Scottsdale Real Estate Tips | DC Ranch & Grayhawk Real Estate

Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club

May 22, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Living in Grayhawk is offers more than just a lifestyle, it also provieds helpful services for your families.

Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club

It’s like that saying, “It takes a village” to raise bright, healthy and upstanding children. Long gone are the days of one parent doing it all. In today’s society, a typical family’s head of the household is working longer hours and struggling to provide and raise their family.

The Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club is here to help you and your family. If you live in the Grayhawk area, sign up your children to participate in Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club. This is a center where you can feel secure in the knowledge that your children are being well-cared for in a loving and secure environment.

unfortunately, most parents are not afforded the luxury of being at home when their children return from school. That’s where the Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club comes to the rescue. For children between the ages of six and 18 years old, the Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club is the perfect place for after school activities. How can you go wrong with the Boys and Girls club motto, “The Power of Potential.”

And above all, it’s convenient. Chances are you aren’t too thrilled at the prospect of your child roaming the streets after school trying to find a fun place to hang. The Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club understands your plight and has configured the ideal solution. The center accommodates its families by providing transportation for all its children. The center will send a bus to pick up the kids after school and bring them to the community center.

The center offers children tons of activities related to any number of fitness and educational programs. Kids love the arts and crafts center, along with the gymnasium. For those kids who love to learn, a computer room and learning center are also available.

The Boys & Girls Club is located in the center of Grayhawk, just south of Hayden Road near The Edge at Grayhawk Condos on Thompson Peak. For more information on Grayhawk Boys & Girls Club, go to http://www.bgcs.org/

DC Ranch Summer Sizzles

May 17, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Anyone living in DC Ranch is guaranteed a sizzling summer season!

DC Ranch Pool Party

Attention all DC Ranch residents! Triple digit temperatures have already blazed through our city and DC Ranch is here to help keep you cool. The Desert Camp Community Center is open for fun for residents of all ages to escape the heat in style. This olympic-sized pool will play host to several summer-themed inspired events over the next couple months.

There will be two complimentary themed drinks in the offering, along with live music and tons of family fun activities for all to savor. All we ask of you is to bring your towels and some snacks, including beverages, to get the most out of the poolside parties. Admission is complimentary for residents.

The first party is right around the corner. “The Island Escape” is Saturday, June 8th between 11:00 a-m and 2:00 p-m. The theme for this summer kick-off party is Caribbean-inspired. Drop in for some Tiki drinks and get a taste of the true exotic island treasure.

The second entertainment takes us somewhere spicy. Its theme is “The Fiesta en Fuego.” It’s all about Sangria and Spain on June 15th, between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Everybody’s gonna wanna hang ten on June 22nd for “The Surf’s Up” Party. Picture if you will sandy beaches and surfing along a totally gnarly wave down the coast. Celebrate the sand with Cali’s favorite band, the Beach Boys’ while sipping on some classic root beer floats.

The last pool party in June is set to test your dance moves. Get your groove on for ”Dance Party USA” on June 29th at 11:00 a-m to 2:00 p-m. We’re talking about dancing to today’s top hits with a live DJ mixing it up in the house.

All parties are being held by the DC Ranch Community Council.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: DC Ranch Desert Camp Community Center, Deserty Camp Community Center in DC Ranch, living in DC Ranch

DC Ranch Summer Programs

May 16, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

DC Ranch is all about keeping your kids active this summer vacation.

DC Ranch Summer Acting Classes

For those of you living in DC Ranch with children, summer vacation can be one adventure after another. Keep up the hustle and bustle for your kids by participating in any number of programs DC Ranch will be offering this summer.

For example, The Homestead Playhouse Summer Programs is offering three theater programs during the months of June and July. Does your kid wanna be in pictures? DC Ranch has set up an acting studio for beginners called
“The Actor’s Toolbox.”

Session One begins June 3rd and ends June 7th. Children who are between the ages of nine 15 years old can sign up. Learn all about the fundamental skills of acting. Your child will learn all about voice projection and character development in the first half of the session. The second half of the session will focus on body movement, which is stage presence and how to use your body as a tool in when telling a story.

