Sedona Real Estate News

Photography buffs from Sedona homes will be pleased to know that Sedona Photofest is back, after taking last year off due to the pandemic. This year’s event will be held virtually, but next year’s Photofest will be in person. While virtual events can have their downsides, it’s definitely a plus to be able to relax at your Sedona real estate while listening to the talks given by expert photographers. Mark your calendar for Friday, June 11th through Sunday, June 13th.

Sedona Real Estate Owners Learn from Local Professional Photographers

This year’s featured speaker is Shannon Wild, who has worked as a wildlife photographer in Africa with the United Nations, as well as non-profit and commercial organizations. She’ll deliver the keynote address and discuss issues and techniques in wildlife photography. Twelve more professional photographers will also be speaking and giving workshops. Several might be familiar to those living in Sedona homes. Kelli Klymenko is the owner and organizer of the event and a local photographer. Betty Hum is also local. Her work is displayed at Goldstein Gallery. Joe Llama is an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, as well as an accomplished photographer. Bob Coates is another local photographer, whose work spans the globe as well as everything from portraits to landscapes to interiors.

Sedona Photofest was founded in 2010 with a vision of offering photography education to everyone from beginners to experts. By 2015, it was a three-day event with talks and seminars given by professional photographers in subjects including wildlife photography, underwater photography, iPhone photography (or iPhoneography!), and fashion photography. The wide range of subjects means that there will be something to interest every photographer.

The photofest is completely free and open to everyone. Visit Sedona Photofest online to get more details. You can see the full lineup of photographers and find links to their websites to see samples of their stunning work. 

Many families living in Sedona enjoy spending time by the pool during the summer. It’s a great way to cool off and create great memories. Some families have a pool in their backyard while others enjoy spending time at community pools. The Sedona Community Pool will open for the season on Saturday, May 29th, 2021. Gorgeous red rock views are available at this pool, which is located at 570 Posse Ground Road, behind the West Sedona School. The pool ranges in depth from 4’ to 7’ and has a water slide and deck water feature.

Throughout the summer, different programs are offered. These include adult lap swim, adult short lanes, recreation swim, aqua fitness classes, classes for adults with their infants or toddlers, swim lessons, and lifeguard courses. Swim lessons are held Monday through Thursday, while classes for adults with infants or toddlers are available on Saturdays at 10 a.m. The sign-ups for these classes and other offerings are posted weekly. Registration opens up one week prior, on Monday at 10 a.m. This allows opportunities for more people living in Sedona to be able to reserve space.

Be Sure to Bring Masks and Water Bottles from Your Sedona Home

Special COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place this summer. Be sure to know the protocols before going to the pool. Face coverings must be worn by those five and older to enter the pool facility. Capacity is limited, and amenities are limited. Locker rooms are not available for changing, everyone must arrive in and leave in their swim attire. Lounge chairs will not be available and the drinking fountains will be turned off. Be sure to bring a water bottle from your Sedona home. Learn more about pool offerings this summer, read about safety protocols, and sign up for pool offerings at the city website. All fees will need to be paid online in advance to reserve your space.

If you’re just starting to search Sedona property, you may not know that the area is one of the country’s up and coming wine-making regions. You don’t really think about living in Sedona and living in the midst of several great wineries do you? But it’s true! There are quite a few wineries and tasting rooms, serving up amazing local wines as well as unique finds from around the globe. Decanter Tasting Room is a newcomer to the scene, having opened in 2019. However, it’s distinguished itself for its unique focus on different regions of the New World, as well as Arizona wines.

The tasting room has a great menu of Arizona reds and whites, as well as wine by the glass from California, Argentina, South Africa, and Italy to name a few. If you’re more of a beer person, there’s a fantastic selection of draft beers, as well as beers in bottles and cans. If you’d like to try several beers at once, opt for a beer flight of four different beers. There’s also hard kombucha, hard cider, and mead. For non-alcoholic options, try sparkling or still water, Peruvian or Sumatran coffee, or cactus water.

People Living in Sedona Find Great Food and Live Music to Pair with Their Drinks

Create a charcuterie board to go with your drinks. Choose from a tasty selection of meats and cheeses. You can also ask for recommendations. There’s also a pescatarian board and hummus and pita board. The panini selection is also excellent. Try the caprese panini with a bottle of French red wine that compliments the flavors.

The tasting room is the place to go for live music. On Saturday, May 29th, Vinyl Tap, the incredibly talented duo of Kelly Ireland on vocals and David Vincent Mills on piano, will perform from 6 to 8 p.m.

To explore the flavors of wine from all over the world, join the wine club. Each month, there’s a special tasting menu that pairs exquisitely with the month’s selected region. Everything from wine grown on Sedona property to wines from tiny vineyards in South America.

Visit Decanter Tasting Room online to see the full menu, learn more about the wine club, and find out about upcoming events. Open hours are noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. 

