Lisa Westcott July 10

Arizona Homeowner July / 2010

As a full-time, dedicated real estate agent, Kathy Loeffler is the definition of a “trusted advisor” to her clients. Known for her professionalism and commitment, Kathy leads buyers and sellers to success time and time again.

Most clients want to work with an agent that is wholly committed to their clients’ needs. Kathy firmly believes that each of her clients deserves the best service in the industry and that’s just what they receive. Driven and dedicated, Kathy devotes 100% of her efforts towards achieving her clients’ goals.

An outstanding negotiator and an excellent communicator, Kathy fills the void that many other agents don’t: securing the most favorable price for your property and keeping you constantly apprised on the progress of your transaction.

As a true Valley native, Kathy has unparalleled knowledge of our area and the nuances of each part of the Valley.

Turn to her for all of your real estate needs!

www.KathyLoeffler.com

VALLEY REAL ESTATE REVIEW

2010 YEAR TO DATE

realtor®

602.359.7270 mobile kathy.loeffler@russlyon.com

6 Cool Ideas for Chilling Out

All information is gathered from The Cromford Report, a real estate research firm in The Valley.

The table above provides a statistical analysis of today’s residential resale market for normal listings in the Phoenix metropolitan area. To be included in this analysis the property must not be owned by a bank or lender, not be in pre-foreclosure and not be a short sale.

The figures shown are for the Greater Phoenix area. Geographically, this includes Maricopa county, a large part of Pinal county and a small part of Yavapai county. “Out of area” listings recorded on ARMLS are not included. All residential single-family dwelling types recognized by ARMLS are included. For-sale-by-owner, auctions and other non-MLS transactions are not included. Land, commercial units and multiple dwelling units are also excluded.

SALES BY PRICE RANGE Kathy Loeffler

hot weather blues?

Under $400K • 93.0% $400K - $1M • 6.1% $1M - $2M • .7% $2M+ • .2%

summer energy bills Tips for Saving Cold Cash

appetite for asian?

Roy’s Ahi Poketini

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

Event Calendar July 2010 13th Annual New Works Festival Phoenix Theatre, July 9th – August 1st 602.254.2151 or phoenixtheatre.com This fun and interactive month-long festival showcases new plays in a one-of-a-kind format. Not only do the actors and writers participate in the storytelling, but the audience plays a large part as well with the story progression. Lively and unique, it’s your chance to participate in the theatre!

Prowl and Play Phoenix Zoo, July 10th 602.273.1341 or phoenixzoo.org Ever wonder what goes on at the zoo at night? Take a guided night hike along the dark trails and hear stories from the Park Rangers on what takes place after the gates are closed. Cool off in the Leapin’ Lagoon or catch a ride on the Sneak-a-Peek Safari Train and find out what sort of silly antics the “animals” are up to when no one is around!

Organic Wine Tasting Armitage Bistro, July 21st 480.502.1641 or armitagewine.com Trying to include organic items into your diet? Why not start with your vino? The two leading organic wineries in Napa, Long Meadow Ranch and Frog’s Leap, are featured as the local sommelier presents a large variety of whites and reds.

Even better, this wine tasting is free to guests who make a $10 purchase of food.

Damon Wayans Tempe Improv, July 22nd – 25th 480.921.9877 or tempeimprov.com As part of a large family of talented comedians and actors, Damon Wayans has plenty of material to entertain the crowds. Wayans has been performing stand-up for 28 years now and has included many movie credits to his resume such as Last Action Hero and Bulletproof.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants Chase Field, July 24th 602.462.6500 or arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com Three cheers for our home team as they battle it out against the Giants at Chase Field. Of course, what baseball game would be complete without peanuts and Cracker Jacks?

Make sure to arrive early – the first 15,000 fans will receive infielder Mark Reynold’s replica jersey.

Summer is here … and so is the sizzling heat. Of course, for us Arizonans that means almost nonstop air conditioning which translates to increased energy consumption. Not good for your wallet or the environment. Make this the summer you get a handle on your cooling costs—no more excuses. Try these easy tips to reduce your home energy costs. Your piggy bank and the planet will thank you!

Get your air conditioning in tip-top shape. Here in the Valley, we use air conditioning more than any other area in the country. So we should be sure our systems are working at optimum efficiency. First off, make sure to check your air conditioning system for any problems, necessary replacement filters or parts, or repairs. Be sure your unit and coils are cleaned of dirt and debris, so your AC won’t have to work harder than it’s supposed to.

