gainey ranch lifestyle

IT’S TIME TO MAKE A MOVE Sandra Wilken and Sandra Wilken Luxury

Properties are the Gainey Ranch Experts. Why

work with anyone else? Our dynamic team

with unsurpassed experience and expertise

offers innovative and effective insight into our

unique market and can guide you to success.

Whether you’re investing in real estate to add

to your wealth portfolio, tired of renting and

ready to purchase your own home, or seeking

the best outcome for the sale of your home,

you will benefit from working with the SWLP

team. Gainey Ranch’s listing inventory is at a

record low while buyer demand is increasing.

Take this opportunity to put your house on the

market, and receive results never seen before

in this marketplace. It’s time to make your

move, so call us to see how we can help.

WWW.SANDRAWILKEN.COM

SANDRA WILKENPresident & Designated Broker

Phone: [email protected]

8777 N GAINEY CENTER DRIVE • SUITE 178SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258

Listings in bold represent properties with a status change, recently reduced or new to the market. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net

CURRENTLY FOR SALE:Address Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath List Price7222 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 210 1,695 / 2 / 2 $399,000 8989 N. Gainey Center Dr. 148 2,113 / 2 / 3 $425,000 7283 E. Vaquero Dr. 1,693 / 2 / 2 $450,000 8989 N. Gainey Center Dr. 147 2,113 / 2 / 3 $475,000 7400 E. Gainey Club Dr. 125 1,792 / 2 / 2 $550,000 7525 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 199 2,757 / 3 / 2.5 $695,000 7705 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. 22 2,673 / 2 / 2.5 $895,0009846 N. 79th Pl. 3,779 / 3 / 3.5 $1,160,000 7878 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 11 4,318 / 4 / 3.5 $1,295,000 7475 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 31 4,325 / 3 / 4.5 $1,500,000 7475 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 21 5,703 / 5 / 4.5 $1,695,000

SOLD BY SWLP IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS:Address Sq. Ft. / Bed / Bath Sold Price7222 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 202 1,695 / 2 / 2 $300,0007400 E. Gainey Club Dr. 128 1,990 / 3 / 3 $365,0007400 E. Gainey Club Dr. 116 1,818 / 2 / 2 $405,0007705 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. 36 3,090 / 2 / 2.5 $660,0007878 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 48 2,963 / 2 / 3 $690,0007878 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 28 3,064 / 2 / 2.5 $725,0007425 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 1 3,782 / 3 / 3 $725,00010065 N. 78th Pl. 3,022 / 3 / 2.5 $750,00010140 N. 78th Pl. 4,598 / 4 / 3.5 $758,0009865 N. 78th Pl. 3,302 / 2 / 2.5 $800,0007378 E. Del Acero Dr. 3,472 / 3 / 3 $875,0007878 E. Gainey Ranch Rd. 61 5,250 / 4 / 5.5 $1,100,00010028 N. 79th Pl. 4,103 / 4 / 4.5 $1,250,0009905 N. 78th Pl. 4,230 / 4 / 3.5 $1,300,000

FEATURED COVER PROPERTY

Sandra Wilken Luxury Properties continues to have the best values and most home sales in GAINEY RANCH

8625 N. Via La Serena Lane • 5 Beds | 7 Baths | 7,848 Sq. Ft. • $2,850,000Elegant Old World estate with a privately gated entry has all of the elegance and sophistication you could want! A beautiful master wing includes office,

master bedroom with sitting area and a luxurious master bathroom. Three additional guest rooms and a guest casita with bedroom and living area make the home

incredibly comfortable for your guests. A gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, slab granite counter tops and custom cabinetry opens to the living room

with dramatic stacked stone fireplace. Amazing backyard includes pool, spa, and plenty of outdoor living and entertaining areas.

November | December 2011

Gainey Ranch’sReal Estate Report

Listing Your Home During the HolidaysIs it Wise?

