Spring 2023 Desert Mountain Connection

Producers

COMMUNITY

Communication and Marketing Committee

Kim Hochschuler, Chair

Susan Hansen, Member

Joanne Klonoski, Member

Charlotte Otto, Member

Producers

Producers

JULIE KILBANE 602.315.3374 julie.kilbane@russlyon.com

Sharon Wong, Member

Contributors

Kevin Frawley

Katherine Helm

Joanne Klonoski

Carly Omenhiser

JULIE KILBANE 602.315.3374 julie.kilbane@russlyon.com

JULIE KILBANE 602.315.3374 julie.kilbane@russlyon.com

KATHLEEN LANE 480.489.2655 kathleen.lane@russlyon.com

Kaipo Spenser

Susan Sridharan

Terra Waldron

Wendy Whitman

Sharon Wong

Contributing Photographers

KATHLEEN LANE 480.489.2655 kathleen.lane@russlyon.com

KATHLEEN LANE 480.489.2655 kathleen.lane@russlyon.com

Cynthia Schneider

Rex Short

Susan Sridihan

Monte Varah

Cover Photo by: Monte Varah

Magazine Layout

Carly Omenhiser

Desert Mountain Connection is designed to help you be connected to Desert Mountain whether or not you are residing in the community. The Desert Mountain Connection is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials. The paid advertising contained herein does not represent the endorsement of the Desert Mountain Master Association. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission is prohibited.

The Desert Mountain Connection is published by the Desert Mountain Master Association.

A THANK YOU FROM THE COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING COMMITTEE CHAIR:

As the newly appointed Board member and Chair of the Communications and Marketing committee, I am thrilled to express my admiration for our team of dedicated members who have selflessly volunteered an incredible amount of time to produce high-quality content for our members. Despite lacking the guidance of a professional communications manager, our committee has consistently delivered outstanding results through the Econnection newsletter and Connection magazine. We have now been fortunate enough to have Carly Omenhiser, an experienced professional from CMCC, to lead our team and alleviate the pressure on our already committed committee members. I am confident that with Carly’s expertise and our committee’s tireless efforts, we will continue to provide exceptional communication services to our valued members.

Kim Hochschuler

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Kevin Frawley, President Desert Mountain HOA

The Master Board of Directors for the Desert Mountain Master Association continues its efforts to keep the community among the best in the country. The newly elected Board had its second meeting on March 13 and the proposed Community Enhancement Fund was discussed.

The Community Enhancement Fund was formally proposed by the Board via a resolution to establish a 0.50% (half of 1%) fee on future home/lot sales. Funds raised with such fees would be utilized to supplement reserve funds for future capital improvement projects such as roadway replacements, security enhancements, and unanticipated major capital expenses.

The official notice of the proposal was mailed and emailed in January. Due to this decision being categorized as a major decision in the community’s governing documents, the community had 45 days to express their objection, if any, to establish the fund. If more than 10% of residents expressed an objection, the resolution could then be brought to a community-wide vote. It’s important that all homeowners understand that the Board was required to proceed in this manner.

The 45-day voting period ended on March 10, and the Association did record more than 10% of the community objecting to the establishment of the fund as presented. Now, the Board must decide whether to submit the proposal to the entire community, and if so, when.

The Board of Directors met with the Council of

Presidents March 27 to discuss the fund and hear directly from members of the Council of Presidents. The Council of Presidents includes the president from each incorporated village and the representative for each unincorporated village. We will continue to keep you updated on any decisions regarding the proposed fund.

Also during the Council of Presidents meeting, members heard a presentation from Desert iNet. The Board of Directors has approved an agreement with Desert iNet to install fiber in the community in phases. We will keep you updated as this project progresses. We’re looking forward to being able to have an alternate Internet option available in the community.

March’s Board meeting was also the first without longtime Board Member Mike Klonoski. Mr. Klonoski resigned from the Board, effective March 1. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his more than 20 years of volunteering with the Desert Mountain community and for his years of service on the Desert Mountain Club Board. Both the Club and this community are better for his valuable contributions.

When a Board Member resigns, the Board is tasked with appointing an interim replacement. The Board will be discussing this in detail, and an announcement will be made on the pending Board appointment as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Kevin Frawley, President Desert Mountain HOA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Terra Waldron, Executive Director Desert Mountain HOA

We’ve had a great start to 2023, which was kicked off by the Desert Mountain Master Association Annual Meeting hosted on January 16.

We had a great turnout, and the Board was able to present on a number of topics related to current and future projects we have going on for the Association.

The results of the annual meeting election were the re-election of Jim Duffey and Ron Helm, and we welcomed Kim Hochschuler as our newest member of the Board.

