valley of the sun lifestyle | ronelle wheeler

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

Luxury Market UpdateShifting Landscape

Craving Light & Fresh Fare?O.H.S.O. Brewery’s Poke’ Tuna

Through The GrapevineWONDROUS WINERIES

VA L L E Y O F T H E S U NS

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Working for You — That’s What I Do!

Gold Canyon East 4 Bed | 3 Bath | 3,376 SQFT | $563,000

Superstition Foothills 3 Bed | 5 Bath | 2,911 SQFT | $444,000

Mountainbrook Village 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 2,043 SQFT | $355,000

Mountainbrook Village 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,603 SQFT | $278,000

Peralta Trails 4 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,889 SQFT | $250,000

Tesoro 2 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,137 SQFT | $210,000

Laredo Ranch 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 2,348 SQFT | $189,900

Ronelle Sells Gold Canyon

Ronelle [email protected]

SPECIALIZING IN: Residential Resale and New Homes in Gold Canyon and East Valley Communities

Looking at real estate in the east valley? Whether Buying Or Selling, Ronelle Will Bring Results.

AZHomesByRonelle.com

& Associates, L.L.C.

At Lori Blank and Associates we work meticulously to guide, protect and negotiate for our clients with caring, professional, and exceptional service. Our brokerage has held market share in Gold Canyon for sales and listings every month since January 2012. Call or send me an email to make an appointment, I look forward to hearing from you!

Living Here Is Like A Never Ending Vacation

I was born and raised in the Bay Area of northern California and had the pleasure of living in Seattle and Chicago before relocating to Phoenix in December 1996. Arizona by far has been my favorite of all the states I have had the pleasure of living in.

When Experience Matters

I have been a licensed real estate agent in the Valley over 17 years. My experience includes new home sales for Woodside Homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch located in North Scottsdale and various other builders around the Valley of the Sun. I also had the pleasure of working as a real estate agent with RE/ MAX and working in relocation for Prudential Financial in Scottsdale. I began my endeavor with Lori Blank & Associates in Gold Canyon in March 2011 and have enjoyed working with the wonderful residents who call this community home.

If you’ve ever thought of visiting a vineyard but haven’t gone yet, fall is the perfect time of year to enjoy the fruits of the vine. Grape harvest time in the Northern Hemisphere is from August to October. The weather is comfortable and there is lots going on at the vineyards to see and do. You may want to plan your visit based on the wine you prefer to sip. In the U.S., for example, certain varieties reach peak ripeness at different times of the year. If you’re a fan of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or Chardon-nay, head to the vineyards in September. Chenin Blanc, Merlot, and Syrah tend to peak closer to October. And big, rich Cabernet ripens October through November. Believe it or not, prior to the 20th century, most of America’s wine grapes were grown in the Midwest. It’s no surprise that today, however, California is the nation’s wine leader, producing 90 percent of the wine grapes grown in the U.S. Napa and Sonoma are the pinnacle of wine country on the West Coast. However, things are changing: Wineries are popping up and gaining in popularity around the country, from Washington state and Oregon, to Long Island and upstate New York. Wine grapes are now grown in all but

four states in the nation, according to Snooth.com. Seems there is a variety of grape that grows well in almost every climate in the United States. There are now some 3,000 wineries in the U.S., making it the 4th largest producer of wine in the world. That means ample opportunity for you to stop in at a winery near you or visit one the next time you’re vacationing. Manywineaficionadoshavetheirfavorite variety of vino, whether it’s red, white, blush, or sparkling. But it’s always good to remember that certain wines go best with certain foods. Gone are the hard and fast rules that red wine should be paired with beef and white should be paired with chicken and seafood. A good rule of thumb: Try rosé with hors d’oeuvres; non-oaky whites (think Sauvignon Blanc) with citrusy meals; and reds with steaks and rich tomato-based dishes. Bottom line? If it makes your meal taste better, you’ve found a perfect pairing. And don’t forget to store your wine appropriately.Althoughonlythefinestand rarest of wines truly need to be cellared for a length of time, it is still important to store your wine the right way to keep it tasting its best. Try to keep it stored at a consistent

temperature (the perfect temp is 45 to 65 degrees, but don’t fret if it’s not exact). However, note that extreme changes in heat or cold could affect the taste of the wine. Also, try to keep it out of direct sunlight, which can also alter the flavor.Ifyouaren’tluckyenoughtohaveyour own wine cellar, look for a cool, dark place in your home to store your wine or consider a wine cooler as a nice addition to your kitchen. CHEERS!

IngredientsTuna:1 lb Ahi Tuna, small dice2 Limes, halved1 tsp Chinese Seven Spice

Wonton Crackers:12 Wonton skins 1 Lime, squeezed2 c Vegetable oil 1 tbsp Chinese Seven Spice1/2 c Spicy mayonnaise 1 tbsp Siracha Chili Sauce

The Build12 Wonton crackers 1 pkg Radish sprouts8 oz Seaweed salad Sweet soy sauce as needed8 oz Daikon root, julienne Spicy mayonnaise as needed

PreparationTuna: In a medium bowl place diced Ahi tuna squeeze limes and add the Chinese Seven Spice, place in refrigerator until ready to use.

Wonton Crackers: Take the two cups of oil and pour into sauce pot and heat to 350 degrees. Once the temperature has been reached place one wonton skin in the oil and fry until crispy. Place on a paper towel to allow the oil to drain off and continue with the rest. Continue until all wonton skins are completed.

