Arizona at Home presented by Tracey Davis

Tracey L. Davis

November | December 2012

Luxury Properties Marketing Director | Professional Realtor & Dedicated Buyer Representation There’s no question that buying and selling luxury real estate in today’s market requires the assistance of professionals with the right experience, capabilities, and commitment.

Tracey Davis, a proud member of the RH Nathan team, also understands that it’s ArizonaAtHome.com about much more than Tracey.Davis@RussLyon.com a house - it’s about your lifestyle and well-being.

Searching for your Contact Tracey to be included perfect home is personal; in her MLS Neighborhood listing your home should Watch Program. be about more than the Multiple Listing Service. When you retain Tracey Davis, you get the benefit of both worlds. Davis offers highly personalized home buying services and knowledge of luxury properties. In addition, Davis brings to bear her background as a Marketing Director combined with the global reach of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty for successful home sales.

480.734.8404

Featured Property

Just Reduced – Lowest Price In Windgate Ranch

Great Hostess Gift Ideas

9903 E. South Bend Drive 3 Bed + Den | 2.5 Bath | 2719 Sq. Ft. | $549,000

Beautiful nearly-new luxury home in Windgate Ranch. This home welcomes you with exterior stone and a lovely courtyard fountain. The interior features the master bedroom and a study/living room on the main floor. The master bed and bath are a private sanctuary, featuring tall ceilings and a bath complete with a large soaking tub and separate mosiac-tiled shower. The kitchen is open to the great room with vaulted ceilings and tile floors. The second story offers two bedrooms plus a large loft/bonus area with mountain views. The backyard features a firepit, built-in grill and ample green grass for play! Plus, the back and side yards are adjacent to an open wash for privacy. Windgate Ranch features ‘’country club style’’ amenities with heated pools/spas, acres of grass and planned activities.

TERRIFIC FLOORPLAN IN DC RANCH

UNDER CONTRACT- BANK APPROVAL RECV’D

dramatic outdoor lighting Take Your Home from “Fine” to “Fabulous”!

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3236 Sq. Ft. | $850,000

4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2421 Sq. Ft. | $400,000

Luxury Market Snapshot Statistics compiled by Tracey Davis, Realtor*

The RH Nathan team was recently ranked as one of the top teams in Phoenix by The Business Journal and in the nation by the Wall Street Journal.

Robert Nathan

RHNathan.com

NORTH SCOTTSDALE SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $1M-$2M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $1,381,000 Average sold price: $1,274,341 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $260 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $259 DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE/SOUTH OF SHEA SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $691,995 Average sold price: $685,423 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $265 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $251 NORTH PHOENIX SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $645,375 Average sold price: $655,690 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $279 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $270 PARADISE VALLEY SALES • ALL SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $1,342,342 Average sold price: $1,341,702 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $279 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $270 *Source: Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service

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

simple yet elegant

Prado’s Wood-Roasted Prawns

Event Calendar

November| December 2012 Charity Golf Tournament Arizona Grand Resort, November 16th 602.955.3947 | Hemophiliaz.org Gather your foursome and prepare for 18 holes of spectacular golf along with fun, interactive games and events. Afterwards, stay for the Casino Dinner Party with dinner, dancing, casino games, and a comedy show! Proceeds benefit the Arizona Hemophilia Association.

Holiday Prelude Phoenician Resort, December 7th 602.977.1240 | PhoenixYouthSymphony.org Grab your most stylish friends and host a table for the annual luncheon and fashion show to benefit the Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Youth Symphony and Phoenix Theater Guild. Fashions presented by Escada and The Clotherie.

Athleta Iron Girl 10 Mile & 5K Fountain Hills, December 16th IronGirl.com Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced athlete, the Iron Girl events provide women with a fantastic platform to reach their personal bests. Choose from among the 10-mile run or the shorter 5K. Medals to every finisher and post-race giveaways are among the many amenities of the run.

New Year’s Eve Celebration Symphony Hall, December 31st 602.495.1117 | PhoenixSymphony.org Assemble your family and friends and ring in 2013 with the gorgeous sounds of the Phoenix Symphony performing your favorite classics.

This musical celebration is the perfect ending to your year and most certainly will set the tone for a gracious and blessed New Year!

