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Things to See in Scottsdale AZ: The Frank Lloyd Wright Spire

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Scottsdale Frank Lloyd Wright monument Scottsdale AZThe first question you may be asking yourself is, “What is that?” Or, you may have seen this as you drove by the corner of Frank Lloyd Wright or Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This monument, standing proudly in North Scottsdale is the Frank Lloyd Wright Spire. Its bright blue color and textural design really stand out among the more earth-toned desert colors. And, at night, it emanates soothing, blue glow.

The spire itself was conceptualized in the mid-1950’s, but it was not built and completed until 2004 by the City of Scottsdale. The design was part of a proposal for the Arizona State Capitol that was subsequently rejected. (Note: If  you would like to see the proposed and rejected Arizona State Capitol design, you can see a rendering of it at Taliesin West.)

The spire itself is 125 feet tall and is constructed of steel and glass. Large lights inside give off the nightly blue glow.

You can park at the Promenade Shopping Center in which this is located and walk over for a closer look. There are some other art displays to enjoy in the immediate area around the Spire as well.

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If you are interested in learning more about Frank Lloyd Wright, travel down Frank Lloyd Wright a little further and visit Taliesin West. You can tour the expansive campus and learn about the design elements first-hand.

Taliesin West can be found at 12621 North Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd in Scottsdale or at the corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and Cactus Road.

 

Where to Shop in Scottsdale AZ: Scottsdale Marketplace

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IShopping Scottsdale Marketplace had the opportunity today to stop in and revisit the Scottsdale Marketplace.  I often drive by the store which is located on the southwest corner of Lincoln Drive and Scottsdale Road. Happily, this was the day I took the time to stop.  I am always amazed at how different each visit to the Marketplace is due to the changing items and displays and always look forward to a visit.

The Scottsdale Marketplace is based on a co-op concept of small booths owned by individuals.  There are currently 35 booths, and items for sale range from original art to elegant linens, tableware and jewelry. The variety and depth of the items for sale at the Marketplace blend beautifully, consisting of old, new and vintage items.  I’ve beenAsian Home Decor Scottsdale Marketplace a collector of silver, glass and china for quite some time and always enjoy visiting antique stores and comparing the quality and price of items similar to those I own.  However, I can also find items from post-World War II that are very “art deco” and exude a contemporary flair.

I am always amazed at how beautifully displayed the items are – a true compliment to the owners of the various booths.  I was especially taken with some fabulous Asian items that ranged from small items for the table top to large pieces of furniture.  The owners gather furniture and items from many regions of Asia, but I was told most come from remote provinces of China.  You will find one-of-a-kind items here that will blend beautifully into your interior design plan.

ICustom Pillows Scottsdale AZ Marketplace was extremely intrigued by one area that is filled with nothing but pillows of all shapes and sizes. I was especially taken with the nautical and “Americana” theme they had put together.

My reason for revisiting the Marketplace was to visit the booth called “Reflections of Silver”.  In addition to a beautiful display of old and contemporary silver and silver-plate, they offer the service of restoration of silver items.  I’ve attached a photo of some of their work and am looking forward to the finished product on the item I brought in to be replated.Reflections of Silver Scottsdale AZ Marketplace

Scattered throughout the Marketplace are vendors of new and vintage jewelry, plus one section of items for babies and children. All in all, it’s a wonderful place to visit anytime when you want to be surrounded by beautiful and eclectic items.  It is staffed by the various owners and I have always felt extremely welcome during each of my visits.  I highly recommend you stop in and enjoy the experience.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Home Market – January 2012

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This is the January 2012 real estate report for Scottsdale AZ luxury homes. In this report, I classify the luxury home market as homes for sale with list prices of $1 million or more. The information is broken into three categories which include Scottsdale luxury homes for sale, pending home sales and completed luxury homes sales over the previous twelve months.

– January 2012 –

Scottsdale Homes Priced Between $1,000,000 – $1,499,999
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: We saw a significant jump in inventory in January. Sellers were probably waiting for the new year to put their homes on the market. We are now above the 12 month average and inventory has not been this high since the Spring of 2011.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending home sales at the end of the month were up over November and December, but still trail the 12 month average of 23 pending sales.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales were down to 15 in January, based on lower pending figures in January. This is the third lowest sales level we have seen in the last year, although there is some seasonality factored in.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 87.3% – This was a big drop after seeing this figure solidly in the mid-90%’s ‘for the last two months. However, it is not completely out of line as you review the last 12 months.

