Orange Tree Insider

Orange Tree

The #1 Agent

March | April 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

Underwater Relief is Here! HARP 2.0 is officially up and running. Unlike past government refinance programs aimed to help underwater homeowners, this new program should have some positive results. This is also the program Arizona residents have been waiting for. The biggest change to the program is that it allows qualified homeowners the ability to refinance no matter how much their home is underwater. So if you owe $400,000 on a home that is worth $300,000, it is OK. The program also works on second homes (vacation homes) and investment properties. How do you know if you qualify? First find out if your home is currently owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. You may visit www.fanniemae.com or www.freddiemac.com and find the loan look-up section. You can also contact me and we can do the look-up for you. Also the mortgage must be current with only one mortgage late allowed in the past 12 months. There are other great features that go along with this program, such as limited income documentation, so contact me with any questions. You or someone you know could benefit!

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 is seeing more and more activity, but fewer homes on the market. That is always a good sign. Home prices are stable and we have a few short sales to work through in our area. Prices still remain flat, but we may see some upticks in the coming months. Expect home prices to rise an average of 2.8% per year over the next 5 years. I recently SOLD a home in Orange Tree Manor for $859,000. It was on the market for just 18 days. I’ve been working with one of our new Diamondback pitchers who was just acquired from Oakland. He does like Orange Tree and Equestrian Manor for the location but we have been unable to find any homes that suit him. The new Orange Tree bar is now open, it’s newly remodeled and a must see. Orange Tree is now putting together a Men’s Golf Club – if you are interested in signing up please e-mail Bill Birtcil at Bill.OTgolf@cox.net. I will be signing up this spring and look forward to all the events and club championship. If you’re thinking of selling let me know! I have SOLD my entire inventory in and around Orange Tree. The summer selling season is just around the corner so keep me in mind. ADDRESS SQ. FT. / BED / BATH

PRICE PER LIST PRICE SQ. FT.

DAYS ON MARKET

1,760 / 2 / 2 1,759 / 2 / 2 3,187 / 4 / 3 4,195 / 5 / 4 3,907 / 3 / 3.5 4,755 / 4 3

$152.27 $181.92 $197.36 $165.67 $188.12 $199.79

$268,000 $320,000 $629,000 $695,000 $735,000 $950,000

6 2 126 955 272 1104

11244 N 60th St 2,916 / 4 / 3 11440 N St Andrews Way 3,013 / 5 / 4.5

$239.71 $248.59

$699,000 $749,000

5 396

currently for sale 5502 E Shaw Butte Dr 5533 E Paradise Dr 5467 E Lupine Ave 5418 E Oakhurst Way 11820 N Oakhurst Way 11840 N Blackheath Rd

The Internet Age

Are Realtors Still Necessary?

sale pending

sold

ADDRESS 5702 E Shea Blvd 5514 E Shaw Butte Dr 5817 E Leith Ln 6029 E Yucca St 5802 E Leith Ln

SQ. FT. / BED / BATH 2,641 / 3 / 3 1,883 / 2 / 2 3,932 / 5 / 4 4,025 / 5 / 4 5692 / 4 / 3.5

PRICE PER COE SQ. FT. $94.28 1/09/12 $143.34 12/15/11 $143.69 1/30/12 $213.42 1/05/12 $173.05 7/27/11

LIST SOLD PRICE PRICE $249,900 $249,000 $279,900 $269,900 $565,000 $565,000 $859,000 $859,000 $1,099,000 $985,000

DAYS ON MARKET 116 26 202 18 101

Bourbon Steak’s Lobster Pot 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

Palate-Pleasing Perfection

ISSN-1939-9588

In Good Taste

Featuring Bourbon Steak 480.513.6002 | MichaelMina.net

Maine Lobster Pot Pie Ingredients 5 lbs. cooked, chilled lobster meat cooked vegetables (see below)

Lobster Cream (see below) pie dough

Eighteen holes of match or medal play will teach you more about your foe than will 18 years of dealing with him across a desk. — Grantland Rice

30 marble red potatoes, cut in half 15 baby yellow squash, cut in half 6 Tbs. butter salt and pepper

Golf is like a love affair. If you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun; if you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart. — Arthur Daley