If you’re like many Valley homeowners, you take pride in your property and are constantly updating and improving your home. Nationwide, home improvements are topping the list of homeowner expenses as residents from coast-to-coast are investing in their properties. Here in the Valley where homes tend to be newer, property owners are also updating their homes while adding important value and curb appeal.

Some home improvements such as a kitchen remodel or second-story addition can be massive undertakings. Other homeowners however, are making small, subtle changes to their home that can deliver a huge impact. Enter outdoor lighting design.

Outdoor lighting is sometimes considered as “the frosting on the cake.”

Your home may be beautiful and look nice during the day, but with an understated yet dramatic lighting system, your home can become an absolute showpiece at night.

When considering adding lighting, there are two different categories: artistic landscape lighting as well as architectural lighting. Landscape lighting, which many are familiar with, is used to emphasize your yard and pool area, while architectural lighting highlights key points of your home such as the corners and upper peaks; perhaps a stone column or dramatic entryway. Both are used to give your home dimension and to evoke a particular mood. In fact, exterior lighting allows visitors to really appreciate the high quality and look of your home.

When beginning a lighting design project, ask yourself, “What features of the home do I want to showcase? What effect do I want to create? What type of mood or ambiance do I want for certain areas of my home, such as the front entry or back patio?”

Hiring a professional exterior lighting firm has many benefits. As specialists in the art of proper lighting, they will design a system that, pardon the pun, puts your home in its best light! In other words, they understand the power of proper lighting and how all of the elements in the design schematic work together to create a desirable ambiance. In fact, when done properly, the lighting design shouldn’t even be noticeable. Instead, all that one’s eye is drawn to is the property itself.

Lighting schemes may include up-lit trees, glowing pathways and soft spotlights on architectural details. Give your backyard a resort-style atmosphere by enhancing water features, rock formations and seating areas. Create a sense of awe with sealed and waterproofed lights set right behind a waterfall in which the back-lit effect creates even more drama.

The power of proper lighting can turn your home from a nice home into a “Wow” home.

Your Home

So just what kind of a gift will make a lasting impression? Try bringing a gift that ties into the theme of the party. If it’s a holiday cookie baking party, roll up a silicone baking mat with a cookie turner in a rustic burlap bag and tie it off with raffia and a unique cookie recipe that can be used later. If it’s a wine tasting party, wrap up a wine journal and a beautiful pen in a velvet wine bag.

People always like to receive gifts that have some kind of a personal meaning. It can be something like monogrammed cocktail napkins, stationary imprinted with their name or simply a gift that relates to their hobbies or interests.

Collect past photos of you and your hosts and present them in personalized photo coasters.

Burn a music CD with a collection of music that you’ve personally chosen for them.

Are they Italian food lovers? How about some gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars packaged with a loaf of bread from a local bakery?

Adding a twist to an old stand-by can make an ordinary gift extraordinary.

Instead of showing up with a plain old bottle of liquor, stand out from the crowd with a more interesting offering.

Fill a basket with a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream and an accompanying bag of premium

WOOD-ROASTED WILD PRAWNS WITH CONTRONE BEANS

Local Flavor!

ARTrageous gala starring Bernadette Peters Virginia G. Piper Theater, December 1st 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception and silent auction and have the opportunity to view the latest SMoCA exhibitions before a gourmet seated dinner and the performance by Ms. Peters.

Seven-time Tony Award-Nominee Peters will perform classic Broadway songs and standards.

With the holiday party season in full swing, you’ll no doubt be invited to many soirées, casual and formal. Although arriving with a gift for the gracious hosts is in no way obligatory, it is certainly a kind gesture that your hosts will really appreciate. Here are some guidelines and ideas for bringing just the right gift!

Some of the most common gifts that are typically brought are actually considered “no-no’s.”

Flowers, for example, are beautiful. However, arriving with a bouquet in-hand sends the hostess scrambling off in search of an appropriate vase when she’d rather be greeting other guests at the door. Sending a floral arrangement the next day, however, is a terrific idea. Seeing the floral delivery van pulling up the next morning will brighten any exhausted hostess’ post-party mood.

Caution is recommended too, when bringing a bottle of wine or any type of food. Unless you’ve been asked to bring a wine or dish to contribute to the meal, the hostess may feel obligated to serve your gift at the event. Menus and wine selections have most likely been carefully planned and your host may feel uncomfortable setting out your Mexican queso dip along with her fancy French cheese board. The general rule is that gifts of food or wine should be put aside to be opened at a later time. Make it clear that you do not expect it to be served at that event.

coffee. Or tie candy canes around a bottle of Peppermint Schnapps and package it with Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix.