A Delicious Holiday DelightSeasons 52’s Roasted Bosc Pears

Add Richness & Warmth

Customfauxfinishesinyourhomecanaddthatextrabitofsophistication;asenseofopulencethattieseverythinginyourhometogetherbeautifully.“It’slikethefinishingtouchofaholidaybowonafestivelywrappedgift,”saysCindyLeech,co-ownerwithCarolRollins,ofCCCustomFinishes(www.CCCustomFinishes.com).Knownfortheirexquisitecustomwallfinishesfeaturedinsomeoftoday’stoplifestyleanddécormagazines,LeechandRollinshavetransformedmanyhomesfrom“so-so”tospectacular! Someofthemorecommonfauxpaintingfinishesare:MARBLEFAUXFINISH–Thisisusedtomakewallsandfurniturelooklikerealmarble.Thiscanbedoneusingeitherplasterorglazetechniques.WOODFAUXFINISH–Thistechniqueisoftenusedtoimitateexoticorhard-to-findwoodvarieties.STRI–ThiscomesfromtheFrenchwordmeaning“stripe”or“streak.”Itisreferredtoasanegativeglazetechnique.SILKFAUXFINISH–Replicatestheappearanceofsilk.RAGGING–Aglazingtechniqueusingtwistedorbunchedupragstocreateatexturalpattern.BRICKFAUXFINISH–ThelookofbrickandalsostonesareapopularstyleinOldWorlddecor.TROMPEL’OEIL–Frenchfor“tricktheeye,”thisisanarttechniqueinvolvingextremelyrealisticimageryinordertocreatetheillusionthatthedepictedobjectsappearinthreedimensions. Theapplicationsrangefromsmallpowderroomstovirtuallyeverywall,ceiling,nookandcrannyofaspaciousestate.Whenartisansexecutethisspecializedfinish,thetransformationisamazing.Thesmoothortexturedwallsofyourhomewillallowthelightandshadowoftheroom

toembraceallthosewhoenter,andaddadramaticdimensionthatflatwallscanneveremulate. Trainedandseasonedartisanscanapplytheseproductsinhuesofeveryspectrumoftherainbow.Theuseofmetallicpaints,plasters,waxes,andglazesarebecomingincreasinglypopularandthepossibilitiesfortheuseofmetallicsareseeminglyendless.Forinstance,waxescanbeappliedastopcoatstootherfinishessuchasanexistingVenetianplasterwhichresultsinaddeddepthandcharacter.

Richgold,bronzeandcoppermetallicplastersandglazescanaddauthenticitytoTuscanandOldWorldinteriorsgivingyourhomethat“lived-in”lookofanagedEuropeanestate.Metallicpewter,charcoal,silver,lime,orevenpurplecancreateagorgeousshimmeringbackgroundforcontemporary,industrial,andmodernsettings. Anentrywayistheperfectplacetousemetallics.Theminuteyourguestsenteryourhome,theireyesaredrawnupwardbytherichdepthanddramaticpresenceoftheceiling.Trayceilingsadornedwithmetallicfinisheswill“wow”visitorsasthesoftflickeringreflectionscreatedbyagorgeouschandeliershimmersinmovement.Smallpowderroomscanbetransformedintoamazing“eyecandy”thatwillbetheenvyofallwhoenter.Eventhesmallestofroomscanappearlargerduetothereflectivequalitiesofthemetallicproducts.Leechadds,“Often,guestswillbesointriguedbywhattheysee,theycan’thelpbuttouchthewalls!” Becausekitchensareinarguablytheheartandsoulofahome,usewallfinishestoturnyourkitchenintothemostcelebratedroomofthehouse.Plainrangehoodscanmorphintoapleasingagedcopperorbronzefinish.Astencilmotifalongabacksplashoraccentwallgivesaddedvibrancytothebackgroundfinishandanislandorbarlooksmagnificentwitharough,agedplasterwithpatchesofmonotoneormetallichighlights. Inadditiontoamazingwallsandceilings,fauxfinishingcanbeusedforfurnitureandaccessories.Leechnotes,“Wehavemadeuseofmetallicproductstoenhancelamps,vases,pots,statues,mirrors,tables,andcabinetry.

Oftenit’sinthesmallestofitemsordetailsthatcreatethebiggestimpact.” Ifyourhomeisn’tmakingthestatementyouhadhoped,perhapstherelativelysimplerenovationachievedwithwallfinishesisjustwhatyourinteriorsneed!

Shopping,entertaining,parties,decoratingthehouse,charityworkandsomuchmore.Formanyofus,theholidaysarealreadyoverloadedwithseasonalobligations.Whointheirrightmindwouldadd“sellhouse”totheiralreadybusylist? Well,it’snotsuchabadideaafterall.Considerthis:Yearinandyearout,therealestatemarketbeginstoslowafterHalloweenanddoesn’tstartpickingupagainuntillateJanuary.Infact,it’snotunheardofforhomesalestobedown30%orsofromDecembertoJanuary. Manypeoplewilltaketheirhomeoffofthemarketduringthistime,whichleavesafantasticopportunitytoreallystandoutfromyourcompetition.Withfewerhomesavailableforsale,yourhomewillreceivemoreattention.Withareducednumberoflistingsandcondensedinventories,you’llhavemorebuyers’agentsthatwanttoshowyourhometotheirclients.Additionally,manypeoplethatlisttheirhomeduringtheholidaysfindthattheyreceivebetterattentionnotonlyfromagents,butlenders,appraisers,titlecompaniesandhomeinspectors.Thoseprofessionalsaren’tasbusythistimeofyeareither. Besideshavingfewerhomesforsale,therearealsofewerbuyers.Butdon’tletthatoverlyconcernyou.Buyerswhoareshoppingforahomeduringtheholidaystendtobe

