Scottsdale AZ Real Estate & Lifestyle

Live Better in Scottsdale - eXp Realty

Heather Tawes Nelson

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: The Mission

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The Mission Latin Restaurant Old Town Scottsdale AZRecently, I finally had the opportunity to visit and dine at The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale. I am a huge fan of Chef Matt Carter’s food at Zinc Bistro, so I was looking forward to tasting some of the “modern Latin cuisine” served at The Mission and The Mission did not disappoint.

A group of us went early on a weekend night recently and the restaurant was already quite busy. The decor is dark and sleek and there is a large bar area with seating.

There are a couple of ways to approach the menu. You could go the more traditional route and order an entree and some starters or sides. Or, there is such a large selection of smaller plate choices, you could just order an assortment of dishes and dine family-style.

There were so many good things on the menu, we agreed to order several things to share and then each of us would have something that was our own.

To share, we ended up getting the guacamole which is prepared tableside and served with fresh chips and salsa, which are both made onsite. We also tried several sides to nibble on including the Torreados, which was a mixture of hot peppers that had been slightly seared and were served with lime and sale. The peppers range in heat from more mild to very spicy and our server walked us through which ones were which. In addition, we had a huge serving of the Taro Fries, which were quite tasty. We also tried the White Bean Puree which was a mixture of white beans, cotija cheese, arugula and tomato. It was quite good as well.

For the entrees, almost everyone selected the tacos which come served in wonderful, homemade corn tortillas. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed them. Another selection was the Duck Carnitas Empanada. A mixture of duck and mushroom was served inside the empanada which was then topped with an orange habanero sauce. It was delicious and decadent.

Even though we ordered a large number of items to try, there were still several more options that we did not have room for. However, at the end of the meal, we made a plan to return and try some of these other items.

The Mission is located right in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale and there is a large public parking lot across the street which makes parking a breeze. (This parking lot is also the seasonal home to the Old Town Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.)

If you have an opportunity to try The Mission, I highly recommend it. We really enjoyed our meal and look forward to going back.

More Information:
The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale
3815 North Brown Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: 480-636-5005
Web: www.themissionaz.com

Open for lunch and dinner daily
Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: The Gallery Cafe at Heard Museum North Scottsdale

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Carefree Black Mountain Views from Heard North Scottsdale

Update: The Heard North Museum North Scottsdale and The Gallery Cafe will be closing as of April 2014. After that time, please visit the flagship location of the Heard Museum in Phoenix. 

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Looking for a charming, unique place to lunch in North Scottsdale? Look no farther than The Gallery Cafe at Heard Museum North Scottsdale.

The Cafe is located to the left once you enter the museum lobby. The cozy dining area feels larger due to plenty of tall windows that showcase the beauty of the Sonoran desert. In addition, there is covered patio seating, which allows you to take in the gardens, a few art installations and great views of Black Mountain in Carefree.

The menu features a selection of appetizer, sandwiches and wraps, salads, some Southwest-inspired options as well as desserts. The food tastes really fresh and the presentation is charming.

The day I visited, I tried the Dreamcatcher Salad, which was delicious. This salad, composed to resemble a dreamcatcher came with greens, tomatoes, pepitas, couscous, avocado and corn. I opted to add shrimp as well.Dreamcatcher Salad from Cafe At Heard Museum North Scottsdale AZ

Salads range from the Dreamcatcher above to more common ones like a Chopped Caesar or a Tostada Salad. The sandwiches and wraps include perennial favorites like Grilled Cheese, Meatloaf and Chicken Breast.

Some other unique menu options include: Posole (a savory hominy and pork dish), a Chile Lime Shrimp Ceviche and a Tangy Grilled Shrimp Sandwich. And, if you are looking for something sweet and locally-inspired, The Cafe serves Fry Bread as well as a Fry Bread Sundae.

The next time I am there, I would like to try the Tepary Bean Hummus. The tepary bean is found in Arizona and has been a staple of the desert natives for many, many years.

Outdoor Dining at Cafe Heard Museum North Scottsdale AZMore Information:
The Gallery Cafe at Heard North Scottsdale
The Summit at Scottsdale
32633 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ  85262
480.488.9817
Lunch Hours Only: Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 2pm

Heard North Scottsdale Museum and Shop Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday:  11am to 5pm

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – October 2011

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Here are the October 2011 results for the Scottsdale AZ luxury home market. For this report, I am considering the luxury home market as homes with list prices of $1 million or more. This analysis looks at single-family luxury homes for sale, pending home sales as well as luxury homes sales in Scottsdale over the previous 12 months and is divided into various price segments.

