Arizona at Home presented by Tracey Davis

Tracey L. Davis

September | October 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 Cover Property Just Listed In Windgate Ranch

Best Places to Experience the West 4196 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath MLS #4801226 | Offered at $1,075,000

Feast your eyes on this luxury home well-situated within Windgate Ranch. This wonderful property backs to a desert wash and a grassy park area steps from the front door. An impressive 2-story entry, plus curved staircase and open balcony set the tone for this casually refined home with designer touches everywhere. The all-stainless kitchen, baths and bedrooms are all open and extremely well appointed. The community of Windgate Ranch also offers a clubhouse with planned activities, numerous pools/spas, parks, basketball and tennis courts.

NEW LISTING! GREAT BUY

RENTED IN ONE DAY!

SOLD!

Windgate Ranch 3 Bed + Den | 2.5 Bath 2719 Sq. Ft. | $589,000

Windgate Ranch 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath 3442 Sq. Ft. | $5,000/month

Windgate Ranch 5 Bed | 4 Bath 3959 Sq. Ft. | Sold for $985,000

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 3 Months’ Sales: 98 YTD: 212 Average sold price: $1,268,877 Average sold price: $1,281,745 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $263 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $261 DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE/SOUTH OF SHEA SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 3 Months’ Sales: 91 YTD: 219 Average sold price: $697,702 Average sold price: $688,917 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $250 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $252 NORTH PHOENIX SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 3 Months’ Sales: 51 YTD: 108 Average sold price: $656,497 Average sold price: $668,277 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $180 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $204 *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

is your home lacking curb appeal?

Driveway Improvements That Will Do The Trick

upgrade your campfire cookout Spotted Donkey Cantina’s Boracho Beans Featured cover property presented by Tracey Davis See full description on back cover

Event Calendar

September| October 2012 Gentlemen’s Lunch Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sept. 21st 602.263.3589 | WomenOfScottsdale.org The Women of Scottsdale networking group invites you to their annual Gentlemen’s Lunch. The organization endeavors to promote professional women who desire to be successful and connect with the community.

Members and guests are encouraged to bring a gentleman who loves, inspires or supports them.

Dine Out with the Chefs Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Oct. 7th 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Guests will mingle with some of the Valley’s top culinary masters as they sample signature dishes – all from appetizers and entrees, to decadent desserts. Live entertainment, cooking demos, book signings and wine tastings round out the festive evening.

Tour de Paradise Moon Valley Park, Oct. 20th 602.274.5022 | TourDeParadise.org This fundraiser for the Duet foundation – which helps homebound seniors and disabled individuals with such things as getting groceries, rides to the doctor, etc. – has three different bike routes to choose from. Challenge yourself with the 62-mile ride, take the intermediate 30-mile ride or the easier 8-mile fun ride appropriate for all members of the family.

Kokopelli Krush Kokopelli Winery & Bistro, Oct. 26th 480.792.6927 | KokopelliWinery.net Kokopelli Krush has been selected as the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Food/Wine/Beer Festival in the Greater Phoenix area. Teams of two can compete in the grape stomping “krush kompetition”!

The tasty event also includes wine samplings, live entertainment and a kid’s zone. Santé!

BY UPGRADING YOUR DRIVEWAY! If you’re interested in boosting your home’s appeal, look no further than your lowly, old driveway. As one of your home’s often-overlooked focal points, the driveway can make or break the entire look of your property. Below are some ideas to give some pizzazz to your home’s entrance simply by improving your driveway.

RANCHO DE LOS CABALLEROS WICKENBURG, AZ 800.684.5030 | RANCHODELOSCABALLEROS.COM Since opening in 1948, this historic guest ranch and resort continues to honor the grand tradition of the Spanish caballeros, the “gentlemen on horseback,” who explored and settled the Southwest.

Set among 20,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert, the ranch offers comfortable casitas outfitted with vintage handcrafted furnishings and décor that reflects Old West charm.

