Clearwater Hills Lifestyle

Clearwater Hills

January | February 2014

Portfolio Of Homes Sold For 2013

Sleek and Simple The New Minimal

Who You Work With Matters All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

WendyWalkerFineProperties.com

Wendy Walker

602.468.8888 Direct Wendy@WWFineProperties.com

Building Wealth Richard E McDowell Private Mortgage Banker

480.348.5016 Direct | 480.323.5074 Cell | 866.675.1016 Fax 8601 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

www.wfhm.com/richard-mcdowell | Richard.mcdowell@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 134250 Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.© 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 105351-12/13.

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

What’s In Your Real Estate Portfolio?

If you plan to buy a new home this year, consider these reasons: • Mortgage rates are low.

• Home financing is available in loan amounts up to $6 million, working with a Wells Fargo Private Mortgage Banker.

Equity Title Biltmore Office

3125 E Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85016

602.956.5141 Our experience makes the difference!

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

The Perfect Pairing SOL Mexican Cocina’s Shrimp Ceviche + White Wine

7513 Clearwater Parkway SOLD December 2013 for $2,525,000

By Wendy Walker

In Good Taste

Psst! In case you didn’t hear, there’s a shift happening in home décor. Clean lines, lighter and airier colors, and a more modern look are taking center stage in today’s luxury homes. Of course, we still love our regional design flair, but current hip homes are lightening up and going minimalistic.

Homeowners that shy away from the word modern, however, need not be dismayed by today’s contemporary take on home design and furnishings. The style is minimalistic but not completely stripped bare. We’re not talking hard plastic chairs and chrome fixtures. Today’s new modern chairs and sofa silhouettes, for example, are still comfortable but are sleek and simple.

Upholstery is elegant and soft, or bright and geometric. You will definitely see a love of patterned and geometric furniture, drapes, and area rugs in today’s fresh new interiors.

When it comes to color, the familiar earthy tans and greens, terracotta rusts, and mustard yellows, though still popular in a regional sense, are making way for crisp and more contrasting hues. Think soft blues, whites, creams, grays, and browns which bring a clean and fresh look to tired spaces.

(It’s no surprise that top paint company Benjamin Moore has named A Breath of

SOL Mexican Cocina 480.245.6708 | SOLCocina.com

JAPANESE SHRIMP CEVICHE de CAMARON INGREDIENTS: 1 tsp chipotles in adobo, minced 2 tsp mayonnaise 2 limes juice 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp minced serrano chilies 2 tbsp diced cucumber 2 tbsp diced onion 1 pinch chopped cilantro 10 medium cooked shrimp, cut into large pieces (3 oz) GARNISH: 1/4 avocado – diced Cilantro sprig DIRECTIONS: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients in order listed, mixing well after each addition. Spoon into a 12-ounce glass or small bowl and top with the diced avocado and cilantro.

WINE PAIRING: To represent the dish, keep this pairing light and refreshing with hints of lime and herbal notes. The acidic yet refreshing pairing will complement the flavors in this dish beautifully. Ideas for the perfect coupling are: Sparkling Wine, Pinot Gris, Dry Riesling or White Wine Sangria. Enjoy!

Building Wealth Through Real Estate Investment

Real estate is one of the few investments where the investor may “fall in love” with the asset. Unlike stocks or bonds, real estate has an emotional element to the investment. Therefore, one of the foremost tips for investing in real estate is to listen to what the numbers tell you, rather than the emotional pull of the property.

When investing in rental properties, the rental income needs to cover all expenses associated with the property – including taxes and mortgage. In other words, an investment property should pay for itself. As a general guideline, you should try to achieve a gross rent of at least 150% of the property’s mortgage payments to cover all operational costs and leave some net rental income for yourself.

Many affluent investors use the cash-on-cash return analysis as a “litmus test” of a rental property investment.

CASH-ON-CASH RETURN = ANNUAL CASH FLOW (BEFORE TAXES)/TOTAL CASH INVESTED If an investor purchased an apartment building and each month the cash flow from rentals, less expenses, is $5,000. Over the course of a year, the before-tax income would be $60,000 and if their cash invested (down payment) in the property totaled $300,000, cash-on-cash return is equal to 20%.

