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November | December 2020
Sleep Smarter, Live Larger
Island Hopping Center of the Home
Slow Cooker Lasagna GoodNes
EVENT CALENDAR NOVEMBER | DECEMBR 2020
Fall Colors Tour on Verde Canyon Railroad Clarkdale| Nov. 1-27 VerdeCanyonrr.com Catch the last of the Autumn colors set against the Red Rocks of Sedona and the Verde River as you chug along this scenic track. Mild temperatures bring out active wildlife that passengers can spot through panoramic windows or open-air viewing cars.
America’s Largest Virtual Turkey Trot Online | Nov. 1-Dec. 12 TheVirtualRunChallenge.com This annual event celebrates healthy fun, encouraging participants to complete a 5k Turkey Trot while offering maximum flexibility: the race can be completed at any location and within your own timeframe. Registered runners will receive race swag and a finisher medal. Additionally, The Biggest Flock award will be presented to the largest team. Connect with other runners on the event Facebook page @americaslargestturkeytrot.
Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market Phoenix | Saturdays Nov. through Dec. 18 ShopTheFarmersMarket.org This popular attraction brings together more than 100 local farmers, food producers and artisans that have prepared fresh produce, baked goods and more. Enjoy our beautiful desert winter weather and support small businesses as you fill your bags with goodies for you, your pet and your home.
Watercolor Online Workshop Virtual | Nov. 21-22 SedonaArtsCenter.org All skill levels are welcome to join this 2-day online workshop presented by the Sedona Arts Center. Students will learn from professional artist Karen Elaine. Different styles, methods and materials will be explored as the group learns skills such as creating color swatches, glazing and color lifting.
Gather Round T
hink dream kitchen and what comes to mind? Maybe it’s shiny new appliances, more cabinet space, or a new soothing modern color. But for many, a large kitchen island tops the must-have list. What was once considered a small prep area for serious chefs has now gone mainstream. Perfect for everything from late-night homework sessions to Super Bowl snack spreads, today’s kitchen island truly is the hub of the home. Those who have a kitchen island know that it’s truly indispensable for family living. And most likely they’ll never buy another home without one! First and foremost, the kitchen island gives you extra counter space for cooking and baking. It is a kitchen, after all. But it can also provide additional storage space for dishes, linens, cookbooks, school supplies, and anything else you can think of that finds its way into today’s kitchen. After all, the island is also the perfect spot for doing school assignments, working at home, and completing numerous other projects. And when it comes to entertaining, the kitchen island makes a great area to serve meals and snacks buffet style. If you’re looking to gather with family or friends, the kitchen island with bar-style seating simply can’t be beat. But what are your options if you don’t have a kitchen island in your home? If redesigning your current kitchen layout isn’t in the budget, you can create an island with something you already own, such as a vintage country table placed in the center of the room. Not only is this functional but it’s unique and will give your space that one-of-a-kind farmhouse look. Don’t have the perfect chippy antique table or cool old desk on hand? Search for kitchen islands online and you’ll find some with wheels that can be moved around the kitchen as needed, and others that look like built-ins with architectural moldings and marble tops making them as attractive as they are versatile. While many kitchen islands are big, smaller workstations can provide just the extra space a kitchen needs. Add a few baskets and there is plenty of storage space below. Islands can also provide a fun place for a pop of color to break up the aesthetic of a monochromatic kitchen. Blues, greens, and creams are all popular island cabinetry hues for the years ahead. The only downside to a kitchen island that we can think of? Keeping it clutter free!
Virtual Star Party Stargazing Online | Dec. 5 TucsonAstronomy.org Explore the regions of space from the comfort of your living room! Steaming live on Facebook (@TucsonAstonomy), members of TAAA using telescopes and image-capturing software will lead roughly an hour and half star tour for viewers. If you can’t make the live stream, you can view the recorded version at your leisure.
REAL ESTATE
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your arms and legs. Reduced sleep can also contribute to irritability, depression and the inability to recognize emotional cues from others, which can cause professional and personal relationship conflict. Sleep also plays a major role in both short-term and long-term health. Your immune system is able to function better when you’re consistently getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of rest every night. In fact, regular sleep deprivation actually changes the way your immune cells function. Similarly, poor sleep causes irregularities in the hormones that control appetite, blood sugar levels and heart health.
