Ocotillo June 09

GREAT NEWS IN THE HOUSING MARKET! The number of Valley residential home sales for March 2009 was the greatest since October 2005, or for the past 41 months! As of mid-April, the available supply of single-family homes had another 4% drop. Closings continued their upward trend to bring our overall supply of single-family homes (not including patio, townhomes or condos) to just 4.5 months. Traditionally, a housing market is considered “normal” when there is a 6-month supply of homes. When there is less than a 6-month supply, the market generally tilts towards a “seller’s market.” Where there is more than a 6-month supply, it’s considered a “buyer’s market.” Homes priced under $300,000 are selling with an estimated 1 to 7 month supply. That’s a seller’s market! The $300,000 to $500,000 market continues to show improvement and has decreased and is selling with an 8 to 15 month supply (the higher the price of the home, the higher months of supply). While that is still considered a buyer’s market, it shows an overall trend that homes are selling and our inventory is decreasing. If you are planning to buy and haven’t yet, your time may not be any better than it is NOW. The number of home sales is expected to continue to rise because: • Affordability goes up when values go down • Of the first-time home buyer tax credit of $8,000 • Historically low interest rates There is an increase in people looking for homes in our area. There are some amazing deals in homes right now: short sales, foreclosures and homes that are simply priced great. Call me today to learn about excellent values in our area or for information and guidance on selling your property! MY SPECIAL OFFER! Get a Free Presentation on my Home Marketing program. Before signing a contract with any Realtor, make sure you know exactly how your home will be marketed. If you’re planning to sell your home in the next few months, this FREE service is designed to help establish your home’s current market value.

Kent Gibson

Keller Williams Integrity First Realty

Direct: 480.236.9111 Email: kgibson@kw.com www.deserthomegroup.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

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

June 2009

A SAMPLING OF CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN

Address CURRENTLY FOR SALE: 3800 S. Cantabria Cir. #1116 2353 W. Hemlock Ct. 1172 W. Honeysuckle Ln. 3800 S. Cantabria Cir. #1046 2032 W. Olive Way 3946 S. Greythorne Way 2304 W. Olive Way 3195 S. Laguna Dr. 1344 W. Rockrose Way 3112 S. Pennington Dr. 3261 S. Horizon Pl. 3621 S. Greythorne Way 3230 S. Ambrosia Dr. 3320 S. Ambrosia Dr. 1152 W. Island Dr. 1320 W. Island Cir. 1355 W. Island Cir. 1310 W. Island Cir. 3800 S. Clubhouse Dr. #5 SALE PENDING: 3800 S. Cantabria Cir. #1082 3784 S. Ivy Ct. 2172 W. Redwood Dr. 1233 W. Lantana Dr. 3081 S. Pennington Dr. 3800 S. Cantabria Cir. #1065 1565 W. Aster Ct. 1535 W. Honeysuckle Ln. 3235 S. Laguna Dr. 3245 S. Laguna Dr. 2001 W. Hemlock Way 1271 W. Marina Dr.

Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath

List Price

1764 / 2 Bed / 2 Bath 1776 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 2634 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 1120 / 2 Bed / 2 Bath 1317 / 2 Bed / 2 Bath 2137 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 2602 / 3 Bed / 3 Bath 2645 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 2450 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 2871 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 1988 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 3060 / 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3126 / 5 Bed / 2.5 Bath 2484 / 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3732 / 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath 3898 / 5 Bed / 5 Bath 7587 / 6 Bed / 6.5 Bath 6056 / 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath 9668 / 5 Bed / 7 Bath

$239,000 $244,634 $269,900 $275,000 $319,000 $325,000 $349,000 $350,000 $379,900 $399,000 $399,000 $430,000 $439,000 $549,990 $699,900 $950,000 $1,690,000 $1,700,000 $3,474,900

NA / 1 Bed / 2 Bath 2277 / 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath 1757 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 1929 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 2345 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 1764 / 2 Bed / 2 Bath 3494 / 5 Bed / 3 Bath 2484 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 2591 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 2726 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 3130 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3642 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath

$202,000 $234,900 $240,000 $269,900 $275,000 $290,000 $315,000 $369,000 $389,000 $399,000 $575,000 $999,000

SOLD: 2264 W. Olive Way 2146 / 5 Bed / 2 Bath 2038 W. Olive Way 1610 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 3633 S. Sage Ct. 1603 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 3241 S. Horizon Pl. 2634 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3760 S. Acacia Dr. 2187 / 3 Bed / 3 Bath 1263 W. Lantana Dr. 2116 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 1402 W. Indigo Dr. 2221 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 1171 W. Island Dr. 4201 / 5 Bed / 3 Bath

Close of Escrow 3/27/2009 4/15/2009 4/22/2009 4/14/2009 4/09/2009 3/25/2009 4/22/2009 4/27/2009

Sold Price $225,000 $235,000 $264,000 $270,000 $272,000 $321,500 $350,000 $572,000

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

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

In Celebration of Ice Cream A Summertime Ritual

Selling Your Home

Do You Have A Plan In Place?