Session Two is all about song and dance. Learn how to belt one out in the singing portion of the session two by exploring your voice’s tone, pitch and range. During the dance sessions, kids will master basic dance technique and steps commonly used in the most exciting musical productions.

Session Three is acting camp for the young prodigy’s in our community. This session is geared toward children between the ages of six and nine years of age. Children will learn about voice projection and character development. They will also be taught the importance of stage presence and how to convey their emotions on to an audience.

For more information, contact Arts and Theatre Coordinator Molly Kurtz at 480-538-3542. Programs are held at The Homestead Community Center.

To register for Workshops for Youths and Families, visit their website at dcranch.com or call 480-245-9724. DC Ranch residents receive half off the price of summer programs by entering the code “dcmem50ptr” during registration.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: DC Ranch, dc ranch residents, living in DC Ranch

DC Ranch Farmer’s Market

May 16, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

DC Ranch living is more fruitful than any other community you’re thinking about moving to.

DC Ranch Farmer’s Market

It’s all about freshness! The Village at DC Ranch is hosting a Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market is far and few between so don’t miss this chance to go out and buy all your fresh fruits and vegetables this coming weekend.

On May 18th, DC Ranch is bringing the Farmer’s Market to North Scottsdale. This is one of your last opportunities to indulge in local fruits and veggies from around the valley before the sweltering summer hits. Patrons will enjoy a multitude of fruits and veggies as there will be about 30 vendors to choose from that will be providing delicious fresh produce.

This is one of the most creative and energetic bunch of local produce growers and specialty food producers. You are guaranteed to find some pesticide free produce, along with a variety of organic vegetables. variety of organic, and They also have free range eggs and local cheeses. This is a family friendly environment so feel free to bring the kids and well-behaved pets.

The Farmer’s Market is located at 18501 North Thompson Peak Parkway, .Scottsdale, AZ 85255. There’s easy access on the southwest corner of the parking lot.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: dc ranch living, The Village at DC Ranch

Grayhawk Living

May 10, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Living in Grayhawk is an experience.

Grayhawk Golf Course

If you’re looking for more than just a place to set your hat or a place to park your car, Grayhawk is the place to make your home. Grayhawk is the community that offers everything to homebuyers. Simply put, this is a living experience like no other.

No neighborhood can compare to The Grayhawk Golf Club which features 36 holes of pure, undulated fun. Ensconce yourself in a breath-taking community surrounded by two award-winning golf courses. The Talon and the Raptor are two of the most lush rolling hills of green you will ever play. Some people are under the misnomer that these two golf courses are private. However, the public is more than welcome to tee-up for a nominal fee.

Talon swung into action in 1994. U.S. Open and PGA Champion David Graham brought in golf course architect Gary Panks to design Grayhawk’s Talon Course where the two built one of the most challenging and exciting courses in the Sonoran Desert. Talon boasts one of the highest rated “daily-fee golf courses” in the state. It’s also been honored with a spread in “Golf Magazine’s” list of the “Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.” Grayhawk’s Talon course is so impressive it plays host to the pro-ams for the FBR Open, Hospice of the Valley Pro Am and Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl Golf Classic.

Grayhawk’s Raptor course teed off in 1995 and was designed by Tom Fazio. Fazio’s course blueprint fashioned a risky and daring game of golf. Raptor is over 71-hundred yards of green gentle hills and small lakes that are lightly splattered throughout. Like Grayhawk’s Talon, The Raptor course is noted as one of the finest courses in the Valley of the Sun. Raptor also claims a ranking on the “Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S. by “Golf Magazine.” Raptor is also known to host several professional golf events, including the Inaugural Williams World Challenge, Tommy Bahama’s Desert Marlin and FBR Open Pro Ams.

Grayhawk also offers some of the best views that Scottsdale has to offer, including a backdrop of the McDowell Mountains and a myriad of cactus highlight the city view.

As for dining, the Quill Creek is a favorite among patrons in the Grayhawk area, along with Phil’s Grill, and Isabella’s Kitchen. Isabella’s just opened up last year and has quickly become a favorite neighborhood hotspot.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: Grayhawk Golf Club, living in Grayhawk

Criterium At DC Ranch

May 7, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Slow your roll DC Ranch residents! It’s time for the Criterium bike race!

