January 2007

“Integrity Based, Service Driven!” As a Rio Verde Foothills resident and full-time Realtor, Bonnie knows your community like no other. She has devoted 23 years of hard work, dedication and knowledge to the real estate industry, which became the cornerstone to her success. Through her use of traditional real estate, technologies of today, continual followup, attention to detail and highly effective marketing plans ensures her clients part will be almost effortless. She has found her niche at RE/MAX Excalibur. RE/MAX is the largest real estate company in the world with offices in 63 countries. Bonnie continually receives numerous awards for her hard work. She consistently ranks in the top 5 individual agents at RE/MAX Excalibur. She says “being a real estate agent means I am available day and night because this is more than a career, it is my way of life.” Bonnie is also a member of the Rio Verde Horseman’s Association and Rio Verde Alliance, which enables her to stay on top of the issues surrounding the community. P.S. Keep me in mind if you are thinking about selling your home or investing in more property, you need to consider hiring someone who lives, knows and specializes in the area your property is located. Bonnie Burke, PC ABR, GRI, CRS, CLHMS RE/MAX Excalibur 8510 E. Shea Blvd. #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.720.8001 Cell BBurkeAZRealtor@msn.com www.BonnieBurke.com

30223 N 136th Street • $825,000 Paved road leads you to this superb home on 2+ acres. As you enter through the tranquil gated courtyard and grand entry, you’ll see this home boasts custom designer touches everywhere. 2861 sq. ft. including 16” x 16” slate tile, 2 fireplaces, built in entertainment unit and extended 3 car garage. Surpass your expectations in the gourmet kitchen featuring granite countertops, breakfast bar, knotty alder wood cabinets, double oven and top of the line appliances all included. Relax and unwind amidst the pristine natural landscaping, overhearing the refreshing fountain with Scottsdale State Land as the backdrop to unparalleled colorful sunsets!

January 2007

New To Market • 1.13 acres- 660’ from one of the entrances to McDowell Mountain Park. Electric and phone next door. Elevated lot with stunning views. $250,000

Rio Verde Land • 1.25 acres– Perfect building site with spectacular mountain views and glowing sunsets. $225,000 • 5 acres- Borders Tonto National Forest with captivating mountain views. Zoned R1-43. Buyer may split. $1,099,000 • 2.06 acres-Across from Scottsdale State Land. Can be split, preliminary engineering done to build two 4500 s.f. homes. Paved road. $530,000 • 3.3 acres- Utilities are right there. Surrounded by beautiful homes- so no guessing on neighborhood. Can be split. $575,000 • 1 acre- Electric and phone to property. Flat and easy access off paved road. Unobstructed views of the mountains. Reduced to $204,999 • 1.4 acre- Borders Tonto National Forest. Electric and phone on lot. Great price! Lushly vegetated, level lot with privacy. $245,000 • 2.35 acres- Scottsdale address with phone/electric next door. 340’ from the Tonto National Forest with amazing views. Zoning allows one split. $450,000 • 5 acres- Can be split into 3 lots. Rolling terrain and extra large lots give you extra space and privacy. Fabulous views! $940,000 • 1.25 acres- Beautiful elevated lot giving you spectacular mountain views. Short drive off paved road. Capped private well. $265,000

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 Bonnie Burke, PC RE/MAX Excalibur 8510 E. Shea Blvd. #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Heaven In A Mug

A Celebration Of Hot Chocolate

Home Inspections What To Expect From The Process

Simple & Satisfying Village Tavern’s Creamy Pasta

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Rio Verde Foothills’

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

Hot Real Estate Listings!

