Scottsdale AZ Real Estate & Lifestyle

Live Better in Scottsdale - eXp Realty

Heather Tawes Nelson

Where to Shop in Scottsdale AZ: BeStitched Needlepoint

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BeStitched Needlepoint Scottsdale AZ 85260

Last weekend, a new needlepoint store opened in Scottsdale, Arizona and  BeStitched Needlepoint is sure to become a local favorite. Located in the shopping mall on the Northwest corner of Shea and the 101 in Scottsdale, BeStitched’s central location makes it easy to get to.

Forget any preconceived notions of what you think a typical needlepoint store looks like. The design of BeStitched is contemporary, bright and cheerful. Black and white checkerboard BeStitched Needlepoint Scottsdale Craftsfloors set off the white walls and decor. Bright pops of green and hot pink make the space vibrant. There are plenty of comfortable, yet functional places for people to come in and create or simply collaborate.

The walls are covered by a huge selection of canvases and embroidery projects. The sales floor has tons of thread options and colors as well as decorative choices and items. BeStitched also has a large number of stitching tools to help with your projects and literature to help out beginners and experts alike. They also carry a large and fun selection of bags and totes that can be used to hold projects-in-process or to use in your day-to-day life.

In addition to all of the wonderful product offerings, BeStitched will offer several classes throughout the year.  Classes will range from everything from beginning needlepoint to advanced stitching courses. For example, the featured class this month is an Embellishment Class to be taught by Alice Hall.

BeStitched Needlepoint Classes Scottsdale AZ 85260There are also offerings for kids who would like to learn how to needlepoint. There will be beginner workshops and canvases are available for all skill levels. If you want to make an event of it, BeStitched also offers a birthday party and other options.

If you have a chance, definitely stop by BeStitched Needlepoint and visit the new store to see all that it offers.

More Information:
BeStitched Needlepoint – Where Needlepoint Magic Happens
8568 East Shea Boulevard, Suite 1
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
– Northwest corner of Shea and the 101
Phone: (480) 991-0706
www.bestitchedneedlepoint.com
– Open Monday through Saturday 10am- 5pm

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – May 2011

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The Scottsdale AZ luxury home market continued to perform well in the month of May 2011. This monthly report looks at single-family luxury homes for sale and luxury homes sales in Scottsdale over the past 12 months. It also includes pending home sales information. For the purposes of this analysis, I am defining luxury homes as those homes with list prices of $1 million or more.

– May 2011 –

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: At the end of May, there were 219 homes for sale in this price segment. This number has been decreasing since October of 2010 and represents an 11.7% drop over April’s figure.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were up again in May to 38. This was an 11.8% jump over April. This is the highest we have seen this figure in the last 12 months and the last time we saw this figure in the 30’s was May 2010. This is well ahead of the 12 month average of 24 pending sales.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Sales were down a little in May over April to 24. This is still a decent sales figure and it is ahead of the 12 month average of 20.
–Sales Price to Listed Price: 88.5% – This ratio dropped back down into the 80%’s after being in the low 90%’s for two months. However, this number is more or less in the ballpark with what we have been seeing over the last year.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Between $1 and $1.5 Million

 

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 – $1,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: At month’s end, there were 143 homes on the market in this price point. This number has been solidly in the 160’s for most of the last year, so the drop to 143 represented a 12.3 decrease in inventory.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Fifteen homes were pending at the end of May. This is a little lower than April, but still ahead of the 12 month average of 13.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold:  Twelve homes sold last month, double of what sold in April.  This was the second best performance we have seen in the last 12 months.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 89.9% – This is a good ratio as this number tends to run a little lower.
Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Between $1.5 and $2 Million

 

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 – $2,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Only 128 homes were active in the $2 million range at the end of May. This number has been steadily decreasing since the beginning of the year and is well below the 12 month average of 153.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Only four homes were pending at the end of the month. This is the lowest we have seen this figure since June of 2010. It is much lower than the 12 month average of 7 pending sales.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Six homes sold in May, which is on target with the 12 month average.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 88.4% – This is a pretty typical figure for this price point.
Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Between $2 and $3 Million

