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Give Back to Pets in Need – Animal Blood Banks

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Animal Blood Bank DonationsThis post is a little different than what I usually talk about, but it hits close to home.

A couple of weeks ago, my beloved dog had to have emergency surgery. He was bleeding out and had lost a large amount of blood. In order to save his life, a transfusion was required.

While I am well aware of human blood banks, I had no idea that blood banks existed for dogs and cats. Well, thankfully they do and because of them, my dog made it through the surgery and recovery.

Animal blood banks can be found all over the United States and it is quite possible that one exists in your community. They are always looking for canine and feline blood that can be used in emergency cases, like in my dog’s situation. The good news for canine blood transfusions is that they are not as complicated as matching human blood, so one donation can work for a large variety of dogs.

If this is something that might be of interest to you and you would consider donating your pet’s blood, I did a little research. Here is some general information to see if your dog qualifies to be a blood donor. Requirements will vary by facility, but these are some good basic guidelines.

The same website has compiled a list of Animal Blood Banks in the United States. If you do not see a location near you, I would simply hop on line and see if you can find a local blood bank.

My dog’s donor was named Macy. Thank you Macy for donating your blood and saving my dog’s life! I am so grateful!

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: My Favorite Local French Fries

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French Fries CC waferboardSo in past blog posts, I have written about some of my favorite restaurant dishes in Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area.

Today, I thought I would write about my favorite french fries around town. Here are four places where I look forward to indulging in fries:

  • Bourbon Steak at the Princess Resort– The first time I had these fries, I was in heaven. They are fried in duck fat and served to diners as an amuse bouche. There are three varieties of fries – paprika, herbed and salted – and each comes paired with a different dipping sauce. There is an truffle aioli, a barbecue style and a special ketchup and all three are delicious.
  • Cafe Bink – The fries at Cafe Bink are also outstanding. They come wrapped in a paper cone and are crispy and delicious outside and tender inside. Similarly to Bourbon Steak, there are three dipping sauces to choose from, including a ketchup, and aioli and an green herb sauce. While all of the sauces were excellent, the green sauce is my favorite.
  • Zinc Bistro – Zinc offers two versions of french fries to choose from and you cannot go wrong with either. The first is the standard bistro fries served upright in a metal cup. They are dusted with a little salt, paprika and marjoram and come with two sauces. The second, more extravagant version comes with truffle and parmesan cheese. Indulgent and delicious.
  • Blu Burger Grille (North Scottsdale’s Summit Location) – The Blu Burger Grille not only makes my favorite turkey burger, but they also have my favorite sweet potato fries. The are generously sized and manage to be crisp and tender at the same time. The taste of the sweet potato really comes through with just the right amount of salt.

We are always on the lookout for great fries, so please feel free to share your favorites in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Waferboard via Flickr Creative Commons License

Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales By Type Q1 2013 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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85266 Whisper Rock ScottsdaleBelow is a recap of Scottsdale’s 85266 zip code’s first quarter of 2013.

You will find the 85266 zip code in North Scottsdale, above the Loop 101 freeway. It comprises an area that is north of the 85255 zip code, but is south and west of 85262.  Like the other North Scottsdale zip codes, 85266 is located at a higher elevation and therefore some homes enjoy lovely city light and valley views. There is a lot of natural desert land that has been preserved, so residents get to enjoy the undeveloped vistas.

Much of 85266 is comprised of standalone homes and smaller subdivisions. However, there are three well-known larger golf communities located there. They include Terravita, Whisper Rock and The Boulders.


85266 HOME SALES INFORMATION
The home sales data for the first quarter has been divided into three sales types, of which there are two “distressed” sale categories.

– Non-Distressed Sales – These are the “normal” or “regular” home sales that most people are familiar with.
– Short Sales – Short sales occur when a home is worth less than the loans out on it. In order for the home to sell, a third party who holds a lien on the home must grant approval. Short sales are distressed sales.
– Foreclosures – Here the home has been foreclosed on and the person who owned the home no longer has a stake in it. This is the other distressed category.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales Market for Q1 2013 – Data as of April 1, 2013