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM PASTA

Featuring Village Tavern 8787 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale • 480.951.6445 www.villagetavern.com

JANUARY 2007

It’s been said that consuming chocolate is an Angel’s only earthly indulgence. If that is true, who can blame them? And who among us doesn’t want to wrap cold wintertime hands around a steaming mug of sweet and frothy decadence? “Drinking chocolate” was originally a cold mixture of ground cocoa beans and water with the addition of spices such as cayenne pepper, vanilla and pimento. Later, spices such as cloves and cinnamon were used. It was drunk from large bowls so its aromas could be savored. By the time it was introduced to Europe, the more pungent spices in the drink were replaced with cane sugar and it was served hot instead of cold. After being introduced in England, milk was added to the after-dinner treat. By the 18th century, so-called “chocolate houses” were as popular as coffee houses. The first chocolate house opened in London in 1657. Because it was so expensive, hot chocolate was considered a drink only for the elite. Americans often use the terms “hot chocolate” and “hot cocoa” interchangeably, while others make a difference between “hot cocoa”- made from a powdered mix of cocoa, sugar and thickeners and “hot chocolate”- made directly from bar chocolate, which already contains cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter. Hot chocolate can be made with dark, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces and stirred into milk with the addition of sugar. American hot cocoa powder often includes powdered milk or other dairy ingredients so it can make a drink without using milk. A modern American concept is the addition of marshmallows to hot chocolate. Today, hot chocolate is consumed throughout the world. It is especially popular in Europe where it is very thick, made directly from chocolate (such as Italy’s cioccolata densa, ubiquitous in their bars and restaurants). In Spain, hot chocolate and churros have been the traditional working-man’s breakfast. This Spanish style of hot chocolate is very thick, having the consistency of warm chocolate pudding. In cities like Madrid, Spaniards mark the traditional end to a night out by dipping churros into this very thick hot chocolate. With the influence of restaurant pastry chefs and chocolatiers, this style is creeping into American culture as well. Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 cup milk 1 cup half and half 1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (or use chips) 1 oz milk chocolate, chopped (or use chips) 1 Tbs brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla

Melt chocolate in saucepan over medium heat with milk, half and half and brown sugar. After chocolate melts and sugar dissolves, pour half into a bowl and whip until foamy. Return to saucepan and add vanilla. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream (optional).

12 oz. Farfalle Pasta, blanched 6 oz. Roasted Mushroom Sauce

1 cup Asparagus, blanched and bias cut

1 cup Cremini Mushroom and Onion Mix

1 Tbs. Parmesan Cheese, shredded Salt and White Pepper to taste

, 1. In heated saute pan, add mushroom sauce. Bring to a simmer. 2. Drop pasta in pastalator and cook 1 1/2 minutes. 3. Add asparagus and mushroom mixture to sauce and heat through. 4. Drain pasta and add to pan. 5. Add parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and stir. 6. Spoon into pasta bowl.

CLASSICAL MYSTERY TOUR Symphony Hall, Jan. 5th-7th 1.800.776.9080 or www.phoenixsymphony.org Members of the cast of Broadway’s smash-hit Beatlemania reunite for another talented tribute to the Fab Four. Complete with live orchestra, you’ll enjoy your Beatles favorites, including “All You Need Is Love”, “Hey Jude”, “Sergeant Pepper” and “Yesterday” performed by musicians who look and sound uncannily like those four lads from Liverpool. SUNDAY A’FAIR Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, Jan. 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th 480.994.ARTS or www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org A popular favorite among residents and visitors, Sunday A’Fair is a free afternoon arts festival. The event features concerts and performances by the Valley’s top entertainers, a diverse selection of arts and crafts available for sale, hands-on activities for children and families and free docent-guided tours of the sculptures on the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Seating is available on the lawn and portable chairs and picnic baskets are welcome. Food and refreshments are also available for purchase. KIDS ROCK AT THE P.F. CHANG’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ARIZONA MARATHON Tempe Beach Park, Jan. 14th 602.546.1000 or www.rnraz.com/kids_rock.html Finishing a marathon...that’s child’s play with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Kids Rock - a one-mile fun run for children ages 6-12. This non-competitive, nontimed event is all about having fun and making it to the finish line. Participants can become full marathon finishers by completing a 25.2-mile training program prior to January 14, or they can just run, walk or jog the one-mile course on race day. Every child is a winner and will be rewarded with an official race number, T-shirt, goodie bag and medal - just for finishing!

