Orange Tree Insider

The #1 Agent &

Kelly McLain Realtor

602.625.4653

mclainjk@aol.com www.kellymclain.com

Welcome, 2016!

Change is never easy and for the first time in 17 years I have made a move.

To me, making a move has to involve several key aspects: 1. Does the move make sense for my clients?

2. Does the move make sense for me?

After doing my homework I answered “Yes” to both. As a bank our rates and fees are much cheaper than your traditional mortgage company. Also, having the backing of a bank allows me the ability to use their in-house bank products for those scenarios not exactly fitting the traditional lending box.

As for me, the move to KS State Bank makes great sense. The ability to grow within the banking environment and to also offer mortgage financing across the U.S. with low mortgage rates is a win for all.

Mike Tompkins

Sales Manager Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS # 217645 602.329.6591 Direct tompkins@ksstatebank.com| www.ksstatebank.com

7373 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 | 480.308.0395

The stock market continues to affect homes priced above $750,000 in our area, with the volatile stock market keeping many buyers on the fence for the first 45 days of the year. By this time last year there were $3 million in home closings in the newsletter area, this year we have not seen a closing as of February 15th, 2016. However, I look for this to change due to the activity I am seeing from our existing inventory. I have some closings coming up in the Orange Tree area that will likely land after press time. We can expect interest rates to keep falling due to the uncertainty of the stock market and world economy effecting the dollar. This will keep the buyers active in our market knowing the rates won’t be going up anytime soon.

The good news is inventory in our area remains low, and that will help to increase sales as we move into March – one of our busiest months of the year. Please give me a call if you are looking to sell your home.

MARCH | APRIL

ORAN

2016

FOR ORANGE TREE EQUESTRIAN MANOR WITH OVER 100 TRANSACTIONS!

OrangeTree I

N

S

I

D

E

R

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

— Kelly McLain

MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

Orange Tree Pool Service Steve Sherman | 480-570-1117

ADDRESS

SQFT

BED BATH LIST PRICE

LIST PER SQFT

NEIGHBORHOOD

Currently For Sale in Orange Tree Area

Candis Creel Account Manager

602-697-0232

ccreel@atsaaz.com

We look forward to handling your next Escrow!

12030 N 55th St 1,760 2 2 5510 E Paradise Dr 1,763 2 2 11420 N Century Ln 1,646 2 2 5411 E Paradise Dr 2,306 4 2 5420 E Laurel Ln 3,071 5 2 12039 N 60th Pl 2,846 5 3 12031 N 61st St 3,529 4 2.5 6129 E Shangri La Rd 4,523 5 4 11024 N 60th St 5,400 7 5 11015 N Montrose Way 6,550 6 4.5 11401 N Blackheath Rd 6,178 4 8 5726 E Leith Ln 6,730 6 5.5 6039 E Laurel Ln 6,176 6 6 6136 E Paradise Dr 6,975 5 4.5 11846 N 61st Pl 6,152 Phil 5 6 for Call 6105 E Laurel Ln 7,525 6 8.5

$289,000 $339,000 $379,900 $460,000 $569,000 $745,000 $756,500 $1,230,000 $1,350,000 $1,795,000 $1,799,000 $1,799,999 $1,950,000 $1,999,999 $2,460,000 the most $2,484,900

$164.20 Orange Tree Villas $192.29 Orange Tree Villas $230.80 Century Place $199.48 Woodleaf $185.28 Woodleaf $261.77 Equestrian Manor $214.37 Equestrian Manor $271.94 Orange Tree Manor $250.00 Century Club Estates $274.05 Century Club Estates $291.19 Century Club Estates $267.46 Century Club Estates $315.74 Equestrian Manor $286.74 Equestrian Manor $399.87 Equestrian Manor effective marketing $330.22 Equestrian Manor

WANT YOUR PROPERTY TO BE OUR NEXT COVER HOME? strategies to sell your Biltmore property.

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS.

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

Home Warranty Pros and Cons

RA Sushi’s

Signature Tootsy Maki

Market Report Presented By Kelly McLain

MARCH | APRIL 2016 Today’s Masters 2016 Orpheum Theatre | March 24-27 BalletAZ.org | (602) 381-1096 Spring begins with a program of contemporary ballets that represent the continuing development of the art form and its artists. The performance features choreography that pushes the boundaries of classical ballet, including the works by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen.