Dirty air filters restrict air flow and will cause your system to run longer than necessary.

Routine maintenance from a professional can keep your AC running at its best.

Rethink your thermostat. Set your thermostat five degrees higher this summer and you’ll save about 10 percent on cooling costs, according to the University of Phoenix’s green @ home tips. Take it a step further and install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat and save as much as $115 per year. This allows you to program daily settings so your AC isn’t running at full capacity while no one is home.

Check for drafts. The more hot air that gets in, the more you have to crank the AC. Same goes for cool air that seeps out of cracks. Look for air leaks around doors, windows, vents, and attics. Repairs are quick and easy with proper caulking, weather stripping, and insulation. Also, make sure that doors and windows are shut tight all day long.

Use fans (in some cases, sparingly). Raising your thermostat and using fans? Great.

Just don’t run the fans when no one is in the room to feel the benefit. Fans do not cool the air, only circulate it. So when we’re under a fan, it is cooling our bodies, but not the air itself.

Remember, fans use energy too so use them only when people are present. One fan that’s always a plus: A whole-house fan installed in the attic which draws hot air out and brings cooler nighttime air in.

Decrease the square-footage you’re cooling. This may be one of the only times less square footage is better than more! Try isolating rarely-used rooms in your home. Close vents and buy vent covers so you aren’t unnecessarily cooling rooms that are usually unoccupied (think guest rooms and formal dining rooms). Close the doors to these rooms, if possible, and consider them off-limits until cooler weather prevails.

Plant deciduous (leafy!) trees on the south and west side of house. This will provide ample shade to keep your home much cooler during these long hot summer months. Similarly, porch and patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens will provide shade, keeping your home cooler longer.

Put off cooking and cleaning. Well, at least using the oven, washing machine and dryer.

Save these heat-producing tasks for later in the day say, after 8 pm, if at all possible. These appliances create ample heat in your home that will only cause your AC unit to kick it up a notch. During cooler days, cook several meals at once and freeze them until sizzling days when all you’ll need to do it run the meals through the microwave, suggests the Consumer Energy Center (www.consumerenergycenter.org). Think no-cook, cold meals such as salads, cold soups, and sandwiches. And try using low-use energy appliances such as electric skillets and the microwave, which uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.

Your Home

1. Treat yourself to an all-natural popsicle.

Skip the scary-ingredient supermarket concoctions and make your own instead. Simply freeze homemade lemonade, limeade, orange or grape juice in popsicle molds or in ice cube trays with toothpicks inserted. Nothing could be easier … and no kid can resist this classic summer treat.

Yum! 2. Slip and slide at two very unique water parks. Two of the most popular watering holes in our area offer incredibly different experiences for daredevils. First, there’s the action-packed theme park Wet ‘n’ Wild (www.phoenix.mywetnwild.com) in Glendale built just two years ago and now Arizona’s largest water park. Don’t miss the Maximum Velocity Dueling H2O Coaster – you have to see it to believe it. Something in a natural setting more your speed? Slide Rock State Park (www.azstateparks.com/parks/slro/index) in Sedona offers visitors natural scenic beauty and a place to wade and cool off in a natural creek. A slick chute in the rock lets visitors ride a natural slide down the creek.

3. Lace up your skates and hit the ice.

It’s hot outside, so why not go ice-skating at a local (note – indoors!) ice rink? At the Ice Den, (www.coyotesice.com) located in North Scottsdale, you can skate right next to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes Hockey club. Pretty cool! This 120,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art ice skating

and entertainment center is also home to restaurants and a fitness center. Finally, a chance to bundle up this summer!

4. Be cultured. You’ve come to the right spot if you like museums. The Phoenix metro area boasts numerous museums where you can escape the heat and learn something to boot. Are you an art buff? Head to the Phoenix Art Museum (www.phxart.org), home to more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, as well as fashion design.

The Heard Museum Phoenix (www.heard.org) provides visitors with a look at American Indian cultural art and fine art, set in 10 exhibition galleries. Got kids? You’ll all love the Children’s Museum of Phoenix (www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org). The museum provides hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for kids ages birth to 10. A few other spots to beat the heat: the Hall Of Flame Museum of Firefighting (www.hallofflame.org); the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum (www.admmr.state.az.us); the Arizona Military Museum (www.azdma.gov/museum/index.html); the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum (www.azcama. com/museums/doll_toy); and the Arizona Capitol Museum (www.lib.az.us/museum/).

