AZHO Glover Sep 09

Arizona Homeowner September / 2009

Inventive Home Lending 1400 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 615 Tempe, Arizona 85282 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The financing of your real estate can be a daunting task. You want the best interest rate and you want the pre-approval, application and close of escrow processes to be hasslefree. I understand. I listen. I respond quickly.

• I specialize in custom-designing a specific loan for each individual client. With over 400 loan programs at my fingertips, you will get a mortgage that best fits your unique situation.

• I use the latest technology in loan underwriting. You’ll receive a loan decision within hours. Don’t wait days to find out if you qualify for the home you really want!

• Closing thousands of loans and working with thousands of borrowers assures you that I have the knowledge and expertise to handle any situation.

• My impeccable reputation is my best asset. I always strive to exceed your expectations!

Call me today!

contemporary southwest design

Our Market is on Fire!

Are You Missing Out? Welcome to fall. Are the autumn leaves and low temps here yet? We’re not quite that lucky just yet. We can’t brag to the rest of the country about our weather until at least November.

But what we can brag about are our continued strong housing numbers for Metro Phoenix.

There are definite signs of a turn-around in real estate!

The big news in lending and real estate continues to be the strong home selling numbers in our region. Since April of this year, homes have been selling in excess of 8,000 per month. We have also seen several months where homes sold in excess of 9,000 units.

As recently as July we recorded over 9,100 homes sold for the month. When we tally up the numbers for the year we can see that we have sold over 54,000 homes in our market through July. Those are truly remarkable numbers. If this strong home sales trend continues in our region, by year end we may come close to surpassing the number of homes sold in 2007 & 2008 combined!

The best areas for sales are Phoenix, the Southeast Valley, and the West Valley. Homes in these areas are selling so fast that there is only about a 2-3 month supply of homes available to buyers. And the low inventory in these areas

Organic • Regional • Modern has led to bidding wars between would-be buyers. The Northeast Valley and Scottsdale homes priced under $1 Million are still showing strong growth with a 4-5 month supply of homes available for sale. The Paradise Valley and Scottsdale market for homes priced over $1 Million are improving as well but still have a 15-19 month backlog of inventory. And as I’ve noted before, the problem that is plaguing the higher-end home market continues to be a shortage of attractively priced and structured home loan programs. Any loan for more then $417K is considered a “jumbo loan.” And the majority of jumbo lenders require much larger down payments and charge 1-2% higher rates.

In summary, the Metro Phoenix real estate market has been very frothy and is indeed a seller’s market in many areas. The strong demand from buyers has helped stabilize home values. Overall, we are definitely starting to see signs that our real estate market is returning to normal.

HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS

• Mortgage rates are at a 50-year low. Almost everyone can benefit by either buying a new home or refinancing to a low fixed rate. Call now for a free review of your options.

• First-time home buyers are eligible for up to an $8K tax credit for buying and closing on a home by 12/1/09. That’s free money if you buy a home by the deadline!

• If you are behind on your mortgage payments the government has offered incentives to lenders to modify your loan so that the interest and payment is lower. (We do not offer loan modifications but would be happy to offer free advice on how you can get help.)

• If you have a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA or VA loan you may be eligible for refinancing even if your owe more on your loan then your home is worth. (Call us to determine if you are eligible.)

Steve Glover Senior Loan Officer 480.929.0044 steveg@ihlending.com www.ihlending.com MB0905347

MORTGAGE RATES AS OF 8/10/09 Loan Rates for $150K-$417K

30-Year Fixed at 5.250%/5.475% APR 15-Year Fixed at 4.625%/4.875% APR

gardening in cooler temps Transition Your Yard for Fall/Winter

Loan Rates for $418K-$1.5M

5/1 ARM at 4.625%/4.872% APR 7/1 ARM at 4.875%/5.102% APR

*Note: Quotes assume primary home financing with 700+ FICO score on a single-family property with 20%-30% equity.

All quotes offered with 1% origination fee.

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

sushi scottsdale style

Geisha A Go Go’s Tuna & Crab Tartar

Event Calendar

September 2009

Healing Field Tempe Beach Park, Sept. 11th – 14th 480.967.2001 or tempe.gov/lake Stroll down Tempe’s Healing Field in remembrance of those who died during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 3,000 American flags are placed in honor of the heroism, strength and unity of Americans on this infamous day in our country’s history.

What a perfect opportunity to unite again as a community, remember the fallen, and stand strong in the face of those who wish to harm us.

