• North Scottsdale

• McDowell Mountain Ranch

• McCormick Ranch

• DC Ranch

• Grayhawk

• Pinnacle Peak

• Troon North

• Northeast Phoenix

• Desert Ridge

• Tatum Highlands

• Tatum Ranch

• Paradise Valley

• Carefree

• Cave Creek

North Scottsdale is loosely defined as the area north of Camelback Road and Fashion Square. Interspersed in this lushly landscaped area of grass and trees are many smaller patio homes and condos, perfect for winter visitors and empty nesters. As you venture north across the canal, north of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., you will begin to sense more of a desert environment. Named by National Geographic Magazine as the "lushest desert in the world", the High Sonoran Desert is truly one of the most abundant natural treasures in the world.

This area north of the canal is the new North Scottsdale and is experiencing rapid growth. Master planned communities like McDowell Mountain Ranch, DC Ranch, and Grayhawk now dot the landscape as do many custom homes, upscale shopping centers, trendy eateries, shops, etc. This trend toward master planned communities, where the entire development has been preordained for schools, retail, apartments and homes, is definitely the blueprint for future development in the Northeast Valley.

Scottsdale is a rapidly growing city with a plan. We who live, work and raise families here care about maintaining our high quality of life without sacrificing our future. You won't have to commute four hours a day to live and work in Scottsdale. We welcome you to our city and if only for a visit, take home a little sunshine with you!

Scottsdale Statistics

• City slogan - "The West's Most Western Town"
• Population - 215,080 (July 2000)
• Size - 184.5 square miles, stretching 31 miles from north to south
• Elevation - Average is 1,248 feet above sea level
• Climate - Average median temperature is 70.3 F degrees, average precipitation is 7.05 inches per year, and average percentage of sunny days per year is 86 percent
• Median age - 39.7 years
• Median household income - $61,700 (July 2000 estimate)
• Average cost of housing - Home prices range from $60,000 to $6+ million with $228,000 as the median price (1998)

City of Scottsdale

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McDowell Mountain Ranch has been a great success since its inception in the mid 90's. Located directly north of the CAP, which supplies water from the Colorado River, the community is a true desert-inspired collection of single-family homes, townhomes and upscale apartments lying in the shadows of the McDowell Mountains. Homes range from the low $200,000's to upwards of $700,000+; however, most of the properties seem to be in the mid two's to mid three's. Miles of well-lit, concrete trails weave in and out of the community and there are two community pools, tennis courts and a recreation center.

McDowell Mountain Ranch

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Originally a cattle and horse ranch, McCormick Ranch was developed as a master planned community in the mid 1970's. Amenities include a series of man made lakes, a 42 mile bike/roller blade/walking path, two 18 hole golf courses, tennis courts, and above all, something that reminds easterners of home: grass and trees! Homes, mostly built in the late 70's and early 80's, feature larger lots with mature landscaping and range from about $180,000 to $500,000 with some lakefront properties. A favorite area for winter visitors, there are many smaller patio home, condo and townhome neighborhoods, with condos starting in the $80,000's. Many of these neighborhoods feature low maintenance resort style living. You will not see a riding mower unless it's on a golf course!

Exclusive Gainey Ranch lies directly to the north. It is a manned, gated community of homes, townhomes and condos whose amenities include a 27 hole private golf course, clubhouse, pool, spa, tennis courts and yes - membership has its privileges. Gainey Village just to the south is a new addition in 2001 for shopping and dining. The Hyatt at Gainey Ranch is nothing short of spectacular, particularly for Sunday Brunch.

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Located directly east of Grayhawk in the prime area of the high Sonoran Desert, DC Ranch is Scottsdale's most upscale master planned community with single-family homes beginning in the $300,000's. Custom homes in the private guard gated Country Club neighborhood feature truly stunning examples of contemporary Southwestern architecture by many of Scottsdale's premier custom homebuilders. The feel of the neighborhood is what I call "Southwestern hunting lodge": big porches with faux antique lighting, streets that meander, and a new shopping center that has been painstakingly made to look 50 years old. My guess is that the more weathered and beaten up the exterior is, the better. Along the main entrance you will see buildings with rusted corrugated tin roofs - hey…this is way cool…get with it! (Bring checkbook.)