Your experience wouldn’t be complete without horseback riding, but the ranch offers many other activities such as nature hikes, golf, ATV tours, trap & skeet, hayrides, desert cookouts, scenic jeep tours, hot air balloon rides and even a full-service spa.

One of their most popular events is their

Restore or Improve Your Current Concrete

If tearing out and completely redoing your driveway is not in the budget, consider the big impact that a little restoration can make. Power washing your concrete can remove unsightly oil stains and tire marks, bringing a fresh, clean appearance back to your home. You may also consider a concrete coating, such as an epoxy or polyurethane product. Lastly, your driveway may have never been sealed before. After you’ve cleaned it up, a sealant can help it maintain its look and protect it from future stains.

Colored Concrete

Do away with your boring, standard gray driveway. Chemical staining involves special chemicals that react with the concrete to etch and bond color onto the surface. This process can be used on your existing driveway. Or, color can be added to a ready-mix concrete to provide a beautiful tint throughout the slab when poured. Because the pigment can fade with time and the elements, be sure to apply a sealant as well.

Stamped Concrete

Often referred to as patterned concrete, this process involves imprinting patterns in freshly poured concrete. It’s designed to resemble brick, tile, stone or slate and can be colored to blend with other architectural elements of your residence. Complex designs can easily be achieved and this process tends to be an economical option vs. more expensive materials such as stone and brick.

Exposed Aggregate

For that upscale, “pebbly” look, choose an exposed aggregate surface. Rocks or pebbles are seeded into the freshly poured concrete or actually blended into the ready-mix and then exposed by sandblasting the concrete surface after it’s been poured. There are a variety of looks and designs available depending on the shape, size and color of rock, and the degree of aggregate exposure. Sealing the surface with a clear acrylic resin brings out the natural color of the rock and insures a long-lasting finish.

Pavers and Cobblestones

A very popular option in Arizona, pavers create a distinct and high-end look. Driveways may be paved with mortared pavers which create a hardened surface, or they may be placed with a sand mixture between the pavers making the driveway more flexible and easier to maintain.

Pavers are hand-laid and can be set in an abundance of patterns and arrangements.

Cobblestone can give many homes an elegant, Old-World feel and can be laid in designs with grass (real or artificial) peeking up in between the stones. There are even reclaimed, antique cobblestones available to add a special allure. Choose cobblestones from the historic streets of Chicago or well-worn granite stones used in European cities hundreds of years ago.

When it comes to improving your driveway, your options are many. From the process and materials you use, to the multitude of accents and designs that can be achieved. You can incorporate a style that complements the rest of your home and even make appropriate improvements to your walkways and front entry as well.

Your Home

Local Flavor!

Arizona Honey Festival El Pedregal at The Boulders, Sept. 29th – 30th 480.595.3508 | ElPedregal.com This first annual event is a new take on foodie fests – all about honey! Enjoy live bluegrass music while tasting Arizona honey delights, cooking with honey seminars, enjoying honey-inspired spa treatments, sipping honey cocktails, and browsing bee-inspired merchandise and crafts. Don’t miss the five-course gourmet “honey” dinner with wines paired by Benziger Winery. You’ll be buzzing about it to all your friends!

It’s funny. When people around the country envision living in Arizona, they often imagine we all wear cowboy hats, have a gun rack in our truck and spend our weekends in the saddle moseying about the sun-parched desert. Of course we know that most of us living in the Metro Phoenix area are more likely to be frequenting Nordstrom and Starbucks, than living the Old West lifestyle. However…that doesn’t mean that we can’t escape to a little Western-style diversion. In fact, doesn’t the Spirit of the Old West appeal to you every now and then? Riding horseback through the untamed and rugged desert landscapes, quenching your thirst at a dusty saloon, sharpening your skeet-shooting skills and cooking out under a twinkling, star-filled night…maybe your inner cowboy is calling to you after all. There’s an adventure waiting with your name on it….

Giddy-Up Gals! Getaway weekends. Cowgirl fun for ladies only, it’s the perfect way to bond with the girls through unlimited riding, team penning and nightly entertainment.

