arizona homeowner presented by kathy loeffler

for the guysMan-Cave Mojo

it’s a date!Shake From Sphinx Date Co Palm & Pantry

Arizona HomeownerMay | June 2014

The Best Hot Spots

Enjoy a Stay-cation

Brady HollandBranch Manager

MLO-180079

Direct: 480.272.3282Email: [email protected]

Brady HollandMortgage Banker

MLO-180079

NMLS 81395 AZ BK#910890

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

Real estate financing can be a daunting task. And that is especially true in today’s world where lenders are more cautious about lending due to economic uncertainty. I understand that choosing a mortgage is one the biggest decisions that you will make. You want the best interest rate and you want the pre-approval, application, and close of escrow process to be hassle-free. I understand. I listen to your needs. And I respond quickly and deliver. Let me put my nearly two decades of residential lending experience to work for you!

Call me today!

MORTGAGE RATES As of 2/15/14

Loan Rates for $150K-$417K:• 30-Year Fixed: 4.500%/4.744% APR• 15-Year Fixed: 3.500%/3.843% APR

• 7/1 ARM: 3.500%/3.392% APR*Note: All above conventional rate quotes offered for primary home purchase or no cash-out refinance financing with

20% equity and 720+ FICO scores. Other financing options are available upon request.All rates are quoted subject to change without notice.

Pinnacle Capital Mortgage Corporation8145 E. Evans Road, Suite 5Scottsdale, AZ 85260

This is not a commitment to lend. Subject to qualification. Not all applicants will qualify.

Curious what your home is currently worth? Understanding your home’s value is useful when thinking about selling a home. And since your home represents a good portion of family wealth, it is good to document the value from time-to-time. Our technology has improved to the point where I can now offer a free automated home valuation to any interested clients. Just call or email and I can send you a free report within 24 hours.

Many of you were required to have mortgage insurance because you had less than 20% equity when you took out your last mortgage. That’s probably costing you anywhere between $100-$450 per month. But you don’t have to pay mortgage insurance forever.

Contact me to find out how to get rid of your mortgage insurance and save yourself thousands of dollars a year.

Time to update your home? With home values accelerating, many people now want to finance home improvements to increase their enjoyment and maximize their resale value. Contact me today to find out how to make home improvements affordable.

Do your credit card balances seem to never go away? Contact me to find out about a disciplined approach to use the low rates and tax deductibility of mortgage interest as a tool to pay off your credit card debt in record time.

www.BradyHollandGroup.com

Welcome to spring! Our near-perfect weather this time of year also sets the stage for peak season in home buying and selling. The last couple of years have been a bit of a seller’s market, with over 25% annual home appreciation in most areas of the Valley. But for 2014, the market seems to be back to a more normal balance with homes selling in an average of three to six months. As an example, in January of this year, there were just under 4,000 homes sold with 21,000 homes on the market. The last time we had a market with this type of “normal” balance was all the way back in 2003. But as January’s numbers illustrate, a normal market with a healthy inventory of homes tips the scale in favor of the buyer. If you are looking to buy a new home, you may not find a better time with this amount of inventory of homes and the low mortgage rate environment.

P E A K H OM E BU Y I N G SE AS ON

If you are looking to buy or sell your home, or just want to do some spring cleaning, here are some tools to help you get started:

o arch

itectu

re | C

Your Home

Event CalendarMay | June 2014

Rock-N Glow 5KWestgate Entertainment District | May 18872.216.4569 | RocknGlow5k.comRock-N-Glow 5K fun run/walk is energized by continuous bursts of music along the course with participants covered in glow-in-the-dark swag. Come light the night for a great cause. Add your own creative glow by dressing up in costumes that rock and glow!

Carnival of Illusion: An Evening of Old-World MagicArizona Biltmore Resort | May 24480.359.7469 | CarnivalOfIllusion.comStep right up and get ready to laugh, have fun, and celebrate a magical night out with Carnival of Illusion! This top-rated attraction is “Revitalizing Magic” by blending their international travel theme with all the charms of a Vaudeville-inspired roadshow. Carnival of Illusion is a night of magic, mystery and oooh la la!

Les MisérablesPhoenix Theatre | Now through May 25602.254.2151 | PhoenixTheatre.comLes Misérables has thrilled audiences all over the world; now, the timeless classic returns for Phoenix Theatre’s 93rd season. Experiencing this musical on stage will touch your heart and soul in a way no film can. The tale of Jean Valjean’s unjust imprisonment and quest for redemption is set against the highly volatile political backdrop of a revolutionary period in France. The stunning score features beautiful orchestrations and instantly recognizable melodies including On My Own, Bring Him Home and I Dreamed a Dream. This sweeping epic of love, loss, rebellion and rebirth is delivered with heartbreaking poignancy. At Phoenix Theatre, you’ll be closer to the barricade than ever before!

The 99th Annual Southwestern Amateur Cochise Course at the Desert Mountain Club | June 4-7480.595.4090 | SWGA.netAs the highest-ranked amateur golf tournament in the Southwest, the championship attracts the world’s best amateur golfers. This 7,019-yard course which Jack Nicklaus has called “one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world” will provide the players with a true test of their skills. With origins dating back as early as 1908, the tournament was formally organized into a regional competition in 1915. Since then the championship has grown to many more players and a stepping stone for many great future PGA Tour stars.

