Brady Holland
Senior Mortgage Banker Real estate financing can be a daunting task. And that is especially true in today’s world where lenders are more cautious about lending due to economic uncertainty. I understand that choosing a mortgage is one the biggest decisions that you will make. You want the best interest rate and you want the pre-approval, application, and close of escrow process to be hassle-free. I understand. I listen to your needs. And I respond quickly and deliver. Let me put my nearly two decades of residential lending experience to work for you!
V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. 8414 N. 90th St. | Suite 102 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
85026 PERMIT 1441
• I use the latest lending technology to deliver a loan credit decision in hours, not days.
I’d like to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year! I appreciate your business, questions, and comments. And I look forward to assisting you, and your friends and family, with your mortgage needs in 2011!
• Closing thousands of loans over the course of my career assures you that as an industry veteran I have the knowledge and expertise to handle every situation.
-Brady
• The needs of every client are different. I specialize in tailoring a loan and financing strategy that will best fit the individual needs of each client. • Have you ever closed on a mortgage and later had remorse that you may have picked the wrong loan program or paid too much in fees? I offer a benefit analysis on every loan to ensure that the loan program and the associated costs are the best fit and in the best interest of the client.
• My impeccable reputation is my best asset. I always strive to exceed your expectations and earn your business for life!
Call me today!
Arizona Homeowner December | 2010
MORTGAGE RATES as of 11/15/10
Loan Rates for $150K-$417K:
a mountain holiday getaway
• 30-Year Fixed: 4.375%/4.484% APR • 15-Year Fixed: 3.875%/4.060% APR • 5/1 ARM: 3.375%/3.637% APR
Loan Rates for $418K-$1.5M:
Brady Holland
Senior Mortgage Banker NMLS 180079
Three Experiences You’ll Love
• 30-Year Fixed: 5.625%/5.684% APR • 5/1 ARM: 3.875%/3.353% APR • 7/1 ARM: 4.125%/3.575% APR
*Note: All rate quotes offered at 0% origination fee for primary home purchase or no cash-out refinance financing with 720+ FICO score. Loans under $417K are quoted based on 20% equity while loans over $417K require 20%-30% equity. Other financing options are available upon request. All rates quoted subject to change without notice.
home repairs
Make 2011 The Year To Tackle Those Tasks
Office: 480.278.8993 Cell: 480.272.3282 E-Fax: 480.223.4290 BHolland@VIPMtgInc.com
a holiday-inspired delicacy The Herb Box’s Honey Roasted Pears
NMLS 145502 AZ BK#0909074
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net
Event Calendar December 2010 Zoolights The Phoenix Zoo, Month of December 602.273.1341 | PhoenixZoo.org The magic begins after the animals at the zoo go to sleep! Get in the holiday spirit as you meander through 2.5 million lights and nearly 200 light sculptures including a talking giraffe at this popular annual event. Enhance your experience with wagon rides, festive music, hot chocolate and freshly made churros!
Hanukkah Holiday Party: Boutique and Vendor Show JCC Valley of the Sun, December 5th 480.483.7121 | vosjff.org Bring the whole family down for great fun, games and a little bit of shopping. There will be numerous boutiques and vendors for you to browse or maybe pick up a last-minute Hanukkah gift for someone special. Inside the lobby, Israeliinspired crafts and games will be set up for the children as you imbibe in seasonal delights such as latkes and sufganiyot. Fall Classic Golf Tournament Grayhawk Golf Course, December 10th 602.954.8182 | bgcmp.org This annual fundraising event is a hole in one! Participate in the three-man scramble at Grayhawk’s award-winning golf course. All golfers will receive a gift package, barbecue lunch and beverages. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, an organization that provides much-needed programs helping today’s youth to reach their full potential. The weather is fabulous, the cause is worthy; come hit the links! White Christmas Gala Arizona Biltmore, December 11th 602.200.0767 | RyanHouse.org Enjoy an enchanting evening set back in the 1940s. The night includes a memorable dinner, live entertainment and swing dancing to your heart’s content! Proceeds benefit Ryan House, an organization helping families caring for children with lifethreatening conditions through their quality-of-life services. Holiday Tea Sweet Basil, December 30th 480.596.5628 | SweetBasilGourmet.com Learn to entertain guests with a lovely tea party just as you role-played when you were five! Learn the basics of making traditional tea as well as many tea-party-worthy recipes such as rosemary scones and raisin finger sandwiches. Then, invite friends over for a splendid afternoon to celebrate the New Year!
