Rio Verde Sep 09

Rio Verde Real Estate Recap HOMES - Currently, there are 131 active homes on the market and 48 homes under contract.

Bonnie Burke, PC RE/MAX Excalibur 8510 E. Shea Blvd. #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

September 2009

LAND - Currently, there are 316 active lots on the market and 9 lots under contract. The following lots have closed since last publication: 176th St. S. of Rio Verde 1.5 acres $20,000 27400 N. 162nd St. 1.25 acre $34,000 17000 E. Cavedale 1.0 acre $42,500 28628 N. 144th St. 1.0 acre $47,900 Lot xx - 4 1.66 acres $60,000 164th St. & Dixileta 2 acres $70,000 14015 E. Monterra Way 1.25 acres $84,900 15126 E. Desert Vista Tr. 1.1 acres $90,000

If you know of anyone who is not receiving this brochure and would like to, please have them call me and I will be happy to add them on the mailing list.

Bonnie Burke, PC ABR, CDPE, CLHMS, CRS, E-PRO, GRI Integrity Based, Service Driven RE/MAX Excalibur 8510 E. Shea Blvd. #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.720.8001 Cell Bonnie@BonnieBurke.com www.BonnieBurke.com

FEATURED PROPERTY Unique opportunity to own a basement home on 5 acres! Almost 4,000 sq.ft. of luxury living. The basement has a media room, bedroom, full bar, bathroom and extra storage. Perfect for teens, guests, nanny, etc. Chef will love the open kitchen with lots of cabinets, large island and close proximity to outdoor living. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, spacious rooms and lots of nooks. Entertainers will love the outdoor living with extended patio with built-in BBQ and seating, small refrigerator, lots of rooms for patio tables,firepit, fountain and best of all the peacefulness and VIEWS! Short sale, asking $699,000!!!

Address Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath NEW LISTINGS SINCE LAST PUBLICATION: 27532 N. 174th St. 3499 / 5 / 3 16812 E. Via Dona Rd. 2430 / 3 / 2 32633 N. 137th St. 2837 / 3 / 3.5 27311 N. 162nd St. 2692 / 3 / 3 31207 N. 161st Pl. 3381 / 4 / 3.5 14628 E. Morning Vista Ln. 2613 / 3 / 2.5 14518 E. Gamble Ln. 2989 / 4 / 3 28404 N. 148th St. 2800 / 4 / 3 31617 N. 168th St. 2627 / 3 / 2.5 15540 E. Horned Owl Trl. 3601 / 4 / 3.5 16348 E. Calle De Los Flores 4526 / 4 / 4 16832 E. Roy Rogers Rd. 3152 / 4 / 2.5 28427 N. Rio Mountain Ct. 3964 / 5 / 3.5 31427 N. 142nd St. 5638 / 4 / 5.5 32817 N. 137th St. 4508 / 4 / 4.5 PENDING SALES SINCE LAST PUBLICATION: 34220 N. 140th Way 4417 / 5 / 4 16430 E. Ranch Rd. 1783 / 5 / 3 16328 E. Gamble Ln. 3463 / 4 / 3.5 31321 N. 161st Pl. 3621 / 4 / 3.5 14235 E. Cavedale Dr. 2883 / 4 / 3.5 31107 N. 164th St. 3194 / 4 / 3.5 34123 N. 140th Pl. 3862 / 4 / 3 16828 E. Via Dona Rd. 3620 / 4 / 3 29905 N. 166th Way 3500 / 4 / 3.5 15312 E. Skinner Dr. 2449 / 4 / 2 15532 E. Melanie Dr. 3551 / 4 / 3.5 13817 E. Villa Cassandra Dr. 3565 / 5 / 4 28513 N. 139th St. 3200 / 4 / 3 13912 E. Cavedale Dr. 2992 / 4 / 3 33104 N. 142nd St. 4744 / 5 / 4.5 26814 N. 162nd St. 2832 / 4 / 4 27921 N. 153rd St. 5744 / 4 / 5 31213 N. 152nd St. 3820 / 4 / 3 32021 N. 143rd Pl. 4377 / 4 / 4 30223 N. Cowboy Ct. 6168 / 4 / 3.5 SOLD SINCE LAST PUBLICATION: 17308 E. Pinnacle Vista Dr. 2127 / 3 / 2.5 28135 N. 153 St. 3028 / 3 / 3.5 29412 N. 148th St. 2400 / 3 / 2 29306 N. 153rd Pl. 2631 / 3 / 3 14628 E. Morning Vista Ln. 2613 / 2 / 2.5 16228 E. Gamble Ln. 3463 / 4 / 4 13828 E. Old Paint Trl. 3067 / 4 / 2.5 16206 E. Gambit Trl. 3503 / 4 / 3.5 29716 N. 142nd Pl. 3026 / 5 / 3 33623 N. 140th St. 3514 / 3 / 4 13609 E. Monument Dr. 3479 / 4 / 3 16103 E. Bobwhite Way 3307 / 4 / 4 15536 E. Morning Vista Ln. 3522 / 4 / 3.5 31607 N. 138th St. 3429 / 4 / 2.5 26719 N. 156th St. 2869 / 4 / 3.5 28216 N. 152nd Pl. 3455 / 4 / 3.5 28415 N. 139th St. 3638 / 4 / 3.5 15538 E. Melanie Dr. 3749 / 5 / 3.5 31714 N. 144th St. 4520 / 5 / 5 14119 E. Melanie Dr. 4683 / 4 / 5 14223 E. Cavedale Rd. 4558 / 4 / 4.5 31409 N. 141st Pl. 5302 / 4 / 6 31518 N. 141st Pl. 3763 / 5 / 5.5 14312 E. Montgomery Ct. 6600 / 6 / 5.5