A Chef Inspired Gourmet Treat

Meritage Steakhouse’s Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

Ocotillo’s

Hot Real Estate Listings

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! With the average American consuming 23.2 quarts of some kind of frozen dairy product a year, eating ice cream might be considered a national pastime. Seriously, in times of celebration and solace do you reach for a cone or go to a baseball game? Perhaps both! Let’s start off with a little freeze-teeze. Get the answers when you’re done reading. (No peeking!)

Featuring Meritage Steakhouse at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa 5350 E. Marriott Dr. • Phoenix 480.293.3939 or jwdesertridgeresort.com

BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM ICE CREAM WITH APPLE STREUSEL CRUNCH Ice Cream 1 cup blueberries 1 cup sugar

TRUE OR FALSE 1. More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week. 2. Ice cream is a good source of calcium. 3. Ice cream is low in protein. 4. One out of five ice cream eaters share with their dog or cat. 5. One of the major ingredients in ice cream is air. 6. Less expensive ice cream has less fat. 7. Low fat ice cream and low fat ices are lower in calories. 8. The average number of licks for a single scoop is about 50. 9. The most amount of ice cream eaters are between the ages of 2 and 12 and over 45. 10. Chocolate is the most popular flavor.

1 tsp. lemon juice 2 cups sour cream

Mix the ingredients together. Spin the mix in an ice cream freezer until frozen. Store in the freezer. Caramelized Apple Filling 8 apples 1 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. cinnamon Core and peel apples and cut into thin slices. Melt butter, sugar and cinnamon to dissolve over medium heat. Add apple slices and cook until juices come out. Strain the apples from the rest of the juice and set aside. Bread Pudding 2 cups half and half 1 cup sugar 1/4 tsp. vanilla Two pinches cinnamon

2 cups milk 2 eggs Pinch nutmeg 5 large croissants

Cut the croissants into 1-inch cubes and toast until golden brown. Whisk the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour the mix into the croissants and transfer onto a cookie sheet. Make sure the thickness of the pudding is not more than 1 1/2 inches. Let it stand for half an hour. Bake in a water bath at 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until done and there is no liquid left. Brown Sugar Streusel 2 cups flour 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. almond extract

SUCH DELICIOUS ORIGINS As far back as the 4th century B.C. ice cream was used to nourish the soul. It is said that the Roman emperor Nero (A.D. 37-68) ordered his men to bring him ice from the mountains to be combined with fruit toppings for his pleasure.

1 cup sugar 1/3 cup quick oats 1 cup butter 1 tsp. vanilla

King Tang (A.D. 618-97) of Shang, China made his own milk and ice concoctions. Over time ice cream was brought from China to Europe and ice cream-type recipes started appearing among the Italian and French royalty. Once it hit America, politicos such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served it to their guests. Dolly Madison brought it to her tables in 1812. In 1845 Americans started making their own ice cream with the invention of the hand-cranked freezer. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July to be National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day on the third Sunday of the month. This year celebrate this sweet treat on July 19th. GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY When eaten as part of a balanced diet and in reasonable portions, the mental benefits of eating ice cream far outweigh any physical downfalls. Check out how to enjoy a little ice cream every day and still fit into your skinny clothes in The Ice Cream Diet by Holly McCord. In 1900 ice cream hit the economic map with the founding of the IICA (International Ice Cream Association). With ice cream generating more than $21 billion in annual sales and employing thousands of workers, such a regulatory association was greatly needed. Ice cream is a huge factor in the success of the nation’s dairy industry with 9 percent of milk produced in the U.S. contributing to the manufacture of it.

SO MANY CHOICES Vanilla, strawberry, chocolate. Cone, sundae, sandwich. With so many flavors of ice cream and so many ways to eat it, it’s no wonder simple vanilla leads the way. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, vanilla accounts for the largest amount of ice cream consumption, followed by chocolate, chocolate chip, butter pecan, strawberry, Neapolitan, cookies and cream, and rocky road. Cookie dough, cherry vanilla and coffee complete the top 10.

WILD, WEIRD & BE WARY

We’ve found some unconventional ice cream flavors in our travels but nothing less appetizing than the Japanese inspired soy-sauce flavor. Here are some other wacky flavors popular in Asia. Octopus Squid Sweet Potato Fried Eggplant Corn Wasabi

Fish Ox Tongue Crab Koshihikari Rice Shrimp Soy Sauce

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Serve while still warm with a scoop of Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream.

