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2019 Holiday Events in Scottsdale

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– 2019 Holiday Celebrations in Scottsdale –

The holidays are here and this is a super fun time to live in Scottsdale and the Valley. There are so many events going on, it can be hard to choose which ones to attend!

Below is a collection of events going on now and in December.

  • Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – November 20th –  December 31st – The celebration at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is back and bigger than ever. You will find ice skating, rides, light displays, train rides, s’mores and that is just a fraction of what to expect. Here is a calendar of events so that you can plan your visit.
  • Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden – Weekends November 29th – December 31st – 8,000 hand-lit luminaria lanterns will come alive each evening. Stroll through the Desert Botanical Garden enjoying the glow and enjoy live entertainment along the way.
  • Holiday Lights at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – November 29th – January 5th – This annual event is a favorite for folks all over the Valley and one of our personal favorites. It begins with a tree lighting hosted by Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane and a special visit from Santa. Hop on the train and marvel at all of the gorgeous lights. This year, you have a chance to win a gift card by participating in the Ugly Sweater competition that ends on December 15th.
  • Scottsdale’s Scottsdazzle – November 30th – December 31st – Scottsdazzle officially kicks off on November 30th with the tree lighting ceremony and sing-a-long.  Scottsdazzle has events for all ages as well as some fun ones for the adult crowd. Here is a calendar of everything going on. 

  • The Santa Social at Scottsdale Quarter – November 30th – Scottsdale Quarter has a full day’s and evening’s worth of family-friendly events. There will be kids’ activities, face painting and entertainment, puppy adoptions, photos with Santa and so much more. Cap off the afternoon with the tree lighting at 6PM and a screening of Home Alone.
  • Christmas in Carefree– December 6th – 8th – Downtown Carefree will kick off the season with a tree lighting, musical performances, screening of Elf and more!
  • Foothills Christmas Pageant – December 7th – 8th – A reenactment of the Christmas story will take place in Cave Creek both nights under the stars. Bring a blanket and flashlight and enjoy the show!
  • Menorah Workshop – December 8th– 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.
  • Phoestivus – December 12th and 19th – Seinfeld fans will love this play on the spelling of the infamous Festivus. Over 200 vendors will be selling their wares at the Phoenix Open Air Market. The holiday market will feature food, beverages and gifts. There will also be live entertainment.
  • The Nutcracker with the Phoenix Ballet – December 13th – 24 – This holiday tradition lives on and we make sure to attend every year. This classic holiday ballet will please all ages as they watch Clara and her adventures.
  • Light Up the Night at DC Ranch Hanukkah Celebration – December 22nd – Come kick off the eight nights of Hanukkah at DC Ranch Market Place. The menorah will be lit, plus there will be music and treats.
  • Chanukah Menorah Lighting in Carefree – December 22nd – 29th – The menorah will be lit every night in downtown Carefree at the Sanderson Pavillion. There will be a celebration on the 22nd to get the celebration started.
  • Kierland Commons Holiday Events – Now through December 24th – Kierland has lots of holiday events on tap. Get a photo with Santa, enjoy storytime with Mrs. Claus and play around at a Holiday Bubble Party.
  • The North Pole Experience in Flagstaff – Now through December 26th – Visit Santa’s workshop and help make some toys. Then head over for hot chocolate and treats at Mrs. Claus’ bakery. From there, you can see Santa’s sleigh, write a letter to Santa and so much more!
  • Desert Ridge Holiday Events – Now through December 31st – Desert Ridge has a packed schedule of events for the holidays. There will be nightly snowfall, free family movies, performances and so much more.
  • The Polar Express- Now through January 4th – This beloved event is back again for people of all ages. Hop on the Polar Express train in Williams and then take a magical ride to the North Pole.
  • World of Illumination – Now through January 5th –  Experience over 2 million lights synchronized to music at this drive-through light extravaganza. There are two locations to visit, North Phoenix and Tempe. You pay by the carload and be sure to buy tickets online to save some money. Snacks and refreshments for sale.
  • Phoenix Zoo’s Zoolights – Now through January 19th – Zoolights is a local favorite. The zoo comes alive with millions of lights nightly and the music in motion shows by the lake are sure crowd-pleasers. Ride on the Polar Slide and enjoy live entertainment almost every night.

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.

Phoenix and Scottsdale AZ Luxury Condo Sales – October 2019

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– Luxury Condo Sales in Scottsdale and Phoenix – October 2019 –

The luxury condo market in Scottsdale and Phoenix posted a strong month of sales and sales activity. Five luxury condos sold and there were healthy numbers in the pending pipeline.

