Paradise Valley Lifestyle

September | October 2011

Your Paradise Valley Real Estate Experts

FEATURED COVER PROPERTY

YOUR REAL ESTATE DEMANDS THE BEST! Sandra Wilken and Susan Herman-Paradis invite you to experience luxury real estate as it should be. A dynamic team with unsurpassed experience and expertise, Sandra and Susan offer innovative and effective insight into our market and can guide you to success. Whether you’re investing in real estate to add to your wealth portfolio, or seeking the best outcome for the sale of your home, working with professionals of their caliber will give you unrivaled service, results and peace-of-mind.

SandraWilken.com

Technology & Trends Magnificent Paradise Valley Estate • 5636 E Mockingbird Lane Arizona luxury living has never been finer than this 5-acre, 7 bedroom, 10 bathroom, 17,015 square foot estate located in the heart of Paradise Valley. Opulent finishes include 6-foot marble slab flooring from Italy, elegant cabinetry, two wellappointed libraries, a 13-seat movie theater, and high-tech security and surround sound equipment. The sumptuous master suite has marble floors, fabulous walk-in closets, and onyx and St. Laurent marble bathrooms. Other lavish features include a gourmet kitchen, three family rooms, billiard room, wine room, piano room, an exercise room, and a two-bedroom guest house. Climate-controlled garages for 21 cars include a 4-car show garage with a 1920s theme, and a 4,000 sq. ft. bus barn. Two swimming pools and impeccable grounds complete this unique property. Listed at $17,995,000. Featured property listed by Joan Levinson 602-397-1290 John Hall & Associates.

PARADISE VALLEY MARKET REPORT HOMES PRICED <$1 M HOMES PRICED $1M-$2M HOMES PRICED $2M-$3M HOMES PRICED $3M+ ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS

Avg. List Price $745,329 Avg. List Price $1,501,081 Avg. List Price $2,510,526 Avg. List Price $6,343,458 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $233 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $326 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $408 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $636 Avg. Days on Market 193 Avg. Days on Market 240 Avg. Days on Market 312 Avg. Days on Market 517 SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS

SANDRA WILKEN

SUSAN HERMAN-PARADIS

Office: 480.596.0001

Direct: 480.231.4812

President & Designated Broker

Sandra@SandraWilken.com

Sales Executive

Susan@SandraWilken.com

8777 N GAINEY CENTER DRIVE • SUITE 178 SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258 If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Avg. List Price $662,638 Avg. List Price $1,449,413 Avg. List Price $2,496,625 Avg. List Price $4,995,000 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $198 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $282 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $361 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $404 Avg. Days on Market 153 Avg. Days on Market 142 Avg. Days on Market 142 Avg. Days on Market 258 CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS

Avg. Sold Price $635,438 Avg. Sold Price $1,313,553 Avg. Sold Price $2,307,349 Avg. Sold Price $3,492,500 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $197 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $262 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $364 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $412 Avg. Days on Market 159 Avg. Days on Market 225 Avg. Days on Market 235 Avg. Days on Market 282 Information gathered from ARMLS. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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

Take it or Leave it?

Home Fixtures that Convey in a Sale

A Taste of the Tropics Trader Vic’s Rack of Lamb

Paradise Valley’s

Real Estate Report

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Featuring Trader Vic’s at Hotel Valley Ho 480.421.7799 | TraderVics.com

INDONESIAN RACK OF LAMB INGREDIENTS 6 ea. half racks of Australian lamb 6 ea. grilled pineapple rings 6 portions Singapore noodles (see recipe) 6 portions peanut sauce (see recipe) PROCEDURE Place marinated lamb rack on preheated grill. Grill to desired temperature. Grill pineapple rings. On a large dinner plate, place the Singapore noodles off to the side of the plate. Then lay the rack of lamb leaning on the noodles. Then place the pineapple ring off to the side with the peanut sauce in the middle. LAMB MARINADE 2 ea. yellow onions 1 Tbs. salt 1/2 cup satay spice (Trader Vic’s brand)

1/4 cup frozen lemon juice concentrate 1 lb. honey 1 qt. water

Dim the lights and settle in with a hot tub of popcorn. Watching movies at home isn’t a new concept. Neither is the dedicated home theater room – popular for several years already. But what keeps home theater design and integration fresh and noteworthy are the continuous advances in comfort and technology. In fact, as TVs become smarter and homeowners become savvier, the line between the cinema experience and the home theater experience is not only blurring, it’s getting reversed. Today’s home theaters can now offer a movie-watching experience that simply dwarfs a night out at the local multi-plex.