Weighing the Decision on Home Warranty Coverage

First JCNA International Jaguar Festival Scottsdale Plaza Resort | March 31 - April 6 JaguarFestival.com | (602) 955-5574 The Jaguar Clubs of North America selected Scottsdale, AZ for its inaugural International Jaguar Festival. The Jaguar Club of Central AZ (JCCA) will host this 6 days of fun and sun-filled “Spirit of the West” Jaguar event. The Sunday Concourse will include a Timeline of Jaguar Cars from 1935-2016 allowing onlookers to walk through historical moments in Jaguar time, as well as a Racing Heritage Display and Tribute Cars, all to balance out a showcase of Jaguars never before seen all in a single location.

VIVA Scottsdale Waterfront Southbridge | April 2 VIVA2030.splashthat.com The 22nd annual VIVA, presented by VOS Active 2030 Club, is a semi-formal event featuring casino-style gaming, live entertainment, silent auction and raffles, dancing and more. Guests will celebrate the best in Arizona culinary talents, live music, craft cocktails, beers and wine.

Phoenix Film Festival Harkins Scottsdale/101 Theatre | April 7-14 PhoenixFilmFestival.com For the past 15 years, the Phoenix Film Festival has helped its audiences find their new favorite movies, and who knows, your film could be someone’s new favorite movie! Phoenix Film Festival is a program under the 501(c)3 non-profit organization The Phoenix Film Foundation, and is a sibling of the International Horror Sci-Fi Film Festival, Arizona Student Film Festival, and Phoenix Film Society.

Scottsdale Culinary Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | April 16-17 ScottsdaleFest.org This year’s festival will feature a host of events from cooking demonstrations by some of the nation’s top chefs to a one-of-a-kind James Beard out-of-thehouse dinner. More event highlights include 40 local restaurants, 30 craft breweries, 20 bands, a teen cooking challenge, chef demos, family zone, wine garden, and a vodka lounge. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival has something for everyone!

W

hen purchasing an existing home, a home warranty can provide peace of mind knowing that repairs to leaky pipes, broken furnaces, or appliance break-downs can be fixed for a “nominal” service charge. However, upon closer inspection, these warranties may not provide all the coverages you might expect.

Home warranties purchased on existing homes are more like limited service contracts that are in effect for only one year. The warranty policy holder typically has no control over who provides the repair service – that is determined by the warranty company itself.

Taking Steps M

Refine your food selections. How often do you check the “product of” food labels in the grocery store? Produce grown in Peru or Holland may be fine, but think about what it took to get that pepper to your shopping cart: Lots of handling, packaging, and various forms of transportation. Now consider a pepper grown at a local farm: It will most likely be fresher and more nutrient-rich because it hasn’t been trucked in from across the U.S. or shipped in from another country. Buying local really is better for the environment. While you’re at the grocery store, remember to use those reusable bags in the back of your car.

Better yet? Head to a farmers’ market and bring a basket to carry your purchases home.

Retool your home front. Many environmental strides can be made right in your own environs. For starters, try to keep your home cool or warm depending on the season without constantly moving the thermostat. Blinds and drapes can keep heat in or out, and ceiling fans can really cool a room. Too cold? Grab a sweater and slippers.

Outdoors, rethink the amount of water, herbicides, and fertilizers you use in your yard. A little hand weeding and smart xeriscaping can do wonders for planet Earth

AngiesList.com reports that home warranty companies top the mostcomplained-about list on their website year after year. The site attributes this to the fact that consumers assume something is covered by the warranty that isn’t, or consumers were surprised by the standard service charges when something breaks. Those service charges can range from $75 to $100 depending on service area.

The typical resale home warranty covers repairs to kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters and furnaces, ceiling and exhaust fans, plumbing systems and circuit breakers. More expensive repair items such as roofs, pools and window issues are usually not covered. The consumer needs to be aware of the type of policy being offered. Some home warranty companies charge extra to cover air conditioning systems and ventilation issues. There are other exclusions such as ice makers, which break down often. Most policies don’t cover plumbing backups or leaky skylights either.

If you are in the market for a resale home, you need to carefully consider whether a home warranty is worth the cost. Determine if the seller is offering a home warranty as part of the transaction.

If they are not, you can always ask the seller to provide a home warranty during the contract negotiations. If the seller offers a home warranty to sweeten the deal, take it.

But if you must purchase the policy yourself, shop carefully and understand exactly what is covered for your investment. Research consumer complaints and don’t let the lure of “insurance” lead you into making a purchase.

