Scottsdale Lifestyle | Kaplan and Karbon

Scottsdale • Paradise Valley • Phoenix Fountain Hills • Carefree • Cave Creek

Experience Scottsdale Real Estate

MARCH | APRIL

PINN

2016

SCOTTSDALE

Did you take money out of another investment to purchase a house in 2015?

I

f so, you made a good decision! Take a look at how real estate values performed in 2015 compared to investments in the stock market and precious metals. Real estate provided a better return on investment than any of the other categories. In fact, silver, gold, the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 all saw declines in value in 2015.

So where are housing prices headed in 2016?

According to this chart from CoreLogic, almost every state in the union, except for West Virginia, is going to see a marked increase in prices. Appreciation in Arizona is projected to be 8%.

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

If you've been sitting on the fence waiting for the market to improve, now may be the time!

E L E VAT E Y O U R R E A L E S TAT E E X P E R I E N C E .

Call For A Confidential Consultation...

Vicki Kaplan 480.677.1330 www.vickikaplan.com Vicki@VickiKaplan.com

Kelly Karbon 480.313.4952 www.besthomesinscottsdale.com Kelly@BestHomesInScottsdale.com

Arizona Best Real Estate | 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. | Suite 100 | Scottsdale, AZ 85254 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

Considering Buying a Home?

Now is the Time!

Scottsdale • Paradise Valley • Phoenix Fountain Hills • Carefree • Cave Creek

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

Scottsdale • Paradise Valley • Phoenix Fountain Hills • Carefree • Cave Creek

Experience Scottsdale Real Estate

MARCH | APRIL

PINN

2016

SCOTTSDALE

Did you take money out of another investment to purchase a house in 2015?

I

f so, you made a good decision! Take a look at how real estate values performed in 2015 compared to investments in the stock market and precious metals. Real estate provided a better return on investment than any of the other categories. In fact, silver, gold, the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 all saw declines in value in 2015.

So where are housing prices headed in 2016?

According to this chart from CoreLogic, almost every state in the union, except for West Virginia, is going to see a marked increase in prices. Appreciation in Arizona is projected to be 8%.

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

If you've been sitting on the fence waiting for the market to improve, now may be the time!

E L E VAT E Y O U R R E A L E S TAT E E X P E R I E N C E .

Call For A Confidential Consultation...

Vicki Kaplan 480.677.1330 www.vickikaplan.com Vicki@VickiKaplan.com

Kelly Karbon 480.313.4952 www.besthomesinscottsdale.com Kelly@BestHomesInScottsdale.com

Arizona Best Real Estate | 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd. | Suite 100 | Scottsdale, AZ 85254 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

Considering Buying a Home?

Now is the Time!

Scottsdale • Paradise Valley • Phoenix Fountain Hills • Carefree • Cave Creek