Ever notice how some things on your home to-do list never seem to get done? Maybe they seem daunting in scale (and will put a big dent in your piggy bank) or perhaps they are a bit on the (yawn) boring side. Or maybe some of these tasks always seem to get pushed down the honey-do list because they’re just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Why not make 2011 the year you finally tackle these tasks … once and for all. Or at least until this time next year! • Check your fire alarms. You say it every year, but honestly, do you really do it? Well, you should. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms were present in only two-thirds of all reported home fires and operated in just under half of reported home fires from 2003 through 2006. Some tips from the NFPA: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected. • Get an energy audit of your home. Got a drafty room? Does condensation appear on windows in your bathroom? Does it never seem to cool off in your kitchen? A home energy assessment can help you evaluate these issues—and with fixes, can help you lower your energy bill. Visit EnergySavers.gov and click on “Your Home” to get tips on choosing an auditor. • Seal the driveway. You get the fliers in the mail and every year think, “Maybe next year.” Well, make this the year you make your driveway look as nice as it did the day you moved in. Nothing says curb appeal more than a properly maintained driveway without cracks, patches, or oil and grease spots. Why not up the ante with a high-end look and replace concrete with pavers? • Re-caulk your tiles … all your tiles. We know, it’s a pain and nobody likes to do this job, but it needs to be done, right? Trust us, your home will look worlds cleaner and nicer if you re-caulk all those bathroom and kitchen tiles. Don’t have the time or patience to do it yourself? Hire a pro and get the job done. • Clean out the garage. We mean really clean it out—cobwebs and all. Doing this dirty work now when it’s cooler out will pay off later when the weather warms up and you’re searching for your pool floats and camping gear. • Put in crown molding. Can you say “finishing touch”? Crown molding can really make a room pop and give your home a luxurious look. However, for many of us, it’s an afterthought and something you just never get around to doing. Add some to your dressier spaces and set your home apart from the rest. • Replace those energy-sucking antiquated appliances. Most of us have one or two older appliances that moved with us to a new home or that simply have always been in our home, but they don’t function as well as they could—and they use twice as much energy as their new counterparts. Your energy bill will thank you! • Have the condition of your roof checked. Yes, it can be a pricey undertaking but it’s one of the best ways to keep your home waterproof and cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder months. And at resale time, many buyers won’t even look at a home if it looks like it needs a new roof. • Scrub dirty walls or repaint if necessary. Even if you don’t have children around the house to grub up your walls with stickiness, we’re all bound to have scratches, scrapes, wear-marks or pet wear on our walls and baseboards. Get those areas sparkling like new!
Your Home
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Or simply in the mood to get away this holiday season? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re in search of the perfect kid-friendly spot (a visit to the North Pole included!), a place to meet for a large family gathering, or a quiet romantic retreat for two, we’ve found just the locale for you. Let the festivities and memory-making begin!
MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #1: Hidden Meadow Ranch (HiddenMeadow.com) Location: Set on 150 acres in Greer, AZ. The perfect spot for: Large family celebrations and a big gathering for the holidays. What it’s all about: Nestled in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains, Hidden Meadow Ranch offers 12 guest log cabins, perfect for every branch of your extended family tree. Each handcrafted log cabin can accommodate up to five adults and offers luxurious mountainside decor (including wireless internet, so don’t fret about being snowbound!). Winter activities include: Horseback riding in the snow, horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding, snowshoeing, back-country trips on the ranch’s 24-passenger Snowcat, ice fishing, and nearby cross-country skiing. Also close-by is skiing and snowboarding at Sunrise Ski Resort, just 30 minutes from the ranch. Highlights: This is no rustic, bare-bones cabin experience. Expect top-notch mountain accommodations, inspired gourmet dining and service from the staff that makes you feel like the pampered guest that you are. Another cool feature:
Staff members deliver daily firewood to each cabin so you and your family can stay toasty warm! MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #2: Molly Butler Lodge (MollyButlerLodge.com) Location: Greer, AZ (yes, this is the place to be in winter!). The perfect spot for: Kids! Cabins nestled in the woods, winter activities galore, and a visit to see Santa. Need we say more? What it’s all about: Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Molly Butler Lodge is a Phoenix-area institution for family fun — especially in the winter. Arizona’s oldest continually operated lodge, it’s the place to bring the kids for an unforgettable winter getaway. Winter activities include: Sledding, nearby sleigh rides and horseback riding at Wiltbank Trail Rides, hiking, and stargazing (the skies up there get dark!). And don’t forget skiing at Sunrise Ski Resort, only 12 minutes away. Highlights: Now in its second year, Molly Butler’s North Pole Experience is the end-all-be-all of a child’s holiday dreams come true. This experience includes a “magical” ride to the North Pole,