We are including all condos with list prices in excess of $1 million in this report.

Phoenix Luxury Condo Sales

ACTIVE LISTINGS AT THE END OF OCTOBER

We have added eleven additional condos to the local inventory since the end of August. Scottsdale led the charge with five additions during October.

Scottsdale was home to thirty-four luxury condos and Phoenix had the remaining eighteen condos.

  • The most expensive condo for sale has held this spot for a few months. Located in The Residences at 2211 Camelback, it has five bedrooms, five and one-half bathrooms, views in all directions and 4,586 square feet. It was on the market for $2,995,000.
  • The least expensive luxury condo has also held this spot for the last couple of months It is a two bedroom and bathroom with 1,663 square feet in Optima Kierland. Its asking price was $1,019,000.

UCB* LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

There were five homes in UCB status at the end of the month.

UCB Condos in Scottsdale

  • Main Street Place in Old Town had one UCB. It was a two bedroom, two and one-half bathroom top unit with 2,472 square feet and a large deck. It was on the market for $1,175,000.
  • Icon at Silverleaf had the second UCB. This 2,760 square foot unit came with two bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms. The asking price was $1,764,000.
  • The final UCB in Scottsdale was at Optima Camelview. This unit had 3,347 square feet, three bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms. It was on the market for $2,200,000.

UCB Condos in Phoenix

  • The first UCB in Phoenix was located in The Residences at 2211 Camelback. It had three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,000 square feet. It was listed for $1,275,000.
  • The second was in Esplanade Place. It had three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,978 square feet. It was on the market for $1,375,000.

*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

There were four condos in pending status at the end of October.

  • All three of the pendings in Scottsdale were located in the new Optima Kierland community.
    • Two bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms with 1,956 square feet. It was listed for $1,750,000.
    • Three bedrooms and bathrooms with 2,018 square feet. It was on the market for $1,939,000.
    • Three bedrooms and bathrooms with 2,704 square feet. It was listed for $2,080,000.
  • The final pending sale was in Phoenix and located in Esplanade Place. It had three bedrooms, four bathrooms and 4,286 square feet. Its asking price was $2,000,000.

LUXURY CONDO SALES IN SCOTTSDALE AND PHOENIX

October ended the month with five luxury condo sales. Three were in Scottsdale and two were in Phoenix.

Scottsdale Luxury Condo Sales

  • Optima Kierland had one sale. The unit had three bedrooms and bathrooms and 1,718 square feet. It was listed for $1,799,995 and sold for $1,625,000.
  • Icon at Silverleaf had a single sale. The condo had two bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms and 2,746 square feet. It was listed for $1,545,000 and sold for $1,475,000.
  • The Mark had the third sale in October. This penthouse came with three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 3,552 square feet. It was on the market for $1,895,000 and sold for $1,600,000.

Phoenix Luxury Condo Sales

  • 2 Biltmore Estates had a single sale. This unit had three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms and 3,892 square feet. It was on the market for $1,845,000 and sold for $1,795,000.
  • The final sale of the month in Phoenix was at The Residences at 2211 Camelback. This condo had two bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,980 square feet.  It was on the market for $1,425,000 and sold for $1,300,000.

 

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 11/1/2019 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 © 2019 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

2019 Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities Around Scottsdale

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– Volunteer for Thanksgiving 2019 –

Thanksgiving Volunteer Phoenix

Thanksgiving is a week away! During this time, we tend to count our blessings and visit with friends and family. But it is also a great opportunity to volunteer to give back and assist those who might need a little help or those who do may spend the holiday alone.

Here are some ideas on how you can volunteer for Thanksgiving in and around Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Some of these options may require advance registration. Please check their websites for additional information.

Where to Eat in Scottsdale – Tocaya

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– Tocaya – Modern Organic Mexican Food in Scottsdale –

Recently, Toca Madera and Tocaya Organica opened at Scottsdale Fashion Square. These sister concepts came from Southern California and are sure to be quite popular in the Valley. They both highlight organic and modern takes on Mexican food.

Toca Madera is very elegant and is open for dinner. Later in the evening, it transitions into more of a club atmosphere.

Tocaya Scottsdale

Tocaya, where we went, is open for both lunch and dinner. Located across the street from Toca Madera (the Spanish translation of “knock on wood”), Tocaya is light, bright, open and airy.

Upon entering, you grab a menu and pick your meal. Each meal starts with a base, whether it is a salad, a burrito, a taco, a bowl or something else. All of these bases are vegetarian. From there, you can then pick your protein and then your cheese. (You are also welcome to skip proteins and cheese.)