When you are purchasing a property, a home inspection is an important aspect of the escrow process. After a purchase contract is accepted, there is a 10-day “Inspection Period” in which the buyer has the opportunity to cancel the contract if it is determined that the home’s condition is not satisfactory to the buyer. When choosing a home inspection company, be sure the inspector is a Certified Home Inspector with the Arizona Board of Technical Registration. This is the same government agency that licenses engineers, architects and surveyors. You can find out that information on the website www.btr.state.az.us. Secondly, know the experience level of the inspector. The state’s minimum requirement for obtaining a license is just 30 inspections. Look for an inspector that has hundreds of inspections under his or her belt. Lastly, be sure that the inspector has Errors & Omissions insurance as well

as General Liability Insurance. Sharon Wolf-Furman, Vice President of AJF Engineering, a home inspection company in Scottsdale, stresses the importance of understanding the scope of an inspection. “An inspection is a VISUAL inspection of MAJOR systems that are ACCESSIBLE in the home.” To break it down, homebuyers should realize that an inspector will not take apart systems to evaluate them. It is a visual inspection only. Secondly, they are there to inspect the major systems of a home such as heating, cooling, roofing, plumbing and electrical. They are not noting cosmetic issues such as scratches on a door or stained carpeting. Lastly, homebuyers should understand that an inspector cannot find problems with something that can’t be seen. For instance, they wouldn’t be able to move furniture and tear up carpeting to see that there is a crack in the slab. They can only inspect areas of the home that are visible.

It’s important to also realize that an inspector determines the condition of the home on the day it is inspected. For instance, on a clear and sunny day it would be almost impossible for an inspector to see that a window seal might be loose and that water would drip in when it rained. Sharon further explains, “Home inspectors are generalists. They have a strong knowledge of all the components and systems in a home. They are an excellent first line of defense for homebuyers in the evaluation of a home. A home inspector can find areas of concern or matters that may need further evaluation. If the inspector finds that there might be a problem with the A/C unit, then the homebuyer can hire a licensed A/C contractor to further investigate the issue”.

A typical inspection takes about an hour per 1000 sq. ft. It’s often recommended that a potential homebuyer attend a portion of the inspection - usually near the end. The inspector can describe their findings and show the buyers first hand what they found. Also, an inspector is an excellent source for an education of the home. They can point out where breaker boxes are, specific operating instructions for items that may not be familiar, etc. It’s crucial for homebuyers to understand not only the limitations of a home inspection, but also the importance of one. A reputable and knowledgeable home inspector can aid you significantly in the evaluation of a property- which is just what a homebuyer needs to know before proceeding with a purchase contract.

VINTAGE MOTOR CARS IN ARIZONA Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Jan. 18th and 19th 1.800.211.4371 or www.rmauctions.com This highly anticipated auction will offer just over 100 of the most select motor cars in the world. Automobiles are available for preview on the 18th, followed by a gala reception in the evening presented by the Robb Report Collection. The auction itself commences on the 19th. CAREFREE FINE ART & WINE FESTIVAL Downtown Carefree, Jan. 19th-21st 480.837.5637 or www.thunderbirdartists.com Travel the world over and you would be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular gathering of artists than at the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. The streets of downtown Carefree are closed, making room for more than 160 artists and in excess of 5,000 original masterpieces of fine art. Additionally, the festival holds the title of Arizona’s largest wine-tasting event featuring first-class wines from Arizona, California, Australia, Germany, Austria, France and Italy. PHOENIX COYOTES VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Jobing.com Arena, Jan. 27th 623.772.3200 or www.phoenixcoyotes.com Come to Coyotes Country and watch your home team fight for a win on the ice. Of course while you’re there, be sure to catch “The Pack” dancers and Howler the team mascot. Even better, become a super fan by enrolling in the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club before you go!