Hidden Meadow Ranch toy-making sessions with the elves, story reading from Mrs. Claus, and of course some family time with Santa himself. Not to be missed by true Christmas fanatics. MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #3: Prescott, AZ, known as “The Christmas City.” Location: Ok, you’ve figured that one out already! But in case you don’t know, Prescott is only 90 miles north of Phoenix. The perfect spot for: A romantic getaway. Couples looking for one-on-one time should stay at the Hassayampa Inn, voted the number-one historic hotel in Arizona by the Arizona Republic. Try the Romance Package, which includes overnight accommodations, dinner for two, in-room champagne and chocolates, and breakfast for two. (HassayampaInn.com). What it’s all about: Prescott is known as Arizona’s Christmas City. Here you’ll find numerous holiday activities throughout
the season. In a nutshell, this town is crazy about Christmas and a trip here is guaranteed to help get you in the holiday spirit. Highlights: For starters, check out the Holiday Light Parade on the Courthouse Square, which kicks off the season, followed by the 28th Annual Prescott Christmas Parade, when Santa visits for a festive ride through downtown. Next, enjoy some adult music at Yavapai College Performance Hall when the Prescott Pops present Merry Christmas & All That Jazz. For a sweet treat, visit the Prescott Resort to see the World’s Largest Gingerbread Village, an annual creation featuring more than 100 gingerbread structures on display. And not to be missed, see the Valley of Lights, a self-guided drive through the many animated and lighted displays set up at Fain Park. (For details on all these Christmas festivities, go to Visit-Prescott.com and click on “Events.” )
HONEY ROASTED LOCAL PEARS WITH ROGUE CREAMERY GORGONZOLA IN PINE NUT CARAMEL INGREDIENTS: 4 local organic pears 1/4 lb. butter 1/2 cup local honey 1/4 cup cream 2 Tbs. toasted pine nuts 3/4 tsp. sea salt 4 oz. mild gorgonzola cheese
Local Flavor!
A Taste of Old Town Old Town Scottsdale, Tuesdays-Sundays 800.979.3370 | ArizonaFoodTours.com Whether you’re entertaining out-of-town visitors or want to get to know our Valley a little better, this tour is a great way to do it. Your three-hour adventure includes the tale of Scottsdale’s Wild West origins and a story of how Scottsdale has changed and evolved through the years. Then comes the best part: Sampling six great restaurants in the area including Frank and Lupe’s, The Mission and Su Vino Winery.
PROCEDURE: • Cut pears in half (ok to leave seeds intact). • Heat butter in sauté pan, cook pears cut side up approximately 6 minutes. • Turn pears over and sauté cut side down until brown and caramelized. • Pour honey over pears, let simmer for another 3 minutes. • Remove pears from sauté pan to complete the sauce. • Whisk in cream, toasted pine nuts and sea salt. • Place pears on serving platter. Glaze with warm pine nut caramel and top with thinly sliced mild gorgonzola. • Enjoy!
Featuring The Herb Box | Scottsdale | TheHerbBox.com
Serves 4-6
Event Calendar December 2010 Zoolights The Phoenix Zoo, Month of December 602.273.1341 | PhoenixZoo.org The magic begins after the animals at the zoo go to sleep! Get in the holiday spirit as you meander through 2.5 million lights and nearly 200 light sculptures including a talking giraffe at this popular annual event. Enhance your experience with wagon rides, festive music, hot chocolate and freshly made churros!
Hanukkah Holiday Party: Boutique and Vendor Show JCC Valley of the Sun, December 5th 480.483.7121 | vosjff.org Bring the whole family down for great fun, games and a little bit of shopping. There will be numerous boutiques and vendors for you to browse or maybe pick up a last-minute Hanukkah gift for someone special. Inside the lobby, Israeliinspired crafts and games will be set up for the children as you imbibe in seasonal delights such as latkes and sufganiyot. Fall Classic Golf Tournament Grayhawk Golf Course, December 10th 602.954.8182 | bgcmp.org This annual fundraising event is a hole in one! Participate in the three-man scramble at Grayhawk’s award-winning golf course. All golfers will receive a gift package, barbecue lunch and beverages. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, an organization that provides much-needed programs helping today’s youth to reach their full potential. The weather is fabulous, the cause is worthy; come hit the links! White Christmas Gala Arizona Biltmore, December 11th 602.200.0767 | RyanHouse.org Enjoy an enchanting evening set back in the 1940s. The night includes a memorable dinner, live entertainment and swing dancing to your heart’s content! Proceeds benefit Ryan House, an organization helping families caring for children with lifethreatening conditions through their quality-of-life services. Holiday Tea Sweet Basil, December 30th 480.596.5628 | SweetBasilGourmet.com Learn to entertain guests with a lovely tea party just as you role-played when you were five! Learn the basics of making traditional tea as well as many tea-party-worthy recipes such as rosemary scones and raisin finger sandwiches. Then, invite friends over for a splendid afternoon to celebrate the New Year!
