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Things to Do in Scottsdale – Early May 2015

April 28, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Scottsdale Events- Early May 2015 –

Things are still in full swing in Scottsdale as we approach May. Here are a few that you may feel like checking out over the next few weeks:

– Through May 3rd – Ballet Arizona presents All Balanchine, three of George Balanchine’s works created in three different decades at Symphony Hall in Phoenix.

– Through May 10th – Butterfly Pavillion at Desert Botanical Garden – These are the final weeks to enjoy the Butterfly Pavillion. Walk through the lush greenery and watch hundreds of butterflies in flight or resting on leaves nearby.

– May 1- 29 on Friday Evenings – Music in the Garden at Desert Botanical Garden. This is another great way
to experience the Desert Botanical Garden. Each week will feature an outdoor concert among the desert flora and fauna.

– May 2nd- D-Backs Race Against Cancer – Raise money for the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation while
participating in a 5K or 1 mile race. The best part is it ends at Chase Field and you can run the bases on the field.

– May 2-3 – Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market – WestWorld will be hosting this vintage market where over 170 vendors will be offering handmade and vintage items for the home and garden.

– May 2- 28 – Concerts at the Musical Instrument Museum – All month long, the MIM will be hosting concerts covering a large number of genres including jazz, global, piano and more. Please visit the website for a full list of events.

– May 8th – The Moody Blues play at Talking Stick Resort – Listen to classic Moody Blues tunes and sing along as they perform on the poolside stage.

– May 9th – Mimosa Mornings Painting Class – Carrie Curran is taking her painting classes on the road. On
the morning of May 9th, the class will be held at The Hermosa Inn and participants will be guided through a painting as they enjoy mimosas and pastries.

– May 9-17 – Peach Festival at Schnepf Farms – Head on down to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek for all things
peach. Not only can you pick ripe peaches, you can enjoy peach goodies and peach pancakes. There will also be hayrides, rides, arts and crafts and more.

– May 12 and May 26 – Yoga in the Rainforest – The Butterfly Wonderland is hosting two special yoga events where participants can practice Vinyasa yoga in the company of beautiful butterflies.

These are just a couple of early May events going on in and around Scottsdale. I will be back with a list of ideas for late May. And, as always, if you have an event to add, please feel free to do so in the comment section.

Things to Do in Phoenix: High Street at CityNorth

April 25, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– High Street at City North Phoenix –

High Street in North Phoenix is in full swing. In the last month or so, several new businesses have opened and folks are really enjoying both the new and previous offerings. Plus, it regularly has incredibly fun local events.

High Street Dining

High Street has several restaurants, bars and other places for food and beverages.

On the fine dining end, you have Ocean Prime. Enjoy seafood, steak and more at this sleek establishment. Plus, they have a great patio for outdoor dining and drinks.

Are you a wine enthusiast? If so, be sure to head over to La Bocca Wine Bar & Urban Kitchen for some wine tasting and tasty Italian food and pizzas.

Other dining options include:

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar – Just opened
Blue Martini – Vibrant bar scene with a smaller bites menu
Kona Grill
Mojo Yogurt
Mellow Mushroom
Firehouse Subs – Just opened
Modern Margarita

High Street Entertainment and Things To Do

This is where High Street is excelling these days. It has become a destination for fun and creative ways to spend some time.

Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy – This stand-up locale brings in some well-known comedians and entertainers.
Me The Artist – This is a fun way to spend a few hours painting. An instructor will guide you through the process and you will leave with a personal masterpiece.
Pinspiration – This is one place I want to explore. It recently opened and allows you to re-create all sorts of Pinterest projects by providing all of the supplies and none of the clean-up!

High Street Shopping

Sprouts Farmers Market has just moved its headquarters into High Street and also launched the very first Sprouts Express Market. This smaller-scale market is perfect for quick grocery shopping and to-go items.
42 Saint – The upscale and fashion-forward brand has a shop at High Street.
LensCrafters
Almond Tree Wedding Boutique – Offering bridal gowns and so much more
Tea2G0 – Coming soon – Will offer over 100 types of loose leaf tea.

High Street Personal Services

High Street is a great destination for personal care and grooming. They have many providers to help you look and feel your best.