Savvy investors look for 20% - 30% cash-on-cash return before considering investing in a property. A big plus is that the return is immediate cash in your pocket and the property may still appreciate on top of that return. In addition, the investor needs to consider how much time the property will take to manage. Some properties, such as vacation and college rentals, just require way too much time and management to make them smart investments. Well maintained properties rented for as long as possible to decent credit profile tenants usually take the least time to manage.

Compared to other investments, real estate is easy to value. Even if you have no idea how to value a property, you can find a Realtor who can value it for you. Typically there are a lot of comparable properties to use to value real estate so the investor knows what the investment property is worth and what should be spent for the property. There are many below market properties that an investor can find. Not only can you purchase a property below market price, you can add value to the property once you purchase it. You can also add bedrooms, add bathrooms, update a kitchen or do many other things to increase value of the real estate. It simply is not possible for an individual investor to add a bedroom onto a stock.

Therefore, real estate should be an important part of your investment portfolio.

Fresh Air, a pale powdery blue, its 2013 Paint Color of the Year!)

The effect? Simple elegance. But not everything is serene. Look for lively yellows to brighten spaces ...and brighten your mood. Shocks of patterned cobalt blue, say in a few occasional chairs or throw pillows, will also enliven this more contemporary style of living.

In the kitchen, look for white and dark brown or black motifs. Counters are stocked with essential tools only, left bare and easy to clean. Kitchen knick-knacks and purely decorative items are sparse, with new homeowners opting for a clean and understated look. Cabinets themselves are now often painted, with whites and creams lending kitchens an entirely fresh new look. Distressed wood is also popular, giving a unique and individualist vibe to homes.

Perhaps the biggest shift in interior design for the New Year: Individuality.

Homeowners are looking for handmade, unique items that don’t look exactly the same as all the other homes on the block.

Seek out different pieces that speak to you and make you happy in your home. Sounds like a great way to start the New Year!

Event Calendar JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2014 Celebration of Fine Art Corner of Hayden Road & Loop 101 | January 11-March 23 480.443.7695 | CelebrateArt.com The Celebration of Fine Art is where art lovers and artists connect. This juried, invitational show and art sale, now in its 24th year, features more than 40,000 square feet of working studios and works of art by 100 renowned and emerging artists from across the country. During the 10-week event, visitors from around the globe will gather to admire and acquire an unsurpassed selection of artwork in all mediums and styles from some of the continents’ most talented artists.

Barrett-Jackson WestWorld | January 12-19 480.421.6694 | Barrett-Jackson.com Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Barrett-Jackson, the world’s leading collector car auction and automotive lifestyle event, specializes in providing products and services to astute classic and collector car owners and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction where hundreds of world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience.

Dream Home Tour in Paradise Valley PV Design Center| January 25 480.326.5448 | DreamHomeTourAZ.com Be transported from the PV Design center to tour the top luxury dream homes in Paradise Valley. Each tour bus will have a representative from Paradise Valley Interiors, educating attendees on the variety of design concepts found within these outstanding homes! Attendees will have an opportunity to experience culinary delights in each home, representing some of the most popular restaurants found within the area. All proceeds go to benefit JDRF and The Phoenix Symphony.

Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale | January 27-February 2 602.870.4162 | WMPhoenixOpen.com Thanks to the most fan-friendly tournament venue on the PGA Tour, the Stadium Course at the TPC Scottsdale, the Open attracts the largest galleries of any golf tournament in the world. When 179,022 fans packed the TPC Scottsdale during the third round of the 2013 WM Phoenix Open it resulted in a new single-day attendance record on tour.

La Bayadère Symphony Hall | February 13-16 602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org Bayadère follows the heartbreaking tale of a temple dancer and a young warrior kept apart in life and united only in death. With rich lavish set designs which conjure up exotic locales like The Arabian Nights, this ballet will transport you with dream-like sequences to a world of noble warriors, cruel princesses and beautiful temple dancers. La Bayadère features mesmerizing classical performances highlighted by the famous Shades scene, staged for the entire corps.

