If you love antiques, vintage or one of a kind items then check out the Scottsdale Marketplace. Housing over 35 showrooms with a variety of vintage furniture and curios, and not far from your Paradise Valley home, you are sure to find something to treasure here. Searching for that perfect antique end table or floor lamp? It is there waiting for you in one of the Marketplace’s many stores.

This stop and shop location is open seven days a week for the convenience of customers who live in Paradise Valley. Say ‘no more’ to scouring estate sales around the neighborhood on the weekends. The Scottsdale Marketplace is known for having quality items throughout its shops. Vintage finds may include jewelry, linens or furniture. Fine estate items or original artwork are also found here.

The next time you leave your Paradise Valley home to go antiquing, drive to the Scottsdale Marketplace, and discover a one stop shopping place for unique items. Just north of the Borgata, the Scottsdale Marketplace is conveniently located in the Southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Drive. This is the perfect shopping center to grab a quick gift that is sure to impress or fill that corner in your home that looks a little bare or needs a stylish pick me up. To view a listing of current showrooms go to scottsdalemarketplace.com.

Bicycling is the perfect summer activity, and nothing beats an ice cold beer, gourmet burger, and hand cut french fries on a hot summer day. Bike on over from your Tempe home to The Handlebar Tempe, a bike friendly bar and grill. The outdoor patio even has bike hooks to store your wheels. Famous for high quality, hand crafted beer, this bar also prides itself on a laid back atmosphere perfect for any occasion.

Tempe real estate owners will love to hang out on the large patio designed to look like a city park. Enjoy a bratwurst with grilled onions and a foaming brewski while you linger on a park bench near the crackling fire pit and gaze up into the brightly lit trees and street lamps. Or try their critically acclaimed grilled cheese, a classic that won’t disappoint.

With over 24 solid American and European beers on tap the Handlebar Tempe hosts a Happy Hour every day from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Located close to your Tempe home in downtown Tempe, The Handlebar’s back patio is the perfect venue to reserve for your next party. Music, friends, beer, great food and a bike ride home. What more could you ask for? For more information or to look at their menu online go to handlebaraz.com.

Phoenix homes continue to see their values rise. From March to April of this year, the median price rise 1.6%. Prices are up 6.2% from this time last year. Nationwide, the jump from April 2014 to April 2015 has been 5.3%. Homes priced at the entry or mid level have seen the biggest jump. Low interest rates also make buying look like a good option to those who have been renting for the last few years.

Another great bit of Phoenix real estate news is that foreclosures have dropped in the last two years. This is also contributing to the increase in the price of Phoenix homes. Experts believe that house prices could continue their upward climb, as more people enter the market before interest rates go up again.

If you have been considering downsizing or moving, now is a great time to sell your house. The number of houses on the market is rather low, so you will get top dollar. The news isn’t all bad for buyers. Though prices are higher than they were a year ago, interest rates are still quite low. This will make mortgage payments more affordable over the long term. In a hot market, you really want a good real estate agent. Please contact my office if you would like to discuss buying or selling. I know this area well and can advise you so you get the best deal.

There’s plenty of fun to be had this July 4th for the lucky residents who live in greater Phoenix or people visiting friends and family at their greater Phoenix real estate. Here are three great options in your own backyard:

If you live in greater Phoenix and want to experience a traditional evening of eating everything in sight and binging on fireworks afterwards, come to Cave Creek’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Food Trucks Extravaganza. Sit directly under the fireworks for the best view in Cave Creek! Space is pretty limited, so call (480) 387-2630 for more information.

Or visit Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix, which is hosting an All You Can Eat BBQ from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m. Again, seating is limited, so visit Guest Services at the park or wetnwildphoenix.com for tickets.

Or maybe your family wants to pair your fireworks and food with live music. Red, White and Rawhide is coming to Rawhide Western Town in Chandler, Arizona. Tickets run between $19.75 and $30. The show begins at 5 p.m., and the doors open at 4 p.m. The BBQ buffet is $21.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids. Phoenix is the place to be to celebrate our country’s independence in real Old West style.

Filled with rustic ambiance and savory scents, Market Street Kitchen is perfect place for DC Ranch home owners to go for a delicious one of a kind meal. This is the perfect place for a date night or to stop in with the gang after work for small bite appetizers and drinks during happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. daily. On Sundays, indulge in bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Marys during their generous and tasty brunch. This eatery features Western decor, honoring the history of North Scottsdale. The smells from the kitchen tempt your taste buds, with a wood fired Rotisserie center stage in the restaurant. Lamb, prime rib, poultry and pork loin are all slowly roasting.

Market Street Kitchen boasts a varied menu from tasty burgers to Idaho trout. It’s nice and close to your DC Ranch home, is the go to place for great food and good times. If you want a quick bite or a lingering meal, you will not be disappointed. And, with vegetarian and gluten free options available, Market Street Kitchen has a delicious selection of food choices for anyone living in DC Ranch real estate wondering where to grab a bite to eat. To check out their daily specials please call (480) 278-7044 or go to marketstreetkitchen.com.

Troon real estate is home to the great Troon North Golf Club, which offers a top of the line desert golfing experience. You will fall in love with the two eighteen-hole courses that are expertly designed and offer a fun and challenging game. Guests can also visit the Dynamite Grille for an extraordinary meal.

The course sits below Pinnacle Peak and winds through the foothills and ravines, showing off the desert landscape while providing an excellent game of golf. The course has recently undergone renovations from British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf and has two brand new layouts for you to enjoy. Golfers in Troon homes will appreciate the Troon North app that makes setting up a tee-time a breeze. Keep up to date with special offers and have access to club information right on your smartphone. Click here for download information.