M3V Nail Bar – An upscale nail salon
Primp and Blow – Get an amazing blowout and look your best.
Barbershop Jack – Just opened – Get a modern experience in a classic barbershop setting.
Aspire Salon & Spa – Offering cuts, color, straightening and more. Plus facial options.
AZ Body Mechanics – Massage, fitness classes, sports rehab and chiropractic care.

For more information, please visit the High Street website.

Scottsdale Neighborhoods: Los Portones

April 21, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– North Scottsdale’s Los Portones Community –

Just east of Scottsdale Road and north of Pinnacle Peak Road is a gated community called Los Portones. The community itself is comprised of several smaller neighborhoods that each have their own unique character and charm. The home types vary in size and type and are attractive to both full-time residents as well as seasonal visitors.

The school district for these homes is the Paradise Valley Unified District #69.There are two major supermarkets nearby as well as a large number of dining options, shopping, dry cleaners and more.

Premiere at Pinnacle Peak

As you enter Los Portones from Scottsdale Road, the first community on your right will be the western Premiere at Pinnacle Peak neighborhood. The second Premiere at Pinnacle Peak neighborhood is found at the other end of Los Portones, also on the right.

Current home listings in Premiere at Pinnacle Peak range from $330,000 to $370,000.

Details:

133 Single Family Homes (between both) – All are single level with the exception of one home.
Built between 1992 -1994
Average Home Size: 1,548 square feet
Average Lot Size: 5,480 square feet or 0.13 acres
Homes with Pools: 21%
Community Pool: None
Search Homes for Sale at Premiere at Pinnacle Peak

Los Portones – Single-Family Homes

This is the first community on your left as you enter Los Portones from Scottsdale Road. The asking price for homes in Los Portones is in the $300,000 to $400,000 range.

Details:

62 Single Family Homes – All are single level with the exception of one home.
Built between 1993 -1994
Average Home Size: 1,769 square feet
Average Lot Size: 6,496 square feet or 0.15 acres
Homes with Pools: 23%
Community Pool: None
Search Los Portones Homes for Sale

Talara

Talara is the second community on the north side of Los Portones. The homes in Talara are larger than the homes found in the other communities and the lot sizes are slightly larger.

Asking prices for homes currently on the market in Talara range from $440,000 to $550,000.

Details:

104 Single Family Homes – 91 single level and 13 two-story
Built between 1992 -1994
Average Home Size: 2,637 square feet
Average Lot Size: 8,750 square feet or 0.2 acres
Homes with Pools: 62%
Community Pool: None
Search Talara Homes for Sale

Pinnacle Peak Villas

Pinnacle Peak Villas are a collection of townhomes on the south side of Los Portones. The home that is currently listed in this community is on the market for just under $330,000.

Details:

59 Townhomes – All single level
Built between 1988-1993
Average Home Size: 1,643 square feet
Average Lot Size: 4,817 square feet or 0.11 acres
Homes with Pools: 8%
Community Pool: Yes. Covered ramada and BBQ as well.
Search Pinnacle Peak Villas Townhomes for Sale

Los Portones – Townhomes

This is the farthest east community within Los Portones and it is gated. All of the homes in this neighborhood are townhomes and many overlook the adjacent large wash.

The asking price for the only townhome for sale at this time is $330,000.

Details:

102 Townhomes – 72 single level and 30 two-story
Built between 1987-1998
Average Home Size: 1,610 square feet
Average Lot Size: 3,155 square feet or 0.07 acres
Homes with Pools: 0%
Community Pool: Yes.
Search Los Portones Townhomes for Sale

Disclaimer: All information deemed accurate, but is not guaranteed. Map courtesy of ARMLS (Arizona Regional MLS).

Where to Shop in Scottsdale: Lost and Found Resale Interiors

April 17, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Scottsdale Shopping – Lost & Found Consignment –

The Scottsdale Airpark and Kierland areas are home to many wonderful consignment and resale stores. They feature furniture, art, decorative accessories and more.

I stopped into Lost + Found Resale Interiors recently and really liked what I found there. There was an excellent mix of styles, lots of variety and the store layout was well-designed. The store originally opened toward the end of 2012 and has been doing well since.

As you enter the store, there is a nice collection of outdoor furniture and decor, both old and new.

Upon entering, you immediately start taking in all of the well-curated items they have on display. For instance, on the day we walked in, there was a Crate and Barrel sectional sofa in excellent shape for a very competitive price. Other brands you may find include Robb and Stucky, Ethan Allen, Drexel Heritage, Kreiss, Pottery Barn, Baker and more.