TANQUE VERDE RANCH TUCSON, AZ 800.234.3833 | TANQUEVERDERANCH.COM Here guests immerse themselves in the magic and nostalgia of days gone by – all with a touch of luxury thrown in. This all-inclusive ranch resort offers a variety of lodging options as well as specialty dining events such as the mountaintop Old Homestead Breakfast Ride, Mexican Fiesta Night and the spirited Cottonwood Grove BBQ with live cowboy entertainment.

Horses are the “mane” attraction here, with leisurely walk-rides, to fast-paced lope-rides to suit every skill level. Add in guided mountain biking,

fishing, tennis, two swimming pools, a spa, a nature center and watercolor painting and you have an experience your family will never forget.

ARIZONA COWBOY COLLEGE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 480.471.3151 | COWBOYCOLLEGE.COM Maybe you’re more serious about experiencing life as an American cowboy. Perhaps luxury amenities such as spa services and golf just aren’t part of the authentic pursuit you have in mind.

Arizona Cowboy College isn’t just another dude ranch, it’s a real working ranch designed to be a serious attempt at teaching you horsemanship skills and ranching techniques.

Featured in myriads of publications, newspapers, and television programs since its inception in 1989, the school is touted as one-of-a-kind in the world. Whether you have some experience in the saddle or have never even touched a horse before, they guarantee to have you riding and roping like a true cowboy. Many exclaim this to be a “life-changing experience.”

BORACHO BEANS INGREDIENTS: 3 cups pinto beans 1 quart pork or chicken stock 1 lb. bacon, cubed 1 lb. prepared smoked ham, cubed 1 medium onion, diced 6 medium-sized tomatoes, diced 2 serrano chiles, chopped 2 bottles of Dos Equis Lager, 12 oz. each 1 teaspoon black pepper

Featuring Spotted Donkey Cantina 480.488.3358 SpottedDonkeyCantinaElPedregal.com

PREPARATION: 1. In a large pot brown bacon, ham and onions until meat is browned and onions translucent.

2. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer until beans are soft.

Event Calendar

September| October 2012 Gentlemen’s Lunch Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sept. 21st 602.263.3589 | WomenOfScottsdale.org The Women of Scottsdale networking group invites you to their annual Gentlemen’s Lunch. The organization endeavors to promote professional women who desire to be successful and connect with the community.

Members and guests are encouraged to bring a gentleman who loves, inspires or supports them.

Dine Out with the Chefs Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Oct. 7th 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Guests will mingle with some of the Valley’s top culinary masters as they sample signature dishes – all from appetizers and entrees, to decadent desserts. Live entertainment, cooking demos, book signings and wine tastings round out the festive evening.

Tour de Paradise Moon Valley Park, Oct. 20th 602.274.5022 | TourDeParadise.org This fundraiser for the Duet foundation – which helps homebound seniors and disabled individuals with such things as getting groceries, rides to the doctor, etc. – has three different bike routes to choose from. Challenge yourself with the 62-mile ride, take the intermediate 30-mile ride or the easier 8-mile fun ride appropriate for all members of the family.

Kokopelli Krush Kokopelli Winery & Bistro, Oct. 26th 480.792.6927 | KokopelliWinery.net Kokopelli Krush has been selected as the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Food/Wine/Beer Festival in the Greater Phoenix area. Teams of two can compete in the grape stomping “krush kompetition”!

The tasty event also includes wine samplings, live entertainment and a kid’s zone. Santé!

BY UPGRADING YOUR DRIVEWAY! If you’re interested in boosting your home’s appeal, look no further than your lowly, old driveway. As one of your home’s often-overlooked focal points, the driveway can make or break the entire look of your property. Below are some ideas to give some pizzazz to your home’s entrance simply by improving your driveway.

RANCHO DE LOS CABALLEROS WICKENBURG, AZ 800.684.5030 | RANCHODELOSCABALLEROS.COM Since opening in 1948, this historic guest ranch and resort continues to honor the grand tradition of the Spanish caballeros, the “gentlemen on horseback,” who explored and settled the Southwest.