“Instead of buying one of these policies – or placing any value in the one provided when you buy a home – you’ll do better to place that money into a home repair fund,” says Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent nonprofit that publishes consumer magazines in several locales around the country.

REAL ESTATE

corner

Celebrate Earth Day by Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

ark your calendar: Earth Day is Friday, April 22. And with all the dire news about our planet – record-setting warm temperatures, plastic filling up our oceans, and animals dying from disruptions in their food chains – there has never been a more important time to make changes. So what can you do to make a difference? By now, we should all know the three basic Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But what more can we do to have a smaller carbon footprint?

IN GOOD TASTE

Event Calendar

… especially if every homeowner gets in on the act.

Rethink your ride. Although we can’t all run out and buy a brand new electric or hybrid car, we can try to drive less. It’s that simple.

Carpool with coworkers for your daily commute. Work with neighbors to share trips to school, baseball practice, and ballet class. Combine all your errands for the week and try to get them all done at once. Consider buying in bulk online and have basics like toilet paper and detergent delivered to your door. If you don’t regularly use public transportation, research your area’s bus and train routes and time tables and see if they sync up with your schedule. And of course, if you can, try walking. It’s good for you!

Signature Tootsy Maki INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1 4 oz 1/4 c 1/2 c 2 pc Pinch 2 tbsp

Place nori on makisu (rolling mat). Add seasoned sushi rice and spread evenly from edge to edge. Keep hands wet with water when handling the rice. Turn it over so nori is facing up. Place Crab Mix, cucumber, and shrimp on top of the nori. Roll tightly with makisu. Slice the roll into 8 pieces and sprinkle with tempura bits. Finally, drizzle eel sauce over the sliced roll and serve.

sheet nori (seaweed)* seasoned sushi rice crab mix (see below) thinly sliced cucumber butterfly shrimp tempura bits* eel sauce (Japanese BBQ)*

CRAB MIX INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS 2 pieces kani kama 1 tbsp shredded crab 1 tbsp mayo Masago to taste Tear apart kani kama into small pieces. Then combine shredded crab, mayo, and masago with kani kama in a small bowl.

One roll = 8 pieces. * Nori, tempura bits/flakes, and eel sauce can be found at any local Asian supermarket.

RA Sushi | (480) 990-9256 | RASushi.com

MARCH | APRIL 2016 Today’s Masters 2016 Orpheum Theatre | March 24-27 BalletAZ.org | (602) 381-1096 Spring begins with a program of contemporary ballets that represent the continuing development of the art form and its artists. The performance features choreography that pushes the boundaries of classical ballet, including the works by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen.

Weighing the Decision on Home Warranty Coverage

First JCNA International Jaguar Festival Scottsdale Plaza Resort | March 31 - April 6 JaguarFestival.com | (602) 955-5574 The Jaguar Clubs of North America selected Scottsdale, AZ for its inaugural International Jaguar Festival. The Jaguar Club of Central AZ (JCCA) will host this 6 days of fun and sun-filled “Spirit of the West” Jaguar event. The Sunday Concourse will include a Timeline of Jaguar Cars from 1935-2016 allowing onlookers to walk through historical moments in Jaguar time, as well as a Racing Heritage Display and Tribute Cars, all to balance out a showcase of Jaguars never before seen all in a single location.

VIVA Scottsdale Waterfront Southbridge | April 2 VIVA2030.splashthat.com The 22nd annual VIVA, presented by VOS Active 2030 Club, is a semi-formal event featuring casino-style gaming, live entertainment, silent auction and raffles, dancing and more. Guests will celebrate the best in Arizona culinary talents, live music, craft cocktails, beers and wine.

Phoenix Film Festival Harkins Scottsdale/101 Theatre | April 7-14 PhoenixFilmFestival.com For the past 15 years, the Phoenix Film Festival has helped its audiences find their new favorite movies, and who knows, your film could be someone’s new favorite movie! Phoenix Film Festival is a program under the 501(c)3 non-profit organization The Phoenix Film Foundation, and is a sibling of the International Horror Sci-Fi Film Festival, Arizona Student Film Festival, and Phoenix Film Society.

Scottsdale Culinary Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | April 16-17 ScottsdaleFest.org This year’s festival will feature a host of events from cooking demonstrations by some of the nation’s top chefs to a one-of-a-kind James Beard out-of-thehouse dinner. More event highlights include 40 local restaurants, 30 craft breweries, 20 bands, a teen cooking challenge, chef demos, family zone, wine garden, and a vodka lounge. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival has something for everyone!