PROCEDURE Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. Cover lamb and marinate for 24 hours. SINGAPORE NOODLES 1 1/2 lbs. diced cooked chicken 12 oz. diced cooked Cha Siu Pork 1 1/2 lbs. bay shrimp 6 oz. snow peas 6 oz. diced onion

6 oz. bean sprouts 6 oz. diced bell peppers 6 oz. diced carrots 2 1/2 lbs. cooked rice noodles 3 oz. soy sauce 3 oz. sesame oil salt and pepper to taste

PROCEDURE In a hot sauté pan, sear all vegetables in oil for 30 seconds. Then add noodles, Cha Sui Pork, chicken and soy sauce. Cook for an additional one minute until mixture is hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste. PEANUT SAUCE 3/4 lb. peanut butter 4 oz. Coco Lopez 1/2 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. soy sauce PROCEDURE Mix all ingredients together. Serves 6

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce 1 dash Tabasco sauce 1 pinch salt

Who could have imagined just a handful of years ago that we’d be able to watch 3-D movies at home? Or remotely cue up your Matrix DVD on your way home from dinner? Or, (gasp!), ditch all your cumbersome DVDs and simply instantly download any movie you want at any time. Traditional movie watching is converging with total home automation, web-based mobile apps and streaming internet content in ways we wouldn’t have deemed possible. Manage your home’s security system, lighting, heating and cooling, the theater itself, and more via apps on your mobile phone or tablet. Then, once you’re planted in your comfy seat, you can use your mobile device as a universal remote. Not long ago, TVs and PCs were two very different devices with completely separable usability. Today, Smart TVs and internetenabled devices such as Blu-ray disc players, gaming consoles and media servers bring the power of the internet to your television screen. Now you can stream movies and on-demand programming right to your TV. Even tap into news, games, music and Facebook with a few screen touches. In addition, digitally store all of your family videos and personal photos with instant access to movie-theater-quality viewing of the most important and precious moments of your life. With the popularity of 3-D technology on the big screen, it was just a matter of time until TV manufacturers found a way to bring the experience home. As the latest must-have visual treat, 3-D technology is growing by leaps

Consider this scenario: your home is under contract and closing soon. You need to pack and get ready to move out. You start to pack and wonder “what can I take and what is part of the home”? It may sound silly, but sellers are faced with this dilemma all of the time because of ambiguity in the contractual language that “all fixtures and improvements attached to the real property will convey with the property.” Does that apply to the big screen TV hanging on the wall in the family room, to the expensive drapes in the master bedroom that match the bed linens, or to the antique wall mirror hanging in the powder room that was a gift from Grandma? Yes and no. Section 1g. of the new (February 2011) Arizona Residential Resale Real Estate Purchase Contract attempts to clarify permanently installed and built-in items that are included in the sale of the real property. It reads “Fixtures and Personal Property: Seller agrees that all existing fixtures on the Premises, and any existing personal property specified herein,

shall be included in this sale, including the following.” This is the place for the buyer to add other personal property included in the sale. It is very important for sellers to carefully review a purchase contract that is submitted to make sure that appliances which are not meant to be included are not marked on line 45 of the purchase contract, or that other items such as wall-mounted flat screen TVs are not requested on line 48. The best way to avoid conflicts over what is included in the sale is to remove any “attached” items before the property is put on the market. Most buyers will take the approach of “what you see is what you get” and will assume certain items are included because they were present in the home when they looked at the property. Buyers are often dismayed to find on their final walk-through of the property that items they assumed were included have been removed. In fact, in some cases those items were the things that helped them fall in love with the property. It may be best to remove

and bounds. From the TVs themselves, to the battery-powered glasses that operate from a triggered infrared signal from the set, to 3-D broadcast channels already lining up, it appears that “futuristic” 3-D viewing will perhaps one day be the norm.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

(...and films, and games and more) Professional home theater designers know that proper sound is one of the hallmarks of the cinematic experience. Acoustics are optimized by properly sizing the room, and by designing the room with materials that absorb, diffuse and reflect sounds. The latest in sound innovations are sound bars. Simplifying the concept of multi-speaker systems placed around the room, sound bars (about three feet long and six inches high) include up to 40 individual speakers that offer a dynamic range and are slightly angled to project sound around the room. Most sound bars include amplification and are internally powered – removing the need for a separate receiver/amplifier.