So Long to Summer Fest Freestone Park Ballfield Complex, Sept. 12th 480.503.6871 or ci.gilbert.az.us/parks Head over to Gilbert to bid adieu to summer. The City of Gilbert coordinates this yearly event and provides activities for the entire family to enjoy. Listen to live music, try your hand (and feet) at wall climbing, and let the kids enjoy the inflatable bounces and slides. A colorful fireworks display will round out the celebration!

Walk for Homeless Families Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, Sept. 19th 602.275.7852 or umom.org Holding their first-ever Walk for Homeless Families, UMOM is encouraging people to step out for some fun physical activity and raise funds and awareness for the ever-growing needs of Arizona’s homeless families. You can register as a group or independent walker and can choose the 5K or 10K course. If walking isn’t your style, join the event as a volunteer or to simply cheer on others.

2009 Arizona Restaurant Week Various restaurants in the Valley, Sept. 19th – 26th 602.307.9134 or arizonarestaurantweek.com Showcasing the many culinary gems here in the Valley, Arizona Restaurant Week returns with a bang! During this seven-day promotion, scores of Valley restaurants will feature a special three-course menu featuring some of their signature dishes at $29 per person or $59 a couple. Restaurants participating in this event include Bloom, Arrowhead Grill and Tarbell’s. Treat yourself to a fabulous meal, while supporting our local restaurant industry!

Legally Blonde ASU Gammage, Sept. 22nd – 27th 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com Based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde has been transformed into a hilarious and uplifting musical. Elle is determined to prove herself when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “more serious” and decides to attend the most “serious” university around, Harvard Law. Legally Blonde has only been running for two years and has already been nominated for six Tony Awards!

As the earth tilts on its axis, fall officially starts September 22nd and winter December 22nd, at least in our hemisphere. Fall, for some, may just be a transition time from summer into winter but in the world of gardeners each season stands on its own. Landscaping in Arizona is unique. Although many might argue that we don’t experience four seasons in our climate, the truth is that your landscaping does need transitional care to take it from hot weather to cold weather.

Fall The extreme heat of the desert summer starts to subside in the fall making it the perfect time to prepare plants for the winter. This is when you tuck your flowers and plants to bed for the winter. If done right, your spring landscaping will emerge beautifully.

Winter Desert dwellers benefit from beautiful weather right through the winter months.

However, we do get cold temps at night and even an occasional frost. Take the necessary precautions and your landscape will survive the season.

• Time to Plant - add organic amendments to prepare soil - plant spring bulbs - sow seeds of cool-season vegetables (carrots, green onions, peas), wait on lettuce until cooler temps arrive - aerate, seed and fertilize lawns with winter grass

• Time to Plant - if weather is mild, continue to plant wildflowers from seed - provide color with flowering annuals (petunia, pansy, viola, calendula)

• Time to Water - heavily irrigate trees and plants - as temps cool off, increase duration of watering but reduce frequency - reduce watering of landscape plants as it gets cooler and cooler, to acclimate them for winter temps • Time to Care - stop fertilizing rose bushes, cover with eight inches soil and prune back to 36 inches tall - prune trees and shrubs after leaves turn in early fall, fertilize hardy landscape plants - stop fertilizing cold-tender plants (hibiscus, citrus, bougainvillea) and deciduous fruit trees - as night temps hit 50, bring potted plants inside

• Time to Water - cut back on watering until warmer temps arrive - only water as needed • Time to Care - cover cold-sensitive plants (citrus, bougainvillea, tender perennials) - use the newer hi-tech frost cloth which allows in more light - keep cacti from frost damage: columnar cacti – cover growing points with Styrofoam cups. Saguaros, barrels, cardons – cover top of plant with frost cloth. Large cacti – use propane heaters at base - wait until January/February to prune deciduous trees and shrubs - wait until March to cut back tender plants (lantana, bird of paradise)

Those Pesky Pests Even animal lovers get annoyed when the local rabbits and birds feast on their new plants and seeds. Don’t get mad. Get building. Keep the rabbits out with sturdy wire cages anchored several inches deep around your plants/garden. Keep the birds away with fencing, netting and screening over newly seeded wildflowers, vegetables and annuals. If your desert environment includes hungry javelinas, attempt to grow plants and flowers in containers that are too high for them to reach.

Your Home

The allure of the desert’s spectacular sunsets, sky-reaching saguaros and breathtaking mountainous peaks has lured many architects over the years from all parts of the country to the Valley of the Sun. The emergence of Contemporary Southwest vernacular design in Arizona is largely the result of our unique environment. In most cases, it is the desert itself that inspires the work of architects and interior designers when transforming a concept or project to this popular design style.