 – October 2011 –

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Home inventory in this price range was up another 6.3% over September to 201. The last time we were above 200 homes was in May of 2011. This is still below the 12 month average of 26 though.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: At the end of October, there were 20 homes pending sale. This is the same as it has been the last three months. The 12 month average is 24.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Seventeen homes sold in October, which is the highest this figure has been since July of 2011. It is still behind the 12 month average of 20 though.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 89.5% – This was down slightly over September, but is still in the typical range it usually is.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale between $1 and $1.5 million October 2011

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 – $1,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory for homes in this segment was up 9.7% over September to 136. The 12 month average is 147.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were way down in October to 6. This is the lowest it has been in the last year and is less than half of the 12 month average.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: There were 8 home sales in October, which is right on track with the 12 month average. I anticipate sales will drop off quite a bit in November though due to the low pending sales at the end of the month.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 88.0% – This is a pretty typical value for this price segment.


Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale between $1.5 and $2 million October 2011

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 – $2,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was up quite a bit (18%) over October. The last time there were this many homes on the market in this price range was April of 2011. The 12 month average is 135.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: There were three pending sales at the end of the month. This is the same it has been for the two previous months as well. However, it is only half of the 12 month average of 6 pending sales.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Only one home sold in this price range in October. This is the lowest it has been in the previous 12 months. The 12 month average is 6 sales, so this is very far off.
– Sales Price to Listed Price:  89.4% – This is a solid figure for this price point.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale between $2 and $3 million October 2011

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes for sale in excess of $3 million was up again in October to 95. The 12 month average is 101.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: At the end of October, there were two pending sales. This is about where it has been for the last several months, but is still trailing the 12 month average of 4 pending sales.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: We saw three home sales of homes over $3 million in October. This is the best it has been in many months and is on par with the 12 month average of 3 home sales.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 86.6% – This is the highest this figure has been in the last 12 months.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale over $3 million October 2011

In summary, the Scottsdale luxury home market had a mixed October 2011. Inventory continues to increase in all price points. As I suggested last month, this could be due to people putting their homes on the market as we enter the high season. Pending sales were decent in October, with the exception of the $1.5 million to $2 million price range. Sales were up in most cases and discounts off of asking were pretty standard or improved.

To see the detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale luxury real estate market reports page and click on the “Scottsdale Market Trends” report.

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 11/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family luxury resale homes in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – October 2011

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Here are October 2011’s results for the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo market. This was a slow month for luxury condo sales in the area.

For the purposes of this report, I am defining the luxury condo market as condos for sale with asking prices of $1 million and above.

Pending Luxury Condo Sales – There was a single pending sale at the end of October. It is a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom unit at The Landmark in Scottsdale, adjacent to Kierland. This condo has 3,604 square feet and is a penthouse unit.

On an interesting note, there had been another pending sale for a 4,000 square foot condo at The Residences at 2211 Camelback in Phoenix. It had 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms and had been in a pending status since February of 2011. When it did not close or stay in pending status at the end of October, I took a closer look. This listing was cancelled as of 10/30/2011.

October 2011 Luxury Condo Sales – There were no luxury condo sales in Scottsdale or Phoenix in October 2011.

Scottsdale and Phoenix Luxury Condos for Sale Oct 11

October 2011 was a non-eventful month for Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condo sales. We do have one pending sale that ideally will close in November, getting sales activity on the books again.

Learn More About Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos
Search Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos for Sale

 

Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 12/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2011  Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale AZ Single-Family Homes for Sale – October 2011

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Here are October 2011’s home sales results for Scottsdale Arizona. This monthly report looks at home sales activity in Scottsdale over the previous 12 months. The data is broken into monthly segments so you can compare how the real estate market is performing over time.

There are three sales categories in this report. They are as follows:

  • Scottsdale homes currently on the market
  • Pending sales of Scottsdale homes
  • Actual home sales in October

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale October 2011

 

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales Results October 2011

October 2011 Highlights for Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale:

  • Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: The number of homes on the market moved up again in October to 1,776 or an 8.3% increase over September. This is the second month in a row where inventory has increased. However, this figure is still below the 12 month average of 2,096 homes for sale.
  • Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale:  Pending sales saw another decrease in October. At the end of the month, there were 415 pending home sales. This is well below the 12 month average of 524.
  • Scottsdale Homes Sold: 392 homes sold in October, which was an increase over September of 5.1%. This was interesting as it seemed sales would have decreased correspondingly with the decrease in pending sales the month prior. Nevertheless, we did see an increase. 392 is a little below the 12 month average of 416 sales.
  • Sales Price to List Price: 94.0% – This is the strongest we have seen this ratio in the last 12 months. On average, buyers were able to purchase homes at a 6% discount off of asking price.