W

hen purchasing an existing home, a home warranty can provide peace of mind knowing that repairs to leaky pipes, broken furnaces, or appliance break-downs can be fixed for a “nominal” service charge. However, upon closer inspection, these warranties may not provide all the coverages you might expect.

Home warranties purchased on existing homes are more like limited service contracts that are in effect for only one year. The warranty policy holder typically has no control over who provides the repair service – that is determined by the warranty company itself.

Taking Steps M

Refine your food selections. How often do you check the “product of” food labels in the grocery store? Produce grown in Peru or Holland may be fine, but think about what it took to get that pepper to your shopping cart: Lots of handling, packaging, and various forms of transportation. Now consider a pepper grown at a local farm: It will most likely be fresher and more nutrient-rich because it hasn’t been trucked in from across the U.S. or shipped in from another country. Buying local really is better for the environment. While you’re at the grocery store, remember to use those reusable bags in the back of your car.

Better yet? Head to a farmers’ market and bring a basket to carry your purchases home.

Retool your home front. Many environmental strides can be made right in your own environs. For starters, try to keep your home cool or warm depending on the season without constantly moving the thermostat. Blinds and drapes can keep heat in or out, and ceiling fans can really cool a room. Too cold? Grab a sweater and slippers.

Outdoors, rethink the amount of water, herbicides, and fertilizers you use in your yard. A little hand weeding and smart xeriscaping can do wonders for planet Earth

AngiesList.com reports that home warranty companies top the mostcomplained-about list on their website year after year. The site attributes this to the fact that consumers assume something is covered by the warranty that isn’t, or consumers were surprised by the standard service charges when something breaks. Those service charges can range from $75 to $100 depending on service area.

The typical resale home warranty covers repairs to kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters and furnaces, ceiling and exhaust fans, plumbing systems and circuit breakers. More expensive repair items such as roofs, pools and window issues are usually not covered. The consumer needs to be aware of the type of policy being offered. Some home warranty companies charge extra to cover air conditioning systems and ventilation issues. There are other exclusions such as ice makers, which break down often. Most policies don’t cover plumbing backups or leaky skylights either.

If you are in the market for a resale home, you need to carefully consider whether a home warranty is worth the cost. Determine if the seller is offering a home warranty as part of the transaction.

If they are not, you can always ask the seller to provide a home warranty during the contract negotiations. If the seller offers a home warranty to sweeten the deal, take it.

But if you must purchase the policy yourself, shop carefully and understand exactly what is covered for your investment. Research consumer complaints and don’t let the lure of “insurance” lead you into making a purchase.

“Instead of buying one of these policies – or placing any value in the one provided when you buy a home – you’ll do better to place that money into a home repair fund,” says Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent nonprofit that publishes consumer magazines in several locales around the country.

REAL ESTATE

corner

Celebrate Earth Day by Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

ark your calendar: Earth Day is Friday, April 22. And with all the dire news about our planet – record-setting warm temperatures, plastic filling up our oceans, and animals dying from disruptions in their food chains – there has never been a more important time to make changes. So what can you do to make a difference? By now, we should all know the three basic Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But what more can we do to have a smaller carbon footprint?

IN GOOD TASTE

Event Calendar

… especially if every homeowner gets in on the act.

Rethink your ride. Although we can’t all run out and buy a brand new electric or hybrid car, we can try to drive less. It’s that simple.

Carpool with coworkers for your daily commute. Work with neighbors to share trips to school, baseball practice, and ballet class. Combine all your errands for the week and try to get them all done at once. Consider buying in bulk online and have basics like toilet paper and detergent delivered to your door. If you don’t regularly use public transportation, research your area’s bus and train routes and time tables and see if they sync up with your schedule. And of course, if you can, try walking. It’s good for you!

Signature Tootsy Maki INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1 4 oz 1/4 c 1/2 c 2 pc Pinch 2 tbsp

Place nori on makisu (rolling mat). Add seasoned sushi rice and spread evenly from edge to edge. Keep hands wet with water when handling the rice. Turn it over so nori is facing up. Place Crab Mix, cucumber, and shrimp on top of the nori. Roll tightly with makisu. Slice the roll into 8 pieces and sprinkle with tempura bits. Finally, drizzle eel sauce over the sliced roll and serve.

sheet nori (seaweed)* seasoned sushi rice crab mix (see below) thinly sliced cucumber butterfly shrimp tempura bits* eel sauce (Japanese BBQ)*

CRAB MIX INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS 2 pieces kani kama 1 tbsp shredded crab 1 tbsp mayo Masago to taste Tear apart kani kama into small pieces. Then combine shredded crab, mayo, and masago with kani kama in a small bowl.