Criterium At DC Ranch

The White Mountain Road Club has joined up with the DC Ranch Community Council to host the fourth annual Criterium at DC Ranch. The “Crit” is a bike race that goes for about one-kilometer or six-tenths of a mile on a closed course. The “Crit” is not a slow race where you meander to the finish line. It’s super high intensity with fast speeds. The Crit is a full day of bike races on Sunday, May 19th. There will be activities for children and the entire family. Plus, there are fun things for spectators to do as well.

The Crit is open to fans and spectators are more than welcome. It’s also a great way to learn all about competitive cycling.

Registration for the Criterium is available on wmrc.org. And if you’re interested in competitive cycling, the Crit is just a precursor. On October 13th, registration for the Tour de Scottsdale, which is both 30-mile and 70-mile citizen’s rides, will open at a discounted rate at the Criterium. Pricing on May 19th only will be at an all-time low price for Tour registration. For anyone wanting to go online for Tour registration, it will open May 20th at standard early bird pricing.

If you want to join in on the fun of the Crit, but don’t want to race, there are other ways you can participate. The Crit is searching for volunteers to help with the Criterium at DC Ranch. If you have a few hours to spare and would like to lend a hand, please send email to tempe.ligett@dcranchinc.com.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: DC Ranch, living in DC Ranch

Home Growth Escalates

May 3, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Home Growth catapults to record levels in and around the Scottsdale area.

homegrowth 150x150 Home Growth Escalates

DC Ranch Home Growth

According to the latest figures released on April 30th from S&P Case Shiller Home Price Indices, the month of February posted the highest home growth rates since 2006. Of the ten metro areas to see a double-digit increase in home growth rates this past year, Phoenix was one of those cities named.

This is beyond huge news for those of us who have been suffering from the last few years lagging economy. One of the major indicators that prove the economy is recovering and on the rise home growth rates since home ownership usually increases wealth and leads to more spending.

Not only is the housing market on the upswing, average home prices are holding steady at 2003 levels. This is beyond good news for potential home buyers.

The ten-City Composite Index reports that average home prices posted a gain of eight-point-six percent between the 12 months of February 2012 and February 2013. And average home prices grew by nine-point-three percent on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

“The 10-City Composite Index grew by point-four percent between January and February, while the 20-City Composite Index grew by point-three percent for the same time period.”

Sixteen of the 20 cities reported increased annual growth rates for home sales between January and February 2013, while four cities including Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis and Phoenix saw decreases between point-one and point-four percent in annual home prices between January and February 2013 readings.

Seeing the massive growth rate for Phoenix brings a positive reading to those longer-term readings.

The month-to-month reading of annual home prices surprising showed a decrease. However, the reading for Phoenix shocked the nation as the year over year indicates a plus 23 percent increase in average home prices.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: live in Scottsdale Arizona, scottsdale area

DC Ranch Summer Camp

April 30, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Summertime is almost here and life in DC Ranch is fun for all residents and their kids.

DC Ranch Youth Workshop

DC Ranch residents are in for a real treat this summer. There is no such thing as a boring summer vacation for children whose parents live in DC Ranch.

DC Ranch is offering “Workshops for Youth and Families: Footprints.” The workshop is only 350 dollars per child for children ages nine to 12. DC Ranch residents receive 50 percent off tuition.

Make sure you’re child is available for the workshop beginning Sunday, June 9th to Friday, June 14th.

Footprints is a workshop specifically designed for children nine to 12 years old.. This age has been deemed ”early adolescence” and also the best age to shape a child’s behavior that will set them on a course to a successful adulthood. Footprints introduces children to enterprising opportunities such as taking up leadership roles. It also provides a child with the chance at learning how best to work well with others.

The transition into teenage years can be frustrating for the both the teen and the parent. This workshop is groundbreaking for assisting preteens develop skills they need for strong, positive peer relationships. Footprints provides the opportunity to practice strong relationship skills that will enhance their engagement in their schools, homes and communities. Additionally, these participants will learn healthy ways to express a wide range of emotions and listen to their peers do the same. This workshop will expose preteens to a personalized experience that teaches them how to maintain a sense of self-worth, form close and durable friendships and achieve a reliable basis for making healthy choices.

