paradise valley lifestyle

Paradise Valley’sReal Estate Report

Save Today & Reap Benefits LaterA Wise Home Improvement Idea

Simply ScrumptiousJ&G Steakhouse’s Shrimp Salad

YOUR REAL ESTATE DEMANDS THE BEST!

Sandra Wilken and Susan Herman-Paradis invite you to experience luxury real estate

as it should be. A dynamic team with unsurpassed experience and expertise, Sandra and Susan offer innovative and

effective insight into our market and can guide you to success. Whether you’re

investing in real estate to add to your wealth portfolio, or seeking the best outcome

for the sale of your home, working with professionals of their caliber will give you

unrivaled service, results and peace-of-mind.

SandraWilken.com

SANDRA WILKEN

President & Designated Broker

Office: [email protected]

SUSAN HERMAN-PARADIS

Sales ExecutiveDirect: 480.231.4812

[email protected]

Information gathered from ARMLS. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

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July | August 2011

PARADISE VALLEY MARKET REPORT

HOMES PRICED <$1 M HOMES PRICED $1M-$2M HOMES PRICED $2M-$3M HOMES PRICED $3M+ ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS ACTIVE LISTINGS Avg. List Price $749,736 Avg. List Price $1,511,810 Avg. List Price $2,579,519 Avg. List Price $6,545,168Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $235 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $325 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $396 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $644 Avg. Days on Market 207 Avg. Days on Market 241 Avg. Days on Market 308 Avg. Days on Market 497

SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS SALE PENDING LISTINGS Avg. List Price $741,366 Avg. List Price $1,467,627 Avg. List Price $2,465,491 Avg. List Price n/aAvg. Price per Sq. Ft. $198 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $284 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $417 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. n/aAvg. Days on Market 142 Avg. Days on Market 211 Avg. Days on Market 161 Avg. Days on Market n/a

CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS CLOSED 2011 YTD LISTINGS Avg. Sold Price $610,396 Avg. Sold Price $1,459,682 Avg. Sold Price $2,546,386 Avg. Sold Price $3,500,000 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $197 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $297 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $401 Avg. Price per Sq. Ft. $408 Avg. Days on Market 193 Avg. Days on Market 199 Avg. Days on Market 266 Avg. Days on Market $293

Whetherit’sbuyingahybridvehicle,ororganiccleaningproducts,thereareamyriadofwaystoswitchtoamoreeco-friendlylifestyle.Formanypeoplethough,theaddedexpensethatoftencomeswiththatdesirecanstopusinourgood-intentionedtracks.Withtoday’sanemiceconomy,we’realllookingforwaystosavemoney,ratherthanpayingapremiumforgreengoodsandservices. Yetenvironmentalconsciousnessisheretostay–andforgoodreason.Goinggreenisvitaltoourplanetanditslimitedresources.Andwhenyoucangogreenandsavemoneyatthesametime,goodintentionsandyourwalletcanfinallyliveinharmony! Yourhomecanbeagoldmineinenergysavingswhenyoutakethestepstooutfititwithenergy-savingsystemsanddevices.Thereareevencompaniesthatwillperformacompletehomeenergyauditforyou,makealltheimprovementsandinstallationsforyouandsaveyoumoneyfromdayone.It’sanabsolutewin-winforthehomeownerandisquicklybecomingoneofthemostpopularhomeimprovementsbeingmade. Further,ahomewithdocumentedenergysavingsisnotonlymoredesirabletopotentialbuyerswhenit’stimeforresale,butcangenerallydemandapremiumamongitscompetition.Whilesomehomeownersmakeimprovementstothekitchenorlandscapingtoaddvaluebeforeselling,goinggreenwilladdvaluewhilesavingmoneyeverymonthintheinterim.Greenisin…andit’sheretostay! GreenMonster,anenergyefficiencycompanywithofficesinArizona,California,TexasandUtahisusingthenewesttechnologytohelphomeownersreducetheirenergyconsumption.BabeKilgore,presidentofGreenMonster(www.GreenMonsterUSA.com),explains,“Theindustryhasmadeleapsandboundsinthelasttwoyears.Peoplewillneversuddenlychoosetobe‘energyinefficient’…thestandardhaschangedandthebarhasbeenraised.” Whetherit’ssolarwaterheaters,radiantandthermalbarriers,windowtintingorairductsealing,thescoresofproductsandsolutionsavailablearecustom-designedforeachindividualhome.“Westartwithathoroughassessmentofthehomeaswellasaquestionnaireforthehomeownerontheirenergyconsumptionandbehaviorpatterns,”saysKilgore.“Wearethenabletoprovideacomprehensivereportonourfindingsandourrecommendedsolutions.Webringinanindependentthird-partyauditorthatperformsacompleteenergyauditonthehome.Oncewe’veperformedtheservicesandmadetheimprovementsforthehomeowner,theindependentauditorcomesbacktotestefficienciesanddocumentthedifferences.”