5. Get a brain freeze! Nothing says summer around here more than a trip to the ice cream

parlor. Beat the heat at a few of the local favorites, from trendy to classic to retro cool: The Gelato Spot (four locations in the Valley), Sweet Republic (Scottsdale), Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Parlor (Phoenix), Culver’s (several locations), and Udder Delights (Gilbert).

6. Host a movie marathon. Here’s a chilly idea: Invite a few friends over, crank up the AC, and watch a marathon of snow-themed flicks. A few to try: Dr. Zhivago, Fargo, Snow Dogs, Snow Falling on Cedars, and Vertical Limit. Serve frozen treats and drinks and ask friends to join in on the fun by wearing a hat and mittens.

Ahi Poketini AHI & AVOCADO MIXTURE 8 oz fresh sashimi grade Ahi, 1/2 inch diced 1 avocado, 1/2 inch diced 1 pinch Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven-spice blend) 1 pinch Hawaiian red sea salt 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar 1 oz. ogo (seaweed), chopped 1 tsp. Sriracha brand sauce 1 tsp. truffle oil 1 tsp. Rayu (hot sesame seed oil) 1 tsp. Furikake (rice seasoning) 1 tsp. white sesame seeds

Local Flavor!

Hot Summer Nights Concert Series City Center, July 10th, 24th 480.319.8700 or citycenterofcitynorth.com Dance under the stars at this concert series, featuring the Valley’s most talented musical acts. Not just catered towards adults, there will also be face painting, balloon animals and cotton candy. Concert goers can also enjoy exclusive discounts from participating restaurants and retail shops the evening of the event.

Too hot to handle doing much of anything this summer?

Try these ideas to keep your cool and have fun at the same time.

Gently toss ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Featuring Roy’s 7151 W. Ray Road • Chandler 480.705.7697 or roysrestaurant.com

WASABI AIOLI 1/2 cup kewpie mayonnaise 1/4 cup wasabi powder 1/2 cup water 2 limes, juiced 2 tsp. honey Salt and pepper, to taste GARNISH Tobiko (flying fish roe) Shiso leaf Kaiware (daikon radish sprout) In a small bowl, whisk together wasabi powder and water to form a loose paste. Add mayonnaise and continue to whisk until smooth. Add lime juice and honey. Season with black pepper to taste.

Coat the inside of a chilled martini glass with wasabi aioli. Place a small mound of Ahi and avocado mixture in center of glass. Garnish with caviar, kaiware sprouts and shiso.

Event Calendar July 2010 13th Annual New Works Festival Phoenix Theatre, July 9th – August 1st 602.254.2151 or phoenixtheatre.com This fun and interactive month-long festival showcases new plays in a one-of-a-kind format. Not only do the actors and writers participate in the storytelling, but the audience plays a large part as well with the story progression. Lively and unique, it’s your chance to participate in the theatre!

Prowl and Play Phoenix Zoo, July 10th 602.273.1341 or phoenixzoo.org Ever wonder what goes on at the zoo at night? Take a guided night hike along the dark trails and hear stories from the Park Rangers on what takes place after the gates are closed. Cool off in the Leapin’ Lagoon or catch a ride on the Sneak-a-Peek Safari Train and find out what sort of silly antics the “animals” are up to when no one is around!

Organic Wine Tasting Armitage Bistro, July 21st 480.502.1641 or armitagewine.com Trying to include organic items into your diet? Why not start with your vino? The two leading organic wineries in Napa, Long Meadow Ranch and Frog’s Leap, are featured as the local sommelier presents a large variety of whites and reds.

Even better, this wine tasting is free to guests who make a $10 purchase of food.

Damon Wayans Tempe Improv, July 22nd – 25th 480.921.9877 or tempeimprov.com As part of a large family of talented comedians and actors, Damon Wayans has plenty of material to entertain the crowds. Wayans has been performing stand-up for 28 years now and has included many movie credits to his resume such as Last Action Hero and Bulletproof.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants Chase Field, July 24th 602.462.6500 or arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com Three cheers for our home team as they battle it out against the Giants at Chase Field. Of course, what baseball game would be complete without peanuts and Cracker Jacks?

Make sure to arrive early – the first 15,000 fans will receive infielder Mark Reynold’s replica jersey.

Summer is here … and so is the sizzling heat. Of course, for us Arizonans that means almost nonstop air conditioning which translates to increased energy consumption. Not good for your wallet or the environment. Make this the summer you get a handle on your cooling costs—no more excuses. Try these easy tips to reduce your home energy costs. Your piggy bank and the planet will thank you!