Slowly simmer the onions, baby carrots and potatoes until al dente. Strain and lay them out on a baking sheet to cool. For the mushrooms, zucchini and squash, heat sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbs. of butter and then vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and continue sautéing until tender and caramelized, about 3-4 minutes. Lay out on a baking sheet to cool. Lobster Cream 3 onions, medium dice 2 fennel bulbs, medium dice 3 carrots, peeled, medium dice 1/2 hd celery, medium dice 1 hd garlic, cut in half 10 lobster shells 2 cups white wine 2 cups brandy

Serves 10

What other people may find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive. — Arnold Palmer The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can’t see him laughing. — Phyllis Diller

1/2 cup tomato paste 1 gal cream 3 sprigs thyme 1 tsp. black peppercorns 1 tsp. coriander seed 1 bay leaf 2 Tbs. vegetable oil

Heat a large stockpot over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Add in the oil, then the lobster shells. Stir often until the shells are well-seared and bright red. Remove pan from heat, add in the brandy and the diced vegetables and return pot to heat. Stir occasionally until the vegetables are cooked through and begin to brown. Add in the tomato paste and stir to combine. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes or until the tomato paste begins to brown. Add in the white wine and scrape the bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking until all of the liquid is cooked out. Add in the cream and the remaining ingredients. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain through a colander into another pot or large bowl. Discard the shell mix. Strain the cream through a fine mesh strainer. Return the lobster cream to a stockpot and return to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in 1 Tbs. of roux, cook for 1 minute. Blend using a hand blender. Cool using an ice bath. Reserve.

MARCH | APRIL 2012 Phoenix Symphony Orpheum Theatre, March 17th 602.495.1999 | PhoenixSymphony.org Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with an afternoon salute to Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs & Ham performed live by The Symphony and The Valley Youth Theater. Or, get your groove on and attend the evening performance of Motown’s Greatest Hits. Each performance is sure to delight!

I’m about five inches from being an outstanding golfer. That’s the distance my left ear is from my right. — Ben Crenshaw

To Assemble Into each 1 qt. baking dish, place three of the carrots, potatoes, onions, zucchini and squash. Divide the mushrooms evenly between the dishes. Add 1/2 lb. lobster meat. Ladle 3 oz. of Lobster Cream into each dish. Garnish each dish with chopped chives, parsley, thyme and chervil, drizzle of truffle oil, and one sliced truffle. To cap the pot pies, lightly egg wash the outer edge of the dough and carefully place the top on top of the baking dish. Gently press the dough to seal the edges. When all the pot pies have been capped, egg wash the top of each very lightly. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Place into a preheated 400 degree oven for 15-18 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve immediately. Vegetables 2 cups white pearl onions, peeled 4 cups mixed gourmet mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces 30 baby carrots, peeled 15 baby green zucchini, cut in half

Event Calendar

Never bet with anyone you meet on the first tee who has a deep suntan, a 1-iron in his bag, and squinty eyes. — Dave Marr

it is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place this world is when one is playing golf. — robert lynd

If you break 100, watch your golf. If you break 80, watch your business. — Joey Adams

I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone’s golf game. It is called an eraser. — Arnold Palmer

One of the most fascinating things about golf is how it reflects the cycle of life. No matter what you shoot - the next day you have to go back to the first tee and begin all over again and make yourself into something. — Peter Jacobsen

Golf is played by twenty million mature American men whose wives think they are out having fun. — Jim Bishop

Golf is not just an exercise; it’s an adventure, a romance... a Shakespeare play in which disaster and comedy are intertwined. — Harold Segall

Agave on the Rocks Desert Botanical Garden, March 30th 480.481.8188 | DBG.org Celebrate the essence of the margarita and the spirit of the Southwest at the 10th Annual Agave on the Rocks. Savor an evening of gourmet eats prepared by the Valley’s best restaurants and caterers and samba under the stars to vibrant Latin rhythms, including performances by DJ Miguel Ivery, Fuerza Caribe and Grupo Liberdade.