The Board met shortly after the Annual Meeting and approved Kevin Frawley as president, Jim Duffey as vice president, Mike Dings as treasurer, and Ron Helm as secretary.

The Board also approved the appointment of committee chairs as follows:

Communications and Marketing Committee: Kim Hochschuler

Covenants Committee: Lauren Sierra

Architectural Review Committee: Ron Helm

Elections Committee: Kevin Frawley

External Affairs Committee: Steve Umland

Investment Committee: Steve Umland

Landscape & Infrastructure Committee: Bill Eckholm

Legal Committee: Lauren Sierra

Safety & Security Committee: Jim Duffey

Each committee Chair presented their selections for committee members during the February

13 and March 13 meetings, where they were unanimously approved.

Dozens of homeowners volunteer their time to serve on each of these committees. This community wouldn’t be as successful without the dedicated service our community volunteers.

Another component that is vital to the success of this community is the staff. During the March Board meeting, your Board heard a presentation from the entire HOA staff outlining their roles.

Each member of the team shared in detail what goes into what they do each day for the Association.

The Board was pleased with the presentation and the information that was shared and expressed their desire to have the presentation available to the entire community.

The Communications and Marketing Committee is currently working on the best way to share the presentation with the entire community. We look forward to sharing this content with you in the near future.

Sincerely,

Terra Waldron, Executive Director Desert Mountain HOA

SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE UPDATE

Jim Duffey, Safety and Security Committee Chair

The Safety and Security of this community have always been a high priority for the Desert Mountain Board of Directors. During the past year, the Safety and Security Committee, with the support of the Board, has completed several objectives to improve upon existing safety and security measures.

During the past year, we’ve completed the perimeter fence that gives us defined borders that allow, when necessary, local law enforcement to enforce trespassing and provides a physical barrier to better protect our property. Communication and communication technology have improved by hiring an additional dispatcher position. We also set up the Desert Mountain Mass Emergency Notification System, which alerts residents of impending hazards (weather, fire, active shooter, etc.) or other high-profile security situations.

Thanks to the persistence of the CCMC staff and numerous concerned individuals, our team is now providing 24/7 security to Seven Desert Mountain. We have also continued our efforts to make the parkway a safe place for all residents through active speed reduction measures and calming strips near the stop signs. On average, speed reduction had decreased from 5.09% to 2.11%, with the goal being 1%.

Firewise is another important initiative for community safety. To date, we’re making excellent progress toward 100% compliance with nearly 35% compliance community-wide.

This can’t be done without the participation of our homeowners. Thank you to all the homeowners who have evaluated their landscape with the Firewise guidelines in mind and have made the appropriate changes to meet the standards set by the program. If you still need to make this evaluation, please take a few moments to visit the community website and learn more about the program. If you have questions about what to do, please contact the staff at 480-635-5600 or firewise@desertmthoa. com.

Another critical topic regarding Safety and Security is staff training and retention. The Safety and Security Committee continues to work with our service provider in maintaining quality members of our security staff. Like most businesses, the retention of quality professionals in today’s labor market is a very challenging prospect. Our team members continue to perform salary and benefit analysis to ensure we maintain the ability to hire, train, promote, and maintain the highest quality security staff in the business. Our partners at Anderson Security listen to our concerns and have done an excellent job of meeting our requirements in a very difficult labor market.

The security team prides itself on being the most well-trained staff with the most capabilities in Scottsdale. If you ever have to interact with this great team, I’m sure you’ve experienced the pride with which they perform their duties.

is your property firewise compliant yet?

Help Desert Mountain obtain Firewise certification by completing the following on your property:

Trim trees up and away from your home. Thin bushes. Remove invasive or dead plants. Create a clear path around your home for firefighter access.

Lot owners do all of the above, except removing dead plant material as it serves as animal habitat.

If this work has been completed, notify the HOA by completing an abatement form available on the community website.

OPERATION: MAILBOX REPLACEMENT

Monte Varah, Director of Operations

Desert Mountain HOA

As the Community of Desert Mountain passed its 35th birthday in 2021 an initiative to revamp the aging mailboxes was started. It was in response to a few factors.

• In 2014 the USPS established new codes for mailboxes. Going forward, all community mailboxes were specified to be type 4C, featuring wider boxes and a higher parcel box to resident ratio.

• With the new specifications established, the older boxes (such as the ones in place within Desert Mountain) and parts for them, were no longer manufactured.

•The Community also embraced the idea of more effective communication to the residents through the use of video monitors, replacing the old school bulletin boards with printed notices pegged to them. New technology allows the video displayed to receive updated messages promptly, as well as the flexibility to inform residents of village and community events more efficiently.

• The first updated kiosk was established in the Village of Arrowhead in 2021, the second in the Village of Grey Fox in 2022.