October 2011 was a mixed month for Scottsdale AZ home sales. Inventory has been increasing for the last two months and in October, it jumped 8.3% over September. Pending sales were also down again, which would indicate that we may see a drop in home sales in November. On a positive note, homes sales were up slightly in October event though the lowing pending numbers would have indicated a corresponding drop in sales. It will be interesting to see if inventory continues to increase into November.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 11/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and home sales in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales By Type Q3 2011 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Here are the results for Q3 2011 home sales in Scottsdale Arizona’s zip code 85255.

The  85255 zip code is located in the northern part of of Scottsdale, and starts just above the Loop 101. Many excellent private golf communities and luxury homes can be found there, including Troon Country Club, Desert Highlands, Grayhawk, DC Ranch and Silverleaf. For non-golfers, there are plenty of housing options as well, including gated and non-gated communities. You will also find the well-known landmark of Pinnacle Peak  in 85255.

The Q3 2011 single-family home sales activity in 85255 is below. The data has been broken into three categories based on sales type.

The three categories are defined as follows:
– Non-Distressed Sales -These are what you would consider”regular”, “normal” or “traditional” home sales. In this common scenario, the home seller and home buyer negotiate the sale, come to terms and work together until the sale is complete.
– Short Sales – Short sales occur when a home seller needs to sell the home “short” of what is currently owed on it. Short sales have been gaining a lot of momentum in recent years as home values have fallen. In a short sale, the lienholder (also frequently called the “lender”) has to approve the contract as they will be picking up the shortfall on what is owed.
– Foreclosures – Foreclosure homes are homes that have gone through the foreclosure process and ownership has now reverted back to the lienholder. These are also called “Lender-Owned” homes, “REO'” homes or “Bank-Owned” homes.


Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales Market for Q3 2011 – Data as of October 1, 2011

  • Active Scottsdale 85255 Homes For Sale: Regular homes for sale accounted for the majority of the for sale inventory at the end of the third quarter. Short sales came in at 10% and foreclosures only had a small segment of the active market at 4%.
  • 85255 Pending Homes for Sale: Short sales gained a lot of ground when you look at pending sales at the end of Q3. They accounted for 30% of the market, despite being only 10% of the for sale inventory.
  • Q3 2011 Scottsdale 85255 Home Sales: Regular sales still accounted for over half, 58%, of the home sales in Q3. Foreclosures came in at 15%, despite only being 4% of the for sale market.
  • 85255 Home Prices: The average home sale price distribution is what we would expect. Regular sales had the highest average price, followed by short sales and then lender owned homes. Interestingly enough, short sales had a lower average price per square foot than foreclosures. Typically, foreclosures have the lowest average price per square foot.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: This is pretty typical. Regular sales usually sell at about an average 10% discount off of asking and short sales and foreclosures are typically 5% off of list price. 85255 in Q3 was pretty close to that.

Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85255 Home Sales Q3 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

 

Scottsdale Home Sales 85255 Through Q3 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

 

If you would like to review this data for the City of Scottsdale AZ versus a single zip code, please visit these previous reports:

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q2 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q1 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 10/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for  sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85255 for Q3 2011. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales By Type Q3 2011 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Here are the Q3 2011 results for home sales in Scottsdale Arizona’s 85266 zip code.

85266 covers a portion of North Scottsdale and was created a few years ago. It is bordered by Phoenix, Carefree and Cave Creek. 85266  enjoys a higher elevation and due to this a number of the homesites have wonderful Phoenix Valley views and mountain views. Several of Scottsdale’s most popular golf communities are found in 85266. They include Whisper Rock, The Boulders and Terravita.

The report below looks at Q3 2011 home sales for zip code 85266. The information has been broken into three sales categories, which are defined below:
– Non-Distressed Sales – These home sales are what you think of when you think of “normal,” “regular” or “traditional” home sales. Here, the  home seller adn home buyer negotiate the offer and work together until the close of escrow.
– Short Sales – Short sales have become an increasingly more common sales type in today’s market. A short sale occurs when a seller needs to sell the home for less money than what is owed to the lender (or “lienholder”).  In a short sale,  lienholder(s) will need to approve any contracts before the sale can be completed.
– Foreclosures – Foreclosures are also known as “Lender-Owned” homes, “REO'” homes or “Bank-Owned” homes. These homes are those that have been foreclosed upon by the lienholder and no longer belong to the homeowner.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales Market for Q3 2011 – Data as of October 1, 2011