One roll = 8 pieces. * Nori, tempura bits/flakes, and eel sauce can be found at any local Asian supermarket.

RA Sushi | (480) 990-9256 | RASushi.com

The #1 Agent &

Kelly McLain Realtor

602.625.4653

mclainjk@aol.com www.kellymclain.com

Welcome, 2016!

Change is never easy and for the first time in 17 years I have made a move.

To me, making a move has to involve several key aspects: 1. Does the move make sense for my clients?

2. Does the move make sense for me?

After doing my homework I answered “Yes” to both. As a bank our rates and fees are much cheaper than your traditional mortgage company. Also, having the backing of a bank allows me the ability to use their in-house bank products for those scenarios not exactly fitting the traditional lending box.

As for me, the move to KS State Bank makes great sense. The ability to grow within the banking environment and to also offer mortgage financing across the U.S. with low mortgage rates is a win for all.

Mike Tompkins

Sales Manager Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS # 217645 602.329.6591 Direct tompkins@ksstatebank.com| www.ksstatebank.com

7373 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 | 480.308.0395

The stock market continues to affect homes priced above $750,000 in our area, with the volatile stock market keeping many buyers on the fence for the first 45 days of the year. By this time last year there were $3 million in home closings in the newsletter area, this year we have not seen a closing as of February 15th, 2016. However, I look for this to change due to the activity I am seeing from our existing inventory. I have some closings coming up in the Orange Tree area that will likely land after press time. We can expect interest rates to keep falling due to the uncertainty of the stock market and world economy effecting the dollar. This will keep the buyers active in our market knowing the rates won’t be going up anytime soon.

The good news is inventory in our area remains low, and that will help to increase sales as we move into March – one of our busiest months of the year. Please give me a call if you are looking to sell your home.

MARCH | APRIL

ORAN

2016

FOR ORANGE TREE EQUESTRIAN MANOR WITH OVER 100 TRANSACTIONS!

OrangeTree I

N

S

I

D

E

R

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

— Kelly McLain

MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

Orange Tree Pool Service Steve Sherman | 480-570-1117

ADDRESS

SQFT

BED BATH LIST PRICE

LIST PER SQFT

NEIGHBORHOOD

Currently For Sale in Orange Tree Area

Candis Creel Account Manager

602-697-0232

ccreel@atsaaz.com

We look forward to handling your next Escrow!

12030 N 55th St 1,760 2 2 5510 E Paradise Dr 1,763 2 2 11420 N Century Ln 1,646 2 2 5411 E Paradise Dr 2,306 4 2 5420 E Laurel Ln 3,071 5 2 12039 N 60th Pl 2,846 5 3 12031 N 61st St 3,529 4 2.5 6129 E Shangri La Rd 4,523 5 4 11024 N 60th St 5,400 7 5 11015 N Montrose Way 6,550 6 4.5 11401 N Blackheath Rd 6,178 4 8 5726 E Leith Ln 6,730 6 5.5 6039 E Laurel Ln 6,176 6 6 6136 E Paradise Dr 6,975 5 4.5 11846 N 61st Pl 6,152 Phil 5 6 for Call 6105 E Laurel Ln 7,525 6 8.5

$289,000 $339,000 $379,900 $460,000 $569,000 $745,000 $756,500 $1,230,000 $1,350,000 $1,795,000 $1,799,000 $1,799,999 $1,950,000 $1,999,999 $2,460,000 the most $2,484,900

$164.20 Orange Tree Villas $192.29 Orange Tree Villas $230.80 Century Place $199.48 Woodleaf $185.28 Woodleaf $261.77 Equestrian Manor $214.37 Equestrian Manor $271.94 Orange Tree Manor $250.00 Century Club Estates $274.05 Century Club Estates $291.19 Century Club Estates $267.46 Century Club Estates $315.74 Equestrian Manor $286.74 Equestrian Manor $399.87 Equestrian Manor effective marketing $330.22 Equestrian Manor

WANT YOUR PROPERTY TO BE OUR NEXT COVER HOME? strategies to sell your Biltmore property.

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS.

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

Home Warranty Pros and Cons

RA Sushi’s

Signature Tootsy Maki

Market Report Presented By Kelly McLain