Mirabel Lifestyle | Bob Lomax

Luxury Market UpdateShifting Landscape

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

Through The GrapevineWONDROUS WINERIES

M I R A B E LS

Amazing Mediterranean

Cover HomeExclusively Offered

ByBob Lomax

BROKERS CORNERThe summer 2014 real estate market has been very slow. And frankly, that is quite reassuring to me. Historically, summers have been very quiet as far as real estate goes in the northern parts of Scottsdale. Only during the past 5 years when the market was turned upside down did we see lots of activity in the summer when buyers felt they could take advantage of distressed sellers. Conversely, sellers were willing to look at offers below where they had hoped to be to avoid having to carry the property through the end of the year and perhaps longer.

This is no longer the case as the majority, if not all of the sellers, in today’s market would like to dispose of their property but are not distressed. They believe the carrying cost associated with waiting for the right offer is worth it. That is the sign of a normal market and I am glad it has finally arrived.

And I couldn’t be more excited about the properties that will be coming online this fall. Granted, the inventory levels are still a little too low with only about 15 houses projected to be for sale this season. (Compared with 5 that are listed today) But the majority of these homes are very appealing and match what our prototypical buyer is looking for as far as floorplans, finishes, location and price point.

And the homesite inventory should be equally appealing with a good mixture of value priced lots as well as super premium view properties. If you would like a sneak peak at this upcoming inventory, feel free to contact me as I have photographs, floorplans and lot diagrams of all of the properties I am aware of that will be coming on the market in the coming months. Until next time...

Bob Lomax

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

MIRABEL FEATURED PROPERTIES

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS.www.mirabel.com

B O B L O M A XOWNER/DESIGNATED BROKER

MIRABEL PROPERTIES

480.595.2545 OFFICE480.595.9503 FAX

602.920.7192 MOBILE

Pinnacle Peak, city lights, and sunsets. Designed by Master of the Southwest architect, Ron Brissette, this home is everything you could want in a desert retreat complete with pocket doors that open the entire great room up to the expansive covered patio and backyard complete with negative edge pool and spa. Very

hard to find quality new construction on a great lot with southern exposure in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in north Scottsdale. Home is partially

furnished and most is available for sale under separate agreement.

AVAILABLE

For the most effective marketing to get your Mirabel property sold call Bob at 602.920.7192.

Lot 155 | 3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 4,221 SQFT | $2,095,000 Beautifully finished territorial style home with unobstructed views of the 8th

green, Continental Mountains and Apache Peak. Open great room floorplan with master bedroom & office on one side of the house & 2 guest suites on the

opposite side. Pocket doors in great room retract to bring the outdoors in. Tons of open space between the golf course and home creates loads of privacy for the

sparkling pool & hot tub. Price includes a golf membership.

AVAILABLE

Lot 199 | 3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 3,128 SQFTOne of the most highly upgraded El Corazon homes in all of Mirabel.

Owners have spared no expense to make this home feel like a true custom home. Tons of mill work, a butcher block island, extensive outdoor kitchen and

upgraded lighting just to name a few of the upgrades. Perfect for the buyer who wants great quality without lots of square footage.

COMING

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.

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