If you’re looking for a caffeine fix on Sedona real estate, check out Starbites Coffee Cafe. They have a great menu of coffee drinks and smoothies, as well as breakfast and lunch options. On hot days, you want your coffee, but you don’t need it to be hot. Starbites has cold brew coffee, made with Chameleon Organic beans. Or you can treat yourself to a nitro cold brew for a new coffee experience. Smoothies make a great treat on a hot day, as well as an excellent breakfast or healthy snack. Choose from strawberry banana, mixed berry, or chocolate banana. The chocolate chip ice cream smoothie will satisfy your craving for something sweet. Take your smoothie to the next level with a plant-based protein boost.

Find Breakfast and Lunch Near Your Sedona Home

When you don’t have time for breakfast at your Sedona home, let Starbites take care of you. Their egg bites come with your choice of bacon, ham and cheddar, or veggies mixed in. For something more filling, choose from the breakfast sandwich menu. Vegetarians will love the egg and cheddar option. Anyone watching their diet will appreciate the turkey bacon or sausage choices with cheddar. Splurge with a sandwich stacked with sausage or bacon, egg, and cheddar.

At lunch, Starbites brings healthy options that are tasty and filling. Try the tuna or chicken salad wraps. Vegans will love the hummus and chips. If you’re in the mood for the crunch of a salad, choose from pineapple cucumber, caesar, or chicken caesar salads.

Starbites Coffee Cafe is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feel free to hang out and eat on the patio or order to go and take your goodies back to your Sedona real estate. Visit the Starbites website to make an online order and learn more about events and specials. 

Here's the wrap up for April 2021 Sedona real estate market.

Spring is in the air and that means some fun events for those who call Sedona home are coming up. A Spring Concert at the Pavilion will take place on May 21st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Then head out for The Red Rock Rumble 5k Trail Run that will take place on the morning of May 22nd. Both events will be held at Posse Grounds Park, which is located at 525 Posse Ground Road in Sedona.

The Spring Concert at the Pavilion is free and will feature the Invincible Grins. Bring a chair or blanket from your Sedona home or just sit on the grass. This event will be limited to 150 attendees and note that masks are required upon entry. They can be removed when seated. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some fresh air, sunshine, good music, and great company. Find more details about the concert on the city website. 

Go for a Run on Beautiful Sedona Real Estate at the Red Rock Rumble

The next morning, The Red Rock Rumble 5k Trail Run is up. Posse Grounds Park boasts beautiful trails, and the course will feature part of a flowy single track and part mountain bike slalom. The cost is $35 per person. Prices will increase on race day, so sign up early. Packet pick-up will be May 17th through the 21st, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Run Sedona, 150 SR 179 Suite #5. On race day, packets will be available at the course from 7:15 to 7:55 a.m. Some modifications for COVID-19 will be in place. Registration will be limited, and there will be smaller waves of runners with extra start times. Awards will be sent via email after the event. Everyone living in Sedona real estate is invited to learn more and find registration information for Red Rock Rumble online. 

Have you heard about Sedona Water Works? It’s a great little shop, dedicated to bringing the freshest, purest water to Sedona property owners. They offer water that’s been through a variety of purification techniques, so you can choose the one that’s best for you and your family. You can try water that’s been purified using reverse osmosis or distilled water. Then the water is exposed to ultraviolet light and ozone to remove any remaining impurities. There is also the option to add trace minerals, including magnesium oxide, to each one.

Dynamically-enhanced structured water has been through a reverse osmosis process, then been exposed to ozone and ultraviolet light. Before pouring, the water tumbles over geometrical shapes made of shungite. This simulates the movement of water in nature. Shungite is believed to have cleansing and healing properties.

Alkaline water from Kangen machines also goes through reverse osmosis and exposure to ultraviolet light and ozone. Then minerals are added back to the water, and it is processed to raise the alkalinity and oxygen in the water. Water processed in this way is thought to be better able to buffer acids.

Anyone living in Sedona is welcome to come in to Sedona Water Works to pick up their water. You can purchase both glass and food-safe plastic containers to take it home with you. You can also set up regular delivery for your home or business.

People Living in Sedona Donate to Help Navajo and Hopi Families Get Clean Water

You can also get involved in the project to bring clean water to families of the Hopi and Navajo Nations. Many are without clean running water, and the pandemic has made it more difficult than ever for them to haul clean water to their homes. All community members are invited to donate so Sedona Water Works can bring clean water to more families in need.

Sedona Water Works isn’t just committed to pure water. They also want to bring the community together at their Sedona property. On Saturday, May 17th at 7 p.m., they’re hosting The Rose Water Sessions. There will be live music by decker., Sierra Rae, and Jake Payne. The Fojol Bros. will provide dinner.

Visit Sedona Water Works online to learn more about their water, set up delivery, and donate to Navajo and Hopi families. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and events. 