Each of the items has a chef’s recommendation for the protein and the cheese which you are welcome to select or you can choose your own. Many of the dishes are vegan and they come with options for vegan proteins and cheeses.

Tocaya Scottsdale Tacos

Tocaya also has a bar, where you can order margaritas and wines. On the non-alcoholic side, they have several agua frescas, which combine fresh fruit juice with water and a little sweetener.

We were there for lunch and had tacos and one of the salads. You can order tacos a la carte or there was a special combo that came with two tacos (your choice), a side and a margarita. We ordered one the taco special and chose guacamole as the side and two chicken tacos – the Cali and Barrio versions. The Cali definitely had some spice, but it was very tasty. The Barrio was tasty as well. What we loved about the guacamole was that it came with pepitas and pomegranate seeds. Instead of chips, it was served with plantain chips. (If you do want tradtional chips, you can order them.)

Tocaya Scottsdale Mexican

We also tried the seasonal Taco Salad. It came with romaine and kale, tortilla strips, corn, avocado and so much more. It was a very generous portion and tasted fantastic.

Tocaya is a perfect place to pop into for a casual, but healthy and satisfying lunch or dinner.

Tip: There is also a location in North Scottsdale at Kierland Commons

More Information:
Tocaya Organica
Website
Two Locations: Scottsdale Fashion Square and Kierland Commons

Quick Video Update of the Scottsdale Real Estate Market – October 2019

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– October 2019 Scottsdale Housing Market Video –

October 2019 – Video

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

Scottsdale Active Listings

Scottsdale homes for Sale October 2019

Although the video says inventory was level, it actually increased from 1,261 at the end of September to 1,376 at the end of October, about 9%.

Median List Price for Scottsdale Homes

Scottsdale homes median list price October 2019

This next image shows the median list price of Scottsdale homes. If you are not familiar with the median, it is the exact middle value of home list prices. Therefore half of the homes will have higher prices and half will have lower prices.

October’s median list price was $1,100,000 million. This is up quite a bit from last year’s $849,000 and also up from last month’s $998,000.

Days on Market

Scottsdale homes Days on Market October 2019

The Days on Market (also knows as DOM) is a quick way to get a sense of a real estate market. When homes are not selling, you will see a high DOM. But if homes are selling quickly, the DOM is low.

Scottsdale’s DOM in October was 88 days, This is up by one day compared to October 2018.

Median Sales Price for Scottsdale Homes

Scottsdale homes median sale price October 2019

Just like the median list price, this is the median sales price. Again, half of the prices were higher and half were lower.

The median sale price was $591,000. This comes in ahead of October 2018’s $570,000, and is also higher than September 2019’s median sales price of $584,000.

Number of Homes Sold

This final section covers home sales.

Scottsadale home sales October 2019

If we look year over year home sales, they were up 14%.

Scottsdale homes sold October 2019

And if we look at sales on a month over month basis, sales were up 2%.

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.

Interested in other stats for our market? Visit our Real Estate Market Update page.

 

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

Things to Do in Scottsdale – Wonderspaces Elsewhere

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– Wonderspaces Arizona – Elsewhere –

If you have not heard of Wonderspaces, you should really experience it. It is like nothing I have seen or done before. It originated in San Diego and the mission is to partner with artists and display their artwork via shared experiences. The first Arizona show was called Point of View and it opened this Spring in Scottsdale Fashion Square.

After a short break to swap out Point of View’s artwork, it is now back with a new experience called Elsewhere that will run through the rest of the year. Tickets are sold with specific time slots so that patrons can enjoy the art without feeling crowded.

Elsewhere is home to thirteen installations from various artists from all over the globe. Some are very interactive – You are encouraged to touch or play or walk on. Others are more of a sit back and take it all in… One even invites you to dance. They are all so creative and they appeal to all ages.

Candy Chang Confessions Wondersapces

You can actually become part of one of the projects. For Candy Chang’s Confessions, you are invited to privately write down your deepest secrets and slide them into a collection box. Then the confessions are hung on a huge display wall for others to read. Some are lighthearted and some are incredibly deep and heart-wrenching. You can easily find yourself reading them for several minutes. The wall is constantly changing as new confessions are added. (By the way, it seems a lot of people stole money from their siblings growing up. 🙂 )

My personal favorite was a virtual reality experience called Old Friend by Tyler Hurd. I do not want to spoil it, but let’s just say I did three rounds of it and had a huge smile on my face every time.

Since the installations are all so unique, I do not want to share too much information about them as the element of surprise and wonder is part of what makes Wonderspaces such an amazing experience.

