Heather Tawes Nelson

2018 Holiday Events in Scottsdale

November 17, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– 2018 Holiday Celebrations in Scottsdale –

The holiday season is now in full swing, which means there are tons of holiday events going on in and around Scottsdale.

Here are some noteworthy celebrations and events going on over the next month:

The Polar Express– Now through January 5th – The Polar Express has been a family favorite for years. Starting in Williams, take a magical train ride to the North Pole.
Illumination Symphony of Light – November 14th – January 5th – Come experience this magical drive-through light extravaganza. Millions of lights will be on displays that are synchronized to holiday music. This year, there are two locations – one in North Phoenix and one in Tempe. (The Tempe location is open November 16th- December 31st.) In North Phoenix, once you are done, feel free to park and play or grab a bite to eat.
Desert Ridge Holiday Events – November 19th – December 28th – Desert Ridge has a large number of events planned over the next month. The kickoff is the Tree Lighting on November 19th. There will be Cirque-like performers, elves, and more. Santa himself will light the tree and sbow will fall. From there, experience nightly snowfall, readings from Mrs. Claus, holiday movie screenings, live music and so much more.
Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – November 20th – December 31st – The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is going all in again on its Christmas celebration. There are rides, light displays, ice skating, S’moresland, visits from Santa and character appearances and more! Both young and old will be amazed and entertained. Click here for more information.
Phoenix Zoo’s Zoolights – November 21st – January 13th – Zoolights is one of the most popular holiday events in the Phoenix area. Millions of lights bring hundreds of displays to life nightly and music in motion shows by the lake are sure to delight. There is a 200 foot long Polar Slide and live entertainment almost every night.
Scottsdale’s Scottsdazzle – November 24th – December 22nd – Downtown Scottsdale is bringing back Scottsdazzle. On November 24th, there will be a tree lighting ceremony and sing along. Scottsdazzle includes over a month of exciting events, concerts and dazzling lights.
Nativities of the World – November 24th – November 25th – Come see over 150 nativity sets from all over the world. This event will be held at the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek.
The Santa Social at Scottsdale Quarter – November 24th – Scottsdale Quarter will kick off its holiday season with the Santa Social. There will be kids activities and entertainment, special appearances, photos with Santa and so much more. Cap off the afternoon with the tree lighting at 6PM and a screening of Home Alone. On November 30th at 6PM, they will be screening A Christmas Story.
Holiday in Paradise at Kierland Commons – November 24th – From noon to 7PM, Kierland will be hosting a holiday event in the center square. There will be story time with Mrs. Claus and live music. Santa will be available for photos from November 23rd through December 24th. (Reservations recommended)
Menorah Workshop – November 25th– The Chabad of Scottsdale has partnered with Home Depot to provide Build-Your-Own menorahs. In addition, there will be snacks, music, a raffle and more.
Christmas in Carefree– November 30th – December 9th – Downtown Carefree will kick off the season with a tree lighting, performances and screening of The Polar Express on November 30th. And from December 2nd- December 9th, there will be a nightly menorah lighting. The weekend of December 7th – 9th will feature lots of events and family fun.
The Holiday Show with Southwest Shakespeare – November 30th – December 2nd – These talented actors will present a musical revue and variety show with special guests at Taliesen West.
Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden – December 1st – December 31st – 8,000 luminaria lanterns will be hand-lit each evening and provide a beautiful glow all through the Desert Botanical Garden. Live entertainment and cocoa or cider will add to the fun. (Event will not take place on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day.)
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Celebration – December 3rd – The Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix is hosting a Hanukkah party that will include latkes and kosher Brooklyn beer.
Holiday Lights at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – November 30th – January 6th – This annual event is a favorite for folks all over the Valley. The event kicks off on November 30th with a tree lighting hosted by Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. And, for you, Family Circus cartoon fans, Jeff Keane (the co-creator) will be handing out autographed calendars. From there, almost every evening the park will come alive with thousands of lighted displays. Hop on the train for a magical tour of the exhibits. This year, the park is offering a select number of fast passes for the train ride each evening for an additional fee.
Phoestivus – December 13th and 20th – Fans of Seinfeld will love this event that takes place twice in December, benefitting the Phoenix Open Air Market. Seinfeld references will abound – “Pheats” of Strength anyone? Local vendors in the holiday market will be selling food, beverages and gifts. Don’t miss Hipster Santa!
The Nutcracker with the Phoenix Ballet – December 14th – 16th and 20th -23rd – This holiday tradition lives on. People of all ages will delight as they watch the Sugar Plum Fairy and her entourage entertain and delight. And, if you cannot make the Phoenix performances, you can also catch the Nutcracker at the Chandler Center of the Arts and the Mesa Arts Center.