• Once a contractor is approved for 2023, the following villages are scheduled for the modifications.

Apache Peak

Rose Quartz

Cochise Geronimo Village

Mountain Skyline

Apache Cottages 1 & 2

Desert Fairways/Greens/Horizons

Desert Hills

Lookout Ridge Renegade Trail

The villages of Gambel Quail, Sunrise, Eagle Feather and Sonoran Cottages/Enclave have also asked to renovate their mailboxes in 2023.

In time, all village mailboxes will be renovated to comply with the new USPS specifications, and upgraded with new digital bulletin boards.

The Communications and Marketing Committee is interested in spotlighting community residents with memorable stories. If you have a story to tell, please email Carly Omenhiser at comenhiser@desertmthoa. com. We would welcome a brief description of your background or memorable story. Look forward to hearing from you!

TOP 10 BIRDS YOU’LL FIND IN DESERT MOUNTAIN

Each year, going back to 1900, a group of volunteers, known as the National Audubon Society, participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Since its inception, the group of volunteers has grown to tens of thousands of volunteers from over 20 countries in the Western Hemisphere tallying 2,355 bird species. The volunteers have a designated day and 24 hours to identify and count as many birds as they can. Desert Mountain has volunteers that participate in this count each year, and the following is a list of the most common birds they found in the Desert Mountain area, and 6 bonus species you might consider yourself lucky to spot.

1.) Mourning Dove – The Mourning Dove can be found across the continent and is the most abundant game bird in North America. You might find Mourning Doves busily feeding on the ground, swallowing seeds and storing them in an enlargement of the esophagus called the “crop.” They can eat roughly 12-20 percent of their body weight in a day. It’s thought that one reason Mourning Doves survive in the desert is their ability to drink brackish spring water that is up to almost half the salinity of seawater without becoming dehydrated like a person would.

2.) Ring-necked Duck – The Ring-necked Duck is a medium-sized diving duck that are often in small flocks or pairs. They can be found on smaller bodies of water across North America such as freshwater marshes, bogs, and other shallow water such as golf course ponds.

continued on page 12 L

Carly Omenhiser

Mourning Dove (Photo by Rex Short)

Ring-necked Duck (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Gambel’s Quail (Photo by Rex Short)

3.)Gambel’s Quail – Gambel’s Quail are small ground-dwelling birds that inhabit regions in the American Southwest. They are easily recognized by their knots and scaly plumage on their undersides. Gambel’s Quail are named in honor of William Gambel, a 19th century naturalist and explorer of the Southwestern United States.

4.)White-crowned Sparrow – The Whitecrowned Sparrow is a large sparrow with a small bill and a long tail. It has very bold black and white stripes on the head. You’ll find them on the edges of brushy habitat, hopping on the ground or on lower branches.

5.)Hooded Merganser – The Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and streams. This small duck species is extravagantly crested. The adult males have sharp black and white patterns with chestnut flanks. Females have browner tones. They find their prey underwater by sight, and can change the refractive properties of their eyes to improve their underwater vision.

6.)European Starling – After first being brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts, the European Starling is now among the most numerous songbirds in North America. All European Starlings are descendants of 100 birds set loose in New York’s Central Park in the early 1890s because the group wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. Today, more than 200 million range from Alaska to Mexico.

European Starling (Photo by Rex Short)

Hooded Merganser (Photo by Rex Short)

White-crowned Sparrow (Photo by Rex Short)

7.)House Sparrow – The House Sparrow is one of the most common birds that you’ll find across North America. House Sparrows are frequent backyard visitors. They prefer to nest in manmade structures such as eaves or walls of buildings, street lights and nest boxes instead of natural nest sites such as holes in trees.

8.)Gila Woodpecker – The Gila Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a long, pointed bill. They are grayish, brown birds with brilliant black and white barring on the wings, back and tail. Males will have a red patch in the center of the crown. They spend their days foraging in taller desert vegetation, such as Saguaro cactus, catching insects.

9.)Phainopepla – The Phainopepla is native to the Southwest and can be found in desert washes where they eat mainly mistletoe berries growing on mesquite. They are a brilliant sight in flight. The word Phainopepla comes from the Greek for “shining robe” to characterize their shiny, jet-black plumage of the adult male.

10.) Great-tailed Grackle – The Great-tailed Grackle is a long-legged, slender blackbird with a stout, straight bill. Males are iridescent black with yellow eyes. The tails are tapered and nearly as long as its body. Females are dark brown and half the size of the males. You’ll find them on golf courses, fields and at marsh edges, vying for trash in urban settings, or crowding in trees and on telephone lines in noisy roosts.