Hollywood CostumePhoenix Art Museum | Now through July 6602.257.1222 | PHXArt.orgA ground breaking exhibition that celebrates and explores costume design as a key component of cinema storytelling. Arriving in Phoenix from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, this major multimedia exhibition explores the essentials of costume design and illuminates the costume designer’s creative process, bringing together more than 100 of the world’s most iconic costumes from a century of filmmaking.

3039 N Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85251480.941.2261 | 800.482.3283 | SphinxDateCo.com

With Father’s Day just around the corner, many are wondering what to get the men in our lives. Whether he’s a dad or not, why not forego the usual tie and give your favorite fella the ultimate guy gift: A man-cave, of course! Find the perfect room in your home, designate it “boys only” (as if!), and start design-dreaming with some of these fun ideas to make the most of his special space. Root for the home team! When designing a man-cave, sports themes often rule, complete with plenty of sports memorabilia from his favorite teams. After all, there’s no better place for his baseball jersey, hat, and bat collection than on display in his very own digs. For a clean, polished look, have special jerseys, signed photos and balls, and other valuable souvenirs framed and hung on walls or displayed on shelving. Get plenty of extra-big seating for game watching and the friends who will invariably be hanging at your house. And screen it up, if you can! Think one big screen in the center with smaller ones framing it so his buds can catch all the action, at all the games, all at once. Great design idea: A bar behind the sofa providing extra spots for drinks, apps, and quick pull-up seating. If movie viewing is more the main attraction, think big when it comes to the screen. Real big. Theater seating is also nice, but a super comfy sectional roomy enough for a handful of buddies will suffice in most settings. And don’t forget an impressive bar area complete with beer and sparkling beverages on tap. Cup holders in those chairs anyone? If autos are his obsession, why not turn the garage into the coolest car space around? Vintage cars make a perfect display in one bay of an ultra-luxe garage, with seating and a mini-lounge area in another. Whether he actually spends time here working on his cars or just likes hanging out there to escape the heat, this is one room in the house that can often be overlooked. The

garage man-cave may also be the perfect spot for a pool table, air hockey, darts, or other fun games your guy likes to play. For golfers, it’s also a great location for a putting green or golf simulation machine, allowing him to perfect his swing right in the comfort of his home. Oh, and the final touch to any man-cave zone? A urinal, of course.

Palm & Pantry Date ShakeINGREDIENTS:3/4 c Medjool Dates (cubed, pitted)1 1/4 c milk1 pint vanilla ice cream

DIRECTIONS:Put dates and ½ cup of milk in a blender on high speed. Blend until smooth. Add remaining milk and ice cream. Blend at low speed until mixed. Serve immediately. Serves 3 to 4.

FUN DATE FACT:Our Arizona Medjool Dates are hand-sorted as they’re packed to ensure top quality in every bite! Chopped and pitted Medjool Dates can be used as a sugar alternative in baking. Dates contain potassium, iron and niacin, with some protein and fiber. Very low in sodium and fat, Medjool Dates are nature’s perfect treat!

The Arizona Biltmore2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ THE COOL FACTOR: Can you say paradise? This grand dame of Arizona hotels boasts the Paradise Pool, three pools in one with a 92-foot-long water slide. (There are eight pools in total.) You’ll also love the swim-up bar and private cabanas. And how about “Splash Cinema” nights when guests can watch outdoor movies while floating in the pool in an inner tube! ADULT BONUS: The Catalina Pool built in 1930 gleams with colorful tiles imported from California’s Catalina Island. It’s said to be Marilyn Monroe’s favorite pool at the hotel.

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa8000 South Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix, AZ THE COOL FACTOR: Got family? This is the stay-cation for you! This resort is home to the 7-acre Oasis Water Park, which features a huge wave pool, river tubing, and three 8-story-high water slides. ADULT BONUS: Guests can reserve their own private Oasis Water Park Cabana, complete with their own cabana attendant. Awe-some! Other attractions include “Dive-In” Movies and sunset views from the Oasis Bar & Grill.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess7575 East Princess Drive, Scottsdale, AZ THE COOL FACTOR: The Princess boasts five swimming pools, including the Sonoran Splash, which includes two 200-foot waterslides.ADULT BONUS: The rooftop adults-only pool with private cabanas, and The Well & Being at Willow Stream Spa offers the usual spa offerings as well as aerial hammock yoga and customized aromatherapy massage.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa5350 East Marriott Drive, Phoenix, AZ THE COOL FACTOR: Four acres of swimming pools, the Lazy River with a Serpentine Waterslide, whirlpools, and poolside dining.ADULT BONUS: Revive Spa, nestled in the soothing Sonoran Desert, offers its own sanctuary lap pool lined with towering palm trees and private cabanas.

The Phoenician 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ THE COOL FACTOR: Nine refreshing pools, a 165-foot waterslide, a children’s wading pool, poolside dining, and private cabanas (with ceiling fans and computer hookups). ADULT BONUS: Surge Splash Pad, an interactive spray ground set that entertains children while adults can relax in the nearby Centre for Well-Being Spa.

Want to beat the heat but can’t swing getting out of town right now? Don’t sweat it...the Valley is home to some of the most luxurious resorts and hotels with the best amenities on the planet. And at

these hot spots, staying cool is serious business. Check out these local favorites...and then check in for some cool summer fun.