One more way to really show your hosts your appreciation is to bring small gifts for their pets or children. For the kids, anything relating to arts and crafts is great because it can keep the kids busy for hours while the adults are mingling. Be careful to avoid bringing a craft that needs adult participation or that will make a mess – you don’t want to add to any stress to your hosts during their party.

Lastly, remember that the whole point in bringing your hosts a gift is to show them your genuine appreciation for their effort and hospitality.

And that little extra thought put into your gift, shows them just how much!

Featuring Prado at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa 480.627.3004 | Montelucia.com

INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb. dry Italian Controne beans* • 24, or approximately 2 lbs., blue wild prawns (New Caledonia, Hawaii), or any fresh unpeeled jumbo shrimp, 4 shrimp per serving • Mothia sea salt or any high-quality sea salt, to taste • Tellicherry pepper or any fresh-cracked, high-quality black pepper, to taste • Extra virgin olive oil as needed • 8-10 rosemary sprigs, leaves removed and chopped finely amounting to 2 Tbs., stems reserved and set aside • Fleur de sel (France, Italy or Spain), or any high quality sea salt, to taste • Sicilian wild oregano, or any fresh oregano, chopped finely, approximately 2 Tbs.

DIRECTIONS: Cook beans in an ample amount of gently simmering water until soft, season with salt. Meanwhile, skewer prawns on rosemary stems and season with salt, pepper and olive oil. Grill just until pink, do not overcook. Drain beans and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil to moisten, season with salt, chopped oregano and rosemary. Gently rest the prawn skewer over a serving of the beans in each serving dish.

Finish the entire dish with fleur de sel and a drizzle more olive oil. *Controne beans are Italian white beans with a thin skin. They need no soaking and cook very quickly. An easier-to-source substitute would be canned Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed.

They will have much higher sodium content, so adjust the amount of salt you use in the recipe.

Yield: serves 6 as an appetizer or light entrée

Event Calendar

November| December 2012 Charity Golf Tournament Arizona Grand Resort, November 16th 602.955.3947 | Hemophiliaz.org Gather your foursome and prepare for 18 holes of spectacular golf along with fun, interactive games and events. Afterwards, stay for the Casino Dinner Party with dinner, dancing, casino games, and a comedy show! Proceeds benefit the Arizona Hemophilia Association.

Holiday Prelude Phoenician Resort, December 7th 602.977.1240 | PhoenixYouthSymphony.org Grab your most stylish friends and host a table for the annual luncheon and fashion show to benefit the Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Youth Symphony and Phoenix Theater Guild. Fashions presented by Escada and The Clotherie.

Athleta Iron Girl 10 Mile & 5K Fountain Hills, December 16th IronGirl.com Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced athlete, the Iron Girl events provide women with a fantastic platform to reach their personal bests. Choose from among the 10-mile run or the shorter 5K. Medals to every finisher and post-race giveaways are among the many amenities of the run.

New Year’s Eve Celebration Symphony Hall, December 31st 602.495.1117 | PhoenixSymphony.org Assemble your family and friends and ring in 2013 with the gorgeous sounds of the Phoenix Symphony performing your favorite classics.

This musical celebration is the perfect ending to your year and most certainly will set the tone for a gracious and blessed New Year!

If you’re like many Valley homeowners, you take pride in your property and are constantly updating and improving your home. Nationwide, home improvements are topping the list of homeowner expenses as residents from coast-to-coast are investing in their properties. Here in the Valley where homes tend to be newer, property owners are also updating their homes while adding important value and curb appeal.

Some home improvements such as a kitchen remodel or second-story addition can be massive undertakings. Other homeowners however, are making small, subtle changes to their home that can deliver a huge impact. Enter outdoor lighting design.

Outdoor lighting is sometimes considered as “the frosting on the cake.”

Your home may be beautiful and look nice during the day, but with an understated yet dramatic lighting system, your home can become an absolute showpiece at night.