If you were selling your business, you would develop a business plan. Considering your house is probably your number one asset, it deserves the same attention. You want to attract the best audience in the most efficient manner and sell for the best price. With the unprecedented competition in today’s tough market, you need to be as aggressive as possible. You may feel your house is unique but with more homes for sale than ever before, it’s only one of hundreds or thousands to the buyers out there. Every business needs a trusted advisor. So does the sale of your home. Engage the help of an expert. Even if you’re only contemplating selling, call on a Realtor first to help develop and carry out your plan. They will ensure you are doing everything right concerning the condition of the house, the marketing and the all-important price you’ll ask. HEAVEN CAN WAIT, BUT CAN YOU? First and foremost, don’t wait to plan. Take advantage of the pre-listing time and strategize for maximum potential. Buyers may be sitting on the sidelines with a wait-and-see attitude but you don’t have to. Advance planning and accurate research is on your side. Your best option to optimize the sale of your house is to seek the immediate advice of a professional. Let a Realtor’s experience guide you through the ins and outs of this difficult process; specifically a Realtor that specializes in your particular neighborhood.

As with a business plan, you want to attract the right buyers by understanding your competition and positioning your house properly. Most people don’t take the time to plan. WHAT’S THE PLAN, STAN? A good business plan helps the seller determine what business they are in and where they want to take it. Key to the plan is to research the feasibility of the business and determine the best pricing for goods and services. The ultimate goal is to identify potential customers and persuade them to buy. Let’s do that for the sale of your house: • The Price is Right – Consult with your Realtor to determine what your home is worth. Get accurate comparisons. Your Realtor has the knowledge and expertise regarding active listings and sold listings of similar homes in your neighborhood. • Keep Up with the Joneses – Survey the attributes of your neighboring competition: we know you love your home, but what do they have that you don’t? • Prepare to Repair – Focus on details, repairs and cosmetic improvements before major improvements. Make a list, price it and prioritize. If there’s funding and time for bigger items, do them last.

Superheroes Phoenix Symphony Hall, June 6th 602.495.1117 or phoenixsymphony.org Fulfill your childhood dreams of becoming a superhero, or being rescued by one, through these musical tributes to our beloved caped crusaders. Conducted by Michael Krajewski, such theme songs include Spiderman, Batman, Superman and many more. Before the performance begins bring your child in their favorite superhero costume, for the first ever Superhero contest. Winners are invited to show off all of their super powers! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ASU Gammage, June 6th-21st 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you! Relive your memories of this magical story and bring your children to experience it for the first time. Watch the enchanting tale unfold as, what seems to be an ordinary sports car, magically comes to life. You will be amazed at the sensational sets, award-winning music and the stunning special effects that will have you believing in flying cars. Chateau St. Jean Winery Dinner Morton’s Steakhouse, June 11th 480.951.4440 or mortons.com Morton’s and Chateau St. Jean Winery are pairing up to bring you an exquisite four-course dinner accompanied with inspired wine pairings. Guests will enjoy dishes such as broiled sea scallops served with apricot chutney and, of course, Morton’s renowned single-cut filet mignon. Foodies may find themselves in culinary heaven! George Lopez Dodge Theatre, June 12th-13th 602.379.2800 or livenation.com Self-proclaimed “America’s Mexican”, George Lopez is sharing his comical genius with audiences during this 2009 tour. Not only is George a well-known comedian, he also has his own TV show under his belt as well as his recent role in Beverly Hills Chihuahua as the voice of Papi. Don’t miss his side-splitting wit as he brings humor to growing up in a Mexican-American community.

Mix dry ingredients together. Add cold butter and mix until you have hazelnut size lumps. Cut 3-inch circles of the bread pudding with a 3-inch ring mold; keep the bread pudding in the bottom of the ring. Fill it up with the caramelized apple slices until almost at the edge of the ring and top it with the Brown Sugar Streusel. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes until the streusel is golden brown in color.

JUNE 2009

• De-Personalize and De-Clutter – Make your home appealing to the mystery buyer and get rid of distractions. Store away personal pictures and trophies, clean out the closets, clear off the countertops and clean till it sparkles. • First Impressions Count – Capture immediate drive-by and walk-in attention. Stand out from the crowd with eye-catching curb appeal. Your entrance should create the WOW factor. • Leave it in the Hands of Your Professional – You’ve done your homework, created a plan, made your improvements and positioned your house properly. You’re way ahead of the game now!

Twilight Tours Deer Valley Rock Art Center, June 13th & 27th 623.582.8007 or dvrac.asu.edu The Deer Valley Rock Art Center is a museum, nature preserve and archaeological site with the largest concentration of Native American rock art in the Phoenix Valley. Get out your hiking boots and flash lights and embark upon a guided evening tour of the Hedgpeth Hill’s spectacular rocks. This remarkable petroglyph site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 11th Annual AZ’s Finest Ritz Carlton, June 20th 602.685.1103 or azsfinest.org Benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, this annual dinner honors successful young adults who work hard to give back to our community. This lovely evening includes a reception and silent auction, followed by a fabulous dinner and honoree showcase. What a great way to spend an evening, enjoying a lovely night out while donating to such a worthy cause.