Visit Taliesin West

/in /by

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

Easter Brunch

/in , , /by

Easter Basket
With so many Easter brunches around the valley, how do you choose? Here are a few of our favorite local restaurants for brunch!

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen
6114 – North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale

Weft & Warp at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows will be going all out this Easter Sunday. From 11am to 3pm delight in an assortment of cheese and charcuterie, slow-roasted prime rib, pan-seared scallops, and so much more! Raspberry coconut eclairs will sugar-coat the entire experience, but go for a Lucky Charms tart to keep the meal festive. Bottomless mimosas are sure to get you buzzing at $25. An egg hunt will be held on property from 10 to 11am, including a special adult hunt with prizes. Brunch costs $75 for adults and $35 for children 7 to 12. Call 480-214-4622 for reservations.

Pomelo at the Orchard
7100 – North 12th Street, Phoenix

Enjoy Pomelo this Easter with an inspired brunch set at one of Arizona’s first citrus farms. Start with a crudite platter with hummus and grilled pita, then keep it fresh with the seared ahi tuna salad. Indulge in the short rib Benedict or breakfast pizza featuring fresh mozzarella, Schreiner’s sausage, breakfast potatoes, and over-medium eggs. Plus, you can rendezvous with rosé all day for $20. Brunch runs from 10am to 3 pm. Call 602-633-2600 for reservations.

Ocean Prime
5455 – East High Street, #115, Phoenix

Treat yourself to seafood and upscale vibes this Easter at Ocean Prime from 11am to 3pm. Easter brunch will be a la carte and feature lobster toast with a sunny-side egg, crab and eggs atop an English muffin with hollandaise sauce, and French toast with mixed berries and candied bacon. Start your meal with a blood orange mimosa for $9, or go all out with Ocean Prime’s signature Bloody Mary with jumbo shrimp for $18. Call 480-347-1313 for reservations.

Once you finish your Easter Egg hunt and you’re ready to begin your house hunt, give us a call! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

Things to Look for at an Open House

/in /by

home for sale
Are you getting ready to go to open houses? Looking at open houses is one of the many ways you may choose to work with your realtor to find the perfect home for your family. Yet, an open house is different from an individual home showing, and the things you’re looking for may be quite a lot different in this situation. In an individual showing, you’ll be better able to look closely at potential problem areas or things you want to think about, but in an open house, you’ll need to focus on a handful of factors during the time you spend touring the home.

Look At The Floors
You’re probably busy looking around at all the features of the home you’re viewing, but don’t forget to stop and look down every now and then, too. If there are tile floors that look as though they were laid in a DIY project rather than by a professional, you may want to consider the potential issues that could come along with this. Of course, any DIY job isn’t always a sign of something wrong, but it does mean you should keep it in consideration.

Maintenance Issues
Does the home look like it’s been kept up well, or does it appear to be lacking maintenance? Are there a lot of burned-out bulbs, dirty light fixtures, outlets mixing covers, cracks in the decorative molding, or other similar issues? Maintenance problems usually indicate that the homeowners haven’t been keeping up with more serious repairs around the home either.

Mold And Water Damage
Always be on the lookout for mold and water damage. If you notice a discolored spot on the ceiling, it’s likely a water leak and you should ask about it. If you see mold, bring this up as well.

Foundation Problems
You probably won’t be able to get a great look at the foundation while you’re looking around at an open house, but you can check the inside and outside walls for cracks. Small hairline cracks aren’t really an issue, because these are normal with older homes regardless of their quality. However, if you notice very large cracks, especially those that go from floor to ceiling, you may want to move on to the next open house.

Are you ready to start touring homes? Give us a call, we’d love to schedule private showings for you and tour open houses with you! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477

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

/in /by

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

Swimming Pools and Homeowner’s Insurance

/in /by

backyard pool
Having a swimming pool in your backyard can be a huge benefit and provide fun for you and your family. Yet, many homeowners question whether it’s a good idea to add a pool to their backyard, or buy a home with a pool, due to the safety concerns and maintenance. It’s no surprise that a home with a pool increases your homeowner’s insurance, but is it worth it?

Your home owner’s insurance premiums will likely increase if you own a home with a pool. This is because they’re considered an “attractive nuisance,” meaning that an unsupervised child might be attracted to a pool and could cause harm to them. Homeowners are responsible for taking safety measures like including a fence around the perimeter of the pool, putting a safety cover on the pool or posting a sign warning of the dangers.

If you are considering installing a pool, you should likely take preemptive measures to protect yourself from any incidents that happen while you own the home. This means increasing your homeowner’s insurance coverage and limits. Research indicates it might be a good idea to increase your liability insurance from the standard $100,000 to $500,000 if you install a swimming pool.

When installing a pool, it’s also important to take into consideration the difference between in-ground and above-ground pools. Most in-ground pools are considered part of your home insurance policy, while above-ground pools would be covered under personal property insurance. It’s important to consult with your insurance agent and discuss how adding a pool could potentially affect your premiums.

Despite the increased costs, adding a pool can also greatly increase your home’s value and offer a fun summer activity for you and your family. With proper knowledge of the pros and cons of a pool, you can be prepared for any unexpected costs associated with it.

Are you looking for a home with a pool? Give us a call to begin your search! Chris 480-754-9077 & Cheryl 480-754-9477