Days On Market

List Price

1 9 31 24 2 6 15 1 29 23 29 27 13 27 17

$258,000 $264,900 $268,985 $279,000 $305,900 $318,000 $369,000 $380,000 $399,999 $585,000 $625,000 $775,000 $799,000 $875,000 $1,150,000

102 $219,900 30 $294,900 137 $299,000 163 $315,000 420 $319,000 13 $334,000 0 $339,000 3 $346,900 29 $350,000 104 $375,000 132 $385,000 197 $399,000 454 $399,000 13 $416,900 7 $454,900 280 $465,000 4 $500,000 222 $549,000 478 $650,000 614 $1,349,000 SOLD PRICE DOM LIST PRICE 240 $250,000 $250,000 208 $295,900 $280,000 537 $299,000 $290,000 37 $250,000 $310,000 61 $349,900 $325,000 229 $347,000 $330,000 61 $390,000 $345,000 60 $347,900 $348,000 709 $359,000 $350,000 314 $399,900 $360,000 21 $345,000 $363,000 15 $363,900 $363,900 17 $365,000 $370,000 8 $361,350 $370,000 107 $425,000 $375,000 196 $399,900 $410,000 198 $425,000 $425,000 225 $445,000 $444,000 12 $475,200 $505,000 527 $522,000 $522,000 161 $749,000 $650,000 11 $703,250 $725,000 40 $701,900 $775,000 64 $1,245,000 $1,000,000

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various participants in the MLS. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

ISSN-1939-9421

Home Staging

A Successful Strategy in Today’s Market

Feeling Stressed?

Simple Tips for Relaxation

Contemporary Coastal Cuisine

Avalon’s Rib Eye Steak

Rio Verde Foothills’

Hot Real Estate Listings

“There is more to life than increasing its speed” ...Gandhi Intellectually we know what Gandhi means by this, but not many of us have his discipline. He was a man who practiced a simple existence but was far from a simple man. He accomplished more than most and managed to exhibit calm and peace even when facing the biggest challenges. We may not come close to the Gandhi-like persona, but we can certainly aim for a more calm and peaceful approach to life. The key is to reduce stress from our lives, find inner joy and practice relaxing behaviors.

Featuring Avalon 7707 E. McDowell Rd. • Scottsdale 480.656.0010 or avalon-scottsdale.com

AVALON RIB EYE Steak: 2 ea. 12 oz. prime rib eye steaks 3 ea. whole garlic cloves 1 Tbsp. rosemary leaves - whole 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper

GOOD/BAD STRESS Stress is your body’s reaction to any real or imagined threat. Some stress is unavoidable and some is actually helpful, especially in emergencies. The right amount of stress is a good thing but too much isn’t good for anyone. When working properly, the body’s response to stress enables it to perform well under pressure. When a person’s stress response overreacts or doesn’t allow the body to return to its normal state, serious physical problems can occur.

