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Business, Education, Life, Real Estate

A message from our Director of Marketing, Nadine-Angela Sciarani

On Sunday we learned of an extremely hateful and racist video that was posted to social media showing one of our inactive Independent Contractors, Paul Ng, demonstrating abhorrent, unacceptable behavior. Upon learning of this video we took immediate action in severing his license, terminating his involvement with us effective immediately and condemning his disgusting  behavior. Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty does not, and will not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind. Period. Never has. Never will.  

We have notified the Arizona Department of Real Estate pertaining to his severance as well as Sotheby’s International Realty, the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS, ARMLS and National Association of REALTORS. In addition, we are notifying the Arizona Department of Real Estate of Ng’s behavior with the recommendation that his license be revoked. 

Though Ng had not sold a home with us in two years, commissions we find going back further than that will be donated to local charities. 

Nadine-Angela Sciarani, Director of Marketing for Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty

Business, Education, Inspiration, Real Estate, Technology

Deems Dickinson Elected to The Realty Alliance Board of Directors

Owners and principals of several of the largest real estate firms in North America during their stockholders meeting October 7 unanimously elected President and Designated Broker, Deems Dickinson, of Scottsdale based Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty (Russ Lyon SIR) to the board of directors of The Realty Alliance, a network of top-producing brokerages.

The Realty Alliance (TRA) comprises of 70 full-service, residential real estate companies, representing more than 130,000 salespeople and several thousand support staff and employees of affiliated businesses such as mortgage, title, insurance and property management. The organization allows member firms to keep their own brand, but if measured against the top names in real estate, The Realty Alliance would be in the top three in the world measured by sales volume, transactions and agent count.

Deems’ experience includes receiving REALTOR® Emeritus Status at the end of 2019 with the National Association of REALTORS® for his 40 years of membership and service which have been spent with Russ Lyon SIR. He currently sits on the Arizona Regional MLS Board of Directors as well as the Arizona Association of REALTORS® Professional Standards Committee. Most recently he has been ranked among the top 200 brokers nationwide in the Swanepoel Power 200 Ranking.

Dickinson will help plan and direct the activities of the organization, which include developing and implementing support services for member companies, as well as overseeing the network’s advocacy efforts as it works to shape policy and practice within the industry and with various lawmakers and regulators. Ultimately the group seeks to improve the homebuying experience for consumers and to help brokers and their salesforce be more efficient. Dickinson will begin his three-year term November 1.

Russ Lyon SIR joined TRA in 2003, six years after major brokerages formed the organization. The Russ Lyon SIR marketing, technology and accounting divisions participate in various TRA initiatives and conferences to collaborate with all members all over the nation.

Deems has been an active contributor to The Realty Alliance for many years. He and his firm have demonstrated thought leadership within our organization and through the growth of their own company during the challenges of the last several years. His perspective will be valuable as our board looks to provide guidance to our member companies in the coming months to help them adjust to changing consumer needs and expectations and to opportunities created by new technologies and new business models.

Craig Cheatham, President and CEO of The Realty Alliance

Business, Education, Entertainment, Inspiration, Life

Jeff Fields Wins National Award for Preventing Teen Suicide

The National Association of Realtors® today announced Jeff Fields, with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Scottsdale, as one its five 2020 Good Neighbor Award winners. As a volunteer and past board president of nonprofit Teen Lifeline, Fields has served more than 28,000 youth through a peer-to-peer teen crisis hotline while providing community education on suicide prevention.

NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards honor 10 Realtors® annually for making an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work. Over the past 21 years, the Good Neighbor Awards program has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants to more than 200 Realtor®-led nonprofits. Their impact has been felt in 40 states, 15 countries and in Puerto Rico. 

Our Good Neighbor Award winners leave a remarkable impact on their communities every year, but everything these Realtors® have done in 2020 is even more impressive and more commendable. I am proud to honor Jeff Fields for dedicating his time and passion to giving hope to teens who had none.” 

NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, Calif.

Fields became passionate about saving teens from what he calls “the most preventable death” after losing several friends to suicide. To read his full story, go to magazine.realtor/JeffFields.   

With the award, Fields will receive a $10,000 grant for his charity and will be featured in the November-December issue of Realtor® Magazine. In lieu of the traditional ceremony held every year at the REALTORS® Conference and Expo, each winner will also be honored by their local Realtor® associations over the coming months. 

Art, Education, Entertainment, Inspiration

The Perfect Fall Bucket List

CONNECT WITH YOUR INNER FOODIE

Pinterest has a plethora of recipes to choose from!

