NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021
Light Up Your Life Lighting Trends
Ginger-cream cookies Taste of Home
EVENT CALENDAR NOVEMBER | DECEMBR 2021
CHARLES SCHWAB CUP CHAMPIONSHIP Phoenix | Nov.10-Nov 14 PgaTour.com
Featuring the top 36 players of the season, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship is the culmination of the PGA Tour Champions road to the Charles Schwab Cup, a year-long competition that ends with the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.
WILDLIGHTS FOR WILDLIFE Phoenix | Nov. 7th PhoenixZoo.org
From the comfort of your own vehicle, you and your guests will embark on a four-wheel adventure that will scintillate your senses. Plus you’ll experience an exclusive drive-thru preview of the 30th anniversary of ZooLights – the Valley’s beloved holiday tradition, happening Nov. 7th- Jan 31st.
FRIED CHICKEN AND WINGS FESTIVAL Phoenix | Dec. 4th TicketTailor.com
Second annual Arizona Fried Chicken and Wings Festival in Downtown Phoenix. With over 10 local businesses, featuring different varieties of fried chicken from Korean fried chicken to Nashville Hot fried chicken. A finger licking food enjoyed throughout the world and every culture has their own twist on it. 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
PHOENIX FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Phoenix | Dec. 11-12th PhoenixCenterForTheArts.org
The 9th annual arts and culture celebration perfect for the whole family. Featuring more than 150 art vendors and cultural organizations. It’s a perfect time to connect with the local art community and celebrate the season. Plus a full lineup of live music, performances, and interactive activities.
MY BLUEGRASS HEART Tempe | Dec. 18th TempeCenterForTheArts.com
Béla Fleck has made a point of boldly going where no banjo player has gone before, a musical journey earning him 15 GRAMMYS in nine different genres. But his roots are in bluegrass, and that’s where he returns with his first bluegrass tour in 24 years. Fleck’s first road band will spotlight some of the best of the new generation of bluegrass players, including: Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Bryan Sutton.
Lighting Luxe T
he future looks bright. As interior design remains minimalist and carefully curated, lighting has taken on a scene-stealing role. Think of your overhead and accent lighting as the jewels of your home—the finishing touches that can make your casa shine and be more stylish than ever before. Follow this room-by-room lighting guide to make your house the best and brightest on the block. Since all things start in the kitchen, let’s head straight to the hub of the house where it’s go big or go home. Kitchen chandeliers and pendants are trending toward large statement fixtures. Choosing one big and bold lighting element over an island or eating area is all the rage. Whether you choose the popular antiqued brass, black matte, or brushed chrome, finishes can mix and match and evoke a feeling of a room that’s evolved over time. For 2022, materials are all about the environment. From rattan shades and glass pendants to wood bases and chandeliers made from organic beads and shells, lighting elements have a real eco-focus. Exposed Edison bulbs with that still-hip industrial vibe also remain popular. There’s an old-world charm that seems timeless, reminiscent of another era yet also undeniably modern. Next up is the dining room, a long overlooked space that more and more homeowners are spending time in with family and close friends enjoying homecooked meals together. As the dining tables get larger, so do the sparkling statement chandeliers overhead. Big and bright rules the day—yet with dimmable bulbs that are a must to set any mood required as the sun goes down. Popular current shapes are geometrical, rectangular, and circular. This is the place to try something daring as more and more chandeliers now resemble art, with multiple airy and orb-like lights hanging from the ceiling. Look to pare down the dining room furniture and décor and let your chandelier be the star of the space. After all, nothing makes a dinner more magical than just the right lighting. In the living room, look for accent lighting highlighting nap and reading corners, game table nooks, and even a table lamp by a bar area. Dimmable lights for movie times are also a must in family spaces. The feeling is light and airy, making glass and antiqued brass and silver finishes popular choices. Moving to the bedroom, sconces are having a comeback. After all, there’s no need to light up an entire room if you’re reading before going to bed. Sconces of all shapes and sizes are brightening up bedsides and clearing space on nightstands, giving rooms an uncluttered look. Almost sculptural in style, sconces can have a large impact on a streamlined, pared-down boudoir. Bathrooms (and kids’ rooms) are looking more and more chic with chandeliers, an unexpected design twist. With the minimalist and uncluttered interior designs popular today, overhead fixtures have an opportunity to brighten up a space bolder than ever before. When done right, these elements are the icing on the cake. Don’t be afraid to let your lighting truly shine.