As always, this is just a partial list, so feel free to add any other events in the comment section.

Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Event subject to change. Some events are free, while others have an admission fee or items for purchase.

Quick Video Update of the Scottsdale Real Estate Market – October 2018

November 13, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– October 2018 Scottsdale Housing Market Video –

October 2018 – Video

Here is a one-minute video overview of the Scottsdale, Arizona real estate market for the month of October.

Scottsdale Active Listings

This first screenshot is looking at the number of homes for sale at the end of October 2018 in comparison with October 2017. Inventory year-over-year was down 18%.

This is a similar statistic, but this time is it looking at active listings between the end of September and the end of October 2018.

The number of homes for sale were up 5% .

Median List Price for Scottsdale Homes

The median list price tells you the midpoint price of all of the homes for sale. So, half of the homes are listed higher and half are listed lower.

In October 2018, the median list price in Scottsdale was $880,000. This was up over last October’s $824,300.

Days on Market

The Days on Market (abbreviated as DOM) is a popular measurement. It measures how long on average it is taking homes to sell.

Scottsdale’s Days on Market for October 2018 was 87. This is down 2% from the same time period last year.

Median Sales Price for Scottsdale Homes

Similar to the median list price, we are now looking median sales price, the exact middle of all the homes’ sales prices for the month.

The median sales price in October 2108 was $570,000. This is up from the previous month’s median sales price of $575,000 and well above October 2017’s median sales price of $490,000.

Number of Homes Sold

Now we will take a look at home sales activity.

This top image covers homes sales activity in October 2018 compared to October 2017.

Home sales declined by 8%.

This image also shows home sales, but now we are comparing October’s home sales to September’s.

Sales rebounded and were up 11% over the prior month.

We hope that you found this video and commentary helpful as you gather more information to make smart informed real estate decisions.

For more Scottsdale real estate information or if you have any questions about the local area, feel free to contact Joyce at (480) 209-7843 or Joyce@LiveBetterinScottsdale.com.

Click to watch other videos on our Live Better in Scottsdale YouTube Channel

Disclaimer: Data deemed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.

The City of Scottsdale’s Maps Page

November 10, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– City of Scottsdale Maps –

If you had not had a chance to peruse the City of Scottsdale’s website recently, I highly suggest you take a couple of minutes to do so. It is jam-packed with helpful information for residents, businesses and visitors. I actually touched on how much relevant information I found on the site last year and wrote a post about it.

In this post, I wanted to talk specifically about the Scottsdale Maps Page and what you can find on it.

There are eight interactive maps offered and I will touch briefly on each one.

City Services and Schools – Here you can enter your address or an address of a home you may be considering and you will then see a list of helpful information such as trash and recycling pick-up days, your school district, your water provider and your congressional and legislative districts.
Public Amenities – Here you can easily locate Scottsdale parks, entrances to trailheads, find out where the libraries are located and more. It also lists all of Scottsdale’s fire stations.
Historical Aerials – This is a great aerial view of Scottsdale where you can zoom in to explore.
My Neighborhood – This is another map where you enter your address or the address of a property of interest. Colored push pins will show you and plans under review, code updates and/or code violations in the area.
Parcel Information – This one shows parcel boundaries and zoning for a particular address.
Crime Maps – This is a third-party map that shows any criminal activity in an area. You can sort and drill down to get more specific information.
Free Trolley & Parking – Old Town is one of the best parts of Scottsdale and is quite popular. This map shows you were you can find public parking as well as shows you the route for the Free Trolley service Scottsdale offers.
Traffic Restrictions – This is just what you would expect. This map highlights areas where there are closures and construction projects.