 

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The inventory for homes over $3 million dipped below 100 last month to 98, a 7.5% decrease over April.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Seven homes were in pending status at month’s end. This is the highest we have seen this figure since November of 2010.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold:  There were for home sales for more than $3 million in May. This is up one sale over April and is just ahead of the 12 month average of 3 home sales.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 83.9% – This is the third month in a row that this figure has been in the 80%’s. Quite often, it will dip into the 70%’s.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Over $3 Million

Scottsdale luxury home sales enjoyed a reasonably strong May 2011. Inventory is down, in some cases quite a bit, across the board. Pending sales stayed solid, which should help June’s figures. Sales were mixed, but still put in a decent showing.

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 6/1/2011 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 – May 2011

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Here are the latest numbers for the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo market. This report covers the month of May 2011 and looks at condo sales and condo sales activity for units with asking prices in excess of $1 million.

Pending Luxury Condo Sales – Two of the three pending sales can be found in Phoenix. One of them is one we have been tracking over the past several months.  It is a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom unit at  The Residences at 2211 Camelback. The asking price was $1,100,000 and the square footage came in at 4,000. The other pending sale in Phoenix is at the Two Biltmore Estates community. The unit was a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 3,560 square foot unit on the ground floor that was listed for $1,395,000. The third pending luxury condo sale was in Scottsdale at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences in Downtown Scottsdale. This one was a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom with 2,287 square feet. It was listed for $1,199,990.

May 2011 Luxury Condo Sales -There were two luxury condo sales in May and they were both in Scottsdale. The first sale was at the Kierland Plaza Lofts. It was a 2 bedroom. 3 bathroom unit with 2,846 square feet. The list price was $1,725,000 and it sold for $1,500,000. The second sale was at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences. It was a three bedroom, three and one-half bathroom,  3,860 square foot condo. The list price was $2,599,000 and it sold for $2,200,000.

 

Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condo Market 2011

Overall, May was a strong month for the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo market. There was good sales activity and two units ended up closing. With three pending sales, ideally two of those will close in June.

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 6/1/2010 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 – May 2011

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Here are May 2011’s figures for  Scottsdale homes for sale. This analysis looks at Scottsdale single-family home sales activity on a monthly basis over the past 12 months.  To get a better sense of the market, I have divided the information into three groups – Scottsdale homes for sale, pending home sales and Scottsdale homes sold in May.

Scottsdale AZ Home Sale Data May 2011

 

Scottsdale Real Estate Report May 2011

May Highlights for Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale:

  • Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: As you can clearly see, the number of single-family homes on the market has been decreasing quite a bit over the last several months. In fact, we saw a 12% drop over April to 1,908 homes at the end of May. The 12 month average is 2,494 homes.
  • Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending home sales were up again to the highest levels seen in the last 12 months to 665 pending sales at the end of May. This is well above the 12 month average of 516 pending sales.
  • Scottsdale Homes Sold: 471 homes sold in May, down 10 home sales over April. This is the second highest we have seen this figure in the last year. The 12 month average for monthly home sales is 382.
  • Sales Price to List Price: 93.2% – This is pretty typical.  This number hovers in the 92% to 94% range.

May 2011 was another great month for Scottsdale home sales. Home sales were sat the second highest level we have seen in a year and pending sales are at a new annual high. This bodes well for June 2011 home sales. And, inventory continues to decrease as we have been seeing since the beginning of the year.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 6/1/2011 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

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: The Herb Box

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What started out as a catering company in the mid-1990’s, The Herb Box has blossomed into a mini-chain of restaurants serving Scottsdale residents delicious, fresh and healthy food. The Herb Box’s original location was on Shea and a few years ago, they expanded into North Scottsdale with a restaurant on DC Ranch’s Market Street. There is a second Herb Box location in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale on 5th Avenue as well.