Get your air conditioning in tip-top shape. Here in the Valley, we use air conditioning more than any other area in the country. So we should be sure our systems are working at optimum efficiency. First off, make sure to check your air conditioning system for any problems, necessary replacement filters or parts, or repairs. Be sure your unit and coils are cleaned of dirt and debris, so your AC won’t have to work harder than it’s supposed to.

Dirty air filters restrict air flow and will cause your system to run longer than necessary.

Routine maintenance from a professional can keep your AC running at its best.

Rethink your thermostat. Set your thermostat five degrees higher this summer and you’ll save about 10 percent on cooling costs, according to the University of Phoenix’s green @ home tips. Take it a step further and install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat and save as much as $115 per year. This allows you to program daily settings so your AC isn’t running at full capacity while no one is home.

Check for drafts. The more hot air that gets in, the more you have to crank the AC. Same goes for cool air that seeps out of cracks. Look for air leaks around doors, windows, vents, and attics. Repairs are quick and easy with proper caulking, weather stripping, and insulation. Also, make sure that doors and windows are shut tight all day long.

Use fans (in some cases, sparingly). Raising your thermostat and using fans? Great.

Just don’t run the fans when no one is in the room to feel the benefit. Fans do not cool the air, only circulate it. So when we’re under a fan, it is cooling our bodies, but not the air itself.

Remember, fans use energy too so use them only when people are present. One fan that’s always a plus: A whole-house fan installed in the attic which draws hot air out and brings cooler nighttime air in.

Decrease the square-footage you’re cooling. This may be one of the only times less square footage is better than more! Try isolating rarely-used rooms in your home. Close vents and buy vent covers so you aren’t unnecessarily cooling rooms that are usually unoccupied (think guest rooms and formal dining rooms). Close the doors to these rooms, if possible, and consider them off-limits until cooler weather prevails.

Plant deciduous (leafy!) trees on the south and west side of house. This will provide ample shade to keep your home much cooler during these long hot summer months. Similarly, porch and patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens will provide shade, keeping your home cooler longer.

Put off cooking and cleaning. Well, at least using the oven, washing machine and dryer.

Save these heat-producing tasks for later in the day say, after 8 pm, if at all possible. These appliances create ample heat in your home that will only cause your AC unit to kick it up a notch. During cooler days, cook several meals at once and freeze them until sizzling days when all you’ll need to do it run the meals through the microwave, suggests the Consumer Energy Center (www.consumerenergycenter.org). Think no-cook, cold meals such as salads, cold soups, and sandwiches. And try using low-use energy appliances such as electric skillets and the microwave, which uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.

Your Home

1. Treat yourself to an all-natural popsicle.

Skip the scary-ingredient supermarket concoctions and make your own instead. Simply freeze homemade lemonade, limeade, orange or grape juice in popsicle molds or in ice cube trays with toothpicks inserted. Nothing could be easier … and no kid can resist this classic summer treat.

Yum! 2. Slip and slide at two very unique water parks. Two of the most popular watering holes in our area offer incredibly different experiences for daredevils. First, there’s the action-packed theme park Wet ‘n’ Wild (www.phoenix.mywetnwild.com) in Glendale built just two years ago and now Arizona’s largest water park. Don’t miss the Maximum Velocity Dueling H2O Coaster – you have to see it to believe it. Something in a natural setting more your speed? Slide Rock State Park (www.azstateparks.com/parks/slro/index) in Sedona offers visitors natural scenic beauty and a place to wade and cool off in a natural creek. A slick chute in the rock lets visitors ride a natural slide down the creek.

3. Lace up your skates and hit the ice.

It’s hot outside, so why not go ice-skating at a local (note – indoors!) ice rink? At the Ice Den, (www.coyotesice.com) located in North Scottsdale, you can skate right next to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes Hockey club. Pretty cool! This 120,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art ice skating

and entertainment center is also home to restaurants and a fitness center. Finally, a chance to bundle up this summer!

4. Be cultured. You’ve come to the right spot if you like museums. The Phoenix metro area boasts numerous museums where you can escape the heat and learn something to boot. Are you an art buff? Head to the Phoenix Art Museum (www.phxart.org), home to more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, as well as fashion design.

