Desert Lifestyle Estancia

Your Investment Will Be Glad You Did! For four years (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010), Tom Locati has made The Wall Street Journal’s list of top 50 Realtors® in the United States, by sales volume. In addition, during the past six years, he has been ranked as the #1 agent at Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s International Realty. That’s impressive. But what’s equally impressive, Tom lists and sells nearly $300 million dollars of North Scottsdale luxury real estate each year and is the only Realtor® from Arizona to make the Journal’s ultra-elite list. Tom is one of the country’s leading luxury real estate professionals, representing a wealth of fine properties and affluent clients who rely on his discretion, experience, investment acumen and intimate knowledge of the Scottsdale real estate market. “I generally work with a small segment of society often looking for a second, third or fourth home. My job is to empower you (my Client) through knowledgeable, reliable real estate information, firmly grounded in ethical and moral real estate transactions; thus, providing a comfort level essential in allowing you to make an informed financial decision.” Tom believes the luxury real estate business is ultimately wrapped around two primary concepts. “First, you have to have a sound understanding of how money and real estate investments work. In fact, acquiring the perfect property is foremost a matter of finding a wise investment and coupling that with a client’s personal tastes and desires. However, it’s equally important that I am able to create a comfort level for the investor/client based not only on market knowledge, but on expert guidance with proven results.” This is what puts Tom at the top of the real estate profession year after year. “If a professional business approach to real estate acquisition is what you seek, call me - Your Investment will be glad you did. I look forward to visiting with you!”

OFFICE: 480.585.7070. EXT. 5403 FAX: 480.419.6931 TOMLOCATI@ME.COM

WWW.TLOCATI.COM

TOM LOCATI 480.600.2345

DEBBIE NEGRIN 480.734.3498

Desert Lifestyle

FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED

CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN

FEATURED PROPERTY: Lot 78 • 6931 Sq. Ft. 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath 4 Garage $3,695,000 STUNNING CONTEMPORARY. This fabulous contemporary home is proudly offered with all custom furnishings and accessories included in the sales price, it is one of the best values anywhere and a true turnkey purchase! Lightly lived in by a single owner two months each year! This home looks and shows like new. The views of world-renowned Estancia Golf Course and city lights are spectacular from most rooms in the house. Listed as a two-story home, the only upstairs rooms are the media and game room, accessible by elevator or stairs. All bedrooms are large and have attached full baths. Media room, Control 4 automation and professional interior design add to the comfort and functionality of this beautiful property! A very special contemporary home to be sure! Address CURRENTLY FOR SALE: 28046 N. 96th Pl. 27927 N. 101st St. 27336 N. 103rd Way 26945 N. 102nd St. 27373 N. 98th Pl. 9672 E. Oberlin Way 27089 N. 102nd St. 9820 E. Blue Sky Dr. 27771 N. 103rd Pl. 27473 N. 97th Pl. 9688 E. Oberlin Way 27234 N. 102nd St. 27482 N. 103rd St. 10131 E. Cavedale Dr. 26761 N. 98th Way 27555 N. 103rd Way 26798 N. 98th Way

Lot #

Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath

Price Per SF

20 89 210 240 218 12 243 78 152 33 13 274 194 266 228 170 229

3426 / 2 / 2.5 5300 / 4 / 4 5072 / 3 / 3.5 4187 / 3 / 3 6214 / 4 / 5 5691 / 4 / 3.5 6272 / 4 / 4.5 6931 / 4 / 4.5 7551 / 3 / 6 6789 / 4 / 4.5 7840 / 4 / 5 7268 / 4 / 4.5 7300 / 4 / 5.5 7000 / 4 / 5.5 7105 / 4 / 6 6340 / 4 / 4.5 7309 / 4 / 5

$436 $376 $444 $657 $482 $579 $526 $533 $523 $588 $573 $647 $657 $686 $703 $789 $957

$1,495,000 $1,995,000 $2,250,000 $2,750,000 $2,995,000 $3,295,000 $3,300,000 $3,695,000 $3,950,000 $3,995,000 $4,495,000 $4,699,000 $4,795,000 $4,799,000 $4,995,000 $5,000,000 $6,995,000

SOLD: 26872 N. 102nd St. 10199 E. Cavedale Dr.

255 249

6229 / 5 / 6.5 12971 / 5 / 11

$213 $385

$1,330,000 $5,000,000

List Price

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various participants in the MLS. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Proper Lighting Design Takes Your Interiors To The Next Level

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

ISSN-1939-9650

Considering Selling?