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: We saw a slight increase in inventory by the end of January to 139. This is just under the 12 month average of 140.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were down again after a nice bump up in December. We are trailing the 12 month average of 13.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: There was a nice rebound in sales in January, based on a strong December pending figure. Nine homes sold, which is on par with the 12 month average.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 89.3% – This was a pretty good figure. It is the second highest it has been in the last year.

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: Inventory was actually down by a couple of homes in January, but we are still tracking ahead of the 12 month average of 129.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were up slightly to 4 at the end of January. This is the highest it has been since last July, but we are still below the 12 month average of 5.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: Three homes sold in this price point in January. The 12 month average is 5 home sales.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: 95.2% – This is the highest this figure has been in a year by far.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Between $2 and $3 million

Scottsdale Homes Priced $3,000,000+
– Active Scottsdale Homes on the Market: The number of homes for sale over $3 million jumped into the triple digits again in January to 101. This is the highest it has been since last April. This is also now ahead of the 12 month average of 97.
– Pending Scottsdale Home Sales: Pending sales were up to two at the end of January. This is about where it has been since last summer. The 12 month average is 3.
– Scottsdale Homes Sold: No homes priced at over $3 million sold in January.
– Sales Price to Listed Price: Not applicable.

Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes for Sale Over $3 Million

January 2012 was a mixed month for the Scottsdale luxury home market. Inventory was up almost across the board, although we do expect to see that happen this time of year. Pending sales were reasonably strong in most segments, though we hope to see these improve as we move into the busier season. Sales were also pretty decent with the exception of the two extremes, the $1-$1.5 million range and $3 million and above. It will be interesting to see what February has in store.

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 2/1/2012 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 © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – January 2012

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Here are January 2012’s sales numbers for the Phoenix and Scottsdale luxury condo market. For this report, I am defining luxury condos as those on the market with asking prices in excess of $1 million.

Pending Luxury Condo Sales -At the conclusion of the month, there were two luxury condos under contract and both of them were at the Kierland Plaza Lofts. The first unit was a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom condo on the 8th floor with 2,090 square feet. The asking price was $1,375,000. The second pending sale was a condo on the 9th floor. It had 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 3,483 square feet. The list price was $2,225,000.

January 2012 Luxury Condo Sales – January saw two luxury condo sales and one of them had the second highest sales price we have seen in the last year. The first sale was at the Kierland Plaza Lofts. This fourth floor unit had 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2,802 square feet. It sold for $1,500,000 and had been listed at $1,699,000. The second sale was at the Landmark Condos in the Kierland area of Scottsdale. This spacious unit had 4,065 square feet and 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The list price was $2,541,000 and the final sales price was $2,150,000.

Scottsdale Phoenix Luxury Condos for Sale January 2012

January 2012 started off the year with a solid performance for Scottsdale and Phoenix Luxury Condo sales. All of the activity in January took place in Scottsdale and has interestingly enough shifted north to the Kierland area, versus the Downtown Scottsdale and Scottsdale Waterfront areas. The increased popularity of the Kierland area could be due to the success of the Scottsdale Quarter complex as well as the continued success of Kierland Commons. Hopefully next month we will see some activity in the Phoenix luxury condo market.

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 2/1/2012 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 © 2012  Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale AZ Single-Family Homes for Sale – January 2012

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Here are the Scottsdale AZ home sales results for January 2012. This report covers homes for sale and home sales activity in Scottsdale for January 2012, including pending home sales. Additionally, the last 12 months of data are included for comparison.

The numbers are placed into three different categories, including Scottsdale homes currently for sale, pending home sales and Scottsdale home sales that closed in January.

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale January 2011

Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale Prices January 2012

  January 2012 Highlights for Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale:

  • Active Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Inventory was back up again in January after the seasonal fall-off at the end of December. We are now back to November 2011 levels.
  • Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale:  Pending home sales saw a really nice rebound by the end of the month to 462. This is the highest it has been since September of 2011 and should translate into stronger home sales in February.
  • Scottsdale Homes Sold: Home sales were very low in January at 320. However, this is something we see seasonally so it was not a surprise. And, as alluded to in the pending sales comments, we should see a nice jump in the February figures.
  • Sales Price to List Price: 94.1% – This is pretty representative. We have been in the 94% region for the last several months.

In summary, January 2012 was a mixed month for home sales and activity in Scottsdale, Arizona. We saw the impact of seasonality in all of the categories, with an increase in inventory and sales being low. However, we are now moving into the “season” and a higher activity cycle, so the figures should improve over the next several months.