The Heard Museum Phoenix (www.heard.org) provides visitors with a look at American Indian cultural art and fine art, set in 10 exhibition galleries. Got kids? You’ll all love the Children’s Museum of Phoenix (www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org). The museum provides hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for kids ages birth to 10. A few other spots to beat the heat: the Hall Of Flame Museum of Firefighting (www.hallofflame.org); the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum (www.admmr.state.az.us); the Arizona Military Museum (www.azdma.gov/museum/index.html); the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum (www.azcama. com/museums/doll_toy); and the Arizona Capitol Museum (www.lib.az.us/museum/).

5. Get a brain freeze! Nothing says summer around here more than a trip to the ice cream

parlor. Beat the heat at a few of the local favorites, from trendy to classic to retro cool: The Gelato Spot (four locations in the Valley), Sweet Republic (Scottsdale), Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Parlor (Phoenix), Culver’s (several locations), and Udder Delights (Gilbert).

6. Host a movie marathon. Here’s a chilly idea: Invite a few friends over, crank up the AC, and watch a marathon of snow-themed flicks. A few to try: Dr. Zhivago, Fargo, Snow Dogs, Snow Falling on Cedars, and Vertical Limit. Serve frozen treats and drinks and ask friends to join in on the fun by wearing a hat and mittens.

Ahi Poketini AHI & AVOCADO MIXTURE 8 oz fresh sashimi grade Ahi, 1/2 inch diced 1 avocado, 1/2 inch diced 1 pinch Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven-spice blend) 1 pinch Hawaiian red sea salt 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar 1 oz. ogo (seaweed), chopped 1 tsp. Sriracha brand sauce 1 tsp. truffle oil 1 tsp. Rayu (hot sesame seed oil) 1 tsp. Furikake (rice seasoning) 1 tsp. white sesame seeds

Local Flavor!

Hot Summer Nights Concert Series City Center, July 10th, 24th 480.319.8700 or citycenterofcitynorth.com Dance under the stars at this concert series, featuring the Valley’s most talented musical acts. Not just catered towards adults, there will also be face painting, balloon animals and cotton candy. Concert goers can also enjoy exclusive discounts from participating restaurants and retail shops the evening of the event.

Too hot to handle doing much of anything this summer?

Try these ideas to keep your cool and have fun at the same time.

Gently toss ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Featuring Roy’s 7151 W. Ray Road • Chandler 480.705.7697 or roysrestaurant.com

WASABI AIOLI 1/2 cup kewpie mayonnaise 1/4 cup wasabi powder 1/2 cup water 2 limes, juiced 2 tsp. honey Salt and pepper, to taste GARNISH Tobiko (flying fish roe) Shiso leaf Kaiware (daikon radish sprout) In a small bowl, whisk together wasabi powder and water to form a loose paste. Add mayonnaise and continue to whisk until smooth. Add lime juice and honey. Season with black pepper to taste.

Coat the inside of a chilled martini glass with wasabi aioli. Place a small mound of Ahi and avocado mixture in center of glass. Garnish with caviar, kaiware sprouts and shiso.

Lisa Westcott

480.229.3455 LisaMWestcott@me.com

With years of experience as a Scottsdale Realtor and as a Realtor servicing all areas in Maricopa County, AZ, I help both buyers and sellers meet their real estate objectives. I have extensive knowledge of each of the communities located in Scottsdale, North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix and will work tirelessly on your behalf to make your next home buying or home selling experience a pleasant and successful one.

When selecting a Realtor or real estate agent, strong knowledge of the community, strong negotiation skills, and a commitment to providing excellent service are all crucial elements.

For sellers, it is my commitment to help sell your home or property in a timely fashion while helping you attain the highest possible price for your real estate. If you are interested in receiving a free home valuation, I encourage you to contact me for a no-obligation report.

For buyers looking for homes or other real estate opportunities here in Scottsdale or other surrounding communities, I will work with you to find your ideal home. I will provide you with all of the necessary tools for finding the right property. From free access to search almost all Scottsdale area homes to the ability to fill out My Dream Home Finder Form, everything I can possibly provide will be at your service. In addition, once we’ve narrowed down what you are looking for, we can begin the home showing process so you can get a closer look at the homes that should be a good fit. I help negotiate the best possible deal for my clients with each and every real estate transaction.

Visit LisaMWestcott.com to get started or simply give me a call!

480.229.3455

My Philosophy of Philanthropy As a proud Realtor with The Williams Real Estate Company, it’s my pleasure to donate a sizable portion of my real estate endeavors back to our community through local charitable organizations. I’d be thrilled to share with you the program and explain in detail how working with me can benefit many of those in need.

Specializing & Experience in: Scottsdale ~ Paradise Valley ~ Golf Communities

LisaMWestcott.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