Gila Woodpecker (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Great-tailed Grackle (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Phainopepla (Photo by Rex Short)

BIRDS, continued

RARE BIRD FINDS

These sightings were reported, confirmed, and included on the Maricopa County Rare Bird Alert list. If you spot any of the following birds in Desert Mountain, consider yourself lucky for setting your eyes on these rare birds.

1.)Mountain Chickadee – The Mountain Chickadee can be found in the mountainous West. They flit through high branches, hang upside down to pluck insects or seeds from cones and give their chickadee call to anyone who will listen. Due to their usual high elevation habitat, a sighting in Maricopa County is rare.

2.)Broad-billed Hummingbird – The Broadbilled Hummingbird is a beautiful bird with the males having a vivid red bill, emerald body, and a glittering sapphire throat. Most of the species’ range lies in Mexico, but it reaches the mountainous canyons of the southwestern United States during its breeding season. Any sighting in Maricopa County is considered rare. A brightlycolored male was spotted hanging around the C/G Clubhouse last year.

3.)Wilson’s Snipe – Traditionally known as a shorebird, the Wilson’s Snipe is a medium-sized, pudgy bird intricately patterned with buff and brown stripes, short stocky legs, and a straight, long bill (several times the length of their head). They use that long beak to forage for earthworms and other invertebrates. They live in muddy pond edges, and other wet, open habitats. They can be found in Desert Mountain hiding among the reeds

Mountain Chickadee (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Broad-billed Hummingbird (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Wilson’s Snipe (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

along the golf course pond edges in the winter. They are so well camouflaged, you often can’t find them until they move.

4.)Red-naped Sapsucker – The Red-naped Sapsucker is industrious with a taste for sugar. They drill holes in aspen, birch and willow to tap into the sugary sap that flows out. A presence of sap wells is a good indication that they are around, in addition to the wailing cries and stuttered drumming. Mostly found in the Rocky Mountains, a sighting in this area is rare.

5.)Elf Owl – The Elf Owl is the world’s smallest raptor. Not much larger than a juice box, the owl lives in dry, thorn forests, deserts, pine oak forests and riparian woodlands of the southern border of the United States and Mexico. They’ll often nest in old woodpecker holes and similar cavities. At night, they emerge to hunt insects and other small prey. Elf Owls can be found in Desert Mountain in the summer. Considered uncommon, but if you’re lucky, you can hear it call during summer nights.

6.) Western Tanager - The Western Tanager is brightly colored with reddish-orange, yellow and black feathers. These birds live in open woods all over the West, particularly among evergreens, where they often stay hidden in the canopy. Nevertheless, they’re a quintessential woodland denizen in summertime, where they fill the woods with their short, burry song and low, chuckling call notes.

Red-naped Sapsucker (Photo by Susan Sridharan)

Elf Owl (Photo by Rex Short)

Western Tanager (Photo by Monte Varah)

ANNAMARIA CAMMILLI

MONARCHS ON THE MOUNTAIN

Susan Sridharan

It was late summer 2021, and monarch butterfly populations in the western U.S. had crashed by an alarming 99% since the 1980s. Loss of milkweed habitat and increased use of pesticides were two of the major reasons.

To try to save the species, conservation organizations developed campaigns to encourage the public to plant pesticide-free butterfly gardens with native milkweed (monarch caterpillars eat milkweed exclusively).

Desert Mountain responded by planting 10 desert milkweed plants (Asclepias subulata) at almost every village entrance.

It was a worthy effort, but would it help? One year after the planting, Desert Mountain initiated a milkweed monitoring program to find out.

Following the lead of the Tonto National Forest and its wildlife biologist, we adopted the data collection protocols of the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) developed by the University of Minnesota and administered by the University of WisconsinMadison Arboretum.

As monarch butterflies reached our area in September 2022 during their annual migration south, volunteers began weekly observations of the milkweed plants at village entrances. Their sightings of monarch eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and adult butterflies were then uploaded to the international MLMP database.

The results were exciting. On September 20, four monarch caterpillars were discovered on milkweed plants at the entrance to Desert Horizons.

Southwest Monarch Study informed us that these were the first caterpillars of the 2022 fall migration season reported in the greater Phoenix area.

Through October 2022, Desert Mountain volunteers found: 6 adult monarch butterflies, 2 eggs, 27 caterpillars, and 2 chrysalises. The following villages hosted one or more monarch life stages: Apache Peak, Desert Fairways, Desert Horizons, Mountain Skyline, Painted Sky, Saguaro

Monarch caterpillar eating a milkweed flower, Village of Apache Peak, October 2022. Photo by Susan Sridharan.

Forest Caretaker’s Cottage, Sonoran Enclave, and Sunrise.