TWILIGHT

Even though films are viewed in a darkened room, lighting is critical. The proper lighting (or lack thereof) not only sets the mood, but gives the viewer a more pleasant experience. A darkened room is essential. Uncontrolled ambient light can wash out colors and distract from the action on the screen. But, a movie viewed in total darkness can result in eyestrain. Properly placed accent lighting is the key. Wall sconces, recessed lighting and accent lighting

Grandma’s antique mirror or the drapes that match your expensive bed linens prior to listing the home. Then there will not be any confusion because the buyer never saw those items in the home. However, there’s no doubt that when you show your property for sale, you want it to look its best. Staging is an important element to a home’s overall presentation and it’s possible that your home won’t look its best with draperies stripped away or specialty fixtures and finishes missing. It’s best to consult with your listing agent about what should stay or what should be removed. If the choice is made to keep non-conveyable items in place, your agent can help in a couple of ways. Noting what items are excluded from the sale in the MLS listing AND in the purchase contract will help avoid confusion. While this clarifies to all parties what will be removed by the seller, it can cause problems when negotiating the contract if the buyer saw those items in the home and wants them. It’s not uncommon for the buyers to rescind their offer over small matters such as this. Some Realtors will suggest creating small, tasteful placards placed near items that clearly state what will not convey. And, a list

provide a beautiful radiance and ambiance to your room. Placing a low-voltage light behind the screen itself provides a warm glow and enhances the film. In-floor path lighting, dimly-lit cup holders and twinkling fiber-optic star ceilings are more ways to use the power of light in your design and décor.

A GAME OF THRONES

Comfort and luxury is at the top of homeowner’s minds when it comes to creating the ultimate movie-watching retreat. Home theater seating can be as simple as a comfy sofa or reclining chair, or you can take seating to the next level with wider, deeper and plusher options. How about a chair with power recline and memory to deliver you to your favorite position with just one touch? Berkline’s Buttkicker® technology brings realistic special effects and concert quality music to their specialty chairs. Berkline describes it as “a built-in silent subwoofer that allows you to ‘feel’ the audio excitement without excessive volume.” Cool.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE

Last but not least, some of the smallest but most thoughtful amenities can make your home better than the multi-plex any day! From commercial, theater-quality popcorn machines to a candy-stocked concession stand, you’ll feel the movie magic with every delicious bite. A soda fountain and an in-theater wine bar keep guests sipping happily. However, perhaps the best way to enjoy the movies is with a cozy throw blanket and a snuggle with your sweetie. Let the magic begin!

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2011 Run/Walk to Break the Silence Kiwanis Park, Sept. 17th 866.375.4951 | Ovarian.org The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer benefits NOCC’s ovarian cancer awareness and education programs both locally and nationally. Choose from the 5K Walk/Run or 1-mile Fun Run. Special events will include photos, refreshments, entertainment and post-race massages! John C. Lincoln Guild Invitational Golf Tournament Wildfire Golf Club, Sept. 21st 602.331.7860 | JCL.com/golf Begin your day with registration and breakfast, followed by a shotgun start. Lunch and awards will wind up your outing. Help in procuring funds for several community service programs including Desert Mission Food Bank and Lincoln Learning Center, and try to surpass last year’s total of $175,000 raised. West Side Story ASU Gammage, Sept. 27th – Oct. 2nd 480.965.3434 | ASUGammage.com Directed by David Saint, West Side Story remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever – even some 50 years after its Broadway debut. Billed as the greatest love story of all time, this Tony Award-winning story continues to mesmerize and delight audiences around the globe. Don’t miss it! Dine Out with the Chefs Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Oct. 2nd 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Ring in fall with a delicious culinary event. You’ll have the opportunity to socialize with some of the Valley’s most celebrated chefs while you taste their amazing creations. Live entertainment, wine tasting and tequila samplings keep the party hopping. Proceeds benefit the Center’s arts education and outreach programs. Bon Apetit! Rendez-Zoo Phoenix Zoo, Oct. 15th 602.286.3855 | PhxZoo.org When the sun goes down and the stars sparkle in the night sky, the Phoenix Zoo comes alive for an exotic adventure of dinner, drinks and dazzling experiences. Support the Zoo and its more than 200 endangered or threatened animals at the second annual Rendez-Zoo, An Evening of Conservation and Cuisine.

of those items that are currently “attached” but will not be included in the sale of the property should be made available to all interested parties.

Moondance 2011 Heard Museum Phoenix, Oct. 22nd 602.346.8192 | Heard.org Mix and mingle with fellow Heard supporters as the Phoenix campus is transformed into a Country Western setting. Tap your toes along with scheduled musical performers Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard as they bring their time-honored tunes to guests! Dinner, dancing and cocktails round out this annual fundraiser.