Learn Your Options For Listing And Showing Your Home

Simple Yet Sophisticated

Modern Steak’s Maple-Glazed Salmon Image: PURE Design Environments

CALL TOM...

January | February 2012

Tom Locati Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s International Realty 20909 N. 90th Pl. #209 Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Estancia

Real Estate Report

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring Modern Steak 480.423.7000 | FoxRC.com/Modern_Steak

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2012

INGREDIENTS Salmon 2 salmon fillets 1-2 Tbs. cooking oil

& PUNCH UP YOUR HOME’S APPEAL

Maple Bacon Jus 8 oz. bacon, diced 4 oz. sherry vinegar 4 oz. maple syrup 2 oz. white onion, diced 1 sprig fresh thyme

ave you ever walked into a space, whether it’s a home or perhaps your favorite restaurant, spa or boutique and been immediately taken in by the overall feeling you get? More likely than not, that “special something” you can’t necessarily put your finger on is accomplished though professional lighting design. Lighting done properly can be the finishing touch on your interior design, your space’s “sparkling jewelry,” if you will. While most consumers either rely on an architect or an interior designer to assist them with this job, an alternative is a professional lighting designer, trained in the aesthetics, technology and conservation of lighting. Jaque Bethke, principal of PURE Design Environments (www.JaqueBethke.net), a firm working with clients all over the country, explains why no one should go this alone. “A lighting designer studies the spaces, considers its function and comes up with a plan that addresses everything from the fixtures and specific bulbs, to the lightings’ overall effect. When a room is lit for a party, for instance, the light should tell the people where to mingle, and where to find the buffet.” Good lighting, when used properly, also helps you see better and perform tasks more easily. Additionally, it provides safety, security and a sense

Sweet Potato 2 medium sweet potatoes METHOD Peel and medium-dice sweet potatoes. Roast in a 375 degree oven until caramelized. Cool and reserve at room temperature. Cook bacon in a heavy-bottomed pan. Drain off the fat. Add onion and caramelize. Add the sherry vinegar and reduce by half. Add the maple syrup and reduce to syrup consistency. Sear the salmon in a hot sauté pan in a small amount of oil. Turn and cook to desired temperature. TO PLATE Place sweet potatoes on the bottom of the plate. Place the salmon on top of the potatoes. Spoon a generous amount of the maple bacon jus over the salmon. Optional: Serve with sautéed sugar snap peas. Yield: Two servings

Image: PURE Design Environments

Maple-Glazed Salmon

of comfort. Lighting and lighting controls also provide you with the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambience of your home. Bethke adds, “The more layers of light you have in a space the greater the effect from each light source, such as recessed light, LED, table lamps, wall sconces, and so forth.” Properly used lighting should complement your lifestyle and meet your family’s needs. When planning your home’s lighting, designers keep these strategies in mind: • Identify the activities that occur in each room such as reading, food preparation, hobby work, grooming, laundry, homework, etc. • Identify the mood or ambience that you want to create in each space. • Identify any accents that you wish to emphasize such as wall and ceiling details, artwork, or wall textures. • Identify the colors and finishes. Dark areas absorb more light than those with lighter finishes, so lamping and supplemental alternative light sources may need to be considered. After assessing the space and concluding what category of light is necessary (general, task or accent), a lighting plan can be developed.

When considering the general lighting of a room, the goal is to provide the space with an illumination level evenly distributed throughout the room. In many cases task lighting is overlooked, but is the most critical category of lighting. This requires a lot of calculation to provide adequate light for such things as kitchen counters, bathroom lighting and utilitarian tasks. This type of lighting must be a much more concentrated level than general lighting and is necessary to provide light directly where you are working. “Accent lighting is what makes the home come alive. This is a broad category but it includes such things as the home’s architectural lines, ceiling details, wall textures, sculptures and mood of the room. The most care should be spent on this category because it is the soul of your home,” advises Bethke. Employing the help of a lighting designer or engineer will help you understand how to use all these sources of lighting. Lighting – like life – is about balance. If you want to make a marked difference in your environment, do it with lighting. When lighting is done well it can be a form of sculpture and you can never have too much of it. It not only transforms a space, but can transform even your world and how you perceive it.