Onaverage,homeownersseeasavingsof40%permonthontheirutilitycosts.Somehomesashighas55%.GreenMonsterperformstheenergyauditsforfree.Theimprovementsarecompletedwithnoout-of-pocketexpenseifthehomeownerchoosestofinancethecosts.Andsavingsaregenerallyinstantasthereductioninenergybillsistypicallymorethanthecostofthefinancedprincipalandinteresteverymonth.Whenyouaddinthecurrentstateandfederaltaxcreditsavailableandrebatesofferedbymanyutilitycompanies,itfurtherreducesyourcosts.KilgoresaysGreenMonster’sclientshaveapproximately50-60%oftheircostscoveredbytheseincentives. Newhomebuildersaretakingnoteofconsumers’desireforanenergy-efficienthomeandarebeginningtofocusonbuildinghomesthatoffersustainablematerialsandsolar-powertechnologies.“Net-zero”building–ahomethat’sdesignedtoproduceasmuchenergyasitusesannually–hasbecomecommoninCanadaandisnowmakingitswaythroughtheUS.Outfittingyourpropertywithsimilargreenelementsoffersthatlittlesomethingextrathatcanactuallymakeatremendousdifferencewhenit’stimetosell.

ScottsdaleArtWalkDowntown Scottsdale, Every Thursday EveningScottsdaleGalleries.comCheckoutover100artgalleriesinDowntownScottsdaleduringthesepopularweeklyevents.Enjoymeetinglocalartistsandfraternizingwithgalleryowners.Whetheryouareanartconnoisseurorjustoutforpeoplewatching,comefindoutwhylocalsandvisitorsalikelovetheArtWalk.

ArizonaDiamondbacksvs.LosAngelesDodgersChase Field, July 15th – 17th 602.514.8400 | Arizona.Diamondbacks.MLB.comThreecheersforourhometeamastheybattleitoutagainsttheDodgersatChaseField.Ofcourse,whatbaseballgamewouldbecompletewithoutpeanutsandCrackerJacks?Makesuretoarriveearlyonthe17thasthefirst5000kids12andunderreceiveafreeBack-to-SchoolBackpack!

HotSummerNightsConcertSeriesCity Center, July 23rd480.319.8700 | CityCenterOfCityNorth.comDanceunderthestarsatthisconcertseries,featuringtheValley’smosttalentedmusicalacts.Scheduledforthe23rdisTheJJ’sBandofferingpop,rock,Motownanddisco.Notjustcateredtowardsadults,therewillalsobefacepainting,balloonanimalsandcottoncandy.Concertgoerscanalsoenjoyexclusivediscountsfromparticipatingrestaurantsandretailshopstheeveningoftheevent.

MoviesattheMuseumPhoenix Art Museum, July 24th602.257.1222 | PhxArt.orgTheremaynotbeanypopcornorRedVines,butmoviesatthemuseumarejustasenjoyableandthefilmsarefollowedbyagroupdiscussion.AsapartoftheNationalTheatreLiveseries,The Cherry OrchardwillberecordedliveattheOlivierTheatreinLondonandsimulcasttothemuseum.Setattheverystartofthetwentiethcentury,thisfilmcapturesapoignantmomentinRussianhistoryasthecountryrollsinexorablytowardstheOctoberRevolutionof1917.

ProwlandPlayPhoenix Zoo, August 13th602.273.1341 | PhoenixZoo.orgEverwonderwhatgoesonatthezooatnight?Takeaguidednighthikealongthedarktrailsandhearstoriesfromtheparkrangersonwhattakesplaceafterthegatesareclosed.CooloffintheLeapin’LagoonorcatcharideontheSneak-a-PeekSafariTrainandfindoutwhatsortofsillyanticstheanimalsareuptowhennooneisaround!

JoshGrobaninConcertUS Airways Center, August 19th 877.686.5366 | CenterPhoenix.orgInGroban’sStraight to You tour,fanswillcelebrateinhisnewalbum,Illuminations.Describedinhisbioas“…onewherefolkmeetsclassical,whereartmeetsintimacy,whereimmediacymeetstimelessnessandwhere,mostimportantly,Grobanwasfreetoexpresshimselfmorefully,moretrulythaneverbefore,”thisnewprojectissaidtobehisbestyet.

JULY|AUGUST2011

SHRIMPSALADWITHCHAMPAGNEVINEGARDRESSING

J&GSteakhouseatThePhoenician480.214.8000

JGSteakhouseScottsdale.com

•Nomorecrawlingat15m.p.h.throughschool zones–atleastforacoupleofmonths!