Set among 20,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert, the ranch offers comfortable casitas outfitted with vintage handcrafted furnishings and décor that reflects Old West charm.

Your experience wouldn’t be complete without horseback riding, but the ranch offers many other activities such as nature hikes, golf, ATV tours, trap & skeet, hayrides, desert cookouts, scenic jeep tours, hot air balloon rides and even a full-service spa.

One of their most popular events is their

Restore or Improve Your Current Concrete

If tearing out and completely redoing your driveway is not in the budget, consider the big impact that a little restoration can make. Power washing your concrete can remove unsightly oil stains and tire marks, bringing a fresh, clean appearance back to your home. You may also consider a concrete coating, such as an epoxy or polyurethane product. Lastly, your driveway may have never been sealed before. After you’ve cleaned it up, a sealant can help it maintain its look and protect it from future stains.

Colored Concrete

Do away with your boring, standard gray driveway. Chemical staining involves special chemicals that react with the concrete to etch and bond color onto the surface. This process can be used on your existing driveway. Or, color can be added to a ready-mix concrete to provide a beautiful tint throughout the slab when poured. Because the pigment can fade with time and the elements, be sure to apply a sealant as well.

Stamped Concrete

Often referred to as patterned concrete, this process involves imprinting patterns in freshly poured concrete. It’s designed to resemble brick, tile, stone or slate and can be colored to blend with other architectural elements of your residence. Complex designs can easily be achieved and this process tends to be an economical option vs. more expensive materials such as stone and brick.

Exposed Aggregate

For that upscale, “pebbly” look, choose an exposed aggregate surface. Rocks or pebbles are seeded into the freshly poured concrete or actually blended into the ready-mix and then exposed by sandblasting the concrete surface after it’s been poured. There are a variety of looks and designs available depending on the shape, size and color of rock, and the degree of aggregate exposure. Sealing the surface with a clear acrylic resin brings out the natural color of the rock and insures a long-lasting finish.

Pavers and Cobblestones

A very popular option in Arizona, pavers create a distinct and high-end look. Driveways may be paved with mortared pavers which create a hardened surface, or they may be placed with a sand mixture between the pavers making the driveway more flexible and easier to maintain.

Pavers are hand-laid and can be set in an abundance of patterns and arrangements.

Cobblestone can give many homes an elegant, Old-World feel and can be laid in designs with grass (real or artificial) peeking up in between the stones. There are even reclaimed, antique cobblestones available to add a special allure. Choose cobblestones from the historic streets of Chicago or well-worn granite stones used in European cities hundreds of years ago.

When it comes to improving your driveway, your options are many. From the process and materials you use, to the multitude of accents and designs that can be achieved. You can incorporate a style that complements the rest of your home and even make appropriate improvements to your walkways and front entry as well.

Your Home

Local Flavor!

Arizona Honey Festival El Pedregal at The Boulders, Sept. 29th – 30th 480.595.3508 | ElPedregal.com This first annual event is a new take on foodie fests – all about honey! Enjoy live bluegrass music while tasting Arizona honey delights, cooking with honey seminars, enjoying honey-inspired spa treatments, sipping honey cocktails, and browsing bee-inspired merchandise and crafts. Don’t miss the five-course gourmet “honey” dinner with wines paired by Benziger Winery. You’ll be buzzing about it to all your friends!

It’s funny. When people around the country envision living in Arizona, they often imagine we all wear cowboy hats, have a gun rack in our truck and spend our weekends in the saddle moseying about the sun-parched desert. Of course we know that most of us living in the Metro Phoenix area are more likely to be frequenting Nordstrom and Starbucks, than living the Old West lifestyle. However…that doesn’t mean that we can’t escape to a little Western-style diversion. In fact, doesn’t the Spirit of the Old West appeal to you every now and then? Riding horseback through the untamed and rugged desert landscapes, quenching your thirst at a dusty saloon, sharpening your skeet-shooting skills and cooking out under a twinkling, star-filled night…maybe your inner cowboy is calling to you after all. There’s an adventure waiting with your name on it….