REAL ESTATE
corner
the mid 1800s. The practice soon became popular across the pond, with Americans favoring floor to ceiling trees rather than table-size versions. Ever ponder the poinsettia? Why is it the harbinger of the holiday season? The plant, native to southern Mexico and Central America, is named after a former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who brought the leafy specimen back to the States in the early 1800s. He was taken by their beauty— the poinsettia is actually made of red and green leaves, not flowers—and the plant helped set the traditional red and green holiday hues.
Hyou’ve got your own traditions. Maybe you get a tree,
owever you celebrate the holiday season, chances are
decorate the mantel for the winter solstice, or send out holiday greeting cards. But have you ever wondered how some of these holiday traditions began? When it comes to Christmas trees, the origins are definitely European. Though it is still intensely debated, the European countries of Latvia and Estonia both stake claim to being the first to decorate Christmas trees (we’re talking back to the 1400s and 1500s). According to The History Channel, however, it was the Germans who started the Christmas tree tradition in the 16th century, with the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther first adding candles to the branches.
IN GOOD TASTE
In America, however, things were quite different. In fact, even just hanging holiday decorations was once forbidden here. Back in 1659, observing Christmas day in any way other than attending church was illegal in the state of Massachusetts. No caroling or trees or decorations of any kind were allowed. Of course, that didn’t last forever. Eventually, the tradition of indoor Christmas trees did make its way to our shores, thanks in large part to Queen Victoria, who was illustrated in an English newspaper gathering with her family around a Christmas tree in
Why do we hang Christmas stockings? Once upon a time they were actually put by the chimney to dry after washing. But, legend has it, St. Nicholas tossed gold down the chimney of a poor man’s home and it landed in his daughters’ stockings. People soon began leaving socks by the fire hoping to find treasure the next morning. Speaking of St. Nick, you may wonder where Santa Claus comes from. Jolly old St. Nicholas was based on a fourth-century Greek bishop who helped protect children. In Europe, some celebrate him on December 5th or 6th, when he decides who is naughty or nice. And did you know that in Scandinavia, Santa Claus rides a goat on Christmas not a sleigh pulled by reindeer? And finally, whose idea was it to send holiday greeting cards? We can also thank Queen Victoria for this tradition, as well as Englishman Henry Cole, who is credited with creating the first commercial Christmas card. He commissioned a drawing and printing of 1,000 cards in 1843. The card depicted a family celebrating and drinking wine and it caused quite a scandal at the time. Happy holidays to all!
GINGER-CREAM COOKIES INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup
shortening
1/2 tsp
salt
1 cup
packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup
sugar
1
large egg
1/4 cup
molasses
FILLING:
2-1/4 cups
all-purpose flour
3 tsp
ground ginger
2 tsp
baking soda
1 tsp
ground cinnamon
3 ounces
cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup
butter, softened
2 tsp
lemon extract
2 cups
confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp
vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS: Cream shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. In another bowl, whisk flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Preheat oven to 375°. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a fork, forming a crisscross pattern. Bake until set (do not overbake), 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Meanwhile, combine filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Refrigerate.
TASTEOFHOME.COM
KELLY McLAIN
realtor® | 602.625.4653 | mclainjk@aol.com
“
THE #1 AGENT FOR THE
ORANGE TREE & EQUESTRIAN MANOR AREA WITH OVER
CANDIS CREEL, Account Manager
602.697.0232 | ccreel@atsaaz.com “My team and I have had the awesome pleasure of working alongside Kelly McLain for nearly 10 years now. He is truly one of the most loyal, dedicated and knowledgeable Realtors with whom we’ve ever worked! His clients are very privileged to have him represent them, especially in a challenging market. We feel honored to handle the escrow transactions and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell a home!”