All sorts of styles are represented, you will find some contemporary, some modern, some southwestern, some antique and more. Essentially, something for everyone.

The layout of the store is designed in a loop format with various galleries off to the side for you to explore. Each of the galleries has a mix of styles that blend well together and provide inspiration to shoppers looking for decorating ideas.

In addition to visiting the store, Lost and Found also provides an online shopping portal. You can browse the newest inventory and either purchase it online or head on over to the location for a closer look.

Service was very friendly when we were checking out and the checkout area is packed with lots of fun, small decor items to browse.

More Information:
Lost + Found Resale Interiors
15551 N Greenway Hayden Loop, #150
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 588-7006
Website

Business Hours:
Monday through Friday 10AM -5:30PM
Saturday 10AM- 5PM
Sunday Noon – 4PM

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Quick Video Update of the Scottsdale Real Estate Market in March 2015

April 14, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– March 2015 Scottsdale Housing Market Video –

Here is an overview of how Scottsdale’s real estate market is performing.

March 2015 – Video

Active Listings

The number of active homes on the market in Scottsdale was down slightly at the end of March to 2,,363.

This is a 9% drop from the same time period in 2014. We also saw a 2% decrease when comparing this figure to the previous month.

Median Listing Price

Scottsdale’s median listing price for homes in March was $800,000.

This is a large jump over March 2014 where the median list price was $665,000.

Days on Market

Days on market measures the length of time a home is on the market before it sells.

The average days on market for March 2015 was 109 days. This is up quite a bit (16%) compared to last March, where it was 94 days. And, it is also up quite a bit from February 2015, where the average days on market was 98.

Median Sales Price for Scottsdale Homes

March’s median sale price came in just under $470,000.

This is lower than March 2014, where the median sales price was almost $498,000. However it was an increase over February’s $444,200.

Number of Homes Sold

Home sales in Scottsdale were very strong in March 2015. In fact, this is the strongest sales month Scottsdale has had in the past year.

If you look at March 2014 sales compared to March 2015 sales, activity was up an impressive 18%.

And, if you look at March’s sales compared to February’s, there was a 45% increase.

The Scottsdale housing market continues to have a solid year. Sales were excellent in March and the number of pending sales on the books as we head into April is promising.

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, feel free to contact Joyce at (480) 209-7843 or Joyce@LiveBetterinScottsdale.com.

For more videos, please visit the Live Better in Scottsdale You Tube channel.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – March 2015

April 10, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market Performance for March 2015 –

As the high season moved into full swing, the Scottsdale luxury home market had a strong sales month.

This report covers the last 12 months of luxury home sales activities for various price ranges For the purposes of this analysis, I am defining luxury homes as those homes with an asking price in excess of $1 million,

Each of the price ranges contains the following information:

Active – How many homes were for sale at the end of the month.
Pending – How many sales were pending at the end of the month,
Sold – How many homes sold during the month.

– March 2015 –

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: After many months of inventory increases, the number of homes for sale in this price point dropped by 2.3% to 336.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales saw a healthy jump to 32 at the end of the month. This figure has not been this high since last year around this time.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: The number of home sales increased 14.3% over February to 32. This is well ahead of the 12 month average of 27.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 93.6% – This is about where this has been trending.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 – $1,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was up 5.7% over February to 203. This is the highest it has been in the past year.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales saw a 36.4% increase over the previous month. This is a nice jump, but it is not quite to the levels we saw this time last year.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales dropped to 8 in March. This is below the 12 month average of 11.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 93.9% -This is what we have been seeing over the past few months.

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 – $2,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory dropped 6% over February in this price point.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: The number of sales pending was up to 13, which is ahead of the 12 month average.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Eleven homes sold in March, which is down from February, but is still a strong performance.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 94.1% – This figure bounces around in the lower 90%’s.

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes for sale over $3 million dropped slightly to 155.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were incredible. At the end of the month, there were 12 pending sales, double the 12 month average of 6.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Three homes sold in this price range. This is a solid performance, in line with what we have been seeing over the past few months.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 88.5% – This is a little lower than we have seen in recent months.

March was a great month for the luxury home segment in Scottsdale. All of the price ranges saw good pending and/or sales performance. The $1.5-$2 million price range was not as strong as the others, but has good pending inventory. And, I am looking forward to where sales will come in in the $3 million and up market in April.