The new millennium solidified the stature of Contemporary Southwest architecture which focuses on the use of elements existing in nature coupled with simplicity of design. This style combines several regional influences including Pueblo, Anasazi, and Spanish Colonial. The emphasis is on using materials that evolve into the actual design elements.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Tony Sutton of EST EST Interior Design brings the unexpected to his designs.

Contemporary Southwest design allows you to break from the traditional using a contemporary interpretation of Old World influences. It is organic, blending nature and history with the modern world. Homes designed in this style tend to freeform around the natural terrain.

Sutton likes to mix things up creatively. Contemporary allows him to develop unexpected variations on the expected, but without radical change. Sutton says, “There is no dominant design style right now….we’ve branched away from Tuscan. I like to work with a contemporary interpretation of many design styles.

Arizona is great for that as it’s a melting pot and collision of cultures.”

INSIDE/OUT The incredible flora and fauna of the desert is perfect for bringing the inside outside and vice versa, an important focus in Contemporary Southwest design.

As a natural native backdrop or incorporated into the actual living space, the light and colors of the Sonoran desert become one with the design and materials in the construction of the home. Sutton often does his design research by browsing botanical books to incorporate the natural elements of the desert into his work. The spirit of the surroundings should blend into the design of the home, as the environment is a key element. This type of home is integrated with the naturalness of the outside creating an indoor/outdoor setting. The beauty and climate of the Arizona desert make it an ideal place for this lifestyle.

Tuna and Crab Tartar Ingredients: 2 oz. chopped raw tuna 1 oz. crab meat 1/4 oz. soy sauce (lite) 1/4 oz. sesame oil pinch of Japanese chili powder pinch of white sesame seeds Japanese rice crackers

Local Flavor!

Phoenix Cooks Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sept. 5th 602.374.6024 or phoenixcooks.com This is the ultimate culinary dream come true! Three performance-kitchen stages will showcase the talents of several remarkable chefs from over 50 restaurants and resorts.

Participate in an interactive cooking session with a top chef and learn healthy variations of your favorite dishes. Or, simply kick back, have a drink and indulge in all the great food. Proceeds benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Directions: 1. In a small mixing bowl combine first six ingredients and mix well.

2. Plate and serve with Japanese rice crackers.

Featuring Geisha A Go Go 7150 E. 6th Ave. • Scottsdale • 480.699.0055 or geishaagogo.com

Serves one.

Event Calendar

September 2009

Healing Field Tempe Beach Park, Sept. 11th – 14th 480.967.2001 or tempe.gov/lake Stroll down Tempe’s Healing Field in remembrance of those who died during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 3,000 American flags are placed in honor of the heroism, strength and unity of Americans on this infamous day in our country’s history.

What a perfect opportunity to unite again as a community, remember the fallen, and stand strong in the face of those who wish to harm us.

So Long to Summer Fest Freestone Park Ballfield Complex, Sept. 12th 480.503.6871 or ci.gilbert.az.us/parks Head over to Gilbert to bid adieu to summer. The City of Gilbert coordinates this yearly event and provides activities for the entire family to enjoy. Listen to live music, try your hand (and feet) at wall climbing, and let the kids enjoy the inflatable bounces and slides. A colorful fireworks display will round out the celebration!

Walk for Homeless Families Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, Sept. 19th 602.275.7852 or umom.org Holding their first-ever Walk for Homeless Families, UMOM is encouraging people to step out for some fun physical activity and raise funds and awareness for the ever-growing needs of Arizona’s homeless families. You can register as a group or independent walker and can choose the 5K or 10K course. If walking isn’t your style, join the event as a volunteer or to simply cheer on others.

2009 Arizona Restaurant Week Various restaurants in the Valley, Sept. 19th – 26th 602.307.9134 or arizonarestaurantweek.com Showcasing the many culinary gems here in the Valley, Arizona Restaurant Week returns with a bang! During this seven-day promotion, scores of Valley restaurants will feature a special three-course menu featuring some of their signature dishes at $29 per person or $59 a couple. Restaurants participating in this event include Bloom, Arrowhead Grill and Tarbell’s. Treat yourself to a fabulous meal, while supporting our local restaurant industry!

Legally Blonde ASU Gammage, Sept. 22nd – 27th 480.965.3434 or asugammage.com Based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde has been transformed into a hilarious and uplifting musical. Elle is determined to prove herself when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “more serious” and decides to attend the most “serious” university around, Harvard Law. Legally Blonde has only been running for two years and has already been nominated for six Tony Awards!