W
ishing all my readers in the Orange Tree area Happy Holidays for the remainder of 2021. What a year we’ve had in 2021, it’s fun to look back and see what prices have done over the past 3 years. In 2019 we had 73 sales occur in and around Orange Tree at an average price of $319 per square foot, in 2020 just when we thought we would see a slow housing market the opposite happened, 67 sales occurred and the average square foot jumped to $340 per square foot. In 2021 we continued the upward trend, or should I say a rocket trend, 64 sales so far in 2021 and the average square foot rocketed to $405 a square foot. That’s a 25% price increase year over year. Now that’s just the average, we have had plenty of homes sell in the low to mid $300 per square foot range, but I’ve also been selling homes close to $600 a square foot $150.51 also. We will see several homes being torn down and new builds going up in our area in 2022, one of those homes I will be listing, it’s approximately 6500/7000 square foot home, $150.51 architectural plans are almost complete and If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Orange Tree Active & Pending Listings Address ACTIVE
BED
BATH
SQFT List Price
Neighborhood
12246 N 59th St 13401 N 60th St 5513 E Shea Blvd 12037 N 53rd Pl 5531 E Laurel Ln 6002 E Corrine Dr 5525 E Beryl Ave 12007 N 62nd Pl 5726 E Shea Blvd 10848 N Aberdeen Rd 5802 E Donna Ln
4 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 7 5 5
3 3 2.5 2.5 2.5 4 3.5 3.5 5 7 5.5
2,352 2,374 2,842 2,824 3,163 3,612 4,286 3,911 5,037 7,639 7,168
$935,000 $920,000 $950,000 $999,999 $1,395,000 $1,500,000 $1,800,000 $1,895,000 $1,999,000 $2,725,000 $6,999,900
4 5 4 4 4 5 5 6
2 3 3 3 5 3 4 4
2,331 4,100 2,492 2,472 3,684 3,194 3,115 4,597
$800,000 Woodleaf $1,750,000 Centruy Club Estates $925,000 Avant $925,000 Avant $939,900 Singletree Ranch Monthly Average Sale $1,125,000 Shea North Estates Greater Phoenix - ARMLS Resi Last Update: 10 $1,250,000 Shea North Estates TM52 © 2021 Cromford Associates LLC - shari $1,550,000 Country Estates
Avant Shea North Estates Promontory Lot Woodleaf Woodleaf Avant Promontory Lot Equestrian Manor Century Club Estates Century Club Estates Bradley Acres
PENDING 5402 E Paradise Dr 11832 N Oakhurst Way 5838 E Larkspur Dr 5822 E Larkspur Dr 5527 E Cheryl Dr 6315 E Larkspur Dr 6125 E Joan De Arc Ave 5808 E Turquoise Ave
$450
$440.69
Monthly Average Sale
All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS.
Greater Phoenix - ARMLS Resi
I will send out the finished product in due time. The listing price should be close $4,500,000.
Last Update: 10 Monthly Average Sales Price per Square Foot LLC - shari TM52 © 2021 Cromford Associates
$400
$450
$350
What’s in store for 2022? The housing inventory remains tight, barring any economic catastrophe we should see a more modest up trend in housing prices. Probably 6% to 8%, but don’t count out 10+% if inflation heats up.
$400
Please call me if you are looking to buy or sell!
$250
Kelly McLain
$440.69
$300 $350
$250 $300
$200
$150 $200 Mar 2016 Jul 2016 Nov 2016 Mar 2017 Jul 2017 Nov 2017 Mar 2018 Jul 2018 Nov 2018 Mar 2019 Jul 2019 Nov 2019 Mar 2020 Jul 2020 Nov 2020 Mar 2021 Jul 2021
kellymclain.com
$150
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”
100 TRANSACTIONS!