If you would like additional detail on home sales activity, please visit my 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 was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2015 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 © 2015 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – March 2015

April 7, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– Luxury Condo Sales in Scottsdale and Phoenix – March 2015 –

arch was another strong month for the luxury condo market in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Now that we are in our high season, we are seeing quite a bit of movement in this category.

In this report, I am looking at condos for sale with asking prices of $1 million or more.

ACTIVE LISTINGS AT THE END OF MARCH

Inventory decreased by the end of March, down to 41 from 45 at the end of February. Nineteen of the units for sale were in Scottsdale and the other twenty-two were located in Phoenix.

The most expensive unit on the market at $2,600,00 was at the The Landmark in Scottsdale. The least expensive units, at $1,000,000 even, were located at the The Landmark and Kierland Plaza Lofts.

PENDING LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

Pending sales saw a large rebound in March. We started with month with a single pending sale and ended it with six pending sales. Five of these were in Phoenix and the remaining one was in Scottsdale.

Phoenix Pending Sales

Two of the pending condos in March were in a community that has not appeared in this series before. They are located in a community in downtown Phoenix called Portland on the Park. The first unit had two bedrooms, three baths and 1,646 square feet. It was listed for $1,031,500. The other unit had three bedrooms and bathrooms and 2,490 square feet. It had been listed for $1,216,400.
Fairway Lodge at 8 Biltmore had a single pending sale with a list price of $1,150,000. This unit had three bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,329 square feet.
The Residences at 2211 Camelback was home to another pending sale. This condo had 3,000 square feet and three bedrooms and bathrooms. It had been priced at $1,695,000.
The final pending sale was at Two Biltmore Estates. Listed for $1,878,000, this home had four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms and 3,580 square feet.

Scottsdale Pending Sales

The pending luxury condo sale in Scottsdale was located in the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences community. It had three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 2,975 square feet. The asking price was $1,850,000.

LUXURY CONDO SALES FOR MARCH 2015

March had two luxury condo sales and they both took place in the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences community.

The first sale was pending at the end of February. It had 2,232 square feet, two bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms. It had been listed for $1,279,000 and sold for $1,260,000.

The other sale was for a similar condo with 2,070 square feet. The asking price had been $1,599,000 and it closed for $1,475,000.

Overall, the Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market had another strong month. With all of the pending activity, sales for April should be excellent.

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 was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2015 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 © 2015 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Where to Eat in Scottsdale – Local Bistro

April 4, 2015 By Heather Tawes Nelson

– North Scottsdale Dining at Local Bistro –

Local Bistro in North Scottsdale has been a popular choice for lunch and dinner for a while now, but I had not been until recently. We had a lunch appointment and it was the perfect place for us all to meet.

The modern Italian lunch offerings are pretty diverse and there are a few non-Italian items on there as well. There are quite a few of salads and appetizers as well as sandwiches, pasta and wood-fired pizzas. All of us went the sandwich route and really enjoyed our meals.

Two of us ordered the Turkey Pastrami sandwich. The sandwich was prepared with turkey pastrami, cabbage slaw made in-house and gruyère cheeese on rye. The portions were generous and came with fries or a salad.

Another dining companion had the French Dip, which looked quite tasty. The roast beef came with caramelized onions, mushrooms and cheese, plus the requisite jus to dip it in as you go.

The last sandwich ordered was a Chicken Ranch BLT. In addition to the chicken and bacon, it came with avocado, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing and looked tasty.

Overall, it was a pleasant lunch with good service. But, we barely scratched the surface of what they offer. I saw a lot of items that I would like to try on a return visit. For instance the Burrata with basil pesto looks amazing and something intriguing and decadent called Drunk Bread, which is crusty bread with white wine and gruyère cheese. And, on the healthier side, they have a Vegetable Board that comes with hummus, cous cous and a variety of vegetables to enjoy.

More Information:
Local Bistro
20581 N. Hayden Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
– S.E. corner of Thompson Peak Parkway and Hayden Road
(480) 302-6050
Website
Open daily at 11AM for lunch through dinner. Open for Sunday brunch at 9AM.
Happy Hour specials take place from 2PM-6PM daily.

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Things to Do in Scottsdale – Early May 2015

– Scottsdale Events- Early May 2015 –

Things to Do in Phoenix: High Street at CityNorth