When considering adding lighting, there are two different categories: artistic landscape lighting as well as architectural lighting. Landscape lighting, which many are familiar with, is used to emphasize your yard and pool area, while architectural lighting highlights key points of your home such as the corners and upper peaks; perhaps a stone column or dramatic entryway. Both are used to give your home dimension and to evoke a particular mood. In fact, exterior lighting allows visitors to really appreciate the high quality and look of your home.

When beginning a lighting design project, ask yourself, “What features of the home do I want to showcase? What effect do I want to create? What type of mood or ambiance do I want for certain areas of my home, such as the front entry or back patio?”

Hiring a professional exterior lighting firm has many benefits. As specialists in the art of proper lighting, they will design a system that, pardon the pun, puts your home in its best light! In other words, they understand the power of proper lighting and how all of the elements in the design schematic work together to create a desirable ambiance. In fact, when done properly, the lighting design shouldn’t even be noticeable. Instead, all that one’s eye is drawn to is the property itself.

Lighting schemes may include up-lit trees, glowing pathways and soft spotlights on architectural details. Give your backyard a resort-style atmosphere by enhancing water features, rock formations and seating areas. Create a sense of awe with sealed and waterproofed lights set right behind a waterfall in which the back-lit effect creates even more drama.

The power of proper lighting can turn your home from a nice home into a “Wow” home.

Your Home

So just what kind of a gift will make a lasting impression? Try bringing a gift that ties into the theme of the party. If it’s a holiday cookie baking party, roll up a silicone baking mat with a cookie turner in a rustic burlap bag and tie it off with raffia and a unique cookie recipe that can be used later. If it’s a wine tasting party, wrap up a wine journal and a beautiful pen in a velvet wine bag.

People always like to receive gifts that have some kind of a personal meaning. It can be something like monogrammed cocktail napkins, stationary imprinted with their name or simply a gift that relates to their hobbies or interests.

Collect past photos of you and your hosts and present them in personalized photo coasters.

Burn a music CD with a collection of music that you’ve personally chosen for them.

Are they Italian food lovers? How about some gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars packaged with a loaf of bread from a local bakery?

Adding a twist to an old stand-by can make an ordinary gift extraordinary.

Instead of showing up with a plain old bottle of liquor, stand out from the crowd with a more interesting offering.

Fill a basket with a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream and an accompanying bag of premium

WOOD-ROASTED WILD PRAWNS WITH CONTRONE BEANS

Local Flavor!

ARTrageous gala starring Bernadette Peters Virginia G. Piper Theater, December 1st 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception and silent auction and have the opportunity to view the latest SMoCA exhibitions before a gourmet seated dinner and the performance by Ms. Peters.

Seven-time Tony Award-Nominee Peters will perform classic Broadway songs and standards.

With the holiday party season in full swing, you’ll no doubt be invited to many soirées, casual and formal. Although arriving with a gift for the gracious hosts is in no way obligatory, it is certainly a kind gesture that your hosts will really appreciate. Here are some guidelines and ideas for bringing just the right gift!

Some of the most common gifts that are typically brought are actually considered “no-no’s.”

Flowers, for example, are beautiful. However, arriving with a bouquet in-hand sends the hostess scrambling off in search of an appropriate vase when she’d rather be greeting other guests at the door. Sending a floral arrangement the next day, however, is a terrific idea. Seeing the floral delivery van pulling up the next morning will brighten any exhausted hostess’ post-party mood.

Caution is recommended too, when bringing a bottle of wine or any type of food. Unless you’ve been asked to bring a wine or dish to contribute to the meal, the hostess may feel obligated to serve your gift at the event. Menus and wine selections have most likely been carefully planned and your host may feel uncomfortable setting out your Mexican queso dip along with her fancy French cheese board. The general rule is that gifts of food or wine should be put aside to be opened at a later time. Make it clear that you do not expect it to be served at that event.

coffee. Or tie candy canes around a bottle of Peppermint Schnapps and package it with Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix.

One more way to really show your hosts your appreciation is to bring small gifts for their pets or children. For the kids, anything relating to arts and crafts is great because it can keep the kids busy for hours while the adults are mingling. Be careful to avoid bringing a craft that needs adult participation or that will make a mess – you don’t want to add to any stress to your hosts during their party.

Lastly, remember that the whole point in bringing your hosts a gift is to show them your genuine appreciation for their effort and hospitality.

And that little extra thought put into your gift, shows them just how much!