  • Active Scottsdale 85266 Homes For Sale: The majority of homes (96%) on the market at the end of the quarter were regular sales.
  • 85266 Pending Homes for Sale: We did see an uptick in the short sale category when you look at the pending sales.
  • Q1 2013 Scottsdale 85266 Home Sales:  Regular sales made up a significant amount of the sales in Q1 with 87%. This is up quite a bit compared to the 76% it was at the end of Q4 2012.
  • 85266 Home Prices: As would be expected, average price per square foot was highest with normal sales. However, short sales came in below foreclosures for the same metric. This is unusual as foreclosures are usually the lowest, but we have been seeing this happen recently.
  • Cumulative Days on Market: Foreclosures had the highest number of days on market in Q1. Usually short sales have the highest number.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: As we have seen elsewhere for Q1, short sales on average sold above the asking price at 102.5%. A very small average discount was seen on foreclosures. Regular sales came in with an average discount of about 5%.

Q1 2013 Home Sales Scottsdale AZ Zip 85266

 

Comparison: Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales for 2012

Here is the same data for the entire year of 2012. While sales price and average discount off of asking price haves stayed more or less level, we have seen the average price per square foot increase and days on market decrease quite a bit in Q1 2013.

2012 Home Sales Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85266

 

2012 Quarterly Home Sales Scottsdale Zip 85266

To see this same analysis for the entire City of Scottsdale AZ, please visit this previous report:
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2012

Search Homes for Sale in Scottsdale Zip Code 85266

 

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 and 4/1/2013 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 Q1 2012. 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. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Jalapeno Inferno Bistro Mexicano

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Jalapeno Inferno Scottsdale AZJalepeño Inferno is a North Scottsdale neighborhood favorite for casual Mexican, Southwestern and Tex-Mex dining. You will find it bustling with activity day and night throughout the year with families and people of all ages. However, even though it gets busy, we have always managed to find a seat right away.

The menu features a large number of items, some traditional and some more “Americanized” dishes. You will also see hatch chiles featured in several dishes, which is a nice treat for hatch chile fans.

Some of our favorite items include the Fajitas, the Espinaca con Queso dip, the Tacos al Carbon, (which come with an excellent tomatillo salsa), Spinach Enchiladas and when we are in the mood for something cheesy, we opt for the Cast Iron Skillet Chicken.

If you are in the mood to try several things at once, they do offer combination platters with two or three items or  you can opt for the build-your-own burrito option. Salads are available for a lighter meal. One of our favorites is the Cortez Cobb Salad. And, if you are not a fan of Mexican food, they do have a burger and some BBQ choices.

In addition to the restaurant, Jalapeno’s launched a revamped bar area a few years ago where people can come eat, drink, watch sports and/or enjoy live entertainment. It also has large patios on both sides for outdoor dining. And, they have a take-out option with a reserved parking spot if you want your Jalapeno’s on the go.

Overall, Jalapeno Inferno is a great locally-owned place to stop by for a quick and casual meal or to meet some friends for drinks and snacks.

More Information:
Jalapeno Inferno Mexican Bistro
23587 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 585-6442
Website

Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales By Type Q1 2013 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Desert Mountain Golf Scottsdale AZ 85262Here is an overview of Q1 2013 home sales for the Scottsdale zip code of 85262.

You will find 85262 in the farthest north section of Scottsdale. It is bordered by National Forest Land, Carefree and Cave Creek.  Much of 85262 is hilly and its higher elevation means many homes and lots have wonderful valley and mountain views.  And, although there are plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options close by, much of 85262 embraces the Sonoran Desert landscape with wide-open natural desert areas and washes.

Mirabel, Estancia, Desert Mountain, Legend Trail and Troon North are some of the top golf communities that are found in 85262. Depending on the community, you can find lock and leave condos all of the way up to custom estates.

SCOTTSDALE ZIP CODE 85262 HOME SALES REPORT AND SALES TYPE DEFINITION

This first report looks at sales data specific to the first quarter of 2013. Following that are two 2012 summary reports, which will show you how things are changing as we move into 2013.

The data is broken out by home sales type and each of their definitions are below:
– Non-Distressed Sales – These are “regular” or “normal” home sales where a buyer and seller form a contract on the home and ownership transfers to the buyer.
– Short Sales – In the case of a short sale, a home cannot sell for what is owed on it and the homeowner has to get short sale approval from the lienholder to sell the home. This is one of the two “distressed sale” categories.
– Foreclosures –  This final sale type is just what it sounds like. These homes have been foreclosed on and the homeowner is no longer the owner. This other “distressed sale” category may also be called “REO‘,”  “Lender Owned” or “Bank Owned.

