Orange Tree Insider

Orange Tree

The #1 Agent

July | August 2012

FOR ORANGE TREE EQUESTRIAN MANOR WITH OVER 55 TRANSACTIONS!

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• Phoenix Business Journal ranks Kelly #11 in The Phoenix Business Journal Book of Lists out of more than 20,000 Real Estate Agents. • Graduate Arizona State University 1983

REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN

Orange Tree

Kelly McLain Realtor

602.625.4653

mclainjk@aol.com www.kellymclain.com

Rates Are What???? As the world economy sputters along, home interest rates continue to fall. You owe it to yourself to at least check out your current mortgage situation to see if a refinance is worthwhile. When looking into a refinance, the biggest trap homeowners fall into is the “No Out of Pocket Refinance.” Do not let this term fool you into thinking your refinance is free. There are always fees associated with a mortgage loan and it is just a matter of where the fees are hidden. For instance if you owe $200,000 on your mortgage, you want to make sure your new loan amount at the closing table is not $205,000. The mortgage company simply rolled the closing costs into your new loan thus increasing your loan and term. Ideally you want a no-cost option. This is when you take a slightly higher interest rate to cover all fees and your loan balance stays the same. The other popular option today is reducing the term of the loan. With interest rates so low, a lot of homeowners are reducing their term to 15-year mortgages and their payment is staying the same. Also remember, if your home is underwater you may still be eligible to refinance through the New Harp 2.0 program. Call me for more details. The time is NOW to take advantage of today’s real estate and mortgage market.

WJ BRADLEY MORTGAGE CAPITAL

Mike Tompkins,Mortgage Lender

NMLS #217645 9237 E. Via De Ventura #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85258

480.421.1151 Direct Office mike@wjbonline.com www.wjbonline.com

(c) 2011 W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp., 201 Columbine Street Suite 300, Denver, CO 80206. Phone #303-825-5670. NMLS ID 3233. Trade/service marks are the property of W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. Some products may not be available in all states. WJB is not acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or the federal government. AZ License # BK-0903998. NMLS consumer access: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/3233. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

The Orange Tree area continues to see an increase in sales, and inventory remains down. Multiple offers on many listings have driven the prices up to asking price or even over list price. I received three offers on my new listing located at 11607 N. Saint Andrews, we are scheduled to close at the end of the month. I just closed 12005 N 55th Place in Orange Tree Villas and also received multiple offers on that property. I also have a home that I just listed located at 5039 E Poinsettia. This beautiful remodel has all new kitchen and bathrooms, gorgeous wood floors, and five bedrooms! It’s priced at $389,500 and a great buy. Many e-mails have come in regarding the condition of the golf course. I have spoken to the greens keeper and other staff members. They assure me they are aware of so many dead spots on the course, and they are replacing many sprinkler heads. They also need to replace the water pump which is causing uneven watering in many places, due to the lack of water pressure. Many of the trees that were kept pruned and manicured throughout the years have also become overgrown. If you have concerns with the condition of the course you may call the Scottsdale Golf Group Vice President of Communications Charles Strickland at 480-348-5865. ADDRESS SQ. FT. / BED / BATH

PRICE PER LIST PRICE SQ. FT.

5702 E. Shea Blvd. 5477 E. Lupine Ave. 5467 E. Lupine Ave. 5430 E. Sahuaro Dr. 5817 E. Leith Ln.

2641 / 3 / 2 3391 / 4 / 3 3187 / 4 / 3 2908 / 3 / 2.5 3932 / 5 / 4

$163 $184 $197 $258 $228

$429,878 $625,000 $628,000 $749,000 $895,000

60 78 243 11 16

2870 / 5 / 3 2532 / 3 / 3 4195 / 5 / 4 3710 / 4 / 4.5 5611 / 4 / 3.5 3013 / 5 / 4.5 4755 / 4 / 3 3428 / 5 / 4

$115 $188 $166 $188 $129 $249 $179 $290

$330,000 $475,000 $695,000 $699,000 $725,000 $749,000 $850,000 $995,000

34 3 1043 31 40 513 1220 3

currently for sale

sale pending

5821 E. Cactus Rd. 11224 N. 60th St. 5418 E. Oakhurst Way 11607 N. St. Andrews Way 11208 N. St. Andrews Way 11440 N. St. Andrews Way 11840 N. Blackheath Rd. 11836 N. Blackheath Rd.

sold

ADDRESS SQ. FT. / BED / BATH 12005 N. 55th Pl. 1763 / 2 / 2 5502 E. Shaw Butte Dr. 1760 / 2 / 2 5533 E. Paradise Dr. 1759 / 2 / 2 10851 N. 55th St. 2627 / 3 / 2 11820 N. Oakhurst Way 3363 / 3 / 3.5

PRICE PER COE SQ. FT. $126 6/08/12 $138 3/30/12 $182 4/27/12 $209 6/06/12 $205 5/02/12

LIST PRICE $239,000 $263,000 $320,000 $549,000 $735,000

DAYS ON MARKET

SOLD PRICE $222,500 $243,000 $320,000 $549,000 $690,000

DAYS ON MARKET 52 42 8 10 302

Property Values

When Adjacencies Make A Negative Impact

Delectably Decadent

Del Frisco Grille’s Coconut Cream Pie

Orange Tree

Real Estate Report

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

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

How To Create Strong Family Relationships

ISSN-1939-9588

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!