Fingerling Potato Hash: 2 cups fingerling potatoes - roasted and halved 1/2 cup yellow peppers - roasted and sliced 1/2 cup red peppers - roasted and sliced 1/2 cup pancetta - diced 2 ea. garlic cloves - minced 1 tsp. parmesan cheese - grated 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper

STRESS BE-GONE You can’t eliminate stress completely but you can learn to deal with it. The well-known activities proven to reduce stress include exercise, meditation, massage, yoga and adequate sleep. But there are even more tactics to helping your body overcome stress and its harmful effects – some that take effort and some that are quite simple. Healthy eating is critical to dealing with stress. We often overeat or eat poorly under stress. When our bodies are stressed, the digestion system begins working lethargically and doesn’t allow you to burn calories effectively or absorb nutrients properly. Keep a positive attitude. Reducing stress isn’t easy but is necessary to a happier and healthier life. Little steps help. Throughout the day make an effort to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. Avoid stress-inducing media reports, surround yourself with happy people, remind yourself of all the good things you are experiencing each day. Many people

Bordelaise Sauce: 1 cup veal stock - reduced 1 Tbsp. rosemary 1 Tbsp. thyme 3 Tbsp. yellow onions - diced 1/2 cup Bordeaux wine 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil Procedure: In a non-reactive bowl, place two rib eye steaks with rosemary, garlic and olive oil. Allow to sit in marinade for at least 4 hours but preferably 8 hours. When the steaks have finished their marinade, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Season steaks with salt and pepper and sear each steak for 5 minutes on each side. After the steaks are done cooking allow them to rest for 7 minutes while you prepare the fingerling hash. In the same sauté pan that the steaks were cooked in, add olive oil and pancetta. Render off all of the fat and cook until pancetta is crispy. Remove the pancetta from the pan and set aside. Discard all but 1 tsp. of oil left in the pan. Now add garlic, red and yellow peppers and fingerling potatoes. Sauté over high heat until the potatoes begin to caramelize slightly. Turn the heat off and add the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper. For the sauce, heat 1 tsp. olive oil over medium-high heat in a small sauté pan. Add yellow onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir frequently as to not let the onions get any color. Add rosemary and thyme and cook for another minute. De-glaze with the wine. Cook the mixture down until the sauté pan is almost dry. Add the veal stock and bring to a simmer. Strain sauce through a fine mesh strainer.

As the saying goes, you get one chance to make a first impression and it better be good. Just ask your Realtor – they know that the homes that are selling today are those that stand out from the competition. Because your Realtor is well-versed on what’s on the market, what’s selling, who’s buying and what properties YOUR home is competing with, they are your best resource to determine if and how you should stage your home. Some homeowners are reluctant to spend the additional money it costs to stage. Who can blame them? However, factor in the cost of having your home sit on the market longer; and figure the higher price you may earn by staging and it is usually a worthwhile investment. Statistics show that a staged home far outsells one that is not. Your Realtor can give you seasoned advice on home staging and can recommend a professional home stager that will understand what appeals to a buyer looking in your specific neighborhood and price range. TO STAGE OR NOT TO STAGE Why is staging so effective? Often buyers have little imagination. According to Christi

Balzarini with Parker Rose Design, a professional staging firm in the Valley, furnished homes appeal to the buyer’s emotions and eliminate any doubt in space planning. If your home is already furnished, it needs to have the “wow” factor. If your property is vacant, giving potential buyers a “sense of possibility” with furnished and decorated spaces is critical to your success. A staged home makes it easier to imagine living there and adds value to the sale. Some luxury home buyers want to purchase a turnkey property – furnishings and all. If you can offer them the total package up front, you’ve met the needs of many potential buyers. Balzarini says, “Typically a buyer budgets about 20-25% of the purchase price for furnishings, so a $1 million home buyer should plan on spending about $200,000 to nicely furnish their home. Parker Rose Design can accomplish that for approximately 30-40% less.” MODEL LIKE A MODEL Fashion designers dress models to sell their clothes, so dress your home to sell the house. Tour model homes and you’ll always notice “well-clothed” rooms. Since model homes are

swear by a “gratitude journal” in which they record things that make them happy. Staying positive even in today’s tough times is one of the most important things you can do for your well-being. Below are some additional methods to keeping stress at bay: 1. Manage Time – set reachable goals, keep a calendar, say “no” 2. Self Encouragement – be positive about and toward yourself 3. Scalp Massage – thumbs behind ears and palms on scalp 4. Intimacy – cuddle, kiss, hug someone, hold hands 5. Visualization – close your eyes, focus on something beautiful 6. Laughter – read a comic, watch a funny movie, pass along Internet jokes 7. Stretch – reach for the sky, the floor, twist, turn 8. Walk – walk the dog, to the mailbox, around your desk… just walk 9. Breathe – inhale deeply, exhale slowly