Oak Creek is a favorite of many living in Sedona, as well as the city’s many visitors. The beautiful creek is one of Arizona’s last free-flowing streams and contains important riparian habitats. Unfortunately, the many visitors have inadvertently destroyed much of the habitat. People straying off the paths cause erosion, and there is lots of trash and litter left behind. Oak Creek Watershed Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the creek back to its rightful beauty. The council hosts clean-up events throughout the year. Sedona property owners who feel strongly about preserving the area’s natural habitat should consider volunteering.

Volunteer to Preserve This Gorgeous Natural Sedona Property

In anticipation of the Memorial Day and July 4th holidays, Oak Creek Watershed Council has teamed up with Coconino National Forest, the National Forest Foundation, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to host the annual Pickin’ Up in the Pines event. Get your family and friends together to volunteer for this important event. There are two dates--May 26th and June 30th, both Wednesdays. Volunteers will work together to pick up trash in campsites along highway 89A outside of Flagstaff. This is the location of the headwaters of Oak Creek, and keeping the area clean is a great way to protect Sedona’s watershed.

Registration is required for the event. In order to comply with CDC COVID-19 regulations, the group is limited to 30 volunteers. You’ll need to bring a face covering to wear when interacting with people outside your household. Wear close-toed shoes and long pants. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of snacks and water. Pickers, gloves, bags, and buckets will be provided.

Even if you can’t make these events, there are other ways for people living in Sedona to be involved in the preservation of Oak Creek. For instance, Oak Creek Stewards are people who volunteer to do trash pick up and record data about the number of visitors, illegal parking, and the creation of “social trails” for local land managers.

Visit Oak Creek Watershed Council online to learn more about how to help and to register for the Pickin’ Up in the Pines event. Keep up with the latest by following their Facebook page.

There are some terrific restaurants near any Sedona home. Whenever you are looking for an upscale meal that includes continental cuisine with a southwestern flair, stop into Rene Restaurant. In business for 39 years, this restaurant is a landmark. It has won 11 awards and offers an unmatched atmosphere. Located at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts village, the setting includes Mexican courtyards, ancient sycamore trees, and bubbling fountains. The outdoor dining area is lovely and the indoor setting is formal and sophisticated.

Sedona Real Estate Owners Enjoy a Special Meal at Rene Restaurant

There is a lunch, dinner, dessert, and wine menu. Enjoy time away from your Sedona real estate and treat your mom to an unforgettable Mother’s Day meal at Rene’s. The lunch menu includes appetizers, soup, salad, sandwiches, and entrees. The dinner menu starts with appetizers such as dungeness crab cake, roasted red pepper hummus, and lobster salad. Salads on the menu include pear and blue cheese, spinach and wild mushroom, and arugula, beet, and goat cheese. For an entree, choose from such selections as double cut pork chop, mushroom strudel, cedar plank salmon, stuffed acorn squash, seared scallops, eggplant parmesan center cut filet mignon, and roasted duck.

Finish off your meal with a heavenly dessert. Choices consist of vanilla bean creme brulee, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, bananas foster, cherries jubilee, and many more. Pair your meal with a great wine to make it complete. Purchase wine by the glass, or order a flight, half bottle, or full bottle. There are a variety of white wines and red wines to choose from. Enjoy a date night or consider this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, such as Mother’s Day. If you would like to try to create some of Chef Walter Paulson’s dishes at your Sedona home, check out Sedona’s Rene at Tlaquepaque cookbook. This book also makes a great gift. Learn more about the cookbook, find full menus, and make a reservation at the Rene Restaurant website. 

Last week, we talked about how to get your house ready to be a Sedona AirBnB or short term rental with another platform. Today, we’re going to talk about the legal issues involved with renting out Sedona real estate on a short term basis.

First, you need to secure your valuables. Jewelry, valuable artwork, your passport, and financial documents should all be locked away. If you are not going to be in your house while it is rented, consider renting a safe deposit box at your bank.

Then, make sure there are no hazards around your property. Stairways should be properly lit, for example. Wires should be secured so they are not trip hazards. Consider installing motion activated lights outdoors so people don’t get hurt if they sit outside at night. You don’t want to be held liable for injuries that occur due to obvious problems.

Talk to Your Insurer to Find out if Sedona Real Estate Is Covered for Short-term Rentals

Next, you need to think about insurance. Some platforms offer insurance for hosts if guests damage their property. A Sedona AirBnB is covered by the company’s Host Protection Insurance. The policy is covered by the basic fee you pay to AirBnB. It covers you up to $1 million if a third party makes a claim against you. Not every platform offers insurance, so read the fine print to find out.

You should check with your homeowners insurance company to see if damage from short-term paying guests is covered by your policy. Sometimes you need to add an endorsement or extra coverage for short-term rentals. If your insurance company won’t cover you, search for specialty insurance for short term rentals. Several large companies offer options, and there are also newer groups with innovative products. The cost varies based on the type of coverage, how much of the year you rent out your property, and whether you are on the property at the same time as short-term renters.

We hope this helps you as you begin as a short-term rental host. No one wants to think about bad things happening, but you need to have a plan to cover the unexpected.