As the earth tilts on its axis, fall officially starts September 22nd and winter December 22nd, at least in our hemisphere. Fall, for some, may just be a transition time from summer into winter but in the world of gardeners each season stands on its own. Landscaping in Arizona is unique. Although many might argue that we don’t experience four seasons in our climate, the truth is that your landscaping does need transitional care to take it from hot weather to cold weather.

Fall The extreme heat of the desert summer starts to subside in the fall making it the perfect time to prepare plants for the winter. This is when you tuck your flowers and plants to bed for the winter. If done right, your spring landscaping will emerge beautifully.

Winter Desert dwellers benefit from beautiful weather right through the winter months.

However, we do get cold temps at night and even an occasional frost. Take the necessary precautions and your landscape will survive the season.

• Time to Plant - add organic amendments to prepare soil - plant spring bulbs - sow seeds of cool-season vegetables (carrots, green onions, peas), wait on lettuce until cooler temps arrive - aerate, seed and fertilize lawns with winter grass

• Time to Plant - if weather is mild, continue to plant wildflowers from seed - provide color with flowering annuals (petunia, pansy, viola, calendula)

• Time to Water - heavily irrigate trees and plants - as temps cool off, increase duration of watering but reduce frequency - reduce watering of landscape plants as it gets cooler and cooler, to acclimate them for winter temps • Time to Care - stop fertilizing rose bushes, cover with eight inches soil and prune back to 36 inches tall - prune trees and shrubs after leaves turn in early fall, fertilize hardy landscape plants - stop fertilizing cold-tender plants (hibiscus, citrus, bougainvillea) and deciduous fruit trees - as night temps hit 50, bring potted plants inside

• Time to Water - cut back on watering until warmer temps arrive - only water as needed • Time to Care - cover cold-sensitive plants (citrus, bougainvillea, tender perennials) - use the newer hi-tech frost cloth which allows in more light - keep cacti from frost damage: columnar cacti – cover growing points with Styrofoam cups. Saguaros, barrels, cardons – cover top of plant with frost cloth. Large cacti – use propane heaters at base - wait until January/February to prune deciduous trees and shrubs - wait until March to cut back tender plants (lantana, bird of paradise)

Those Pesky Pests Even animal lovers get annoyed when the local rabbits and birds feast on their new plants and seeds. Don’t get mad. Get building. Keep the rabbits out with sturdy wire cages anchored several inches deep around your plants/garden. Keep the birds away with fencing, netting and screening over newly seeded wildflowers, vegetables and annuals. If your desert environment includes hungry javelinas, attempt to grow plants and flowers in containers that are too high for them to reach.

Your Home

The allure of the desert’s spectacular sunsets, sky-reaching saguaros and breathtaking mountainous peaks has lured many architects over the years from all parts of the country to the Valley of the Sun. The emergence of Contemporary Southwest vernacular design in Arizona is largely the result of our unique environment. In most cases, it is the desert itself that inspires the work of architects and interior designers when transforming a concept or project to this popular design style.

The new millennium solidified the stature of Contemporary Southwest architecture which focuses on the use of elements existing in nature coupled with simplicity of design. This style combines several regional influences including Pueblo, Anasazi, and Spanish Colonial. The emphasis is on using materials that evolve into the actual design elements.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Tony Sutton of EST EST Interior Design brings the unexpected to his designs.

Contemporary Southwest design allows you to break from the traditional using a contemporary interpretation of Old World influences. It is organic, blending nature and history with the modern world. Homes designed in this style tend to freeform around the natural terrain.

Sutton likes to mix things up creatively. Contemporary allows him to develop unexpected variations on the expected, but without radical change. Sutton says, “There is no dominant design style right now….we’ve branched away from Tuscan. I like to work with a contemporary interpretation of many design styles.

Arizona is great for that as it’s a melting pot and collision of cultures.”

INSIDE/OUT The incredible flora and fauna of the desert is perfect for bringing the inside outside and vice versa, an important focus in Contemporary Southwest design.

As a natural native backdrop or incorporated into the actual living space, the light and colors of the Sonoran desert become one with the design and materials in the construction of the home. Sutton often does his design research by browsing botanical books to incorporate the natural elements of the desert into his work. The spirit of the surroundings should blend into the design of the home, as the environment is a key element. This type of home is integrated with the naturalness of the outside creating an indoor/outdoor setting. The beauty and climate of the Arizona desert make it an ideal place for this lifestyle.

Tuna and Crab Tartar Ingredients: 2 oz. chopped raw tuna 1 oz. crab meat 1/4 oz. soy sauce (lite) 1/4 oz. sesame oil pinch of Japanese chili powder pinch of white sesame seeds Japanese rice crackers

Local Flavor!