In Good Taste

Psst! In case you didn’t hear, there’s a shift happening in home décor. Clean lines, lighter and airier colors, and a more modern look are taking center stage in today’s luxury homes. Of course, we still love our regional design flair, but current hip homes are lightening up and going minimalistic.

Homeowners that shy away from the word modern, however, need not be dismayed by today’s contemporary take on home design and furnishings. The style is minimalistic but not completely stripped bare. We’re not talking hard plastic chairs and chrome fixtures. Today’s new modern chairs and sofa silhouettes, for example, are still comfortable but are sleek and simple.

Upholstery is elegant and soft, or bright and geometric. You will definitely see a love of patterned and geometric furniture, drapes, and area rugs in today’s fresh new interiors.

When it comes to color, the familiar earthy tans and greens, terracotta rusts, and mustard yellows, though still popular in a regional sense, are making way for crisp and more contrasting hues. Think soft blues, whites, creams, grays, and browns which bring a clean and fresh look to tired spaces.

(It’s no surprise that top paint company Benjamin Moore has named A Breath of

SOL Mexican Cocina 480.245.6708 | SOLCocina.com

JAPANESE SHRIMP CEVICHE de CAMARON INGREDIENTS: 1 tsp chipotles in adobo, minced 2 tsp mayonnaise 2 limes juice 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp minced serrano chilies 2 tbsp diced cucumber 2 tbsp diced onion 1 pinch chopped cilantro 10 medium cooked shrimp, cut into large pieces (3 oz) GARNISH: 1/4 avocado – diced Cilantro sprig DIRECTIONS: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients in order listed, mixing well after each addition. Spoon into a 12-ounce glass or small bowl and top with the diced avocado and cilantro.

WINE PAIRING: To represent the dish, keep this pairing light and refreshing with hints of lime and herbal notes. The acidic yet refreshing pairing will complement the flavors in this dish beautifully. Ideas for the perfect coupling are: Sparkling Wine, Pinot Gris, Dry Riesling or White Wine Sangria. Enjoy!

Building Wealth Through Real Estate Investment

Real estate is one of the few investments where the investor may “fall in love” with the asset. Unlike stocks or bonds, real estate has an emotional element to the investment. Therefore, one of the foremost tips for investing in real estate is to listen to what the numbers tell you, rather than the emotional pull of the property.

When investing in rental properties, the rental income needs to cover all expenses associated with the property – including taxes and mortgage. In other words, an investment property should pay for itself. As a general guideline, you should try to achieve a gross rent of at least 150% of the property’s mortgage payments to cover all operational costs and leave some net rental income for yourself.

Many affluent investors use the cash-on-cash return analysis as a “litmus test” of a rental property investment.

CASH-ON-CASH RETURN = ANNUAL CASH FLOW (BEFORE TAXES)/TOTAL CASH INVESTED If an investor purchased an apartment building and each month the cash flow from rentals, less expenses, is $5,000. Over the course of a year, the before-tax income would be $60,000 and if their cash invested (down payment) in the property totaled $300,000, cash-on-cash return is equal to 20%.

Savvy investors look for 20% - 30% cash-on-cash return before considering investing in a property. A big plus is that the return is immediate cash in your pocket and the property may still appreciate on top of that return. In addition, the investor needs to consider how much time the property will take to manage. Some properties, such as vacation and college rentals, just require way too much time and management to make them smart investments. Well maintained properties rented for as long as possible to decent credit profile tenants usually take the least time to manage.

Compared to other investments, real estate is easy to value. Even if you have no idea how to value a property, you can find a Realtor who can value it for you. Typically there are a lot of comparable properties to use to value real estate so the investor knows what the investment property is worth and what should be spent for the property. There are many below market properties that an investor can find. Not only can you purchase a property below market price, you can add value to the property once you purchase it. You can also add bedrooms, add bathrooms, update a kitchen or do many other things to increase value of the real estate. It simply is not possible for an individual investor to add a bedroom onto a stock.

Therefore, real estate should be an important part of your investment portfolio.

Fresh Air, a pale powdery blue, its 2013 Paint Color of the Year!)