Spicy Mayonnaise:In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, lime juice, Siracha and Chinese Seven Spice and mix until smooth. Place in a small plastic bag, reserve for later.

The BuildLay crackers down onto a serving platter or individual plate and top with prepared Poke’ tuna evenly on each cracker. Then layer with Daikon radish root, then a layer of seaweed salad and then drizzle the prepared spicy mayonnaise (cut the tip on the corner of bag to drizzle) over the top. Alternate layers utilizing sweet soy sauce instead of spicy mayonnaise. Garnish each one with radish sprouts.

Ballet Under The StarsVarious Venues | September 18-27602.381.0184 | BalletAZ.org“Ballet Under the Stars” allows Arizona communities to enjoy dance in a unique outdoor setting complete with a stage, lighting, costumes and beautiful Arizona weather. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a varied program, ranging from classical to contemporary. You won’t want to miss this show, perfect for the entire family. This performance series has been delighting Arizona residents for 17 years and this year it has reached its largest audience ever – with six performances spanning from Tempe to Sun City West and Fountain Hills to Casa Grande, stopping at Phoenix, and Goodyear along the way.

Sounds of New Orleans: A Tribute to Louis ArmstrongSymphony Hall | September 26-28602.495.1999 | PhoenixSymphony.orgThis musical showcase of the “Big Easy” features a loving tribute to Louis Armstrong. From “St. Louis Blues” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” to “What a Wonderful World” and “When the Saints Come Marching In,” virtuoso trumpeter and singer ByronStriplingleadsaswingingeveningfilledwiththesoundsthat make the Crescent City famous.

Scottsdale International Film FestivalHarkins Shea 14 | October 9-13602.410.1074 | ScottsdaleFilmFestival.comScottsdaleInternationalFilmFestivalfeaturesfilmsfromallover the world and many of the directors and producers participateinpost-filmQ&A’swiththeaudience.Takeatour around the world, peek into cultures of one or more countries, religions, or ethnicities, and emerge yourself in new insights and knowledge. The festival’s vision is to unite Arizonawiththeworldthroughtheexpressionoffilm.

Art In The Olive GroveThe Olive Mill | October [email protected] | ArtistsoftheSuperstitions.comA diverse group of artists will represent all types of art media including painting, photography, wood, jewelry, pottery, glass and more. Artists of the Superstitions, is an organization of artists living in Apache Junction and Gold Canyon. They are committed to enriching the art culture of our diverse community, by providing opportunities for education, promoting artistic expression, selling, displaying, networking and appreciation in an enjoyable and supportive environment.

Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses&HorsepowerWestWorld of Scottsdale Polo Field | October 25-26480.423.1414 | ThePoloParty.comOn Saturday the lineup features what will be the top women’s team in the world during 2014. They will take on the reigning event champions, the Clogau Wales Polo Team, which plays with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, in a “Battle of the Sexes” match. An All-Star match between Saturday’s top players will take place alongside the USPA Governor’s Cup on Sunday. America’s top ranked professional, Julio Arellano, will play.

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2014

POKE’ TUNA

O.H.S.O. Eatery + Nano Brewery 602.955.0358 | OHSOBrewery.com

In Good Taste Event Calendar

Luxury Market Update By Michael Orr | Director of Real Estate Studies at ASU & Principal of The Cromford Report

REAL ESTATECorner

The luxury home market in Maricopa County had an

excellent year in 2013, easily its best in the last seven

years. We saw almost $5 billion in sales of homes over

$500,000 during 2013 at an average price of $223 per

square foot. This was an increase of 37% over 2012’s

total of $3.6 billion in sales. The annual average sales

price per square foot for homes over $500,000 gained

6% between 2012 and 2013.

Inthefirsthalfof2014thingsstabilizedatthisstronglevel

butdidnotadvanceanyfurther.Thefirstquarterstarted

wellwithtotalluxurysalesup10%fromthefirstquarterof

2013. April and June were also very good months for luxury

home sales but May was disappointing. The market is

looking quieter as we wrap up the long hot summer

months. For the second quarter of 2014 luxury sales edged

2% lower than the same quarter in 2013. For the 12 month

period from July 2013 to June 2014 we saw $5.4 billion

in sales of homes over $500,000. The average price per

squarefootduringthefirsthalfof2014forluxuryhomes

across Maricopa County was $233, up 4.5% from the

annual average for 2013.

The general housing recovery and the obvious success of

luxury homes during 2013 has brought more sellers into the

market in 2014. There are now 34% more active listings over

$500,000 than there were 12 months ago (38% if we exclude

listings with a contract accepting backup offers). However

the supply of active listings has dropped almost 25% since

peaking in April this year and is certainly not excessive.

Lender owned homes are less than 0.6% of active listings

and short sales and pre-foreclosures are down from 3.5%

at the start of July 2013 to just 2.2% this year.

Another sign that the market has cooled is that the

average cumulative days on market for closed luxury sales

is up to 137 days having been 113 this time last year.

Nevertheless, demand has held up much better than in

the rest of the market. The greatest improvement has been

among homes over $2 million where unit sales during the

second quarter were 11% higher than last year.

As long as the stock market suffers no major setback and

the Phoenix economy continues to improve, the luxury

home market will probably continue to outperform the

more general housing market in 2014.

Vineyard Visits