The Caretaker’s Cottage was by far the most productive site, and the volunteer even got to watch a butterfly just after it emerged from its chrysalis.

By the end of October, migration through our area was over and the butterflies were on their way to one of two monarch overwintering locations. It is not known why, but some monarchs that migrate through Arizona in the fall fly to California, while some fly to Mexico to overwinter.

The current 2023 winter butterfly count from California suggests their overwintering population may be up about 30% despite the recent heavy

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Monarch caterpillar eating a milkweed flower, Village of Apache Peak, October 2022. Photo by Cynthia Schneider.

MONARCHS, continued

rainstorms there. This is great news for monarchs, and great news for the Mountain as we gear up to monitor the 2023 spring migration from March through May.

A special thank you to the volunteers that participated in the 2022 fall monitoring project: Mary Goldthwaite, Martha Hahn, Renee Moore, Cynthia Schneider, Rex and Ginna Short, Susan Sridharan and Wendy Whitman. We need more volunteers for the spring 2023 monitoring season.

If you are interested, please contact Susan Sridharan at susansri@cox.net or Wendy Whitman

at wlw0223@gmail.com. There are plenty of village entrances still available to monitor, and field training can be held at your convenience. No experience necessary! Time required is approximately 1 hour per week.

Links to information on monarch butterflies, their life stages, and milkweed monitoring:

• Monarch Larva Monitoring Project www.mlmp.org

•The Monarch Joint Venture www.monarchjointventure.org

•Southwest Monarch Study www.swmonarchs.org.

Monarch Butterfly, Village of Painted Sky, September 2022.

Photo by Susan Sridharan.

IN THE WORKS: DESERT MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES

Carly Omenhiser

The Master Board of Directors has been working for some time to improve access to technology services in Desert Mountain, including improvements to internet and cell phone service. The Board has recently come to an agreement with local internet service provider Desert iNet that will allow them to install fiber lines within the community in phases. This will provide residents with an alternate choice when it comes to choosing an internet service provider.

The following villages are in Phase 1:

· Grey Fox

· Rose Quartz

· Arrowhead

·

Cochise Ridge

· Desert Horizons

· Desert Fairways

· Desert Greens

· Apache Cottages I

· Apache Cottages II

Desert iNet is in the process of obtaining permitting from the City of Scottsdale. Once permitting is obtained the work will begin. The work will involve some trenching in order to lay the fiber. Desert iNet has committed to returning all disturbed vegetation back to its original shape if it is disturbed. We will provide further communication to the villages where the work is taking place once the project gets under way.

VERTICAL BRIDGE

Last year, the Board approved a contract that would allow Vertical Bridge, a communications

infrastructure company, to place four cacti towers in the community to improve wireless connectivity on the Mountain.

Dish cellular is paying for the towers. In time, we hope to see other service providers add equipment to extend their cellular service. Vertical Bridge was on property recently completing surveys for the cacti tower locations.

ALLCONSTRUCTION ANDEXTERIOR MODIFICATION PROJECTSMUSTBE SUBMITTEDTOTHE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEWBOARDPRIOR TOTHESTARTOF CONSTRUCTION.

Guidelinesforstructuresand landscapingcanbefoundon thecommunitywebsite.

Meetingsarehostedbythe ArchitecturalReviewBoardevery twoweeks.

TOLEARNMOREABOUT THESTEPSTO COMPLETEYOURNEXT PROJECT,VISIT DESERTMTHOA.COM

PREPARING FOR MONSOON SEASON

Kaipo Spenser, DLC Resources Field Manager

July and August find us squarely in monsoon season. While we welcome the summer rains, the vigorous storms present some challenges for plant material. Fortunately, DLC has many years of experience when it comes to navigating a variety of weather-related issues. From frost damage to extreme heat and blustery winds, your landscape is in capable hands.

When monsoon storms arrive, the emphasis shifts to clean-up and repair. Typically, summer storms occur late in the day after crews have left the property for the day. For immediate emergency aid, we have personnel on call 24 hours a day.

These workers are equipped to deal with the storm’s most pressing effects, such as trees

blocking streets or sidewalks. Full-scale clean-up generally begins the following morning. Routine maintenance activities may need to be suspended or reduced in scope while the crew cleans up debris and performs repairs. If necessary, DLC will provide extra personnel to expedite the storm clean-up.

HOW TO READY YOUR YARD

Before monsoon season begins, prune trees to promote healthy growth and structure for your trees. Remove dead branches, crossed branches and thin the tree canopy, paying particular attention to Palo Verdes, Acacias and Mesquites that are especially prone to damage from high winds.

A diagram of how to correctly prune a tree branch.

Always consider safety and training when beginning any project. It is a good idea to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toe shoes when pruning.