Tthat’s constantly buzzing, people are exhausted. Maybe
he importance of sleep cannot be overstated; in a world
you’re used to rushing through your days with the power of coffee and determination, not even realizing how your sleep habits influence your everyday mood, productivity and wellness. If you’ve been viewing a good night’s sleep as a luxury you can’t afford, take a closer look at the vital role it plays in every aspect of health and happiness. In a normal sleep pattern, your body cycles through five different stages that can be simplified to light, deep or REM sleep. Light sleep usually occurs as you fall asleep and your body starts to relax. In deep sleep, important physical and mental recovery take place. REM sleep is when your brainwaves are more active as they prepare to wake up. Your body will typically repeat these stages every 90 minutes throughout the night.
So, what can you do to help yourself get a restful night’s sleep? Simple lifestyle changes can have a big impact on sleep patterns. Giving up alcohol or caffeine altogether may help your body readjust to a natural sleep rhythm. Additionally, establishing a consistent bedtime and arising time helps reset your internal clock. Give yourself a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet and a comfortable temperature. If you’re able to, leave your windows uncovered so natural sunlight can come through and stimulate you in the morning. As with any new routine, give yourself time to adjust and build new healthy habits. Give yourself permission to prioritize sleep, knowing it will help you be more present and positive in all aspects of your day-to-day life. Sweet dreams!
IN GOOD TASTE
Your emotions and cognitive function take a big hit when your sleep pattern is disrupted. If you’re finding yourself extra forgetful or clumsy, it might mean you didn’t have a restorative slumber the night before. This causes your brain to function less efficiently, whether its processing new information, recalling a stored memory or sending signals to
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA INGREDIENTS 12
Dry lasagna noodles
1 bag
Frozen chopped spinach
½ tsp
Ground black pepper
1 container
Ricotta cheese
¼ cup
Parmesan cheese
1 jar
Marinara sauce
2 cups
Shredded mozzarella
2
Large eggs, beaten
¾ cup
Water
DIRECTIONS Combine marinara sauce and water in medium bowl. Combine ricotta cheese, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, spinach, eggs, parmesan cheese and pepper in a separate medium bowl. Pour one-quarter of sauce mixture onto bottom of 6-quart slow cooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top with 4 lasagna noodles, broken to fit and overlapping as needed. Spread one-third of cheese mixture over noodles. Repeat layers of sauce, noodles and cheese mixture 2 more times. Top with remaining sauce and remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Cover; cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or until noodles are tender. Turn slow cooker off. Keep covered; let sit for 30 minutes.
GoodNes.com
The #1 Agent &
FOR ORANGE TREE EQUESTRIAN MANOR WITH OVER 100 TRANSACTIONS!
Kelly McLain Realtor
602.625.4653
mclainjk@aol.com www.kellymclain.com
T
his is the last write up for 2020, good riddance to this past year, but it was a good year for real estate in the Orange Tree area.
With the chronic shortage of re-sale homes, many buyers are turning to new-builds. Here they will not face multiple offers, but they may well find some builders are not accepting contracts except for homes that are near completion. The reason is that prices are climbing steeply and some developers do not want to tie themselves to a fixed price until the home is almost complete. The builders are experiencing an extreme seller’s market and buyers are likely to feel a little less appreciated than usual. Developers can also spend less on sales and marketing when they can easily sell all the homes they are able to build.
Current Mortgage Rates Despite another interest rate drop, demand for refinancing and purchasing mortgages fell last week, with total mortgage application volume down 4.8% from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The reason that available supply is not increasing, despite the large increase in new listings, is that demand refuses to die down. It is unusual for the number of listings under contract to be higher on November 1 than October 1 but it’s happening in 2020. Even more startling is the amount by which the number of listings under contract exceeds the 2019 level - 34%. The market was strong this time last year, but now it is on fire.
Record-low mortgage rates are apparently not as impressive as they used to be, likely because rates have been so low for so long.
