Fireside Lifestyle - January 2021

FIRESIDE L I F E S T Y L E

J a n u a ry | F e b r u a ry 2 0 2 1

LEARN A NEW LINGO

Light Up the Night Bright Ideas

Chocolate Hazelnut Waffles GoodNes

Cover Home Just Sold

By Kevin Owens!

EVENT CALENDAR JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2021

Zoolights at The Phoenix Zoo Phoenix | Through Jan. 31 PhoenixZoo.org If you missed the beloved holiday tradition last month, there’s still time to partake in the fun! This season, guests can choose how they view the magic, with the options of a classic walk-through tour or the newly added drive-through alternative.

Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction Scottsdale | Jan. 16-23 Barrett-Jackson.com For nearly 50 years, car enthusiasts from throughout the globe have congregated at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions. A true lifestyle event for auto enthusiasts, the auction showcases thousands of the most unique, valuable and desired vehicles in the world.

Named America’s No. 1 Attraction for Car Lovers in the 2019 USA Today Readers’ Choice Contest, this event promises to be an unforgettable afternoon.

Date Night at Imperial Date Gardens Yuma | Jan. 22, 23 VisitYuma.com Hosted by Visit Yuma to showcase the town’s unique crop, the Medjool date, this dining experience is only available on a select few dates each year. Guests are treated to a multi-course gourmet dinner with dishes incorporating the Medjool date.

Heard Museum Hoop Dancing Championships Phoenix | Feb. 13-14 Heard.org

LET THERE BE LIGHT I

t’s time to put the holiday lights away until next year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep some whimsy in your outdoor space. Here are some outdoor lighting trends that work year-round. After all, who doesn’t love lighting up the night?

A simple string of vintage-style white lights over the patio or fire pit is perhaps the most beautiful way to add shimmer to any outdoor setting. Simply anchor the strands of lights to the corners of a covered area or along the roofline to make a magical scene for a gathering. Don’t have an overhead structure? Stores such as Pottery Barn sell poles that attach to a dining table with clamps. The light strands then dangle from the poles to create a festive ambiance. Or consider attaching the lights to in-ground poles or pillars to make the most of your space. Simple shepherd’s hooks can do the trick. Fences, gates, trees, and really any outdoor object can be a perfect spot for lights. Remember that some light strands need to be plugged in to an electric outlet and others are solar powered. Each will give off a different level of light. Also, some strands are very durable and meant to stand up to the elements and often come with plastic bulbs. Others are not as durable and come with glass bulbs, which may look more elegant but may not last as long. No matter what you choose, the classic look of white bulbs can enhance everything from gazebos and front porches to barns and balconies.

Lanterns are another quick and easy way to add luminescence to any outdoor area. A line of lanterns leading guests along a path to a backyard gathering spot is truly breathtaking. For those concerned about open flames, battery-powered LED candles offer a surprisingly realistic look without the worry. Carry the theme to the tabletop with an array of different sized lanterns from classic ship styles to simple candle-lit mason jars.

For those looking for a more whimsical, magical feeling, consider fairy lights, strands of tiny lights that give off a warm glow that seems to float in the air. Other quick and easy ways to add light to your outdoor oasis: float candles in water for a soothing tablescape, hang paper lanterns from trees for a casual relaxed vibe, or add floating lanterns to your pool or spa for a unique light show your family will love to gather round!

Appreciate the beautiful desert winter with this outdoor event celebrating artistry, athleticism and cultural traditions. Dancers using special hoops will be scored on precision, rhythm, showmanship, creativity and speed. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for your front-row seat to these heart-felt performances.

Furry Friends Fine Arts Festival Phoenix | Feb. 27 ShemerArtCenter.org Artists will showcase animal-themed art of various media including photos, drawings, ceramics and more. Browse local business, food and beverage vendors while enjoying live music and entertainment. Bring your furry friend along for a “paw reading” or find your new best friend at petadoption areas.

REAL ESTATE

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own pace and even speak the language into their microphone to ensure and hear correct pronunciation. For a bit of friendly competition, users compete with other learners to get spots on the leaderboards to advance.

Other online courses include Babble (a subscription model, with monthly rates from $6.95 to $13.95 per month), Rosetta Stone (also a subscription model, from $11.99 to $14.92 per month), and Berlitz (which offers three models of learning: private online language classes, group online language classes, and Berlitz Connect offering at-your-own-pace online learning).

Bnew language been on your New Year’s

onjour. Hola. Kon’nichiwa. Has learning a

resolution list for years? Or maybe you’re planning a trip abroad and want to know the native tongue? Or perhaps you simply want to connect with a culture you admire. Luckily, mastering a new language online is easier than ever. Gone are the days of in-person lessons or purchasing CDs to try to learn on your own.