The effect? Simple elegance. But not everything is serene. Look for lively yellows to brighten spaces ...and brighten your mood. Shocks of patterned cobalt blue, say in a few occasional chairs or throw pillows, will also enliven this more contemporary style of living.

In the kitchen, look for white and dark brown or black motifs. Counters are stocked with essential tools only, left bare and easy to clean. Kitchen knick-knacks and purely decorative items are sparse, with new homeowners opting for a clean and understated look. Cabinets themselves are now often painted, with whites and creams lending kitchens an entirely fresh new look. Distressed wood is also popular, giving a unique and individualist vibe to homes.

Perhaps the biggest shift in interior design for the New Year: Individuality.

Homeowners are looking for handmade, unique items that don’t look exactly the same as all the other homes on the block.

Seek out different pieces that speak to you and make you happy in your home. Sounds like a great way to start the New Year!

Event Calendar JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2014 Celebration of Fine Art Corner of Hayden Road & Loop 101 | January 11-March 23 480.443.7695 | CelebrateArt.com The Celebration of Fine Art is where art lovers and artists connect. This juried, invitational show and art sale, now in its 24th year, features more than 40,000 square feet of working studios and works of art by 100 renowned and emerging artists from across the country. During the 10-week event, visitors from around the globe will gather to admire and acquire an unsurpassed selection of artwork in all mediums and styles from some of the continents’ most talented artists.

Barrett-Jackson WestWorld | January 12-19 480.421.6694 | Barrett-Jackson.com Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Barrett-Jackson, the world’s leading collector car auction and automotive lifestyle event, specializes in providing products and services to astute classic and collector car owners and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction where hundreds of world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience.

Dream Home Tour in Paradise Valley PV Design Center| January 25 480.326.5448 | DreamHomeTourAZ.com Be transported from the PV Design center to tour the top luxury dream homes in Paradise Valley. Each tour bus will have a representative from Paradise Valley Interiors, educating attendees on the variety of design concepts found within these outstanding homes! Attendees will have an opportunity to experience culinary delights in each home, representing some of the most popular restaurants found within the area. All proceeds go to benefit JDRF and The Phoenix Symphony.

Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale | January 27-February 2 602.870.4162 | WMPhoenixOpen.com Thanks to the most fan-friendly tournament venue on the PGA Tour, the Stadium Course at the TPC Scottsdale, the Open attracts the largest galleries of any golf tournament in the world. When 179,022 fans packed the TPC Scottsdale during the third round of the 2013 WM Phoenix Open it resulted in a new single-day attendance record on tour.

La Bayadère Symphony Hall | February 13-16 602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org Bayadère follows the heartbreaking tale of a temple dancer and a young warrior kept apart in life and united only in death. With rich lavish set designs which conjure up exotic locales like The Arabian Nights, this ballet will transport you with dream-like sequences to a world of noble warriors, cruel princesses and beautiful temple dancers. La Bayadère features mesmerizing classical performances highlighted by the famous Shades scene, staged for the entire corps.

Clearwater Hills

January | February 2014

Portfolio Of Homes Sold For 2013

Sleek and Simple The New Minimal

Who You Work With Matters All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

WendyWalkerFineProperties.com

Wendy Walker

602.468.8888 Direct Wendy@WWFineProperties.com

Building Wealth Richard E McDowell Private Mortgage Banker

480.348.5016 Direct | 480.323.5074 Cell | 866.675.1016 Fax 8601 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

www.wfhm.com/richard-mcdowell | Richard.mcdowell@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 134250 Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.© 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 105351-12/13.

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

What’s In Your Real Estate Portfolio?

If you plan to buy a new home this year, consider these reasons: • Mortgage rates are low.

• Home financing is available in loan amounts up to $6 million, working with a Wells Fargo Private Mortgage Banker.

Equity Title Biltmore Office

3125 E Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85016

602.956.5141 Our experience makes the difference!

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

The Perfect Pairing SOL Mexican Cocina’s Shrimp Ceviche + White Wine

7513 Clearwater Parkway SOLD December 2013 for $2,525,000

By Wendy Walker