Search Scottsdale AZ Homes for Sale

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 2/1/2012 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 © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

My Favorite Things to Eat in Scottsdale – Part 3

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Sassi Italian restaurant Scottsdale AZThis is the third post in a series about some of my favorite things to eat in Scottsdale, Arizona. Scottsdale and the surrounding areas have some amazing restaurants and local artisans and I love finding new places and things to try.

Postino’s White Bean Bruschetta – If you never have been, Postino is a charming place tucked into the Arcadia area of Phoenix. (There is a newer location on Central, but I have yet visit.) One of the great options they serve is a bruschetta sampler. You choose four of the many types offered and the bruschetta come delivered to you on a platter for sharing. They are all quite good, but my favorite overall is the white bean and chopped tomato. I have to have it every time I am there.

Pure Sushi in North Scottsdale serves a very unique sushi roll that is not really a roll. It is called “Box Sushi” and it is one of our family’s favorites. To make the Box Sushi, no seaweed is used. Instead, they compress the rice, roe and fish into a box. Once it has formed into a triangle, it is then cut up into several pieces. The fish is tuna and salmon and the bottom layer of rice has a little roe mixed in for color and a little crunch.

The third item on this list is the Duck Carnitas Empanada at The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale. Playing with the more traditional preparation that is made with pork, The Mission uses duck meat instead. This delicious, rich, cheese and duck-filled fried dough is topped with an orange habanero sauce that is sweet with a bit of spice.

The Caprese Salad at Sassi in North Scottsdale is not to be missed. Sassi has the Buffalo Mozzarella imported directly from Italy and it is a very generous, not to mention delicious, portion. The cheese comes intact on a plate of lovely heirloom tomatoes and basil drizzled with olive oil. You can slice the mozzarella to the size you desire, add it to the tomato and basil and enjoy.

That is it for this post, but there will be more to come. Feel free to share any of your favorite bites or places to dine in the comments.

Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales By Type Q4 2011 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Below are the year-end home sales results for Scottsdale Arizona’s 85266 zip code.

85266 is a newer North Scottsdale zip code and covers the northwest part of the city. It is bordered by Cave Creek and Phoenix to the west and Carefree to the north. 85266 does enjoy a higher elevation than Downtown and Central Scottsdale, and while it may not experience the lower temperatures like the northernmost areas  of 85262, many of the homes and lots do have incredible valley and city lights views. It is also home to three of the top area golf communities including Whisper Rock, The Boulders and Terravita.

The following analysis covers Q4 2011 home sales for zip code 85266. The data was divided into three categories that I explain below:
– Non-Distressed Sales – These are “normal” or “traditional” home sales. Here the seller and buyer come to an agreement on the price and terms of the home sale and then work together to conclude the deal and pass ownership on to the buyer.
– Short Sales – Short sales are when a distressed homeowner needs to sell their home for less than is what is owed on the home – i.e. they are “short” on the total amount. In this case, approval from the lender or lenders is required for a transaction to take place.
– Foreclosures – These are homes where the homeowner has been foreclosed upon and no longer owns the home. Foreclosures are also known as “Lender-Owned” homes, “REO'” homes or “Bank-Owned” homes.

Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85266 Home Sales Market for Q4 2011 – Data as of January 1, 2012

  • Active Scottsdale 85266 Homes For Sale: Over 90% of the homes on the market at the end of December were regular sales. Short sales came in next at 8% and foreclosures were barely represented at 2%
  • 85266 Pending Homes for Sale: Although almost all of the homes on the market were regular sales at the end of the year, they only represented 50% of the pending sale inventory. The other half of the pending sales were split evenly between short sales and foreclosures.
  • Q4 2011 Scottsdale 85266 Home Sales: Regular sales again made up the majority of the home sales in Q4 2011 with 72% of all sales. Again, short sales and foreclosures were almost evenly split to make up the rest of the sales.
  • 85266 Home Prices: Interestingly enough, short sales had the highest average sales price in Q4, but as we would expect, were much lower when you look at average price per square foot sold. As to be expected, foreclosures came in with the lowest average sales price and average price per square foot.
  • Discounts Off of List Price: This zip code had the lowest average discount off of sales price. Regular sales sold at only an average of 5% off asking. Short sales only saw an average 2% and foreclosures sold at list price.