DC Ranch

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Located just north and west of McDowell Mountain Ranch, the Grayhawk community offers many of the same master planned features: a bike/trail system, beautifully landscaped parks, mediums, playgrounds, picnic areas, etc. Unique to Grayhawk are two true championship golf courses, Raptor and Talon, a gorgeous 40,000 square foot clubhouse, and a 7,200 square foot entertainment facility. The Graham/Panks designed Talon course is home to the Kostis/McCord Learning Center. Golf fans will enjoy Phil's Grill at the golf clubhouse, which has an interesting collection of memorabilia from the career of its namesake, Phil Mickelson.

According to the official Grayhawk community literature, "two distinct but interconnected neighborhoods" are features of the community. Known as The Park and The Retreat, each offers "a variety of prices, amenities and lifestyles". Upscale condos and townhouses comprise the lower end of the price spectrum beginning in the $180,000's. The Retreat entrances, unlike The Park, are gated, and prices range up to the $600,000's and custom lots from the $350,000's.

Grayhawk

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Probably the most well known geographic icon in the valley of the sun, Pinnacle Peak is surrounded by upscale single-family custom homes. This area extends north of DC Ranch and Grayhawk and features a variety of neighborhoods. Whereas Grayhawk and DC Ranch have strict guidelines as to what can be built, the Pinnacle Peak area has many older homes - older in Arizona means built in the late 70's or early 80's, and larger lots.

Prices range from about the mid 200,000's to well into the millions, with many of the homes in the $350,000-$600,000 range. This area will benefit from the extension of Loop 101 which circles the valley and makes for a much better commute, as well as the influx of many new restaurants and shopping venues. Acre lots have steadily risen in value over the last 5 years and the entry level is around $200,000. Yes, a quarter of a million will buy you an acre of desert in Scottsdale, Arizona. Only in Scottsdale, only in America!

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Troon North is home to the number one public golf facility in Arizona and is on the top twenty of golf courses in the world. The topography of the area is nothing short of spectacular: boulder-strewn arroyos teeming with Saguaro and Ocotillo cactus, abounding in desert wildlife, with gorgeous sunsets - okay, enough adjectives. Just north of Pinnacle Peak, but very similar as far as real estate. Mostly custom homes, although there are pockets of smaller, dare I say "tract" homes and townhomes from the low $200,000's.

Exclusive Estancia, a gated golf course community, lies just south of Troon North with many multi-million dollar estates nestled amongst the boulders. For golfers though, nothing can compare to the community of Desert Mountain to the north with six Jack Nicklaus golf courses to choose from and homes from the $700,000's.

This area appeals to those who seek to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet close enough to drive to enjoy many fine restaurants, shops and other necessities within a 10 minute drive.

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On the west side of Scottsdale Road north of Shea Blvd. and directly north of Paradise Valley, Northeast Phoenix stretches all the way north to Cave Creek and includes the master planned communities of Desert Ridge, Tatum Ranch and Dove Valley.

Homes range from the low $100,000's to about $400,000 in general. There are also many condominiums, townhouses and upscale apartment buildings in the area south of Bell Road. The Paradise Valley mall is located at the intersection of Cactus Rd. and Tatum Blvd., and there are many retail businesses, including a grocery store on practically every corner. The highly rated Paradise Valley School District is centered in Northeast Phoenix as well. This area is very similar to Scottsdale in every aspect yet offers greater affordability.

City of Phoenix

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Located just north of the canal that supplies water from the Colorado River, Desert Ridge is an affordable master planned community that has the extra advantage of being just north of the newly opened Loop 101. Opening in November of 2002 will be a palatial Marriot resort, and a new retail center is opening in the fall of 2001 that will serve the Northeast Valley.

Neighborhoods feature a great trail system that loops beneath the streets and the community offers on site elementary and middle schools as well as day care facilities nearby. Homes built from the mid nineties begin around the $150,000 range and go into the $600,000's in the Wildfire Golf community area. Builders include Shea Homes, Continental Homes, Elliot Homes, Kaufman and Broad, Richmond American and semi custom builder M/I Custom Homes.

