Stonegate April 07

GAYLE HENDERSON, A KNOWN LEADER IN REAL ESTATE AND ONE OF THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTS IN STONEGATE: Q: My current valuation notification is entitled “2008 Property Valuation”. Can you explain how and when properties are assessed by the Maricopa County Assessor? A: Many of you moved to Arizona from states, where no sooner is the ink dry on a recorded sale of a property, then a reassessment is triggered which impacts that individual property valuation and taxes immediately. Arizona has statutes in place which regulate the reassessment much differently. Every Arizona property must be re evaluated annually. However, an individual property can not be assessed based on its specific recorded sale. Rather, the assessment is done in large map grids. Each year the sales of properties within a grid are entered into a database. Then the individual properties and their specific characteristics within that grid are matched to the collective sales in that area and the valuations are calculated. The valuation, therefore, reflects the general area sales activity. The valuation process is initiated two years prior to the actual tax bill. The 2007 tax valuation chart which appears on the right side of your valuation notice is based on sales in 2005. The 2008 valuation chart on the left side of your notice is based on 2006 sales and will not be reflected in your tax bill until the fall of 2008 when the first half of your taxes will be due. Those of you new to Arizona will note that the taxes don’t always go up. Many homeowners saw minor reductions in their 2006 tax bill; the second half of which is due this March. For more information on your specific tax bill, go to http://treasurer.maricopa.gov/taxguide. Henderson consistently ranks among the top ten individual RE/MAX agents in Arizona and is a recipient of the Business Journal Real Estate Leadership Award for 2005. Her charitable works include Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Miracle Network and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

GAYLE HENDERSON, PC ABR, CRS, GRI, e-Pro, CLHMS RE/MAX Excalibur 8510 E. Shea Blvd. #100 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 602.850.4335 gayle@AZMovingPlan.com

A SAMPLING OF STONEGATE’S

FEATURED PROPERTY: 11360 E. Carol Ave. 5 Bed/ 3 Bath • 3850 SF $975,000 List Price • Beautiful designer touches throughout with custom paint and wood shutters

April 2007

• Wonderful columns frame the formal living and dining area off entry with oversized windows out to backyard • Neutral tile in high traffic areas • Spacious kitchen with white appliances, center island with gas cooktop, work desk, large breakfast nook and exit door to backyard • Cozy family room off kitchen features fireplace with tile surround and full wet bar with wine rack • Huge master suite with fireplace, sitting area and door to backyard. Luxurious bathroom with double sinks and vanity area, plenty of cabinets and storage space, large walk-in closet, large jetted tub with glass block window and separate shower • Backyard features covered tile patio with ceiling fan; private pool with kool decking and boulder waterfall; and grassy area CURRENTLY FOR SALE: Address 9051 N. 115th Pl 9498 N. 114th Way 11614 E. Appaloosa Pl. 9140 N. 118th Pl. 11684 E. Terra Dr. 9663 N. 117th St. 11724 E. Del Timbre Dr. 9723 N. 117th Way 11227 E. Appaloosa Pl. 11704 E. Arabian Park Dr.

Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath 2093 / 2 Bed / 2.5 Bath 2134 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 3297 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 2752 / 4 Bed / 2 Bath 2241 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 2525 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath 3200 / 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3286 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 3567 / 4 Bed / 3 Bath 4111 / 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath

List Price $569,900 $634,900 $765,000 $779,000 $650,000 $849,500 $950,000 $995,000 $1,284,000 $1,285,000

SOLD: 9191 N. 117th Way 2148 / 3 Bed / 2 Bath $580,000 List $550,000 Sold- 2/23/07 11284 E. Carol Ave. 3376 / 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath $874,900 List $845,000 Sold- 2/28/07

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

Visit www.TheStonegatereport.com for latest market news, a free “What’s My Home Worth” report, and free important e-reports for Buyers and Sellers. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

It’s Patio Season! Transform Yours Into A Retreat Why Homes Don’t Sell: Four Top Reasons An Island Vacation At Home: Tommy Bahama’s Coconut Shrimp Stonegate’s Hot Real Estate Listings!