more motivated.Thesebuyersareserious,andyou’relesslikelytobecontactedbythosethatare“onlylooking.”Plus,withmanyfamilieshavingvacationdaysandtimeoffwork,it’sagreatopportunityfortypicallybusypeopletofindtimeforhousehunting. Wehaveanotheradvantagehereinourmarket.Manyofourneighborsaswellashomeownersfromacrossthecityentertainout-of-townhouseguestsfortheholidays.Whatagreatopportunitytopresentyourhometopeoplethatmayverylikelydecide(orhavealreadydecided)tomovehere! Lastly,isn’tyourhomealwaysbeautifulandinvitingduringtheholidays?You’vecleanedanddecoratedandputonallthefinishingtouchesindoorsandout.Havingpotentialbuyersviewyourhomeduringthiswarmandwelcomingseasonallowsthemtobetterpicturetheirownfamilylifeintheappealingenvironmentyou’vecreated. Sodon’thesitatetolistduringtheholidays–itjustmightworktoyouradvantage!

NKFCadillacGolfClassicWhirlwindGolfClub,November18th602.840.1644|AZKidney.orgTakeaswingatkidneydiseaseandreceivetheopportunitytoadvancetothegolfchampionshipsatPebbleBeach.Raisingover$6millionnationallyeachyearfortheNationalKidneyFoundation,thispremieramateurgolfeventforcharitybeginswithashotgunstartandincludeslunch,cocktailreceptionandsilentauction.

PhoenixHeartBallThePhoenician,November19th602.414.5347|PhoenixHeartBall.orgInits52ndyearintheValleyoftheSun,thispremierfundraisingeventbringsblacktieandballgownstogetherfora“PassionwithPurpose.”ProceedshelpfundthepreventionofcardiovasculardiseasethrougheducationaswellasotherresearchandprogramsoftheAmericanHeartAssociation.Alivelycocktailreception,followedbydinneranddancingroundoutthebeautifulevening.

ThanksgivingDayClassicPeoriaSportsComplex,November24th602.954.8341|ArizonaRoadRacers.comBeforeyousitdowntoyourannualturkeyfeast,beginyourdaywithagreatracewhilehelpingagreatcause.Choosefromamonga10-mile,5Kand1-milefunrun.ProceedsbenefitPeoriaPantryandwillhelptopurchaseshoes,socksandunderwearforthoseinneed.Plus,thisyear,unwrappedtoyscanbebroughttoaddtothedonateditems.Gobble,gobble!

TheWizardofOzOrpheumTheater,December8th–December11th602.262.7272|Orpheum-Theater.comThisholidayseason,thereistrulynoplacelikehome.TheentirefamilycanenjoythetravelsdowntheYellowBrickRoadinthislavishproductionfeaturingbreathtakingspecialeffects,dazzlingchoreographyandclassicsongs.Whetheryoumostlovethemunchkinsortheflyingmonkeys,don’tmissyourchancetotravelOvertheRainbowandexperienceOzliveonstage.

LasNochesdeLasLuminariasDesertBotanicalGarden,December8th–30th480.481.8188|DBG.orgTheValley’sbestholidayeventcomestolifeattheGardenwithmorethan8,000hand-litluminariabagsand10musicalgroupsperformingnightly.Newthisyear,exploretheGarden’snewestexhibition,David Rogers’ Big Bugs.These11enormous,whimsicalbugsculptureswillbeondisplayandaresuretocreatequiteabuzzthisholidayseason.

58thAnnualFashionShowandLuncheonArizonaBiltmoreResortandSpa,December10th602.235.9554|BoardOfVisitors.orgAsoneofthevenerablecharitableeventsintheValley,theBoardofVisitorsFashionShowandLuncheonraisesover$100,000eachyearforlocalcharities.Joinapproximately1000fashionableguestsatthisfestiveafternooneventandseehowthesignificanceoffamilyandphilanthropyisdeeplywoventhroughoutthisorganizationandinourcommunity.

NOVEMBER|DECEMBER2011

ROASTEDBOSCPEARS

FeaturingSeasons52602.840.5252|Seasons52.com

INGREDIENTS

4boscpears

11/2tsp.extravirginoliveoil

1/4tsp.koshersalt

1/8tsp.freshgroundpepper

PROCEDURE

• Preheatovento400°.

•Washpearsandcuttheminhalf.Patdry.

• Tosspearswitholiveoilandsaltandpepper

inbowl.

• Laypearsonbakingdishskin-sidedown,

cut-sideup.

• Roastpearsin400ºovenfor15minutes.

• Rotatetray.

•Continuecooking15minutesuntilsoftand

caramelized.

• Topwithchutneyorcranberryrelishfor

addedholidaytouch.

Serves 4

take your home from dull to dramatic!