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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
December 2016 Powered by
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CONDO TOWNHOME &LOFT Modern Flames sparks plenty of interest with electric fireplaces
Layered Security Modern Design Energy-Efficiency Condo community maps
By Debra Gelbart
Modern Flames
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efore 2009, electric fireplaces were designed more as low-cost spaceheaters and didn’t look like fireplaces. Modern Flames, founded in Phoenix in 2009 by Kris Richardson and Tom Foy, changed that. “We believed there was an increasing demand for a higher-quality, more realistic electric fireplace that looked more like real fire,” Richardson said. “We developed an industry-changing flame pattern that elevated the outlook of electric fireplaces in the industry and we have been improving the flame and features ever since. Many customers tell us that electric fireplaces can be a substitute for gas fireplaces, allowing for an easier installation at a fraction of the cost.”
Matt Winquist via Envy Residences
‘Right-size’ at the right time and the right place You can ënd your perfectly proportioned living space by year’s end
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By Debra Gelbart
From the “flame image to the specific features, to the fit and finish of each product, we try to give the consumer the best fireplace experience possible with current electric fireplace technology.” —Kris Richardson, Modern Flames Not-to-be-missed giveaway To celebrate the company’s seventh anniversary, Modern Flames is giving away a gorgeous electric fireplace to a lucky visitor at any of several designated condominium communities in greater Phoenix. One winner will be drawn on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, and will be featured (along with the community they visited) in the March issue of Condo Living AZ. Modern Flames distributes its products in fireplace stores located throughout North America; the company’s presence is increasing in other countries around the world, too. More than 500 Modern Flames dealers have at least one product on display, Richardson said, and the entire product line can be viewed in person and purchased at either Arizona Fireplace location in Phoenix. Location specifics and contest details are on page 2 in this issue or can be found at condoliving.azcentral.com.
MODERN FLAMES; continued on page CL5
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ou might not have thought about how much more flexible a condo can be compared to a single-family home when it comes to “rightsizing” your living space. But it’s a fact that condominiums are often designed to offer the optimum configuration for your needs.
“With a modern condo,” said David Newcombe, co-founder and associate broker at Scottsdale-based Launch Real Estate, “you can choose precisely the living space you need with the exact features you want.” If you no longer need a tub in the master bath, why should you pay for one? If you don’t want hallways, you can find a brand-new condo without them. “Right-sizing means finding the exact amount of living and storage space that fits your lifestyle,” Newcombe said. “And it can be done easily because condo developers are quite creative with floor plans.” The right time to right-size How do you know when it might be time to “right-size” your condo — including considering a larger living space — or move from a single-family home to a condo with less square-footage than you currently have? First, here are some signs you may need a larger living space, according to Keith Mishkin, owner of Cambridge Properties in Phoenix: • You’re expecting a baby — or your millennial “baby” is moving back in.
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Portland on the Park
“Whichever condo you choose, it will be among the first new condos available in the Phoenix area since the recession.” —David Newcombe, Launch Real Estate
• You’re retiring soon and plan to travel and you want maintenance-free living. Newcombe added financial considerations to the list of reasons for choosing a condo over a single-family home. When you’re looking at condo living, you should evaluate all of the amenities that are included as well as the proximity to services that are important to you rather than simply the square-footage connected to the gross purchase price, he said. With a condo, the most important factor is whether it fits your lifestyle — both in terms of where it’s located and how the interior space is configured, he noted. “And though you may be getting less actual square-footage for your purchase, you’re getting exactly what you want in terms of how you’ll live.”
Moving in quickly • You’re getting a lot of company lately and If you’ve decided a condo is right for you, a move-in-ready unit lets you take your living space seems cramped. possession in as little as a week if you’re • You’ve decided to work from home and paying cash or in about 30 days if you’re don’t have room for a dedicated workpursuing a mortgage, both Mishkin and space. Mishkin said these are signs you may want to Newcombe said. “If you’ve sold your home, the advantage of a move-in-ready condo buy a smaller condo: is that you have a place to move to almost • You have rooms in your current home that you haven’t used at least five times immediately,” Newcombe said. “The lifestyle in the last year. you’re seeking is available right away.” • You’ve recently become an emptyRIGHT-SIZING; continued on page CL5 nester.
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