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Rattlesnake Safety

snakeDid you know there are 13 different types of rattlesnakes slithering throughout Arizona? April through October, rattlesnakes can be found anywhere from hiking trails to city streets, so it’s important for everyone to know what to do when crossing paths with a snake.

While snakes aren’t looking to cause trouble, people still must use extreme caution when they come across a rattlesnake. A snakebite has enough venom to cause serious injury or even death. Most snakebite victims have to spend at least two to three days in a hospital and spend weeks rehabilitating the area around the bite in order to regain full range of motion and muscle functionality.

Valley fire departments offer these tips for making your property less hospitable to snakes:
-Eliminate rodents (a snake’s preferred food) from around your home.
-Remove wood piles and junk from your yard to eliminate potential homes for snakes and their prey.
-Walls deter snakes from entering your yard. Solid walls 4 feet high with a four-inch lip angling outward will discourage most snakes. Sink the bottom of the wall well into the ground.
-Install gates snugly against the ground.
-Keep walkways clear of brush.
-Light pathways around your home.

Tips to keep safe when rattlesnake activity is at its peak:
-Stay on the trails. Rattlesnakes are more likely to be found in places with better opportunity to hunt, hide, and stay out of trouble.
-Be aware of your surroundings. Watch your step. Texting while walking has resulted in at least one bite that we know of, and head phones will keep the natural warning system from working.
-If you have a dog, keep it on a leash. Have the dog vaccinated for rattlesnake bites, and have it trained if it’s available in your area.
-If you encounter a snake, take a step (or two or three!) back. Snakes can only strike at a distance of one-third of their full body length, thus a three-foot snake has an effective strike range of 12 inches. The average human stride is 36 inches, so a step back will quickly put you out of harms way. If those seem to be obvious, it’s because they absolutely are. Rattlesnakes are simply not a threat to those who don’t go looking for it. Staying safe is just a matter of knowing better, and if you didn’t before, now you do.

For more information or to speak to a snakebite expert, call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center’s free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Scottsdale Dog Parks

dog parkLooking for a place to take your dog to play off leash and make friends? Come out and enjoy one of three Scottsdale dog parks. There are plenty of open spaces, shade and dog water fountains are at every location. Feel free to bring along your own portable chairs and your dog’s favorite toys.

Horizon Dog Park
15444 N. 100th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260
This small dog park is located in a retention basin on the far west end of Horizon Park. It has a large shade structure, a water fountain for you and your dog, and a water feature to control the dust. During winter, you may wish to go home before dusk, because this section of the park doesn’t have lights.

Chaparral Dog Park
5401 N Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Scottsdale’s most popular dog park includes 3-acres of grass. Chaparral Dog Park has a fabulous array of amenities, including water fountains, seating for owners and play features.

Vista Del Camino Dog Park
7700 E. Roosevelt St.,Scottsdale, AZ 85257
This half-acre dog park has plenty of shade trees, benches and water fountains for you and your dog to enjoy. Also, you will be relieved to know that the park is double gated for your pet’s security.

Rules to remember:
-Owners (or custodians) of a dog are responsible and legally liable for the acts and conduct of the dog at all times when the dog is in a city park.
-The city does not supervise use of the dog park and anyone using the area does so at his/her own risk.
-No more than two dogs per visitor.
-An adult must accompany youth under the age of 16.
-Dogs should be under voice control.
-Please fill any hole your dog digs.
-Owners or custodians of a dog must restrain and control the dog at all times with a leash of not more than 6 feet in length when outside of the dog exercise area.

Do your dogs enjoy going to the dog park? Are you searching for a home near a dog park for your favorite 4-legged family members? Give a us a call to find the perfect home for your family and pets! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market June Update – May 2019 Stats

Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for June 2019, which shows 10,485 homes sold in the month of May compared to 10,0097 homes in May 2018. This is a 3.8% increase in the number homes sold year over year, and an increase of 7.8% from last month! It is the most homes sold in a the last 5+ years, and the market remains strong with the average sale price is up 4.7% year over year. And the amount of listed homes is up by 2.4% to 16,628 from 16,245 in May 2018, but down from 17,724 in April.

Demand is still gaining strength into Summer and the market is expected to remain strong. Sales activity may still be constrained by the lower supply of listed homes but the number of listed homes has come down a bit again. The average days on market is down 4.7% from last month to just 60 days.

Click here to see the full April 2019 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 and let us know if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this Spring/Summer, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and more helpful articles. – Chris & Cheryl Park

Scottsdale is #1 Profitable City for Airbnb

Realtor.com has ranked Scottsdale as the #1 profitable city to own an Airbnb! This is no surprise to us since the City of Scottsdale has long been a popular destination for families and American corporate elites looking for a vacation getaway filled with golf, hiking and outdoor adventures.

With the growing popularity of short term rentals across the country, many cities have created tighter rules or banned Airbnb rentals altogether. Yet, Arizona has gone in the opposite direction. In 2016, Arizona signed a law that prevents cities from banning short-term rentals. Arizona’s legal protection combined with vacation rental demand, makes Scottsdale the perfect place for real estate rental investors.

