Arizona Homeowner presented by Kelli Grant

Brady Holland

Arizona Homeowner November | December 2012

Mortgage Banker

Real estate financing can be a daunting task. And that is especially true in today’s world where lenders are more cautious about lending due to economic uncertainty. I understand that choosing a mortgage is one the biggest decisions that you will make. You want the best interest rate and you want the pre-approval, application, and close of escrow process to be hassle-free. I understand. I listen to your needs. And I respond quickly and deliver. Let me put my nearly two decades of residential lending experience to work for you!

Call me today!

Why Are You Throwing Money Away…

WHEN YOU COULD SAVE, PERHAPS, $5,000 A YEAR WITH A SIMPLE REFINANCE?!

Many of you have already called to take advantage of our amazingly low interest rates through a purchase or refinance. And for those that haven’t yet called, what are you waiting for? Mortgage rates are at an all-time low.

I’m seeing most clients lower their existing mortgage interest rate by 2-3%.

That can add up to SERIOUS SAVINGS. As an example, a 2% reduction in rate on a $250,000 loan saves you $5,000 a year. Over ten years that saves you $50,000! I don’t know of a single household that couldn’t use an extra $5,000 each year.

No equity? I’ve got options. In the past, many of you were unable to refinance due to the bad economy forcing home prices down to the point where you owed more than the house was worth. But times have changed. I wanted to remind everyone that we have some remarkable loan programs that allow us to refinance many homes that have negative equity.

Great Hostess Gift Ideas

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

Please give me a call or email today for a free, no-obligation consult on what a refinance can save YOU. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, if not shocked, with how much money can be saved. And as an added bonus, a refinance allows you to skip a mortgage payment, putting even more money back into your pocket just when you need it.

Brady Holland Branch Manager NMLS 180079

Direct: 480.272.3282 Brady@BradyHollandGroup.com

MORTGAGE RATES As of 8/22/12

Loan Rates for $150K-$417K: • 30-Year Fixed: 3.625%/3.776% APR • 15-Year Fixed: 3.000%/3.121% APR • 7/1 ARM: 3.125%/3.124% APR

*Note: All rate quotes offered for primary home purchase or no cash-out refinance financing with 720+ FICO score.

Loans under $417K are quoted based on 20% equity. Loans above $417k and other financing options are available upon request. All rates are quoted subject to change without notice.

NMLS 81395

AZ BK#910890

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

Kelli Grant

Experience, P rofessionalism and Passion MY MISSION My mission is to create a successful long-term relationship with my clients by providing industry leading knowledge, information and service. I believe that the services of a true real estate professional should not only be seen during the transaction, but also after the transaction has been completed. Through my aggressive Premier Sales Plan and Signature Client Care Program, I will help you accomplish your real estate goals now and in the future.

MY COMMITMENT Honesty: I believe it is crucial to be completely honest with you from the beginning to the end of the transaction. My experience shows me this is the only way that we both win.

Customer Service: I believe that a professional is only as good as the service he/she provides. My commitment to service is second to none, and my Signature Client Care Program will allow you to have that same level of service after the sale. My plan is to stay in contact with you after the sale to continue to help with any real estate needs that arise.

Attitude: I believe that being positive and persistent is the only way to help my clients reach their real estate goal.

888.238.1660

Kelli@PhoenixHomeResource.com

Communication: I believe you should be informed on market trends as well as activity in your neighborhood. Throughout a real estate transaction, my team is in continuous contact with each party making sure that we are on track, updating you with the status or preparing for unavoidable delays.

Proactive: I invest in many resources and spend time learning current trends, changes in the marketplace, new laws and regulations, technology tools, and forward-thinking strategies to best assist my clients. I attend workshops and seminars with panels of economists, attorneys, bankers and legislators to stay on top of important economic shifts and alternative solutions.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

www.PhoenixHomeResource.com 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