  • Try a new soup
  • Bake a pie
  • Host a dessert night
  • Make pumpkin pancakes or bread
  • Get your PSL on
  • Enjoy hot cocoa or apple cider
  • Roast pumpkin seeds
  • Make s’mores
  • Eat ginger cake

ENJOY THE WEATHER

  • Go for a walk
  • Visit a fair, festival or farm
  • Take a hayride
  • Walk a corn maze
  • Rake leaves
  • Jump in the leaves you just raked
  • Collect leaves and pine cones for decor
  • Take fun family photos outside
  • Plant a fall/winter garden

STAY WARM

  • Carve a pumpkin
  • Make Fall crafts
  • Watch a seasonal movie
  • Make a peanut butter feeder with the pine cones you collected
  • Read a new book
  • Tell scary stories
  • Decorate your home for Fall
Architecture, Art, Business, Education, Real Estate

Bob Hassett Sells David and Gladys Wright House

 Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty — Arizona’s leader in luxury real estate — is proud to announce the sale of the David and Gladys Wright House in the Arcadia area of Phoenix.

The historic home was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright for his son David and daughter-in-law Gladys. The new owners plan on restoring and preserving the mid-century contemporary home which has iconic views of Camelback Mountain.

Real Estate Advisor Bob Hassett was the listing agent for the Wright House. The home was sold for $7.25 million. The seller was the David Wright House LLC. 

Hassett said the goal of the sale was to find a buyer who would preserve the Wright House, which was built in 1952 and was one of the last homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright before his death in 1959.

We had several offers over the past few years, but the buyers always wanted to only tear down the house and build all new ones. The sellers wanted nothing to do with those proposals as their intention from day one when they purchased it back in 2012 was to make sure the home and it’s integrity would de be preserved as such a historic Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece should and will be. These are the perfect buyers for this property, and we are all extremely happy that we were able to put this all together.

Bob Hassett

The buyer is Benson Botsford LLC. The buyers include architects Bing Hu and Wenchin Shi. They served as architectural apprentices at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. They plan on personally restoring the Wright House including installing a new copper roof which was part of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original plans.

Jim Benson, former chairman and CEO of John Hancock, serves as CEO of Benson Botsford LLC.  Benson and Hu were also recently elected to serve on the board the School of Architecture at Taliesin (formerly the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture).

Business, Education, Real Estate

Russ Lyon Welcomes Falin Ziadeh

 Lisa Wadey's head shot

 Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Falin Ziadeh, to the Southeast Valley Office. Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate. 

Falin Ziadeh grew up in Phoenix, AZ where she graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Human Development and a minor in Sociology. After living in Phoenix for 16 years, Falin got married and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and had four beautiful children. At the end of 2019, Falin and her husband decided to make the move back to Phoenix.

Before beginning her real estate career, Falin worked in various roles in Early Education.. After 11years in early education, she decided to pursue her dream of helping people while doing something that she loves. It is her goal to assist my clients and help them get exactly what they are looking for in a property.

Falin’s approach to real estate is more personal than most, and she believes that truly understanding her clients’ dreams leads to successful transactions. She is known for her strong work ethic, attention to detail, clear communication, and building long, lasting relationships. She is excited to begin this new chapter in her professional career and is always willing to help out a client. Falin is available for all of your buying, selling or rental needs.

Falin Ziadeh is such an incredible addition to our Southeast Valley Team.  Her vast knowledge of the Phoenix valley and her degree in education from Arizona State University allows her to serve her clients’ needs efficiently and effectively. Falin is an incredible problem solver and amazing at systemizing and helping those she serves to stay on track with a process that will allow them to accomplish their goals and dreams of home ownership.and or relocating to a different area.  Bottom line Falin makes things happen with poise, grace and confidence!

Cathy Green, Managing Broker
Architecture, Business, COVID-19, Education, Entertainment, Golf, Real Estate

Luxury Real Estate Headlines | June 2020

PHOTOS: Spanish estate on 4.4 acres in Scottsdale on market for $4.49 million – AZ Family

PHOTOS: Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine ‘Idea Home’ on market for $1.94 million in Prescott – AZ Family

Southwest history, ambiance at Kenyon Retreat – Green Valley News

Arizona Estate, Once a Hotel for Miners, Heads to Auction – Mansion Global, Barrons Penta

Iconic Arizona estate up for auction – News Break

Iconic Little Daisy estate near Sedona goes up for auction – AZ Big Media

How Home Selling has Evolved During the Coronavirus – Flagstaff Business News

Phoenix Metro $7+ Million Residential Market Update: First Six Months 2020 – AZ Foothills

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Introduces Arizona’s Most Stunning Modern Properties – Arizona Progress and Gazette

Top 100 luxury real estate companies in the world – JamesEdition

Architecture, Art, Augmented Reality, Business, COVID-19, Education, Entertainment, Inspiration, Life, Technology

5 Incredible Places You Can Visit Virtual Right Now

with Sotheby’s International Realty

It’s summertime and you may have had travel plans that got canceled or postponed. Staying home doesn’t mean that you can’t still be well traveled; from UNESCO World Heritage sites like Machu Picchu to world-class zoos and aquariums, here are five incredible places you can visit right now from the comfort of your own home.