  • Active Scottsdale 85266 Homes For Sale: The vast majority, 89%, of homes on the market at the end of the third quarter were “regular” homes. Short sales were next with just inder 10% and foreclosures made up the balance.
  • 85266 Pending Homes for Sale: Short sales made up a much larger percentage of the pending inventory at the end of Q3 than the active inventory at 29% of pending sales versus 9% of the listings. We see something similar with foreclosures. They were only 3% of the active market, but represented 19% of pending sales. The jumps in these categories resulted in a decrease in regular home pending sales.
  • Q3 2011 Scottsdale 85266 Home Sales: Regular sales made up more than half of sales in Q3 at 61%. Short sales were the next most popular at 24% and foreclosures were 15% of the market. If you look at the qaurterly summaries below, short sales made up a larger percentage of home sales in Q3 than they had in Q1 and Q2.
  • 85266 Home Prices: The average sales price was pretty close for all three categories. The spread is usually a bit larger. Non-distressed sales came in with the highest average, which is to be expected. Short sales were next, followed by lender-owned.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: Home buyers for regular homes saw an average discount of 8% and short sale buyers saw a 5% average. This is pretty typical. What was interesting was that foreclosure buyers only saw an average discount of 1%, which is less than the average of 5% or so that we have been seeing.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale through Q3 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales Zip Code 85266 Through Q3 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

If you want to see this information for the City of Scottsdale AZ, please see these previous reports:

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q2 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q1 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 10/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for  sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85266 for Q3 2011. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales By Type Q3 2011 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Here are the results for home sales in North Scottsdale’s 85262 zip code. for Q3 2011

Scottsdale Arizona’s 85262 zip code is the northernmost zip code in Scottsdale and there, you can find several of the area’s top private golf communities including  Desert Mountain, Troon North, Legend Trail and Estancia. Since 85262 is located at a higher elevation than downtown Scottsdale, temperatures can be a few degrees cooler in the warm summer months. The higher elevation also means that many 85262 homes and lots have some incredible city light and mountain views.

This report looks at third quarter activity for home sales in 85262. The home sales activity has been broken into three categories and they are defined below.

– Non-Distressed Sales – These sales are “regular” or “traditional” home sales. In this scenario you are undoubtedly familiar with, the home seller and the home buyer work together to negotiate the terms of the sale and continue to work together throughout the transaction until the close of escrow.
– Short Sales – Short sales are when the homeowner is trying to sell the home “short” of what is owed on the home. Due to this, the lienholder (also known as the “lender”) will have to grant approval on the terms of the sale.  Quite often, there is more than one lienholder involved and all parties with a stake in the transaction will need to approve the sale.
– Foreclosures – Foreclosures are just what they sound like. They are homes that have been through the foreclosure process and are now back in the possession of the lienholder who initiated the foreclosure process. You may also hear these called “Lender-Owned” homes, “REO'” homes or “Bank-Owned” homes.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales Market for Q3 2011 – Data as of October 1, 2011

  • Active Scottsdale 85262 Homes For Sale: 90% of the homes on the market at the end of Q3 were regular sales. Short sales and foreclosures made up the last 10%.
  • 85262 Pending Homes for Sale: As we have seen historically, regular home sales drop off in weight when you look at pending sales. Here, they drop to 63% of the pending sale inventory. Short sales grew from 8% of the active market to 26% of the pending category. Foreclosures also saw a jump in representation from 3% of actives to 11% of pendings.
  • Q3 2011 Scottsdale 85262 Home Sales: Regular home sales only accounted for 47% of Q3 sales, even though they were 90% of the inventory on the market at the end of the quarter. Foreclosures saw a huge part of the home sales, with 30%, even though they were only 3% of the homes on the market.
  • 85262 Home Prices: Regular homes sales’ average sales price came in the highest at just under $1 million. We expect to see the highest average sales price with regular sales. What is interesting, is that short sales usually come in with the next highest average sales price, but in 85262 in Q3, foreclosures came in second with a little over $700K. Short sales had the lowest average price in the $500K range.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: Typically, we see about a 10% discount off of asking price for regular sales and then about a 5% or less discount on short sales and foreclosures. However, for Q3 2011 in Scottsdale zip code 85262, the discount was pretty even with about a 10% discount.

Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85262 real estate sales through Q3 2011

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales Zip Code 85262 Through Q3 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

To see this same information for the entire City of Scottsdale AZ, please visit these previous reports:

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q2 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q1 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%.Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 10/1/2011 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for  sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85262 for Q3 2011. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

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