map of arizona showing scottsdale real estateLate last year I received a call from a man who moved to Arizona for a job offer. He got my name from a prior client of mine in Illinois. He couldn't remember her name as it was from a series of friends and relatives that passed my name along to him because of my prior client's referral. I contacted my client to see if she was the one that referred him, and she confirmed. It was bothering me that he didn't know who it was since I always like to thank anyone that sends me a referral.

He was coming from my prior state of Illinois

In fact, he was coming from the same town we lived in before we moved to Arizona back in 2009. He and his wife owned a large house that they didn't have to sell. But even though they didn't have to sell that one to make a…

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pretty landscaping at a scottsdale home for sale

Homeowners preparing their homes for selling in the foreseeable future have to consider both inside and outside. Therefore, if you wish to increase the value of your home, be sure to check out home staging tips and not neglect the outside. After all, your front yard is the thing that will leave the first impression on your potential buyers. So, be sure to make it count. We consulted the experts in the field and are glad to share some of the best landscaping ideas. Enjoy reading!

The list of best landscaping ideas to up your home's value

If you plan to move from Arizona to Texas, you will first need to sell your existing home. Interstate relocations can get pricy, so it's wise to upgrade your Arizona house to get a great offer. So, once you…

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the entrance to carlsbad tavern in scottsdale azDid you ever go back to a restaurant that you thought you loved and remembered why you stopped going? That was the revelation when we went back to Carlsbad Tavern in Scottsdale after many years from our last visit.

Our friend, who used to live in Arizona, was visiting us and wanted to go there. He was the person that introduced Carlsbad Tavern to us many years ago. I had such good memories.

It looks cute as soon as you walk up to the entryway, which is nicely lit at night. Then you step into the pretty patio with a waterfall. I think the last time I went was with Jimmy and we sat on the patio at a 2-person table. And I think that was the time I ordered something and had a difficult time eating it because it was so spicy. But I forgot about that.

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This is a post written by guest blogger Anthony Moretti. As environmental concerns become more and more pressing, we all have a collective and an individual responsibility to lower our carbon footprint and make an effort to make our lifestyle a little greener. That includes our homes. Luckily, making your Arizona home more eco-friendly is easy, and not necessarily expensive.

scottsdale real estate residents need to put our planet earth first

It mostly comes down to the choices you make, like opting for a smaller TV, learning better habits around water and energy waste, using energy-efficient appliances, and doing everything you can to keep the heat in when the temperature drops in the winter months.

Recycling & composting

Most households recycle at this point, hopefully, but if you’re not, then you’re…

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Tips for Californians moving to Scottsdale

Since Arizona and California are neighboring states, you’d expect a lot of similarities when comparing them. However, there is a significant difference in culture, climate, costs of living, and outdoor activities. Rising cities such as Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Chandler, attract Californians to let down their roots in Arizona with booming business opportunities, lower housing costs, and a quality lifestyle. The Grand Canyon State is a refreshing change of scenery. Still, any relocation to the unknown requires some research. To help you with it, we’ve gathered some useful tips for Californians moving to Scottsdale.

Avoid moving in summer

If you believe you’re heat-resilient after experiencing Cali summers, you’re in for a surprise.…

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There were signs in the fourth quarter of 2021 that the red-hot housing market was beginning to simmer down. In the month of October, only 60.3% of sales involved a bidding war down from a high of 74.5% in April. This is national data though, and I'm not sure it reflects the wild Seller's Market with Scottsdale real estate, where prices increased in the double-digit percentage points. While this trend could be attributed to seasonality, it could also be a signal that the real estate run-up may have passed.

will scottsdale real estate return to normal in 2022

Mortgage Rates Will Definitely Increase

Because I sell Scottsdale real estate for a living, I keep abreast of the market. I've been through multiple recessions, Buyer's Markets, Seller's Market (it went crazy when rates dropped to 8.5%), and…

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prickly pear with snow in north scottsdale

The season you sell your Scottsdale home can have an impact on how much you get for your property and how quickly it sells. The season that has the most success in selling homes is spring. This is a good time of year for families moving to new school districts and is also more convenient weather for moving. Because of this trend, most people will recommend waiting to list your home until after the winter is over.

Winter Can Be a Great Time to Sell Scottsdale Real Estate

Avoiding the winter is a huge misconception in the housing industry and can cause homeowners to miss out on opportunities. Scottsdale winters give us great house hunting weather, unlike many other areas with freezing temperatures plus snow and ice.

It was terrible showing…

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New construction or existing scottsdale home

If you are a current home buyer and/or seller, you know it's a robust Seller's Market for any Scottsdale home for sale that is priced correctly. Although things are slowing down a little bit, which is the norm for this time of year, we're finally seeing longer days on market and price reductions. Plus, many listings are making it to an Open House, which we haven't seen for a while as listings sold before the open could be held.

It is simple supply and demand, which I seem to be talking a lot about lately. Many buyers just can't wrap their heads around the rising Scottsdale real estate prices, which are pushing home affordability out of many buyers' abilities.

Do you think you can get new construction for the same price as a similar resale home?

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An illustration of a person holding a magnifying glass and globe with apartments

Buying a home is a huge decision. Even though you have probably been planning this for a long time now, you should not rush into anything. It is easy to make a mistake when purchasing a property. To help you avoid potential errors, here are a few questions to ask your Scottsdale real estate agent before buying a house.

Check if the real estate agent has a proper license

When hiring a real estate agent, you want to work with a professional. The first thing to ask is if they have a license. This is an essential step because there are a lot of scammers in the business.

Buying a house is an expensive investment, and you want to secure it. Only work with people who are verified professionals.

Ask the agent about their experience

Another way…

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I finally stopped into the City Creamery in Cave Creek, AZ, with my son and husband after dinner at El Encanto restaurant a while back after driving past it many times after we moved to Cave Creek from Scottsdale.  We kept our car parked at El Encanto and walked over to the ice cream shop.

flavors sign in the city creamery

We loved the selection of ice cream available.  They have classic flavors and a rotation of seasonal offerings.  You can get an ice cream cone or a bowl, sundaes, shakes/malts, sodas (including cold brew nitro), and even some fudge in a jar.  You can also purchase pints to take home.  My favorite flavor is double chocolate orange but sometimes I'll try one of the seasonal ice creams.

Below is one of my favorite flavors I've had so far - candy corn. …

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