Machu Picchu

The first stop on our virtual vacation is the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu in southern Peru. Built in the 15th century, you can tour the citadel ruins and restorations with guided audio to give you important details along the way.

The Georgia Aquarium

Did you know that some studies show that visiting an aquarium can relieve stress? Featured on Animal Planet’s hit show “The Aquarium,” bring the Georgia Aquarium into your living room with one of its many live tank cams and relax as you watch colorful fish, otters, reptiles, and more.

Arches National Park

The United States is home to many wonderous national parks – more than 400 in total. With the help of Google Earth, travel the deserts of Utah and see Arches National Park where you can virtually walk through some of the more than 2,000 sandstone arches that are the area’s namesake.

The San Diego Zoo

Looking for some one-on-one time with your favorite exotic animal? The San Diego Zoo in California has you covered. With 11 live camera feeds you can spend hours with pandas, tigers, giraffes, penguins and more.

The Great Pyramid and Great Sphinx of Giza

One is the only true remaining ancient wonder of the world and the other is an iconic ancient Egyptian structure. We of course, are talking about the Great Pyramid and Great Sphinx of Giza. Through Google Earth’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites project, these are just two of the 30 significant places you can visit.

Art, Business, Education, Real Estate

Russ Lyon SIR Welcomes Brenda M. Cady

Lisa Wadey's head shot

 Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is dedicated to bringing the highest level of service to today’s home buyers and sellers. This tradition continues with the recent addition of luxury Real Estate Advisor, Brenda Cady, to the Sedona office

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance lifestyles for their clients, expanding their reputation as the most respected name in real estate.

As a former music teacher, school principal and district administrator, Brenda thrives on serving others. Brenda moved to Arizona in 2007 where she served the communities of Anthem, Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Surprise. Brenda grew up in the beach town of Ventura, California where she studied music as a professional French horn player. She lived in Tenerife, Spain for three years and has enjoyed playing concerts in several European countries. Brenda earned her bachelors from University of California at Los Angeles, took master classes at University of Southern California, earned her masters from Grand Canyon University and is currently finishing her doctorate in organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University.

Brenda currently resides in Sedona, Arizona where she and her husband were married on Valentine’s Day in the beautiful red rocks. Together they enjoy visiting their families in California and Nebraska. When not serving the community or taking in the great outdoors, they enjoy watching Cornhusker football and the Arizona Cardinals. 

We are thrilled to welcome back to Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Brenda Cady! Brenda’s deep background in education is a time worn advantage in the real estate industry.  With a commitment to help others and a deep desire to dive deep into details, Brenda’s customers will get the benefit of a kind and caring as well as extremely prepared and professional.

Tod Christensen, Managing Broker
Education, Entertainment, Fitness, Inspiration

Fresh Air | 5 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors Safely

with Sotheby’s Internationa Realty

Spring is in full effect in the northern hemisphere and as restrictions on some outdoor spaces begin to lift, here are five ways you can enjoy some much-needed sunshine and fresh air while practicing safe social distancing guidelines.

Practice Cleanliness

First and foremost, take care of yourself and the members of your household. While some of the heavier restrictions are being lifted, it’s still important to make sure that you stay up to date with CDC guidelines and ensure that you’re washing your hands frequently and wearing a face covering when in public spaces – even while outside.

Just Get Outside

It’s no secret that sunshine offers many health benefits – the good news is that you don’t have to go far to get it. Carve out a part of each day to get outside, even if it’s an hour on your patio, yard or doorstep to get that all-important boost of vitamin D. Enjoying the sunshine doesn’t have to be complicated; if social distancing guidelines in your area permit, take a walk by yourself or with members of your household.

Camping in Your Backyard

You can take your family on a camping adventure in your own backyard. Set up a tent, have a bonfire, roast some marshmallows and tell campfire stories. Try leaving cellphones and other electronics in the house for a truly authentic camping experience.

Go for a Hike         

Some trails and parks are beginning to reopen their gates, which means you can lace up your hiking boots and get back into nature. The National Recreation and Park Association offers some guidance like warning other trail users of your presence, allowing proper space or stepping off trails as you pass others, and keeping the recommended distance at all times. Check out our Arizona’s Natural Wonders and Hiddem Gems blog post for information on Arizona hiking.

A Bicycle Built for You

Similar to hiking or going for a walk, you can get on your bike and go for a ride alone or with members of your household. It’s important to avoid congested routes so consider riding at off-peak hours, try new paths, and don’t be discouraged if you have to alter your route to find a less crowded path.