Also, wear safety glasses, a hat and gloves to help prevent injuries. Unless you are a trained tree worker, only prune what you can reach from the ground; avoid using a ladder or climbing a tree to trim it. Consult a professional for additional work needed or if you are concerned about any hazards.

Once you’ve decided which trees need pruning, be sure to choose the proper tools. Limbs up to ½ inch in diameter can be pruned with hand pruners. Long-handled pruning loppers can handle limbs up to 1 inch in diameter, but a special pruning saw is needed for thicker limbs.

For those larger limbs, the three-cut method (as shown in the diagram) is an approach used to effectively trim and prevent bark from tearing down along the trunk. Remember, when trimming a tree, you never want to remove more than 25% of the green material. Don’t prune a newlyplanted tree during the first year, except to remove dead branches. Pruning a tree at this young age may impact its growth moving forward.

With your adult trees, it is essential for their health not to top the tree or trim it bare. DLC recommends that you never top trees. Topping is the indiscriminate cutting back of tree branches to stubs. This practice stresses and disfigures trees and creates hazardous, weakly-attached, new branches. It also makes an added maintenance expense as topped trees require more frequent

pruning. It’s undoubtedly advantageous to prepare for monsoon season. DLC Resources knows how to handle the summer storms, and we will be ready when the high winds blow through the valley.

For additional information on proper pruning techniques and materials, please visit our website at www.dlcresources.com/learning-center.

Nicely pruned trees at the Sunrise Monument at Desert Mountain.

SPRING 2023 DESERT MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE REVIEW

Joanne Klonoski

DESERT MOUNTAIN HOMES SELL AT HIGHER PRICES

Desert Mountain real estate once again bucks national trends as home prices continue their upward momentum. The average price of homes sold rose 28% to $684/SF as of year-end 2022 from $536/SF the prior year. The average sales price of a home in 2022 increased to $3,008,644 from $2,592,909 in 2021. However, nationwide, the news was not as positive. Existing home sales throughout the country slumped for 10 months in a row in 2022. Investment gurus such as Goldman Sachs and Barron’s Financial have predicted a fall-off in Phoenix home sales of up to 13%. Mortgage rates have doubled in the last fourteen months, further stressing demand for homes.

To understand the market, we turned to Keith and Kirk Marshall, twenty-year veterans of the Desert Mountain office of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, to get their take on our community.

A BALANCED MARKET

Aptly known as the Marshall Brothers, the two have witnessed good times and more challenging times in Desert Mountain real estate. Over the last few years, we’ve all seen the surge in demand for Desert Mountain properties as people sought to relocate to more secure, less urban areas, with strong infrastructure and a wide range of amenities. Homes went under contract at times with only a Facetime tour, with inspections waived. “The frenzy we saw in the months following the pandemic has definitely calmed down,” said Kirk. “It’s a more balanced market.

That being said, the right property on a good lot can move very quickly.” “An agent in our office recently listed a great house that included furniture and a membership.” continued Keith. “Multiple offers were received within days at well over asking. Offering a home ‘turn-key,’ with furnishings, art, AND a membership is a real game-changer. No one wants to wait seven months for a sofa and ten months for a rug.”

While well-located homes with functional floor plans on good lots command high prices, the market for older homes with little significant renovation and lesser views can be much slower. Sellers of those homes may well experience longer days on market and downward pressure on pricing.

According to the Marshall Brothers, the typical buyer doesn’t have an appetite for renovating an

“THE FRENZY WE SAW IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC HAS DEFINITELY CALMED DOWN. IT’S A MORE BALANCED MARKET. THAT BEING SAID, THE RIGHT PROPERTY ON A GOOD LOT CAN MOVE VERY QUICKLY.” - KIRK MARSHALL

“HISTORICALLY,

HAS AVERAGED ABOUT 10%, OR 190 HOMES, ON THE MARKET AT ANY ONE TIME. WITH 100 HOMES LISTED CURRENTLY, THAT’S STILL AN EXTREMELY TIGHT MARKET.”KEITH MARSHALL

older home with an outdated floor plan. Supply chain issues and labor shortages, combined with rising materials prices, have dampened enthusiasm for extensive remodels. “Buyers don’t want to wait,” explained Kirk. “They want to move in right away and begin enjoying the Desert Mountain lifestyle.”

INVENTORY CONTINUES TO BE TIGHT

Homes available for sale have tripled year-overyear, from an all-time low of 37 on February 24th, 2022 to today’s level of 100 homes.