Giddy-Up Gals! Getaway weekends. Cowgirl fun for ladies only, it’s the perfect way to bond with the girls through unlimited riding, team penning and nightly entertainment.

TANQUE VERDE RANCH TUCSON, AZ 800.234.3833 | TANQUEVERDERANCH.COM Here guests immerse themselves in the magic and nostalgia of days gone by – all with a touch of luxury thrown in. This all-inclusive ranch resort offers a variety of lodging options as well as specialty dining events such as the mountaintop Old Homestead Breakfast Ride, Mexican Fiesta Night and the spirited Cottonwood Grove BBQ with live cowboy entertainment.

Horses are the “mane” attraction here, with leisurely walk-rides, to fast-paced lope-rides to suit every skill level. Add in guided mountain biking,

fishing, tennis, two swimming pools, a spa, a nature center and watercolor painting and you have an experience your family will never forget.

ARIZONA COWBOY COLLEGE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 480.471.3151 | COWBOYCOLLEGE.COM Maybe you’re more serious about experiencing life as an American cowboy. Perhaps luxury amenities such as spa services and golf just aren’t part of the authentic pursuit you have in mind.

Arizona Cowboy College isn’t just another dude ranch, it’s a real working ranch designed to be a serious attempt at teaching you horsemanship skills and ranching techniques.

Featured in myriads of publications, newspapers, and television programs since its inception in 1989, the school is touted as one-of-a-kind in the world. Whether you have some experience in the saddle or have never even touched a horse before, they guarantee to have you riding and roping like a true cowboy. Many exclaim this to be a “life-changing experience.”

BORACHO BEANS INGREDIENTS: 3 cups pinto beans 1 quart pork or chicken stock 1 lb. bacon, cubed 1 lb. prepared smoked ham, cubed 1 medium onion, diced 6 medium-sized tomatoes, diced 2 serrano chiles, chopped 2 bottles of Dos Equis Lager, 12 oz. each 1 teaspoon black pepper

Featuring Spotted Donkey Cantina 480.488.3358 SpottedDonkeyCantinaElPedregal.com

PREPARATION: 1. In a large pot brown bacon, ham and onions until meat is browned and onions translucent.

2. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer until beans are soft.

Tracey L. Davis

September | October 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 Cover Property Just Listed In Windgate Ranch

Best Places to Experience the West 4196 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath MLS #4801226 | Offered at $1,075,000

Feast your eyes on this luxury home well-situated within Windgate Ranch. This wonderful property backs to a desert wash and a grassy park area steps from the front door. An impressive 2-story entry, plus curved staircase and open balcony set the tone for this casually refined home with designer touches everywhere. The all-stainless kitchen, baths and bedrooms are all open and extremely well appointed. The community of Windgate Ranch also offers a clubhouse with planned activities, numerous pools/spas, parks, basketball and tennis courts.

NEW LISTING! GREAT BUY

RENTED IN ONE DAY!

SOLD!

Windgate Ranch 3 Bed + Den | 2.5 Bath 2719 Sq. Ft. | $589,000

Windgate Ranch 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath 3442 Sq. Ft. | $5,000/month

Windgate Ranch 5 Bed | 4 Bath 3959 Sq. Ft. | Sold for $985,000

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 3 Months’ Sales: 98 YTD: 212 Average sold price: $1,268,877 Average sold price: $1,281,745 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $263 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $261 DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE/SOUTH OF SHEA SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 3 Months’ Sales: 91 YTD: 219 Average sold price: $697,702 Average sold price: $688,917 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $250 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $252 NORTH PHOENIX SALES • PROPERTIES LISTED FOR $500K-$1.5M Prior 3 Months’ Sales: 51 YTD: 108 Average sold price: $656,497 Average sold price: $668,277 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $180 Average sold price per sq. ft.: $204 *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

is your home lacking curb appeal?

Driveway Improvements That Will Do The Trick

upgrade your campfire cookout Spotted Donkey Cantina’s Boracho Beans Featured cover property presented by Tracey Davis See full description on back cover