And below these eight interactive maps are links to even more great information like bike trail maps, environmentally sensitive areas and so much more.

This section of the website is a great resource!

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – October 2018

November 6, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Luxury Condo Sales in Scottsdale and Phoenix – October 2018 –

The Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market saw a bit more activity in October after two very quiet months.

In this report, we are looking at luxury condo sales activity in the cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix. All of these homes had asking prices in excess of $1 million.

ACTIVE LISTINGS AT THE END OF OCTOBER

October ended with forty-three luxury condos on the market. Most of them, 26, were located in Scottsdale and the remaining seventeen were in located in Phoenix.

The most expensive condo for sale was a carryover from September. This impressive home at the Plaza Lofts at Kierland has three bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 3,567 square feet. It was listed for $3,750,000.

The least expensive condo was located in the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences. It had two bedrooms and bathrooms and 1,586 square feet. Its list price was $1,075,000.

UCB* LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

There were three units in UCB status at the end of October and all of them were located in Scottsdale.

ICON at Silverleaf: This community is under development. This unit will have three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 3,170 square feet. It was listed for $2,174,000.
The Landmark Condominiums had two UCBs.
- Three bedrooms, two and 3/4 bathrooms, 2,504 square feet. Listed for $1,250,000.
- Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 4,471 square feet. Listed for $2,650,000.

*UCB status means a condo has an accepted contract, but that the seller has requested that they accept backup offers. Most times you will see this status when the contract is in the inspection/due diligence period.

PENDING LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

Five luxury condos were pending at the end of the month.

Three of these pending sales have been carryovers for several months as they are located in a community under development.

Pending Condos in Scottsdale:

Optima Camelview: Four bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, 3,680 square feet. Listed for $1,450,000.
ICON at Silverleaf (under development):
- Three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, 3,170 square feet. Listed for $2,174,000.
- Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 3,170 square feet. Listed for $2,074,000.
- Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 3,170 square feet. Listed for $2,074,000.

Pending Condo in Phoenix:

The Residences at 2211 Camelback: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 3,000 square feet. Listed for $1,645,000.

LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

Three luxury condos sold in October. All three sales took place in Scottsdale.

Optima Camelview: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,871 square feet. It had been listed for $1,150,000 and sold for $1,000,000.
Optima Camelview: Three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, 3,223 square feet. Listed for $1,849,000 and sold for $1,775,000.
Main Street Place: Two bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms, 2,419 square feet. Listed for $1,450,000 and sold for $1,330,477.

Learn More About Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos

Search Phoenix and Scottsdale Luxury Condos for Sale

Disclaimer: Days on market figures are cumulative days on market. Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 11/1/2018 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at resale luxury condos in Scottsdale and Phoenix over the past 12 months. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. There may be new condo inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2018 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Scottsdale AZ Single Family Home Sales – October 2018

November 3, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– October 2018 Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Home Sales –

October, while still a little subdued due to the time of the year, saw sales activity pick up a little during the month compared to September.

SCOTTSDALE HOME SALES ACTIVITY – OCTOBER 2018

Each month, we look at the following sets of sales statuses:

– Single-family homes for sale – The orange line represents the number of homes on the market at the end of the month.*
– Under contract, but accepting backup offers (UCB) – The grey line is tracking how many homes were in UCB status at the end of the month.*
– Pending home sales – The yellow line represents the number of pending sales at the end of the month.*
– Home Sales – The blue line shows actual homes sales for that month.

OCTOBER 2018 RESULTS

Scottsdale Homes for Sale: The number of homes for sale jumped back up to levels we last saw in May. It seems many sellers are getting back onto the market in anticipation of the high season.
UCB (Under contract, accepting backup offers): UCB contracts saw a 17.9% rebound compared to the end of September, which is encouraging.
Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: However, pending sales dropped over 18% between the end of September and the end of October.
Scottsdale Home Sales: Home sales were up over 10% from the previous month. However, this sales figure is still on the lower end of the monthly sales compared to the last 12 months.