The Herb Box is a big proponent of using locally-sourced items in their offerings and has been doing so long before it became the “in” thing to do. The menu is creative and diverse without being overwhelming. For lunch and dinner, patrons can choose from a large number of shared plates, fresh salads, side dishes, flatbreads, enchiladas and grilled items. For lunch, there are also quite a few sandwich and wrap choices.  At dinner, a cheese and charcuterie course is offered as well as an expanded list of side dishes. For breakfast and brunch, there are a large number of sweet and savory items. For instance, they offer items like Red Velvet Pancakes as well as omelets, breakfast burritos and more.

The Herb Box Restaurant DC Ranch North Scottsdale

The Herb Box is one of my favorite places to have lunch and both locations have ample indoor and outdoor seating available. For people with gluten allergies or who prefer to eat gluten-free, there are many menu items that are naturally gluten-free or can be prepared gluten-free if asked for. There are also some vegan choices as well.

Some of our favorite things to eat include the Chilled Cilantro-Lime Crab Dip. The cool, refreshing dip comes with crispy plantain chips. The Urban Market Steak Salad is another excellent choice. The sweet dried corn really gives it an interesting texture.  If you are looking for something a little more hearty, the Grilled Chicken and Sage Pesto Sandwich is delicious. It comes with goat cheese, sliced apple and bacon. And, be sure not to miss the homemade Sweet Potato Chips. They are delicious and it is hard to stop eating them once you get started.

The Herb Box Market is another option if you do not have time for a sit-down meal or just want to grab something on the go. The market offers prepared meals, baked goods and other specialty items. And, not to forget its roots, The Herb Box still offers catering for everything from small gatherings to larger parties.

If you are looking for a tasty, charming meal with creative and fresh food, be sure to give The Herb Box a try.

More Information:
The Herb Box – Two Scottsdale Locations

The Herb Box DC Ranch
20707 N Pima Rd # 140
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 289-6180

The Herb Box – Old Town Scottsdale – New Location
7051 E. 5th Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 289-6160

– Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Sunday Brunch is served as well.

Support a Charity in Scottsdale AZ: St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance

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photoLooking for a great way to give back and support your fellow Scottsdale and Phoenix area residents? St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is a wonderful local charity that has a number of ways for you to contribute and participate. With over 875,000 Arizonans living in poverty, St. Mary’s provides invaluable services.

St. Mary’s Food Bank is a well-known local charity and it has numerous promotions and fundraisers going on across the Valley at any time. It serves over two thirds of Arizona’s counties and in the 2009-2010 time frame., the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance distributed 72 million pounds of food to needy Arizona residents. That translates to 275,000 meals a day.

There are several ways you can give back and help St. Mary’s with its mission:

  • Monetary Donations– Monetary donations are always welcomed. And what is amazing is how far your donation will go. A mere $30 donation will provide food for 210 meals. And if you increase that to $120, you will have provided enough food for 840 meals.
  • Food Drives- Partner up with friends, your company or local businesses and put together a food drive. This is a great way to collect non-perishable items to re-stock the food bank’s shelves. Click here to learn more about organizing a food drive for St. Mary’s.
  • Volunteer Your Time – There are many volunteering needs all over the state. Whether it is helping implement a children’s lunch program or packing boxes in the warehouse, there are always things you can do to help. Click here for more information on volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank. You can volunteer individually or as a group. Here are some current volunteering options.
  • Buy-a-Bird– The Buy-a-Bird program is quite popular during the holiday season. With this program, you buy an entire turkey and feed an entire family.
  • Charity Charms – Charity charms are a great way to support St. Mary’s Food Bank. When you buy a charm or bracelet, 25% of all proceeds go back to St. Mary’s.
  • Upcoming Events – At any time, there are events going on all over the state. One upcoming event is the Rock ‘n Box. On eight different Tuesday evenings, Valley residents can spend a couple of hours at the distribution center packing emergency food boxes. This is a really fun event and slots fill up quickly. To register, call the Volunteer Services Department at (602) 343-3128. Here is a link to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Blog to stay on top of what is happening.