Has this increased inventory moved us to more of a buyer’s market? “Not at all,” said Keith. “There are approximately 1,900 homes in Desert Mountain. Historically, Desert Mountain has averaged about 10%, or 190 homes, on the market at any one time. With 100 homes listed currently, that’s still an extremely tight market.” As constraints on inventory continue, the number of home sales has decreased 45% in 2022, falling to 137 from 249 in 2021. What about mortgage rates? Will rising interest rates impact demand for homes in Desert Mountain? “It really doesn’t affect us,” assert the brothers. “By far the majority of our offers are all cash. Stock market

fluctuations have much more impact and can introduce uncertainty into a buyer’s decision to buy a home.”

NEW CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES, BUT FOR HOW LONG?

There were 79 lots sold in 2021, and 77 in 2020 but only 32 in 2022. “Right now, the number of lots offered for sale is well below historic levels,” affirmed Kirk. “And the quality of the inventory varies widely. The best lots definitely demand

DESERT MOUNTAIN

Keith and Kirk Marshall with Russ Lyon Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty.

high prices.” There is only one lot listed in the MLS below $450,000, with the most costly at $5.9 million. The average asking price for a lot stands at $1,361,000. “Costs of construction, including both labor and materials, are quite high,” reported Keith. “Plus interest rates on construction loans have risen dramatically over the last year,” adds Kirk.

According to Don Berg, HOA Architectural Review Manager, 46 homes were completed in 2020 and 40 in 2021. This fell to 29 new homes that came on line in 2022. Two hundred sixty-eight vacant lots remain, including view lots owned by neighboring homeowners.

The Master Association Board projects a slowdown in new construction as the supply of buildable lots dwindles. It is this concern that has led the Board to propose a 0.50 basis point fee on home sales in order to fund increasingly expensive infrastructure upkeep.

How do the Marshall Brothers view this proposal?

“All the other high-end communities in the area charge a similar or higher fee. We’re talking Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Whisper Rock, Mirabel.

What’s the alternative? To raise dues? The quality of the infrastructure, the quality of the homes, and the quality of the Club all work together and support each other to create the Desert Mountain we have today. If one side of that pyramid weakens, the value of all our homes will suffer.”

BEING THE MARSHALL BROTHERS

While they might not enjoy the fame of real estate’s other identical twins, HGTV’s The Property Brothers, Keith and Kirk have been a force in Desert Mountain real estate for over twenty years and have sold over $975 million in real estate. But real estate wasn’t their first vocation. Keith joined the Arizona Cardinals football team as a sales executive after graduating from Arizona State, while Kirk spent seven years in various capacities with the Phoenix Suns.

Keith was the first to join Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, with the enviable job of traveling the country promoting Desert Mountain. His responsibilities included entertaining clients at a number of prestigious events, including the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Kirk joined the company a few years later and the Marshall Brothers’ team was born. Their secret to success is simple: “We stick to the basics, show up on time, answer our phones, return emails in a timely manner and treat clients like family.” Sounds like a formula that works!

“THE QUALITY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE QUALITY OF THE HOMES, AND THE QUALITY OF THE CLUB ALL WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO CREATE THE DESERT MOUNTAIN WE HAVE TODAY. IF ONE SIDE OF THAT PYRAMID WEAKENS, THE VALUE OF ALL OUR HOMES WILL SUFFER.” - KIRK MARSHALL

FORSUCCULEN

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DESERT MOUNTAIN HONORED AS FIRST QUIET CONSERVATION AREA

Courtesy of Quiet Parks International

Desert Mountain was recently designated as the world’s first Quiet Conservation Area to be awarded by Quiet Parks International.

Quiet Parks International is a non-profit committed to saving quiet for the benefit of all life. It is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving a depleting resource - quiet and the sounds of nature.

The effort was made possible by the Desert Mountain Desperados, spearheaded by the late Craig Mitchell, to whom this first Quiet Conservation Area is dedicated.

Within the private preserve of Desert Mountain, there are more than 3,000 wilderness acres.

Twelve stacked loop trails totaling approximately 25 miles wind through canyons, ascend mountain peaks and traverse lofty ridges.

It lays at the interface between the nearly 5 million residents who call Phoenix and the greater Salt River Valley their home and more than 3,000,000 acres of Tonto National Forest containing seven additional wildernesses.

The Desert Mountain Quiet Conservation Area is home to diverse wildlife and plants including Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Creosote (Larrea tridentata), Palo Verde (Cercidium microphyllum), Javelina (Tayassu tajacu), Mountain Lion (Felis concolor), Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum), Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), to name but a few.

Desert animal species depend upon a clean acoustic environment in order to communicate, attract a mate, establish a food territory, and escape predation. Many plant species depend on animals for pollination and seed dissemination. Natural quiet is an essential natural resource. Benefits to receiving the award include an increased awareness of the benefit of quiet for people and wildlife, conserving wildlife, preserving habitat, gaining international recognition, among many other benefits.