Scottsdale Zip Code 85262 Home Sales for Q1 2013 – Data as of April 1, 2013

  • Active Scottsdale 85262 Homes For Sale: Virtually every home on the market at the end of the quarter was a regular sale. Distressed homes made up the remaining 2-3.%
  • 85262 Pending Homes for Sale: However, we do see the distressed homes have a larger impact when you look at pending sales at the end of the month. Now, only 74% is comprised of regular sales and short sales make up almost a fifth of the inventory.
  • Q1 2012 Scottsdale 85262 Home Sales: Regular sales made up 88% of all home sales in Q1. The balance was more or less split between short sales and foreclosures.
  • 85262 Home Prices: As we would expect to see, regular home sales had highest average sales price and highest average price per square foot. Normally, short sales would be the next highest, but in this case, foreclosures and short sales flip-flopped. We have seen this happen a few times over the last several quarters.
  • Days on Market: This is the first time I have seen regular sales come in with the longest days on market. Typically, they have the shortest time period. This is most likely due to some luxury homes selling that had been on the market for a long period.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: The discount on non-distressed homes is about where we would expect it. However, the discounts on short sales and foreclosures is a bit larger than we have been seeing in Scottsdale as a whole. Discounts have been in the 3-4% range, whereas in Q1, we saw discounts of 6-7%.

Q1 2013 Home Sales Scottsdale AZ Zip 85262

SCOTTSDALE ZIP CODE 85262 – 2012 HOME SALES INFORMATION

For comparison’s sake, here are the numbers for 85262 for the year 2012.

As you can see, the average sales price and average price per square foot are up in Q1 2013. And, we are seeing shorter times on market as well as homes selling for less of a discount overall.

2012 Home Sales Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85262

2012 Quarterly Home Sales Scottsdale Zip 85262


 

To see this same information for the entire City of Scottsdale AZ, please visit these previous reports:
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2012

Search Homes for Sale in Scottsdale AZ Zip Code 85262

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 4/1/2013 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 Q1 2012. 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. This post represents the opinion of the author. No warranties express or implied.
Copyright © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – April 2013

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Scottsdale Arizona Luxury Home– Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market Performance for April 2013 –

The Scottsdale luxury home market performed well in April. For the purposes of this analysis, I am considering a luxury home as one with an asking price of $1 million or above. Since there is a bit of variation in this segment, I have further separated the information into four luxury home price bands.

Each of these price bands will contain the following information:
Active – The number of homes for sale at the end of the month.
Pending – The number of pending home sales at the end of the month.
Sold – The number of homes that sold during the month.

– April 2013 –
Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  Inventory dropped in April, in part due to the large number of sales that took place. However, this figure is still ahead of the 12 month average of 182.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales slipped a little bit, but they were still the third highest we have seen in the past year.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Thirty-six homes sold in this price range in April. This is the highest I have seen this figure since I started tracking it in September of 2007. The next closest to this was 31 sales and that was in June of 2008 and April 2012.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 94.2% – This is the highest this ratio has been since October of 2012.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale Between 1 and 1.5 million April 2013


Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,500,000 – $1,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory in this category was also down at the end of the month. I would attribute it to the very large number of pending sales in the pipeline.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Twenty-six homes were pending at the end of April. This is up 62.5% over March and is double the 12 month average for this price point. Some of these were carryovers from March and others were new contracts.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Only seven homes sold in April despite decent pending inventory coming into the month. I expect to see this number jump back up in May.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 92.3% – This figure has been in the low 90% range for many months now.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale Between 1.5 and 2 million April 2013


Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $2,000,000 – $2,999,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: Inventory was more or less flat between March and April. It is slightly ahead of the 12 month average of 109.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were healthy again at 10. This is almost double the twelve month average of 6.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Sales were up slightly to 7 in April.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 91.2% – This is pretty standard for this price point.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale Between 2 and 3 million April 2013

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market:  Inventory was down 2.5% over March to 116 homes.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were also down slightly to two, which is on par with the 12 month average.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold:  Three homes sold in April which is right on par with the average.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 85.6% – This figure is pretty common for this price point.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale Over 3 Million April 2013

In summary, the Scottsdale luxury home market had a great month in April, particularly in the $1-$1.5 million range. Inventory is down or somewhat flat and there are some very encouraging pending numbers. Looking forward, May should be another strong month for this segment.