•Thewaythehotsunenvelopsyourbody inwarmthandsometimesmakesyour stomachflip-flopinpleasure

•Fudgesicles

•Collectingladybugs

•Chubbytoddlerhandscraftingasand castle

•Thefirstnightbackinyourownbedafter returningfromyoursummervacation

•Nohomework,nobookreports,nodetailed displaysonthehabitatoftheBaldEagle

•Diningal frescounderthecoolcurtainof patiomisters

•Tannedlegsandstrappysandals

•Familyreunions

•Watchingdandelionseedheadsblow awaylikehundredsoftinyparachutes

•Red-checkedtableclothsandheaping bowlsofjuicywatermelon

•Thenostalgicsmellofcharcoalbriquettes

•Familybikerides

•Icysix-pack?Check.Bagofpeanuts? Gotit.Big-screenTV?Youbet.Settlingin withDadforabaseballdouble-header

•Teachingyourkidstoperfectawicked Frisbeethrow

•Thecrashandflashofsummer thunderstorms

•Cuddlinguponthehammockand marvelingatthenightskytotheserenade ofcricketsandcicadas

•Homemadepeachcobbler

•FloatingdowntheriverwithJimmyBuffet tunescrankedwayup!

•Thesheerblissonyourpooch’sfaceashe leapsjoyouslyintothepool

•Littlefacescoatedwithdirtandsweatas theytirelesslytoilfromsunuptosun downbuildingthecoolestfortinthe neighborhood!

•Diggingyourtoesinwarmsandwhilesipping afrozen,umbrella-embellishedmargarita

•SaturdaymorningFarmer’sMarkets

•Mouthwateringstrawberriesthesizeof yourfist

•WatchingFourthofJulyfireworksfromthe roofofyourcar,andtryingtoguessifit’s theGrandFinaleyet

•Pigracing,demolitionderbies,pie-eating contests.Nothingsayssummerlikea countryfair!

•Watchingfluffycloudsdriftbywhile contentedlysprawledoutonsweet-smelling grass

•Wipingthemeltedbutterdribblingdown yourchinwhiledivingintoadeliciouscorn onthecob

•Sneakingromancepaperbacksintoyour beachbagandneveradmittingthey’re yours

•Makingsunteaoutontheporch

•SpendingalldaySaturday,andSunday, fishing

•Ear-to-earsmearsofBBQsaucetomatch ear-to-eargrinsatapicnic

FORCHAMPAGNEVINEGARBEURREBLANC

In a sauce pot combine vinegar, shallots and salt and reduce until dry. Add cream and reduce to syrup, then whisk in butter piece by piece (warm gently as necessary). Whisk in a pinch of cayenne and hold in a warm water bath until used.

FORTRUFFLESOYVINAIGRETTE

Mix all ingredients except oil in a bowl then slowly drizzle oil in while whisking.

TOSERVE

Season shrimp with salt and cayenne. Put on a buttered sheet tray and cook under broiler in oven until just cooked through. Make a bed of mixed greens on four cooled plates. Scatter enoki mushrooms over the top, then season the avocado fans with salt and pepper and place in the center of each salad. Top with a spoonful of diced tomato and minced chives. Dress each salad with truffle soy vinaigrette then place five shrimp on each salad so heads are facing avocado. Top each shrimp with warm champagne beurre blanc and serve.

Servesfour.

• 2shallots,minced• 2/3cupchampagne vinegar• 1/2tsp.salt

• 1/2cupheavycream• 4oz.butter,cutincubes• pinchcayennepepper

• 1/4cupsoysauce• 1/4cuptrufflejuice• 2Tbs.freshlemonjuice

• 1/3cupoliveoil• saltandpeppertotaste

• 20shrimp,peeledandcut downthemiddlewith headandtailstill attached• 1lb.mixedgreens• 1avocado,cutinto quartersthenthinlysliced withstemsidestill connectedtomakeafan

• 1packenokimushrooms, stemscutoff• 1tomato,scoredand blanchedtopeel,then seededandcutintoa mediumdice• 2Tbs.chives,minced• dustingofcayennepepper• coarsesalttotaste• blackpeppertotaste

ADDING VALUE BY GOING GREEN!

Whetherit’sthatquintessentialaromaofsummer:sunscreen, orthecheerfulsoundsofsplishingandsplashinginthepool;

summerhasalwaysheldaspecialplaceinourhearts. Here,wecelebratetheseasonwithallofthejoysthatare

uniquelysummer,alongwithlittleinspirationsonrelishingyour ownsimplepleasuresthistimeofyear.