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Once alone in the desert just south of Tatum Ranch without so much as a 7-11, Tatum Highlands is now enjoying the rewards of being at the right place at the right time. Just north of Desert Ridge, homes begin in the low $200,000's and are located in the prestigious Cave Creek School District. A new shopping center at the corner of Tatum and Jomax Rd. has been a welcome addition to the area. Again this area is very similar to North Scottsdale with the beauty of the high Sonoran Desert, although without the high price tag.

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Very similar to Tatum Highlands, although larger in geographic area, Tatum Ranch is another beneficiary of the Northeast Valley building boom. Featuring homes from the low $200,000's to about $500,000, this area was considered "out in the middle of the desert" 5 years ago. With the new freeway and a multitude of shopping venues built and under construction, this area has become an attractive option for many families. Builders include Golden Heritage, Ryland Homes, UDC, Coventry, among others. Tatum Ranch also features a golf course as well as beautiful views of Black Mountain and Cave Creek to the north. Just north of Tatum Ranch is a new master planned community called Dove Valley Ranch, which also features an outstanding desert golf course. If you are a golfer, you are in heaven.

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The Town of Paradise Valley was incorporated in May of 1961. It encompasses an area of 16.5 square miles with a population of 13,315. The Town is exclusively zoned for single-family residential use. The majority of the Town is zoned for one-acre lots with one house per lot. The Town is not a full service community. Residents must contract separately for solid waste removal, fire protection, and water service. It is without question the ultimate affluent suburb in Arizona.

Does the word "exclusive" come to mind?

The appeal of Paradise Valley is primarily in its location only minutes from downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport and North Scottsdale. A renovation boom has been going on since about the mid nineties. Most of the homes in Paradise Valley were built in the late 70's and 80's, although there are many pockets of newer homes, mostly in the million plus range. Fixer uppers begin in the mid $500,000 range, which is about $300,000 more than a similar lot 5 miles north. Cherokee Elementary School just south of Doubletree Lane is considered one of the best in Arizona. One caveat about Paradise Valley: don't speed. With little crime, no retail business to speak of, and lots of time on their hands, the local police force doesn't even have a donut shop to hang out at. Be particularly careful around Lincoln and Tatum where photo radar has been installed. Proceed with caution!

Town of Paradise Valley

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Carefree is directly adjacent to Cave Creek, and is regarded by many as one of the first master planned communities back in the 1950's. It is 30 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix in the Northeast Valley. Carefree covers roughly 8.5 square miles, and like Cave Creek enjoys temperatures 8 to 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix. The atmosphere is definitely laid back which is evident by some of the street names such as Nonchalant and Easy Street, not to mention Ho and Hum.

In general Carefree is a bit more conservative than its neighbor to the west, (Cave Creek), as far as residential real estate. Most of the housing in Carefree consists of custom homes on one acre lots or more, many of them built at a time when architects did not follow the pack as seems to be the current trend. Many of these homes were designed to compliment the incredible boulder strewn landscape that is the signature of the high Sonoran Desert.

Custom homes on acres begin in the mid $200,000 range with many in the mid $300,000's to $400,000's and higher. Occasionally a great opportunity exists to find a fixer upper on a nice lot for those handy types!

Town of Carefree

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Cave Creek has a unique and colorful history, having been settled in the 1870's but not becoming incorporated as a municipality until 1986. Located in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert where temperatures can be as much as 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix, Cave Creek's fiercely independent spirit has been nurtured for more than 100 years as miners, ranchers and others looking to get away from it all settled in relative seclusion near Black Mountain. Although increased urban growth throughout the Valley has changed Cave Creek a bit, residents are still down-to-earth folks who are civic-minded and active in the community. The Cave Creek Unified School District is composed of four elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and a Fine Arts Center. Test scores rank among the highest in Maricopa County.

Residential real estate ranges from condos to kingdoms and everything in between, beginning in the low $100,000's. A renaissance of sorts is transforming Cave Creek with many new custom homes being built as well as an influx of new restaurants and shops.

Although Scottsdale bills itself as the "west's most western town", the city fathers probably haven't been to Cave Creek. While not quite the Wild West, this area appeals to those who live life on the independent side.

Town of Cave Creek