To see more detailed data behind this report, please visit my Scottsdale Luxury Home Market Reports page and click on the “Scottsdale Market Trends” downloadable 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 5/1/2013 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 © 2013 Heather Tawes Nelson

Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Cafe Bink

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Patio Dining Cafe Bink Scottsdale Carefree AZ

I have been a fan of Binkley’s in Cave Creek for many years and recently had the opportunity to visit its “little sister” restaurant in Carefree called Cafe Bink.

Cafe Bink is great in that you get to experience all of Chef Kevin Binkley and team’s great food and flavors, but in a more casual and less expensive setting.

We were for lunch and had a great meal. Our server recommended the fries and said they were a favorite item among Cafe Bink diners. He was correct – the fries were outstanding. They were super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. (My guess is that they were fried a few times to get that level of crispiness?) The fries come with three dipping sauceCafe Bink bistro Scottsdale Carefree AZs – truffle ketchup,  a green herb sauce and an aioli. They were all tasty but the green herb sauce was my personal favorite.

We then each had a cup of the Wild Mushroom Soup which was made with clamshell mushrooms and leeks. It was delicious and satisfying. Finally, we split a Chopped Salad, that had a ton of ingredients mixed in including chives, feta, radicchio, egg, avocado, chicken, bacon and more. It was quite tasty and a perfect way to finish off our meal.

Other lunch offerings at Cafe Bink include many sandwich and burger options, different salad choices, as well as entrees like trout, pasta and steak frites.

Cafe Bink is open for lunch and dinner as well as Sunday Brunch. They also have happy hour specials every day from 3-5PM.

If you find yourself looking for a great lunch or dinner in North Scottsdale or Carefree, head over to Cafe Bink.

 

Scottsdale dining Cafe Bink Carefree

More Information: Cafe Bink
36889 N. Tom Darlington
Carefree, AZ 85337
(480) 488-9796
Website
– Located in the Carefree Marketplace
– Open Daily from 11-9 October through May.
– Closed Mondays during June -September

 

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – April 2013

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Scottsdale Waterfront Residences Scottsdale AZ– Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – April 2013 –

The Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market experienced and excellent month in April. Sales were the highest we have seen in a while and there was solid pending inventory as well.

Below you will see a chart with sales activity of luxury condos during the month of April. I am defining luxury condos as those with asking prices above $1 million.

Scottsdale Phoenix Luxury Condos April 2013

ACTIVE LISTINGS & PENDING LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

The inventory of luxury condos for sale has been hovering in the just under 30 listings range for many months. Asking prices range from $1,070,000 for a three bedroom unit at The Landmark in the Kierland area to a penthouse at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences listed for $3,695,000.

At the end of April, there were three pending sales. Two of them were in Scottsdale and the other was in Phoenix.

APRIL  2013 LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

April saw an excellent month for luxury condo sales, coming in at five. Four of these sales were in Scottsdale and the final one was in Phoenix.

  • Optima Camelview Village in downtown Scottsdale had a sale in April for $1,050,000. This unit was a three bedroom, three and one-half bathroom with 2,315 square feet. It had been listed for $1,100,000 and was on the market for one day.
  • The second sale took place at The Mark, in Old Town Scottsdale. This unit had two bedrooms and a den, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,470 square feet. The asking price had been $1,090,000 and it sold for $1,057,000.
  • The Scottsdale Waterfront Residences also saw a sale in April. This 9th floor condo had two bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,469 square feet. The sales price was $1,475,000 on a listed price of $1,725,000.
  • The final sale in Scottsdale in April was at the Kierland Plaza Lofts. This sixth floor unit had three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,802 square feet. The asking price was $1,650,000 and the sales price was $1,550,000.
  • Phoenix’s single sale took place in the 2 Biltmore Estates community and it was the highest priced sale of the month. This unit  had three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 4,877 square feet. They had been asking $2,200,000 and it sold for $2,000,000.

April was a positive month for the Scottsdale and Phoenix luxury condo market. Sales surpassed expectations and there was healthy inventory in pending status to move us into May. May numbers should come in decent as well.

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 5/1/2013 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 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 © 2013  Heather Tawes Nelson

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