TOMMY’S WORLD FAMOUS COCONUT SHRIMP

Featuring Tommy Bahama 15205 N. Kierland Blvd. • Scottsdale 480.607.3388 • www.tommybahama.com

APRIL 2007 2 1/2 pounds shrimp 2 pounds shredded coconut 6 eggs- beaten 12 ounces flour 3 ounces cooking oil

Many of us have chosen to live in Arizona for the amazing weather and extended opportunities to spend time on our patios. In recent years, the trend has been to make our outdoor living spaces as comfortable and decorated as our indoor spaces. Claudia Cattell is an Exterior Designer with Paddy O’ Furniturea Valley favorite for outdoor furnishings. Claudia shares some simple to luxurious ideas for updating your outdoor spaces:

Butterfly the shrimp just enough so they lay flat. Completely dredge the shrimp in egg wash and then flour. Dredge in coconut, making sure to thoroughly cover the shrimp. Lay out on a tray, being careful not to smash. Refrigerate until set. Fry on low heat, approximately 320 degrees, for 5-7 minutes. (Serves 16)

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood Herberger Theater Center, April 1st – 22nd 480.350.8101 or www.childsplayaz.com Mardi Gras meets The Brothers Grimm. Petite Rouge is, of course, Little Red Riding Hood but in this version she heads out across the bayou to visit her grandmother with Claude the ’gator playing the role of “wolf”. A terrific musical score, fast-paced choreography and a witty and wise Cajun script all add up to a red hot production! Appropriate for ages three and older. Pat’s Run Sun Devil Stadium, April 7th 408.507.6754 or www.patsrun.com Pat Tillman’s friends and family created Pat’s Run as a way to celebrate Pat’s passionate legacy while raising awareness and funding for the Pat Tillman Foundation. Perry Edinger, Pat’s friend and former head trainer for Arizona State University, initiated and developed the concept of a 4.2 mile run/walk around Arizona State with a finish on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium (#42 was Pat’s number while a Sun Devil). Join thousands of others in celebrating the life of a home-town hero.

• Anchor your furniture vignettes with an outdoor area rug. Rather than simply placing your table and chairs on decking or concrete, pull the entire look together with a rug meant to withstand all types of sun and weather. • Another option for sprucing up the flooring is stained and decorative concrete. Your color choices are endless and designs can easily be incorporated into the floor as well. Sealed concrete is extremely durable and weatherproof as well. • In our Arizona heat, candles can melt but outdoor lamps are all the rage now. They are specially wired for outdoor use, are durable and rust-proof and have shades made of weatherproof Sunbrella fabric. They can be as decorative and beautiful as your indoor lamps. • Love art? Adorn your patio walls with outdoor artwork. Similar to a canvas transfer, outdoor artwork is screen printed onto rust-proof aluminum. It’s completely safe from the outdoor elements and looks amazing! • For those that have dining tables under a covered patio, you can place a floor fan in the middle of the table where the umbrella might typically fit. Sometimes even though the table is in the shade, you might still need to keep cool. And it looks cool. • Pavilions are a terrific addition. They are a tent-like structure with canvas fabric that can be tied up or closed for privacy. You can even add outdoor heaters or a fire pit. • The trend in upholstery fabrics right now is solids, stripes and ribbed. The monochromatic look is popular and earthy colors such as chocolate, straw linen, rust and green look great in our desert environment. • Whether strictly for design or for function, consider installing outdoor draperies. Custom-fit for your space, they’re made of weatherproof fabric and hardware and can give any outdoor environment an instant rich and elegant look. • Adding strands of tiny, clear lights to greenery or even artificial trees turns your outdoor space into one that’s festive and romantic.

STOMP Maricopa County Events Center, March 30th-April 1st 480.784.4444 or www.stomponline.com STOMP is a movement of bodies, objects, sounds - even abstract ideas. But what makes it so appealing is that the cast uses everyday objects, but in non-traditional ways. Performers use objects such as trashcans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots and hubcaps to create music while dancing. Find out what all the buzz is about when this international tour makes a stop in Phoenix.