Scottsdale Residential Real Estate-
Median list price: $685,100
Average daily rate: $301
Occupancy rate: 81%
Active rentals: 5,178

With our years of experience in Scottsdale real estate, we are prepared to find your next profitable investment property! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

www.Realtor.com

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market May Update – April 2019 Stats

Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for May 2019, which shows 9,671 homes sold in the month of April compared to 9,165 homes in April 2018. This is a 5.3% increase in the number homes sold year over year, and an increase of 12.1% from last month! The market has increased seasonally and remains strong with the average sale price is up 5.1% year over year. And the amount of listed homes is up by 7.2% to 17,724 from 16,450 in April 2018. Demand is still gaining strength into Spring/Summer when the market is strong seasonally. And sales activity that had been constrained by the lower supply of listed homes has improved but the number of listed homes has come down a bit again. The average days on market is down 4.5% from last month to just 63 days.

Click here to see the full April 2019 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 and let us know if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this Spring/Summer, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and more helpful articles. – Chris & Cheryl Park

Visit Taliesin West

Taliesin WestTake a guided tour through the word-renowned Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Immerse yourself at Scottsdale’s only National Historic Landmark as you experience one of the world’s most extraordinary architectural sites. Taliesin West is nestled in the desert foothills of the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale. Frank Lloyd Wright began building his desert masterpiece Taliesin West in 1937 as his personal winter home, studio, and architectural campus. It was built and maintained almost entirely by Wright and his apprentices, making it among the most personal of the architect’s creations.

To enjoy the grandeur of Taliesin West, there is a wide selection of guided tours offered ranging from one to three hours long. You cannot enter the property unless you are on a guided tour, thus tours of Taliesin West are required. Reservations are strongly recommended for all tours, walk-ins are not guaranteed spots on a tour and tours book up fast. Taliesin West is open year round, but is closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Tickets are available for advanced purchase by visiting franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west or calling 888-516-0811.

What is your dream home? Let us know! We are local area experts and can find the type of home that meets your needs and lifestyle. Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market April Update – March 2019 Stats

Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for April 2019, which shows 8,507 homes sold in the month of March compared to 9.596 homes in March 2018. This is a 11.4% decrease for the number homes sold year over year, but an increase of 23.8% from last month! The market has increased seasonally and remains strong with the average sale price is up 6.7% year over year. And the amount of listed homes is up by 9.4% to 18,547 from 16,814 in March 2018. Demand is still gaining strength into Spring/Summer when the market is strong seasonally. And sales activity that had been constrained by the lower supply of listed homes has improved as the number of listed homes has come up from the recent 5+ year low. The average days on market is down 7.1% from March 2018 to just 66 days.

Click here to see the full March 2019 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 and let us know if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this Spring, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and more helpful articles. – Chris & Cheryl Park

Grayhawk Raptor Retreat Open Houses Sat 3/23/19 & Sun 3/24/19 from 1-4pm

We will be holding Open Houses this weekend on Saturday 3/23/19 and Sunday 3/24/19 from 1-4pm both days in Grayhawk’s Raptor Retreat neighborhood at 7930 E Rose Garden Ln, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Call us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you would like more information. This gorgeous, remodeled one level home has 3+bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a heated pool & spa, and a 3 car garage. We hope to see you there.

If you would like to see homes in other Scottsdale neighborhoods such as Grayhawk, McDowell Mountain Ranch, DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, McCormick Ranch, Desert Mountain, Troon, Sonoran Hills, Desert Ridge, Terravita, etc, let us know. We will send you listings for homes in your area of interest, and schedule showings for access to any homes that you would like to see.

Electric Desert at Desert Botanical Gardens

Desert Botanical Garden

Two months remain to enjoy the Desert Botanical Garden’s newest exhibit! Now through May 12th, 2019 the cactus and desert become a living canvas during the new Desert Botanical Garden nighttime experience. The dancing lights will enage visitors on an immersive journey through the Garden using lights and original music. Electric Desert, by Klip Collective, includes seven site-specific locations, with each experience inspired by and related to the Garden.

Founded in 2003, Klip Collective is an experiential video shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and soundscapes to create captivating, immersive sensory experiences on behalf of institutions, corporate clients and cultural partners. Philadelphia-born but globally based, Klip Collective has created projection experiences in a diverse array of environments across the world.

Dates: through May 12th, 2019

Electric Desert-
Adults ages 17+ : from $24.95 – $29.95
Youth ages 3-17 : from $12.95 – $15.95
Children under 3 : FREE

Daytime + Electric Desert-
Adults ages 17+ : $34.95 – $39.95
Youth ages 3-17 : $19.95 – $22.95
Children under 3 : FREE

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: dbg.org

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market March Update – February 2019 Stats

Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for March 2019, which shows 6,489 homes sold in the month of February compared to 7,046 homes in February 2018. This is a 7.9% decrease for the number homes sold year over year, but an increase of 15.7% from last month! The market has increased seasonally and remains strong with the average sale price is up 6.0% year over year. And the amount of listed homes is up by 10.0% to 19,233 from 17,319 in February 2018. Demand is gaining strength going into Spring when the market is strong seasonally. And sales activity had been constrained by the lower supply of listed homes but the number of listed homes has come up from a 5+ year low. The average days on market is down 9.5% from February 2018 to just 67 days.

Click here to see the full February 2019 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 and let us know if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this Spring, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and more helpful articles. – Chris & Cheryl Park