Colin Stevens
North Valley Specialist

Colin@phoenixpowersearch.com


On February 12, 2009, I had the pleasure of joining team leaders and corporate members of BuyerTours from around the country for an incredible get together/dining experience. The victim of our empty stomachs, a restaurant walking distance from Scottsdale Fashion Square called Cowboy Ciao. I would say this place has a great atmosphere, a mouth watering Espresso Rubbed Filet-Mignon, and a ridiculous amount of wine to choose from (over 3200 bottles if I remember correctly).

The Atmosphere: Very calming, yet upbeat at the same time. The lighting and finishes exude the calming element of one's senses, and is pleasantly combined with a decent dinner rush to add a contrasting pop of life to the mix. When one enters, they are greeted by a pleasant host(ess), rustic/western finishes, and some great mood lighting. Pair that up with a delicious dinner and a 3200+ bottle selection of wine and you've got yourself one potentially interesting night!

The Espresso Rubbed Filet Mignon: I could definitely eat this dish with my eyes. The plate presentation for it is very appetizing. I would have snapped a picture, but forgot due to my hunger. The filet sits on a bed of vegetables and tortilla smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and is topped off with a chipotle aioli. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium, as requested, and just melted away in my mouth, however, I could have gone without the chipotle aioli topping. Definitely one of the best steaks I've ever had the pleasure of consuming.

The Wine: I wish I could partake in this portion of my review, but my drink of the night was Captain and Ginger Ale. Next time though!

For more information on this excellent establishment, visit their website

http://www.cowboyciao.com/index.php

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Labels: Colin C Stevens, Cowboy Ciao, Old Town Scottsdale

Colin C. Stevens
North Valley Specialist, from the east side all the way to the west side

Colin@PhoenixPowerSearch.com


As I'm sure most everyone is aware, 'tis the season for setting goals and New Year's Resolutions! Just a wild guess, most of your goals or resolutions involve some aspect of getting physically into shape, am I correct? What about other parts of your life? Your personal finances? School? Knowledge?

I would have to say with the current condition of the economy, the best use of your time and money would be to BUY SOMETHING (an appreciating asset) and EDUCATE YOURSELF.

There is one thing the wealthiest individuals of the world know that the average person does not seem to realize, ever. In a down market, buy something, like a home! Although the media is doing everything they can to emphasize the negative, pushing the myth that we are in an abyss of falling home prices, the wealthy always know that the market WILL come back. Ask yourself, "In 2005, did I think home prices would increase forever?" It is the same principle, only on the other end of the spectrum nowadays. The market WILL come back, and there is no predicting exactly when. If you have the opportunity to invest in real estate, take it.

And my second point, education. By educating yourself, you increase your ability to compete in the job market, making you more desirable, and gives you a leveraging point for higher wages when the economy comes back around. Whatever your current job, there is one thing that I was taught as a young boy; the SMARTEST investment you can make is an investment in yourself. This is to accompany the countless other sayings about knowledge from epic figures throughout history.

With a new President, comes new hope for many. I leave you with a line of encouragement for 2009 and beyond, whether it be for your personal life or your professional life. From President Obama's inaugural address:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met."

To read the full inaugural address, visit:

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/20/president-obamas-inaugural-address/

Labels: goal setting, obama, recession

Colin Stevens

colin@phoenixpowersearch.com
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! www.twitter.com/colincs



I was browsing through some news articles today, and ran across this one that caught my eye immediately, since it has forever been my dream to own my own island!

Wall Street Journal...My Own Island

Who would not want this sweet setup?

I just returned from the AZ Real Estate Blogging Network/ Meetup event held at SAAR in Old Town Scottsdale.

The event was packed with REALTORS, Mortgage People and Bloggers who are in some way shape or form, more interested in learning about Search Engine Marketing and Optimization.

I was there to also see if there were any agents who were potential team candidates. It was a good mix of Bloggers, who were fairly tech savvy who may be in need of some business. We have the business.

The 3 hr event was basically a presentation by an SEO Strategy Group out of Albuquerque, NM. It was pretty informative, but I was shocked with how little this group of Tech Savvy agents actually knew about Search Engine Marketing and Web Placement and Page Rankings etc.etc.

It seemed that very few, other than the Main Speaker, had a comprehensive understanding of how to both create a web presence and how to then translate that into actual leads and real business. Lots of Bloggers, who were skilled at Blogging to other Real Estate agents who were into Twitter/Social Networking, but couldn't figure out how to get in front of actual buyers and then the Agents with good sites, did'nt seem to have much understanding of blogging. I'm sure there were a few, but no one that spoke up.

Some of the Hi-Lights or takeaway's I had were

"We can never judge the buyer or webuser and their habits, we can only seek to better understand them"

"Every Web Page, should have your CALL TO ACTION on it, wheter its a sign up sheet, an email, a pay here, a shop now, or whatever, it should be on every page"

"We should have a Feedback Button on our homepage"

"We should start a Buyer Advisory Board"

learned of some good websites too like Isnare.com, wordtracker.com, socialmarketer.com

All in all, it was a good, informative session, but again I was there to check out the competition and potential team agents.

Labels: Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale is in the heart of downtown Scottsdale and at the center of the city's art scene. This area hosts some of the best art galleries, specialty retail, cultural attractions, and dining along old western-themed streets. The most popular event in town is the Scottsdale Art Walk. Old Town Scottsdale is home to the Scottsdale Waterfront, which was constructed along the banks of the Arizona Canal, and boasts Scottsdale Fashion Square, which is one of the largest malls in the country. This area of Scottsdale is known for its rich and exciting night life with the presence of many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Old Town Scottsdale also benefits from North Scottsdale's attractions which include exceptional schools and renowned medical facilities like the Mayo Clinic and Hospital. The area, also, boasts panoramic views of the McDowell Mountains and the pristine Sonoran Desert.

Labels: condos, homes, Old Town Scottsdale