Closings were also strong during September - up over 20% from September 2019. To be fair, September had one extra working day in 2020 compared to 2019, but this does not take much away from the impressive number of closed listings.
Mike Tompkins
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan Sales Manager balances of up to $510,400 decreased to 3.05% Mortgage Loan Originator from 3.10% last week, while points, including origination fee, increased to 0.52 from 0.46 for loans with a 20% down payment. That is the lowest in the 30-year history of the MBA survey. The rate was right around 4% one year ago.
There have been a number of articles written predicting that home prices will fall next year because of the damage to the economy by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will cause some people, those who took those article seriously, to be very surprised by the huge increase in pricing that is currently going on. The extremely high CMI reading indicates that the upward price trend will continue for the near and medium term, making any price reductions in 2021 rather unlikely.
Applications to refinance a home loan, which are usually sensitive to weekly rate moves, still fell 7% for the week, although they were still 52% higher compared with a year ago, according to the seasonally adjusted index.
Over the last 12 months, the average price per sq. ft. has increased over 17% and the current rate of increase in around 2% per month, meaning we are probably headed for an annual rate of over 20% fairly soon. Some homes around Orange Tree have seen a 25% rise, truly unheard of.
602.329.6591 Direct NMLS # 217645 tompkins@ksstatebank.com| www.ksstatebank.com
7373 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 | 480.308.0395 MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER
Orange Tree Pool Service & Repairs
The economy has severely damaged the finances of a large number of people. However most of those people were unlikely to be in a position to buy a home anyway. Those who are in a position to buy a home have had their determination to do so increased dramatically by the pandemic. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening. Foreclosure notices in Maricopa County numbered 99 during September. This is down 76% from September 2019. Some people are predicting that foreclosures will rise in 2021. I would agree that the record low levels of foreclosure activity in 2020 cannot last forever, but data released about delinquencies by the lending industry suggests that there is unlikely to be the sort of foreclosure flood that we saw in 2007 through 2012. Remember that the record monthly count was 10,712. That was truly a mountain of foreclosure notices and we currently have no more than a molehill. Thanks to all my readers, you kept me busy in 2020, and defiantly look forward to 2021!
Steve Sherman | 480-570-1117
e List Price per Square Foot - Active Average List Price per Square Foot - Active Listings Listings
oenix - ARMLS Residential -averages Measured Weekly Greater Phoenix - ARMLS past Residential - Measured Weekly Tree Area Square Footage 3 years for Orange Last Update: Last Update: 10/18/2020 4:29:16 PM 10/18/2020 4:29:16 PM LP52 © 2020 Cromford Associates LLC - sharing is permitted for Cromford Report subscribers only
Kelly McLain
Latest ACTIVE & Pending LISTINGS around Orange Tree
ord Associates LLC - sharing is permitted for Cromford Report subscribers only
Year of LogDate 2018 2019 2020
$315
$312.19 $310 $312.19
Year of LogDate 2018 2019 2020
$305
$300.10
$300
$295
$300.10 $290.91
$290
ADDRESS
SQFT
BED
BATH
12037 N 56th St
6,452
6
7
LSIT PRICE
PRICE / SQFT
NEIGHBORHOOD
$3,500,000 $454.55
Century Club Estates
11001 N 60th St
6,452
6
6.5
$2,999,500 $464.89
Century Circle Estates
6129 E Via Estrella Ave
5,658
4
4.5
$2,499,900 $495.03
Tierra Feliz North
5220 E Cholla St
7,083
6
6.5
$2,495,000 $352.25
Las Haciendas
5474 E Cortez Dr
4,074
4
3.5
$2,000,000 $490.92
Vista Hermosa
6044 E Shea Blvd
2,672
5
5.5
$1,800,000 $673.65
Sunburst Farms East
5624 E Wethersfield Rd
2,837
4
2.5
$715,000
$252.03
Century North
$285
$290.91
All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS. Week 52
Week 50
Week 48
Week 46
Week 44
Week 42
Week 40
Week 38
Week 36
Week 34
Week 32
$280
If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
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