A volunteer with Quiet Parks International takes audio recording from the Desert Mountain trails. The 26 minute-long audio recording is available on their website: https://www.quietparks.org/desertmountain-arizona-usa-quiet-conservation-area.

Homeowners can stay tuned for more information in our monthly e-newsletters (E-Connection) about a future award ceremony to celebrate the honor.

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THE DIFFERENCES IN THESE TWO PICTURES

Katherine Helm

See if you can find the seven differences. The answers are at the bottom of the next page.

1- Yucca is missing 2 - One mountain gone 3 - Second chimney added to house 4 - One sand trap is missing 5 - Large tree by sand

trap is missing 6 - More clouds in the sky 7- Cart path is missing

ONE LAST THING - GETTING TO KNOW MIKE KLONOSKI, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

When did you move to Desert Mountain, and what made you decide on moving here?

We bought our home in 2006. I was already familiar with the area since I graduated from Arizona State. To me, what distinguished Desert Mountain from the rest of Phoenix is that it’s a high desert community. We’re at 3,000 feet, and the foliage and animals are incredibly interesting and the topography is extraordinary. When you throw that on top of the six golf courses that were here, it was a pretty easy choice!

How long after moving to Desert Mountain did you become involved as a community volunteer?

It was about two to three years later. Because the community was transitioning from a developerowned club to a member-owned club, an Advisory Board was formed to oversee this transition. I was fortunate to join the Advisory Board after Bob Borsch, Roger Dunbar and others had already done so much toward the transition to a memberowned club. It was an extremely interesting time. We were very happy with the outcome of the process, with the members acquiring all the clubhouses, furnishings, art, the golf courses, and Parcel 19, for a really reasonable price. I also served on the first Club Board. That was a very difficult time. Unlike today, we were leaking members and were probably down to 1,700 at one time. I was also on the Board during the Sonoran renovation and expansion, and became involved in the final negotiations with the general contractor. That was a very controversial project, and of course now, we can’t imagine the Club without the Sonoran.

At that time, there was acrimony between the Club Board and the HOA Board. So instead of running for the Club Board again, I ran for the HOA Board. I was on various committees and served as Vice President and then President for two terms. I resigned this last year because 6-7 years on the HOA Board is enough, and it’s time to let new officers and board members to work toward realizing their vision of the community.

What’s the most positive change you’ve seen happen in Desert Mountain?

My mission was to have the HOA and the Club Boards realize that although they can be separate boards with separate priorities, it is one community. In order for the community to succeed, they need to be working in lockstep

Mike Klonoski hitting the links at the Outlaw course.

with one another. The two Boards need a strong working relationship, to be mindful of what each is doing and when possible, help each other. That’s a cultural change. And I think there’s been a cultural change at the HOA, too: I believe we now have a “Culture of Yes.” Each year it has gotten better and better, and now it’s pretty extraordinary.

What is the main goal of an HOA?

HOAs are in place to protect home values. It’s critical that everything from the monument sign at the entrance, to the condition of the roadways, to the experience at the gate be first class. I chaired the Safety & Access Committee before I became President, and we have worked hard over the last several years to be sure that the safety and

security of our residents comes first. One of the reasons that our homes continue to appreciate is because the HOA does its homework and takes care of infrastructure, security, and the needs of our residents. The HOA staff and the Board have definitely contributed to the increase in home values here!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I have six wonderful grandkids that are mostly young adults, and I have the good fortune of having them respond to me when I reach out to them. They are a passion of my life. Family is obviously very important to me. Joanne and I enjoy travel. We have plans to visit Egypt and Jordan this year. Other hobbies are obviously golf because I live at Desert Mountain. For a

continued on next page L

ONE LAST THING, continued

long time, I was a pretty competitive sporting clay shooter. I used to travel all over the country shooting in tournaments. I did pretty well at that, but Father Time has equalized my ability to score there as it has in golf.

Where do you see Desert Mountain in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years, I see a continuation of what we’re starting to see now, which is a lot more families. We’ll see more school buses and children living here, which I think is fantastic. I think we’re going to start seeing the remainder of vacant sites built out. We’re very close to that now, so we’re going to have a lot of remodeling going on, which will keep the Architectural Review Committee busy. Soon we’ll see some teardowns of existing homes, which will be replaced by newer homes. I also look forward to the continuation of both the HOA and the Club boards working together. It’s a marvelous community with a lot of wonderful people. Joanne and I both feel lucky to live here.

Haveyouseen theseplants?

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Onceyougetaturpentinebush (Ericamerialaricifolia) established,it’siron-toughand irresistibletonativebeesand butterflies.Findoutmoreabout turpentineandothernative plantsatdesertmthoa.com.

Mike and Joanne Klonoski

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