activity from “chore” to “fun” when you turn on the tunes and make a dance party out of it.

One of the best activities your family can engage in together is that of charitable giving. As you know, helping others makes you feel good. Decide as a family how you would like to help in your community and then get to it. You will be amazed at the joy and satisfaction that your entire family reaps from your good works, and the closeness and shared sense of accomplishment that your family members earn is a great way to build cohesiveness. Having a place that is special to your family is another way of building a bond. It can be a camping spot that you visit each summer, a favorite neighborhood eatery, your season tickets seats, a hiking trail, even the home of relatives that you visit regularly. It’s not so much about the place itself, but the memories that are built there, that matter. One of the neatest ideas for building a family identity is to create a family mission statement. Sit down as a group and decide what YOUR family’s mission statement is. It defines who you are, how you react in particular situations, how your family interacts with each other and what’s expected of the family unit. Having a strong family connection helps everyone, young and old, withstand the inevitable storms that life will send our way. It’s the love and support of our family that help us through difficult times, and life’s plenty of trials and tribulations. In fact, an old saying sums it up pretty nicely:

P rox i m i t y A f f e c t s R e a l E stat e Va lu e s The late Lord Harold Samuel, a real estate tycoon in Britain, is attributed to coining the expression: “There are three things that matter in real estate. Location, location, and location.” Most Realtors would agree that famous statement holds true much of the time. But when is location not a plus for selling your property? Sometimes the very thing that drew you to the property is considered a downside by a potential purchaser. Your property can be located in a sought-after neighborhood with excellent schools and a low crime rate and even with those pluses, there are some reasons your particular location may be difficult to sell. Here are just a few examples: • YOUR PROPERTY IS ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. The most common location issue is when a home is located on, or near, a busy street. While buyers may want to live near the amenities afforded by the busy street (restaurants, shopping and entertainment), many buyers do not want to contend with the accompanying street noise and traffic issues. • YOUR PROPERTY HAS AN UNDESIRABLE VIEW. The most common views that buyers object to are views of man-made structures such as a water tower, power lines and cell towers. In the case of power lines, buyers may also be concerned with the EMF radiation that is emitted by the lines. There has been controversy over power line radiation and its effect on human health for at least 40 years. The proximity to power lines may be a major factor in some buyer’s purchase decision.

Another view that is considered by many buyers to be undesirable is a view of a cemetery. When you think about it, those neighbors will never make noise or throw a big party, but many buyers are hesitant to purchase such a home. • YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BODY OF WATER (CREEK, STREAM, POND, LAKE, ETC.) LOCATED ON IT. Many people long to live near the water. It may surprise you when you go to sell your home that not everyone considers living near water a desirable location. Two factors can play into a buyer’s decision-making process. First, buyers with small children may be concerned about the safety of their children playing near the water (no matter how shallow). Second, buyers may be concerned over flooding issues and impact to insurance rates for the property when it is located by a body of water. Most property surveys indicate a 100-year flood line as a reference for where the water may raise during a worst-case scenario flood. Most modern building codes do not allow structures to be built in areas of high risk flooding, but no buyer should depend on local ordinances to protect their property investment especially if the property was built before those ordinances went into effect. • YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BACKYARD FACING WEST. Many buyers in the southwestern states would hesitate to purchase a property with a west-facing backyard due to the extreme heat and sun exposure coming in the back. Your back outdoor living areas may even be unusable during summer months when the western sun

has its greatest impact. On the other hand, some buyers are willing to overlook this issue if the western exposure affords a lovely view such as mountains, city lights, etc. • YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED BESIDE AN EMPTY LOT OR BORDERS VACANT LAND. Unless the empty land is considered “green space” or an area set aside that cannot be built on, buyers may hesitate to purchase with the uncertainty of what could be built in the future next door. Buyers may also not want to tolerate construction nearby due to noise and disruption. Sellers may want to have information for potential buyers about how vacant land nearby is zoned to help alleviate buyer’s concerns. Facts and information are powerful selling tools. With the assistance of your Realtor, any location negatives can be dealt with and offset, thus helping smooth out the selling process.

Event Calendar JULY | AUGUST 2012 First Fridays Downtown Phoenix, July 6th and August 3rd 602.256.7539 | ArtLinkPhoenix.com Hungry for some urban culture? Enjoy the spirit and vibe of downtown Phoenix as you tour more than 70 art galleries and venues. There’s a free shuttle that starts at the Phoenix Art Museum but also stops at major spots along the route. Or, happily hoof it with your favorite fellow art lover. Grand Canyon State Games Various Locations and Dates in July 480.517.9700 | GCSG.org Do the 2012 Summer Olympics have you itching to compete yourself? The Grand Canyon State Games is a multi-sport Olympic Festival for Arizona amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. The Games is sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee and there are several sports on tap for the 2012 Summer Games; from adventure racing and golf, to dodgeball and swimming. Register online to compete. Winter in July Phoenix Zoo, July 21st 602.273.1341 | PhoenixZoo.org Take a break from sweltering temps and enjoy a Saturday cooling down with over 20 tons of snow! Besides the fun of watching your favorite zoo animals devour their frozen treats and romping in some snow, you’ll get to throw snowballs, cool off in the water play areas and even enjoy dancing, games and prizes with Radio Disney. A kid’s paradise for sure! Date Night: Sultry Summer Steakhouse Sur La Table, July 28th 800.243.0852 | SurLaTable.com Break up your date night routine with an evening of fun, food and romance. Sur La Table at Kierland Commons offers couples cooking classes and this particular summer evening is all about crafting the perfect steak and scrumptious seasonal side dishes. Delish! Neil Diamond in Concert US Airways Center, August 29th 602.379.7800 | USAirwaysCenter.com Neil Diamond, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 2011 Kennedy Center honoree, is taking his greatest hits on the road for his muchanticipated North American tour with a one-evening stop in Phoenix. Expect to hear all of his greatest hits including his own personal favorite, Sweet Caroline. Sweet indeed!