Ever notice how some things on your home to-do list never seem to get done? Maybe they seem daunting in scale (and will put a big dent in your piggy bank) or perhaps they are a bit on the (yawn) boring side. Or maybe some of these tasks always seem to get pushed down the honey-do list because they’re just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Why not make 2011 the year you finally tackle these tasks … once and for all. Or at least until this time next year! • Check your fire alarms. You say it every year, but honestly, do you really do it? Well, you should. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms were present in only two-thirds of all reported home fires and operated in just under half of reported home fires from 2003 through 2006. Some tips from the NFPA: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected. • Get an energy audit of your home. Got a drafty room? Does condensation appear on windows in your bathroom? Does it never seem to cool off in your kitchen? A home energy assessment can help you evaluate these issues—and with fixes, can help you lower your energy bill. Visit EnergySavers.gov and click on “Your Home” to get tips on choosing an auditor. • Seal the driveway. You get the fliers in the mail and every year think, “Maybe next year.” Well, make this the year you make your driveway look as nice as it did the day you moved in. Nothing says curb appeal more than a properly maintained driveway without cracks, patches, or oil and grease spots. Why not up the ante with a high-end look and replace concrete with pavers? • Re-caulk your tiles … all your tiles. We know, it’s a pain and nobody likes to do this job, but it needs to be done, right? Trust us, your home will look worlds cleaner and nicer if you re-caulk all those bathroom and kitchen tiles. Don’t have the time or patience to do it yourself? Hire a pro and get the job done. • Clean out the garage. We mean really clean it out—cobwebs and all. Doing this dirty work now when it’s cooler out will pay off later when the weather warms up and you’re searching for your pool floats and camping gear. • Put in crown molding. Can you say “finishing touch”? Crown molding can really make a room pop and give your home a luxurious look. However, for many of us, it’s an afterthought and something you just never get around to doing. Add some to your dressier spaces and set your home apart from the rest. • Replace those energy-sucking antiquated appliances. Most of us have one or two older appliances that moved with us to a new home or that simply have always been in our home, but they don’t function as well as they could—and they use twice as much energy as their new counterparts. Your energy bill will thank you! • Have the condition of your roof checked. Yes, it can be a pricey undertaking but it’s one of the best ways to keep your home waterproof and cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder months. And at resale time, many buyers won’t even look at a home if it looks like it needs a new roof. • Scrub dirty walls or repaint if necessary. Even if you don’t have children around the house to grub up your walls with stickiness, we’re all bound to have scratches, scrapes, wear-marks or pet wear on our walls and baseboards. Get those areas sparkling like new!
Your Home
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Or simply in the mood to get away this holiday season? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re in search of the perfect kid-friendly spot (a visit to the North Pole included!), a place to meet for a large family gathering, or a quiet romantic retreat for two, we’ve found just the locale for you. Let the festivities and memory-making begin!
MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #1: Hidden Meadow Ranch (HiddenMeadow.com) Location: Set on 150 acres in Greer, AZ. The perfect spot for: Large family celebrations and a big gathering for the holidays. What it’s all about: Nestled in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains, Hidden Meadow Ranch offers 12 guest log cabins, perfect for every branch of your extended family tree. Each handcrafted log cabin can accommodate up to five adults and offers luxurious mountainside decor (including wireless internet, so don’t fret about being snowbound!). Winter activities include: Horseback riding in the snow, horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding, snowshoeing, back-country trips on the ranch’s 24-passenger Snowcat, ice fishing, and nearby cross-country skiing. Also close-by is skiing and snowboarding at Sunrise Ski Resort, just 30 minutes from the ranch. Highlights: This is no rustic, bare-bones cabin experience. Expect top-notch mountain accommodations, inspired gourmet dining and service from the staff that makes you feel like the pampered guest that you are. Another cool feature:
Staff members deliver daily firewood to each cabin so you and your family can stay toasty warm! MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #2: Molly Butler Lodge (MollyButlerLodge.com) Location: Greer, AZ (yes, this is the place to be in winter!). The perfect spot for: Kids! Cabins nestled in the woods, winter activities galore, and a visit to see Santa. Need we say more? What it’s all about: Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Molly Butler Lodge is a Phoenix-area institution for family fun — especially in the winter. Arizona’s oldest continually operated lodge, it’s the place to bring the kids for an unforgettable winter getaway. Winter activities include: Sledding, nearby sleigh rides and horseback riding at Wiltbank Trail Rides, hiking, and stargazing (the skies up there get dark!). And don’t forget skiing at Sunrise Ski Resort, only 12 minutes away. Highlights: Now in its second year, Molly Butler’s North Pole Experience is the end-all-be-all of a child’s holiday dreams come true. This experience includes a “magical” ride to the North Pole,
Hidden Meadow Ranch toy-making sessions with the elves, story reading from Mrs. Claus, and of course some family time with Santa himself. Not to be missed by true Christmas fanatics. MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #3: Prescott, AZ, known as “The Christmas City.” Location: Ok, you’ve figured that one out already! But in case you don’t know, Prescott is only 90 miles north of Phoenix. The perfect spot for: A romantic getaway. Couples looking for one-on-one time should stay at the Hassayampa Inn, voted the number-one historic hotel in Arizona by the Arizona Republic. Try the Romance Package, which includes overnight accommodations, dinner for two, in-room champagne and chocolates, and breakfast for two. (HassayampaInn.com). What it’s all about: Prescott is known as Arizona’s Christmas City. Here you’ll find numerous holiday activities throughout
the season. In a nutshell, this town is crazy about Christmas and a trip here is guaranteed to help get you in the holiday spirit. Highlights: For starters, check out the Holiday Light Parade on the Courthouse Square, which kicks off the season, followed by the 28th Annual Prescott Christmas Parade, when Santa visits for a festive ride through downtown. Next, enjoy some adult music at Yavapai College Performance Hall when the Prescott Pops present Merry Christmas & All That Jazz. For a sweet treat, visit the Prescott Resort to see the World’s Largest Gingerbread Village, an annual creation featuring more than 100 gingerbread structures on display. And not to be missed, see the Valley of Lights, a self-guided drive through the many animated and lighted displays set up at Fain Park. (For details on all these Christmas festivities, go to Visit-Prescott.com and click on “Events.” )
HONEY ROASTED LOCAL PEARS WITH ROGUE CREAMERY GORGONZOLA IN PINE NUT CARAMEL INGREDIENTS: 4 local organic pears 1/4 lb. butter 1/2 cup local honey 1/4 cup cream 2 Tbs. toasted pine nuts 3/4 tsp. sea salt 4 oz. mild gorgonzola cheese
Local Flavor!
A Taste of Old Town Old Town Scottsdale, Tuesdays-Sundays 800.979.3370 | ArizonaFoodTours.com Whether you’re entertaining out-of-town visitors or want to get to know our Valley a little better, this tour is a great way to do it. Your three-hour adventure includes the tale of Scottsdale’s Wild West origins and a story of how Scottsdale has changed and evolved through the years. Then comes the best part: Sampling six great restaurants in the area including Frank and Lupe’s, The Mission and Su Vino Winery.
PROCEDURE: • Cut pears in half (ok to leave seeds intact). • Heat butter in sauté pan, cook pears cut side up approximately 6 minutes. • Turn pears over and sauté cut side down until brown and caramelized. • Pour honey over pears, let simmer for another 3 minutes. • Remove pears from sauté pan to complete the sauce. • Whisk in cream, toasted pine nuts and sea salt. • Place pears on serving platter. Glaze with warm pine nut caramel and top with thinly sliced mild gorgonzola. • Enjoy!
Featuring The Herb Box | Scottsdale | TheHerbBox.com
Serves 4-6
Wendy Kirtland Wendy is a full-time Realtor who pours her heart and soul into serving her clients’ best interest. Whether it be listing and selling your home for the best price in the shortest amount of time possible or finding the perfect home to suit your needs, she is tireless in her efforts. When she is not working with clients
Wendy Kirtland Cell: 480.215.0959 eFax: 480.355.9514 WKirtland@FineProp.com RE/MAX Fine Properties 21000 N. Pima Rd., Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85255
she spends time furthering her real estate education. In 2009 she completed courses to become an “Accredited Buyer’s Representative,” a “Certified Distressed Property Expert,” a “Certified Negotiation Expert,” a “Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource,” and other additional courses. Not a day goes by that she is not learning something new.
WKirtland@FineProp.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net