Condo Living 2-12-17

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

February 2017

2 Paint and color 3 I is for insurance 4 Featured community; Closing on your condo; Reserve funds 5 Keen for green building 6 Community maps

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CONDO TOWNHOME &LOFT

Right-sizing into a condo Chandler couple downsizes and makes their dream a reality By Meghann Finn Sepulveda

Markou family

The Markou family

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ownsizing was always in the plan for Bill and Mary Markou. In 2016, the Markous made their dream a reality when they moved into a 1,466-square-foot condominium at The Cays at Ocotillo.

Plenty of space Coming from a spacious 2,500-square-foot single-family home, the Chandler residents knew they wanted to downsize but also wanted to have plenty of usable space. When the couple discovered The Cays at Ocotillo — a luxury condominium community with nine floor plans — just down the road from where they currently lived, they jumped at the opportunity.

“It’s great that we can quickly grab something for lunch or dinner and not have to get in our car and drive.” —Mary Markou “The location was the primary reason why we chose this property,” Mary said. “We also liked the fact we could get a large enough condo that fit all of our needs.” Bill, a licensed contractor, and Mary, a realtor, ultimately chose a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with a den. “We didn’t need a formal dining room or spare bedroom anymore,” she said. “But since my husband and I primarily work from home, we did need office space.” Their daughter, a junior at nearby Hamilton High School, is happy in her new surroundings and has friends who also live in the community.

Loving the lockand-leave lifestyle Abundant amenities and easy living appeal to many Toscana of Desert Ridge

By Debra Gelbart

ondominium living is often synonymous with two things: superb amenities and an easybreezy lock-and-leave lifestyle.

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Amenity-rich environments Many condo communities, such as Toscana of Desert Ridge on the Scottsdale-Phoenix border, are enhanced by top-notch amenities such as an on-site concierge director who is available to book golf, spa services, dinner reservations and other activities in and around the Valley of the Sun, said Shantelle Monongye, a representative of the community’s developer, the Statesman Group of Companies. What’s more, condo owners “receive valuable savings through our Toscana VIP Resort Club Card toward several neighboring vendors providing dining, golf, spa services and other activities,” Monongye said. In addition, Toscana’s lifestyle director coordinates monthly activities such as wine tastings, casino night, Friday night social gatherings and yoga classes.

Optima Kierland

“If you are not interested in taking care of the exterior of your home but you want nice landscaped areas and a heated pool to swim in, condo ownership is the perfect option.” —Sue Goodrich, Cachet Homes Toscana offers one-, two- and threebedroom condos that are fully furnished and accessorized, Monongye said. Amenities include heated resort pools, outdoor barbecues, outdoor seating and lounge areas, pathways with water- and fire-features, fitness centers, media centers, a game room, a boardroom/business center with wireless internet and computer access, a caterer’s kitchen and steam rooms with private lockers.

Beautiful amenities The Markous chose a first-floor condo with a large outdoor patio, perfect for relaxing and entertaining guests. “We were able to have a barbecue on our patio, which was important to us and not something we wanted to give up,” Mary said.

Like at Toscana, at Optima Kierland in Scottsdale, luxurious amenities help define the community’s lifestyle. “Along with the design of the buildings, the depth of our amenities is what really sets Optima Kierland apart,” said David Hovey Jr., president of the community’s developer, Optima Inc. “On the roof we have a zeroedge pool and spa, a pool deck with subset railing that makes it feel as if you’re on the edge of an aircraft carrier with 360-degree panoramic views, a steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy room, bar, barbecue grills and fire-pits.” On the ground level, he added, is the 16,000-square-foot fitness center and residents’ club “with the latest in machines and free weights, a Wellbeats studio and a yoga studio with Zen garden.” There’s also turf for outdoor training and stretching, an indoor basketball court, spa, cold plunge, sauna, steam room, theater, pool, outdoor putting green, barbecues, fire-pits and personal training and nutrition, he said.

Scott Sandler Photography via Cachet Homes

RIGHT-SIZING INTO A CONDO; continued on page CL7

Double work desk in a home office at Cachet at the Wigwam

LOCK-AND-LEAVE LIFESTYLE; continued on page CL7

YOUR RESORT STYLE LIVING AWAITS

PHASE ONE

Limited move-in ready condos remaining. PHASE TWO EARLY BIRD INCENTIVES Chandler Blvd.

from the $230’s

Price Rd

San Tan Fwy

Queen Creek Rd

5 minutes from Chandler Fashion Center

2511 W. Queen Creek Road, Chandler

(480) 248-3737 thecaysatocotillo.com


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