You can also stop by Troon North’s Dynamite Grille. It has a great view of the 18th hole and a gorgeous desert view. There a large variety of choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Grille is perfect for an after game cool off, to watch tournaments on one of their many flat screen TVs, or just to come in for a relaxing and delicious family dinner.

Come in and enjoy a game at the Troon North Golf Club for an exceptional golfing experience and an exquisite meal. People in Troon homes are delighted by their fast and friendly customer service, the beauty of the course, and the relaxing ambiance of the club. Go to troonnorthgolf.com to learn more about this awesome course.

Families who live on a DC Ranch property have access to a wide variety of options for recreation this summer. For those who are looking to have fun but also want to learn something new, Sur la Table wants to share with them, “The Art and Soul of Cooking.” These are not your everyday cooking classes. Those who live in DC Ranch are welcome to see for themselves that, “Great cooking isn’t about recipes -- it’s about techniques.” Their professional chef instructors lead small classes with no more than 16 students, where they can learn hands-on cooking skills in a fun, laid-back environment.

This Father’s Day, Sur la Table is offering a Cooking with Dad class for all ages, where students cook mouthwatering favorites with their dads. Cheesy Quesadillas with Chunky Guacamole will be the first thing on the menu, and the instructor will guide the students through each step. Then everyone will learn how to make Grilled Sliders with Cheddar Cheese, and even an amazing dessert of S’mores Bars! With one class at 10:00am and another at 2:00pm, interested students are able to fit the class into their Father’s Day celebrations. Discovering how easy it is to make crowd-pleasing dishes like these will ensure that everyone spends more time in the kitchen together.

Couples who live on a DC Ranch property will be amazed at how romantic cooking together can be when they attend one of Sur la Table’s Date Night: Sizzling Summer Grilling classes. It’s an evening of fun and romance, as couples learn techniques for grilling pork, vegetables, and even bread. The instructor will show the students how to brighten their dishes with fresh herbs, and then finish everything off with a grilled dessert! With a firm understanding of these grilling techniques, students will be looking forward to hosting their next summer cookout. Sur la Table is offering a variety of Date Night classes on multiple evenings this summer so couples have many opportunities to enjoy it together, and can come back for more! In June, this particular Date Night class is being given on the 21st at 5:00pm, as well as on the 26th at 6:30pm. On the 27th, the Date Night class will be Exploring Latin Favorites.

These are only a couple of the creative cooking classes Sur la Table provides the local community. To find out more about all they have to offer, visit their calendar of classes, or simply call them at 480-998-0648.

Phoenix real estate is hot right now. Home sales shot up in March. There was a 39% increase from February to March for single-family homes. Condo sales went up a whopping 51% in the same period. Demand is hot, and there are just barely enough Phoenix homes for sale to meet it. There are several factors in the sudden increase in home sales. Many millennials, those in their 20s and early 30s, have been renting. However, with rents increasing, purchasing a home is looking like a better financial option.

The other significant factor in the current Phoenix real estate market increase is the return of so-called “boomerang” buyers. These are people who lost their homes to foreclosure or had to do short sales in the real estate crash of 2008. Many of these people have worked to repair their credit since then and are ready to re-enter the home buying market.

With demand so high, it’s very much a seller’s market. Now is probably a good time to consider selling if you’ve been thinking of moving, upgrading, or downsizing. Buyers on the other hand face stiff competition. It’s important for them to be ready to make an offer quickly, especiall in the lower price range.

Maricopa County real estate is in the heart of the Old West. Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse has been voted Best Western Experience of Arizona by both azcentral.com and the Arizona Republic. Locals and vacationers alike have a grand time at the authentic frontier town. The fun hasn’t stopped for the past 41 years. Rawhide is open Wednesday through Sunday, conveniently located for Maricopa County property owners at 5700 West North Loop Road in Chandler.

Round up your friends and family for a true Old West destination. Parking is just $5. Admission is free. Once you’re there, everyone in your party will find something fun to do. Most of these attractions require tickets. For the best deal, get a wristband. Catch one of the performances of live action stunt shows at the Six Gun Theater. Meet and touch miniature donkeys, pot bellied pigs, sheep, and goats. Take a ride on the Butterfield Stagecoach through the Sonoran Desert. Visitors can also try panning for gold and riding the mechanical bull.

Finish off a visit to Rawhide with a fantastic meal. Tuck in to a succulent steak at The Steakhouse, served to the accompaniment of live music. Belle’s Saloon offers a selection of ice cold beers and a wide selection of cocktails. Fantastic Mexican food is available at Tres Amigos Tacos y Tequilla. Maricopa County real estate owners can find out more at rawhide.com. Plan your visit soon!

Movie lovers in Scottsdale homes should check out iPic Theater for a classy take on the movie theater experience. The theater offers the same great line up of blockbuster movies you expect at any movie theater. The difference is the amenities. Order a specially made cocktail from the bar. Enjoy one of the signature specialties, crafted from locally-sourced ingredients. Enjoy quick food prepared by a chef that you can take into the theater. The iPic Express also offers martini shakers and ice-cold beer to enjoy during your movie.

Two levels of tickets are available for movie buffs from Scottsdale homes. Premium seating tickets include a large, comfortable leather chair for watching the movie, with food and drinks from iPic’s grab and go menu. Choose Premium Plus seating for a plush microsuede reclining chair. You’ll get a pillow and blanket, as well as popcorn and in-movie food and beverage service. To take full advantage of the best of iPic Theater, Scottsdale real estate owners should consider a membership. There are several levels. Earn rewards, get access to advance ticket purchasing, as well as free ticket upgrades. All members can take advantage of special prices on food and drinks on Members Get More Tuesdays. Click here to visit the iPic Theater website and learn more.