The most important shot in golf is the next one. — Ben Hogan The older I get, the better I used to be. — Lee Trevino

Golf is a game in which you yell “fore”... shoot six... and write down five. — Paul Harvey

Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger. — Arnold Palmer

Of all the hazards, fear is the worst. — Sam Snead

Golf is 20 percent talent and 80 percent management. — Ben Hogan

found a home online? realtors are more valuable than ever

A lot has been said about the impact of technology on the residential real estate business. Some people have predicted that technology will circumvent the role of your REALTOR®. After all, information is readily available 24/7/365 to anyone with a mouse. You don’t have to leave your house, you don’t have to get dressed; it’s all there. Theoretically, like eBay, someone could initiate and complete a transaction electronically. You could see streaming video of the property and fall in love. You could write an offer and email it to the seller for consideration and approval. It’s certainly possible to apply for the loan and secure approval using PDF documents. The escrow officer could transmit paperwork electronically, and you could wire funds for the closing. However, those components of the transaction are merely the tip of the iceberg. They are essential ingredients, but they aren’t the significant and meaningful things that still need to be done. In reality, the advancements in technology have actually strengthened the role and importance of a REALTOR® in the sale or purchase of property. The National Association of REALTORS® reports approximately eight out of ten buyers start their house-hunting search on the Internet before they make contact with an agent. Prior to the Internet, buyers sought out REALTORS® to find out what was on the market. Now, that information is available to consumers along with virtual 24/7 open houses on many of the listings. The old role as “show and tell” people, where agents delivered information to prospects and clients, made them easily replaceable. Customers had a hard time differentiating between various licensees and appreciating their value. The new role in this new “high tech” era

is far more complex and valuable to clients. It’s turning into a “high tech and high touch” environment. Agents and brokers are consultants, advisors, and educators. They are professional negotiators whose actions, leadership and efforts are in their client’s best interests acting as their fiduciary. Real estate, by definition, is highly emotional, extremely complicated, and most often adversarial, because the interests of the buyer and the seller are polarized. New research has shown that buyers and sellers depend on professional representation. They are looking for someone who is a skillful negotiator and a committed advocate. Both parties to a transaction are looking for a real estate agent who can manage the contingencies and details surrounding the sale to ensure their compliance. They also want their REALTOR® to accompany them at inspections and the close of escrow. Even if a buyer and a seller were capable and knowledgeable enough to be in a position to wear all of the necessary hats involved in the transaction, and even if they had the time and resources, they would still be at a distinct disadvantage. One of the most valuable benefits of being represented by a REALTOR® is the broker’s capacity to act as a “third party” to the transaction. The principals to the transaction often lack the objectivity and skills to respond and react properly without risk of jeopardizing the sale. From a different perspective, despite any preconceived notions about the advantages of information readily available on the Internet, buyers and sellers need to understand and recognize the limitations of home valuation search engines. The key to sound buying and selling decisions is not the presentation or receipt of information; it is the interpretation of market data. Almost anyone can search for a list of houses for sale or recent solds in an area and there’s certainly an overabundance of data available through a variety of high tech sources. But few people have the talents and skills to make the best decisions out of all of the data.

Since buyers prefer to buy low, and sellers like to sell high, it takes a skilled professional to consult with their client to determine “Reality Based Pricing” that represents a good value. Sellers also need professional representation to develop a tangible marketing plan to help assure that the house will be sold in the seller’s preferred time frame. Sellers are still looking for merchandising and staging recommendations along with evidence of hard work and a diligent effort by the agent. What do clients want from their REALTOR® that they can’t get on the Internet? They want someone who is savvy about current market knowledge and trends. More importantly, they’re looking for someone who will listen and understand their wants and needs. The key to today and tomorrow’s successful transactions is the relationship between the client and their REALTOR®. It’s all about the relationship. The proper selection of an advocate for your transaction can make the critical difference between success and failure in your sale or acquisition.

Scottsdale Culinary Festival Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, April 17th – 22nd 480.945.7193 | ScottsdaleCulinaryFestival.org There is just no other local festival that trumps this one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Partake in many great events including Bubbles and Bliss, Chef’s Wine Dinner and Best of the Fest. The event that always wows crowds is the Great Arizona Picnic featuring food from over 50 restaurants, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and over 200 beers to sample. 6th Annual Pat’s Run Sun Devil Stadium, April 21st 480.621.4074 | PatTillmanFoundation.org Join over 20,000 runners and walkers as they come together to celebrate the memory of football star and military hero Pat Tillman. Complete the 4.2 mile run/walk and continue the fun with a finish-line festival featuring live music, refreshments and an expo. This event raises funds for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which carries on Pat’s legacy of supporting our future generations with academic scholarships. Astronomy Evening Pinnacle Peak Park, April 21st 480.312.0990 | ScottsdaleAZ.gov Enjoy a beautiful desert evening under the stars and learn about some of the objects visible in the night sky. A short talk explaining interesting facts about the solar system and the galaxy around the planet earth is followed by observing the moon, several planets, multiple star systems, globular clusters and nebulae through a celestron telescope.