The following section contains two more things we track on a monthly basis.

The first part is a look at how the market performed relative to the prior month. For instance, the number of active listings at the end of October was up 9.1% compared to the end of September. This chart gives us insight into developing trends.

The second part is a quick ratio that looks at the actual sales prices of homes compared to what they were listed for. In October, this came in at 96.4%. So, on average, buyers received a 3.6% discount off of asking prices.

October got a little momentum back in terms of sales activity. I anticipate it will stay somewhat the same for the month of November, with a possible dip in activity due to Thanksgiving.

*Figures for active homes for sale, UCB sales and pending sales are based on the numbers at the end of the month.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Here is a sampling of some of the homes on the market, or click the link above to see all of the homes for sale.

Disclaimer: Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 11/1/2018. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2018 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Things to Do in Scottsdale – November 2018

October 30, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Scottsdale Events November 2018 –

Now that things have cooled off a little, Scottsdale’s social and cultural events have returned in force. November is chock-full of some great festivals, performances and more all over the Valley.

Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival – November 2nd – 4th – This is the 25th anniversary of this not-to-be-missed event in downtown Carefree. Stroll as you appreciate scores of original artworks by artists from all over while sampling various wines.
AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews – November 3rd– This new event celebrates spirits, wines and brews all made in Arizona. The event will take place at Salt River Fields and participants will get to sample a variety of these locally-made beverages.
Dia de los Muertos – November 3rd – 4th – The Desert Botanical Gardens is hosting a two day Dia de los Muertos festival to celebrate the holiday. There will be music, dancing, crafts, shopping, storytelling and so much more.
Wine and Food Experience – November 3rd- 4th – This event is brought to you by Martha Stewart and features celebrity chefs like Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Samuelsson. There will be food and beverage tastings, cooking classes, entertainment and so much more. It will take place at WestWorld of Scottsdale.
Canal Convergence at the Scottsdale Waterfront – November 9th – 18th – This is another one of our favorite local events. The Scottsdale Waterfront becomes a surreal, outdoor art experience. Interact with the art, hear from artists and so much more. Admission is free.
Chilies and Chocolate Festival – November 9th – 11th – The Desert Botanical Gardens is hosting another fun event with the Chiles and Chocolate festival. Sample and purchase chocolates, salsas and chile dishes from Arizona businesses. There will also be music and performances throughout.
Scottsdale Polo Championships – November 10th – 11th – The Polo Party is back and bigger and better than ever this year! In addition to thrilling polo action, there will be rugby tournaments, performances by The Phoenix Symphony and bagpipers, luxury automobiles, a wine and cheese tasting tent and so much more.
A Miner’s Dinner – November 13th – This fundraiser for the Cave Creek Museum will feature cowboy ballads and a chuck wagon meal from Buffalo Chip. There will be blacksmith demonstrations, a silent auction and so much more.
Dog Days in the Garden – November 17th – It is a busy month at the Desert Botanical Garden! On the 17th, you can bring your pup to the DBG and take a stroll on the trails, meet dog-related vendors and more. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Human Society.
Harry Potter and The Phoenix Symphony – November 23rd – 25th – Listen to the score being performed live as you watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
So You Think You Can Dance Tour – November 28th – If you are a fan of the TV dance competition, you will want to attend the live show at the Comerica Theater in Phoenix. See top finishers from this past season perform.

As always, this is just a partial list of things going on. Feel free to leave any additional events in the comment section.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – September 2018

October 27, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market Performance for September 2018 –

September was another quiet month for the Scottsdale luxury home market. This time of year is our slow season so this is to be expected.

This analysis takes a look at luxury home sales in Scottsdale over the previous twelve months. The sales figures have been split into four different price ranges to show additional detail.

Each month, we track the following four things:
Active – How many homes were for sale at the end of the month.
UCB (Under Contract Accepting Backup Offers) – How many homes were under contract, but still accepting backup offers at the end of the month.
Pending – How many home sales were pending at the end of the month.
Sold – The number of homes sold that month.