Phoenix Cooks Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sept. 5th 602.374.6024 or phoenixcooks.com This is the ultimate culinary dream come true! Three performance-kitchen stages will showcase the talents of several remarkable chefs from over 50 restaurants and resorts.

Participate in an interactive cooking session with a top chef and learn healthy variations of your favorite dishes. Or, simply kick back, have a drink and indulge in all the great food. Proceeds benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Directions: 1. In a small mixing bowl combine first six ingredients and mix well.

2. Plate and serve with Japanese rice crackers.

Featuring Geisha A Go Go 7150 E. 6th Ave. • Scottsdale • 480.699.0055 or geishaagogo.com

Serves one.

Arizona Homeowner September / 2009

Inventive Home Lending 1400 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 615 Tempe, Arizona 85282 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The financing of your real estate can be a daunting task. You want the best interest rate and you want the pre-approval, application and close of escrow processes to be hasslefree. I understand. I listen. I respond quickly.

• I specialize in custom-designing a specific loan for each individual client. With over 400 loan programs at my fingertips, you will get a mortgage that best fits your unique situation.

• I use the latest technology in loan underwriting. You’ll receive a loan decision within hours. Don’t wait days to find out if you qualify for the home you really want!

• Closing thousands of loans and working with thousands of borrowers assures you that I have the knowledge and expertise to handle any situation.

• My impeccable reputation is my best asset. I always strive to exceed your expectations!

Call me today!

contemporary southwest design

Our Market is on Fire!

Are You Missing Out? Welcome to fall. Are the autumn leaves and low temps here yet? We’re not quite that lucky just yet. We can’t brag to the rest of the country about our weather until at least November.

But what we can brag about are our continued strong housing numbers for Metro Phoenix.

There are definite signs of a turn-around in real estate!

The big news in lending and real estate continues to be the strong home selling numbers in our region. Since April of this year, homes have been selling in excess of 8,000 per month. We have also seen several months where homes sold in excess of 9,000 units.

As recently as July we recorded over 9,100 homes sold for the month. When we tally up the numbers for the year we can see that we have sold over 54,000 homes in our market through July. Those are truly remarkable numbers. If this strong home sales trend continues in our region, by year end we may come close to surpassing the number of homes sold in 2007 & 2008 combined!

The best areas for sales are Phoenix, the Southeast Valley, and the West Valley. Homes in these areas are selling so fast that there is only about a 2-3 month supply of homes available to buyers. And the low inventory in these areas

Organic • Regional • Modern has led to bidding wars between would-be buyers. The Northeast Valley and Scottsdale homes priced under $1 Million are still showing strong growth with a 4-5 month supply of homes available for sale. The Paradise Valley and Scottsdale market for homes priced over $1 Million are improving as well but still have a 15-19 month backlog of inventory. And as I’ve noted before, the problem that is plaguing the higher-end home market continues to be a shortage of attractively priced and structured home loan programs. Any loan for more then $417K is considered a “jumbo loan.” And the majority of jumbo lenders require much larger down payments and charge 1-2% higher rates.

In summary, the Metro Phoenix real estate market has been very frothy and is indeed a seller’s market in many areas. The strong demand from buyers has helped stabilize home values. Overall, we are definitely starting to see signs that our real estate market is returning to normal.

HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS

• Mortgage rates are at a 50-year low. Almost everyone can benefit by either buying a new home or refinancing to a low fixed rate. Call now for a free review of your options.

• First-time home buyers are eligible for up to an $8K tax credit for buying and closing on a home by 12/1/09. That’s free money if you buy a home by the deadline!

• If you are behind on your mortgage payments the government has offered incentives to lenders to modify your loan so that the interest and payment is lower. (We do not offer loan modifications but would be happy to offer free advice on how you can get help.)

• If you have a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA or VA loan you may be eligible for refinancing even if your owe more on your loan then your home is worth. (Call us to determine if you are eligible.)

Steve Glover Senior Loan Officer 480.929.0044 steveg@ihlending.com www.ihlending.com MB0905347

MORTGAGE RATES AS OF 8/10/09 Loan Rates for $150K-$417K

30-Year Fixed at 5.250%/5.475% APR 15-Year Fixed at 4.625%/4.875% APR

gardening in cooler temps Transition Your Yard for Fall/Winter

Loan Rates for $418K-$1.5M

5/1 ARM at 4.625%/4.872% APR 7/1 ARM at 4.875%/5.102% APR

*Note: Quotes assume primary home financing with 700+ FICO score on a single-family property with 20%-30% equity.

All quotes offered with 1% origination fee.

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996

sushi scottsdale style

Geisha A Go Go’s Tuna & Crab Tartar