Ever wonder why a home in your neighborhood just sits and sits with that forlorn looking For Sale sign in its yard? Here are four top reasons that homes don’t sell and how you can avoid making the same mistakes when it’s time for you to sell: 1. THE HOME IS IN A BAD LOCATION We’ve all heard that the three most important characteristics of a home’s value are “Location, location and location”. It’s true. Nothing has greater impact on a home’s value than its location. Two homes similar in square footage and appointments may be valued at vastly different figures depending on where they are situated. Does the home back to a busy street? Are lighted tennis courts or ball fields shining into the home’s windows? Is the neighborhood declining and considered undesirable? Does the home sit under large power lines? Are the rest of the homes in the neighborhood situated along the golf course and this home is stuck by the noisy community gate? If your home’s location is less than desirable, a good real estate agent will know how to accentuate the positive when marketing your property. It’s also wise to understand that your home should be priced less than its counterparts. Sometimes the smartest way to compensate for a poor location is to offer incentives to buyers such as paying for closing costs or mortgage points. 2. THE HOME IS OVERPRICED Overpricing is the most common reason homes don’t sell. Often sellers allow emotions to cloud their business sense. Many times we feel that our home is worth more than it is because we’ve invested so much love and care into it. The truth is buyers, not sellers, determine the value of a home. You can set your price unrealistically high, but it often sets in motion a process that can eat up equity quickly. Some sellers set the price high “just to see what will happen”. They are in no hurry to sell, so if the home doesn’t sell at that price they don’t mind waiting or eventually dropping the price if necessary. But that can hurt you more than you might imagine. Most real estate agents will see your new listing within 30 days. If it’s overpriced, it’s likely that it won’t even be shown. After it sits on the market for a while, other agents begin to wonder if there is a more serious flaw keeping the home from selling. Buyers become wary of a home that’s been sitting. Buyers want to feel like they’ve scooped up a terrific property before anyone else could.

Even if sellers eventually reduce the price, many agents won’t even pull up that property again to notice the price reduction. And after a home sits and sits on the market, it’s highly unlikely that any offers that do come in will be even close to asking price. Lastly, even if a buyer comes in at the inflated asking price, the property may not even appraise at that figure and the financing could fall apart. 3. THE HOME DOESN’T SHOW WELL Scuff marks on the walls, dirty laundry strewn about the bedrooms, overgrown trees blocking the view of the home. It’s amazing the kind of shape that some homes are in while they are supposedly being “showcased”. The good news is that most of the work that needs to be done to homes is cosmetic and inexpensive. A fresh coat of paint does absolute wonders. Planting colorful flowers near the front door is easy. And getting a professional, deep-down cleaning can help the property compete with shiny, newer houses. Unlike the television show, many homes don’t need an “Extreme Makeover”, but simply some smart touch-ups that an experienced Realtor can easily advise. 4. THE LISTING AGENT IS INEFFECTIVE Some agents will dazzle their clients with unrealistic pricing expectations just to get the listing. Their bad advice can cost plenty in wasted time, money and the stress of keeping the home in constant show-ready mode. Some agents will be unresponsive to interest from other agents (they’d rather find the buyer themselves so they don’t have to split the commission). Or, if they are known among colleagues to be abrasive or arrogant, other agents will avoid showing their listings to their clients. If the listing agent isn’t marketing the property properly, it is likely to get lost in the shuffle. Simply putting it on MLS and printing up some flyers is not the way to get the job done. When you hire an agent, ask about their marketing strategy. Top agents will include multiple marketing mediums from listing tours for agents, extensive advertising and the use of technological tools such as virtual tours and internet showcases.

REDUCED!

11th Annual Short Film and Video Festival ASU Art Museum, April 14th 480.965.2787 or asuartmuseum.asu.edu Enjoy this annual outdoor film and video festival designed to celebrate the artistic and creative endeavors of people with different visions and varying levels of experience. Approximately 20-25 works of art will be shown, narrowed down from over 400 entries from all over the world. Bring along your blankets or lawn chairs and cast your vote for the Audience Choice Award at the end of the screenings. Taste 2007- The Art of Flavor Kierland Commons, April 22nd 602.954.8182 or www.tastephx.com Taste 2007 is a chance to inspire that artist within yourself and explore different flavor offerings while making a positive impact in the lives of children. As one of Phoenix’s premier spring events, it attracts an average of 6,000 guests annually. Mix and mingle at this semi-formal event while funding a great cause - one that benefits the future of children and our communitythe Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. Plus, don’t miss out on the Post Taste at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa immediately following the event. McDowell Mountain Music Festival WestWorld, April 27th- 28th 602.343.0453 or www.mmmf.net More than 14 bands will perform at the outdoor event with proceeds benefiting the children’s charities of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona and Phoenix Day Child and Family Learning. The Music Festival is held in the foothills of the majestic McDowell Mountains featuring a wide range of entertainment from rock to reggae, soul, jazz and country. Overnight tent and motor home camping is available. In addition to the entertainment there will be food, a Children’s Fun Zone and arts and crafts. All ages are welcome.