The Good Ol ’ Days As kids, we released stress naturally. As adults, we are consumed by it. Go back to your childhood pastimes and relearn some basic stress relief strategies. NAP – sometimes a little respite in a busy day is all we need to recharge DAYDREAM – make up stories in your mind, imagine perfect places SING – sing out loud, listen to music, dance PLAY – start a hobby, play games on your computer, do something fun DRAW – doodle, sketch, create a picture SPORTS – ride a bike, take a swim, try something new YELL – belt it out when you need a release

strategically designed to sell, you can find great hints for staging. Most model homes have a dream kitchen. Experts know that it’s the kitchens that sell homes. Resurfaced cabinets, modernized knobs and those little designer model home touches work wonders. Pay attention to countertops. You rarely see appliances sitting around in a model. If you do, they are high-end and shiny. Mirrors sparkle, closets are organized, tattered paperbacks are hidden, flowers are fresh and no toys or dirty laundry are visible. Making your home appeal to a buyer isn’t easy. Most of us have too much stuff. Parting with belongings and prepping your home to appeal to strangers can be daunting, so it’s best to hire a home staging professional. To save on costs, many home stagers recommend staging only the high impact areas such as the living space, kitchen and

dining area, and master bedroom. The outside of an Arizona home is as important as the inside. Buyers are often from other parts of the country and choose to live here because of the great weather and ability to spend time outdoors. Pay attention to the landscaping, pool and spa area, patio and the all-important curb appeal. If you have an outdoor living/entertaining area, model it to look like a resort so that buyers can visualize their lifestyle there. Plants, accessories, pillows, candles…they all do wonders to help buyers want to make your home THEIR home.

SEPTEMBER 2009 Phoenix Cooks Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sept. 5th 602.374.6024 or phoenixcooks.com This is the ultimate culinary dream come true! Three performance-kitchen stages will showcase the talents of several remarkable chefs from over 50 restaurants and resorts. Participate in an interactive cooking session with a top chef and learn healthy variations of your favorite dishes. Or, simply kick back, have a drink and indulge in all the great food. Proceeds benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Healing Field Tempe Beach Park, Sept. 11th – 14th 480.967.2001 or tempe.gov/lake Stroll down Tempe’s Healing Field in remembrance of those who died during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 3,000 American flags are placed in honor of the heroism, strength and unity of Americans on this infamous day in our country’s history. What a perfect opportunity to unite again as a community, remember the fallen, and stand strong in the face of those who wish to harm us. So Long to Summer Fest Freestone Park Ballfield Complex, Sept. 12th 480.503.6871 or ci.gilbert.az.us/parks Head over to Gilbert to bid adieu to summer. The City of Gilbert coordinates this yearly event and provides activities for the entire family to enjoy. Listen to live music, try your hand (and feet) at wall climbing, and let the kids enjoy the inflatable bounces and slides. A colorful fireworks display will round out the celebration! Walk for Homeless Families Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, Sept. 19th 602.275.7852 or umom.org Holding their first-ever Walk for Homeless Families, UMOM is encouraging people to step out for some fun physical activity and raise funds and awareness for the ever-growing needs of Arizona’s homeless families. You can register as a group or independent walker and can choose the 5K or 10K course. If walking isn’t your style, join the event as a volunteer or to simply cheer on others. 2009 Arizona Restaurant Week Various restaurants in the Valley, Sept. 19th – 26th 602.307.9134 or arizonarestaurantweek.com Showcasing the many culinary gems here in the Valley, Arizona Restaurant Week returns with a bang! During this seven-day promotion, scores of Valley restaurants will feature a special three-course menu featuring some of their signature dishes at $29 per person or $59 a couple. Restaurants participating in this event include Bloom, Arrowhead Grill and Tarbell’s. Treat yourself to a fabulous meal, while supporting our local restaurant industry! Legally Blonde ASU Gammage, Sept. 22nd – 27th 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com Based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde has been transformed into a hilarious and uplifting musical. Elle is determined to prove herself when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “more serious” and decides to attend the most “serious” university around, Harvard Law. Legally Blonde has only been running for two years and has already been nominated for six Tony Awards!