More information:
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
2831 North 31st Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: (602) 242-FOOD (3663)
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Website

 

Where to Take Your Pet to the Vet in Scottsdale AZ: Animal Health Services of Cave Creek

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Animal Health Services Cave Creek AZ Scottsdale VetWhether you are a full-time Scottsdale resident or simply a seasonal visitor to the Scottsdale area, it is always nice to know of a great local animal care facility in case of illness or injury or for ongoing health care and maintenance. Animal Health Services in Cave Creek is a wonderful one to know. Cave Creek is located just north and west of Scottsdale and is a quick drive for North Scottsdale residents.

Animal Health Services has a wide variety of animal health care services. The doctors and veterinary technicians offer everything from preventative care to advanced care for dogs, cats, birds and more. They are a very technologically-advanced office and fully-equipped hospital. They offer many high-tech procedures on-site including CTs, endoscopy, ultrasound and lasers. By having so many tools available on-site, it is less likely that your pet will have to be referred out to a specialist.

One of the newest offerings Animal Health Services debuted in March of 2011 is 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week. This is a great resource for when medical emergencies crop up after-hours.

In addition to the traditional medical care offered, Animal Health Services also offers nutrition services, reproductive services and spa and grooming services. There is a wealth of information on their website including a very timely article on how to prevent heat stroke in your pets.

North Scottsdale Vet Animal CareOne of the things that Animal Health Services apart from their competitors is the level of service pets and pet owners receive. Currently, there are seven full-time veterinarians and a staff of about forty people. Upon entering you are always greeted with a friendly welcome. The rest of the staff, whether it be the techs, receptionists or doctors are very amicable, professional and great at what they do. We have had visits with almost all of the doctors and all of them have been wonderful. Treats are available for your pets post visit and owners can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea as they wait or during the doctor visit.

If you are looking for great veterinary care in North Scottsdale, Carefree or Cave Creek, you should certainly give Animal Health Services a try.

More Information:
Animal Health Services
37555 North Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(480) 488-6181
Animal Health Services Website

Standard Hours:
Monday 8AM-10PM
Tuesday 8AM-10PM (Closed from noon to 2PM)
Wednesday 8AM-10PM
Thursday 8AM-10PM
Friday 8AM-5PM
Saturday 8AM-12PM
– Animal Health Services also offers 24-Hour/ 7 Day a Week Emergency Care

 

 

Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: May and June 2011

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Hike or Bike Mc Dowell Sonoran Preserve Scottsdale AZEven though the official “Season” is over here in Scottsdale, AZ, there are still plenty of things going on for local residents and visitors. Here are just a few of the upcoming events in and around Scottsdale.

  • The weekend of May 21 and 22 is the last weekend of the Queen Creek Peach Festival at Schnepf Farms.
  • Ready for some fun? Mamma Mia is playing at the ASU Gammage Theater between May 17-22. If you want something a little more dramatic, Les Miserables is also coming to ASU Gammage from June 7-12.
  • The City of Scottsdale is Turning 60! – Enjoy 60 days of events celebrating this momentous occasion. Art events, hikes and exercise, parties and more are all part of the plan. Events run from April 26th to June 26th.
  • Old Town Scottsdale ArtMusic in the Garden at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden wraps for the season on May 27th. If you are looking for something for the younger set or family fun, on Thursdays and Saturdays at 7PM starting in June, you can do a flashlight tour of the garden. What a great way to learn about the Sonoran Desert at night.
  • From May 1 – July 3rd, The McCormick Stillman Railroad Park is hosting free Sunday evening concerts featuring local artists. The concerts run from 7:30-9:00pm and food will be available for purchase on most of those nights. In addition, the train and carousel will remain open during the concert hours.
  • Movie Mondays at the Heard Museum are going on from May 23rd to June 27th.  A large selection of movies from Code Talkers to a profile of a dancer to 100 Years of Weaving will be shown. Movies are complimentary with museum entrance ticket.
  • June 4th to July 30th, Kierland Commons will be launching its evening summer concert series as well. Concerts will take place from 7-9pm on Saturdays. Looking to cool off at Kierland during the day? The seasonal Splash Pad is now open daily through October 31st.

This is just a partial list of some upcoming events in Scottsdale. Feel free to add any events in the comment section.

 

 

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