Top Skills Your Child Will Learn From Workshop

Learn about independence
Learn strengths and talents
Understand their feelings in certain situations
How to negotiate between demands and pressures
Establish friendships
Learn and Respect Identity
Strengthen social skills and emotional IQ
Recognize and manage conflicts

It is suggested you bring a sack lunch.

To register for this program, please visit Workshops for Youth and Families website at www.workshopsaz.org. If you have any questions regarding the program, send an email to info@workshopsaz.org or contact the office at 480-245-9724. Contact the Workshops office at 480-245-9724 for promo code.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: DC Ranch, Life in DC Ranch, living in DC Ranch

Home Buying Made Simple

April 25, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

Home-buying made simple for those looking to buy a home in DC Ranch, Grayhawk or North Scottsdale.

Home Buying Tips For DC Ranch

Buying a home can be a daunting task for the average person to undertake. However, if you follow a few easy tips, buying a home in today’s economy can be a fairly smooth process.

First, talk to a lender! Whether you are a first-time homeowner or a returning customer, you need to find out exactly where you are financially on the credit score front. Even if you’ve experienced a foreclosure, a lender will walk you through all options available to you when buying a home in today’s market. Lenders can also tell you about private and government-backed programs that deal with down-payment issues.

There are five reputable sources lender use:

FHA Mortgage: This is a low down-payment program backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

USDA Mortgage: Provides home-buyers with a zero down-payment option in certain areas of the country.

Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac: Down-payments under this organization can be as low as three percent.

Veteran Affairs Mortgage: Zero down-payments for those with military status.

Portfolio Mortgage: This is a program backed by the bank and not backed by the government.

Second, figure out what can you afford! It’s all about the debt-to-income ratio. DTI is easy to determine. All you have to do is map out your monthly expenses and compare it to your monthly income. Banks typically accepts mortgage applications if the debt-to-income ration exceeds 45 percent.

Budgeting for a new home is a matter of simple math. Real Estate experts advise home-buyers to keep your monthly mortgage payments within 30 percent of your income.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: buying a home in DC Ranch, Grayhawk, homes in north Scottsdale Arizona

Sell Sell Sell DC Ranch

April 20, 2013 By Diane Brennan Leave a Comment

If you’ve been thinking about selling your home in DC Ranch, Grayhawk or North Scottsdale, now is the perfect time.

Sellers Market In DC Ranch

It’s no mystery that the housing market has been in a bit of a slump for the past several years. However, the real estate market is seeing a significant increase in sales this past year. For those of you who have been vacillating on when to put your home on the market, have no fear, the time is now.

Consider it a spring cleaning if you will, ”out with the old and in with the new.” For those of you who aren’t in the know, the spring season is actually the best time to sell your home.

Here are a few tips to get maximum your profit in this sellers market.

Curb Appeal: It’s true what they say about first impressions. The first thing a buyer is going to see is the front of your home. An important key to selling your home is curb appeal. If you have a front yard, make sure it’s clear of debris and garbage. Plus, you should maintain a manicured lawn and maybe purchase some flowered plants to enhance the entrance. The facade of your home is important as well.

Home Interior: Let’s face it, when a potential buyer walks into a home, they want to see perfection. If you want to sell your home, make it shine. Carpets should be professionally cleaned. Every room should be immaculate with absolutely no clutter, no pets and no personal items. The buyer should picture themselves living in your home.

Home Features: Does your home have a feature that can wow a buyer? Usually, the main selling point in every home is a fabulous kitchen or amazing bathroom. Kitchens should be spotless with sparkling counter tops. If your kitchen or bathroom is outdated, you may want to consider replacing old cabinetry, blinds and appliances. This way you will get more bang for you buck. Jump into the 21st century. Old, drab and out of date bathrooms should be given a makeover. Clean, fresh towels should be displayed, along with new shower curtains. Also, replace the faucets or any bathroom hardware. The easiest and most economical change that can give a bathroom new life is lighting and mirrors.

Following these easy tips in selling your hom should bring about a hefty profit.

Filed Under: Scottsdale Real Estate Tips Tagged With: Grayhawk, homes in north Scottsdale Arizona, selling your DC Ranch home