Many sellers are concerned about the lack of privacy that accompanies putting their home up for sale. There are many options that a real estate agent has at their disposal that can help lessen this issue for sellers. As a seller, you need to consider the balance between giving up some of your privacy and making your home more accessible for other agents to show. The easiest way to provide access so that many real estate agents can show your home is to have your home listed in our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with a sign in your front yard and a lockbox on your front door. However, for many reasons you may not want to go with those options. Perhaps you’d rather not have a For Sale sign at your home. You can ask your agent to indicate within their advertising that there is no sign so other agents are aware of this. Many restricted covenant neighborhoods do not allow For Sale signs at the property anyway. Secondly, you can choose to limit access by not having a lockbox on the door and having your listing agent personally show the home to prospective buyers and their agent. That way someone you know (your real estate agent) is present at every showing. This also allows your agent to personally point out the special features of the home which the buyers’ agent may not be familiar with. However, many buyers’ agents find it cumbersome to show homes this way. They may be running late and have to call the listing agent to reschedule, or their client may pull up to the home and not want to see it after all.

Arranging an appointment around the schedule of four different parties (the homeowner, the listing agent, the potential buyer and their agent) is simply more difficult and may lessen the number of serious showings you could have. As an alternative, sellers can choose to set out the lockbox only for showing appointments. Or, your agent can program the lockbox so that it can only be accessed during specified days and times. That way, they control access to the home during hours that you can be disturbed or are away from the home anyway. The buyers’ agent has a little more flexibility in scheduling when they can utilize the lockbox for access. A high-profile seller may not want their name in the Multiple Listing Service. Although it’s a required field within the MLS advertising, the seller can request to withhold their name from being part of the listing. Your agent can simply state “Client of…” rather than the property owners’ name. Additionally, the property address and property photos can also be withheld from internet marketing. Keep in mind though, that not including property photos can greatly diminish interest and inquiries. Perhaps a solution would be to include plenty of beautiful photography, but nothing that specifically identifies

the property, such as the front elevation or view from the street. Finally, many real estate agents have “pocket” listings. This means that they have the listing “in their pocket,” private and not available to other agents via the MLS. The agent uses their superior networking skills to share the opportunity with agents that they know would have a serious buyer who may like the home. Again, many high-profile clients prefer to use this inter-agent networking system rather than the more public MLS to list their home. A pocket listing ensures the greatest of privacy as the selling agent only reveals information about the property to specific interested parties and their agents. Generally pocket listings are shown by appointment only and the selling agent may require that the buyers be pre-qualified before showing them. When it comes to making choices on maintaining your privacy, it’s critical to discuss your options with your Realtor. With a clear understanding that the more private you make your property’s sale, the less access and exposure you will have to buyers; you can find suggestions and solutions that will work for your situation. Ask your real estate agent about different listing options that will help you feel more comfortable with the selling process.

Drive the Dream Gala WestWorld, January 14th 480.922.8212 | Childhelp.org Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and Childhelp, the largest non-profit in the nation dealing with the prevention and treatment of child abuse, present their 8th annual fundraiser centered on gorgeous automobiles and charitable hearts. This year’s theme, A Night of American Dreams, suggests “red, white and denim chic” attire. Enjoy a lovely cocktail reception, gala dinner, and live entertainment. P.F. Chang’s Rock-N-Roll Arizona Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, January 15th RunRockNRoll.competitor.com/Arizona This is the year you’ll finally do it! Run either the full 26.2-mile marathon or the 13.1-mile half, or perhaps leave your running shoes at home and participate in all the fun and revelry as a spectator or volunteer. The Rock-N-Roll is famous for live music at every mile and a fantastic post-race concert. This year, you’ll rock out to the B-52’s! 59th Annual Parada del Sol Parade Downtown Scottsdale, February 11th 480.990.3179 | ParadaDelSol.us Celebrate Scottsdale’s enduring history and character with the venerable Parada del Sol parade! Enjoy many colorful and entertaining entries parading through the streets and then make your way to the Trail’s End post-parade block party. In addition to delicious food vendors, Kid’s Area and on-stage performances, you can stroll through the hundreds of original shops and boutiques within the Scottsdale Old Town/Downtown area. Wicked ASU Gammage, February 15th – March 11th 480.965.3434 | ASUGammage.com Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. See how these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony® Awards, Wicked is a production you won’t want to miss. Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show WestWorld, February 16th – 26th 480.515.1500 | ScottsdaleShow.com Since 1955 the annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. However, even if you’re not of the “horse-set,” be sure to immerse yourself in the magic and enchantment of the world’s most beautiful animal. You can’t help but be drawn in by the grace, athleticism and pure splendor of the Arabian horse during this 10-day event. And, of course, you won’t want to miss the Shopping Expo where you can peruse aisles and aisles of unique, one-of-a-kind items.