Featuring Prado at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa 480.627.3004 | Montelucia.com

INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb. dry Italian Controne beans* • 24, or approximately 2 lbs., blue wild prawns (New Caledonia, Hawaii), or any fresh unpeeled jumbo shrimp, 4 shrimp per serving • Mothia sea salt or any high-quality sea salt, to taste • Tellicherry pepper or any fresh-cracked, high-quality black pepper, to taste • Extra virgin olive oil as needed • 8-10 rosemary sprigs, leaves removed and chopped finely amounting to 2 Tbs., stems reserved and set aside • Fleur de sel (France, Italy or Spain), or any high quality sea salt, to taste • Sicilian wild oregano, or any fresh oregano, chopped finely, approximately 2 Tbs.

DIRECTIONS: Cook beans in an ample amount of gently simmering water until soft, season with salt. Meanwhile, skewer prawns on rosemary stems and season with salt, pepper and olive oil. Grill just until pink, do not overcook. Drain beans and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil to moisten, season with salt, chopped oregano and rosemary. Gently rest the prawn skewer over a serving of the beans in each serving dish.

Finish the entire dish with fleur de sel and a drizzle more olive oil. *Controne beans are Italian white beans with a thin skin. They need no soaking and cook very quickly. An easier-to-source substitute would be canned Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed.

They will have much higher sodium content, so adjust the amount of salt you use in the recipe.

Yield: serves 6 as an appetizer or light entrée

Tracey L. Davis

November | December 2012

Luxury Properties Marketing Director | Professional Realtor & Dedicated Buyer Representation There’s no question that buying and selling luxury real estate in today’s market requires the assistance of professionals with the right experience, capabilities, and commitment.

Tracey Davis, a proud member of the RH Nathan team, also understands that it’s ArizonaAtHome.com about much more than Tracey.Davis@RussLyon.com a house - it’s about your lifestyle and well-being.

Searching for your Contact Tracey to be included perfect home is personal; in her MLS Neighborhood listing your home should Watch Program. be about more than the Multiple Listing Service. When you retain Tracey Davis, you get the benefit of both worlds. Davis offers highly personalized home buying services and knowledge of luxury properties. In addition, Davis brings to bear her background as a Marketing Director combined with the global reach of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty for successful home sales.

480.734.8404

Featured Property

Just Reduced – Lowest Price In Windgate Ranch

Great Hostess Gift Ideas

9903 E. South Bend Drive 3 Bed + Den | 2.5 Bath | 2719 Sq. Ft. | $549,000

Beautiful nearly-new luxury home in Windgate Ranch. This home welcomes you with exterior stone and a lovely courtyard fountain. The interior features the master bedroom and a study/living room on the main floor. The master bed and bath are a private sanctuary, featuring tall ceilings and a bath complete with a large soaking tub and separate mosiac-tiled shower. The kitchen is open to the great room with vaulted ceilings and tile floors. The second story offers two bedrooms plus a large loft/bonus area with mountain views. The backyard features a firepit, built-in grill and ample green grass for play! Plus, the back and side yards are adjacent to an open wash for privacy. Windgate Ranch features ‘’country club style’’ amenities with heated pools/spas, acres of grass and planned activities.

TERRIFIC FLOORPLAN IN DC RANCH

UNDER CONTRACT- BANK APPROVAL RECV’D

dramatic outdoor lighting Take Your Home from “Fine” to “Fabulous”!

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3236 Sq. Ft. | $850,000

4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2421 Sq. Ft. | $400,000

Luxury Market Snapshot Statistics compiled by Tracey Davis, Realtor*

The RH Nathan team was recently ranked as one of the top teams in Phoenix by The Business Journal and in the nation by the Wall Street Journal.

Robert Nathan

RHNathan.com

NORTH SCOTTSDALE SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $1M-$2M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $1,381,000 Average sold price: $1,274,341 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $260 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $259 DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE/SOUTH OF SHEA SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $691,995 Average sold price: $685,423 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $265 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $251 NORTH PHOENIX SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $645,375 Average sold price: $655,690 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $279 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $270 PARADISE VALLEY SALES • ALL SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES Prior 6 Months’ Sales: YTD: Average sold price: $1,342,342 Average sold price: $1,341,702 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $279 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $270 *Source: Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service

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

simple yet elegant

Prado’s Wood-Roasted Prawns