– SEPTEMBER 2018 –

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999

– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was up again at the end of September to 247.
– UCB Scottsdale Home Sales: UCBs were up by one compared to August. This is still well below the 12 month average of 32.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were down slightly to 28, which is not too far off of the 12 month average of 31.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Sales dropped over 32% between August and September. However, if you look at the similar time in 2017, this is not unexpected.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 95.2% – On average, buyers saw a discount off of list price of 4.8%

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 – $1,999,999

– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes for sale was up almost 6% between August and September.
– UCB Scottsdale Home Sales: UCB sales fell by half between the two months. However, August was a very strong month for UCB contracts.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were down slightly by one.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: This was the brightest point of the sales month. Home sales in this price point more than doubled. There were 21 sales, well ahead of the 12 month average of 15. This is also far and away the highest number of sales in the past year.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 95.1% – On average, buyers saw a discount off of list price of 4.9%.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 – $2,999,999

– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of active homes edged up slightly by the end of September.
– UCB Scottsdale Home Sales: UCB homes were also up slightly to seven. This is on par with the 12 month average.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales only fell by one between August to September.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales fell over 38% between the two months. However, this is seasonal in nature.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 97.1% – On average, buyers saw a discount off of list price of 2.9%.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+

– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The inventory of homes for sale jumped almost 20% and closed out over 100 for the first time since June.
– UCB Scottsdale Home Sales: UCB sales fell sharply to three. This is well below the 12 month average of three.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: There were no pending sales at the end of September.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Sales stayed the same at three.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 99.1% – On average, buyers saw a discount off of list price of 0.9%.

Sales activity was slow across the board in September, with the exception of homes priced in the $1.5 to $2 million range. I expect more of the same for October.

If you would like additional detail on home sales activity, please visit our Scottsdale Luxury Home Market Reports page and click on the downloadable “Scottsdale Market Trends” report.

Search Scottsdale Luxury Homes for Sale

Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 10/1/2018 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 expressed or implied.
Copyright ©2018 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Buying a Scottsdale Home – What If It Is on Septic?

October 23, 2018 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Buying a Scottsdale Home on a Septic System –

Most homes in Scottsdale are connected to the public sewer system. However, as you get further north or into less-developed areas, there is a good chance your home will come with a septic system.

What Is a Septic System?
Very basically, it is an underground wastewater treatment system that processes wastewater from your home. It replaces the need for being attached to a sewer system.

The Home I Want to Purchase Is on Septic – Now What?

When a home is on septic and is being sold, the septic system is required to be inspected per the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and a report must be presented before the close of escrow.

Since septic systems can be found all over Arizona, the Arizona Association of Realtors® (AAR) has developed a form that is used in the purchase process when a home is on septic.

This form that is used is called the ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY ADDENDUM and it was just updated in June 2018. The form clarifies the process, the sellers’ responsibilities as well as the buyers’ options. If you click on the image, it will bring up sample of this form for your review.

Some key points to note:

The seller is responsible for scheduling and paying for the septic inspection. This can be done at most six months in advance or no more than twenty days after the contract was accepted. (This timeframe can be negotiated between the parties.)
The report must be presented to the buyer no later than 20 days after contract acceptance, unless another timeframe was negotiated.
If the system is found to be non-functional or cannot be certified, the seller may be obligated to pay up to 1% of the purchase price to repair it.
Based on the findings of the report, buyers can elect to cancel the contract and receive their Earnest Money funds back.

This is just a quick overview of how buying a home on a septic system in Scottsdale works. If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact us.

Disclaimer: This post is meant to be educational and general in nature and does not include all of the information on buying a home on septic or all of the provisions outlined in the On-site Wastewater Treatment Facility Addendum. There may be some real estate sales where a septic system is not inspected. Please consult a professional if you would like more specifics about septic systems, inspections and your home.

Photo by SoilScience.info

2018 Holiday Events in Scottsdale

– 2018 Holiday Celebrations in Scottsdale –

Quick Video Update of the Scottsdale Real Estate Market – October 2018