A whole new era of language web learning is here. And learning a new language is not only fun, it’s also been shown to enhance cognitive functioning of older people, according to a 2018 study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Other studies have shown it may also help prevent Alzheimer’s.

How to get started? Perhaps dive in and try Duolingo for free and if you are truly committed and want more individualized lessons, research the best of al the online options for your needs.

Remember, learning a language takes time and is best done in short chunks of time. Some studies also show that learning before bed is beneficial in improving memory and recall.

Watching foreign shows and movies with subtitles is also a great way to immerse yourself in a language if you can’t surround yourself with those who speak the language fluently. All in all, have fun and don’t worry about making mistakes.

IN GOOD TASTE

One of the newer names in the online language game is Duolingo. You’ve probably seen it’s cute little owl mascot online. Head to duolingo.com, choose your language, and easy to understand lessons pop right up on your smartphone, tablet, or computer screen. Choose from 37 different languages … everything from Arabic and Chinese to Spanish and Swedish. Did we mention, it’s free?

That’s right, you can keep learning without ever paying a penny. As you progress, the lessons get harder and introduce users to new subject matter. A student can go at his or her

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT WAFFLES INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups

All-purpose flour

¾ cup

Water

¼ cup

Baking cocoa

3 tbs

Vegetable oil

2 tsp

Baking powder

½ cup

Hazelnut creamer

½ tsp

Baking soda

2

Large eggs

DIRECTIONS Preheat waffle maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl. Whisk together water, hazelnut flavor liquid coffee creamer, eggs and oil in a separate large bowl until smooth.

Add wet mixture to flour mixture. Stir until combined and no dry spots remain. Batter may still have a few lumps.

Cook waffles according to manufacturer’s directions, using ¼ cup of batter per waffle. Place waffles on a wire rack after cooking to avoid steaming. Serve waffles with whipped cream, fresh berries or maple syrup, if desired.

GoodNes.com

FIREDR

#1 SELLING AGENT IN FIRESIDE

Just Sold by Kevin Owens!

21715 N. 38th Place | $783,000

Redwood | 3,537 sf | 4 bedrooms | 3.5 bathrooms Property website: FiresideModel.com

Market Favoring Sellers in 2021

The supply situation has gone from bad to worse, with many areas hitting record lows for the number of homes available to buy. This is not because of a low number of new listings. The flow of new listings was respectable in November and exceeded the total for November 2019 and 2018. However, it increased by far less than the annual increase in demand and many of these new listings went under contract within days of listing. We exited November with 15% fewer homes for sale than we entered it. Demand is extraordinarily strong for this late in the season, so we currently have a market that is more unbalanced (in favor of sellers) than we have ever seen before, even at the height of the 2005 bubble.

Also Sold by Kevin Owens!

3730 E. Ember Glow Way | $890,000 Amazon | 4,302 sf | 6 bdrms | 4.5 baths

3826 E. Quail Avenue | $735,000 Redwood | 3,537 sf | 5 bdrms | 3.5 baths

3726 E. Cat Balue Drive | $635,000 Saguaro | 3,812 sf | 4 bdrms | 3.5 baths

21607 N. 36th Street | $525,000 Rainer | 2,084 sf | 4 bdrms | 2 baths

Although, the current situation is different from 2005. The most significant factors are the very low vacancy rate (very high in 2005) and the very high rate of rent increases.

KEVIN OWENS REALTOR ® 480.217.9184

Proud Triple Crown Sponsor of the Fireside Elementary PTO

85050 STATS | LAST MONTH VS. LAST MONTH 2019 Positive/Negative Market Trend

THINKING OF SELLING?

See how Kevin will get your home SOLD at: YourFiresideRealtor.com

AVG PRICE PER SQFT

DAYS ON MARKET

MONTHS SUPPLY/ INVENTORY

43

0.7

2020 DECEMBER

2020 DECEMBER

2019 DECEMBER

2019 DECEMBER

$227

$200

65

# OF SOLD PROPERTIES

2020 DECEMBER

2020 DECEMBER

2019 DECEMBER

2019 DECEMBER

1.3

55

45

F O L LO W K E VI N: ke v i n ow e n s real t or

az real t orke v i n

fineAZliving.com

YOUR FIRESIDE AT DESE RT R I D G E R E AL E STAT E SP E C I AL I ST 480.217.9184 | kevin@fineAZliving.com | www.fineAZliving.com If your home is currently listed with a REALTOR, please disregard this notice. It is not our intention to solicit the offers of other brokerages. The listings presented here may or may not have been listed by North&Co. and data is provided by the ARMLS.

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