Home Sales Zip Code 85266 Scottsdale Q4 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

 

2011 Scottsdale Home Sales in Zip Code 85266
Here are 85266’s home sales broken out by quarter and by home sale type.

In 2011, over two thirds of sales in 85266 were regular sales and the balance was almost evenly split by short sales (17%) and foreclosures (15%.)

Zip Code 85266 Scottsdale AZ Home Sales 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

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

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q3 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q2 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q1 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2011, 7/1/2011, 10/1/2011 and 1/1/2012 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 Q4 2011. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2011 Heather Tawes Nelson

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales By Type Q4 2011 – Includes Foreclosures & Short Sales

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Here are the final numbers for 2011 home sales in the Scottsdale Arizona zip code of 85255.

85255 is a larger zip code and can be found in North Scottsdale, just north of the top of Loop 101. It is home to many luxury communities including some of the top golf communities in the area, namely Troon Country Club, Desert Highlands, Grayhawk, DC Ranch and Silverleaf. There is a very broad range of homes and home types to choose from including “lock and leave” condos and townhomes, gated and non-gated subdivisions as well as custom homes and large estates. One of the other things unique to Scottsdale’s 85255 is Pinnacle Peak, which is beautiful to look at and fun to hike.

You will find 85255’s home sale activity for Q4 2011 below. The information was broken down into the three types of sales most frequently seen right now:

The three categories are defined as follows:
– Non-Distressed Sales – These are the “regular”, “normal” or “traditional” home sales. Here, the seller and home buyer are the two principals in the transaction and agree on terms and price to result in a successful sale.
– Short Sales – You will see a short sale when an “underwater” homeowner plans to sell the home for less than the loan amount(s) owed on it. In many cases, there is more than one loan involved. In this case, the company or companies who loaned the money to purchase the home have to give the approval on the terms of the contract since they will be getting less than what is owed.
– Foreclosures – Foreclosures are just like what they sound like. They are homes that have been foreclosed upon and are now back with the lender. These are also called “Lender-Owned” homes, “REO'” homes or “Bank-Owned” homes.


Overall Findings for the Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 Home Sales Market for Q4 2011 – Data as of  January 1, 2012

  • Active Scottsdale 85255 Homes For Sale: Almost the entire inventory of homes for sale at the end of Q4 in 85255 were regular sales. Short sales (6%) and foreclosures (3%) made up the small remainder.
  • 85255 Pending Homes for Sale: Regular homes dropped down a bit proportionally when looking at pending sales at the end of December. They came in at 60%. Conversely, we saw an increase in distressed homes in pending status. Short sales comprised 29% of the market and foreclosures came in at 11%.
  • Q4 2011 Scottsdale 85255 Home Sales: The majority of homes sold in Q4 were regular sales (65%.) Short sale representation stayed strong with 20% of closed sales and foreclosures also picked up 15% of the market.
  • 85255 Home Prices: For the first time since I have been tracking this information, lender-owned homes had the highest average sales price in comparison to the other two categories. And, for the first time average price per square foot for foreclosures was higher than short sales. As would be expected, regular sales had the highest average price per square foot.
  • Cumulative Days on Market: We typically see the shortest average days on market with foreclosures as they tend to go under contract quickly. However, in Q4, regular sales had the shortest time on the market. As to be expected, short sales had the longest time on market at 241 days.
  • Discounts Off of List Price:  The average 5% discount off of distressed property prices is what we have been historically seeing. Buyers who purchased regular homes saw an average discount of 7%. This was closer to 10% previously, but has been creeping up.

Scottsdale zip 85255 Q4 2011 Home Sales Foreclosures Short Sales

 

Scottsdale Zip Code 85255 – Sales Data By Quarter for 2011
Here is a quarter by quarter 2011 snapshot for home sales by type in the 85255 zip code. If you compare Q4 to the entire year, you will see that the ratios have remained more or less static throughout with regular sales capturing about 60% of the market, short sales capturing about 25% of the market and foreclosures capturing about 15%.

Zip 85255 Home Sale by Quarter 2011 Short Sales Foreclosures

 

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

View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q3 2011
View  Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q2 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type Q1 2011
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2010
View Scottsdale Home Sales by Type for 2009

Disclaimer: Due to rounding issues, not all columns will add up to 100%. Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 4/1/2011, 7/1/2011, 10/1/2011 and 1/1/2012 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes for sale and sales in Scottsdale AZ zip code 85255 for Q4 2011 and for the year of 2011. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright © 2012 Heather Tawes Nelson

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