Each art installation has a docent or two to explain the piece or answer any questions you may have. Everyone we interacted with was so friendly and helpful.

There is a small snack bar that sells food and beverages for you to enjoy as well.

Be sure to get your tickets to Wonderspaces Elsewhere before it moves on at the end of the year to make way for the newest show.

More Information:
Wonderspaces Elsewhere
Website
Located at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall – In the Food Court, behind the escalators where Jamba Juice is located.
– Closed Mondays

 

Scottsdale AZ Single Family Home Sales – October 2019

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– October 2019 Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Home Sales –

October was a good month for the Scottsdale real estate market. Inventory was up, pending sales were up and home sales were also up. In fact, the under $1 million price point saw the homes sold to homes listed ratio come in at over 55%.

SCOTTSDALE HOME SALES ACTIVITY – OCTOBER 2019

We track the following four sales statuses on a monthly basis.

– Single-family homes for sale – Orange Line –  How many homes were for sale at the end of the month.*
– Under contract, but accepting backup offers (UCB) – Gray Line – The number of UCB homes at the end of the month.*
– Pending home sales – Yellow Line – The number of pending sales at the end of the month.*
– Home Sales – Blue Line –  How many homes sold that month.

OCTOBER 2019 RESULTS

Scottsdale home sales October 2019

  • Scottsdale Homes for Sale: Inventory was up a little over 9% between the end of September and October. This is good news for buyers who have been working with a limited number of homes on the market.
  • UCB (Under contract, accepting backup offers): UCB contracts saw an 11.3% jump. This is ahead of where we were last year at this time and is promising to see in a traditionally slower month.
  • Pending Homes Sales in Scottsdale: Pending sales were also up slightly. They went from 263 to 269.
  • Scottsdale Home Sales: Home sales rebounded in October, closing the month out at 433. Of these, 363 were for homes priced under $1 million.

This next section shows two more sets of statistics we use to track the Scottsdale housing market.

Scottsdale real estate market October 2019

On the top is the Percent Change Month Over Month metric. Here, we look at performance on a month-over-month basis. For instance, homes sales were up 2.4% between September and October after falling for several months.

Below that is Sales Price to List Price. This one compares average home prices to average sales prices. In October, it was 96.3%, meaning buyers saw an average discount of 3.7% off of asking prices.

*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.

Curious about your buying power? Click on the link to learn more.

 

Disclaimer: Data and information were pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 11/1/2019. 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 © 2019 Heather Tawes Nelson | Joyce Tawes

Where to Eat in Scottsdale – Parma Italian Roots

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– Parma Italian Roots –

Parma Scottsdale

We recently enjoyed the most wonderful family dinner at Parma. Located in Grayhawk, in the former Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers spot, the space has been transformed into a modern, friendly and inviting one.

The interior uses blue and white as the color palette and there are lots of charming touches throughout. There is a large bar area that has indoor and outdoor seating. The patio has several tables and a cute astroturf floor.

Parma Italian Roots Decor

Since it was a beautiful evening, we opted to dine on the patio. We enjoyed the fact that there was a nice sunscreen until the sun receded.

To start, we ordered the Roasted Mushroom Toast and the Burrata Bruchetta. What a great way to start the meal! The Roasted Mushroom Toast was decadent and loaded with mushrooms and a truffled cream sauce. It was very rich, very delicious and perfect for sharing. The Burrata Bruchetta was lighter and very tasty.

Parma Scottsdale menu

From there were ordered several more items including the Caesar Salad, wood-fired Margherita Pizza and the Linguine with Clams. The Caesar Salad had a bit of a twist. Instead of romaine, they use butter lettuce and in lieu of the croutons, they use gremolata breadcrumbs, plus lots of parmesan. We enjoyed this play on the salad. The Margherita Pizza was prepared traditionally and my son did a great job of finishing most of it. The Linguine with Clams was outstanding, so outstanding that my dad was reluctant to share any. 🙂

The final part of our meal was the dessert and it was the highlight of the meal. The Tiramisu with Pistachio Gelato was outstanding. I have tried tiramisu dozens of times and this was the best.  The ladyfingers were so light and the mascarpone was flavored just perfectly. I rarely eat dessert, but I will absolutely order this again the next time we visit!

 

We were there during Happy Hour and opted for a couple of specials as well as ordered off the main menu. Service was very friendly and quick and our food came out promptly.

Parma Italian Roots is worth a try!

More Information:
Parma Italian Roots
20831 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
– Located in the Grayhawk Plaza Shopping Center
480-292-9900
Website

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